Straddle vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858585-B2
Application number	US-202117370264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2021
Priority date	Jul 10, 2020
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

Provided is a straddle vehicle that allows for high design flexibility, that can absorb strong shocks applied in the up-down direction, and that can avoid contacting obstacles on the ground. The straddle vehicle includes a supported structure and a shock absorber. The supported structure includes a first element that performs a first function and a second element that performs a second function, the second element being located above a rear of the first element. The shock absorber includes an upper mounting portion and a lower mounting portion. The lower mounting portion of the shock absorber is connected to a swing arm, and the upper mounting portion of the shock absorber is connected to the second element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A straddle vehicle comprising:
a front wheel;
a rear wheel;
a vehicle body frame;
a suspension structure including a swing arm rotatably supporting the rear wheel and a shock absorber to absorb shocks applied to the swing arm through the rear wheel, the swing arm being elastically suspended on the vehicle body frame via the shock absorber;
a supported structure supported by the vehicle body frame; and
a plate-shaped bridge structure extending in an up-down direction,
wherein the supported structure includes a first element and a second element located above the first element,
wherein at least one of the first element or the second element is a motor that produces rotational drive power to be transmitted to the rear wheel,
wherein the bridge structure is located behind the first and second elements and mounted on both the first and second elements to bridge the first and second elements in the up-down direction,
wherein the shock absorber includes an upper mounting portion and a lower mounting portion,
wherein the upper mounting portion of the shock absorber is connected to an upper end of the bridge structure, and
wherein the lower mounting portion of the shock absorber is connected to a lower end of the bridge structure via a link.

2. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first element includes a crankcase enclosing a crankshaft that produces rotational driver power to be transmitted to the rear wheel,
wherein the second element includes the motor including a drive shaft,
wherein the crankcase includes a support that supports the motor, and
wherein the upper mounting portion is located at a height above the support in the up-down direction.

3. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first element includes the motor including a drive shaft, and
wherein the second element includes a battery and a battery case enclosing the battery.

4. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second element includes the motor including a drive shaft, and
wherein the first element includes a battery and a battery case enclosing the battery.

5. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the upper mounting portion is located at a height above a connection portion at which the bridge structure is connected to the vehicle body frame.

6. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the lower mounting portion connected to the bridge structure via the link is further connected to the swing arm via the link.

7. The straddle vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a cylinder located above a front portion of the crankcase,
wherein the upper mounting portion is located at a height such that the upper mounting portion as viewed in a front-rear direction of the vehicle overlaps the cylinder.

8. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second elements are connected to each other at a point other than points where the bridge structure is connected to the first and second elements.

9. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the upper mounting portion is mounted to the bridge structure in a vicinity of the upper end of the bridge structure.

10. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge structure is located ahead of the shock absorber and extends in the up-down direction.

11. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the bridge structure extends along a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

12. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge structure is connected to the second element.

13. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the upper mounting portion of the shock absorber is mounted to the bridge structure at a height above a portion of the first element that faces the bridge structure.

14. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to the bridge structure.

15. The straddle vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge structure is made of a plastic.

16. A straddle vehicle comprising:
a front wheel;
a rear wheel;
a vehicle body frame;
a suspension structure including a swing arm rotatably supporting the rear wheel and a shock absorber to absorb shocks applied to the swing arm through the rear wheel, the swing arm being elastically suspended on the vehicle body frame via the shock absorber;
a supported structure supported by the vehicle body frame; and
a bridge structure,
wherein the supported structure includes a first element and a second element located above the first element,
wherein the bridge structure is located behind the first and second elements and mounted on both the first and second elements to bridge the first and second elements,
wherein the first element includes a crankcase enclosing a crankshaft that produces rotational driver power to be transmitted to the rear wheel,
wherein the second element includes a motor that produces rotational drive power to be transmitted to the rear wheel,
wherein the motor is located above the crankcase and supported by the crankcase, and
wherein the shock absorber includes an upper mounting portion connected to the motor via the bridge structure, the upper mounting portion being connected to the bridge structure at a height such that the upper mounting portion as viewed in a front-rear direction of the vehicle overlaps a cylinder located above a front portion of the crankcase.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Motors Ltd

Inventors

• Takeuchi Hiroshi

Classifications

• B62K25/10 Primary

  for rear wheel · CPC title

• B62J43/16

  on motorcycles or the like · CPC title

• B62K11/04

  characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels · CPC title

• B62K25/283 Primary

  for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles · CPC title

• B62K25/286

  the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism · CPC title