Patent Publication Number: US-10309355-B2

Title: Saddle-ride type vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a saddle-ride type vehicle in which a fuel tank and an engine body arranged in a lower side of the fuel tank are mounted to a body frame, and an intake device is arranged at a position covered by the fuel tank from above, the intake device including: an air cleaner; a connecting tube; a throttle device; and a resonator, an upstream end of the connecting tube being connected to the air cleaner, the throttle device including a throttle valve and being connected to a downstream end of the connecting tube. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     It is well-known in Japanese Patent No. 3685220 a two-wheeled motor vehicle in which a resonator is connected to an intake pipe arranged between a throttle body as a throttle device and an engine body. Further, it is well-known in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-47294 a two-wheeled motor vehicle in which the resonator is connected to a connecting tube arranged between a throttle body and an air cleaner. 
     However, in the two-wheeled motor vehicle disclosed in the above Japanese Patent No. 3685220, since a connection portion of the resonator to the intake pipe positions near an intake port, it is necessary to further enhance measures for disorder of mixture ratio occurring due to fuel gas staying within the resonator corresponding to blow-back of intake, measures for backfire, measures for radiant heat from the engine body, measures for noise in the air cleaner positioned at an upstream portion of the intake device, and the like. On the other hand, in the two-wheeled motor vehicle disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-47294, although the above problems do not occur, there is a problem that fuel, water or the like condensed within the resonator invades in the throttle device during non-use time of the vehicle after an engine is stopped and easily attaches to a throttle valve. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been achieved in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide a saddle-ride type vehicle which can prevent that fuel, water or the like condensed within a resonator invades in a throttle device during non-use time of the vehicle after an engine is stopped. 
     In order to achieve the object, according to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided a saddle-ride type vehicle in which a fuel tank and an engine body arranged in a lower side of the fuel tank are mounted to a body frame, and an intake device is arranged at a position covered by the fuel tank from above, the intake device including: an air cleaner; a connecting tube; a throttle device; and a resonator, an upstream end of the connecting tube being connected to the air cleaner, the throttle device including a throttle valve and being connected to a downstream end of the connecting tube, wherein a curved portion bulged upward and curved in a chevron shape is formed in the connecting tube, and the resonator arranged between the fuel tank and the connecting tube is connected to the connecting tube on the air cleaner side further than a top portion of the curved portion as seen in a side view of the vehicle. 
     With the first feature, since the resonator is arranged between the fuel tank and the connecting tube, capacity of the resonator can be secured while avoiding that rear portion of the fuel tank becomes higher. Further, as seen in the side view of the vehicle, since the resonator is connected to the connecting tube on the air cleaner side further than the top portion of curved portion with a chevron shape formed in the connecting tube, fuel, water or the like condensed within the resonator flows to the air cleaner side even though such fuel, water or the like drops on the connecting tube side during non-use time of the vehicle after the engine is stopped, thereby it can be prevented that such fuel, water or the like invades in the throttle device. 
     According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, a recess portion receiving a part of the resonator is formed in a rear portion of a bottom plate in the fuel tank, and an upstream end of the connecting tube is arranged in a cleaner case of the air cleaner so as to overlap with a rear end of the fuel tank as seen in a plan view. 
     With the second feature, since a part of the resonator is received in the recess portion formed in the rear portion of the bottom plate in the fuel tank, and the upstream end of the connecting tube with a chevron shape is arranged in the cleaner case so as to overlap with the rear end of the fuel tank as seen in the plan view, the height of the rear portion of the fuel tank can be further lowered. 
     According to a third feature of the present invention, in addition to the second feature, a rear portion of the resonator along a front-rear direction of the vehicle is arranged so as to overlap with a front portion of the cleaner case along the front-rear direction of the vehicle as seen in the plan view. 
     With the third feature, the resonator is flattened so that the rear portion of the resonator overlaps with the front portion of the cleaner case as seen in the plan view, therefore capacity of the resonator can be secured while restraining that the rear portion of the fuel tank becomes high. 
     According to a fourth feature of the present invention, in addition to the second feature or the third feature, a fuel pump is attached to the bottom plate of the fuel tank with a lower portion of the fuel pump being protruded downward from the bottom plate, and the resonator is arranged on a rear side of the lower portion of the fuel pump along the front-rear direction of the vehicle as seen in the side view of the vehicle. 
     With the fourth feature, the resonator is arranged on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle of the lower portion of the fuel pump attached to the bottom plate of the fuel tank, thereby the resonator can be arranged while effectively utilizing a space around the lower portion of the fuel pump. 
     According to a fifth feature of the present invention, in addition to any one of the second feature to the fourth feature, a connecting portion of the resonator to the connecting tube is arranged on one of right and left sides from the top portion of the curved portion, and an air hose extended in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the cleaner case is arranged so as to pass above the connecting tube on an other of the right and left sides of the top portion of the curved portion. 
     With the fifth feature, the connecting portion of the resonator to the connecting tube is arranged at the position eccentric to one of the right and left sides of the top portion of the curved portion. Thereby, path length between the resonator and the connecting tube can be secured while restraining that the rear portion of the fuel tank becomes high. Furthermore, since the air hose extended in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the cleaner case is passed above the connecting tube on the other of the right and left sides of the top portion of the curved portion, arrangement of the air hose can be smoothly conducted. 
     According to a sixth feature of the present invention, in addition to any one of the second feature to the fifth feature, a riding seat covering the air cleaner from above is arranged on a rear side of the fuel tank along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a cleaner element of the air cleaner is arranged so as to be separated rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the upstream end of the connecting tube and so that a circulation direction of air extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. 
     With the sixth feature, since the cleaner element of the air cleaner is arranged so as to be separated rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the upstream end of the connecting tube and so that the circulation direction of the air extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, it is possible to contribute to reduction of the seat height by restraining the height of the air cleaner while securing a space between the connecting tube and the cleaner element. 
     The above and other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be clear from detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment which will be provided below while referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left side view of a two-wheeled motor vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a body frame except rear frames. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a main portion in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view from arrow  4  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view along  5 - 5  line in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view of an air cleaner. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . Here, in description hereinafter, front and rear, up and down, and right and left are directions when viewed by an occupant riding on a two-wheeled motor vehicle. 
     First, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a body frame F of the two-wheeled motor vehicle which is a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a head pipe  13 , a pair of right and left main frames  14 , a pair of right and left down frames  15 , a seat frame  16 , a pair of right and left seat sub-frames  17 , and a pair of right and left rear frames  18 . The head pipe  13  steerably supports a steering handlebar  12  and a front fork  11  pivotally supporting a front wheel FW. The pair of right and left main frames  14  are connected to the upper portion of the head pipe  13  and are extended downwardly toward the rear. The pair of right and left down frames  15  are connected to the lower portion of the head pipe  13  and are extended downwardly toward the rear at a steeper angle than the main frames  14 . The seat frame  16  is configured in such a manner that front ends of a pair of right and left side pipes  16   a  are respectively connected to the lower portions of the pair of right and left main frames  14  and rear ends of the side pipes  16   a  extended upwardly toward the rear are integrally connected by a connection pipe  16   b  with a substantially C-shape, the connection pipe  16   b  being opened toward the front and obliquely downward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The pair of right and left seat sub-frames  17  are configured in such a manner that front end portions of the seat sub-frames  17  are connected to the intermediate portions of the pair of right and left main frames  14  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and gradually inclined downwardly toward the rear, and rear end portions of the seat sub-frames  17  are connected to the intermediate portions, in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, of the side pipes  16   a  of the seat frame  16 . The pair of right and left rear frames  18  are connected to the seat frame  16  and are extended toward the rear. 
     Between the pair of right and left main frames  14 , first, second, third and fourth cross frames  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  are provided at intervals in order from the front side along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. A reinforcement frame  23  and a reinforcement frame  24  are respectively provided between two positions on the main frame  14  separated from each other in the front-rear direction and two positions on the down frame  15  separated from each other in the front-rear direction. Further, between the pair of right and left side pipes  16   a  in the seat frame  16 , a fifth cross frame  25  is provided and reinforcement frames  26  are respectively formed between the rear portions of the seat sub-frames  17  and the rear portions of the side pipes  16   a.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  together, an engine body  27  of a single cylinder engine E equipped in the body frame F is supported by the main frames  14  and the down frames  15  of the body frame F. Further, in a bracket  31  formed in the lower portion of the main frame  14 , a front end portion of a swing arm  32  pivotally supporting a rear wheel WR at a rear end portion thereof is swingably supported through a pivot  33  and a rear cushion unit  34  is arranged between the seat frame  16  and the swing arm  32 . Further, a fuel tank  35  arranged above the engine body  27  is supported by the main frames  14  and a riding seat  36  on which an occupant rides is supported on the seat frame  16 , the riding seat  36  being arranged in a rear portion of the fuel tank  35 . Further, a rear fender  38  covering the rear wheel WR from above is attached to the pair of right and left rear frames  18  and a pillion seat  37  on which a pillion passenger rides is formed on the rear fender  38 , the pillion seat  37  being arranged on a rear side of the riding seat  36 . 
     An exhaust pipe  39 , an upstream end of which is connected to a front side wall of a cylinder head  29  in the engine body  27 , is extended rearward passing below the engine body  27  and connected to an exhaust muffler  40  arranged on the right side of the rear wheel WR. 
     An intake device  41  connected to the rear side wall of the cylinder head  29  includes an air cleaner  42 , a connecting tube  43  an upstream end of which is connected to the air cleaner  42 , a throttle body  44  as a throttle device having a throttle valve  46  and connected to the downstream end of the connecting tube  43 , and a resonator  45 . The air cleaner  42  is arranged on the rear side of the engine body  27  in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and a fuel injection valve  47  is attached to the throttle body  44  which is arranged in front of the air cleaner  42  and is connected to the rear side wall of the cylinder head  29 . 
     The intake device  41  is arranged together with the engine body  27  at a position covered from the upper by the fuel tank  35 . Further, the riding seat  36  on which the occupant rides is arranged on the rear side of the fuel tank  35  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle so as to cover the air cleaner  42  from above, the riding seat  36  being supported by the seat frame  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6  together, a cleaner case  48  of the air cleaner  42  is constructed from first and second half cases  49 ,  50 , which are made of synthetic resin and arranged in a vehicle width direction. Edge portions of the first half case  49  and the second half case  50  which face each other are connected to each other by friction joining so as to form the cleaner case  48 . The cleaner case  48  is configured with: a cleaner case main portion  48   a  with a rectangular box shape in which a cleaner element  55  is housed and arranged; and an extending portion  48   b  extended forward from the front upper portion, along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, of the cleaner case main portion  48   a.    
     Although a connecting portion  51  of the first half case  49  and the second half case  50  basically exists along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the rear potion of the connecting portion  51  is formed into a substantially L-shaped bending portion  51 a as seen in a plan view and an enlarged portion  49   a  enlarged toward the second half case  50  side is formed in the first half case  49 . 
     The first half case  49  of the first and second half cases  49 ,  50  is provided with a cleaner element inserting/detaching port (not shown), a purified air outlet  53 , and an outer air suction opening  54 . The cleaner element inserting/detaching port is opened to a left lateral side so as to be capable of inserting/detaching the cleaner element  55  in/from the cleaner case main portion  48   a . The purified air outlet  53  is connected to the connecting tube  43 . The outer air suction opening  54  introduce air from an outside into the cleaner case  48 . A cover member  56  for shutting the cleaner element inserting/detaching port is removably attached to the left side surface of the first half case  49 . 
     A non-purification chamber  57  arranged on the upstream side of the cleaner element  55  is formed in the first half case  49  at a position corresponding to the cleaner case main portion  48   a . A part of the non-purification chamber  57  is formed in the enlarged portion  49   a  of the first half case  49 . 
     On the upper surface of the rear portion, along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, of the enlarged portion  49   a  in the first half case  49 , it is formed a recess portion  59  which is opened rearward and upward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. On the bottom surface of the recess portion  59 , the outer air suction opening  54  is formed. The intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction of an intake duct  58  for sucking air from the outside is connected to the outer air suction opening  54  so that one end of the intake duct  58  is entered in the non-purification chamber  57 . The other end of the intake duct  58  is extended obliquely upward to the rear from the bottom surface of the recess portion  59  within the recess portion  59  so as not to protrude upward from the cleaner case  48  as seen in a side view. 
     The purified air outlet  53  is formed at the front end surface of the first half case  49  corresponding to the front end portion of the extending portion  48   b  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Further, within the cleaner case  48 , it is formed a purification chamber  60  arranged on the downstream side of the cleaner element  55 , and the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the connecting tube  43  is connected to the purified air outlet  53  so that one end of the connecting tube  43  is entered in the purification chamber  60 . 
     Paying attention for  FIG. 6 , an element supporting wall portion  49   b  is integrally provided to the first half case  49 , the element supporting wall portion  49   b  supporting the peripheral edge portion of an element supporting frame  63  formed in the cleaner element  55 . The element supporting wall portion  49   b  is provided with a rectangular opening  61  arranged between the non-purification chamber  57  and the purification chamber  60 . The cleaner element  55  covering the opening  61  from the non-purification chamber  57  side is supported by the element supporting wall portion  49   b  so that a circulation direction  62  of air passing through the cleaner element  55  extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and the cleaner element  55  is arranged so as to be separated rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from an upstream end  43   a  of the connecting tube  43 . 
     The element supporting frame  63  is configured with a supporting tube portion  63   a  and a flange portion  63   b . The supporting tube portion  63   a  is formed in a rectangular shape so that a part thereof is fitted in the opening  61 , and the cleaner element  55  is housed and supported in the supporting tube portion  63   a . The flange portion  63   b  is extended laterally from the supporting tube portion  63   a  so as to abut against the element supporting wall portion  49   b  on the non-purification chamber  57  side through an endless seal member  64 . 
     The cleaner element  55  is covered with a metallic plate  68  and a mesh member  69  from the purification chamber  60  side. The plate  68  includes a plurality of circulation holes (not shown), and abuts against the end portion of the purification chamber  60  side of the supporting tube portion  63   a  in the element supporting frame  63 . The mesh member  69  abuts against the plate  68  from the purification chamber  60  side. The plate  68  and the mesh member  69  are fixed to the supporting tube portion  63   a.    
     On the outer surface of the cover member  56 , a recess portion  65  recessed toward inner side is formed. An auxiliary machine for the vehicle, for example, a fuse box  66  is received and retained in the recess portion  65 . Further, the cleaner case  48  is arranged on the front side, in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, of a battery box  67  equipped in the body frame F. The recess portion  59  formed in the rear portion of the cleaner case  48  is covered with the battery box  67  from the rear side. 
     The connecting tube  43  is formed so that a curved portion  70  exists at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the connecting tube  43 . The curved portion  70  bulges upward and is curved in a chevron shape. The resonator  45  arranged between the fuel tank  35  and the connecting tube  43  is connected to the connecting tube  43  on the air cleaner  42  side further than a top portion  70   a  of the curved portion  70  as seen in the side view of the vehicle. 
     The resonator  45  is formed so as to integrally include a chamber portion  45   a  and a connecting pipe portion  45   b  continuous to the chamber portion  45   a . On the other hand, on the air cleaner  42  side further than the top portion  70   a  of the curved portion  70  as seen in the side view of the vehicle, a connecting tube portion  43   b  is protruded integrally from the connecting tube  43 . That is to say, the connecting pipe portion  43   b  is protruded integrally from the connecting tube  43  so that the connecting pipe portion  43   b  is opened in the inner surface of the upper portion of the connecting tube  43  on the air cleaner  42  side further than a first plane PL 1  passing through the top portion  70   a , and a lowermost portion  70   b  on the inner surface of the curved portion  70  of the connecting tube  43 , as seen in the side view of the vehicle, the top portion  70   a  being an uppermost portion on the inner surface of the curved portion  70  of the connecting tube  43 . The connecting pipe portion  43   b  and the connecting pipe portion  45   b  of the resonator  45  are fastened by a belt  71  in a state where the connecting pipe portion  45   b  of the resonator  45  is fitted to the connecting pipe portion  43   b , thereby the resonator  45  is connected to the connecting tube  43 . 
     In addition, the connecting portion of the resonator  45  to the connecting tube  43 , that is, the connecting pipe portion  43   b  formed integrally with the connecting tube  43  is positioned on one (left side in this embodiment) of right and left sides of the top portion  70   a  of the curved portion  70  in the connecting tube  43  and the connecting pipe portion  43   b  is formed integrally with the connecting tube  43  so as to be obliquely inclined. 
     Meanwhile, an air hose  72  is extended from the cleaner case  48  in the air cleaner  42  so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The air hose  72  guides secondary air for purifying exhaust air. In this embodiment, the cleaner case  48  is configured with the first half case  49  and the second half case  50 , a secondary air guide pipe  73  is provided integrally on a front end wall of the second half case  50 , one end portion of the air hose  72  is connected to the secondary air guide pipe  73 , and the air hose  72  is arranged so as to pass above the connecting tube  43  on the other (right side in this embodiment) of the right and left sides of the top portion  70   a  of the curved portion  70 . A part of the chamber portion  45   a  of the resonator  45  is positioned at a position covering a part of the air hose  72  from above. 
     In the rear portion of a bottom plate  74  in the fuel tank  35 , it is formed a recess portion  75  in which a part of the resonator  45  is received and the upstream end  43   a  of the connecting tube  43  is arranged within the cleaner case  48  of the air cleaner  42  so as to overlap with a rear end  35   a  of the fuel tank  35  as seen in the plan view. Namely, a second vertical plane PL 2  extended in the vehicle width direction while passing through the rear end  35   a  of the fuel tank  35  passes through also the upstream end  43   a  of the connecting tube  43  within the cleaner case  48 . 
     Further, the rear portion of the resonator  45  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, that is, the rear portion of the chamber portion  45   a  is arranged so as to overlap with the front portion of the cleaner case  48  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle as seen in the plan view, and a third vertical plane PL 3  extended in the vehicle width direction while passing through the rear end of the chamber portion  45   a  passes through the front portion of the cleaner case  48 . 
     Further, to the bottom plate  74  of the fuel tank  35 , a fuel pump  76  is attached so that a lower portion  76   a  of the fuel pump  76  is protruded downward from the bottom plate  74 , and the resonator  45  is arranged on the rear side of the lower portion  76   a  of the fuel pump  76  in the front-rear direction of the vehicle as seen in the side view of the vehicle. 
     Next, an operation of the embodiment will be described hereinafter. The curved portion  70  bulged upward and curved in a chevron shape is formed in the connecting tube  43  and the resonator  45  arranged between the fuel tank  35  and the connecting tube  43  is connected to the connecting tube  43  on the air cleaner  42  side further than the top portion  70   a  of the curved portion  70  as seen in the side view of the body. Thereby, capacity of the resonator  45  can be secured while avoiding that the rear portion of the fuel tank  35  becomes high. Further, even when fuel, water or the like condensed within the resonator  45  drops on the connecting tube  43  side during non-use time of the vehicle after the engine E is stopped, such fuel, water or the like is flown to the air cleaner  42  side, thereby it can be prevented that fuel, water or the like invades into the throttle body  44 . 
     Further, the recess portion  75  in which a part of the resonator  45  is received is formed in the rear portion of the bottom plate  74  in the fuel tank  35  and the upstream end of the connecting tube  43  is arranged within the cleaner case  48  of the air cleaner  42  so as to overlap with the rear end  35   a  of the fuel tank  35  as seen in the plan view. Therefore, height of the rear portion of the fuel tank  35  can be further lowered. 
     The rear portion of the resonator  45  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle is positioned so as to overlap with the front portion of the cleaner case  48  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle as seen in the plan view. Thus, by flattening the resonator  45 , capacity of the resonator  45  can be secured while restraining that the rear portion of the fuel tank  35  becomes high. 
     Further, the fuel pump  76  is attached to the bottom plate  74  of the fuel tank  35  so that the lower portion  76   a  of the fuel pump  76  is protruded downward from the bottom plate  74  and the resonator  45  is arranged on the rear side of the lower portion  76   a  of the fuel pump  76  in the front-rear direction of the vehicle as seen in the side view of the vehicle. Thereby, the resonator  45  can be arranged while effectively utilizing a space around the lower portion  76   a  of the fuel pump  76 . 
     Further, since the connecting portion of the resonator  45  to the connecting tube  43  is arranged on one of the right and left sides of the top portion  70   a  of the curved portion  70 , path length between the resonator  45  and the connecting tube  43  can be secured while restraining that the rear position of the fuel tank  35  becomes high. In addition, the air hose  72  extended in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the cleaner case  48  is arranged so as to pass above the connecting tube  43  on the other of the right and left sides of the top portion  70   a  of the curved portion  70 . Thereby, the air hose  72  can be smoothly arranged. 
     Further, on the rear side of the fuel tank  35  along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the riding seat  36  covering the air cleaner  42  from above is arranged, and the cleaner element  55  of the air cleaner  42  is arranged so as to be separated rearward in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the upstream end  43   a  of the connecting tube  43  and so that the circulation direction  62  of air extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to contribute to reduction of seat height by restraining height of the air cleaner  42  while securing the space between the connecting tube  43  and the cleaner element  55 . 
     Although the embodiment of the present invention is described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications and changes can be done without deviation from the gist of the present invention. 
     For example, although it is explained in the above embodiment a case that the throttle device is the throttle body  44 , the present invention can be adopted for a case that the throttle device is a carburetor. Further, the present invention can be widely adopted for a saddle-ride type vehicle including a three-wheeled motor vehicle and the like in addition to the two-wheeled motor vehicle.