[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle ride-type vehicle and more particularly but not exclusively to a front cowl assembly of the saddle ride-type vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, a vehicle layout design for a saddle ride-type vehicle features plurality of vehicular components that are to be packaged in a compact space provided within the vehicle layout of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle, particularly a full fairing type vehicle features bodywork, including a front cowl assembly and body that conceals all or most of the mechanisms within the vehicle layout of the vehicle. The front cowl assembly of the vehicle includes a pair of side cowls covering a right side and, a left side of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle also includes a pair of side panels to cover a right and a left side of a rear portion of the vehicle. The gap so formed between the pair of side panels is covered by a numerous vehicular parts including a tail lamp assembly and a housing to hold the tail lamp assembly. Since, most of the parts in the fully faired type vehicle are concealed by the body, the body parts are to be designed such that optimum utilization of space in the vehicle layout is achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle, for example, a vehicle according to an embodiment.
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a right side cowl of the pair of side cowls of the vehicle.
[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates a left side view of a left side cowl assembled with the engine guard.

[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the pair of side cowls taken along A-A axis as shown in Fig. 3.
[0008] Fig. 5 illustrates a detailed view of a portion of the sectional view of the pair of side cowls as shown in Fig. 4.
[0009] Fig. 6 illustrates a detailed view of a portion of the sectional view of the pair of side cowls as shown in Fig. 5.
[00010] Fig. 7 illustrates a graphical representation of a comparative study of the pass-by noise emitted out from the vehicle..
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00011] Generally, a vehicle comprising of a power unit is mounted to a main frame and a rear sub frame. The vehicle includes a front wheel and a rear wheel. The front wheel is connected with a front suspension and the rear wheel is connected with the rear suspension swingably mounted with a swing arm. A handle bar assembly is provided for steering of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle is provided with a rider seat to sit on a rear side of the vehicle and a pillion seat to sit behind the rider seat. The vehicle further comprises of a headlamp, a tail lamp, and one or more turn signal lamps.
[00012] The power unit in the vehicle includes an engine assembly. The engine assembly in the vehicle can be disposed in any one of the positions including forwardly inclined engine comprising a cylinder head of the engine assembly facing towards a vehicle front and a reversely inclined engine including the cylinder head facing toward a vehicle rear side. For a reversely inclined engine, the inlet for air and fuel in the cylinder head is facing towards the vehicle rear. Accordingly, the input for the air and the fuel inlet has to be routed towards the vehicle rear. Further, it is desirable to dispose the air intake apparatus closer to the fuel tank and also closer to the inlet of the cylinder head.
[00013] The air intake apparatus includes a nozzle facilitating sucking of the atmospheric air. The intensity of suction of the atmospheric air depends on the speed of the vehicle. The suction of the atmospheric air increases with increase in

speed of the vehicle. Further, in a vehicle layout design, disposing the nozzle of the air intake apparatus closer to any one of the left side cowl and the right side cowl is not desirable. Because, at higher engine operating speeds, due to entering of more air, and the nozzle situated closer to any one of the right side cowl and the left side cowl, the air being sucked quickly has to enter into the nozzle through between the nozzle and to any one of the right side cowl and the left side cowl, this suction of air through between .the vehicular parts results in undesired noise generated through the snorkel. However, the above described problem could be addressed by creating a well-defined gap between any one of the right side cowl and the left side cowl and the nozzle. But, the fully faired vehicle having most of the vehicular parts enclosed within the body covers has to have all the vehicular parts packed within a compact space, and therefore, having a well-defined gap as desired between the snorkel and any one of the right side cowl and the left side cowl becomes detrimental to the vehicle layout desing.
[00014] Furthermore, in some of the vehicle layout designs, the engine assembly is disposed to be closer to any one of the right side cowl and the left side cowl.-Due to this asymmetrical positioning of the engine assembly, the noise emitted during the operation of the engine assembly is transmitted to either the right side cowl or the left side cowl. The right side cowl or the left side cowl is subject to vibrations due to which more noise is emanated from one side of the vehicle. [00015] The above said problem can be addressed by reducing the noise emanating out of the vehicle by introducing one or more dampening members between the pair of side cowls and the vehicular parts disposed beneath the pair of side cowls.
[00016] However, it is already known in the art wherein one or more dampening members are attached to the pair of side cowls. The one or more dampening members attached to the pair of side cowls already known in the art have a disadvantage of interfering with the surrounding vehicular parts. The interference of the one or more dampening members with the surrounding vehicular parts is always associated with constant rubbing resulting in tearing and damage. Further, due to tearing and damage of the one or more dampening members, the noise

emitted into the environment due to operation of the vehicular parts,.called as pass-by-noise is more than considerable limits.
[00017] Hence, it is an object of the invention to prevent interfering of the surrounding vehicular parts with the one or more dampening members. [00018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more dampening members are attached to an inner surface of any one of the side cowl of the pair of side cowls.
[00019] In a preferred embodiment, the engine assembly is asymmetrically . disposed closer to a right side cowl, due to which an air intake apparatus including the nozzle is also disposed closer to the right side cowl. Therefore, to reduce the pass-by-noise from being emitted out of the right side cowl, one or more dampening members are attached to the right side cowl. However the one or more dampening members can also be attached to the left side cowl. [00020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle of the inlet of the air intake apparatus is facing towards any one of the right side cowl and the left side cowl. However, the air intake apparatus and the nozzle at the inlet are placed at a pre-determined distance from any one of the right side cowl and the left side cowl.
[00021] In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle of the inlet of the air intake apparatus is disposed at a pre-determined distance from the right side cowl. Thereby preventing the une or more dampening members from interfering with the surrounding parts.
[00022] Further, the undesired noise created at higher speeds due to higher suction rate through the nozzle is also reduced by the one or more dampening members attached to the pair of side cowls.
[00023] Furthermore, in addition, the pass-by-noise is reduced due to the one or more dampening members attached to the pair of side cowls.
[00024] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.

[00025] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle, for example, a vehicle according to an embodiment. The vehicle 100 according to an embodiment includes a front wheel 104 steered by a handlebar 108 and a rear wheel 105 supported by a swing arm 113. Steering assembly parts including the handlebar 108 and the front wheel 104 are supported for pivotal steering operation on a head pipe at the front end of the vehicle body frame 102. The vehicle body frame 102 also includes a rear body frame 103. A rider seat 109 for a rider and a seat for a pillion rider 110 are placed rearward to a fuel tank 116. An engine assembly 101 is disposed below the fuel tank 116. A front fender 115 is provided above the front wheel 104 to avoid the said vehicle 100 and its occupants from being splashed with mud. Likewise, a rear fender 114 is placed above the rear wheel 105, and to the outer side in the radial direction of rear wheel 105. The rear fender 114 inhibits rainwater or the like from being thrown up by rear wheel 105.
[00026] The vehicle 100 is provided with plurality of body panels including a front cowl assembly 117 including a pair of side cowls comprising a right side cowl 117a and a left side cowl 117b (shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). The pair of side cowls protects and covers a frontal portion of the vehicle 100. The other body panels also includes an engine guard assembly 118 protecting the engine assembly 101 from lower side and also from the sides, such that during vehicle running condition, the engine assembly 101 is protected from hitting stones, deposition of mud, dust and other foreign particles. In an embodiment, the pair of side cowls and the engine guard assembly 118 are integrated. However, according to another embodiment, the pair of side cowls and the engine guard assembly 118 can be. detachably attached.
[00027] The swing arm 113 along with a rear suspension assembly 107 is supported at a rear portion thereof for pivotal motion and upward and downward rocking motion on the rear side of a lower portion of the vehicle body frame 102. A front suspension assembly 106 including a pair of front forks two-wheeled vehicle 100 for providing better ride comfort to the rider. In general terms, the shock absorbers help cushion vehicles on uneven roads. In the two-wheeled

vehicle, shock absorbers reduce the effect of travelling over rough ground, leading to improved ride quality and vehicle handling. The vehicle 100 further comprises of a headlamp 111, a tail lamp assembly 112 and at least two turn signal lamps.
[00028] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a right side cowl of the pair of side cowls of the vehicle. The right side cowl 117a includes an inner cowl surface 202rs. The one or more dampening members 201a, 201b including the cowl dampening member 201a is attached to the inner cowl surface 202rs of the right side cowl 117a. For example, the cowl dampening member 201a is pasted, to the right side cowl 117a and a guard dampening member 201b is attached to a guard . inner surface 118rs. The one or more dampening members 201a, 201b include a surface area substantially equivalent to the surface area of the right side cowl 117a and the engine guard 118. Furthermore, the shape and profile of the one or more dampening members 201a, 201b is in conformation with the right side cowl 117a and the engine guard 118. Such that, the one or more dampening members 201a, 201b are protected well within the surface area of the right side cowl 117a and the engine guard 118 and also are prevented from being exposed outside. Further, due to presence of the one or more dampening members 201a, 201b within the surface area of the right side cowl 117a-and the engine guard 118, they do not interfere with the surrounding parts and also do not affect the fit and finish of the body panels; Furthermore, due to conformation of the shape and profile of the one or more dampening members 201a, 201b, the assembly process is easier and also assembly time is reduced.
[00029] Fig. 3 illustrates a left side view of a left side cowl assembled with the engine guard. Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the pair of side cowls taken along A-A axis as shown in Fig. 3. The pair of side cowls 117a, 117b includes the right side cowl 117a and the left side cowl 117b. The right side cowl 117a and the left side cowl 117b enclose the engine assembly 101 and the air intake apparatus 301 there between. In particular, the right side cowl 117a and the left side cowl 117b covers a right side and a left side of the engine assembly 101. The air intake apparatus 301 is disposed inside the vehicle 100 such that a central axis passing

centrally through the air intake apparatus 301 coincides with a vehicle longitudinal axis L-L. Hence, the air intake apparatus 301 is disposed away from the pair of side cowls 117a, 117b that are away from the vehicle longitudinal axis L-L. Further, the nozzle 302 extending outwardly of the inlet port of the air intake apparatus 301 is extending towards the right side cowl 117a in the present embodiment. However, the nozzle 302 is disposed at a pre-determined distance from the right side cowl 117a.
[00030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more dampening members 201a, 201b are attached to the right side cowl 117a and the engine guard 118 respectively. In particular, the nozzle 302 is disposed at a pre-determined distance from the cowl dampening member 201a attached to the right side cowl 117a. Therefore, rubbing and any damage occurring on the cowl dampening member 201a is considerably reduced due to prevention of other surrounding vehicular parts from coming into contact with the cowl dampening . member 201a.
[00031] The cowl dampening member 201a along with the predetermined gap (not shown) created between the cowl dampening member 201a and any one of the right side cowl 117a and the left side cowl 117b dampens the noise created by .the nozzle 302 due to rapid suction of air at higher engine operating speeds. Thereby, most of the noise emitted out to the environment is reduced.
[00032] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the engine guard 118 includes the guard dampening member 201b attached to its inner surface (not shown). The guard dampening member 201b dampens engine noise created due to operation of the engine during vehicle running condition and also during vehicle idling condition. The guard dampening member 201b is attached to the engine guard such that it does not interfere with any surrounding vehicular parts. Therefore, the friction between the guard dampening member 201b and the other vehicular parts is prevented and a more durable and reliable guard dampening member 201b is obtained. The engine guard assembly 118 is configured to substantially cover a lower right portion and a lower left portion of

the engine assembly 101. The engine guard assembly 118 is disposed below the right side front cowl 117a and the left side front cowl 117b.
[00033] Hence, according to the proposed invention, frequent servicing of the pair of side cowls is not required due to the one or more dampening members that is more durable and reliable, and also easy to assemble. Furthermore, due to elimination of friction between the one or more dampening members and the surrounding vehicular parts, an effective attenuation of pass-by- noise and reduction of engine noise from emitting outside into the environment is effectively achieved.
[00034] Fig. 5 illustrates a detailed view of a portion of the sectional view of the pair of side cowls as shown in Fig. 4. The cowl dampening member 201a attached to the right side front cowl 117a also prevents the heat generated by the engine assembly (not shown) from reaching the right side front cowl 117a. The prevention of heat from reaching the right side front cowl 117a prevents discoloration of the already colour coated right side front cowl 117a. This way, the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle is not affected, and also does not call for a frequent servicing and provides for higher durability of the surface coating of the pair of side cowls. Furthermore, the prevention of heat from being transferred to the right side front cowl 117a also protects the material of the right side front cowl 117a from being deteriorated, thereby providing a reliable and a durable side cowl. The above said embodiment is also applicable to the left side front cowl 117b.
[00035] Fig. 6 illustrates a detailed view of a portion of the sectional view of the pair of side cowls as shown in Fig. 5. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the intake portion 302a of the nozzle 302 is disposed at predetermined angle 9 degrees from the cowl dampening member 201a. The predetermined angle 9 degrees enables achieving of the sufficient predetermined gap 400 between the cowl dampening member 201a and the intake portion 302a of the nozzle 302. This ensures that the noise generated due to rapid suction of air through the nozzle 302 during higher engine operating speeds is prevented.

Furthermore, the nozzle 302 being away at the predetermined distance from the cowl dampening member 201a to form the predetermined gap 400 is not subject any kind of vibrations or external disturbances from the right side front cowl 117a during vehicle running condition.
[00036] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the intake portion 302a of the nozzle 302 is curved inwardly to form a 'C shaped opening configured with a guiding portion 302b that can efficiently guide the air to inside the nozzle 302. Further, the guiding portion 302b of the nozzle 302 is disposed along a YZ axis such that the guiding portion 302b is facing towards the vehicle front direction. The guiding portion 302b facing towards the vehicle front direction is capable of readily sucking in the air that is being directed rearwardly from the vehicle front direction. Therefore, the abundant atmospheric air is available around the guiding portion 302b due to it facing towards the front direction and also being away from the cowl damping member 201a disposed along the YX axis at the predetermined angle 9 degrees from the intake portion 302a. The predetermined angle 9 degrees enable the intake portion 302a to be disposed at a predetermined distance from the cowl damping member 201a.
[00037] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the intake portion includes an second tip portion 302Up disposed at a close proximity to at least one end portion 201aUp of the cowl dampening member 201a. Further, a first tip portion 302Lw of the intake portion 302a is disposed away from said cowl dampening member 201a. This way, the atmospheric air is efficiently guided inwardly into the nozzle 302 by traversing through the first tip portion 302Lw. Further, any atmospheric air that further passes upwardly towards the second tip portion 302Up is deflected and guided inwardly towards the nozzle due to the position of the second tip portion 302Up being inclinedly closer to the at least one end portion 201aUp of the cowl dampening member 201a. Therefore, without much delay in suction of the air, due to presence of abundant atmospheric air, the air intake apparatus 301 is not subject to much stress, thereby expanding the

lifetime of the air intake apparatus 301 and in addition, achieving a more reliable air intake apparatus 301.
[00038] Fig. 7 illustrates a graphical representation of a comparative study of the pass-by noise emitted out from the vehicle. The graphical representation of the actual pass-by noise 401 emitted out of the vehicle due to operation of various sub-systems inside the vehicle is as represented by a continuous curve. Further, the actual pass by noise 401 is overlapped to a certain extent by an attenuated pass-by noise 402 emitted out of the vehicle after employing the one or more dampening members 201a, 201b according to the present invention. The attenuated pass-by noise 402 is represented by a dotted- curve as shown in the graphical representation. It can be depicted from the figure that the pass-by noise emitted has drastically reduced after a certain frequency range and further, continues to reduce for different frequency ranges as compared to the actual pass-by noise 401 emitted out of the vehicle without employing the or more dampening members 201a, 201b. Therefore, the attenuated pass-by noise 402 achieved according to the present invention adds tolerable amount of sound pollution to the surrounding environment, further, the user and other persons and living organisms passing by near the vehicle are also not subjected to any kind of discomfort.
[00039] Although the subject matter has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the subject matter, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the subject matter. It is therefore contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present subject matter as defined.

We claim:
1. A saddle ride type vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) thereof,
said vehicle (100) comprising:
an engine assembly (101);
an air intake apparatus (301) including a nozzle (302),.said air intake apparatus (301) provides air to said engine assembly (101);
a front cowl assembly (117) including a right side front cowl (117a), a left side front cowl (117b) and an engine guard assembly (118); wherein,
said nozzle (302) of said air intake apparatus (301) includes an intake portion (302a) disposed along a (YZ) axis disposed at a predetermined angle Q degrees from a (YX) axis including a cowl dampening member (201a) attached to any one of said right side front cowl (117a) and said left side front cowl (117b), said predetermined angle 9 degrees enables said intake portion (302a) to be at a predetermined distance from said cowl dampening member (201a).
2. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intake portion (302a) includes a first tip portion (302Lw) disposed away from said cowl dampening member (201a) as compared to a second tip portion (302Up) disposed at a proximity to at least one end portion (201aUp) of said cowl dampening member (201a).
3. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intake portion (302a) is curved inwardly to form a *C shaped guiding portion (302b), said 'C shaped guiding portion (302b) is extending towards a vehicle front direction.
4. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air intake apparatus (301) is disposed inside the vehicle (100) along a central axis passing substantially centrally through the air intake apparatus (301), said central axis coincides with a vehicle longitudinal axis

L-L and said air intake apparatus (301) is disposed away from said right side front cowl (117a) and said left side front cowl (117b).
5. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more dampening members (201a, 201b) includes a cowl dampening member (201a) attached to an inner cowl surface (202rs) of at least one of the right side cowl (117a) and the left side cowl (117b).
6. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more dampening members (201a, 201b) includes a guard dampening member (201b) attached to a guard inner surface (118rs) of said engine guard assembly (118).
7. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said right side cowl (117a) and the left side cowl (117b) substantially cover at least a right side portion and a left side portion of said engine assembly (101).
8. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more dampening members (201a, 201b) are detachably attached to at least one of said right side front cowl (117a) and said left side front cowl (117b).
9. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more dampening members (201a, 201b) are fixedly attached to at least one of said right side front cowl (117a) and said left side front cowl (117b).
10. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said one or more dampening members (201a, 201b) include a
surface area and profile in substantial conformation with each of said-right side front cowl (117a) and said leftside front cowl (117b).
11. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 1,
wherein one or more dampening members (201a, 201b) are made of a
material selected from a group of materials including foam, rubber,
polymer, fiber.

12. The vehicle (100) and a front cowl assembly (117) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guard dampening member (201b) is detachably attached to said guard inner surface (118rs) of said engine guard assembly (118).