Vehicle body frame structure of straddle-type vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9957012-B2
Application number	US-201315034161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2013
Priority date	Nov 7, 2013
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle body frame structure which can reduce a burden in the assembly of a straddle-type vehicle. The vehicle body frame comprises a main frame; and a rear frame connected to and extending rearward from the main frame. The main frame includes first and second members which are connected to each other. The main frame includes first and second connection portions spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to a vehicle width direction. The connection portions are provided at the first member and the second member, respectively. The rear frame includes a first connected portion connected to the first connection portion by a first fastener member, and a second connected portion connected to the second connection portion by a second fastener member. The restricting direction of the first fastener member is orthogonal to the restricting direction of the second fastener member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle body frame structure of a straddle vehicle, the vehicle body frame structure comprising:
a main frame; and
a rear frame connected to the main frame by a fastener member and extending rearward from the main frame,
wherein the main frame includes a first member and a second member which are connected to each other,
the main frame includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion which are connected to the rear frame,
the first connection portion is provided at the first member,
the second connection portion is provided at the second member, and
the first connection portion and the second connection portion are spaced apart from each other in a direction which is perpendicular to a vehicle width direction of the straddle vehicle,
wherein the rear frame includes a first connected portion connected in a first restricting direction to the first connection portion by a first fastener member, and a second connected portion connected in a second restricting direction to the second connection portion by a second fastener member,
wherein the first restricting direction is orthogonal to the second restricting direction,
wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are detachably coupled to the first connected portion and the second connected portion, respectively, and
wherein the first connection portion is permitted to be displaceable within a specified range in a direction different from the first restricting direction, and the second connection portion is permitted to be displaceable within a specified range in a direction different from the second restricting direction.

2. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first connected portion and the second connected portion are integrally formed by molding.

3. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 1 ,
wherein the main frame includes a plurality of pipe members which are welded to each other, and
wherein one of the first restricting direction and the second restricting direction is orthogonal to the vehicle width direction,
one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion, which corresponds to the one of the first restricting direction and the second restricting direction which is orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, is provided at a coupling member for coupling the pipe members to each other.

4. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 1 ,
wherein one of the first restricting direction and the second restricting direction conforms to a vehicle length direction.

5. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first restricting direction is orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, and the second restricting direction conforms to the vehicle width direction, and
wherein the rear frame includes an extension section extending rearward, in a location that is inward in the vehicle width direction relative to the first connected portion.

6. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 1 ,
wherein the main frame includes a pair of main frames placed in the vehicle width direction, and the rear frame includes a pair of rear frames placed in the vehicle width direction, and
wherein the pair of rear frames are independently formed.

7. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 1 ,
wherein one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion includes a nut having a female thread which is engageable with a corresponding one of the first fastener member and the second fastener member, and protrudes from an outer surface of the main frame toward the rear frame, and
wherein one of the first connected portion and the second connected portion, which corresponds to the one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion, has a recess which is open toward the nut, and
the corresponding one of the first fastener member and the second fastener member, is inserted into the one of the first connected portion and the second connected portion toward the nut accommodated in the recess through a bottom wall hole of the recess.

8. A vehicle body frame structure of a straddle vehicle, the vehicle body frame structure comprising:
a main frame; and
a rear frame connected to the main frame by a fastener member and extending rearward from the main frame,
wherein the main frame includes a first member and a second member which are connected to each other,
the main frame includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion which are connected to the rear frame,
the first connection portion is provided at the first member,
the second connection portion is provided at the second member, and
the first connection portion and the second connection portion are spaced apart from each other in a direction which is perpendicular to a vehicle width direction of the straddle vehicle,
wherein the rear frame includes a first connected portion connected in a first restricting direction to the first connection portion by a first fastener member, and a second connected portion connected in a second restricting direction to the second connection portion by a second fastener member,
wherein the first restricting direction is orthogonal to the second restricting direction,
wherein the straddle vehicle further comprises a support member connected to the main frame by one of the first and second fastener members,
wherein one of the first connected portion and the second connected portion is connected to a corresponding one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion, by one of the first and second fastener members, together with the support member, and
wherein the first connection portion is permitted to be displaceable within a specified range in a direction different from the first restricting direction, and the second connection portion is permitted to be displaceable within a specified range in a direction different from the second restricting direction.

9. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 8 ,
wherein the main frame includes a pair of main frames placed in the vehicle width direction, and the one of the first and second fastener members used to connect the support member to the main frame includes a pair of fastener members placed in the vehicle width direction,
wherein the support member is placed between the pair of main frames,
the pair of fastener members are inserted into the pair of main frames, respectively, in a state in which the pair of fastener members face each other in the vehicle width direction, from outside of the pair of main frames in the vehicle width direction,
the support member includes a pair of fastened portions placed in the vehicle width direction, the pair of fastened portions being engageable with the pair of fastener members, respectively, and
wherein the support member is connected to each of the pair of main frames in such a manner that the pair of main frames are pressed against the support member and the pair of fastener members are engaged with the pair of fastened portions, respectively, and
wherein one of the first connected portion and the second connected portion is placed between the support member and the main frame.

10. The vehicle body frame structure of the straddle vehicle, according to claim 8 ,
wherein the support member serves as one of a swing arm support section for supporting a swing arm, a suspension support section for supporting a rear suspension, and a drive unit

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Ishii Hiroshi
• Yamamoto Tomo
• Saeki Daisuke

Classifications

• B62K25/283

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

• B62H1/02

  Articulated stands, e.g. in the shape of hinged arms (B62H1/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62K19/18

  Joints between frame members · CPC title

• B62K11/04 Primary

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

• B62K19/24

  Screwed joints · CPC title