Under-Seat Battery and ABS Layout in Saddle-Type Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

In saddle-type vehicles, the compact arrangement of a battery and an ABS modulator below the seat is challenging due to the limited space, necessitating a more efficient packaging solution.

Innovation Solution

A saddle-type vehicle design featuring a rear fender with side walls, a bottom wall, and a box-like structure that accommodates the battery and ABS modulator, with the upper opening closed by the seat, allowing for offset arrangement and easy maintenance, and utilizing a battery case and stepped portions for secure fixation and support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the battery and ABS modulator are arranged in the narrow space below the seat, then the vehicle can maintain a compact overall structure, but the arrangement space becomes extremely limited and difficult to accommodate both components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearrangement space for battery and ABS modulatorVSAvoidlayout complexity below seat
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by extending the box portion upward toward the seat, effectively converting a two-dimensional floor plan limitation into a three-dimensional solution. The box portion's height is increased to maximize vertical space utilization, allowing components to be stacked vertically rather than only horizontally arranged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The space below the seat is segmented into distinct functional zones: the box portion for housing the battery and ABS modulator, and the surrounding structural spaces for other components. This segmentation allows optimized arrangement of each component group without interfering with others, resolving the layout complexity issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the battery and ABS modulator are tightly packed to save space, then space utilization improves, but maintenance access becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilization below seatVSAvoidmaintenance access to battery and ABS modulator
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The battery and ABS modulator are extracted from the confined space immediately below the seat and placed into a dedicated box portion that can be accessed from the rear of the vehicle. This extraction allows maintenance personnel to access these components without disassembling the seat or navigating through tight spaces, thereby maintaining high space utilization while improving maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If components are arranged in a concentrated manner to improve space efficiency, then packaging efficiency improves, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging efficiency of componentsVSAvoidstructural strength of rear fender assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The box portion is merged with the rear fender structure, creating an integrated assembly where the rear fender serves dual purposes: as a protective body panel and as a structural frame supporting the box portion. This merging allows concentrated component arrangement within the box while the integrated rear fender-mandrel structure provides the necessary structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mandrel portion of the rear fender incorporates curved and rounded structural elements that distribute mechanical stresses more effectively throughout the assembly. These curved structures enhance the overall structural strength of the rear fender while accommodating the box portion, allowing concentrated component placement without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3689725B1Saddle-type vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3689725B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3689725B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3689725B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a saddle-type vehicle in which a battery and an ABS modulator can be more compactly arranged below a seat. A rear fender includes left and right side walls 55c and a bottom wall that connects at least the left and right side walls 55c to each other and also includes a front box portion 55 including an opening 55A and having a box-like shape. A battery 91 and an ABS modulator 92 are accommodated in the front box portion 55, and the opening 55A of the front box portion 55 is closed by a seat 13.