Patent Description:
There has been conventionally known a type of electric straddled vehicle that includes a case for accommodating a battery, an intake pipe for taking air into the case, and a discharge pipe for discharging gas from the interior of the case (see <CIT>).

When the electric straddled vehicle disclosed in <CIT> is submerged to the vicinity of an opening of the intake pipe, for instance, it is concerned that water intrudes into the case through the opening of the intake pipe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric straddled vehicle that elevation in internal pressure of a case for accommodating an electric component and intrusion of water into the case can be inhibited. According to the present invention said object is solved by an electric straddled vehicle having the features of independent claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are laid down in the dependent claims.

An electric straddled vehicle according to an aspect includes an electric component, a case, a breather hose, and a cap. The case accommodates the electric component. The breather hose includes a first end connected to the case and a second end provided on an opposite side of the first end. The cap having breathable waterproof properties, is attached to the second end of the breather hose.

In the electric straddled vehicle according to the present aspect, the cap, having breathable waterproof properties, is attached to the breather hose; hence, elevation in internal pressure of the case can be inhibited by the breather hose, while intrusion of water into the case through the breather hose can be inhibited.

The second end of the breather hose may be disposed further on an upper side than the case. In this case, when the case is submerged or when the vehicle is washed by high-pressure water, the cap can be inhibited from getting wet by the water; hence, intrusion of the water into the case through the second end of the breather hose can be inhibited. Besides, the cap can be inhibited from being immersed in muddy water in traveling; hence, deterioration in water permeability of the cap can be inhibited.

The electric straddled vehicle may further include a seat on which an operator (rider) is seated. The second end of the breather hose may be disposed further on an upper side than a lower end of the seat. In this case, when the case is submerged or when the vehicle is washed by high-pressure water, the cap can be inhibited from getting wet by the water; hence, intrusion of the water into the case through the second end of the breather hose can be inhibited. Besides, the cap can be inhibited from being immersed in muddy water in traveling; hence, deterioration in water permeability of the cap can be inhibited.

The electric straddled vehicle may further include a front wheel. The second end of the breather hose may be disposed further on an upper side than the front wheel. In this case, when the case is submerged or when the vehicle is washed by high-pressure water, the cap can be inhibited from getting wet by the water; hence, intrusion of the water into the case through the second end of the breather hose can be inhibited. Besides, the cap can be inhibited from being immersed in muddy water in traveling; hence, deterioration in water permeability of the cap can be inhibited.

The electric straddled vehicle may further include a rear wheel. The second end of the breather hose may be disposed further on an upper side than the rear wheel. In this case, when the case is submerged or when the vehicle is washed by high-pressure water, the cap can be inhibited from getting wet by the water; hence, intrusion of the water into the case through the second end of the breather hose can be inhibited. Besides, the cap can be inhibited from being immersed in muddy water in traveling; hence, deterioration in water permeability of the cap can be inhibited.

The electric component may be a power unit including an electric motor and a reducer. In this case, elevation in internal pressure can be inhibited in the case in which a high voltage component is accommodated, while the high voltage component can be inhibited from being immersed in water.

The case may have waterproof properties. In this case, intrusion of water into the case can be inhibited.

The cap includes a pipe, a breathable waterproof sheet, and a lid. The pipe includes a through hole and is attached to the second end of the breather hose. The breathable waterproof sheet closes the through hole of the pipe. The lid is fixed to the pipe and covers at least a portion of the breathable waterproof sheet. In this case, elevation in internal pressure of the case for accommodating the electric component and intrusion of water into the case can be inhibited with a simple configuration.

Overall, according to the present invention, elevation in internal pressure of a case for accommodating an electric component and intrusion of water into the case can be inhibited in an electric straddled vehicle.

An electric straddled vehicle according to a preferred embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to drawings. As shown in <FIG>, a straddled vehicle <NUM> is a straddled vehicle of an off-road type. It should be noted that in the following explanation, terms indicating such directions as "back and forth" as the vehicle back-and-forth direction, "up and down" as the vehicle up-and-down direction and "right and left" as the vehicle right and left direction are explained based on directions seen from a rider in operation of the straddled vehicle. For example, in the present preferred embodiment, the vehicle right-and-left direction is synonymous with a vehicle width direction.

The straddled vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle body frame <NUM>, a steering device <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, a front wheel <NUM>, a rear wheel <NUM>, a power unit <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and a motor control unit <NUM>.

The vehicle body frame <NUM> includes a head pipe <NUM> and a main frame <NUM>. The head pipe <NUM> extends forward and downward from the upper end thereof to the lower end thereof in a vehicle side view. The head pipe <NUM> is disposed in the middle of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The main frame <NUM> is connected to the head pipe <NUM>. The main frame <NUM> extends rearward from the head pipe <NUM>.

The steering device <NUM> is supported by the head pipe <NUM> so as to be turnable. The steering device <NUM> supports the front wheel <NUM> such that the front wheel <NUM> is made rotatable. The steering device <NUM> includes a steering shaft <NUM>, a handle member <NUM>, and a front fork <NUM>. The steering shaft <NUM> is inserted into the head pipe <NUM>. The handle member <NUM> is disposed further on the upper side than the head pipe <NUM> and is connected to the steering shaft <NUM>. The front fork <NUM> is connected to the steering shaft <NUM>. The front fork <NUM> supports the front wheel <NUM> such that the front wheel <NUM> is made rotatable.

The seat <NUM> is disposed behind the head pipe <NUM>, while being disposed directly above the main frame <NUM>. The front wheel <NUM> is supported by the front fork <NUM> so as to be rotatable. The rear wheel <NUM> is supported by the main frame <NUM> through a swing arm <NUM> so as to be rotatable. The rear wheel <NUM> is rotated by a drive force generated by the power unit <NUM>.

The power unit <NUM> is an example of electric component. The power unit <NUM> is attached to the vehicle body frame <NUM>. The power unit <NUM> drives the rear wheel <NUM> through, for instance, a chain. The power unit <NUM> includes an electric motor <NUM> and a reducer <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> is an example of electric component. The electric motor <NUM> is driven by electric power supplied thereto from the battery <NUM>. The reducer <NUM> reduces the speed of rotation of the electric motor <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> is disposed directly above the power unit <NUM>. The battery <NUM> supplies the electric power to the electric motor <NUM>. The battery <NUM> is accommodated in a battery case <NUM> disposed directly above the power unit <NUM>.

The motor control unit <NUM> is attached to the vehicle body frame <NUM>. The motor control unit <NUM> is electrically connected to the electric motor <NUM> so as to control the electric motor <NUM>. For example, the motor control unit <NUM> includes a circuit board (not shown in the drawings) on which a processor, a memory, and so forth are mounted.

The straddled vehicle <NUM> further includes a first case <NUM>, a second case <NUM>, a breather hose <NUM>, and a cap <NUM>.

The first case <NUM> accommodates the electric motor <NUM> and the reducer <NUM>. The first case <NUM> has waterproof properties. The second case <NUM> accommodates the motor control unit <NUM>. The second case <NUM> has waterproof properties. The second case <NUM> is disposed in front of the first case <NUM>. It should be noted that each of the first and second cases <NUM> and <NUM> is an example of case.

The breather hose <NUM> is made in shape of a tube. The breather hose <NUM> extends approximately in the up-and-down direction in the vehicle side view. The breather hose <NUM> is connected to the first case <NUM>. The breather hose <NUM> extends from an upper portion of the first case <NUM> toward the head pipe <NUM>. The breather hose <NUM> is disposed at least in part further on the front side than the battery case <NUM>. The breather hose <NUM> is supported by, for instance, the vehicle body frame <NUM> through a hose clamp and/or so forth.

The breather hose <NUM> includes a first end 30a and a second end 30b. Thus the breather hose <NUM> extends from the first end 30a to the second end 30b. The first end 30a is connected to the first case <NUM>. The second end 30b is an end provided on the opposite side of the first end 30a. The second end 30b is disposed further on the upper side than the first end 30a. The second end 30b is disposed further on the front side than the first end 30a.

The second end 30b is disposed further on the rear side than the head pipe <NUM>, while being disposed further on the front side than the seat <NUM>. The second end 30b is disposed further on the upper side than the first case <NUM>. The second end 30b is disposed further on the upper side than the battery case <NUM>. The second end 30b is disposed further on the upper side than the second case <NUM>. The second end 30b is disposed further on the upper side than a lower end 4a of the seat <NUM>. The second end 30b is disposed further on the upper side than the front wheel <NUM>. The second end 30b is disposed further on the upper side than the rear wheel <NUM>.

The cap <NUM> has breathable waterproof properties. The cap <NUM> is attached to the second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM>. The cap <NUM> overlaps with the steering device <NUM> in a vehicle plan view. The cap <NUM> may be disposed further on the rear side than the steering device <NUM>, or alternatively, may be disposed further on the rear side than a handlebar.

The cap <NUM> is disposed further on the rear side than the head pipe <NUM>, while being disposed further on the front side than the seat <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is disposed further on the upper side than the first case <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is disposed further on the upper side than the battery case <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is disposed further on the upper side than the lower end 4a of the seat <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is disposed further on the upper side than the front wheel <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is disposed further on the upper side than the rear wheel <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cap <NUM> includes a pipe <NUM>, a breathable waterproof sheet <NUM>, a lid <NUM>, and a vent hole <NUM>. The pipe <NUM> is made in shape of a tube and is made of, for instance, a resin material. The pipe <NUM> is attached to the second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM>. The pipe <NUM> includes a through hole 41a and a fixed portion 41b. The through hole 41a is provided on one end of the pipe <NUM>, whereas the fixed portion 41b is provided on the other end of the pipe <NUM>. The through hole 41a is opened upward. The outer diameter of the fixed portion 41b is lesser than the inner diameter of the through hole 41a. The outer diameter of the fixed portion 41b is lesser than the inner diameter of the second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM>. The fixed portion 41b is fixed to the breather hose <NUM> by a band member <NUM>, while being inserted into an inner peripheral part of the second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM>. It should be noted that the second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM> may be configured to be inserted and fixed into an inner peripheral part of the fixed portion 41b.

The breathable waterproof sheet <NUM> closes the through hole 41a of the pipe <NUM>. The breathable waterproof sheet <NUM> has both breathable properties and waterproof properties. For example, the breathable waterproof sheet <NUM> is a member made in shape of a film in which a large number of minute pores are perforated.

The lid <NUM> is made of, for instance, a resin material. The lid <NUM> is fixed to the one end of the pipe <NUM>. The lid <NUM> covers an outer peripheral surface 41c of the one end of the pipe <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is fixed to the outer peripheral surface 41c of the pipe <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a portion of an inner peripheral surface 43a of the lid <NUM> opposed to the outer peripheral surface 41c of the pipe <NUM> is separated from the outer peripheral surface 41c of the pipe <NUM>. The lid <NUM> covers at least a portion of the breathable waterproof sheet <NUM>. In the present preferred embodiment, the lid <NUM> covers the entirety of the breathable waterproof sheet <NUM>. A gap is produced between the lid <NUM> and the breathable waterproof sheet <NUM>.

The vent hole <NUM> is composed by a gap between the outer peripheral surface 41c of the pipe <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface 43a of the lid <NUM>. The vent hole <NUM> makes the inside and the outside of the cap <NUM> communicate with each other therethrough.

The straddled vehicle <NUM> further includes a breather hose <NUM> and a cap <NUM>. The breather hose <NUM> is connected to the second case <NUM>. The breather hose <NUM> includes a first end 50a and a second end 50b. Thus the breather hose <NUM> extends from the first end 50a to the second end 50b. The breather hose <NUM> is comparable to the breather hose <NUM> except for a configuration of the breather hose <NUM> connected to the second case <NUM>; hence, detailed explanation of the breather hose <NUM> will be omitted.

The cap <NUM> is attached to the second end 50b of the breather hose <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is aligned with the cap <NUM> in the right-and-left direction. The cap <NUM> is comparable to the cap <NUM> except for the configuration of the cap <NUM> attached to the second end 50b of the breather hose <NUM>; hence, detailed explanation of the cap <NUM> will be omitted.

In the straddled vehicle <NUM> according to the present aspect, the cap <NUM>, having breathable waterproof properties, is attached to the breather hose <NUM>; hence, elevation in internal pressure of the first case <NUM> storing the motor control unit <NUM> as a high voltage component can be inhibited by the breather hose <NUM>, while intrusion of water into the first case <NUM> through the breather hose <NUM> can be inhibited.

The second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM> is disposed further on the upper side than the first case <NUM>, the lower end 4a of the seat <NUM>, the front wheel <NUM>, and the rear wheel <NUM>; hence, when the first case <NUM> is submerged or when the vehicle is washed by high-pressure water, the cap <NUM> can be inhibited from getting wet by the water. Accordingly, intrusion of water into the first case <NUM> through the second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM> can be inhibited. Besides, the cap <NUM> can be inhibited from being immersed in muddy water in traveling; hence, it is possible to inhibit occurrence of such a situation that the breathable waterproof sheet <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is clogged by the muddy water, whereby water permeability of the cap <NUM> is deteriorated.

It should be noted that elevation in internal pressure of the second case <NUM> can be inhibited by the cap <NUM> attached to the breather hose <NUM>, while intrusion of water into the second case <NUM> through the second end 50b of the breather hose <NUM> can be inhibited. Besides, the cap <NUM> can be inhibited from being immersed in muddy water in traveling.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the combination of the breather hose <NUM> and the cap <NUM> may be omitted from the combinations of the breather hose <NUM>, <NUM> and the cap <NUM>, <NUM>; alternatively, the combination of the breather hose <NUM> and the cap <NUM> may be omitted therefrom.

The battery case <NUM> may be provided with constituent elements corresponding to the breather hose <NUM> and the cap <NUM>. In this case, the battery <NUM> is regarded as an example of electric component.

The second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM> may be changed in positional arrangement. The second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM> may be disposed at an approximately equal height to the first case <NUM> in the up-and-down direction. The second end 30b of the breather hose <NUM> may be disposed further on the lower side than the lower end 4a of the seat <NUM>. In a comparable manner to the above, the second end 50b of the breather hose <NUM> may be changed in positional arrangement.

Claim 1:
An electric straddled vehicle (<NUM>) comprising:
an electric component (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a case (<NUM>, <NUM>) accommodating the electric component (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a breather hose (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a first end (30a, 50a) and a second end (30b, 50b), the first end (30a, 50a) connected to the case (<NUM>, <NUM>), the second end (30b, 50b) is provided on an opposite side of the first end (30a, 50a) with regard to an extension of the breather hose (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a cap (<NUM>, <NUM>) attached to the second end (30b, 50b) of the breather hose (<NUM>, <NUM>), the cap (<NUM>, <NUM>) having breathable waterproof properties, characterized in that the cap (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes
a pipe (<NUM>) including a through hole (41a), the pipe (<NUM>) is attached to the second end (30b, 50b) of the breather hose (<NUM>, <NUM>),
a breathable waterproof sheet (<NUM>) closing the through hole (41a) of the pipe (<NUM>), and
a lid (<NUM>) fixed to the pipe (<NUM>), the lid (<NUM>) is covering at least a portion of the breathable waterproof sheet (<NUM>).