Body frame for a saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9381969-B2
Application number	US-201414339602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

A forged head pipe for a motorcycle frame is integrally formed and includes a main frame attachment portion, a pipe portion, and a lower extension extending downwardly from the pipe portion. A down frame attachment portion is provided on the lower extension, and is spaced away from the main frame attachment portion and the pipe portion. A down frame is welded to the down frame attachment portion by contacting the same without inserting the same. The down frame attachment portion is configured from a connecting portion, extending in parallel to the pipe portion, and an extension extending rearwardly from a lower end portion of the connecting portion. By eliminating an insertion socket, manufacturing cost is reduced, and welding quality is improved by spacing the down frame downwardly below the main frame attachment portion and the pipe portion, to which a high load is applied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body frame for a saddle type vehicle, said vehicle body frame comprising:
a head pipe for pivotally receiving a front fork therein which operatively supports a front wheel;
a pair of left and right main frame sections connected to the head pipe and extending rearwardly in leftward and rightward directions; and
a down frame section connected to the head pipe and extending downwardly therefrom;
the head pipe including:
a pipe portion,
a main frame attachment portion to which the main frame sections are respectively welded at front end portions thereof such that part of the main frame sections overlap with the pipe portion, where a main frame weld seam is formed between each of the main frame sections and the main frame attachment portion;
a downward extension connected directly to and extending downwardly from the main frame attachment portion; and
a down frame attachment portion to which the down frame section is welded at an upper end portion thereof, the down frame attachment portion having a substantial L-shape as viewed from a side view thereof, the down frame attachment portion including a substantially flattened connecting portion,

wherein a down frame weld seam is formed between the down frame section and the down frame attachment portion, the down frame attachment portion being provided at a lower rear portion of the downward extension,
and wherein the down frame weld seam is spaced apart from the main frame weld seam, and the main frame weld seam does not intersect or cross over the down frame weld seam, as viewed in the side view of the vehicle body frame.

2. The vehicle body frame for the saddle type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the down frame attachment portion is disposed rearwardly downwardly of the main frame attachment portion in a spaced relationship from the pipe portion and the main frame attachment portion.

3. The vehicle body frame for the saddle type vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein
the downward extension includes an upper side supporting portion extending rearwardly downwardly from a lower portion of the main frame attachment portion and a lower side supporting portion extending rearwardly downwardly from a lower portion of the pipe portion, and is formed integrally with the head pipe by forging, and
the down frame attachment portion is configured from the connecting portion extending in parallel to the pipe portion from a lower end of the upper side supporting portion and connecting to the lower side supporting portion and an extension extending rearwardly from the lower side supporting portion farther than a lower end portion of the connecting portion.

4. The vehicle body frame for the saddle type vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the down frame section contacts and is welded at end faces at an upper end portion thereof with and to the connecting portion and the extension of the down frame attachment portion.

5. The vehicle body frame for the saddle type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the downward extension includes an upper side supporting portion extending rearwardly downwardly from a lower portion of the main frame attachment portion and a lower side supporting portion extending rearwardly downwardly from a lower portion of the pipe portion, and is formed integrally with the head pipe by forging, and
the down frame attachment portion is configured from the connecting portion extending in parallel to the pipe portion from a lower end of the upper side supporting portion and connecting to the lower side supporting portion and an extension extending rearwardly from the lower side supporting portion farther than a lower end portion of the connecting portion.

6. The vehicle body frame for the saddle type vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the down frame section contacts and is welded at end faces at an upper end portion thereof with and to the connecting portion and the extension of the down frame attachment portion.

7. The vehicle body frame for the saddle type vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the down frame attachment portion is formed by mechanical working in a vehicle widthwise direction so that each of a rear face of the connecting portion and an upper face of the extension is included in a plane which exhibits a straight line as viewed in side elevation.

8. The vehicle body frame for the saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the main frame attachment portion overlaps at a front end portion thereof with the pipe portion, and is expanded beyond the pipe portion in a vehicle width direction; and wherein a cutout opening is provided extending through the main frame attachment portion in the vehicle width direction.

9. A saddle type vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body frame;
a front fork which rotatably supports a front wheel thereon;
an engine which is operatively supported on the vehicle body frame; and
a swing arm which is pivotally attached to a rear portion of the vehicle body frame and which rotatably supports a rear wheel thereon;
wherein the vehicle body frame comprises:
a head pipe for pivotally receiving a portion of the front fork therein;
a pair of left and right main frame sections connected to the head pipe and extending rearwardly in leftward and rightward directions; and
a down frame section connected to the head pipe and extending downwardly therefrom;
the head pipe including:
a pipe portion,
a main frame attachment portion to which the main frame sections are respectively welded at front end portions thereof such that part of the main frame sections overlap with the pipe portion, where a main frame weld seam is formed between each of the main frame sections and the main frame attachment portion,

a downward extension connected directly to and extending downwardly from the main frame attachment portion; and
a down frame attachment portion to which the down frame section is welded at an upper end portion thereof, the down frame attachment portion having a substantial L-shape as viewed from a side view thereof, the down frame attachment portion including a substantially flattened connecting portion,
wherein a down frame weld seam is formed between the down frame section and the down frame attachment portion, the down frame attachment portion being provided at a lower rear portion of the downward extension,
and wherein the down frame weld seam is spaced apart from the main frame weld seam, and the main frame weld seam does not intersect or cross over the down frame weld seam, as viewed in the side view of the vehicle body frame.

10. The saddle type vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the down frame attachment portion is disposed rearwardly downwardly of the main frame attachment portion in a spaced relationship from the pipe portion and the main frame attachment portion.

11. The saddle type vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein
the downward extension includes an upper side supporting portion extending rearwardly downwardly from a lower portion of the main frame attachment portion and a lower side supporting portion extending rearwardly downwardly from a lower portion of the pipe portion, and is formed integrally with the head pipe by forging, and
the down frame attachment portion is configured from the connecting portion extending in parallel to the pipe portion from a lower end of the upper side supporting portion and connecting to the lower side supporting portion and an extension extending rearwardly from the lower side supporting portion farther than a lower end portion of the connecting portion.

12. The saddle type vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the down frame section contacts and is welded at end faces

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Toda Munehiro

Classifications

• B62K19/32

  Steering heads (bearings therefor B62K21/06) · CPC title

• B62K19/12

  having cast members · CPC title

• B62K11/04 Primary

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