Turbo Intercooler Layout for Compact Straddled Vehicle Wheelbase
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Straddled vehicles with turbochargers and intercoolers face challenges in maintaining a reduced wheelbase, as existing designs often result in increased distance due to the placement of these components.
Innovation Solution
The strategic positioning of the intercooler close to the engine, along with the radiator and turbocharger, within a specific spatial arrangement that optimizes pipe lengths and avoids overlap, allowing for a compact layout that maintains a large wheelbase without increasing the distance between the front and rear axles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the intercooler and radiator are placed in a space more frontward than the engine, then the components can be accommodated, but the wheelbase increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional frontward placement to a lateral arrangement where the intercooler is positioned at the right side of the engine and the radiator at the left side. This spatial reconfiguration in another dimension (lateral vs. longitudinal) allows both components to be accommodated without extending the wheelbase, effectively resolving the contradiction between component accommodation and wheelbase length.
2Temperature
If the pipe connecting the intercooler and engine is made larger in diameter to cool gas efficiently, then cooling performance improves, but the pipe volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameter (positioning the intercooler closer to the engine) to reduce the required pipe length. By optimizing the intercooler's location at the right side of the engine, the connection distance is minimized, thereby reducing the overall pipe volume required while maintaining the larger diameter needed for effective gas cooling.
3Area of stationary object
If the intercooler is positioned farther from the engine, then there is more space for other components, but the pipe length and volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing distance in the longitudinal direction (which would increase pipe volume), the patent positions the intercooler in the lateral dimension at the right side of the engine. This dimensional shift provides adequate spacing for other components while keeping the intercooler-close-to-engine configuration that minimizes pipe volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents an increase in the wheelbase of the straddled vehicle, ensuring a larger distance between the front and rear axles while accommodating the turbocharger and intercooler, by minimizing pipe volume and optimizing component placement.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator, including a radiator core, that cools a coolant for cooling the forward-tilted engine body
Implementation Method 2
an intercooler, including an intercooler core, that cools the intake air compressed by the turbocharger
Implementation Method 3
a turbine wheel that is rotatable by exhaust air from the forward-tilted engine body
Implementation Method 4
a compressor wheel that is connected to the turbine wheel and that rotates together with the turbine wheel, the turbocharger compressing intake air by the rotation of the compressor wheel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An object of the present teaching is to prevent a straddled vehicle from increasing in the wheelbase. At least part of the intercooler core, at least part of the turbine wheel and at least part of the radiator core are all within an area enclosed by a forward-tilted-engine-body-upper-end-and-front-wheel-upper-point-connecting line, a forward-tilted-engine-body-lower-end-and-front-wheel-lower-point-connecting line, a forward-tilted-engine-body front-surface, and a front-wheel rear-surface. The intercooler-core cylinder-axis-upper end is entirely positioned more cylinder-axis-upward than the turbine-wheel cylinder-axis-upper end. The intercooler-core cylinder-axis-front end is entirely positioned more cylinder-axis-frontward than the turbine-wheel cylinder-axis-front end. The intercooler-core cylinder-axis-lower end is entirely positioned more cylinder-axis-upward than the radiator-core cylinder-axis-upper end. The radiator-core cylinder-axis-rear end is entirely positioned more cylinder-axis-frontward than both the turbine-wheel cylinder-axis-rear end and the intercooler-core cylinder-axis-rear end.