Abstract:
According to the present invention, there is provided a secondary engine cover formed from a polymeric material comprising a wear indicator. It is recommended and encouraged that teams, and track day public, replace the secondary engine cover after each and every crash, to ensure the best rider safety possible. However, because of some products inherent high performance and durability, this good practice has not always been followed. Some deem that it is not always necessary to change, a practice that it is not wished to encourage and which should be changed. In this invention, wear indicators are created in one alternative in the form of round holes appearing in on the top surface of the secondary engine cover when crucial areas of material of the secondary engine cover have been worn down. This allows Scrutineers and team technicians and riders to evaluate the secondary engine covers visually, and base their decisions on what they see easily, should the secondary engine cover not be replace automatically after a fall or crash as recommended.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Great Britain Patent Application No. 1512085.0, filed Jul. 10, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to secondary engine covers comprising a wear indicator. It is particularly applicable to a motorcycle secondary engine covers comprising a wear indicator. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    When a motorcycle crashes the stock metal engine covers invariably hit the ground, and can break or wear away, causing an oil spill. When excessive impact or wear is present the stock cover will either crack, with either the initial or subsequent impact, or wear right through the stock metal engine cover, when the motorcycle travels for a long duration on its side. 
         [0004]    This leads to the engine oil spilling out on to the track or road. This causes a very hazardous oil spill for other motorcycles and other vehicles in general. In the case of other motorcycles, this invariably leads to more and potentially fatal crash scenarios. 
         [0005]    The conventional method for protecting the stock metal covers are to attach a composite material such as carbon fibre or Kevlar®, or replaceable billet aluminium or steel plates and/or bars. These methods are either very costly or are inadequate in practice. 
         [0006]    Another method is to attach a material such as polycarbonate which although provides good protective properties, these properties are rendered obsolete on contact with petroleum, or long term UV exposure. Given spillage often occurs on re-fuelling especially in race scenarios, a product which is likely to fail on exposure to petroleum will not give the required level of comfort that damage to the bike and thus an oil spill will potentially occur after a crash. 
         [0007]    GB2479405 Lewis Banks Ltd describes one solution to these problems, namely a polymeric and long glass fibre composition for use in injection molded protective articles including secondary engine covers and motorcycle secondary engine covers. The use of this composition in injection molded protective articles advantageously results in a protective article which is of significantly reduced cost compared with replacing the damaged part, i.e., an engine cover casing after a fall on a motorcycle. As the protective article can be produced at a significantly reduced cost, there is more benefit to the owner of an, e.g., motorcycle, to use a protective article, resulting in oil spills from cracked or worn primary, e.g., engine cover casings. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the composition also allows for absorption of forces which are generated on impact, because forces are absorbed by the composition the protective article does not shatter and break on impact, thus transmitting the forces directly to the primary eg engine cover casing and therefore the engine that it is supposed to be protecting. 
         [0009]    The composition also allows for increased wear compared with the stock eg engine cover casings and compared with the prior art Carbon Fibre or Kevlar® secondary eg engine cover casings. This means that the protective article does not necessarily need to be replaced every time the protective article comes into contact with the ground in a crash. If the crash is only minor and not at high speed and not over a long distance, then there may only be a small amount of wear or scuffing on the protective article meaning it can be left in place without needing to be changed, whereas in the same crash with the stock or prior art articles a change would have been required. 
         [0010]    However, because of the high performance and durability of the protective article sometimes it isn&#39;t replaced when it is in need of replacement, i.e., it is worn to such a degree that a final crash may not protect the engine as intended. This practice is not only false economy, but potentially reduces rider safety. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a secondary engine cover formed from a polymeric material comprising a wear indicator. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the wear indicator comprises a region of reduced thickness of polymeric material. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the wear indicator comprises a plurality of regions of reduced thickness of polymeric material. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the thickness of the region of reduced thickness is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, more preferably 1.5 mm and 2 mm, most preferably 1.7 mm. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the region of reduced thickness comprises a blind hole, depression, recess or the like. Preferably, in use when the region of reduced thickness of polymeric material is worn away a hole through the secondary engine cover is created which indicates that the secondary engine cover should be replaced. 
         [0016]    Alternatively, the blind hole, depression, recess or the like is infilled with a material that is visually distinct from the polymeric material. In this alternative, preferably in use when the region of reduced thickness of polymeric material is worn away the visually distinct infill material become visible which indicates that the secondary engine cover should be replaced. 
         [0017]    It is recommended and encouraged that teams, and track day public, replace the secondary engine cover after each and every crash, to ensure the best rider safety possible. 
         [0018]    However, because of some products inherent high performance and durability, this good practice has not always been followed. Some deem that it is not always necessary to change, a practice that it is not wished to encourage and which should be changed. 
         [0019]    In this invention, wear indicators are created in one alternative in the form of round holes appearing in on the top surface of the secondary engine cover when crucial areas of material of the secondary engine cover have been worn down. This allows Scrutineers and team technicians and riders to evaluate the secondary engine covers visually, and base their decisions on what they see easily, should the secondary engine cover not be replace automatically after a fall or crash as recommended. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of a secondary engine cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of a secondary engine cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a secondary engine cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top cut away view of a secondary engine cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of a secondary engine cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of a secondary engine cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a secondary engine cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top cut away view of a secondary engine cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of a secondary engine cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  illustrates a bottom view of a secondary engine cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a secondary engine cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  illustrates a top cut away view of a secondary engine cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]      FIGS. 1 to 4  illustrate a secondary engine cover  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The secondary engine cover  10  is intended, in use, to bolt on to a motor cycle over an existing engine cover casing using bolt holes  18   a  to  18   d . The secondary engine cover  10  has a top surface  14  and a bottom surface  16 . The thickness of the secondary engine cover  10  varies depending on the wear requirements across the secondary engine cover  10 , but is typically between 2 mm and 12 mm. 
         [0033]    The secondary engine cover  10  is formed from a composition which includes a polymeric material and long glass fibres. 
         [0034]    The long glass fibres are typically present in the range of 50-70%. The long glass fibres provided for increased wear and protection of the composition when formed into a protective article. The inclusion of 60% long glass fibres is particularly beneficial because it allows a balance of high wear properties with a balance of impact properties. 
         [0035]    The polymer is typically selected from polyamides, polyesters, polyalkenes, and silicones. These polymeric materials are generally resistant to contact with petroleum, or long term UV exposure. The polyamide may be selected from polyphthalamide (PPA), polycaprolactam (nylon 6), polyhexamethylene adipamide (nylon 6,6) and aromatic polyamides (Aramid Fibres). The polyalkene may be selected from polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP) and polytetrafluroethylenes (PTFE). The polyester may be selected from polyterephthalic acid (PTA). 
         [0036]    The composition may also include a flow modifier. Typically, the flow modifier, if used, is an easy mold flow modifier. The use of an easy flow modifier not only assists when using the composition in the injection molding process itself, which is the preferred method of forming the protective article, but also results in much stronger protective article. The easy flow modifier means that the long glass fibres flow more smoothly into the mold, which results in less breakage of the fibres and in turn a much stronger protective article as more of the fibres remain long and reinforce the polymeric material. One example of an easy flow modifier is molybdenum disulfide. This is because molybdenum disulfide not only acts as an easy flow modifier, but also acts as a tracer element to aid detection of the composition when formed into a protective article. This is advantageous as the molybdenum disulfide is readily detectible in the protective article formed from the composition and acts as a method for detecting whether the protective article is in fact formed from the composition of the invention or a different composition. A typical amount of molybdenum disulfide is 3% to 5% of the total composition. 
         [0037]    The composition may additionally include an impact modifier and/or an impact stabiliser. 
       Composition Example 
       [0038]    The polymeric material is nylon 6.6. 
         [0039]    The long glass filled fibres are present in a level of 60% of the total composition. 
         [0040]    The flow modifier is Molybdenum Disulfide and is present in a level of 3-5% of the total composition. 
         [0041]    Turning to  FIG. 2  which illustrates a bottom view of the secondary engine cover  10  a plurality of blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  are provided. The blind holes do not extend through to the top surface  14  of the secondary engine cover  10 . The blind holes stop short of the top surface  14  of the secondary engine cover  10 . Typically, 1 mm to 2.5 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  and the top surface  14  of the secondary engine cover  10 . In the embodiment illustrated, 1.7 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  and the top surface  14  of the secondary engine cover  10 . 
         [0042]    The blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  are located in the region(s) of the secondary engine cover  10  most prone to wear. 
         [0043]    In the alternative, illustrated the blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  are left unfilled. However, in an alternative the blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  may be filled with a material of a different colour to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  10 . The infill material itself whilst being a different colour may be of the same or different composition to the main material of the secondary engine cover  10 . The exact colour of the infill material is not of importance, only that it is visually different and distinct to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  10 . 
         [0044]    Further, in the alternative, it may be that no blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  are provided and instead the secondary engine cover  10  is formed from 2 different coloured materials, which may be the same composition of different compositions. The exact colour of the two materials is not of importance, only that they visually different and distinct to each other. In this alternative, the secondary engine cover  10  is formed such that the entire top surface is formed from one colour of material of a thickness of 1 mm to 2.5 mm and the remainder of the secondary engine cover  10  is formed from the other colour of material. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the secondary engine cover  10  illustrating the depth of blind holes  12   a  and  12   b  and the amount of material present before the top surface  14 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top cut away view of the secondary engine cover  10  in which two of the blind holes  12   a ,  12   b  have been exposed. This view exemplifies what would happen to the secondary engine cover  10  after the top surface has become worn, such as after a fall. In the areas around exposed blind holes  12   a  and  12   b , the top surface of the secondary engine cover  10  has become sufficiently worn for replacement as typically at least 1 mm to 2.5 mm of material (depending on the depth of material left between the end of each of the blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  and the top surface  14  of the secondary engine cover  10 ). As stated above in the embodiment illustrated, 1.7 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  and the top surface  14  of the secondary engine cover  10 . The visual presence of the blind holes (now holes)  12   a  and  12   b  indicates to the user that the secondary engine cover  10  needs to be replaced. 
         [0047]    In the alternative described above, where the blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  are filled with a material of a different colour to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  10 , when the top surface becomes worn, as described above, instead of a hole becoming visible instead the infill material will become visible which is visually different and distinct to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  10 . 
         [0048]    In the other alternative described above where no blind holes  12   a  to  12   e  are provided and instead the secondary engine cover  10  is formed from 2 different coloured materials, when the top surface  14  becomes worn, as described above, instead of a hole the material below the top surface  14  of material that is worn away will become visible which is visually different and distinct to the top surface  14  of the secondary engine cover  10 . 
         [0049]      FIGS. 5 to 8  illustrate a secondary engine cover  110  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The secondary engine cover  110  is intended, in use, to bolt on to a motor cycle over an existing engine cover casing using bolt holes  118   a  to  118   e . The secondary engine cover  110  has a top surface  114  and a bottom surface  116 . The thickness of the secondary engine cover  110  varies depending on the wear requirements across the secondary engine cover  110 , but is typically between 2 mm and 12 mm. 
         [0050]    The secondary engine cover  110  is formed from a composition which includes a polymeric material and long glass fibres as described in relation to the first embodiment above. 
         [0051]    Turning to  FIG. 6  which illustrates a bottom view of the secondary engine cover  110 , a plurality of blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  are provided. The blind holes do not extend through to the top surface  114  of the secondary engine cover  110 . The blind holes stop short of the top surface  114  of the secondary engine cover  110 . Typically, 1 mm to 2.5 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  and the top surface  114  of the secondary engine cover  110 . In the embodiment illustrated, 1.7 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  and the top surface  114  of the secondary engine cover  110 . 
         [0052]    The blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  are located in the region(s) of the secondary engine cover  110  most prone to wear. 
         [0053]    In the alternative illustrated, the blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  are left unfilled. However, in an alternative as described in relation to the first embodiment, the blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  may be filled with a material of a different colour to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  110  as described above. 
         [0054]    Further, in the alternative as described in relation to the first embodiment, it may be that no blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  are provided and instead the secondary engine cover  110  is formed from 2 different coloured materials, which may be the same composition of different compositions. 
         [0055]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the secondary engine cover  110  illustrating the depth of blind holes  112  in general and the amount of material present before the top surface  114 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top cut away view of the secondary engine cover  110  in which seven of the blind holes  112   a ,  112   c ,  112   d ,  112   e ,  112   f ,  112   g ,  112   i  have been exposed. This view exemplifies what would happen to the secondary engine cover  110  after the top surface has become worn, such as after a fall. In the areas around exposed blind holes  112   a ,  112   c ,  112   d ,  112   e ,  112   f ,  112   g ,  112   i , the top surface of the secondary engine cover  110  has become sufficiently worn for replacement as typically at least 1 mm to 2.5 mm of material (depending on the depth of material left between the end of each of the blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  and the top surface  114  of the secondary engine cover  110 ). As stated above in the embodiment illustrated, 1.7 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  and the top surface  114  of the secondary engine cover  110 . The visual presence of the blind holes (now holes)  112   a ,  112   c ,  112   d ,  112   e ,  112   f ,  112   g ,  112   i  indicates to the user that the secondary engine cover  110  needs to be replaced. 
         [0057]    In the alternative described above, where the blind holes  112   a  to  112   i  are filled with a material of a different colour to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  110 , when the top surface becomes worn, as described above, instead of a hole becoming visible instead the infill material will become visible which is visually different and distinct to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  110 . 
         [0058]    In the other alternative described above where no blind holes  112   a  to  121   e  are provided and instead the secondary engine cover  110  is formed from 2 different coloured materials, when the top surface  114  becomes worn as described above instead of a hole the material below the top surface  114  of material that is worn away will become visible which is visually different and distinct to the top surface  114  of the secondary engine cover  110 . 
         [0059]      FIGS. 9 to 12  illustrate a secondary engine cover  210  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The secondary engine cover  210  is intended, in use, to bolt on to a motor cycle over an existing engine cover casing using bolt holes  218   a  to  218   d . The secondary engine cover  210  has a top surface  214  and a bottom surface  216 . The thickness of the secondary engine cover  210  varies depending on the wear requirements across the secondary engine cover  210 , but is typically between 2 mm and 12 mm. 
         [0060]    The secondary engine cover  210  is formed from a composition which includes a polymeric material and long glass fibres as described in relation to the first embodiment above. 
         [0061]    Turning to  FIG. 10 , which illustrates a bottom view of the secondary engine cover  210 , a plurality of blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  are provided. The blind holes do not extend through to the top surface  214  of the secondary engine cover  210 . The blind holes stop short of the top surface  214  of the secondary engine cover  210 . Typically, 1 mm to 2.5 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  and the top surface  214  of the secondary engine cover  210 . In the embodiment illustrated, 1.7 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  and the top surface  214  of the secondary engine cover  210 . 
         [0062]    The blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  are located in the region(s) of the secondary engine cover  210  most prone to wear. 
         [0063]    In the alternative illustrated, the blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  are left unfilled. However, in an alternative as described in relation to the first embodiment the blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  may be filled with a material of a different colour to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  210  as described above. 
         [0064]    Further, in the alternative as described in relation to the first embodiment, it may be that no blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  are provided and instead the secondary engine cover  210  is formed from 2 different coloured materials, which may be the same composition of different compositions. 
         [0065]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the secondary engine cover  210  illustrating the depth of blind holes  212  in general and the amount of material present before the top surface  214 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 12  illustrates a top cut away view of the secondary engine cover  210  in which three of the blind holes  212   c ,  212   d ,  212   e  have been exposed. This view exemplifies what would happen to the secondary engine cover  210  after the top surface has become worn, such as after a fall. In the areas around exposed blind holes  212   c ,  212   d ,  212   e , the top surface of the secondary engine cover  210  has become sufficiently worn for replacement as typically at least 1 mm to 2.5 mm of material (depending on the depth of material left between the end of each of the blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  and the top surface  214  of the secondary engine cover  210 ). As stated above in the embodiment illustrated, 1.7 mm of material is present between end of each of the blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  and the top surface  214  of the secondary engine cover  210 . The visual presence of the blind holes (now holes)  212   c ,  212   d ,  212   e  indicates to the user that the secondary engine cover  210  needs to be replaced. 
         [0067]    In the alternative described above, where the blind holes  212   a  to  212   f  are filled with a material of a different colour to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  210 , when the top surface becomes worn as described above instead of a hole becoming visible instead the infill material will become visible which is visually different and distinct to the main colour of the secondary engine cover  210 . 
         [0068]    In the other alternative described above where no blind holes  212   a  to  121   f  are provided and instead the secondary engine cover  210  is formed from 2 different coloured materials, when the top surface  214  becomes worn, as described above, instead of a hole the material below the top surface  214  of material that is worn away will become visible which is visually different and distinct to the top surface  214  of the secondary engine cover  210 . 
         [0069]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The present invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicant&#39;s invention.