Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016152126-A1
Application number	US-201514941848-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 16, 2015
Priority date	Nov 28, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle includes a body frame, an engine, a transmission, a transmission case, and a shift actuator. The engine includes an engine case attached to the body frame, and a crankshaft supported by the engine case. The transmission case is spaced apart from the engine case, and houses the transmission. The shift actuator is connected to a shift drum of the transmission. At least a portion of the transmission case overlaps with the engine case as viewed along the axis of the crankshaft. The shift actuator is fixed to the transmission case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle comprising:
a body frame; an engine including:
an engine case attached to the body frame; and
a crankshaft disposed inside and supported by the engine case;
a transmission including:
a main shaft provided with a plurality of first gears including a first movable gear that is axially movable, the main shaft being rotatable by a driving force from the crankshaft;
a drive shaft provided with a plurality of second gears including a second movable gear that is axially movable, the second gears intermeshing with the first gears; and
a shift drum in engagement with a shift fork that is in engagement with the first and second gears;
a transmission case spaced apart from the engine case and housing the transmission; and a shift actuator connected to the shift drum and being rotatable with the shift drum; wherein at least a portion of the transmission case overlaps with the engine case when viewed along an axis of the crankshaft; and the shift actuator is fixed to the transmission case.

2 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the shift actuator overlaps with the engine case when viewed along the axis of the crankshaft.

3 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the crankshaft extends in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

4 . The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the transmission case is disposed forward of the engine case.

5 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a first seat on which a driver sits, wherein the first seat is supported by the body frame, and the engine case is disposed rearward of the first seat.

6 . The vehicle according to claim 5 , further comprising a second seat disposed rightward of the first seat; wherein
at least a portion of the transmission case is disposed between the first seat and the second seat in a width direction of the vehicle.

7 . The vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising a shift operating element that is operated by the driver and transmits a signal to the shift actuator in response to an operation performed by the driver; wherein
the transmission case is disposed lower than the shift operating element.

8 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a clutch inside the transmission case, wherein the clutch is disposed closer to the engine than the shift drum is to the engine.

9 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the first gear of the main shaft is disposed between the shift actuator and the clutch along an axis of the main shaft.

10 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the shift actuator is disposed lower than an upper end of the engine.

11 . The vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the shift actuator is disposed lower than an upper end of the first seat.

12 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the shift actuator includes an electric motor that includes a motor shaft, and the motor shaft is parallel or substantially parallel to the main shaft.

13 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the shift actuator includes an output shaft that outputs a driving force;
the transmission includes an input shaft connected to the shift drum; and the vehicle further comprises a shift rod including:
a first connector connected to the output shaft; and
a second connector connected to the input shaft.

14 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the clutch is a hydraulic clutch, and the vehicle further comprises:
a hydraulic clutch actuator fixed to the body frame, the clutch actuator engaging and disengaging the clutch; and a pipe connected to the clutch actuator and the clutch.

15 . The vehicle according to claim 14 , further comprising a reserve tank connected to the clutch actuator, wherein the reserve tank supplies hydraulic oil to the clutch actuator, and the reserve tank is fixed to the body frame at a position higher than the clutch actuator.

16 . The vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the clutch actuator overlaps with the engine case when viewed along the axis of the crankshaft.

17 . The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the body frame includes:
a first subframe extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; a second subframe disposed rightward of the first subframe, and extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; a first fixation member fixed to the first subframe and the second subframe, and extending in a width direction of the vehicle; and a second fixation member disposed rearward of the first fixation member, fixed to the first subframe and the second subframe, and extending in the width direction of the vehicle; the transmission case is supported by the first fixation member; and the engine case is supported by the second fixation member.

18 . The vehicle according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a first seat on which a driver sits, the first seat being supported by the body frame; and a steering wheel disposed forward of a rear end of the first seat and that is operated by the driver; wherein the first fixation member is disposed rearward of the steering wheel; and the second fixation member is disposed rearward of the first seat.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tanaka Daisuke
• Yoshida Masahiro

Classifications

• B60K17/02

  characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch · CPC title

• B60K5/02 Primary

  with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, substantially in or parallel to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60N2/005

  Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles {, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats}(B60N2/02 takes precedence {; for railway vehicles B61D1/04}) · CPC title

• B60K2005/003

  the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle · CPC title

• F16H63/08

  Multiple final output mechanisms being moved by a single common final actuating mechanism · CPC title