Title of Invention

"BODY COVER DEVICE OF MOTORCYCLE "

Abstract A body cover device of a motorcycle with a muffler (22) arranged on a lower side of a body cover (11) characterized in that the body cover (11) is made of resin and has a portion in correspondence with an upper side of a side portion of the muffler (22), and the portion of the body cover (11) has a chipped portion (11d) to which a muffler (22) protector (123) made of steel is fitted and integrally attached.
Full Text [DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION]
[Industrial Field of Utilization]
The present invention relates to a body cover structure of a motorcycle.
The present invention relates to an improvement in a body cover of a motorcycle arranged with a muffler on a lower side of one side portion of a Vehicle body.
[Prior Art]
Conventionally, in the case of a scooter type motorcycle, there is frequently adopted a structure of a unit swing type in which a power unit comprising an engine and a transmission case is supported by a vehicle body swingably in the movement of the power unit and there is frequently provided a structure in which a rear wheel is supported at a rear portion of the power unit and a rear cushion unit is interposed between the power unit and the vehicle body.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view viewing a body cover on a side having a muffler from a rear side and a rear wheel 54 supported by a power unit 55 is arranged at center C in a direction of vehicle width. The power unit 55 is arranged to shift to one side of the rear wheel 54 and is installed in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body.
In the meantime, a muffler 52 arranged to the power unit 55 is arranged to shift to a side opposed to the power unit 55 such that it does not interfere with the rear wheel 54.
Meanwhile, the muffler 52 is arranged on an outer side of the rear wheel 54 to interpose a predetermined space therebetween in consideration of prevention of thermal influence on the rear wheel 54 and a body cover 51 is installed on an outer side of the muffler 52 by securing a predetermined space therebetween in consideration of prevention of thermal influence from the muffler.
Therefore, the muffler 52 is arranged from one side of the rear wheel 54 in an outer side direction by interposing a space S2 therebetween, further, a portion of the body cover 51 in correspondence with the muffler 52 is arranged in an outer side direction from the muffler 52 by interposing a space SI therebetween.
By the above-mentioned reason, the muffler 52 is arranged on one side of the rear wheel 54 and on an outer side of the rear wheel 54 in the vehicle width direction by interposing the space S2 and in respect of the body cover 51 constituting
an outlook of the motorcycle, a portion thereof in correspondence with the muffler 52 is formed as a bulged portion 51a significantly bulging in the outer side direction of the vehicle width direction in comparison with other portions of the body cover for avoiding interference between the body cover 51 and the muffler 52 and avoiding thermal influence from the muffler' 52 as mentioned above.
Further, numeral 53 designates a muffler protector arranged on the upper side of the muffler 52 and arranged with a gap between it and the bulged portion 51a of the body cover 51. The space SI is provided between the muffler 52 including the muffler protector 53 and the bulged portion 51a of the body cover 51 as mentioned above and the muffler 52 and the muffler protector 53 are disposed on an inner side of the bulged portion 51a of the body cover 51, holds the space SI therebetween and is moved upwardly and downwardly integrally with the swinging movement of the power unit 55 as shown by an arrow mark in the drawing.
Accordingly, there is provided a body cover structure of a motorcycle with a muffler (22) arranged on a lower side of a body cover (11) characterized in that the body cover (11) has a portion in correspondence with an upper side of a side portion of the muffler (22), and the portion of the body cover (11) has a chipped portion (1 Id) to which a muffler protector (123) made of steel is integrally attached.
[Problem to Be Solved by the Invention]
The conventional body cover 51 is molded integrally by resin or the like to include the bulged portion 51a on the side having the muffler 52 and when the body cover 51 is formed of a left and right dividing type, in respect of a half body cover on one side (hereinafter, described as "body cover hair), a total of the body cover half is integrally molded to include the bulged portion 51a.
In the meantime, the bulged portion 51a of the body cover 51 on the side having the muffler 52, is obliged to bulge to an outer side direction in comparison with other portions of the body cover owing to the reason.
Accordingly, there is a possibility in which the bulged portion 51a is brought into contact with an obstacle in parking or in moving it by pushing it by the hand or the like. Further, in the case of parking, when the motorcycle is erroneously fallen down, the bulged portion 51a may be grounded, impaired, or destructed.
In the case of a scooter type motorcycle, the body cover 51 constitutes directly outlook of the vehicle body and accordingly, impairment or destruction of the bulged portion 51a of the body cover 51 mentioned above is not preferable.
Conventionally, when the bulged portion 51a is impaired or destructed as mentioned above, a total of the body cover or a total of the body cover half including the bulged portion 51a needs to interchange.
When the total of the body cover or the total of the body cover half is interchanged, the interchanging operation becomes hard, a burden on a user in view of the cost is considerable and an improvement therefor is requested.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to resolve the problem, according to Claim 1, in a motorcycle arranged with a muffler on a lower side of
a body cover, a portion of the body cover in correspondence with an upper side of a side portion of the muffler is integrally attached with a muffler protector separate from the body cover.
According to Claim 1, a muffler protector constituting the portion of the side portion of the body cover in correspondence with the upper side of the side portion of the muffler can be integrated to constitute the portion of the body cover by constituting the body cover by a body separate from the side portion of the body cover. Accordingly, only the muffler protector constituting the one side portion of the body cover can be interchanged. That is, the total of the body cover or the total of the body cover half needs not to interchange.
[Brief Description of the Drawings]
Fig. 1 is a side view showing an outlook of a motorcycle.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken from a line 2 - 2 of Fig .1.
Fig. 3 is a view showing other embodiment and is a side view showing an outlook of a motorcycle similar to Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken from a line 4 - 4 of Fig 3 .
Fig. 5 is a sectional view viewing a body cover on a side having a muffler from a rear side in a conventional motorcycle.
[Preferred Embodiments]
An explanation will be given of modes for carrying out the present invention in reference to attached drawings as follows. Further, the drawings are viewed in directions of notations.
Fig. 1 is a side view of an outlook of a scooter type motorcycle to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken from a line 2 - 2 of Fig. 1 (partial sectional view), numeral 1 designates a scooter type motorcycle, a front fork 3 for supporting a front wheel 2 is supported at a front portion of a body frame (not illustrated)
and the front wheel 2 is steered by a handle 4 on the upper side of the front portion. A power unit 5 of a unit swing type is arranged at a middle portion of the body frame swingably in the up and down direction with the front portion as a fulcrum. The power unit 5 is installed with an engine 6 at the front portion and a transmission case 7 extended rearwardly.
A rear wheel 8 is supported on one side of the rear portion of the transmission case 7 of the power unit 5 mentioned above and according to the rear wheel 8, the rear wheel 8 is arranged on the right side of the power unit 5 in Fig. 2.
A rear cushion unit, not illustrated, is interposed between the transmission case 7 of the power unit 5 and the frame.
As shown by Fig. 2, the rear wheel 8 is arranged at center C of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction. Meanwhile, the power unit 5 supporting the rear wheel 8 at its rear portion is disposed at a position shifted to a position of one side of the rear wheel 8, that is, in this embodiment, on the left side as shown by Fig. 2 and is installed in the forward and rearward direction.
In Fig. 1, the front portion of the frame including the upper half portion of the front fork 3 is covered by a front cover 9. Further, the middle portion is covered by a center cover 10. Further, a rear portion including an upper side of the power unit 5 as well as an upper half portion of the rear wheel 8 is covered by a rear cover 11. The rear cover 11 is
molded by resin and may be of a structure in which it is integrally molded to cover a total of the rear portion or a structure in which it is formed by body cover halves divided in the left and in the right and the both are coupled and integrated.
A feet mounting floor 12 of a low floor type is installed between the center cover 10 and the front cover 9.
In this way, a body cover 13 constituting the outlook of a vehicle body is constituted. The body cover 13 is constituted by a molded product of resin or the like to include the rear cover 11.
Further, a front fender portion 9a is installed at a lower portion of the front cover 9, lighting wears of a head light 14, winker lamps 15 and so on are installed on a front face of a middle portion in the height direction and the surrounding of the handle 4 is covered by a handle cover 16.
Further, a seat 17 is installed on the rear cover 11. In the illustrate example, an upper portion 11a of the rear cover 11 and the seat 17 are integrally constituted, for example, a seat bottom plate of the seat 17 is integrally molded with the upper portion 11a of the rear cover 11. Further, a carrier 18 is arranged on a rear portion of the rear cover 11 on the rear side of the seat 17. Further, lighting wears 19 for winker lamps or a license plate are arranged on a rear face of the rear cover 11, further, rear fenders 2 0 are installed to hang down on the lower side of a rear end portion of the rear cover 11.
An exhaust pipe 21 which is bent from the front face of the engine 6 downwardly and to the rear side of one side thereof, in this embodiment, on the right side of the rear wheel 8 (this side of Fig. 1) , is arranged and the exhaust pipe 21 is extended rearwardly on the right side face of the rear wheel 8. The downstream portion of the exhaust pipe 21 is extended rearwardly while holding a predetermined space between it and the rear wheel 8 in the vehicle width direction.
A muffler 22 is connected to the rear portion of the exhaust pipe 21 mentioned above.
The muffler 22 is arranged on the right side of the rear wheel 8 to direct rearwardly while producing a space S4 shown by Fig. 2. A catalyst device, not illustrated, is contained in the muffler 22.
In the meantime, a muffler guard 2 6 is installed around the outer surrounding of the muffler 22 mentioned above from its front portion through its rear portion except its front end portion. As shown by Fig. 2, the muff ler guard 2 6 is formed by a thin steel sheet or the like, a section thereof which is opened in respect of a downward direction is formed substantially in a C-like shape, both lower end portions 2 6a thereof are separated from each other on the lower side, a lower portion of the muffler 22 is exposed on the lower side and side faces and an upper faces thereof are covered.
A predetermined heat insulating gap AS is provided between an inner face 2 6b of the muffler guard 2 6 and an outer
peripheral face 22a of the muffler 22.
The rear wheel 8 is protected against heat radiation of the muffler 22 by the muffler guard 26.
A muffler protector 23 comprising a resin which is a material the same as that of the rear cover 11 is installed at a right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 and at a portion thereof disposed on the upper side of the muffler 22 which is arranged on a lower side and an inner side thereof.
A side face shape of the muffler protector 23 is as shown by Fig. 1, and is formed such that a lower end edge 23a is formed in a linear shape with a level substantially equal to that of other lower end edge lie of a right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11.
The shape of a total of the muffler protector 23 is constituted by a half-moon-like shape with the lower end edge 23a in the linear shape and an upper portion thereof substantially bent and extended upwardly. Further, in respect of the muffler protector 23, front and rear portions are shifted to an inner side in the vehicle width direction to be continuous to outer side faces of front and rear portions of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 and join together with the outer side faces of the front and rear portions of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 and a middle portion thereof is bulged on an outer side in the vehicle width direction to secure a space S3 of Fig. 2.
On a rear face of the muffler protector 23, a heat shielding sheet 27 of an aluminum tape or the like pasted with an aluminum foil or the like on its surface, is pasted and the face of the aluminum foil or the like is directed to the side of the muffler 22.
The muffler protector 23 made of resin is protected against heat radiation of the muffler 22 by the heat shielding sheet 27.
The muffler 22 holds the space S3 in the body cover 13, specifically, as shown by Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, on the inner side of the muffler protector 23 of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 and in a lower limit positional state of the power unit 5, that is, in a lower limit positional state of the muffler 22, an upper portion of the muffler 22 is arranged below the muffler protector 23 such that a level thereof is substantially equal to that of the lower end 23a of the muffler protector 23.
Installation of the muffler protector 23 mentioned above is carried out as follows.
The right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 is installed with a chipped portion lid coinciding with a shape of an outer configuration of the muffler protector 23 and the muffler protector 23 is fitted to the chipped portion lid.
At this occasion, the muffler protector 23 is fitted thereto such that a level of the lower end edge lie of the
right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 is equal to the level of the lower end edge 23a of the muffler protector 23.
Accordingly, as shown by Fig. 1, the muffler protector 23 is integrated to constitute an outlook to constitute a portion of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view viewing a portion of attaching the muffler protector 23 mentioned above from a rear face thereof. The section of the rear face (front face) of the muffler protector 23 is formed in a shape in which a main body portion 23b considerably hangs down downwardly from the chipped portion lid and is bulged to an outer side. The main body portion 23b is formed to bulge from a general face of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 to the outer side to constitute a maximum width in the vehicle width direction.
Explaining details of the section, an upper end portion of the main body portion 23b which hangs down from the chipped portion lid, is installed with a stepped portion 23c having a small width extended under the upper end portion to an inner side thereof and installed with an erected portion 23d erected upwardly from the stepped portion 23c.
A middle portion of the stepped portion 23c of the muffler protector 23 mentioned above in the width direction, is fitted to an edged portion of the chipped portion lid of the right
side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 mentioned above to be brought into contact therewith or to provide a slight gap therebetween. Meanwhile, a peripheral portion on an inner side of the chipped portion lid is installed with a plurality of boss portions lie ... to slightly project to the inner side.
The erected portion 23d of the muffler protector 23 is opposedly arranged to face the inner side edge portions of the boss portions lie . . . and the erected portion 23d is coupled to the boss portion lie ... by fastening members 25 ... of screws, rivets or the like via attaching holes installed to the erected portion 23d.
In this way, as shown by Fig. 2, the muffler protector 23 is attached to and supported by the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11.
Fig. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the invention. According to the embodiment, only the structure of the muffler protector differs from that of the previous embodiment and the other constitution remains the same. Therefore, inclusive of the constitution of the motorcycle, the same portions are attached with the same notations and a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.
According to the embodiment, the muffler protector made of resin is made of steel sheet and accordingly, a muffler guard is not installed at the outer surrounding of the muffler 22 and a heat shielding sheet is not installed on the rear face of the muffler protector.
A detailed explanation will be given thereof as follows.
The outer configuration of a muffler protector 123 in this embodiment constitute a shape the same as that of the muffler protector 23 or a shape similar thereto. In place of resin of the muffler protector 23 , the material is constituted by a pressed product of a steel sheet and a plurality of slits 124 ... for cooling are installed in parallel in the up and down direction.
The muffler protector 123 is fitted to the chipped portion lid of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 and a lower end portion 123a of the muffler protector 123 is disposed at a level equal to that of the lower end edge lie of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover.
A main body portion 123b which is a middle portion of the muffler cover 12 3 except front and rear end portions thereof, is formed to bulge to the outer side in the vehicle width direction similar to the embodiment.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view viewing a portion of attaching the muffler protector 123 from a rear face, the muffler 22 is arranged to shift from the rear wheel 8 to the outer side in the vehicle width direction by a space S6 on a side opposed to the power unit 5 and a main body portion 123b is arranged to shift from the muffler 22 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction interposing the space S5 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
Further, the section of the rear face (front face) of the muffler protector 123 is constituted by a modified W-like shape where the main body portion 123b considerably hangs down to the lower side from the chipped portion lid.
Explaining details of the section, an upper end portion of the main body portion 123b which hangs down from the chipped portion lid, is installed with a stepped portion 123c having a small width extended under the upper end portion to an inner side thereof and further installed with an erected portion 123d erected upwardly from the stepped portion 123c, and installed with a heat shielding plate portion 123e substantially in a shape of a horizontal eaves which is bent to the inner side from an upper end portion of the erected portion 123d and extended to the inner side.
These respective portions are integrally formed by pressing or the like of a steel sheet or the like.
The attaching operation of the muffler protector 123 is the same as above description in which the erected portion 123d is coupled to the plurality of boss portions lie ... by the fastening members 2 5 ... and is integrated to the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11.
Further, the substantially horizontal heat shielding portion 123e arranged above the muffler 22, is arranged above an upper limit of movement of the muffler 22 moving upwardly and downwardly as shown by an arrow mark and according to the muffler 22, a position designated by a bold line in Fig. 4 is a lower limit position and a position designated by an
imaginary line is an upper limit position and the heat shielding portion 123e is arranged above the upper limit position of the muffler 22 with a space therebetween.
Further, although according to the embodiment, the heat shielding portion 123e is installed above the muffler protector 123, a structure with no provision thereof may be used and in this case, the sectional shape of the muffler protector 123 becomes a shape the same as that of the muffler protector 23 made of resin in the previous embodiment or a shape similar thereto.
In the meantime, an outer side face of the main body portion 123b of the muffler protector 123 is made of a steel sheet and accordingly, the outer side face is provided with heat resistance and accordingly, an amount of bulging to the outer side can be made smaller than that of the muffler protector 23 made of resin. Accordingly, the outer side face of the main body portion 123b may also be formed to a degree of substantially coinciding with an outer side face of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 or bulging slightly to the outer side.
As a result, the space S5 between the muffler protector 123 and the muffler 22 can be made smaller than the space S3 between the muffler protector 23 made of resin and the muffler 22 and the amount of bulging the muffler protector 123 to the outer side in the vehicle width direction can be made small.
According to the embodiment, the space S5 between the
muffler 22 and the main body portion 123b of the muffler protector 123 constituting a portion of the right side face portion lib of the rear cover 11 which is disposed on the outer side and the upper side of the muffler 22, can be made small since the muffler protector 123 is made of steel and the muffler 22 can be arranged as close to the muffler protector 123 as possible as mentioned above.
The body cover 13 can be made proximate to the muffler 22, as a result, the width of this portion of the body cover 13 and accordingly, the width of the body cover 13 can be made considerably small and narrow in comparison with that in the conventional case and the vehicle width can be made as small and narrow as possible.
In this way, there can be achieved compact formation of the outer configuration of a scooter type motorcycle in which the compact formation has been difficult in view of arranging the muffler 22 and in view of the width.
[Effect of the Invention]
According to the present invention as described above, the following effect is achieved.
According to Claim 1, in a motorcycle arranged with a muffler on a lower side of a body cover, a muffler protector separate from the body cover is integrally attached to a portion of the body cover in correspondence with an upper side of a side portion of the muffler.
Therefore, according to the invention, the muffler protector constitutes a portion of the body cover and can be
installed integrally with the body cover to fit in. Therefore, the promotion of appearance quality can be achieved as a total of a motorcycle.
Further, according to the invention, a portion of the muffler protector constituting a portion of the body cover mostly projected in the vehicle width direction, can be formed by a member separate from the body cover, the structure is integrated with the body cover and accordingly, only the muffler protector can be interchanged.
Therefore, in the case in which when the motorcycle is parked, or moved by the hand or the like, the muffler protector which is a portion of the body cover bulged to the outer side is brought into contact with an obstacle or in parking the motorcycle, the motorcycle is erroneously fallen down and the muffler protector constituting the bulged portion of the body cover is impaired or destructed, only the impaired or destructed muffler protector may be interchanged since it is a member separate from the body cover although it constitutes a portion thereof.
In the interchanging operation, only a muffler protector may be detached from a body cover and a new one of the muffler protector may be screwed or the like and accordingly, the interchange operation is extremely facilitated.
Further, a total of the body cover or a total of the body cover half needs not to interchange, a destructed part can be interchanged or repaired inexpensively and a burden on a user is largely reduced which is extremely advantageous in
repair or interchange.
Further, the muffler protector is attached integrally with the body cover. The muffler protector needs not to attach to a power unit and accordingly, a stay exclusive for the muffler protector is dispensed with, simplification of the structure of the power unit and a reduction in a number of parts can be achieved. Further, the weight reduction can also be achieved thereby.
Further, the muffler protector is installed integrally with the body cover on the outer side of the vehicle body and accordingly, in running, high cooling effect of the muffler protector can be achieved by running wind.
Further, the muffler and the muffler protector are
separate bodies. The muffler itself is not surrounded by the
muffler protector, moved upwardly and downwardly in a naked state in running and exposed to running wind. Accordingly, further high cooling effect of the muffler itself can be achieved.
[Description of the Reference Numerals] 1 ... motorcycle 11. . . rear cover constituting a portion of a body cover
13... body cover
22... muffler
23, 123 ... muffler protectors





WE CLAIM :
1. A body cover structure of a motorcycle with a muffler (22) arranged on a lower side of a body cover (11) characterized in that the body cover (11) has a portion in correspondence with an upper side of a side portion of the muffler (22), and the portion of the body cover (11) has a chipped portion (lid) to which a muffler protector (123) made of steel is integrally attached.
2. A body cover structure of a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, an upper end of the muffler protector (123) has a heat shielding plate portion (123e) which extends to the inner side.
3. A body cover structure of a motorcycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.


Documents:

115-del-1999-abstract.pdf

115-del-1999-claims.pdf

115-del-1999-complete specification (granted).pdf

115-del-1999-correspondence-others.pdf

115-del-1999-correspondence-po.pdf

115-del-1999-description (complete).pdf

115-del-1999-drawings.pdf

115-del-1999-form-1.pdf

115-del-1999-form-13.pdf

115-del-1999-form-19.pdf

115-del-1999-form-2.pdf

115-del-1999-form-3.pdf

115-del-1999-form-4.pdf

115-del-1999-form-6.pdf

115-del-1999-gpa.pdf


Patent Number 216393
Indian Patent Application Number 115/DEL/1999
PG Journal Number 37/2008
Publication Date 12-Sep-2008
Grant Date 12-Mar-2008
Date of Filing 20-Jan-1999
Name of Patentee HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicant Address 1-1 MINAMIAOYAMA 2-CHOME,MINATO-KU,JAPAN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 RIKA MIZUTA C/O KABUSHIKI KAISHA HONDA GIJUTSU KENKYUSHO,OF 4-1,CHUO 1-CHOME,WAKO-SHI,SAITAMA JAPAN
2 MAKOTO KODAMA C/O KABUSHIKI KAISHA HONDA GIJUTSU KENKYUSHO,OF 4-1,CHUO 1-CHOME,WAKO-SHI,SAITAMA JAPAN
PCT International Classification Number B62J 23/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 HEI-10-087417 1998-03-30 Japan
2 HEI-10-038630 1998-02-22 Japan