Straddle-type vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144473-B2
Application number	US-201315036715-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2013
Priority date	Nov 15, 2013
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A straddle-type vehicle includes a front cowling covering a front portion of a vehicle body; and an aerodynamic device including an aerodynamic force generating section which generates a downforce by air flowing in a rearward direction along an upper surface of the front cowling, and the aerodynamic force generating section is placed to overlap with the upper surface of the front cowling, when viewed from above.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A straddle-type vehicle comprising:
a front cowling covering a front portion of a vehicle body; and
at least one aerodynamic device including a base section which is fastened to the front cowling, an aerodynamic force generating section which generates a downforce by air flowing in a rearward direction along an upper surface of the front cowling, and a rotation mechanism which rotates the aerodynamic force generating section relative to the base section,
wherein the aerodynamic force generating section is placed to overlap with the upper surface of the front cowling, when viewed from above,
wherein the front cowling guides the air to a lower surface of the aerodynamic force generating section,
wherein the rotation mechanism is configured in a manner such that the aerodynamic device may be selectively placed in a first state in which a dimension of the aerodynamic force generating section in a rightward and leftward direction is greater, or in a second state in which the dimension of the aerodynamic force generating section in the rightward and leftward direction is smaller,
wherein a dimension in a forward and rearward direction, of a base end portion of the aerodynamic force generating section in the first state is smaller than a dimension in the forward and rearward direction, of a tip end portion of the aerodynamic force generating section in the first state, and
wherein the second state is a state in which the aerodynamic device is retracted so as not to protrude in an outward direction of the rightward and leftward direction from the front cowling.

2. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the upper surface of the front cowling has a shape in which a width in the rightward and leftward direction is increased from a front end portion of the front cowling toward a rear portion of the front cowling, and
wherein the aerodynamic force generating section is located rearward relative to the front end portion of the front cowling and extends from a side portion of the front cowling in the rightward and leftward direction to an outward region in the rightward and leftward direction.

3. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising:
a wind shield mounted to the front cowling,
wherein the at least one aerodynamic device includes a pair of right and left aerodynamic devices mounted to the front cowling,
wherein the aerodynamic force generating section extends in the outward direction of the rightward and leftward direction, from a side portion of the front cowling in the rightward and leftward direction, and
wherein the base end portion of the aerodynamic force generating section is located outward in the rightward and leftward direction relative to the wind shield.

4. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the aerodynamic force generating section has an inverted-wing shape in which a dimension of the front portion in a vertical direction is decreased as the front portion extends in a forward direction, and a dimension of a rear portion in the vertical direction is decreased as the rear portion extends in the rearward direction, and
wherein the front cowling is provided with a guide section at a location that is in front of the aerodynamic force generating section, to guide the air to the aerodynamic force generating section.

5. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the aerodynamic device further includes the base section extending continuously from the aerodynamic force generating section and fastened to the front cowling.

6. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the front cowling or the aerodynamic device is provided with a guide section located in front of the aerodynamic device to guide the air to the aerodynamic force generating section.

7. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the aerodynamic device has a protruding portion protruding in the outward direction of the rightward and leftward direction from the front cowling, and is configured to be retractable in such a manner that a dimension of the protruding portion in the rightward and leftward direction is variable.

8. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the tip end portion of the aerodynamic force generating section is provided with a mirror housing holding a mirror.

9. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 8 ,
wherein the mirror is displaceably mounted to the mirror housing.

10. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising:
a wind shield mounted to the front cowling,
wherein the aerodynamic force generating section is located below an upper end of the wind shield.

11. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the aerodynamic force generating section is located adjacent to the front cowling in a vertical direction.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Ishii Hiroshi
• Yamamoto Tomo
• Saeki Daisuke
• Nagata Taku
• Sonoda Seiichi
• Yoshida Akira
• Morikawa Manabu

Classifications

• B62J17/02

  shielding only the rider's front · CPC title

• B62J17/04 Primary

  Windscreens · CPC title

• B62J17/00

  Weather guards for riders; Fairings or stream-lining parts not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62J29/00

  Adaptations or arrangements of mirrors for use on cycles · CPC title

• B62J17/10 Primary

  Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings · CPC title