| Title of Invention | A COWL FOR MOTORCYCLE |
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| Abstract | A side cowl of a motorcycle includes: a duct arranged on a side portion of the motorcycle and extended in a vehicle width direction and having an inside opening and an outside opening formed therein, the inside opening being positioned inside in the vehicle width direction and facing inward of a vehicle body, the outside opening being positioned outside in the vehicle width direction and facing outward of the vehicle body frame; and an outer side cowl for covering a portion of the outside opening. A portion not covered by the outer side cowl in the outside opening when the motorcycle is viewed from the side is hidden by the outer side cowl when air viewed from the front. |
| Full Text | COWL. FOR MOTORCYCLE AMD MOTORCYCLE This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-284229 filed on October 31, 2007. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cowl for a motorcycle and a motorcycle, and in particular, to the structure of a cowl for a motorcycle that covers the side portion of a motorcycle. 2. Description of the Related Art Of cowls (exterior covers) for covering a motorcycle, a cowl having an opening for exhausting heat generated by heat generating parts such as a radiator, an engine, an air exhaust pipe, and the like to the side of a vehicle has been known as a side cowl for covering the side portion of the vehicle. To effectively exhaust the heat from the opening like this, in most of related side cowls, the side cowl has a depression formed on its surface, the depression being extended rearward of the vehicle from the position of the opening. With this, a negative pressure is produced in the opening to form an air flow going outside the cowl from inside the cowl (see JP-A-2001-80559 and JP-A-9-76967 to be described below). However, in the related side cowl, a higher priority is assigned to the reduction of a vehicle width, which results in disposing the side cowl in such a way that the side cowl is brought into a press contact with a vehicle body. Thus, this makes it difficult to form a sufficiently deep depression and hence a negative pressure produced is not sufficiently large. On the other hand, when a side cowl is expanded outward to form a sufficiently deep depression, a problem that the side cowl is not sufficient in strength will be easily presented. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problem. The object of the present invention is to provide: a cowl for a motorcycle that can acquire a sufficient heat exhaust effect and that can ensure a sufficient strength; and a motorcycle including the cowl for a motorcycle. To solve the above-mentioned problem, a cowl for a motorcycle according to the present invention includes: a duct that is arranged on a side portion of the motorcycle and extended in a vehicle width direction and which has an inside opening and an outside opening formed therein, the inside opening being positioned inside in the vehicle width direction and facing inward of a vehicle body, the outside opening being positioned outside in the vehicle width direction and facing outward of the vehicle body; and a panel for covering a portion of the outside opening, and wherein a portion not covered by the panel of the outside opening when viewed from a side is hidden by the panel when viewed from a front. According to the present invention, the strength of the cowl for a motorcycle can be ensured by the duct extended in the vehicle width direction. Moreover, the portion not covered by the panel of the outside opening when viewed from a side is hidden by the panel when viewed from a front, so that a sufficient negative pressure is produced at the portion and hence a sufficient air flow for cooling can be formed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the motorcycle according to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side view to show the vicinity of a side cowl on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on a cut line IV - IV shown in Fig. 3; Fig, 5 is a sectional view taken on a cut line V - V shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view to show the vicinity of the exhaust port of the side cowl on an enlarged scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the motorcycle. Fig. 3 is a side view to show the vicinity of a side cowl of the motorcycle on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is an end view, taken on a cut line IV - IV in Fig. 3, of the side cowl. Fig. 5 is an end view, taken on a cut line V - V in Fig. 3, of the side cowl. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view when the side cowl portion of the motorcycle is viewed obliquely from the left and rearward of the vehicle. As shown in Fig. 1, in a motorcycle 10 according to this embodiment, a front fork 14 for rotatably supporting the axle of a front wheel 12 has a handlebar 16 fixed to the top portion thereof, and the direction of the front wheel 12 can be operated to the left and right by the handlebar 16. The front fork 14 has a fender 18 fixed thereto, the fender 18 covering the upper portion of the front wheel 12. A front cowl 20 including a head light 20a and a windbreak plate 20b is disposed forward of the handlebar 16. A head pipe 24a for supporting the handlebar 16 is arranged downward of the handlebar 16, and a pair of left and right vehicle body frames 24, 24 are extended rearward and downward from this head pipe 24a. A fuel tank 26 is disposed upward of the vehicle body frames 24, 24, and a rider's seat 28 is disposed rearward of the fuel tank 26. An engine 30 driven by gasoline supplied from the fuel tank 26 is suspended by the vehicle body frames 24, 24, and the lower portion of the engine 30 is covered by an under cowl 32. The drive force of the engine 30 is transmitted to a rear wheel 34 via a chain (not shown). The rear wheel 34 has its axle supported by a swing arm 38 supported by a pivot 36 so as to be freely swung, the pivot 36 being disposed in the rear end portions of the vehicle body frames 24, 24 . This can drive the motorcycle 10 forward while moving up and down the rear wheel 34 according to the state of a road surface. A radiator 40 is disposed forward of the engine 30 so as to face forward of the vehicle, and this radiator 40 cools the cooling water of the engine 30 by the running wind. Moreover, the motorcycle 10 has a side cowl 29 fixed thereto, the side cowl 29 including an inner side cowl 22 and an outer side cowl 23 that cover both side portions of the vehicle. The inner side cowl 22 and the outer side cowl 23 are separate members molded of resin. A fixing seat 22e molded on the inner side cowl 22 is fixed to the inside of the outer side cowl 23 by a bolt, whereby both side cowls 22, 23 are integrally fixed. The outer side cowl 23 has flashers 25, 25 fixed thereto. The inner side cowl 22 has a duct 22c molded integrally, the duct 22c being extended in a vehicle width direction and having the cross-sectional area of its opening enlarged outward. The duct 22c has an inside opening 22a formed at an inside end in the vehicle width direction thereof, the inside opening 22a facing inward of a vehicle body. The duct 22c has an outside opening 22b formed at an outside end in the vehicle width direction thereof, the outside opening 22b facing outward of the vehicle body and being larger than the inside opening 22a. The inside opening 22a is positioned inside the outside opening 22b when the motorcycle 10 is viewed from the side. Moreover, an edge portion 22f is extended from the peripheral edge of the outside opening 22b, and the upper portion of the edge portion 22f covers a portion of the vehicle body frame 24 when the motorcycle 10 is viewed from the side. The inside opening 22a is formed in a shape extended downward and rearward of the vehicle body along the vehicle body frame 24 . The inside opening 22a has its upper edge positioned below the bottom surface of the vehicle body frame 24 having its cross section formed in a nearly rectangular shape. Moreover, similarly, the outside opening 22b is formed also in a shape extended downward and rearward of the vehicle body along the vehicle body frame 24. The outside opening 22b has its upper edge positioned above the bottom surface of the vehicle body frame 24 (see Fig. 3). For this reason, the heated air from the engine 30 and the radiator 40 can be smoothly introduced upward of the vehicle body frame 24 by the duct 22c. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, the inside opening 22a of the inner side cowl 22 faces the engine 30, specifically. between a cylinder head 30a and the radiator 40, and hence the heated air from the engine 30 and the radiator 40 can be quickly introduced into the inside opening 22a. Further, as shown in Fig. 5, the inside opening 22a has its edge on the rear side of the vehicle positioned a distance d further inside than its edge on the front side of the vehicle. That is, the direction in which the inside opening 22a faces is inclined to the vehicle side. With this, the running wind is smoothly taken into the inside opening 22a to form an air flow passing through the duct 22c (see an arrow H shown in the drawing). Furthermore, the outer side cowl 23 is formed nearly in the shape of a hook larger than the inner side cowl 22 and is greatly bent in the up and down direction of the vehicle and in the front and rear direction of the vehicle (see Fig. 2, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5). Still further, the outer side cowl 23 has a step 23a formed on its upper portion, the step 23a protruding into outward of the periphery of the outer side cowl 23. In this manner, the outer side cowl 23 is formed in a shape protruded outward in the vehicle width direction. The outer side cowl 23 is arranged at a position shifted further forward of the vehicle and downward of the vehicle than the inner side cowl 22. The outer side cowl 23 covers a portion forward of the vehicle and downward of the vehicle of the outside opening 22b of the inner side cowl 22 when the motorcycle 10 is viewed from the side. Thus, a portion not covered by the outer side cowl 23 of the outside opening 22b, that is, a portion rearward of the vehicle and upward of the vehicle of the outside opening 22b is exposed outside in the vehicle width direction when the motorcycle is viewed from the side. The portion is an exhaust port 27 of the heated air from the engine 30 and the radiator 40. The upper edge of the outer side cowl 23 is extended rearward and downward along the vehicle body frame 24 . On the other hand, as described above, the upper edge of the outside opening 22b of the inner side cowl 22 is also extended rearward and downward along the vehicle body frame 24. For this reason, an outlet 27 is extended rearward and downward along the vehicle body frame 24. In this manner, the exhaust port 27 is formed so as to avoid the vehicle body frame 24, thereby being enlarged in size. The step 23a is arranged on the front side of the vehicle of the exhaust port 27 (see Fig. 1) . With this, when the motorcycle 10 is viewed from the front, the exhaust port 27 is completely hidden by outer side cowl 23, specifically, the step 23a (see Fig. 2). In this manner, a negative pressure is produced near the exhaust port 27 by the running wind to easily exhaust the heated air outside the vehicle from the engine 30 and the radiator 40. Moreover, of the edge portion 22f of the inner side cowl 22, a portion upward of the exhaust port 27 has a depression 22d formed therein, the depression 22d being extended in the front and rear direction of the vehicle. With this, a high-speed air flow passing through the depression 22d is positioned upward of the exhaust port 27, whereby the heated air exhausted from the exhaust port 27 is quickly transported rearward of the vehicle by the air flow. According to the motorcycle 10 described above, the portion of the outside opening 22b of the duct 22c formed on the inner side cowl 22 is covered by the outer side cowl 23, and the exposed portion is hidden by the outer side cowl 23 when the motorcycle 10 is viewed from the front. Thus, the negative pressure can be sufficiently produced around the exhaust port 27 by the running wind, and hence the heated air can be effectively exhausted outside the vehicle. Moreover, the inner side cowl 22, on which the duct 22c extended in the vehicle width direction is formed, is fixed inside the outer side cowl 23. Thus, the side cowl 29 can have sufficient strength as a whole. WE CLAIM: 1. A cowl for a motorcycle, the cowl comprising: a duct that is arranged on a side portion of the motorcycle and which is extended in a vehicle width direction and which has an inside opening and an outside opening formed therein, the inside opening being positioned inside in the vehicle width direction and facing inward of a vehicle body, the outside opening being positioned outside in the vehicle width direction and facing outward of the vehicle body frame; and a panel for covering a portion of the outside opening, wherein a portion not covered by the panel in the outside opening when the motorcycle is viewed from a side is hidden by the panel when the motorcycle is viewed from a front. 2. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct is a part separate from the panel and is molded integrally. 3. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the outside opening is larger than the inside opening. 4. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a direction which the inside opening faces is inclined to a front side of a vehicle. 5. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inside opening faces between an engine mounted in the motorcycle and a radiator arranged forward of the engine for cooling engine cooling water. 6. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the motorcycle includes a pair of left and right vehicle body frames extended rearward and downward from a head pipe; and an upper edge of the inside opening is positioned below a bottom surface of the vehicle body frame and an upper edge of the outside opening is positioned above the bottom surface of the vehicle body frame. 7. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper edge of the inside opening is extended rearward and downward. 8. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the upper edge of the outside opening is extended rearward and downward. 9. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 8, wherein a portion not covered by the panel in the outside opening when the motorcycle is viewed from a side is formed in a shape extended rearward and downward. 10. The cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the panel is formed in a shape protruded outward in the vehicle width direction. 11. A motorcycle including the cowl for a motorcycle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10. A side cowl of a motorcycle includes: a duct arranged on a side portion of the motorcycle and extended in a vehicle width direction and having an inside opening and an outside opening formed therein, the inside opening being positioned inside in the vehicle width direction and facing inward of a vehicle body, the outside opening being positioned outside in the vehicle width direction and facing outward of the vehicle body frame; and an outer side cowl for covering a portion of the outside opening. A portion not covered by the outer side cowl in the outside opening when the motorcycle is viewed from the side is hidden by the outer side cowl when air viewed from the front. |
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| Patent Number | 278297 | |||||||||
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| Indian Patent Application Number | 1650/KOL/2008 | |||||||||
| PG Journal Number | 53/2016 | |||||||||
| Publication Date | 23-Dec-2016 | |||||||||
| Grant Date | 20-Dec-2016 | |||||||||
| Date of Filing | 25-Sep-2008 | |||||||||
| Name of Patentee | YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA | |||||||||
| Applicant Address | 2500 SHINGAI, IWATA-SHI, SHIZUOKA | |||||||||
Inventors:
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| PCT International Classification Number | B60K 11/00 | |||||||||
| PCT International Application Number | N/A | |||||||||
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