Straddled Vehicle Wheel Speed Sensor Bracket Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motorcycles equipped with ABS face challenges in protecting the wheel speed sensor from gravel and maintaining workability during attachment and detachment, as existing solutions either expose the sensor to gravel or complicate tool access.

Innovation Solution

A straddled vehicle design where the wheel speed sensor is mounted on the rear axle shaft, with a holder that moves in conjunction with the rear axle shaft, and a sensor fastening member with a tool-fitted portion, allowing the bracket to overlap with the sensor when gravel is a risk and exposing it when tools are needed, ensuring protection from gravel and easy tool access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wheel speed sensor is disposed close to the wheel, then the sensor can be positioned for optimal detection, but tools used for attachment and removal of the sensor may interfere with the bracket of the swingarm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor detection capabilityVSAvoidworkability to attach or detach sensor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the sensor fastening member movable relative to the bracket. The fastening member can be positioned in different locations along the bracket, allowing it to move between a first position where it is exposed for tool access and a second position where it is protected by the bracket. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between sensor detection optimization and attachment workability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the wheel speed sensor is disposed above the swingarm, then the sensor is guarded from gravel by the swingarm, but the sensor is farther from the wheel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from gravelVSAvoidsensor detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dynamics to allow the sensor fastening member to be positioned in different locations. When positioned in the first location, the sensor is closer to the wheel for optimal detection. When positioned in the second location, the sensor is farther from the wheel but protected by the bracket from gravel. This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket serves as an intermediary element between the sensor and the gravel. By positioning the sensor fastening member in the second position, the bracket acts as a protective barrier that shields the sensor from gravel while allowing the sensor to remain functional. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction between sensor protection and detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a bracket extending upward from the swingarm is provided, then the bracket can support additional components, but tools may interfere with the bracket when attaching or removing the sensor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent mounting capabilityVSAvoidsensor attachment workability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the sensor fastening member movable along the bracket. This allows the fastening member to be positioned in a first location where it is exposed and accessible to tools, and a second location where it is protected by the bracket. The dynamic positioning capability resolves the interference issue while maintaining the bracket's structural support function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3330166B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3330166B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3330166B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3330166B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A straddled vehicle includes a supported body mounted on a bracket 41 of a swingarm 14, a chain adjuster 34 that is configured to adjust drive chain tension, and a sensor bolt B2 that is configured to fasten a wheel speed sensor 58 of an ABS to a holder 61. When a rear axle shaft 8 is in an overlapping position, the bracket 41 overlaps with at least a portion of the head portion B2h of the sensor bolt B2, and when the rear axle shaft 8 is in a non-overlapping position, the bracket 41 does not overlap with any portion of the head portion B2h of the sensor bolt B2.