Internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11008064-B2
Application number	US-201816645148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2018
Priority date	Sep 8, 2017
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

An internal combustion engine for being mounted laterally on a saddle-type vehicle includes an AC generator disposed on an end portion of a crankshaft which is supported in a crankcase. An ACG cover covers the AC generator from outside widthwise across the vehicle. The ACG cover includes an electric power transmission line cover bulging portion covering electric power transmission lines extending to the ACG cover and bulging sideways outwardly widthwise across the vehicle. A crank angle sensor is disposed behind the electric power transmission line cover bulging portion in a vehicle front-back direction. The crank angle sensor is thus protected from flying stones, etc. without an increase in the number of parts used and an increase in the weight of the internal combustion engine.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine for being mounted laterally on a saddle-type vehicle with a crankshaft oriented widthwise across the vehicle and rotatably supported by a crankcase, wherein
an AC generator is disposed on an end portion of the crankshaft which extends through and projects out of the crankcase,
an ACG cover covers the AC generator from outside widthwise across the vehicle,
electric power transmission lines extend from the AC generator and are covered with an electric power transmission line cover bulging portion bulging sideways outwardly widthwise across the vehicle of the ACG cover,
a crank angle sensor for detecting rotational angles of the crankshaft is disposed behind the electric power transmission line cover bulging portion in a vehicle front-back direction,
the crank angle sensor includes a proximity sensor,
the crank angle sensor is fittingly inserted in the ACG cover in a posture oriented toward a crankshaft center of the crankshaft,
the AC generator includes an outer rotor rotatable in unison with the crankshaft, the outer rotor having an outer circumferential surface having a plurality of detectable protrusions arrayed circumferentially thereon, and
the crank angle sensor is mounted on the ACG cover and has a detector ( 45 s ) facing the outer circumferential surface of the outer rotor.

2. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the crank angle sensor is disposed inwardly widthwise across the vehicle of an outermost portion widthwise across the vehicle of the electric power transmission line cover bulging portion.

3. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
the crank angle sensor is disposed in a position higher than the crankshaft center of the crankshaft.

4. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
at least one cooling water hose of a cooling system of the internal combustion engine is disposed outwardly widthwise across the vehicle of the crank angle sensor.

5. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the crank angle sensor is disposed in a position higher than the crankshaft center of the crankshaft.

6. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein
at least one cooling water hose of a cooling system of the internal combustion engine is disposed outwardly widthwise across the vehicle of the crank angle sensor.

7. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 5 , wherein
a starter motor is mounted on the crankcase and has a motor output shaft parallel to the crankshaft, and
a direction in which the crank angle sensor is fittingly inserted in the ACG cover extends at an acute angle with respect to a straight line interconnecting the crankshaft center of the crankshaft and an output shaft center of the motor output shaft.

8. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 7 , wherein
a speed reducer gear mechanism for transmitting rotation at a reduced speed is disposed between the motor output shaft and the crankshaft, and
the ACG cover integrally includes a cover portion that covers the speed reducer gear mechanism.

9. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 7 , wherein
at least one cooling water hose of a cooling system of the internal combustion engine is disposed outwardly widthwise across the vehicle of the crank angle sensor.

10. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8 , wherein
at least one cooling water hose of a cooling system of the internal combustion engine is disposed outwardly widthwise across the vehicle of the crank angle sensor.

11. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
at least one cooling water hose of a cooling system of the internal combustion engine is disposed outwardly widthwise across the vehicle of the crank angle sensor.

12. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
the cooling water hose overlaps at least a portion of the crank angle sensor, as viewed in side elevation.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tajiri Kazuya
• Takano Yuki
• Cho Masaki
• Natsui Hiroyuki
• Sasaki Tomiyuki

Classifications

• B62J23/00

  Other protectors specially adapted for cycles · CPC title

• F01P11/04

  Arrangements of liquid pipes or hoses · CPC title

• F01P2050/16

  Motor-cycles · CPC title

• F01P7/16

  by thermostatic control · CPC title

• B62J45/413

  Rotation sensors · CPC title