Abstract:
A saddle-ride type vehicle includes a front cowl capable of improving appearance quality while suppressing enlargement of the front cowl. Recessed parts recessed rearwardly of a vehicle are formed in front cowls in positions outwardly of front members in a vehicle width direction. The introduction port is formed in the recessed part. The recessed parts are recessed rearwardly of the vehicle beyond tangents brought into contact with the front members and the front cowls. Since guide walls are arranged within a range viewed from introduction ports in a front view, such a possibility that wiring or the like in a front cowl is viewed through the introduction ports in the front view is precluded Immediately behind the introduction ports, air is guided in a desired direction by the guide walls. For this reason, a limited amount of air can be effectively utilized.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-202108 filed Sep. 30, 2014 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a saddle-ride type vehicle configured in such a manner that a front part is surrounded by a front cowl and the front cowl is formed with an introduction port. 
     2. Description of Background Art 
     There is a saddle-ride type vehicle with a vehicle body covered with a cowl. The operational performance can be improved by achieving a smooth flow of air by the cowl. The cowl for covering a front part of the vehicle body is called a front cowl. Various kinds of shapes and structures of the front cowl have been proposed. See, for example, JP Patent No. 4153174 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 15). 
     A vehicle ( 10 ) (a number in parentheses is indicative of a reference number described in JP Patent No. 4153174. The same shall apply hereafter.) is shown in FIG. 1 of JP Patent No. 4153174 that is provided with a front cowl ( 21 ). The front cowl ( 21 ) has an air introduction port ( 32   a ) formed in an upper part of the center, and also has air introduction ports ( 21   a ) formed on right and left sides of a lower part. 
     As shown in FIG. 15 of JP Patent No. 4153174, air (Fw) led to flow into from the air introduction port ( 32   a ) and the air introduction ports ( 21   a ) is discharged from an air discharge port ( 92 ), is led to flow along a back surface of a windshield ( 31 ) as shown by an arrow (Rw), and also is discharged from an air discharge port ( 99 ). Vacuum of the back surface of the windshield ( 31 ) can be corrected by a flow shown by the arrow (Rw). 
     If the air introduction ports ( 21   a ) are simple holes, the air led to flow into from the air introduction ports ( 21   a ) is released into a large space in the front cowl ( 21 ), so that flow velocity is reduced. As a result, the flow velocity of the air discharged from the air discharge port ( 92 ) and the air discharge port ( 99 ) is reduced. The reduced flow velocity results in insufficient correction action with respect to the vacuum. In addition, entrainment of the air from an outer side of the front cowl ( 21 ) to the back surface of the front cowl ( 21 ) cannot be suppressed. 
     As a countermeasure, if the opening area of each of the air introduction ports ( 21   a ) is increased, this causes enlargement of the front cowl. Also, if the air introduction holes ( 21   a ) are the simple holes, wiring and the like in the front cowl are viewed through the air introduction holes ( 21   a ) having a large diameter. Therefore, an improvement in external appearance is required. 
     A saddle-ride type vehicle is required that includes a front cowl that is capable of improving the appearance quality while suppressing the enlargement of the front cowl. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a saddle-ride type vehicle including a front cowl capable of improving the appearance quality while suppressing the enlargement of the front cowl. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a saddle-ride type vehicle including a vehicle body frame that has a head pipe; a front wheel suspension that is arranged below the head pipe; a handlebar that is arranged above the head pipe and that steers the front wheel suspension; and a front cowl that is supported on the vehicle body frame and that covers an upper part of the front wheel suspension and the handlebar from a front side of the vehicle. In the saddle-ride type vehicle, the front cowl is provided with an introduction port that is arranged below the handlebar, that is opened to the outside in a vehicle width direction of the front wheel suspension and that introduces air, and is also provided with a guide wall that is arranged behind the introduction port, that is inclined upward to a rear side and inward, that is arranged within a range viewed from the introduction port in a front view, and that guides the air. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front cowl is configured in such a manner that a middle member is joined in front of a front member, a headlight is arranged forward of the front wheel suspension, the headlight is surrounded by a headlight cowl part of the front member, the middle member is formed with a recessed part recessed rearwardly of the vehicle in a position outward of the headlight cowl part in the vehicle width direction, the recessed part is recessed rearwardly with respect to a tangent brought into contact with the headlight cowl part and an outer side of the recessed part formed in the middle member, and the introduction port is formed in the recessed part. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front member is formed with an air introduction passage part linked to a rear side of the introduction port. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front member is formed with the air introduction passage part linked to the rear side of the introduction port, the air introduction passage part being connected to the guide wall. An inner cowl is annexed to the front cowl from a side of the center of a vehicle body in order to form an intake passage space with respect to an engine, the inner cowl being formed integrally with the guide wall. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a steering space for allowing steering of the front wheel suspension is formed in the inner cowl while surrounding the head pipe by an inner surface of the inner cowl, the air from the introduction port is introduced into the steering space along the guide wall, and the introduced air is introduced to a rear side of a windshield arranged above the front cowl and to a front side of the handlebar. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front cowl is provided with the introduction port that is arranged below the handlebar, that is opened to the outside in the vehicle width direction of the front wheel suspension and that introduces air, and the introduced air is guided by the guide wall. Since the guide wall is inclined upward to the rear side and inward, the air can be moved upward toward the back surface of the front cowl. When a vacuum is generated with respect to the back surface of the front cowl, the vacuum can be controlled by the air. When the windshield is annexed above the front cowl, the vacuum of the back surface of the windshield can be also controlled. 
     Further, since the guide wall is arranged within the range viewed from the introduction port in the front view of the vehicle, such a possibility that the wiring or the like in the front cowl is viewed through the introduction port is precluded. Since the air is guided in a desired direction by the guide wall just behind the introduction port, the high-flow-velocity air is introduced upwardly, and entrainment of the air from the outer side of the front cowl to the back surface thereof is suppressed, so that a limited amount of air can be effectively utilized. As a result, the necessity to increase the opening area of the introduction port is eliminated. 
     Now therefore, the present invention can provide the saddle-ride type vehicle including the front cowl capable of improving the appearance quality while suppressing the enlargement of the front cowl. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front cowl is provided with the recessed part recessed rearward of the vehicle. The recessed part is recessed rearwardly of the vehicle with respect to the tangent brought into contact with the front member and the front cowl. The introduction port is formed in the recessed part formed as described above. Thereby, when the vehicle is banked during turning, even if a bank angle is changed, resistance caused by the air flowing along the front surface of the front cowl can be substantially kept constant. As a result, the operational performance can be excellently maintained. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the headlight cowl part and the air introduction passage part are formed integrally with each other. According to an embodiment of the invention, the positioning accuracy of the air introduction passage part with respect to the headlight cowl part can be improved. In addition, the number of components can be reduced. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the guide wall is formed integrally with the inner cowl forming the intake passage space, the number of components can be reduced. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the steering space is formed by the inner cowl, and the air is introduced to the windshield located above the front cowl by using the steering space. Introduction of the air flowing outside in the vehicle width direction of the front cowl and the windshield, to the inner side in the vehicle width direction by the vacuum generated behind the front cowl and behind the windshield, can be suppressed by air introduction flowing outside of a front fork in the steering space. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a left side view of a saddle-ride type vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the saddle-ride type vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view for explaining an air flow; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below based on accompanying drawings. Note that drawings are viewed from directions shown by reference signs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a saddle-ride type vehicle  10  includes front wheel suspensions  12  steerably mounted in front of a vehicle body frame  11 , a front wheel  13  rotatably attached to lower parts of the front wheel suspensions  12 , a steering handlebar  14  mounted to upper parts of the front wheel suspensions  12 , a fuel tank  15  arranged below the handlebar  14  and supported on the vehicle body frame  11 , a seat  16  arranged behind the fuel tank  15 , an engine  17  arranged below the fuel tank  15  and supported on the vehicle body frame  11 . A swing arm  18  extends rearwardly from the vehicle body frame  11  with a rear wheel  19  rotatably attached to the swing arm  18 . Front cowls  22  are arranged in front of the fuel tank  15  so as to surround the front wheel suspensions  12  with a windshield  23  mounted above the front cowls  22 , and headlights  24  mounted to the front parts of the front cowls  22 . The saddle-ride type vehicle  10  is a vehicle configured such that an upper part of a rider&#39;s body is kept up while striding over the seat  16 . 
     The windshield  23  is obliquely mounted so that in a side view of the vehicle, an upper part of the windshield is positioned rearwardly of the vehicle with respect to a lower part of the windshield. A mounting angle θ with respect to a horizontal line is set within a range of 45° to 80°. 
     Since the mounting angle θ is set to 45° or larger, the windbreak performance can be improved while achieving a reduction in weight of the windshield  23  by shortening a longitudinal length of the windshield  23 . Also, since the mounting angle θ is set to 80° or smaller, the flow of air is suppressed from being excessively stemmed by the windshield  23 . Therefore, the mounting angle θ is set to 45° to 80°, and more preferably set to about 60°. 
     Since the windshield  23  is mounted upright, a predetermined windbreak action can be exerted even by the compact windshield. Since the windshield is compact, a reduction in the weight of the windshield can be achieved. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the windshield  23  is arranged above the front cowls  22 . The windshield  23  is supported by a windshield stay  26 . The windshield  23  is formed as a vertically long windshield with a vertical dimension H being larger than a dimension W in the vehicle width direction with an opening  27  being formed below the center in a height direction of the vertically long windshield and penetrating through a front part and a rear part of the vehicle (a front direction and a rear direction in the drawing). Further, the windshield  23  has right and left notches  28 R,  28 L (a reference sign R is indicative of a suffix showing the right, and a reference sign L is indicative of a suffix showing the left. The same shall apply hereafter.) formed on the right side and the left side of the opening  27  so that a lower part of the windshield is recessed inwardly in the vehicle width direction with respect to the center in the height direction. 
     The front cowls  22  are provided with the headlights  24  in the center in the vehicle width direction. Introduction ports  29 R,  29 L composed of openings opened forward are provided respectively on a right side and a left side of the headlights  24 . Right and left turn signal lamps  31 R,  31 L and strut parts  31 R 1 ,  31 L 1  for supporting the turn signal lamps  31 R,  31 L are provided above the headlights  24 . 
     In the front view of the vehicle, the turn signal lamps  31 R,  31 L or the strut parts  31 R 1 ,  31 L 1  overlap with knuckle guards  32 R,  32 L located behind the turn signal lamps  31 R,  31 L or the strut parts  31 R 1 ,  31 L 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L are arranged below the handlebar  14 , and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L are arranged outside in the vehicle width direction of the front wheel suspensions  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the front cowls  22  are configured in such a manner that middle members  34  are joined to front sides of front members  37 . The front members  37  are formed with air introduction passage parts  49 ,  49  extending to be continuous with rear sides of the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L formed in the middle members  34 . 
     The windshield stay  26  extends forward of the vehicle from the head pipe  33  provided to a front part of the vehicle body frame  11 . In addition, the front wheel suspensions  12  are steerably mounted to the head pipe  33 . The inner cowl  35  is arranged inside of the middle members  34 . The inner cowl  35  forms a steering space  36  for allowing steering of the front wheel suspensions  12  while surrounding the head pipe  33  and the front wheel suspensions  12 . 
     The headlights  24  are provided with LED light sources, and are exposed forward from headlight cowl parts  37   a  provided with headlight openings formed in the front members  37 . Openings  34   a  are formed in the middle members  34  along the peripheries of the headlight cowl parts  37   a  of the front members  37 . 
     Also, the front members  37  are formed integrally with a guide member  46  in  FIG. 4  arranged on the back surface of the windshield  23 . 
     In positions of the front members  37  on an outer side in the vehicle width direction, recessed parts  38 ,  38 , recessed rearwardly of the vehicle are formed in the middle members  34 , and the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L are formed in the recessed parts  38 ,  38 . The recessed parts  38  are recessed rearwardly of the vehicle with respect to tangents  39  brought into contact with the headlight cowl parts  37   a  and outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the recessed parts formed in the middle members  34 . 
     During turning, the air flowing along the headlights  24  is led to smoothly flow along the tangents  39  as shown by arrows ( 1 ), ( 1 ). On the other hand, during straight-ahead traveling, the flow of air from the front side of the vehicle is led to flow directly into the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L as shown by arrows ( 2 ), ( 2 ). 
     Since the recessed parts  38 ,  38  are formed, the air is led to flow as shown by the arrows ( 1 ), ( 1 ) during turning. Therefore, even if a bank angle is changed when the vehicle is banked during turning, resistance caused by the air flowing along the front surface of the front cowl can be substantially kept constant. As a result, operating performance can be excellently maintained. 
     In the embodiment, guide walls  41 ,  41  inclined inwardly and upwardly are connected to the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L. The air can be led to flow upwardly and to the center of the vehicle body by the guide walls  41 ,  41 . The guide walls  41 ,  41  configured in this way are formed integrally with the inner cowl  35 . 
     An inner end  41   a  of the guide wall  41  extends to the same extent as an edge  29   a  inside in the vehicle width direction of the introduction port  29 L or to a side of the center of the vehicle body. As a result, in  FIG. 2 , the guide walls  41 ,  41  are brought into view from the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L. More specifically, since the inside (wiring or an air intake duct  44  exists in the inside) is not brought into view through the introduction ports  29 R,  29 L, the quality of the appearance can be improved. 
     In  FIG. 3 , an air cleaner case  40  is arranged behind the head pipe  33  in the vehicle, and inlet ports  42 ,  43  for the engine  17  are arranged in the air cleaner case  40 . Air intake ducts  44 R,  44 L are arranged between the inner cowl  35  and the middle members  34  of the front cowls  22 , and some of the air is introduced from below the front cowls  22  into the air cleaner case  40  through the air intake ducts  44 R,  44 L and is introduced to the inlet ports  42 ,  43  as shown by arrows ( 3 ), ( 3 ). 
     Also, the flow of air, as shown by the arrows ( 2 ), ( 2 ), reaches the steering space  36 . The steering space  36  is configured such that at least an upper surface thereof is opened, and the air (as shown by the arrows ( 2 ), ( 2 )) is led to flow upwardly (to a front side in the drawing) behind the front cowls  22  and in front of an occupant. More specifically, the air (as shown by the arrows ( 2 ), ( 2 )) is led to flow upwardly behind the front cowls  22  and in front of the fuel tank  15 , that is, in front of the handlebar  14 . 
     Introduction of the air flowing outside in the vehicle width direction of the front cowls and the windshield, to the inner side in the vehicle width direction by the vacuum generated behind the front cowls and behind the windshield, can be suppressed by the air introduction flowing outside of a front fork in the steering space. 
     Note that the intake ducts  44 R,  44 L are allowed to be eliminated and an intake passage for introducing intake air for the engine is allowed to be provided or formed between the inner cowl  35  and the middle members  34 . In addition, an outside temperature sensor  54  is supported behind the headlights  24 , and the temperature of the air flowing through the air introduction passage parts is measured. Thereby, since fresh air is normally introduced, the temperature sensing accuracy of the outside air temperature can be improved. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the opening  27  is formed in the windshield  23  with the guide member  46  rising obliquely upwardly to the rear side of the vehicle being provided in a position rearwardly of the opening  27  in the vehicle. In this example, a meter case  45  is arranged behind the opening  27  in the vehicle, and an upper end of the guide member  46  is placed on or connected to a front edge of the meter case  45 . 
     A member having an L-shaped cross-sectional surface is employed for the windshield stay  26  for supporting the windshield  23 . The windshield stay  26  has one surface being parallel to the windshield  23  and the other surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. More specifically, the other surfaces are side guide surfaces  47 R,  47 L, and are arranged to sandwich the guide member  46 . 
     Predetermined intervals S, S are kept between the notches  28 R,  28 L formed in the windshield  23  and the middle members  34 . Further, the middle members  34  are provided with inner wall guide surfaces  48 R,  48 L extending rearwardly of the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , an upper part of the notch  28 L formed in the windshield  23  has an inclined edge  51  inclined so as to be heightened outwardly in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the middle member  34  has an inclined piece  53  in a position behind the inclined edge  51  with the inclined piece being bent rearwardly of the vehicle along a ridge line  52  substantially parallel to the inclined edge  51 . The same applies to the notch  28 R. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the guide member  46  is provided behind the opening  27 , and the first flow of air  55  introduced from the opening  27  is led to flow upwardly along the back surface of the windshield  23 . An upper end  46   a  of the guide member  46  extends upwardly beyond the horizontal line passing through an upper edge  27   a  of the opening  27 , and in the front view of the vehicle, the opening  27  overlaps with the guide member  46 . More specifically, the guide member  46  and the opening  27  overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction. Especially, in a height direction of the opening  27 , the whole opening overlaps with the guide member  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the third flow of air  57  is bent by the inclined piece  53 , and is moved upwardly along the back surface of the windshield  23  and toward the center of the vehicle width. 
     A flow direction of the first flow of air  55  or the like will be detailedly described based on  FIG. 5 . 
     The first flow of air  55  as shown in  FIG. 5  is passed through the opening  27  formed in the windshield  23 . Immediately after that, a direction of the first flow of air  55  is changed by the guide member  46 , and is moved upwardly along the back surface of the windshield  23 . Thereby, the vacuum of the back surface of the windshield  23  is corrected. 
     At this time, the right and left side guide surfaces  47 R,  47 L as shown in  FIG. 4  become effective. That is, after the first flow of air  55  is hit against the guide member  46 , the first flow of air  55  is suppressed from being dispersed in the vehicle width direction by the side guide surfaces  47 R,  47 L. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the second flow of air  56  is introduced between the notch  28 L and the inner wall guide surface  48 L as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , since the inner wall guide surfaces  48 R,  48 L extend rearwardly of the vehicle, the second flow of air  56  is led to flow out to the rear side of the vehicle without entering into behind the windshield  23 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the third flow of air  57  is moved upwardly along the back surface of the windshield  23  and toward the center of the vehicle width after the flow of air is bent by the inclined piece  53 . The first flow of air  55  with the width limited by the side guide surfaces  47 R,  47 L shown in  FIG. 4  is intended to extend in the vehicle width direction above the windshield stay  26  in  FIG. 2 , However, in  FIG. 5 , the extension of the first flow of air  55  is limited by the third flow of air  57  directed to the center of the vehicle width. Therefore, the first flow of air  55  is moved upwardly along the back surface of the windshield  23  while the extension of the first flow of air  55  is limited, so that especially, the vacuum generated in the vicinity of the upper edge of the windshield  23  is corrected. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the knuckle guards  32 R,  32 L are formed to have large frontal area so as to cover the hands gripping the grips. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the fourth flow of air  58  first reaches the turn signal lamp  31 L or the strut part  31 L 1 , and is dispersed there, and a course of the fourth flow of air is changed to an upward direction. As a result, wind pressure at the knuckle guard  32 L is relieved. 
     Note that in the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a two-wheeled vehicle. However, the present invention is allowed to be applied to the saddle-ride type vehicle provided with three wheels or four wheels. 
     The present invention is suitable for a two-wheeled vehicle including a front cowl. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.