DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a two-wheeled motor vehicle, and more particularly to the two-wheeled motor vehicle employed with a cooling assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, in a two-wheeled vehicle a frame assembly extends rearward from a head pipe. The frame assembly acts as a skeleton and as a structural member for the vehicle, which supports the vehicle loads. A front portion of the frame assembly connects a front wheel through one or more front suspension(s). The frame assembly extends towards a rear portion of the vehicle. A rear wheel is connected to a frame assembly through one or more rear suspension(s). An engine assembly is mounted to the frame assembly of the vehicle. The engine assembly is functionally connected to the rear wheel, which provides the forward motion to the vehicle. Typically, plurality of panels is mounted to the frame assembly of the vehicle that covers various vehicle parts mounted thereon.
[0003] The combustion of air fuel mixture inside a cylinder bore of the engine assembly results in the reciprocating motion of the piston. Also, the combustion results in generation of heat. Generally, a cooling assembly is provided on the vehicle, through which a liquid coolant is circulated for heat transfer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The detailed description of the present subject matter is described with reference to the accompanying figures. Same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a left side view of an exemplary two-wheeled motor vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0006] Fig. 2 (a) depicts a front perspective view of a portion of the vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment.
[0007] Fig. 2 (b) depicts a left side of view of a portion of the vehicle employed with the cooling assembly.
[0008] Fig. 3 depicts a left side view of a radiator bracket, in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0009] Fig. 4 depicts a schematic front perspective view of the vehicle, in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00010] Typically, the internal combustion engine gets heated up, which would affect operating parameter(s) of the engine This would affect the performance of the engine especially those, which are intended to deliver very high power at maximum rpm. Generally, such engines are cooled by the cooling assembly mounted on the vehicle. Further, in case of vertically disposed engines, region in proximity to the engine is compactly packed. Therefore, with increasing engine capacities, providing of the cooling assembly and mounting thereof is challenging. Moreover, the vehicles with higher engine capacity require better heat dissipation, without compromising on the compactness of the vehicle layout.
[00011] The present subject matter is aimed at addressing the aforementioned and other problems. Hence, it is an object of the present subject matter is to provide a two-wheeled vehicle employed with a cooling assembly. According to one aspect, the present subject matter provides two vertically disposed radiators.
[00012] In an embodiment, the cooling assembly is functionally coupled to the engine assembly. The cooling assembly includes a first radiator and a second radiator disposed forwardly of the engine. The first radiator is vertically disposed substantially along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and is mounted to the down tube. The second radiator is vertically disposed and disposed adjacently sideward. In an embodiment, the first radiator and the second radiator are disposed with an offset along the longitudinal direction. Further, in a front view, the first radiator and the second radiator do not overlap, thereby resulting in sufficient airflow to both the radiators. In an embodiment, the first radiator and the second radiator are mounted to a single radiator bracket, whereby a compact packaging is provided.
[00013] In one embodiment, the second radiator disposed sidewardly rearward to the first radiator without comprising to enable sufficient banking angle.
[00014] In an embodiment, the cooling assembly is adapted to circulate and cool lubricating oil flowing through the engine assembly. In another embodiment, the cooling assembly is adapted to circulate and cool coolant flowing through a cooling jacket disposed about the engine assembly.
[00015] The present subject matter is aimed at addressing the aforementioned and other problems in the prior art. Hence, it is an object of the present subject matter is to
[00016] The aforesaid and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description.
[00017] Fig. 1 illustrates a left side view of an exemplary two-wheeled motor vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Arrows provided in the top right corner of each figure depicts direction with respect to the vehicle, wherein the arrow F denotes front direction, an arrow R indicated rear direction, an arrow Up denotes upward direction, and an arrow Dw denoted downward direction. The vehicle 100 includes a frame assembly that extends from a head pipe (not shown), which is disposed in the front portion of the vehicle 100, towards a rear portion of the vehicle 100. The frame assembly 105 includes a mainframe (not shown) comprising a main tube extending rearward from a rear portion of the head pipe and a down tube (not shown) that extends rearwardly downward from the head pipe. The frame assembly 105 may further comprise a sub-frame formed by a pair of rear tubes (not shown) that extend obliquely rearward from the main frame.
[00018] An engine assembly 110 is supported by the main frame of the frame assembly 105. The engine assembly 110 acts as the power unit of the vehicle 100, wherein the power unit may also include a traction/electrical motor (not shown). A cooling assembly 200 is mounted to the vehicle 100 and is functionally coupled with the engine assembly 110. A front portion of a swing arm 115 is swingably connected to the main frame of the frame assembly 105and rear portion of the swing arm 115 rotatably supports a rear wheel 120. The rear wheel 120 is functionally coupled to the engine assembly 110 through a transmission system. A rear fender (not shown) disposed upwardly of the rear wheel 120 covers at least a portion of the rear wheel 120. Further, the swing arm 115 is coupled to the frame assembly 105 through one or more rear suspension(s). In the present embodiment, a single mono-shock rear suspension 125 connects the swing arm 115 to the frame assembly. A pair of front forks 130 supports a front wheel 135 and is steerably supported by the head pipe. A handlebar assembly 140 is connected to an upper portion of the pair of front fork 130. Further, a front fender assembly 145 covers at least a portion of the front wheel 135 and the front fender assembly 145 is mounted to the front forks 130.
[00019] A fuel tank 150 is mounted to the main tube of the frame assembly 105and disposed rearwardly of the handlebar assembly 140. A seat assembly 155 is disposed rearwardly of the fuel tank assembly 150 and supported by the pair of rear tubes. A pair of rider foot pegs 160 mounted to the frame assembly 105 of the vehicle enable in supporting the rider foot. Further, the vehicle 100 comprises a front cowl assembly 165 that is disposed forwardly of the head pipe and extending sidewardly covering at least a portion of the fuel tank 150 and at least a portion of the engine assembly 110. The front cowl assembly 165 is mounted with one or more headlamp(s) (not shown) that are disposed in a front portion of the front cowl assembly 165. Also, the vehicle 100 may include a bottom cowl assembly 170 that covers at least a portion of the engine assembly 110 whereby the engine assembly 110 is protected from dust, dirt, and water splashing. Furthermore, the vehicle 100 includes one or more side panel(s) 175 disposed symmetrically or asymmetrically on either sides of the vehicle 100 and is mounted to the main frame covering various vehicle parts including at least a portion of the main frame, an air filter, and one or more electrical/electrical components that are mounted to the frame assembly 105. A tail cover assembly 180 that are disposed rearwardly of the side panel(s) 175 and extend along the pair of rear tubes thereby covering at least a portion of the pair of rear tubes. The tail cover assembly 180 extends towards a rear portion of the frame assembly 105and the tail cover assembly 105 is adapted to accommodate a tail lamp (not shown).
[00020] Fig. 2 (a) depicts a front perspective view of a portion of the vehicle 100, in accordance with an embodiment. The frame assembly 105 of the vehicle comprises of a down tube 105A that is extending rearwardly downward from a head pipe of the frame assembly 105. The engine assembly 110 is mounted to the frame assembly and is secured to the down tube 105A. An exhaust pipe 110A extends sidewardly downward and extends rearward toward a muffler assembly (not shown). A cooling assembly 200 comprising of a first radiator 210 and a second radiator 220 are mounted to the frame assembly 105. The first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220 act as heat exchange members. A radiator bracket 205, adapted to securely hold the first radiator 210, and the second radiator, is affixed to the down tube 105C. The radiator bracket is disposed at a first angle, which is acute. In one embodiment, the first angle is in line with the direction of extension of the down tube 105A.
[00021] The first radiator 210 is vertically disposed and positioned in line with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 100. The first radiator 210 is provided with a first mounting bracket 215 that is affixed. The first radiator 210 is mounted to the radiator bracket 205 through the first bracket. Similarly, the second radiator 220 is provided with a second radiator bracket (not shown) that is affixed to the second radiator 220 enables mounting of the second radiator to the radiator bracket 205. Whereas, the second radiator 220 is disposed adjacently rearward of the first radiator 210 on a width direction that is away from the exhaust pipe 110A. The first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220 are functionally connected through a hose assembly 230 to the engine assembly 110.
[00022] However, in one embodiment, the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220 are disposed at a slight acute to enable accommodation of the radiators 210, 220 without affecting the ground clearance. Therefore, the term vertical includes slight acute angle with respect to a vertical plane.
[00023] The first radiator 210 is provided with a first inlet FI at a top portion of the first radiator 210 and a first outlet FO is provided at a bottom portion of the first radiator 210. The first outlet FO is connected to a second inlet SI of the second radiator 220 provided at a bottom portion of the second radiator 220. The second radiator 220 includes a second outlet SO disposed at a top portion of the second radiator 220 and the second outlet SO is connected to the engine assembly 110.
[00024] In a preferred embodiment, the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220 are connected in series. The hose assembly 230 includes a first hose 230A that connects a cooling jacket (not shown), which is disposed around at least a portion of the engine assembly 110, to the first inlet of the first radiator 210 inlet that is at a top portion and reaches a first outlet FO of the first radiator 210 that is at a bottom portion. The first outlet FO is coupled to a second inlet SI of the second radiator 220, which is provided on a bottom portion of the second radiator 220. A second outlet SO of the second radiator 220, which is at a top portion, is coupled to a cooling jacket through a second hose 230B. The first hose 230A is routed upwardly of the exhaust pipe 110A towards the engine assembly 110 and the second hose 230B is disposed rearwardly of the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220 extending towards the engine assembly 110. Furthermore, the hose assembly 230 is selectively provided with insulator(s) that are disposed concentrically around the outer periphery.
[00025] However, a parallel connection of the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220 is provided, in yet other embodiment.
[00026] A bottom cowl assembly 170 (shown in Fig. 1) is provided that covers at least a portion of the engine assembly 110. Moreover, the bottom cowl assembly 170 is adapted to accommodate the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220 and is adapted to direct air towards the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220.
[00027] Fig. 2 (b) depicts a left side of view of a portion of the vehicle employed with the cooling assembly 200. The radiator bracket is secured to the down tube 105A of the frame assembly 105 through one or more fasteners 235. The radiator bracket 205 is extending substantially downward. Further, the radiator bracket 205 is secured to the engine assembly 110 through one or more fasteners 240. The radiator bracket 205 comprises of one or more mounting arm(s) 205A that extends in a forwards direction. In one embodiment, the arm(s) 205A are disposed at a second angle, which is acute. The second angle is measured with respect to a horizontal plane and the arm(s) 205A disposed at second angle enable orientation of the cooling assembly 200 viz. the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220. The one or more mounting arm(s) 205A are adapted to support the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220. The mounting arms(s) 205A is provided one or more separator(s) (shown in Fig. 3) that enable providing gap between the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220. Moreover, the separators enable in providing a longitudinal offset between the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220.
[00028] Fig. 3 depicts a left side view of a radiator bracket305, in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter. The radiator bracket 305 is provided with a first arm 305AA and a second arm 305AB that are extending in a forward direction. The first arm 305AA and the second arm 305AB support a second mounting bracket 325 of a second radiator (not shown) and a first mounting bracket 315 of a first radiator (not shown). The first mounting bracket 315and the second mounting bracket 325 is separated by a first separator 345A and a second separator 345B disposed therebetween.
[00029] Further, a cover member 400 is provided on the radiator bracket 305 covering at least a portion of the radiator bracket 305. The cover member 400 is made of a rigid material and a heat resistant material is used. The cover member 400 is secured to the radiator bracket 305 through one or more fastener(s) 340A, 350A.
[00030] Fig. 4 depicts a schematic front perspective view of the vehicle, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present subject matter. The vehicle includes a frame assembly 106 comprising a head pipe 106B that is disposed substantially in line with a lateral centre of the vehicle 100, which coincides with an imaginary line C-C’ passing through the head pipe 106A. The frame assembly further includes one or more down tube(s) 106AA, 106AB that extend downward from a rear portion of the head pipe 106B. In one embodiment, the down tube(s) 106AA, 106AB extend obliquely downward and away from imaginary line C-C’. The cooling assembly 200 is disposed ahead of the engine assembly 110 (as shown in Fig. 1 (b)). Also, the cooling assembly 200 is disposed adjacent to an lateral inward facing side portion of an exhaust pipe 110A (as shown in Fig. 1 (b)), which is extending from a front facing side of the engine assembly 110. In one embodiment, the exhaust pipe 110A extends obliquely downward and then rearward towards a muffler assembly (not shown) of the vehicle.
[00031] The cooling assembly 200 is secured to one down tube 160AA of the one or more down tube(s) 160AA, 160AB. The down tube 160AA is provided with a radiator bracket 305 disposed at a first angle in a vertical direction, which is Up-Dw. The first angle is an acute angle in the range of 0-45 degrees. The radiator bracket 305 includes one or more arm(s) 305AA, 305AB (as shown in Fig. 3) disposed at a second angle with respect to a horizontal line, which is longitudinal direction F-R of the vehicle. The second angle in an acute angle, which is in the range of 0-45 degrees. The cooling assembly 200 includes a first radiator 210 and a second radiator 220, which are vertically disposed. The first radiator 210 is disposed in proximity to the lateral center of the vehicle and the second radiator 220 is disposed away from the lateral centre of the vehicle. In other words, the cooling assembly 200 is at a lateral offset from an imaginary line C-C’ passing through the head pipe 105A. Therefore, the cooling assembly 200 is at a lateral offset from the imaginary line C-C’. Preferably, the imaginary line C-C’ coincides with a lateral centre of the vehicle. Therefore, the cooling assembly 200 is disposed away from the exhaust pipe 110A without interfering with the exhaust pipe 110A route. Also, the cooling assembly 200 being disposed away from the exhaust pipe 110A is exposed to flow air from one side of the front wheel 135.
[00032] Also, the first radiator 210 is disposed ahead of said second radiator 220. In other words, the first radiator is disposed at a longitudinal offset from the second radiator 220 in a longitudinal direction F-R. The second radiator 220 is proximity to the engine assembly 110. The second radiator 200 disposed away from the lateral centre, which coincides with an imaginary line C-C’ passing through the head pipe 105A, of the vehicle is disposed in proximity to the engine assembly 110, whereby the banking angle of the vehicle is retained. Moreover, an outer lateral portion of the second radiator 220 is substantially inward with respect to a outer most peripheral portion of the engine assembly 110 thereby the width of the vehicle is also retained.
[00033] The first radiator 210 is connected to a pump (not shown) mounted to the engine assembly 100 through a first hose 230A. The first radiator 210 is functionally connected to the second radiator 220 through an intermediate hose 230C. A second hose 230B connects the second radiator 220 to the engine assembly 110, preferably to drain coolant from the cooling assembly 200 to a sump (not shown) of the engine assembly 110. In one embodiment, the intermediate hose 230C extends ahead of at least one of the first radiator 210 and the second radiator 220.
[00034] It is to be understood that the aspects of the embodiments are not necessarily limited to the features described herein. Many modifications and variations of the present subject matter are possible in the light of above disclosure. Therefore, within the scope of claims of the present subject matter, the present disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.
,CLAIMS:I/We claim:
1. A two-wheeled vehicle (100) comprising:
a frame assembly (105, 106) comprising a head pipe (106B), and one or more down tube(s) (105A, 106AA, 106AB) extending downward from a rear portion of the head pipe (106A);
an engine assembly (110) mounted to said frame assembly (105, 106) and disposed directly rearward to said down tube(s) (105A, 106AA, 106AB); and
an exhaust pipe (110A) extending obliquely downward from a front facing side of said engine assembly (110), wherein
a cooling assembly (200) disposed ahead of said engine assembly (110) and at a lateral offset from a imaginary line (C-C’) passing through said head pipe (105B) when viewed from a front direction (F) of said two-wheeled vehicle (100), wherein said cooling assembly (200) includes a first radiator (210) and a second radiator (220) disposed substantially vertically, and said first radiator (210) is disposed in proximity to said imaginary line (C-C’) and said second radiator (220) is disposed away from said imaginary line (C-C’).
2. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein said first radiator (210) is disposed ahead of said second radiator (220) in a longitudinal direction (F-R) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) when viewed from vehicle side (RH, LH) whereby said second radiator (220) is in proximity to said engine assembly (110).
3. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein said one or more down tube(s) (105A, 106AA, 106AB) extend obliquely downward and away from said imaginary line (C-C’), and said cooling assembly (200) is secured to one down tube (106AA) of said one or more down tube(s) (106AA, 106AB).
4. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein said first radiator (210) and said second radiator (220) are mounted to a radiator bracket (205, 305) disposed at a first angle with respect to a vertical line (Up-Dw).
5. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1 or 3, wherein said radiator bracket (205, 305) includes one or more arm(s) (205A, 305AA, 305AB) disposed at a second angle with respect to a horizontal line (F-R), and said one or more arm(s) (205A, 305AA, 305AB) support said first radiator (210) and said second radiator (220).
6. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1 or 3, wherein said first radiator (210) and said second radiator (220) are mounted to said one or more arm(s) (305AA, 305AB) through a first mounting radiator bracket (315) and a second mounting radiator bracket (325) respectively, wherein one or more spacer(s) (345A, 345B) are disposed between said mounting radiator bracket (205, 305) to provide a longitudinal offset (L) therebetween the first radiator (210) and the second radiator (220).
7. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1 or 3, wherein said radiator bracket (205, 305) includes a cover member (400) made of a rigid material covering at least a portion of said radiator bracket (205, 305).
8. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein said first radiator (210) includes a first inlet (FI) at a top portion and a first outlet (FO) disposed at a bottom portion of the first radiator (210), and said first outlet (FO) is connected to a second inlet (SI) of said second radiator (220) disposed at a bottom portion of the second radiator (220).
9. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1 or 6, wherein said first inlet (FI) is connected to a oil pump of said engine assembly (110) and said second radiator (220) includes a second outlet (SO) disposed at a top portion of the second radiator (220) and said second outlet (SO) is connected to said engine assembly (110).
10. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) of claim 1, wherein said second radiator (220) is having an outer peripheral portion substantially inward with respect to an outermost peripheral portion of the engine assembly (110).