BOTTOM COVER FOR A VEHICLE WITH SWINGING POWER UNIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a bottom cover for a vehicle, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a bottom cover for a vehicle with a swinging internal combustion engine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A two wheeled saddle type vehicle is provided with an internal combustion engine (or power unit) to power the vehicle. Conventionally, in a scooter type vehicle, the engine is forwardly inclined and swinging supported at one end on a hub of a rear wheel and at the other end on the vehicle frame. The engine has several covers in its vicinity mounted to an upper or lower portion of the vehicle frame so that the vehicle frame is invisible to an onlooker. These covers include a left side cover, a right side cover, an underseat cover, a floorboard, a bottom cover and a side trim member. Due to layout constraints, these covers form a substantially enclosed space within which a front portion of the forwardly inclined swinging engine is located. More particularly, the front portion comprises of a cylinder head and a cylinder block which are surrounded.

[0003] Due to the presence of other surrounding frame and electrical components disposed between the bottom cover and the floorboard, the incoming air from a vehicle front direction is unable to properly reach the cylinder head and diffuses in different directions after encountering resistance by these components.

Thus, the incoming air is not optimally directed towards the front portion of the engine and the engine is cooled by the residual air leading to ineffective air cooling of the engine, particularly that of the cylinder head and the cylinder block.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to ensure optimal and substantially direct air cooling of the front portion of the swinging engine disposed in the enclosed space for effectively dissipating the heat generated by it. Another object of the present invention is to ensure that the engine cooling is not affected by the frame and electrical components disposed between the bottom cover and the floorboard of the saddle type vehicle with swinging engine. The present subject subject matter efficiently enable channelizing of incoming air from the vehicle front direction towards the constituents of front portion of the engine.

[0005] To this end, the present subject matter comprises of saddle type vehicle with a forwardly inclined swinging engine comprising a ramp housed within a housing space formed between a floorboard and a bottom cover. The ramp, supported on the bottom cover, is disposed on either side of a lower pipe of the vehicle frame. Incoming air from a vehicle front direction is directed towards the housing space through a plurality of air louvers in a front mud guard of the vehicle. The ramp is elevated at its rear portion and grounded at its front portion with a runway to channelize the incoming air. The ramp thus helps to direct incoming air in the housing space towards the front portion of the engine, more particularly to a cylinder head and a cylinder block. As the incoming air is channelized along the runway of the ramp, it does not face any resistance by the
surrounding electrical and frame components and thus cools the engine. It is to be noted that larger the volume of incoming air, more effective would be the engine cooling.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ramp is integrally formed and enmoulded with the bottom cover. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the ramp is removably attachable. It is supported on the bottom cover and attached to a lower surface of the floorboard.

[0007] The foregoing objectives and summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, and is not limiting. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present subject matter as well as the subject matter itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the ensuing detailed description of the subject matter and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] 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:

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a saddle type vehicle exemplified in the form of a two wheeled scooter type vehicle.

[00010] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a frame structure of the vehicle.

[00011] FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of a lower portion of the vehicle.

[00012] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a ramp according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[00013] FIG. 5 shows a front perspective view of the ramp connected to a bottom cover in the vehicle.

[00014] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the bottom cover and the floorboard along with the ramp.

[00015] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the ramp fixedly connected to the bottom cover.

[00016] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the ramp of FIG. 7 directing the
incoming air to the engine cylinder head.

[00017] FIG. 9(a) shows a standalone front mudguard for the vehicle with air louvers provided to direct the air.

[00018] FIG. 9(b) shows the front mudguard assembled with the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00019] The present invention discloses a saddle type vehicle comprising a bottom cover for covering a lower portion of the vehicle frame configured to include a ramp for directing the incoming air from a vehicle front direction toward a front portion of a swinging engine provided in the vehicle. Various other features and embodiments of the present subject matter here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder. The detailed explanation of the constitution of parts other than the subject matter which constitutes an essential part has been omitted at suitable places. It is to be noted that in the ensuing description, the saddle type vehicle is exemplified with a two wheeled scooter type vehicle for better illustration. However, the concepts introduced herein are also applicable on any saddle type vehicle having a swinging internal combustion engine. Further "front" and "rear", and "left" and "right" referred to in the ensuing description refer to front and rear, and left and right directions as seen in a state of being seated on a seat of the scooter type vehicle. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis, except otherwise mentioned, refers to a front to rear axis relative to the said vehicle, while a lateral axis, except otherwise mentioned, refers generally to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to said vehicle.

[00020] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of the scooter type vehicle. The vehicle 1 includes a vehicle frame assembly made up of several tubes welded together supporting the body of said vehicle. The vehicle 1 has a steerable front wheel 2 and a driven rear wheel 25 driven by driving force generated by an internal combustion engine 24. The front wheel 2 of a vehicle 1 is axially supported at a lower end of a front fork 3, and the front fork 3 is pivoted in a steerable manner in a head pipe 58 of the vehicle frame. The frame assembly of the vehicle 1 is covered by a plurality of vehicle body covers including a front panel 17, a leg shield 16, an underseat cover 21, a left side cover 41, a right side cover and a bottom cover 60. The right side cover is substantially symmetrical to the left side cover and hence not shown.

[00021] A handle bar 7 is attached to an upper end of the head pipe 58. A headlight unit 10 is arranged forwardly of the handle bar 7 and is surrounded by a visor 9. The handle bar 7 and a seat 22 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as floorboard 12 which functions as a step through space. The seat 22 for a driver and a pillion is placed forward to a fuel tank and rearwardly of the floorboard 12. An article storage device 23 is provided below the seat 22 for storing useful articles. A side trim member 14 laterally beneath the floorboard 12 is provided to cover the lower frame members from being visible. The side trim member 14 has a rearwardly footrest cavity 30 to accommodate a footrest for a pillion rider. The side trim member 14 is laterally present on both sides of the vehicle; however, only one is visible in the side view. A side stand fixed to the left side of the frame supports the vehicle such that vehicle can incline to the left side without falling. A rear fender 27 is accommodated above the engine 24 to partially cover the rear wheel 25. Likewise, the front wheel 2 is covered by a lower member 18 of the front panel 17. Further, as shown in FIG. 9(a), a front mud guard 4 is provided beneath the lower member 18 to protect the vehicle from water splash or mud. The front mud guard 4 also includes a plurality of air louvers 5 to capture the incoming air and channelize it into the vehicle 1.

[00022] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the vehicle frame of said vehicle. The frame assembly of the vehicle 1 is an elongated structure, which typically extends from a forward end to a rearward end of the vehicle. It is generally convex in shape, as viewed from a side elevational view. The vehicle frame is comprised of a downpipe 54 extending downwards from a head pipe 58, a lower pipe 55 supporting the low-slung floorboard 12 extending rearwards from a lower end of
the downpipe 54, and a rear pipe 56 formed by curving a rear end section of the lower pipe 55 diagonally upwards. The rear pipe 56 is made of an inclined section extending diagonally upwards from a rear end of the lower pipe 55, and a horizontal section extending rearwards substantially horizontally from the inclined section and is covered by the side cover 41. A support pipe 57 extends rearwardly of the inclined section of the rear pipe 56 for supporting the footrest.

[00023] In the said vehicle, the engine 24 is configured to drive, and is swingably supported between the lower pipe 55 and the rear wheel 25. The engine 24 is integrally formed with a transmission system, and the rear wheel 25 is connected to a drive shaft at the rear of a casing of the engine 24. In an embodiment of the present invention, the engine is a four stroke single cylinder internal combustion engine. FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of the vehicle 1. When disposed on the vehicle frame, a front portion of the engine 24 is located within an enclosed space formed at least by a left side cover 41, a right side cover, an underseat cover 21, a left side trim member 14, a right side trim member and the article storage device 23. More particularly, the front portion of the engine 24 comprises of a cylinder head 28 and a cylinder block 29. The cylinder head 28 and cylinder block 29 are forwardly inclined in a manner that when seen from a side view, the cylinder head 28 faces an inner surface of the underseat cover 21.

[00024] The bottom cover 60 covers the lower pipe 55, other lower frame members and electrical components from the bottom. It prevents the see through condition of the lower pipe and lower frame members and also protects them from mud and water splash during the operation of the vehicle. When the floorboard 12 is assembled over the bottom cover 60, a housing space 15 is formed between the bottom cover 60 and the floorboard 12 within which the lower pipe 55, other lower frame members and electrical components are housed. The other lower frame members include the support pipe 57 and a toggle link mechanism. The electrical components include the wiring harness running along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[00025] According to an aspect of the present invention, the bottom cover 60 comprises a ramp 70 housed within the housing space 15 and supported on the bottom cover 60. The ramp 70 is disposed on either side of the lower pipe 55 and directs the incoming air from a vehicle front direction towards the front portion of the engine 24. As shown in FIG. 4, the ramp is an inclined plane having a front portion 71 and a rear portion 72 formed integral with the front portion 71. In an embodiment, the front portion 71 is at a lower elevation than the rear portion 72. The front portion 71 and the rear portion 72 of the ramp 70 define a runway 73 which directs the incoming air from the vehicle front direction. The runway 73 connects the front portion 71 with the rear portion 72.

[00026] FIGs. 4-6 show a first embodiment of the ramp 70 wherein the ramp 71 is removably attachable to the body cover 60. The ramp 70 is supported on the bottom cover 60 and connected to the floorboard 12. Since the ramp 70 is detachable, it is necessary to keep it stable during the vehicle operation so that it does not move within the housing space 15. Therefore the bottom cover 60 further comprises of an elevated rib 65 formed on the same side of the lower pipe 55 where the ramp 70 is disposed. A lower surface of the ramp 70 is provided with at least two reliefs 74 spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. In an embodiment, the reliefs are in the form of a groove. In a preferred embodiment, one relief is provided in the front portion 71 and one other relief is provided in the rear portion 72 of the ramp towards their lower surfaces. The at least two reliefs 74 locate the ramp 70 on the elevated rib 65 in a manner that a substantial portion of the elevated rib 65 is received within the reliefs 74. The ramp 70 is thus located on the bottom cover 60 at least at two points on the elevated rib 65. The elevated rib 65 which runs along the longitudinal axis of the bottom cover is further elevated and upwardly curved anterior to the front portion 71 of the ramp and posterior to the rear portion 72 of the ramp. Thus, the reliefs 74 and the elevated rib 65 together contain the lateral and longitudinal movement of the ramp 70. Hence, during vehicle movement, the ramp is unlikely to move forward from its position.

[00027] The ramp 70 is also connected to the floorboard 12. The ramp 70 further comprises of a plurality of lockable projections 75 provided along the edge portions of the runway 73 through which the ramp is snap fitted to a lower surface 11 of the floorboard 12. In an embodiment, the ramp 70 is snapfitted to the lower surface 11 of the floorboard through the lockable projections 75. The lower surface 11 comprises corresponding ribs 13 to which the lockable projections 75 are locked. This is depicted in exploded view of the lower portion of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the reliefs 74 locate the ramp 70 on the bottom cover 60 whereas the lockable projections 75 attach it to the floorboard 12. During vehicle movement, the ramp is unlikely to move forward from its position as the longitudinal projection 65 is upwardly curved thereby restricting the movement of the ramp 70.

[00028] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the ramp 70 wherein the ramp 70 is integrally formed and enmoulded with the bottom cover 60. The second embodiment of the ramp 70 removes the need for separately attaching the ramp to the floorboard. It also removes the need to provide elevated ribs on the bottom cover 60 as the ramp 70 is already fixedly located on the bottom cover 60.

[00029] FIGs. 8 - 9(b) show the working of the ramp 70 for both the embodiments. The ramp 70, due to its inclined plane structure, forms an obtuse angle with respect to the vehicle forward direction and an acute angle with respect to the bottom cover 60. As the vehicle moves forward, the air louvers 5 in the front mud guard 4 of the vehicle 1 receive and channel the incoming air from the vehicle front direction towards the housing space 15 through the down pipe 54. The incoming air strikes the front portion 71 of the ramp 70 and follows the runway 73 thereby reaching the rear portion 72 which then directs it toward the front portion of the engine including the cylinder head 28. The provision of ramp 70 thus removes the possibility of incoming air being diffused in undesirable directions. Since the air follows the runway 73, it does not encounter the lower frame members and the electrical components housed within the housing space 15, and consequently is not diffused before reaching the cylinder head 28. Thus the front portion of the engine 24, including the cylinder hear 28, is optimally cooled as a major portion of the incoming air is not diffused due to detractions and hence is available for engine cooling.

[00030] For optimal cooling, the acute angle formed between the ramp 70 and the bottom cover 60 is in the range between 10 to 50 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the acute angle is in the range between 13 to 40 degrees. When the air from the housing space 15 is redirected to the front portion of the engine at this angle, the engine is optimally cooled. In an embodiment, the acute angle is optimisable based on the location and orientation of the front portion of the engine.

[00031] Further, in an embodiment, the bottom cover 60 and ramp 70 are made of polymer or plastic resin. In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle 1, atleast one ramp 70 is present on each lateral side of the lower pipe 55. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, at least two ramps are present in the housing space 15, one each on either side of the lower pipe 55, so that the volume of air directed toward the cylinder head 28 is more.

[00032] From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention offers many advantages including those described above. Unlike the prior art, the bottom cover acts as a structural member as well as aids in better air cooling of the front portion of the engine. The construction of bottom cover for better airflow to the cylinder head influences the engine cooling heavily. The front portion of the engine is optimally cooled and the housing space between the bottom cover and the floorboard is optimally used without the need for additional space to house the ramp.

[00033] The present subject matter is thus described. The description is not intended to be exhaustive nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified in light of the above description. The embodiments described are chosen to provide an illustration of principles of the invention and its practical application to enable thereby one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore the forgoing description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that described in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A saddle type vehicle (1) comprising:
a swinging forwardly titled internal combustion engine (24) wherein a front portion of the engine is located within an enclosed space formed at least by a left side cover (41), a right side cover, an underseat cover (21), a left side trim member (14), a right side trim member and an article storage device (23); and, a bottom cover (60) covering a lower portion of the vehicle frame from the bottom; characterised in that, the bottom cover (60) further comprises a ramp (70) housed within a housing space (15) formed between a floorboard (12) and the bottom cover (60), the ramp (70) disposed on either side of a lower pipe (55) of the vehicle frame and supported on the bottom cover (60),wherein the ramp (70) directs incoming air from a vehicle front direction towards the front portion of the engine (24) including a cylinder head (28).

2. The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ramp (70) is
an inclined plane having a front portion (71), a rear portion (72) formed integral with the front portion (71) and a runway (73), wherein the front
portion (71) is at a lower elevation than the rear portion (72).

The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ramp (70) is removably attachable.
The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a lower surface of the ramp (70) is provided with at least two reliefs (74) spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis.
The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bottom cover (60) comprises of an elevated rib (65) formed on the same side of the lower pipe (55) where the ramp (70) is disposed, on which the at least two reliefs (74) locate the ramp (70) on the bottom cover (60).

The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elevated rib (65) runs along a longitudinal axis of the bottom cover (60).

The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ramp (70) further comprises of a plurality of lockable projections (75) provided along the edge portions of the runway (73) through which the ramp is snap fitted to a lower surface (11) of the floorboard (12).

The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ramp (70) is integrally formed and enmoulded with the bottom cover (60).

The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the incoming air is directed into the housing space (15) towards the ramp (70) through a plurality of air louvers (5) in a front mud guard (4) of the vehicle (1).

10. The saddle type vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the angle formed between the ramp (70) and the bottom cover (60) is in the range between 10 to 50 degrees.