Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a saddle-type vehicle. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to disposition of a battery charger unit in a saddle-type vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] With increasing number of electronic parts required in saddle-type vehicles, there is a need for the electronic parts to be packaged without affecting performance of the vehicle. Especially with the changing paradigm of saddle type vehicles and the shift towards the electric or hybrid electric vehicles, new challenges have emerged as different components such as a battery charging port, battery packs, etc., need to be accommodated in the available packaging space.
[003] Saddle type vehicles with a monotube structure, wherein a single frame member extends from front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle, mandate that all the electrical components be mounted to a single monotube frame. In conventional vehicles with monotube structure, generally the battery charger is either placed inside a utility box or below the utility box making cooling of the battery charger difficult. The battery charger when placed inside the utility box decreases a utility volume of the utility box. Further, a separate cooling arrangement needs to be provided that adds weight and cost to the vehicle while also increasing assembly time and complexity. If the battery charger is located under the utility box, then an additional cooling arrangement needs to be added as natural area does not reach sufficiently under the utility box making cooling of the battery charger difficult. Also, adding the additional cooling arrangement adds weight and cost to the vehicle.
[004] The conventional configurations of the vehicle require long wires for connecting the battery charger to batteries and controllers placed farther apart, and the controllers to other respective parts in the vehicle, which not only increases cost of the wiring, but also increases power loss and complexity of the wiring. Further, the battery charger is a heavy component thereby requiring a mounting location that achieves a desired centre of gravity for the vehicle. An important consideration amongst such requirements is that the battery charger must be conveniently accessible to a user of the vehicle in order to charge the batteries.
[005] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a saddle-type vehicle which addresses the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] The present invention is directed towards a saddle type vehicle. The saddle type vehicle has a head pipe and a main frame extending rearwardly from the head pipe in a vehicle front-rear direction. The main frame has a downwardly extending member extending rearwardly and downwardly from the head pipe. The main frame has a horizontally extending member extending rearwardly from the downwardly extending member. The main frame also has a rearwardly extending member extending rearwardly and upwardly from the horizontally extending member. The saddle type vehicle further has a battery charger unit that is configured for charging one or more batteries disposed in the vehicle. Herein, the battery charger unit is mounted on the rearwardly extending member of the main frame.
[007] In an embodiment of the invention, the rearwardly extending member of the main frame has a lower portion extending rearwardly and upwardly from the horizontally extending member and an upper portion extending rearwardly from the lower portion. The upper portion supports a rider seat. The battery charger unit is mounted on the lower portion of the rearwardly extending member of the main frame.
[008] In another embodiment of the invention, the battery charger unit is disposed below the rider seat and above the horizontally extending member in a vehicle side view.
[009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the battery charger unit is disposed centrally on the main frame in a vehicle width direction.
[010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the saddle type vehicle has a mounting assembly for mounting the battery charger unit on the rearwardly extending member of the main frame. The mounting assembly includes a first bracket configured to be disposed on the battery charger unit. The mounting assembly includes a second bracket configured to be disposed on the horizontally extending member and to receive the first bracket. The mounting assembly also includes a third bracket configured to be disposed on the rearwardly extending member and to receive the first bracket. Herein, the first bracket is configured to support the battery charger unit.
[011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first bracket is removably and / or fixedly attached to the second bracket at a bottom portion of the battery charger unit and the third bracket at a top portion of the battery charger unit through one or more mounting members. As a result, the mounting assembly restricts movement of the battery charger unit.
[012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the saddle type vehicle has a floorboard mounted on the horizontally extending member. The second bracket is disposed on the floorboard and configured to receive the bottom portion of the battery charger unit.
[013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the second bracket is an inverted V-shape bracket.
[014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the mounting assembly has a fourth bracket disposed on the rearwardly extending member and configured to receive the top portion of the battery charger unit. The fourth bracket restricts motion of the battery charger unit in a vehicle width direction.
[015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the battery charger unit has a plurality of grooves located on a front portion of the battery charger unit.
[016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first bracket has a plurality of depressions. The first bracket is configured to receive the battery charger unit such that the plurality of depressions is configured to engage with the plurality of grooves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[017] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a left side view of an exemplary saddle type vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a left perspective view of the saddle type vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of a mounting assembly and a battery charger unit located on the saddle type vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view of a mounting assembly and a battery charger unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[018] The present invention relates to a saddle-type vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to disposition of a battery charger unit in a saddle-type vehicle.
[019] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary saddle-type vehicle 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The saddle-type vehicle 10 comprises a prime mover (not shown). In an embodiment, the prime mover is a traction motor and/or a single-cylinder type IC engine. The saddle-type vehicle 10 comprises a front wheel 14, a rear wheel 16, and a rider seat 18 mounted to a frame structure (not shown). The frame structure includes a head pipe 22 and a main frame 24. The head pipe 22 supports a steering shaft (not shown) and a pair of front suspensions 40 attached to the steering shaft through a lower bracket 27. The pair of front suspensions 40 support the front wheel 14. The upper portion of the front wheel 14 is covered by a front fender 28 mounted to the lower portion of the telescopic front suspension 40. A handlebar 50 is fixed to an upper bracket 29 and is rotatable. A head light 32 and an instrument cluster 33 are arranged on an upper portion of the head pipe 22. The main frame 24 of the frame structure extends rearwardly from the head pipe 22. In an embodiment, the prime mover is disposed below a portion of the main frame 24.
[020] Seat rails 25 (only one shown) are attached to the main frame 24 and extend rearwardly to support the rider seat 18 and a pillion seat 37. A rear swing arm 34 is connected to the frame structure to swing vertically, and the rear wheel 16 is connected to rear end of the rear swing arm 34. The rear swing arm 34 is supported by two telescopic rear suspensions 44 (only one shown). A taillight unit (not shown) is disposed at the end of the saddle-type vehicle 10 and at the rear of the pillion seat 37. A grab rail 36 is also provided on the rear of the seat rails 25. The rear wheel 16 arranged below the pillion seat 37 rotates by the driving force of the prime mover transmitted through a transmission drive (not shown) such as a chain drive from the prime mover. A rear fender 38 is disposed above the rear wheel 16.
[021] Figure 2 illustrates a left perspective view of the saddle type vehicle 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in Figure 2, the saddle-type vehicle 10 has the main frame 24 that extends rearwardly from the head pipe 22 in a vehicle front-rear direction (F-R). The main frame 24 includes a downwardly extending member 24A that extends rearwardly and downwardly from the head pipe 22. Further, a horizontally extending member 24B of the main frame 24 extends rearwardly from the downwardly extending member 24A and runs substantially parallel to the ground. In an embodiment, the main frame 24 extends rearwardly from the downwardly extending member 24A into more than one horizontally extending members 24B running substantially parallel to the ground. A floorboard 26 is disposed above the horizontally extending member 24B and runs along the length of the horizontally extending member 24B, substantially parallel to the ground. The floorboard 26 is used as a primary loading space in the saddle-type vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the prime mover is disposed below the horizontally extending member 24B of the main frame 24. In another embodiment, one or more batteries (not shown) are disposed within the floorboard 26.
[022] Further, a rearwardly extending member 24C of the main frame 24 extends rearwardly and upwardly from the horizontally extending member 24B. A portion of the rearwardly extending member 24C is disposed in front of the rear wheel 16. Another portion of the rearwardly extending member 24C runs substantially parallel to the ground to support the rider seat 18 and the pillion seat 37 over the rear wheel 16.
[023] Further, as illustrated in Figure 2, the saddle-type vehicle 10 has a battery charger unit 100. The battery charger unit 100 is configured for charging the one or more batteries disposed in the vehicle 10. As illustrated in Figure 2, the battery charger unit 100 is mounted on the rearwardly extending member 24C of the main frame 24. Herein, in an embodiment, the saddle type vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle having the one or more batteries as an energy source and the battery charger unit 100 is configured for charging the one or more batteries. The battery charger unit 100 is configured to charge, discharge, and monitor battery levels in the one or more batteries in order to supply energy to the prime mover and various vehicle sub-systems. A mounting assembly 102 is mounted on the main frame 24 to support the battery charger unit 100 onto the vehicle 10.
[024] Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the mounting assembly 102 and the battery charger unit 100 located on the saddle type vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in Figure 3, the rearwardly extending member 24C of the main frame 24 has a lower portion 24C’ that is connected to the horizontally extending member 24B (shown in Fig. 2) and an upper portion 24C’’ for supporting the rider seat 18. Herein, the battery charger unit 100 is mounted on the lower portion 24C’ of the rearwardly extending member 24C of the main frame 24. In effect, the battery charger unit 100 is mounted at a junction of the rearwardly extending member 24C and the horizontally extending member 24B of the main frame 24. As a result of this, as illustrated in Figure 3, the battery charger unit 100 is disposed below the rider seat 18 and above the horizontally extending member 24B in a vehicle side view.
[025] The mounting of the battery charger unit 100 on the lower portion 24C’ of the rearwardly extending member 24C ensures that the battery charger unit 100 is mounted at a location which is at a sufficient distance from the rider seat 18, thus ensuring that there is no conflict in the packaging of the rider seat 18 and the battery charger unit 100. The rider seat 18 need not be removed for accessing or servicing the battery charger unit 100.
[026] The battery charger unit 100 is disposed centrally on the main frame 24 in a vehicle width direction. This is done to allow packaging of other vehicle components in the packaging space around the rearwardly extending member 24C of the main frame 24.
[027] As further illustrated in Figure 3 and referenced in Figure 4, to facilitate the mounting of the battery charger unit 100 on to the main frame 24, the saddle type vehicle 10 has the mounting assembly 102 on the rearwardly extending member 24C of the main frame 24 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The mounting assembly 102 comprises a first bracket 104 that is configured to be disposed on the battery charger unit 100 in order to support the battery charger unit 100. The mounting assembly 102 also comprises a second bracket 106 that is configured to be disposed on the floorboard, the floorboard is mounted on the horizontally extending member 24B, and to receive the first bracket 104. The mounting assembly 102 further comprises a third bracket 108 that is configured to be disposed on the lower portion 24C’ of the rearwardly extending member 24C and to receive the first bracket 104. The mounting assembly 102 is configured to receive the battery charger unit 100, thereby mounting the battery charger unit 100 on the rearwardly extending member 24C of the main frame 24 and ensuring that the battery charger unit 100 is provided centrally on the main frame 24.
[028] The first bracket 104 is removably and / or fixedly attached to the second bracket 106 at a bottom portion 100B of the battery charger unit 100 and the third bracket 108 at a top portion 100T of the battery charger unit 100 through one or more mounting members 104A, 104B. In one embodiment, the first bracket 104 is a strip type bracket that is fastened via the one or more mounting members 104A, 104B to the top and bottom portions 100T, 100B of the battery charger unit 100, respectively. In one example, the one or more mounting members 104A, 104B may be one of bolts, screws, and welding. The first bracket 104 restricts movement of the mounted battery charger unit 100 in to and fro direction. In another embodiment, the first bracket 104 is detachably attached to the second bracket 106 and the third bracket 108, thereby allowing the battery charger unit 100 to be easily taken out of the vehicle 10 for serviceability or replaceability in case of defects.
[029] The second bracket 106 is disposed on the floorboard 26 in front of the rearwardly extending member 24C. The second bracket 106 is configured to receive the bottom portion 100B of the battery charger unit 100. In one embodiment, the second bracket 106 is an inverted V-shape bracket. The second bracket 106 restricts the movement of the battery charger unit 100 in upward and downward directions while the vehicle 10 is in operation.
[030] Referring to Figure 4, the mounting assembly 102 comprises a fourth bracket 110 that is disposed on the rearwardly extending member 24C. The fourth bracket 110 is configured to receive the top portion 100T of the battery charger unit 100. In one embodiment, the fourth bracket 110 first extends left and right in a vehicle width direction, holding a part of top portion 100T of the battery charger unit 100 and then extends in a vehicle front direction, thereby restricting motion of the battery charger unit 100 in the vehicle width direction.
[031] The battery charger unit 100 is positionally inclined on the lower portion 24C’ of the rearwardly extending member 24C such that the battery charger unit 100 is parallel to the lower portion 24C’ of the rearwardly extending member 24C. However, the battery charger unit 100 can be disposed in any other orientation and angle on the main frame 24. In one embodiment, the battery charger unit 100 is vertically oriented in a vehicle up down direction. Such a vertical orientation prevents increase of vehicle dimensions in sideways lateral direction.
[032] In an embodiment, the battery charger unit 100 is disposed adjacent to one or more electrical components (not shown). As illustrated, the battery charger unit 100 is mounted with the mounting assembly 102 centrally on to the main frame 24. The electrical components may be located around battery charger unit 100 while maintaining a centre of gravity that is close to the vehicle centreline and acting downwardly.
[033] The battery charger unit 100 comprises a plurality of grooves 112 located on a front portion 100F of the battery charger unit 100. The plurality of grooves 112 may be of any desired shape that is economical to manufacture. The first bracket 104 comprises a plurality of depressions 114. In one embodiment, the plurality of depressions is similar in shape to the plurality of grooves 112. In another embodiment, the plurality of depressions is dissimilar in shape to the plurality of grooves 112. The first bracket 104 is configured to receive the battery charger unit 100 such that the plurality of depressions 114 is configured to engage with the plurality of grooves 112. As a result, the plurality of depressions 112 of the first bracket 104 arrests the movement of the battery charger unit 100 by holding the plurality of grooves 112.
[034] Advantageously, the present invention provides a saddle type vehicle wherein the battery charger unit is packaged under the seat in a compact manner. The battery charger unit being mounted on the rearwardly extending member ensures that the rider seat does not cause any hinderance to the access of the battery charger unit and the battery charger unit can be accessed without removing the rider seat. Further, the central disposition of the battery charger unit on to main frame ensures that ample packaging space is available for other vehicle components around the rearwardly extending member. The location of the battery charger unit being central in the vehicle also ensures that the length of wires required to connect the battery charger unit to the one or more batteries and controllers is low, thus reducing power loss, cost, and complexity.
[035] Further, provision of the battery charger unit on the rearwardly extending member is such that weight of the battery charger unit is distributed equally on the vehicle centreline. As a result, the centre of gravity remains close to the vehicle centreline and acts downwardly, which improves the handling of the vehicle.
[036] Furthermore, provision of the battery charger unit allows reception of ambient air falling directly on the battery charger unit without any disturbance or obstacle, thereby facilitating cooling of the battery charger unit without deploying any additional cooling mechanisms. The mounting assembly is removably attached, thereby allowing easy assembly and disassembly of the battery charger unit.
[037] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

List of Reference Numerals
10: Saddle Type Vehicle
14: Front Wheel
16: Rear Wheel
18: Rider Seat
22: Head Pipe
24: Main Frame
24A: Downwardly Extending Member
24B: Horizontally Extending Member
24C: Rearwardly Extending Member
24C’: Lower Portion of the Rearwardly Extending Member
24C’’: Upper Portion of the Rearwardly Extending Member
25: Seat Rail
26: Floorboard
27: Lower Bracket
28: Front Fender
29: Upper Bracket
32: Headlight
33: Instrument Cluster
34: Swing Arm
36: Grab Rail
37: Pillion Seat
38: Rear Fender
40: Front Suspension
44: Rear Suspension
50: Handlebar
100: Battery Charger Unit
100B: Bottom Portion of Battery Charger Unit
100T: Top Portion of Battery Charger Unit
100F: Front Portion of Battery Charger Unit
102: Mounting Assembly
104: First Bracket
104A, 104B: One or more Mounting Members
106: Second Bracket
108: Third Bracket
110: Fourth Bracket
112: Plurality of Grooves
114: Plurality of Depressions , Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A saddle type vehicle (10), the saddle type vehicle (10) comprising:
a head pipe (22);
a main frame (24) extending rearwardly from the head pipe (22) in a vehicle front-rear direction, the main frame (24) comprising:
a downwardly extending member (24A) extending rearwardly and downwardly from the head pipe (22);
a horizontally extending member (24B) extending rearwardly from the downwardly extending member (24A); and
a rearwardly extending member (24C) extending rearwardly and upwardly from the horizontally extending member (24B); and
a battery charger unit (100) for charging one or more batteries disposed in the vehicle (10), the battery charger unit (100) being mounted on the rearwardly extending member (24C) of the main frame (24).

2. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rearwardly extending member (24C) of the main frame (24) comprises: a lower portion (24C’) extending rearwardly and upwardly from the horizontally extending member (24B); and an upper portion (24C’’) extending rearwardly from the lower portion (24C’), the upper portion (24C’’) supports a rider seat (18), wherein the battery charger unit (100) being mounted on the lower portion (24C’) of the rearwardly extending member (24C) of the main frame (24).

3. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the battery charger unit (100) being disposed below the rider seat (18) and above the horizontally extending member (24B) in a vehicle side view.

4. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery charger unit (100) being disposed centrally on the main frame (24) in a vehicle width direction.

5. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a mounting assembly (102) for mounting the battery charger unit (100) on the rearwardly extending member (24C) of the main frame (24), the mounting assembly (102) comprises:
a first bracket (104) configured to be disposed on the battery charger unit (100);
a second bracket (106) configured to be disposed on the horizontally extending member (24B) and to receive the first bracket (104); and
a third bracket (108) configured to be disposed on the rearwardly extending member (24C) and to receive the first bracket (104), wherein the first bracket (104) is configured to support the battery charger unit (100).

6. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first bracket (104) is removably and / or fixedly attached to the second bracket (106) at a bottom portion (100B) of the battery charger unit (100) and to the third bracket (108) at a top portion (100T) of the battery charger unit (100) through one or more mounting members (104A, 104B), the mounting assembly (102) thereby restricting movement of the battery charger unit (100).

7. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 6 comprising a floorboard (26) mounted on the horizontally extending member (24B), the second bracket (106) being disposed on the floorboard (26) and configured to receive the bottom portion (100B) of the battery charger unit (100).

8. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second bracket (106) is an inverted V-shaped bracket.

9. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 6, the mounting assembly (102) comprising a fourth bracket (110) being disposed on the rearwardly extending member (24C) and configured to receive the top portion (100T) of the battery charger unit (100), the fourth bracket (110) thereby restricting motion of the battery charger unit (100) in a vehicle width direction.

10. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the battery charger unit (100) comprises a plurality of grooves (112) located on a front portion (100F) of the battery charger unit (100).

11. The saddle type vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first bracket (104) comprises a plurality of depressions (114), the first bracket (104) configured to receive the battery charger unit (100) such that the plurality of depressions (114) is configured to engage with the plurality of grooves (112).

Dated this 29th day of March 2023
TVS MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
By their Agent & Attorney

(Nikhil Ranjan)
of Khaitan & Co
Reg No IN/PA-1471