Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
VEHICLE
[0001]
The present invention relates to a vehicle including a body frame that can
lean and
two front wheels that are aligned side by side in a left-and-right direction.
[0002]
= Japanese Patent No. JP5941601 B describes a vehicle intiading a body
frame that
can lean and a right front wheel and a left front wheel that are aligned side
by side in a left and
right direction.
== [0003]
This vehicle leans to the right of the vehicle when the vehicle turns to the
rigtt and
leans to the left of the vehicle when the vehicle turns to the left. The
vehicle includes a link
mechanism that supports the right front wheel and the left front wheel at a
front portion f the
body frame. An engine is fixed to an engine supporting portion directly behind
the lit k
mechanism so as not to be displaced on the body frame of the vehicle.
= 15 [0004]
= incidentally, the inventor has noticed that rust is likely to be caused
at a part of the
body frame of the vehicle described in JP5941601 B mentioned above.
[0005]
According to an aspect of the invention, a vehicle is provided where the
occurrence of
rust is restrained, as set forth below.
[0006]
According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle having:
a body frame configured to lean to a right of the vehicle when the vehicle
turns right
and to
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lean to a left of the vehicle when the vehicle turns left;
a right front wheel configured to rotate about a right axle member extending
in a direction
of a right axle axis;
a left front wheel provided on the left of the body frame relative to the
right front wheel and
configured to rotate about a left axle member extending in a direction of a
left axle axis;
a link mechanism configured to change a relative position of the right front
wheel and the
left front wheel in an up-and-down direction of the body frame as the body
frame leans;
a right shock absorbing device configured to support the right front wheel at
a lower portion
and to absorb a relative displacement of the lower portion to an upper portion
along a right
extension and contraction axis extending in the up-and-down direction of the
body frame;
a left shock absorbing device configured to support the left front wheel at a
lower portion
and to absorb a relative displacement of the lower portion to an upper portion
along a left extension
and contraction axis extending in the up-and-down direction of the body frame;
an engine fixed to an engine supporting portion of the body frame so as not to
be
displaced; and
a body cover configured to cover at least part of the link mechanism,
wherein the link mechanism has:
a right side member configured to support the upper portion of the right shock
absorbing
device so as to allow the upper portion to turn about a right steering axis;
a left side member configured to support the upper portion of the left shock
absorbing
device so as to allow the upper portion to turn about a left steering axis;
an upper cross member configured to support an upper portion of the right side
member at
a right end portion of the upper cross member so as to allow the upper portion
to turn about a right
upper axis extending in a front-and-rear direction of the body frame, to
support an upper portion of
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the left side member at a left end portion of the upper cross member so as to
allow the upper
portion to turn about a left upper axis lying parallel to the right upper axis
and to be supported on
the body frame at a middle portion of the upper cross member so as to turn
about a middle upper
axis lying parallel to the right upper axis and the left upper axis; and
a lower cross member configured to support a lower portion of the right side
member at a
right end portion of the lower cross member so as to allow the lower portion
to turn about a right
lower axis lying parallel to the right upper axis, to support a lower portion
of the left side member at
a left end portion of the lower cross member so as to allow the lower portion
to turn about a left
lower axis lying parallel to the left upper axis, and to be supported on the
body frame at a middle
portion of the lower cross member so as to turn about a middle lower axis
lying parallel to the
middle upper axis, and
the vehicle satisfying at least one of a condition (A) and a condition (B)
below:
the condition (A): A right waterproof cover is provided
in a position which is behind a rear end of the right side member and ahead of
the engine
supporting portion of the body frame when the vehicle standing in an upright
state is seen from the
right of the vehicle and
in a position where at least part of the right waterproof cover overlaps the
right side
member when the vehicle is seen from the front of the vehicle; and the
condition (B): A left
waterproof cover is provided
in a position which is behind a rear end of the left side member and ahead of
the engine
supporting portion of the body frame when the vehicle standing in an upright
state is seen from the
left of the vehicle and
in a position where at least part of the left waterproof cover overlaps the
left side member
when the vehicle is seen from the front of the vehicle.
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[0007]
The vehicle according to the invention has the rigid engine that is fixed so
as not to be
displaced to the engine supporting portion lying directly behind the link
mechanism on the body
frame. In relation to vehicles having such a rigid engine, the inventor has
found out a likelihood of
occurring rust at a part of a body frame as below.
In the rigid engine vehicle, the body frame is heated by heat generated by the
engine. The
inventor has paid attention to a possibility of rust being caused by the
heated body frame.
The inventor has made every possible effort to study the occurrence of rust
and has
noticed that rust tends to be caused at a location that satisfies three
conditions: the location is
exposed to a certain degree of temperature; the location is splashed with
water; and the location is
not dried quickly.
It is preferable that the engine is supported with a wide span. On the other
hand, it is
preferable that the vehicle is not expanded widthwise. Additionally, the
engine should be cooled
positively. Then, the periphery of the engine supporting portion is not
covered with a cover on many
occasions. Due to this, a body frame portion of the body frame that lies on
the periphery of the
engine to support the engine is not covered to be exposed to outside air. In
addition, heat is
conducted sufficiently to the body frame portion, and hence, the body frame
portion is dried easily.
Due to this, this body frame portion tends to be subjected to a flow of
outside air and be dried easily,
and hence, the body frame portion does not rust easily.
On the other hand, the heat of the engine is not easily conducted to a body
frame portion
lying on the periphery of the link mechanism disposed far away from the
engine, and hence, this
body frame portion does not rust easily.
The inventor has noticed that a middle body frame portion lying in the middle
of the body
frame between the engine and the link mechanism tends to rust easily when
compared with the two
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body frame portions described above. The reason that the middle body frame
portion tends to rust
easily is as follows.
The middle body frame portion extends from the portion where to support the
link
mechanism towards the engine supporting portion and is inevitably positioned
directly behind the
link mechanism on the body frame.
Water splashed up by the right front wheel adheres to the right side member,
and water
spreading from this right side member adheres to the middle body frame
portion. Alternatively,
water splashed up by the right front wheel flies directly to the middle body
frame portion to adhere
to it. Similarly, water splashed up by the left front wheel adheres to the
left side member, and water
spreading from the left side member adheres to the middle body frame portion.
Alternatively, water
splashed up by the left front wheel flies directly to the middle body frame
portion to adhere to it.
Muddy water splashed up by tires tends to cause the body frame to rust more.
Further, the middle frame portion is warmed to a certain degree of
temperature. When the
vehicle is running, air flows easily to a space directly behind the link
mechanism, but when the
vehicle is at a halt, a flow of air is interrupted by the link mechanism, and
hence, fresh air does not
reach easily the space directly behind the link mechanism, whereby air gets
stagnant in the space.
When the vehicle is running, the water adhering to the link mechanism is
forced to fly to adhere to
the middle body frame portion. The air in the space at the middle body frame
portion stagnates
when the vehicle is at a halt, and this produces a difficult condition where
the relevant space is not
dried over a long period of time. Due to this, this middle body frame portion
satisfies the three rust
causing conditions: the middle body frame portion is warmed to a certain
degree of temperature,
water adheres to the middle body frame portion, and the middle body frame
portion is left undried
over a long period of time. The inventor has noticed from these situations
that a rust preventive
measure should be taken particularly on the middle body frame portion.
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In the invention, the waterproof cover is mounted on the middle body frame
portion of the
body frame in the position where the waterproof cover overlaps at least
partially at least one of the
right side member and the left side member, when the vehicle standing in the
upright state is seen
from the front of the vehicle 1. This prevents the middle body frame portion
that tends to rust easily
from being splashed with water and occurring.
[0008]
In the vehicle according to the invention, the engine may have a crankcase and
a cylinder
block mounted on an upper portion of the crankcase and extending upwards in
the up-and-down
direction of the body frame, and the body frame may support the engine by the
engine supporting
portion being connected to the cylinder block.
[0009]
In the vehicle according to the invention,
the body frame may have:
a link supporting portion configured to support the upper cross member and the
lower
cross member;
a right frame extending from the link supporting portion rearwards in a front-
and-rear
direction of the body frame; and
a left frame extending from the link supporting portion rearwards in the front-
and-rear
direction of the body frame,
the engine supporting portion may be provided on the right frame and the left
frame, and
the condition (A) may include a condition that the right waterproof cover is
positioned on
the right of the right frame in a left-and-right direction of the body frame,
and
the condition (B) may include a condition that the left waterproof cover is
positioned on the
left of the left frame in the left-and-right direction of the body frame.
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,
[0010]
In the vehicle according to the invention,
the condition (A) may include a condition that the right waterproof cover has
a plane lying
parallel to a turning locus of the link mechanism on a front surface of the
right waterproof cover in
the front-and-rear direction of the body frame, and
the condition (B) may include a condition that the left waterproof cover has a
plane lying
parallel to a turning locus of the link mechanism on a front surface of the
left waterproof cover in the
front-and-rear direction of the body frame. This enables the waterproof covers
to be disposed near
the link mechanism, whereby an intrusion of water can be prevented at a more
upstream side
efficiently.
[0011]
In the vehicle according to the invention,
the vehicle may have a fuel tank disposed directly above the engine,
the body cover may have an upper cover configured to cover the fuel tank, and
the condition (A) may include a condition that the right waterproof cover is
separate from
the upper cover, and
the condition (B) may include a condition that the left waterproof cover is
separate from the
upper cover.
[0012]
According to the invention, it is possible to provide the vehicle where the
occurrence of rust
is restrained.
[0013]
Fig. 1 is a side view showing the whole of a vehicle according to an
embodiment of the
invention as seen from a left side thereof.
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Fig. 2 is a front view showing a front portion of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side view showing a left shock absorbing device and a left front
wheel.
Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the front portion of the vehicle shown in Fig.
1.
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the front portion of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1
when the
vehicle is steered.
Fig. 6 is a front view showing the front portion of the vehicle shown in Fig.
1 when the
vehicle is caused to lean.
Fig. 7 is a front view showing the front portion of the vehicle shown in Fig.
1 when the
vehicle is caused to lean while being steered.
Fig. 8 is a side view of a body frame.
Fig. 9 is a front view showing a front portion of the body frame.
[Mode for Carrying out the Invention]
[0014]
Referring to accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment will be described
in detail
below.
[0015]
In the accompanying drawings, an arrow F denotes ahead of a vehicle. An arrow
B
denotes behind of the vehicle. An arrow U denotes above the vehicle. An arrow
D denotes below
the vehicle. An arrow R denotes on the right of the vehicle. An arrow L
denotes on the left of the
vehicle.
[0016]
A vehicle turns with a body frame leaning in a left-and-right direction of the
vehicle relative
to a vertical direction. Then, in addition to the directions based on the
vehicle, directions based on
the vehicle body frame are defined. In the accompanying drawings, an arrow FF
denotes a front of
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the vehicle body frame. An arrow FB denotes a behind of the vehicle body
frame. An arrow FU
denotes above the vehicle body frame. An arrow FD denotes below the vehicle
body frame. An
arrow FR denotes on the right of the vehicle body frame. An arrow FL denotes
on the left of the
vehicle body frame.
[0017]
In this description, a "front-and-rear direction of the body frame," a "left-
and-right direction
of the body frame" and an "up-and-down direction of the body frame" means a
front-and-rear
direction, a left-and-right direction and an up-and-down direction based on
the body frame as
viewed from a rider who rides the vehicle. "The side of the body frame"
denotes on the right or the
on the left of the body frame.
[0018]
When referred to in this description, an expression reading "something extends
in the
front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body frame" includes a situation in
which something extends
in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body frame while being inclined
in relation to the
front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body frame and means that something
extends with a
gradient which is closer to the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body
frame rather than the
left-and-right direction and the up-and-down direction of the vehicle body
frame.
[0019]
In this description, an expression reading "something extends in the left-and-
right direction
of the vehicle body frame" includes a situation in which something extends in
the left-and-right
direction of the vehicle body frame while being inclined in relation to the
left-and-right direction of
the vehicle body frame and means that something extends with a gradient which
is closer to the
left-and-right direction of the vehicle body frame rather than the front-and-
rear direction and the
up-and-down direction of the vehicle body frame.
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[0020]
In this description, an expression reading "something extends in the up-and-
down direction
of the vehicle body frame" includes a situation in which something extends in
the up-and-down
direction of the vehicle body frame while being inclined in relation to the up-
and-down direction of
the vehicle body frame and means that something extends with a gradient which
is closer to the
up-and-down direction of the vehicle body frame rather than the front-and-rear
direction and the
left-and-right direction of the vehicle body frame.
[0021]
In this description, an "upright state of the vehicle" or the "vehicle stands
upright" means a
state in which the vehicle remains not steered and the up-and-down direction
of the body frame
coincides with a vertical direction. In this state, the direction based on the
vehicle coincides with the
direction based on the body frame. When the vehicle is turning with the body
frame caused to lean
to the left or right from the vertical direction, the left-and-right direction
of the vehicle does not
coincide with the left-and-right direction of the body frame. The up-and-down
direction of the vehicle
does not coincide with the up-and-down direction of the body frame, too.
However, the
front-and-rear direction of the vehicle coincides with the front-and-rear
direction of the body frame.
[0022]
In this description, "rotation or rotating" means that a member is displaced
at an angle of
360 degrees or more about a center axis thereof. In this description, "turn or
turning" means that a
member is displaced at an angle of less than 360 degrees about a center axis
thereof.
[0023]
Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment will be
described. A
vehicle 1 is a vehicle configured to be driven by means of power generated
from a power source
and including a body frame that can lean and two front wheels which are
aligned side by side in a
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left-and-right direction of the body frame.
[0024]
Fig. 1 is a left side view of the whole of the vehicle 1 as viewed from the
left of the vehicle.
The vehicle 1 includes a vehicle main body portion 2, a pair of left and right
front wheels 3, a rear
wheel 4, a link mechanism 5 and a steering force transmission mechanism 6.
[0025]
The vehicle main body portion 2 includes a body frame 21, a body cover 22, a
seat 24 and
an engine unit 25. In Fig. 1, the vehicle us in an upright state. The
following description which will
be made by reference to Fig. 1 is based on the premise that the vehicle 1 is
standing in the upright
state.
[0026]
The body frame 21 extends in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The
body frame
21 includes a headpipe 211 and a link supporting portion 212.
[0027]
The headpipe 211 supports an upstream side steering shaft 60, which will be
described
later, so as to turn. The headpipe 211 extends in an up-and-down direction of
the body frame 21.
The link supporting portion 212 is provided ahead of the headstock 211 in the
front-and-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The link supporting portion 212
supports the link
mechanism 5 so as to turn.
[0028]
The body frame 21 supports the engine unit 25 behind the headstock 211 in the
front-and-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The engine unit 25 supports the
rear wheel 4 so as to
swing up and down. The engine unit 25 includes a power source such as an
engine or an electric
motor with a battery and a device such as a transmission. The power source
generates power by
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which the vehicle 1 is driven.
[0029]
The body cover 22 includes a front cover 221, a pair of left and right front
fenders 223 and
a rear fender 224. The body cover 22 is a body part which covers at least part
of body parts which
are mounted on the vehicle 1 such as the pair of left and right front wheels
3, the body frame 21,
and the link mechanism 5. In this embodiment, the body cover 22 covers at
least part of the link
mechanism.
[0030]
The front cover 221 is disposed ahead of the seat 24. The front cover 221
covers the link
mechanism 5 and at least part of the steering force transmission mechanism 6.
[0031]
At least portions of the pair of left and right front fenders 223 are
individually disposed
directly below the front cover 221. At least the portions of the pair of left
and right front fenders 223
are disposed directly above the pair of left and right front wheels 3,
respectively.
[0032]
At least portion of the rear fender 224 is disposed directly above the rear
wheel 4.
[0033]
At least portions of the pair of left and right front wheels 3 are disposed
directly below the
front cover 221.
[0034]
At least a portion of the rear wheel 4 is disposed below the seat 24. At least
a portion of the
rear wheel 4 is disposed directly below the rear fender 224.
[0035]
Fig. 2 is a front view of a front portion of the vehicle 1 as viewed from the
front of the body
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frame 21. In Fig. 2, the vehicle 1 is standing in the upright state. The
following description which will
be made by reference to Fig. 2 is based on the premise that the vehicle us
standing in the upright
state. Fig. 2 shows the front portion of the vehicle 1 as it were seen through
the front cover 221 that
is indicated by dashed lines.
[0036]
The pair of left and right front wheels 3 include a left front wheel 31 and a
right front wheel
32. The left front wheel 31 and the right front wheel 32 are provided in the
left-and-right direction of
the vehicle body frame 21. The right front wheel 32 is provided on the right
of the left front wheel
31 on the body frame 21.
[0037]
The vehicle 1 includes a left shock absorbing device 33, a right shock
absorbing device 34,
a left bracket 317 and a right bracket 327.
[0038]
Fig. 3 is a side view showing the left shock absorbing device 33 and the left
front wheel 31.
Since the right shock absorbing device 34 has a structure symmetrical with the
left shock absorbing
device 33 in the left-right symmetrical manner, the reference numbers showing
the elements of the
right shock absorbing device 34 are also added in Fig 3.
As shown in Fig. 3, the left shock absorbing device 33 is a so-called
telescopic shock
absorbing device. The left shock absorbing device 33 has a left front
telescopic element 331, a left
2 0 rear telescopic element 332 and a left inner connecting element 337.
[0039]
The left front telescopic element 331 has a left front outer tube 333 and a
left front inner
tube 334. A lower portion of the left front inner tube 334 is connected to a
left inner connecting
element 337. An upper portion of the left front inner tube 334 is inserted
into the left front outer tube
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333. An upper portion of the left front outer tube 333 is connected to the
left bracket 317. The left
front inner tube 334 is displaced relative to the left front outer tube 333
along a left extension and
contraction axis c which extends in the up-and-down direction of the body
frame 21. The left front
telescopic element 331 can extend and contract in the direction of the left
extension and contraction
axis c as a result of the left front inner tube 334 being displaced relative
to the left front outer tube
333 along the left extension and contraction axis c.
[0040]
At least a portion of the left rear telescopic element 332 is provided behind
the left front
telescopic element 331. The left rear telescopic element 332 has a left rear
outer tube 335 and a
left rear inner tube 336. The left rear outer tube 335 and the left front
outer tube 333 are connected
together so as not to move relative to each other.
A lower portion of the left rear inner tube 336 is connected to a left inner
connecting
element 337. An upper portion of the left rear inner tube 336 is inserted into
the left rear outer tube
335. An upper portion of the left rear outer tube 335 is connected to the left
bracket 317.
The left rear inner tube 336 is displaced relative to the left rear outer tube
335 along the left
extension and contraction axis c which extends in the up-and-down direction of
the body frame 21.
The left rear telescopic element 332 can extend and contract in the direction
of the left extension
and contraction axis c as a result of the left rear inner tube 336 being
displaced relative to the left
rear outer tube 335 along the left extension and contraction axis c.
[0041]
The left inner connecting element 337 supports a left axle member 311 of the
left front
wheel 31 rotatably. The left inner connecting element 337 connects a lower
portion of the left front
inner tube 334 and a lower portion of the left rear inner tube 336 together.
[0042]
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The left shock absorbing device 33 attenuates or absorbs a displacement of the
left front
wheel 31 relative to the left front outer tube 333 and the left rear outer
tube 335 along the left
extension and contraction axis c by an extending or contracting action of the
left front telescopic
element 331 and an extending or contracting action of the left rear telescopic
element 332.
[0043]
As shown in Fig. 3, the right shock absorbing device 34 is a so-called
telescopic shock
absorbing device. The right shock absorbing device 34 has a right front
telescopic element 341, a
right rear telescopic element 342 and a right inner connecting element 347.
[0044]
The right front telescopic element 341 has a right front outer tube 343 and a
right front
inner tube 344. A lower portion of the right front inner tube 344 is connected
to a right inner
connecting element 347. An upper portion of the right front inner tube 344 is
inserted to a right front
outer tube 343. An upper portion of the right front outer tube 343 is
connected to the right bracket
327. With respect to the right front outer tube 343, the right inner tube 344
displaces along with a
right extension and contraction axis d which extends in the up-and-down
direction of the vehicle
body frame 21. The right front telescopic element 341 can extend and contract
in the direction of
the right extension and contraction axis d as a result of the right front
inner tube 344 being
displaced relative to the right front outer tube 343 along the right extension
and contraction axis d.
[0045]
At least a portion of the right rear telescopic element 342 is provided behind
the right front
telescopic element 341. The right rear telescopic element 342 has a right rear
outer tube 345 and a
right rear inner tube 346. The right rear outer tube 345 and the right front
outer tube 343 are
connected together so as not to move relative to each other.
A lower portion of the right rear inner tube 346 is connected to a rear inner
connecting
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element 347. An upper portion of the right rear inner tube 346 is inserted to
the right rear outer tube
345. An upper portion of the right rear outer tube 345 is connected to the
right bracket 327.
With respect to the right rear outer tube 345, the right rear inner tube 346
displaces along
with the right extension and contraction axis d which extends in the up-and-
down direction of the
vehicle body frame 21. The right rear telescopic element 342 can extend and
contract in the
direction of the right extension and contraction axis d as a result of the
right rear inner tube 346
being displaced relative to the right rear outer tube 345 along the right
extension and contraction
axis d.
[0046]
The right inner connecting element 347 supports a right axle member 321 of the
right front
wheel 32 rotatably. The right inner connecting element 347 connects a lower
portion of the right
front inner tube 344 and a lower portion of the right rear inner tube 346
together.
[0047]
The right shock absorbing device 34 attenuates or absorbs the displacement of
the right
front wheel 32 relative to the right front outer tube 343 and the right rear
outer tube 345 along the
right extension and contraction axis d by an extending or contracting action
of the right front
telescopic element 341 and an extending or contracting action of the right
rear telescopic element
342.
[0048]
2 0
As shown in Fig. 4, the vehicle 1 includes the steering force transmission
mechanism 6.
The steering force transmission mechanism 6 includes a handlebar 23 (an
example of a steering
force input portion), the upstream side steering shaft 60 (an example of a
rear shaft member), a
connecting member 80, and a downstream side steering shaft 68 (an example of a
front shaft
member).
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[0049]
The body frame 21 includes the headpipe 211 that supports the upstream side
steering
shaft 60 so as to turn and the link supporting portion 212 that supports the
downstream side
steering shaft 68 so as to turn. As shown in Fig. 2, the link supporting
portion 212 extends in the
direction of a middle steering axis Z which extends in the up-and-down
direction of the body frame
21. In this embodiment, a turning center (a central steering axis) of the
handlebar 23 coincides with
a turning center (a rear axis) of the upstream side steering shaft.
[0050]
A steering force is inputted into the handlebar 23. The upstream side steering
shaft 60 is
connected to the handlebar 23. The upper portion of the upstream side steering
shaft 60 is
positioned behind the lower portion of the upstream side steering shaft 60 in
the front-and-rear
direction of the vehicle body frame 21. The upstream side steering shaft 60 is
supported in the
headpipe 211 so as to turn therein.
[0051]
The connecting member 80 connects the upstream side steering shaft 60 and the
downstream side steering shaft 68 together. The connecting member 80 is
displaced as the
upstream side steering shaft 60 turns. The connecting member 80 transmits the
turning of the
upstream side steering shaft 60 to the downstream side steering shaft 68.
[0052]
The downstream side steering shaft 68 is supported in the link supporting
portion 212 so
as to turn therein. The downstream side steering shaft 68 is connected to the
connecting member
80. The downstream side steering shaft 68 is provided ahead of the upstream
side steering shaft 60
in the front-and-rear direction of the body frame 21. The downstream side
steering shaft 68 turns in
accordance with the displacement of the connecting member 80. As a result of
the downstream
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side steering shaft 68 turning, the left front wheel 31 and the right front
wheel 32 are steered or
turned via a tie-rod 67.
[0053]
The steering force transmission mechanism 6 transmits a steering force exerted
on a
handlebar 23 by the rider when operating the handlebar 23 to the left bracket
317 and the right
bracket 327. A specific configuration will be described in detail later.
[0054]
In the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, the link mechanism 5 adopts a
four parallel
joint link system (also referred to as a parallelogram link).
[0055]
As shown in Fig. 2, the link mechanism 5 is disposed above the left front
wheel 31 and the
right front wheel 32. The link mechanism 5 includes an upper cross member 51,
a lower cross
member 52, a left side member 53 and a right side member 54. The link
mechanism 5 is turnably
supported on the link supporting portion 212 which extends to the middle
steering axis Z. Even
though the upstream side steering shaft 60 is turned as a result of the
operation of the handlebar 23,
the link mechanism 5 is prevented from following the turning of the upstream
side steering shaft 60
and hence does not turn.
[0056]
The upper cross member 51 includes a plate member 512. The plate member 512 is
provided ahead of the link supporting portion 212. The plate member 512
extends in a left-and-right
direction of the body frame 21.
[0057]
A middle portion of the upper cross member 51 is connected to the link
supporting portion
212 by a connecting portion C. The upper cross member 51 can turn relative to
the link supporting
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
= 19
portion 212 about a middle upper axis Mu that passes through the connecting
portion C to extend in
the front-and-rear direction of the body frame 21.
[0058]
A left end portion of the upper cross member 51 is connected to the left side
member 53 by
a connecting portion A. The upper cross member 51 can turn relative to the
left side member 53
about a left upper axis which passes through the connecting portion A to
extend in the
front-and-rear direction of the body frame 21.
[0059]
A right end portion of the upper cross member 51 is connected to the right
side member 54
by a connecting portion E. The upper cross member 51 can turn relative to the
right side member
54 about a right upper axis that passes through the connecting portion E to
extend in the
front-and-rear direction of the body frame 21.
[0060]
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the front part of the vehicle 1 as seen from above
the body frame 21.
In Fig. 4, the vehicle 1 is standing in the upright state. The following
description which will be made
by reference to Fig. 4 is based on the premise that the vehicle 1 is standing
in the upright state.
[0061]
As shown in Fig. 4, the lower cross member 52 includes a lower front cross
element 522a
and a lower rear cross element 522b. The lower front cross element 522a is
provided ahead of the
link supporting portion 212. The lower rear cross element 522b is provided
behind the link
supporting portion 212. The lower front cross element 522a and the lower rear
cross member 522b
extend in the left-and-right direction of the body frame 21. The lower front
cross element 522a and
the lower rear cross member 522b are connected together by a left connecting
block 523a and a
right connecting block 532b. The left connecting block 523a is disposed on the
left of the link
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
20
supporting portion 212. The right connecting block 523b is disposed on the
right of the link
supporting portion 212.
[0062]
Returning to Fig. 2, the lower cross member 52 is disposed below the upper
cross member
51. The lower cross member 52 extends parallel to the upper cross member 51. A
middle portion of
the lower cross member 52 is connected to the link supporting portion 212 by a
connecting portion I.
The lower cross member 52 can turn about a middle down or lower axis Md that
passes through the
connecting portion Ito extend in the front-and-rear direction of the body
frame 21.
[0063]
A left end portion of the lower cross member 52 is connected to the left side
member 53 by
a connecting portion G. The lower cross member 52 can turn about a left lower
axis which passes
through the connecting portion G to extend in the front-and-rear direction of
the body frame 21.
[0064]
A right end portion of the lower cross member 52 is connected to the right
side member 54
by a connecting portion H. The lower cross member 52 can turn about a right
lower axis which
passes through the connecting portion H to extend in the front-and-rear
direction of the body frame
21. A length of the upper cross member 51 from the connecting portion E to the
connecting portion
A is substantially equal to a length of the lower cross member from the
connecting portion H to the
connecting portion G.
[0065]
The middle upper axis Mu, the right upper axis, the left upper axis, the
middle lower axis
Md, the right lower axis and the left lower axis extend parallel to one
another. The middle upper axis
Mu, the right upper axis, the left upper axis, the middle lower axis Md, the
right lower axis and the
left lower axis are disposed above the left front wheel 31 and the right front
wheel 32.
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
21
[0066]
As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the left side member 53 is disposed on the left of
the link
supporting portion 212. The left side member 53 is disposed above the left
front wheel 31. The left
side member 53 extends parallel to the middle steering axis Z of the link
supporting portion 212. An
upper portion of the left side member 53 is disposed behind a lower portion
thereof.
[0067]
A lower portion of the left side member 53 is connected to the left bracket
317. The left
bracket 317 can turn about a left steering axis X relative to the left side
member 53. The left
steering axis X extends parallel to the middle steering axis Z of the link
supporting portion 212.
[0068]
As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the right side member 54 is disposed on the right
of the link
supporting portion 212. The right side member 54 is disposed above the right
front wheel 32. The
right side member 54 extends parallel to the middle steering axis Z of the
link supporting portion
212. An upper portion of the right side member 54 is disposed behind a lower
portion thereof.
[0069]
A lower portion of the right side member 54 is connected to the right bracket
327. The right
bracket 327 can turn about a right steering axis Y relative to the right side
member 54. The right
steering axis Y extends parallel to the middle steering axis Z of the link
supporting portion 212.
[0070]
Thus, as has been described above, the upper cross member 51, the lower cross
member
52, the left side member 53 and the right side member 54 are supported by the
link supporting
portion 212 so that the upper cross member 51 and the lower cross member 52
are held in postures
which are parallel to each other and so that the left side member 53 and the
right side member 54
are held in postures which are parallel to each other.
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
22
[0071]
As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the steering force transmission mechanism 6
includes a middle
transmission plate 61, a left transmission plate 62, a right transmission
plate 63, a middle joint 64, a
left joint 65, a right joint 66, and the tie-rod 67.
[0072]
The middle transmission plate 61 is connected to a lower portion of the
downstream side
steering shaft 68. The middle transmission plate 61 cannot turn relative to
the downstream side
steering shaft 68. The middle transmission plate 61 can turn about the middle
steering axis Z
relative to the link supporting portion 212.
[0073]
The left transmission plate 62 is disposed on the left of the middle
transmission plate 61.
The left transmission plate 62 is connected to the left bracket 317. The left
transmission plate 62
cannot turn relative to the left bracket 317. The left transmission plate 62
can turn about the left
steering axis X relative to the left side member 53.
[0074]
The right transmission plate 63 is disposed on the right of the middle
transmission plate 61.
The right transmission plate 63 is connected to the right bracket 327. The
right transmission plate
63 cannot turn relative to the right bracket 327. The right transmission plate
63 can turn about the
right steering axis Y relative to the right side member 54.
[0075]
As shown in Fig. 4, the middle joint 64 is connected to a front portion of the
middle
transmission plate 61 via a shaft portion that extends in the up-and-down
direction of the body
frame 21. The middle transmission plate 61 and the middle joint 64 are allowed
to turn relative to
each other about this shaft portion.
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
= 23
[0076]
The left joint 65 is disposed directly on the left of the middle joint 64. The
left joint 65 is
connected to a front portion of the left transmission plate 62 via a shaft
that extends in the
up-and-down direction of the body frame 21. The left transmission plate 62 and
the left joint 65 are
allowed to turn relative to each other about this shaft portion.
[0077]
The right joint 66 is disposed directly on the right of middle joint 64. The
right joint 66 is
connected to a front portion of the right transmission plate 63 via a shaft
that extends in the
up-and-down direction of the body frame 21. The right transmission plate 63
and the right joint 66
are allowed to turn relative to each other about this shaft portion.
[0078]
A shaft portion that extends in the front-and-rear direction of the body frame
21 is provided
at a front portion of the middle joint 64. A shaft portion that extends in the
front-and-rear direction of
the body frame 21 is provided at a front portion of the left joint 65. A shaft
portion that extends in the
front-and-rear direction of the body frame 21 is provided at a front portion
of the right joint 66.
[0079]
The tie-rod 67 extends in the left-and-right direction of the body frame 21.
The tie-rod 67 is
connected to the middle joint 64, the left joint 65 and the right joint 66 via
those shaft portions. The
tie rod 67 and the intermediate joint 64 can turn relatively about the shaft
portion which is provided
at the front portion of the intermediate joint 64. The tie-rod 67 and the left
joint 65 can turn relative to
each other about the shaft portion that is provided at the front portion of
the left joint 65. The tie rod
67 and the right joint 66 can turn relative to each other about the shaft
portion that is provided at the
front portion of the right joint 66.
[0080]
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
24
Next, referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a steering operation of the vehicle 1 will
be described. Fig.
is a plan view, as seen from above the body frame 21, of the front portion of
the vehicle 1 with the
left front wheel 31 and the right front wheel 32 turned or steered to the
left.
[0081]
5
When the rider operates the handlebar 23, the upstream side steering shaft 60
turns. The
turn of the upstream side steering shaft 60 is transmitted to the downstream
side steering shaft 68
via the connecting member 80. The downstream side steering shaft 68 turns
relative to the link
supporting portion 212 about a front steering axis b. In the case of the left
front wheel 31 and the
right front wheel 32 being turned to the left as shown in Fig. 5, as the
handlebar 23 is operated, the
middle transmission plate 61 turns relative to the link supporting portion 212
in a direction indicated
by an arrow T about the front steering axis b.
[0082]
In association with the turning of the middle transmission plate 61 in the
direction indicated
by the arrow T, the middle joint 64 of the tie-rod 67 turns relative to the
middle transmission plate 61
in a direction indicated by an arrow S. This moves the tie-rod 67 left rear
with its posture kept
unchanged.
[0083]
As the tie-rod 67 moves left rear, the left joint 65 and the right joint 66 of
the tie-rod 67 turn
in the direction indicated by the arrow S relative to the left transmission
plate 62 and the right
transmission plate 63, respectively. This causes the left transmission plate
62 and the right
transmission plate 63 to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow T with
the tie rod 67 maintaining
its posture unchanged.
[0084]
When the left transmission plate 62 turns in the direction indicated by the
arrow T, the left
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
25
bracket 317, which cannot turn relative to the left transmission plate 62,
turns in the direction
indicated by the arrow T about the left steering axis X relative to the left
side member 53.
[0085]
When the right transmission plate 63 turns in the direction indicated by the
arrow T, the
right bracket 327, which cannot turn relative to the right transmission plate
63, turns in the direction
indicated by the arrow T about the right steering axis Y relative to the right
side member 54.
[0086]
When the left bracket 317 turns in the direction indicated by the arrow T, the
left shock
absorbing device 33, which is connected to the left bracket 317 via the left
front outer tube 333 and
the left rear outer tube 335, turns in the direction indicated by the arrow T
about the left steering
axis X relative to the left side member 53. When the left shock absorbing
device 33 turns in the
direction indicated by the arrow T, the left front wheel 31, which is
supported on the left shock
absorbing device 33, turns in the direction indicated by the arrow T about the
left steering axis X
relative to the left side member 53.
[0087]
When the right bracket 327 turns in the direction indicated by the arrow T,
the right shock
absorbing device 34, which is connected to the right bracket 327 via the right
front outer tube 343
and the right rear outer tube 345, turns in the direction indicated by the
arrow T about the right
steering axis Y relative to the right side member 54. When the right shock
absorbing device 34
turns in the direction indicated by the arrow T, the right front wheel 32,
which is supported on the
right shock absorbing device 34, turns in the direction indicated by the arrow
T about the right
steering axis Y relative to the right side member 54.
[0088]
When the rider operates the handlebar 23 so as to turn the left front wheel 31
and the right
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
26
front wheel 32 to the right, the elements described above turn in the
direction indicated by the arrow
S. Since the elements move the other way around in relation to the left-and-
right direction, the
detailed description thereof will be omitted here.
[0089]
Thus, as has been described heretofore, as the rider operates the handlebar
23, the
steering force transmission mechanism 6 transmits the steering force
accordingly to the left front
wheel 31 and the right front wheel 32. The left front wheel 31 and the right
front wheel 32 turn about
the left steering axis X and the right steering axis Y, respectively, in the
direction corresponding to
the direction in which the handlebar 23 is operated by the rider.
[0090]
Next, referring to Figs. 2 and 6, a leaning operation of the vehicle 1 will be
described. Fig. 6
is a front view of the front portion of the vehicle 1 as viewed from the front
of the body frame 21,
showing a state where the body frame 21 leans to the left of the vehicle 1.
Fig. 6 shows a state in
which the front portion of the leaning vehicle 1 is seen as through the front
cover 221 that is
indicated by dashed lines.
[0091]
As shown in Fig. 2, with the vehicle 1 standing in the upright state, when
looking at the
vehicle 1 from the front of the body frame 21, the link mechanism 5 looks like
having a rectangular
shape. As shown in Fig. 6, with the vehicle 1 leaning to the left, when
looking at the vehicle 1 from
the front of the body frame 21, the link mechanism 5 looks like having a
parallelogram shape.
The deformation of the link mechanism 5 is interlocked with the leaning of the
body frame
21 in the left-and-right direction of the vehicle 1. The operation of the link
mechanism 5 means that
the upper cross member 51, the lower cross member 52, the left side member 53
and the right side
member 54 that make up the link mechanism 5 turn relatively about turning axes
which pass
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
27
through the corresponding connecting portions A, C, E, G, H, I, whereby the
shape of the link
mechanism 5 changes.
[0092]
For example, as shown in Fig. 6, when the rider causes the vehicle 1 to lean
to the left, the
link supporting portion 212 leans to the left relative to the vertical
direction. When the link
supporting portion 212 leans, the upper cross member 51 turns counterclockwise
as seen from the
front of the vehicle 1 about the middle upper axis Mu that passes through the
connecting portion C
relative to the link supporting portion 212. Similarly, the lower cross member
52 turns
counterclockwise as seen from the front of the vehicle 1 about the middle
lower axis Md that passes
through the connecting portion I relative to the link supporting portion 212.
This causes the upper
cross member 51 to move to the left relative to the lower cross member 52.
[0093]
As the upper cross member 51 moves to the left, the upper cross member 51
turns
counterclockwise as seen from the front of the vehicle 1 about the left upper
axis that passes
through the connecting portion A and the right upper axis that passes through
the connecting
portion E relative to the left side member 53 and the right side member 54,
respectively. Similarly,
the lower cross member 52 turns counterclockwise as seen from the front of the
vehicle 1 about the
left lower axis that passes through the connecting portion G and the right
lower axis that passes
through the connecting portion H relative to the left side member 53 and the
right side member 54,
respectively. This causes the left side member 53 and the right side member 54
to lean to the left
relative to the perpendicular direction with their postures kept parallel to
the link supporting portion
212.
[0094]
As this occurs, the lower cross member 52 moves to the left relative to the
tie- rod 67. As
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
28
the lower cross member 52 moves to the left, the shaft portions that are
provided at the respective
front portions of the middle joint 64, the left joint 65 and the right joint
66 turn relative to the-tie rod
67. This allows the tie-rod 67 to hold a parallel posture to the upper cross
member 51 and the lower
cross member 52.
[0095]
As the left side member 53 leans to the left, the left bracket 317, which is
connected to the
left side member 53, leans to the left. As the left bracket 317 leans to the
left, the left shock
absorbing device 33, which is connected to the left bracket 317, leans to the
left. As the left shock
absorbing device 33 leans to the left, the left front wheel 31, which is
supported on the left shock
absorbing device 33, leans to the left with its posture kept parallel to the
link supporting portion 212.
[0096]
As the right side member 54 leans to the left, the right bracket 327, which is
connected to
the right side member 54, leans to the left. As the right bracket 327 leans to
the left, the right shock
absorbing device 34, which is connected to the right bracket 327, leans to the
left. As the right
shock absorbing device 34 leans to the left, the right front wheel 32, which
is supported on the right
shock absorbing device 34, leans to the left with its posture kept parallel to
the link supporting
portion 212.
[0097]
The leaning operations of the left front wheel 31 and the right front wheel 32
are described
based on the perpendicular direction. However, when the vehicle 1 leans (when
the link mechanism
5 is activated to operate), the up-and-down direction of the body frame 21
does not coincide with
the vertical up-and-down direction. In a case where the leaning operations are
described based on
the up-and-down direction of the body frame 21, when the link mechanism 5 is
activated to operate,
the relative positions of the left front wheel 31 and the right front wheel 32
to the body frame 21
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
29
change. In other words, the link mechanism 5 changes the relative positions of
the left front wheel
31 and the right front wheel 32 to the body frame 21 in the up-and-down
direction of the body frame
21 to thereby cause the body frame 21 to lean relative to the perpendicular
direction.
[0098]
When the rider causes the vehicle 1 to lean to the right, the elements lean to
the right.
Since the elements move the other way around in relation to the left-and-right
direction, the detailed
description thereof will be omitted here.
[0099]
Fig. 7 is a front view of the front portion of the vehicle with the vehicle 1
caused to lean and
steered. Fig. 7 shows a state in which the vehicle 1 is steered to the left
while being caused to lean
to the left. The steering operation turns the left front wheel 31 and the
right front wheel 32 to the left,
and the leaning operation causes the left front wheel 31 and the right front
wheel 32 to lean to the
left together with the body frame 21. Namely, in this state, the link
mechanism 5 exhibits the
parallelogram shape, and the tie-rod 67 moves towards the left and rear of the
body frame 21 from
.. its position that the tie-rod 67 takes when the body frame 21 stays in the
upright state.
[0100]
Thus, as has been described heretofore, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment has:
the body frame 21 that can lean to the right of the vehicle 1 when the vehicle
1 turns right
and can lean to the left of the vehicle 1 when the vehicle 1 turns left;
the right front wheel 32 that can turn about the right steering axis that
extends in the
up-and-down direction of the body frame 21;
the left front wheel 31 that is provided on the left of the right front wheel
32 in the
left-and-right direction of the body frame 21 and that can turn about the left
steering axis that is
parallel to the right steering axis;
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
30
the right shock absorbing device 34 that supports the right front wheel 32 at
the lower
portion of the right shock absorbing device 34 and absorbs the displacement of
the right front wheel
32 in the up-and-down direction of the body frame 21 towards the upper portion
of the right shock
absorbing device 34;
the left shock absorbing device 33 that supports the left front wheel 31 at
the lower portion
of the left shock absorbing device 33 and absorbs the displacement of the left
front wheel 31 in the
up-and-down direction of the body frame 21 towards the upper portion of the
left shock absorbing
device 33; and
the link mechanism 5 that supports the right front wheel 32 and the left front
wheel 31 so
as to be displaced relative to each other in the up-and-down direction of the
body frame 21.
[0101]
The link mechanism 5 has:
the right side member 54 that supports the upper portion of the right shock
absorbing device 34 so
as to turn about the right steering axis;
the left side member 53 that supports the upper portion of the left shock
absorbing device 33 so as
to turn about the left steering axis;
the upper cross member 51 that supports the upper portion of the right side
member 54 at the right
end portion thereof so as to turn about the right upper axis that extends in
the front-and-rear
direction of the body frame 21 and supports the upper portion of the left side
member 53 at the left
end portion thereof so as to turn about the left upper axis that is parallel
to the right upper axis and
that is supported on the body frame 21 at the middle portion thereof so as to
turn about the middle
upper axis Mu that is parallel to the right upper axis and the left upper
axis; and
the lower cross member 52 that supports the lower portion of the right side
member 54 at the right
end portion thereof so as to turn about the right lower axis that is parallel
to the right upper axis and
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
31
supports the lower portion of the left side member 53 so as to turn about the
left lower axis that is
parallel to the left upper axis and that is supported on the body frame 21 at
the middle portion
thereof so as to turn about the middle lower axis Md that is parallel to the
middle upper axis Mu.
[0102]
<Details of Body Frame 21>
Next, the body frame 21 will be described in detail.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the body frame 21. Fig. 9 is a front view
showing a front
portion of the body frame 21.
As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the body frame 21 has a main frame 40, an upper
bracket 41, a
connecting bracket 70 and the link supporting portion 212. The main frame 40
extends in at least
the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle 1.
[0103]
The main frame 40 supports a vehicle mounted part such as the engine unit 25
(refer to Fig.
1). The main frame 40 has a right frame 40R and a left frame 40L that is
provided on the left of the
.. right frame 40R. A front upper portion of the right frame 40R and a front
upper portion of the left
frame 40L are connected to an upper portion of the link supporting portion 212
via the upper
bracket 41. A front lower portion of the right frame 40R and a front lower
portion of the left frame
40L are connected to a lower portion of the link supporting portion 212 via
the connecting bracket
70.
[0104]
In this embodiment, the right frame 40R and the left frame 40L are each made
up of a
plurality of metallic pipes that are connected to one another.
The right frame 40R extends in at least the front-and-rear direction of the
vehicle 1. The
right frame 40R supports right portions of the vehicle mounted parts excluding
the body frame 21.
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
32
The left frame 40L is provided directly on the left of the vehicle 1 relative
to the right frame
40R. The left frame 40L extends in at least the front-and-rear direction of
the vehicle 1. The left
frame 40L supports left portions of the vehicle mounted parts excluding the
body frame 21.
In this embodiment, the right frame 40R and the left frame 40L support the
engine unit 25
(refer to Fig. 1) and a rear bracket 49 as vehicle mounted parts.
[0105]
<Right Frame 40R and Left Frame 40L>
In this embodiment, the right frame 40R has a configuration that is laterally
symmetrical
with that of the left frame 40L. Due to this, the left frame 40L will be
described below by the use of
Fig. 8, and a detailed description of the right frame 40R will be omitted
here. For reference
numerals of respective members of the right frame 40R, R is given in place of
L at the end of each
of reference numerals given to respective corresponding members of the left
frame 40L.
[0106]
The left frame 40L has a left upper frame 42L, a left lower frame 43L, a left
engine
supporting portion 44L and left vertical frames 45L.
The left upper frame 42L and the left lower frame 43L extend in the front-and-
rear direction
of the vehicle 1. The left upper frame 42L and the left lower frame 43L are
formed of a pipe material.
The left engine supporting portion 44L is provided on the left upper frame 42L
at a middle portion of
the left upper frame 42L in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle 1.
[0107]
The left engine supporting portion 44L is formed by welding two pipe materials
to the left
upper frame 42L. A first left fastening hole 44b is provided in the left
engine supporting portion 44L,
so that a first fastening bolt is inserted through the first left fastening
hole 44b to be fastened to a
left portion of the engine unit 25. A second left fastening hole 43b is
provided at a rear end of the left
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
. 33
lower frame 43L, so that a second fastening bolt is inserted through the
second left fastening hole
43b to be fastened to the left portion of the engine unit 25. The left portion
of the engine unit 25 is
supported on the left frame 40L by the first fastening bolt and the second
fastening bolt. The engine
unit 25 is fixed to the left engine supporting portion 44L of the body frame
21 so as not to be
displaced.
[0108]
The two left vertical frames 45L connect the left engine supporting portion
44L and the left
lower frame 43L together. The left vertical frames 45L are formed of a pipe
material. The left engine
supporting portion 44L and upper portions of the left vertical frames 45L are
connected together
and the left lower frame 43L is connected to lower portion of the left
vertical frames 45L.
[0109]
The rear bracket 49 is connected to a rear end of the left upper frame 42L.
The left frame
40L supports a left portion of the rear bracket 49. A rear suspension device
suspends the rear
wheel 4 and is attached to the rear bracket 49.
[0110]
<Upper Bracket 41>
The upper bracket 41 connects a front portion of the right upper frame 42R and
a front
portion of the left upper frame 42L to the link supporting portion 212. The
upper bracket 41 is a
monolithic metallic member formed through casting. The upper bracket 41 is
welded to a rear
surface of an upper portion of the link supporting portion 212. Two insertion
holes 41ar, 41a1
opening to the rear are provided in a rear portion of the upper bracket 41.
The front portion of the
right upper frame 42R and the front portion of the left upper frame 42L are
welded to the upper
bracket 41 while being inserted into the corresponding insertion holes 41ar,
41al, respectively. The
link supporting portion 212 is connected to the right upper frame 42R and the
left upper frame 42L
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
34
via the upper bracket 41.
[0111]
<Link Supporting Portion 212>
The link supporting portion 212 is a member that extends in the up-and-down
direction of
the body frame 21. The link supporting portion 212 is provided ahead of front
ends 40RF, 4OLF of
the right frame 40R and the left frame 40L. In this embodiment, a frontmost
portion of a portion of
the right lower frame 43R formed of a pipe material that is exposed to an
exterior is called the front
end 40RF of the right frame 40R. A frontmost portion of a portion of the left
lower frame 43L formed
of a pipe material that is exposed to an exterior is called the front end 4OLF
of the left frame 40L.
<Connecting Bracket 70>
The connecting bracket 70 connects a front portion of the right lower frame
43R and a front
portion of the left lower frame 43L of the link supporting portion 212 to the
link supporting portion
212. The connecting bracket 70 is, for example, a monolithic metallic member
formed through
casting. The connecting bracket 70 is welded to a rear surface of a lower
portion of the link
supporting portion 212. Two insertion holes 43ar, 43a1 opening to the rear are
provided in a rear
portion of the connecting bracket 70. The front end 40RF of the right upper
frame 43R and the front
end 4OLF of the left upper frame 42L are welded to the connecting bracket 70
while being inserted
into the corresponding insertion holes 43ar, 43a1, respectively. The link
supporting portion 212 is
connected to the right lower frame 43R and the left lower frame 43L via the
connecting bracket 70.
[0112]
<Waterproof Cover 90>
As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the vehicle 1 has a waterproof cover 90. The
waterproof cover
90 is attached to a portion of the body frame 21. The waterproof cover 90
includes a right
waterproof cover 90R and a left waterproof cover 90L that is separate from the
right waterproof
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
35
cover 90R. The right waterproof cover 90R and the left waterproof cover 90L
are formed from, for
example, resin. In this embodiment, the right waterproof cover 90R is separate
from the body cover
22, and the left waterproof cover 90L is separate from the body cover 22.
[0113]
The right waterproof cover 90R is attached to a portion of the vehicle 1. As
shown in Fig. 9,
the right waterproof cover 90R is mounted in a position where at least a
portion of the right
waterproof cover 90R overlaps the right side member 54, when looking at the
vehicle 1 standing in
the upright state from the front of the vehicle 1. The left waterproof cover
90L is mounted in a
position where at least a portion of the left waterproof cover 90L overlaps
the left side member 53,
when looking at the vehicle 1 standing in the upright state from the front of
the vehicle 1.
[0114]
It is preferable that a right edge of the right waterproof cover 90R is
positioned on the right
of a right edge of the right side member 54 when the vehicle 1 stands in the
upright state. It is
preferable that a left edge of the right waterproof cover 90R is position on
the left of a left edge of
the right side member 54 when the vehicle 1 is caused to lean to the right or
the left to a maximum
extent. It is preferable that the upper edge of the right waterproof cover 90R
is position above the
upper edge of the right side member 54 when the vehicle 1 is caused to lean to
the right to the
maximum extent. It is preferable that a lower edge of the right waterproof
cover 90R is positioned
below a lower edge of the right side member 54 when the vehicle 1 is caused to
lean to the left to
the maximum extent. By adopting this configuration, no matter which posture
the vehicle 1 takes,
the right side member 54 overlaps the right waterproof cover 90R at all times
when looking at the
vehicle 1 from the front of the vehicle 1.
[0115]
It is preferable that a left edge of the left waterproof cover 90L is
positioned on the left of a
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
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left edge of the left side member 53 when the vehicle 1 stands in the upright
state. It is preferable
that a right edge of the left waterproof cover 90L is positioned on the right
of a right edge of the left
side member 53 when the vehicle 1 is caused to lean to the right or the left
to a maximum extent. It
is preferable that an upper edge of the left waterproof cover 90L is
positioned above an upper edge
of the left side member 53 when the vehicle 1 is caused to lean to the left to
the maximum extent. It
is preferable that a lower edge of the left waterproof cover 90L is positioned
below a lower edge of
the left side member 53 when the vehicle 1 is caused to lean to the right to
the maximum extent. By
adopting this configuration, no matter which posture the vehicle 1 takes, the
left side member 53
overlaps the left waterproof cover 90L at all times when looking at the
vehicle 1 from the front of the
vehicle 1.
[0116]
When the vehicle 1 standing in the upright state is seen from a left side of
the vehicle 1 as
shown in Fig. 8, the right waterproof cover 90R is attached to a portion of
the body frame 21 that is
positioned behind a rear end of the right side member 54 and ahead of a right
engine supporting
portion 44R of the body frame 21. In this embodiment, the right waterproof
cover 90R is attached to
the upper bracket 41 and the connecting bracket 70.
[0117]
When the vehicle 1 standing in the upright state is seen from the left side of
the vehicle 1
as shown in Fig. 8, the left waterproof cover 90L is attached to a portion of
the body frame 21 that is
positioned behind a rear end of the left side member 53 and ahead of a left
engine supporting
portion 44L of the body frame 21. In this embodiment, the left waterproof
cover 90L is attached to
the upper bracket 41 and the connecting bracket 70.
[0118]
The vehicle 1 has a fuel tank (whose illustration is omitted) disposed
directly above the
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
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engine unit (an engine) 25. The fuel tank is covered by an upper cover 93
(refer to Fig. 1) that is
made up of a portion of the body cover 22. The right waterproof cover 90R and
the left waterproof
cover 90L are separate from the body cover 22 having the upper cover 93.
[0119]
The vehicle 1 constructed in the way described heretofore has a rigid engine
structure in
which the engine unit 25 is fixed to the engine supporting portions 44L, 44R
so as not to be
displaced directly behind the link mechanism 5 on the body frame 21. In the
vehicle 1 having the
rigid engine structure, the inventor has found out a likelihood that a portion
of the body frame 21
tends to rust easily as below.
[0120]
In the vehicle 1 having the rigid engine structure, the body frame 21 is
heated by heat that
the engine unit 25 emits. The inventor has paid attention to a possibility
that the body frame 21
rusts when the body frame 21 is heated so.
[0121]
The inventor has made every possible effort to study the occurrence of rust
and has
noticed that rust tends to be caused at a location that satisfies three
conditions: the location is
exposed to a certain degree of temperature; the location is splashed with
water; and the location is
not dried quickly.
[0122]
It is preferable that the engine unit 25 is supported with a wide span. On the
other hand, it
is preferable that the vehicle 1 is not expanded widthwise. Additionally, the
engine unit 25 should be
cooled positively. When attempting to provide a cover, a space where to
accommodate the cover is
necessary, and the cover cuts off a flow of running air. Then, the periphery
of the supporting portion
of the engine unit 25 is not covered with a cover on many occasions. Due to
this, a body frame
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
38
portion 21 of the body frame 21 that supports the engine unit 25 is not
covered to be exposed to
outside air. Additionally, heat is conducted sufficiently to the body frame
portion 21 and is hence
easy to be dried. Due to this, this body frame portion tends to be subjected
to a flow of outside air
and be dried easily, and hence, the body frame portion does not rust easily.
[0123]
On the other hand, the heat of the engine unit 25 is not easily conducted to a
body frame
portion lying on the periphery of the link mechanism 5 disposed far away from
the engine unit 25,
and hence, this body frame portion does not rust easily.
[0124]
The inventor has noticed that a middle body frame portion lying in the middle
of the body
frame 21 between the engine unit 25 and the link mechanism 5 (hereinafter,
referred to as a middle
body frame portion) tends to rust easily when compared with the two body frame
portions described
above. The reason that the middle body frame portion tends to rust easily is
as follows.
[0125]
The middle body frame portion extends from the portion where to support the
link
mechanism 5 towards the engine supporting portions 44L, 44R and is inevitably
positioned directly
behind the link mechanism 5 on the body frame 21.
[0126]
Water splashed up by the right front wheel 32 adheres to the right side member
54, and
water carried by running air to spread from this right side member 54 adheres
to the middle body
frame portion. Alternatively, water splashed up by the right front wheel 32
flies directly to the middle
body frame portion to adhere to it. Similarly, water splashed up by the left
front wheel 31 adheres to
the left side member 53, and water carried by running air to spread from the
left side member 53
adheres to the middle body frame portion. Alternatively, water splashed up by
the left front wheel 31
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
39
flies directly to the middle body frame portion to adhere to it. Water
splashed up by tires contains
mud, and hence, the body frame 21 is caused to rust easily.
[0127]
Further, the middle frame portion is warmed to a certain degree of
temperature. At least
part of running air that flows to the link mechanism 5 from the front is
interrupted by the link
mechanism 5. Namely, a space directly behind the link mechanism 5 constitutes
originally an area
into which air does not tend to flow easily. When the vehicle 1 is at a halt,
air that flows in from the
front is interrupted by the link mechanism 5 and does not flow into the space
easily, whereby air in
the space tends to get stagnant easily. In addition, when the vehicle 1 is
running, water adhering to
the right side member 54 and the left side member 53 is carried by running air
that has passed
through the link mechanism 5 to spread to the middle body frame portion to
adhere to it. With the
vehicle 1 standing at a halt, the air in the space remains stagnant, and this
halt state tends to
extend longer than the running state of the vehicle 1 in general. Namely, the
middle body frame
portion holds the condition where the middle body frame portion is not dried
easily over a long
period of time.
In this way, the middle body frame portion satisfies the three conditions: the
middle body
frame portion is warmed to a certain degree of temperature; water adheres to
the middle body
frame portion; and the middle body frame portion is not dried easily. The
inventor has noticed from
these situations that a rust preventive measure should be taken particularly
on the middle body
frame portion.
[0128]
In this embodiment, the waterproof cover 90 is mounted on the middle body
frame portion
of the body frame 21 in the position where the waterproof cover 90 overlaps at
least partially at
least one of the right side member 54 and the left side member 53 when the
vehicle 1 standing in
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
40
the upright state is seen from the front of the vehicle 1. Due to this, even
though water adhering to
the right side member 54 and the left side member 53 is carried by running air
to spread to the rear,
the water adheres to the waterproof cover 90, whereby the middle body frame
portion, which would
tend to rust easily otherwise, is prevented from being splashed with the
water. This can restrain the
middle body frame portion from rusting.
[0129]
Here, when looking at the vehicle 1 from the front of the vehicle 1, the body
cover 22 opens
to the front so that at least a portion of the link mechanism 5 is exposed. In
addition, the body cover
22 defines a gap between an upper edge of the right front wheel 32 and an
upper edge of the left
front wheel 31 and a lower edge of a front portion of the body frame 22, when
the vehicle 1 standing
in the upright state is not steered. This makes the body cover 22 compact in
configuration.
[0130]
In the vehicle 1 including the body cover 22 configured in the way described
above, some
of scattering drops of muddy water splashed up by the right front wheel 32
adhere directly to the
right side member 54 and others are carried to a space defined between the
right front wheel 32
and the left front wheel 31. In addition, some of scattering drops of muddy
water splashed up by the
left front wheel 31 adhere directly to the left side member 53 and others are
carried to the space
defined between the right front wheel 32 and the left front wheel 31. The
scattering drops of muddy
water carried to the space between the right front wheel 32 and the left front
wheel 31 are carried
further around to the front of the link mechanism 5 by running air. Then, the
scattering drops of
muddy water enter an inside of the body cover 22 from the opening in the body
cover 22 to adhere
to the link mechanism 5. Thus, muddy water adheres to the engine supporting
portions 44R, 44L
through the route described above.
[0131]
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
41
In this embodiment, however, the muddy water that enters from the opening in
the body
cover 22 to adhere to the link mechanism 5 comes to adhere to the waterproof
cover 90, and thus,
it becomes difficult for the muddy water to be splashed over the middle body
frame portion. This
can restrain the middle body frame portion of the body frame 21 that tends to
rust easily from
rusting.
[0132]
The vehicle 1 has a so-called outboard suspension system in which the right
shock
absorbing device 34 is provided directly on the right of the right front wheel
32 and the left shock
absorbing device 33 is provided directly on the left of the left front wheel
31.
Being different from what is described in this embodiment, a vehicle having a
right shock
absorbing device provided on the left of a right front wheel 32 and a left
shock absorbing device
provided on the right of a left front wheel 31 is called a vehicle having an
inboard suspension
system from time to time. In the vehicle having the inboard suspension system,
water splashed up
by the right front wheel 32 adheres to the right shock absorbing device, and
water splashed up by
the left front wheel 31 adheres to the left shock absorbing device. Due to
this, in the vehicle having
the inboard suspension system, scattering drops of muddy water are not allowed
to enter a space
defined between the right front wheel 32 and the left front wheel 31 easily.
However, in the vehicle 1 having the outboard suspension system in this
embodiment,
scattering drops of muddy water splashed up by the right front wheel 32 are
not interrupted by
anything and are allowed to enter the space defined between the right front
wheel 32 and the left
front wheel 31. In addition, scattering drops of muddy water splashed up by
the left front wheel 31
are not interrupted by anything and are allowed to enter the relevant space.
In this way, in the
vehicle 1 having the outboard suspension system, scattering drops of muddy
water enters easily
the space between the right front wheel 32 and the left front wheel 31 to
adhere to the middle body
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
42
frame portion. Due to this, the waterproof cover 90 of the invention is
effective on the vehicle 1
having the outboard suspension system.
[0133]
A certain design property and a good external appearance are required on the
body cover
22, and therefore, the shape of the body cover 22 and painting applied to the
body cover 22 are
regarded as important factors. The waterproof cover 90 is separate from the
upper cover 93 of the
body cover 22. Therefore, the shape of the waterproof cover 90 can be designed
freely without
being restrained by the design property and the good external appearance
required on the body
cover 22. Additionally, the shape of the upper cover 93 can be designed
separately from the shape
of the waterproof cover 90, a highly design-oriented shape can easily be
realized for the upper
cover 93.
[0134]
Further, the waterproof cover 90 has the right waterproof cover 90R and the
left waterproof
cover 90L which are separate from each other. When looking at the vehicle 1
standing upright from
the front of the vehicle 1, the right waterproof cover 90R is positioned so as
to overlap the right side
member 54, and the left waterproof cover 90L is positioned so as to overlap
the left side member 53.
In this way, since the waterproof cover 90 of this embodiment is separated
laterally in the
left-and-right direction, the waterproof cover 90 can be prevented from being
enlarged in size and
hence can be made compact in size.
[0135]
In the embodiment described heretofore, the vehicle 1 is described as the
vehicle having
the so-called outboard suspension system, however, needless to say, the
invention may be applied
to a vehicle having a so-called inboard suspension system.
[0136]
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
43
In the embodiment described heretofore, the vehicle 1 is described as being
the vehicle 1
with the fairing in which the periphery of the steering force transmission
mechanism 6 is covered by
the front cover 221, however, the invention may be applied to a naked type
vehicle in which the
steering force transmission mechanism 6 is exposed to an exterior.
[0137]
In the embodiment described heretofore, the vehicle 1 includes the single rear
wheel 4.
However, the number of rear wheels may be plural.
[0138]
In the embodiment described above, the center of the rear wheel 4 in relation
to the
left-and-right direction of the body frame 21 coincides with the center of the
distance defined
between the left front wheel 31 and the right front wheel 32 in relation to
the left-and-right direction
of the body frame 21. Although the configuration described above is
preferable, the center of the
rear wheel 4 in relation to the left-and-right direction of the body frame 21
may not coincide with the
center of the distance defined between the left front wheel 31 and the right
front wheel 32 in relation
to the left-and-right direction of the body frame 21.
[0139]
In the embodiment described above, the link mechanism 5 includes the upper
cross
member 51 and the lower cross member 52. However, the link mechanism 5 may
include a cross
member other than the upper cross member 51 and the lower cross member 52. The
"upper cross
member" and the "lower cross member" are merely so called based on their
relative positional
relationship in the up-and-down direction. The upper cross member is not
intended to imply an
uppermost cross member in the link mechanism 5. The upper cross member means a
cross
member that lies above a cross member that lies therebelow. The lower cross
member is not
intended to imply a lowermost cross member in the link mechanism 5. The lower
cross member
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
44
means a cross member that lies below another cross member that lies
thereabove. At least one of
the upper cross member 51 and the lower cross member 52 may be made up of two
members of a
right cross member and a left cross member. In this way, the upper cross
member 51 and the lower
cross member 52 may be made up of a plurality of cross members as long as they
maintain the link
function.
[0140]
When the word of "parallel" is used in this description, it means that
"parallel" also includes
two straight lines which do not intersect each other as members while they are
inclined within an
angular range of 40 degrees. When "along" is used in relation to a direction
or a member in this
specification, it means that a case is also included where the direction or
the member is inclined
within an angular range of 40 degrees. When the expression reading
"something extends in a
certain direction" is used in this specification, it means that a case is also
included where something
extends in the certain direction while being inclined within an angular range
of 40 degrees with
respect to the certain direction.
[0141]
The terms and expressions that are used herein are used to describe the
embodiment of
the invention and hence should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention. It should be
understood that any equivalents to the characteristic matters which are shown
and described
herein should not be excluded and that various modifications within the scope
of claims to be made
later are permitted. The invention can be embodied in many different forms.
[0142]
This disclosure should be understood to provide the embodiment according to
the principle
of the invention. The embodiment of the invention is described herein based on
the understanding
that the invention is not intended to be limited to the preferred embodiment
so described and/or
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
45
illustrated herein. The invention is not limited to the embodiment that has
been described
heretofore. The invention also includes every embodiment that includes
equivalent elements,
modifications, deletions, combinations, improvements and/or alternations that
those skilled in the
art to which the invention pertains can recognize based on the disclosure
herein. The !imitative
matters of claims should be construed widely based on terms used in the claims
and hence should
not be limited by the embodiments described in this specification or the
prosecution of this patent
application.
[Description of Reference Numerals and Characters]
[0143]
1 VEHICLE
2 Vehicle main body portion
3 Front wheel
4 Rear wheel
5 Link mechanism
6 Steering force transmission mechanism
21 Body frame
22 Body cover
23 Handlebar
24 Seat
25 Engine unit
31 Left front wheel
32 Right front wheel
33 Left shock absorbing device
34 Right shock absorbing device
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
46
40 Main frame
40L Left frame
40R Right frame
41 Upper bracket
42L Left upper frame
42R Right upper frame
43L Left lower frame
43R Right lower frame
44L Left engine supporting portion
44R Right engine supporting portion
45L Left vertical frame
49 Rear bracket
51 Upper cross member
52 Lower cross member
53 Left side member
54 Right side member
60 Upstream side steering shaft
61 Middle transmission plate
62 Left transmission plate
63 Right transmission plate
64 Middle joint
65 Left joint
66 Right joint
67 Tie-rod
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
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68 Downstream side steering shaft
70 Connecting bracket
80 Connecting member
90L Left waterproof cover
90R Right waterproof cover
93 Upper cover
211 Headstock
212 Link supporting portion
221 Front cover
223 Front fender
224 Rear fender
311 Left axle member
317 Left bracket
321 Right axle member
327 Right bracket
Left extension and contraction axis
Right extension and contraction axis
X Left steering axis
Right steering axis
CA 3022051 2018-10-25
