Straddle electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9238495-B2
Application number	US-201114369178-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2011
Priority date	Dec 28, 2011
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

A straddle electric vehicle includes a battery unit which is an electric power supply for an electric motor; a vehicle body frame including a main frame unitarily joined to a head pipe; and a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame. The main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame. A bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by use of driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:
a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;
a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe; and
a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame;
wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of a bolt;
wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame;
wherein at least the lower frame member of the main frame is composed of a pair of right and left lower frame members; and
wherein the bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the pair of right and left lower frame members.

2. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the down frame member is placed forward relative to the battery unit.

3. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the main frame includes a pair of right and left main frames, and the sub-frame includes a pair of right and left sub-frames; and
wherein the right and left sub-frames are detachably joined to the right and left main frames facing the right and left sub-frames, respectively.

4. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising:
a swing arm supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is rotatable; and
a swing arm bracket coupled to the swing arm such that the swing arm is pivotable;
wherein the lower frame member and the sub-frame are detachably joined to the swing arm bracket.

5. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by use of driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:
a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;
a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe; and
a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame;
a motor case accommodating the electric motor;
a swing arm supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is rotatable; and
a swing arm bracket coupled to the swing arm such that the swing arm is pivotable;
wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame;
wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame;
wherein the swing arm bracket is formed by at least a portion of the motor case; and
wherein a rear end portion of the lower frame member and a rear end portion of the sub-frame are detachably joined to the swing arm bracket formed by the portion of the motor case.

6. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 5 , comprising:
a transmission for changing a speed of a rotation of the electric motor;
wherein the motor case accommodates the transmission and the electric motor; and
wherein the electric motor and the transmission are arranged vertically.

7. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by use of driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:
a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;
a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe; and
a sub-frame extending rearward from an upper portion of the main frame, comprising:
a swing arm supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is rotatable; and
a swing arm bracket coupled to the swing arm such that the swing arm is pivotable;
wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member, and the sub-frame is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of a bolt;
wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame;
wherein the lower frame member and the sub-frame are detachably joined to the swine arm bracket; and
wherein the lower frame member is located below a pivot around which the swing arm is pivoted with respect to the swing arm bracket.

8. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by driving power generated by an electric motor, the straddle electric vehicle comprising:
a battery unit which is an electric power supply for the electric motor;
a vehicle body frame including a head pipe supporting a steering shaft for steering a front wheel such that the steering shaft is rotatable, and a main frame unitarily joined to the head pipe;
a sub-frame which is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of a detachable joining structure and provided between a front side of the vehicle body frame and a rear side of the vehicle body frame to couple the front side and the rear side;
wherein the main frame includes a down frame member extending downward from the head pipe and a lower frame member extending rearward from a lower end of the down frame member,
wherein a bottom portion of the battery unit is supported on the lower frame member of the main frame, and a side portion of the battery unit is covered with the sub-frame; and
wherein the sub-frame includes a left frame member and a right frame member, and only one of the left frame member and the right frame member is detachably joined to the vehicle body frame by use of the joining structure.

9. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 , comprising:
a stand device which inclines the vehicle body at one of right and left sides in a stopped state of the vehicle body;
wherein one of the left frame member and the right frame member is located at a side which is opposite to the right side or the left side at which the vehicle body is inclined by the stand device.

10. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 ,
wherein the sub-frame includes a left frame member, a right frame member, and a cross member coupling the left frame member to the right frame member.

11. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the joining structure includes a bolt, a pin, or a wedge.

12. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the joining structure is provided at front and rear end portions of the sub-frame.

Assignees

• Matsuda Yoshimoto
• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Matsuda Yoshimoto

Classifications

• B60L50/51

  characterised by AC-motors · CPC title

• B60L2240/36

  Temperature of vehicle components or parts · CPC title

• B60L3/0046

  relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title

• B60L50/64

  Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• B62K11/04

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