Straddle-type vehicle and method of manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9267469-B2
Application number	US-201414210677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A motorcycle includes a body frame, an engine, a lead-in duct, and an air cleaner case. An air cleaner includes a convex cleaner element protruding in a direction opposite to a direction extending toward the lead-in duct, and a convex support frame that supports the inner surface of the cleaner element. The support frame includes an outer frame that supports a periphery of the cleaner element. The cleaner element includes a convex element body and a seal provided adjacent the peripheral edge of the element body to project toward the inner surface of the element body so as to work together with the periphery of the element body to hold the outer frame. The periphery of the element body has a smaller thickness than the other portions of the element body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A straddle-type vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a lead-in duct including a first end connected with the engine and a second end including an opening;
an air cleaner case connected with the opening of the lead-in duct;
a convex cleaner element protruding in a direction opposite to a direction extending toward the lead-in duct, the cleaner element being located in the air cleaner case and covering the opening; and
a support frame configured to support the cleaner element; wherein
the cleaner element includes:
a convex element body; and
a seal protruding from a periphery of the element body toward an inner side of the element body;

the support frame includes an outer frame contacting the periphery of the element body to push the seal onto a surrounding edge of the opening; and
the periphery of the element body has a thickness smaller than that of portions of the element body that are located inward of the outer frame as viewed in a direction of a protrusion of the element body.

2. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a head pipe;
left and right main frames extending rearward from the head pipe; and
a fuel tank supported by the left and right main frames; wherein
the engine is supported by the left and right main frames;
the air cleaner case is located between the head pipe and the fuel tank;
the opening is located between the left and right main frames; and
the cleaner element is larger than the opening in a plan view.

3. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the cleaner element is trapezoidal or substantially trapezoidal as viewed from above the vehicle, includes oblique sides located along sides of the vehicle and has a dimension as measured in a vehicle width direction increasing in a rearward direction with respect to the vehicle.

4. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein
a pair of induction ducts are arranged in a vehicle width direction as viewed from above the vehicle; and
as viewed from above the vehicle, each of the pair of induction ducts is connected with one or another side of the cover body such that one induction duct is opened toward one oblique side of the cleaner element and another induction duct is opened toward another oblique side of the cleaner element.

5. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a holding portion that cooperates with the periphery of the element body to hold the outer frame.

6. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the element body is a single component including the periphery and the portions of the element body that are located inward of the outer frame.

7. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the air cleaner case includes a mount;
the element body includes a fixing portion fixed to the mount together with the support frame; and
the periphery of the element body has a smaller thickness than portions thereof other than itself and the fixing portion when the element body, together with the support frame, is fixed to the mount.

8. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the air cleaner case includes an air induction cover covering the cleaner element;
the air induction cover includes:
a cover body defining an accommodation space that accommodates the cleaner element; and
an induction duct configured to forward air into the accommodation space; wherein

the induction duct includes an inlet port with an opening located forward of the cover body with respect to the vehicle.

9. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the element body is made of a porous material.

10. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein
the element body includes a plurality of element layers including a fine element layer and a coarse element layer having a larger mesh than the fine element layer; and
the fine element layer is located inward with respect to the element body and is thicker than the coarse element layer.

11. A method of manufacturing the straddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the periphery of the element body is formed by hot swaging so as to have a thickness smaller than that of other portions of the element body.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd
• Yamato Seisakusyo Kk

Inventors

• Ide Shinnosuke
• Nagumo Masatomo
• Yamada Yuya

Classifications

• F02M35/162

  Motorcycles; All-terrain vehicles, e.g. quads, snowmobiles; Small vehicles, e.g. forklifts · CPC title

• F02B61/02

  for driving cycles · CPC title

• F02M35/0204

  for connecting or joining to other devices, e.g. pipes · CPC title

• F02M35/02416

  Fixing, mounting, supporting or arranging filter elements; Filter element cartridges · CPC title

• F02M35/10032

  specially shaped or arranged connecting duct between carburettor or air inlet duct and the plenum chamber; specially positioned carburettors or throttle bodies with respect to the plenum chamber · CPC title