TECHNICAL FIELD *
[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a vehicle. More
particularly but not exclusively the present subject matter relates to a stiffener plate mounting structure in a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Under developed nations, generally, have surplus population Therefore, owning a vehicle in such nations is considered to be a commodity of luxury. Since the population is rising at an alarming rate the demand for transport network and public transport is also rising simultaneously.
[0003] Two-wheeler, in such nations is an affordable mode of public transportation. In fact many people are increasingly switching from other modes of transportation to two-wheelers. With the kind of given infrastructure in under developed nations, travelling is not easy on unmaintained roads because of lack of infrastructure. Therefore, travelling on two-wheeler is much more convenient that travelling in a four wheeler.
[0004] On the basis of the type of two-wheeler has been bifurcated into two broad segments, namely, motorcycle and scooter. Motorcycle segment dominates over the scooter. Motorcycles have several advantages such as quicker acceleration, large fuel tank, easy maintenance, better engine capacity etc. Also, the motorcycles cater to the booming population's requirement to commute from one place to another place in a cheaper cost. Hence, the reason motorcycles are used for public transportation to carry multiple people, luggage and load.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of the exemplary two-wheeled vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. [0006] Figure 2 illustrates perspective side view of the frame structure which incorporating the present subject matter.

[0007] Figure 3 illustrates the enlarged portion of the area where the present subject
matter is mounted on the engine mounting bracket.
[0008] Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0009] Figure 5 illustrates shows the different shapes of the present subject matter
displayed in juxtaposed.
[00010] Figure 6 illustrates the front facing side of the present subject matter.
[00011] Figure 7 illustrates the back facing side of the present subject matter.
[00012] Figure 8 illustrates the sectional view of the sandwiched stiffener plate.
[00013] Figure 9 illustrates the sectional view of the sandwiched engine mounting
bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00014] Conventionally, Motorcycles primarily used as taxi in many
underdeveloped economies & markets to carry people and good around from one place to another. The vehicles under goes through severe test of endurance as the roads comprises typically of mud and hilly terrains with abundance of bumps and potholes.
[00015] The driver commutes by picking plurality of passengers along with
their carriage, weighing around 250 to 300 kilograms, approximately, and rides at at medium to high speed at the speed of 45 to 50 kilometers per hour. The driver has to increase the speed to complete more number of trips per day on bad conditioned roads which causes faster damages as compared to vehicles used on good road with fewer loads. Also, the heavy load duty cycle experienced by the vehicle & its components increases adversely & rapidly. From a manufacturers point of view, there exists as challenge of reducing variety of vehicle models catering to different market segments & regions. Making an exclusive design for such usage tends to increase the manufacturing cost as well as complexity in manufacturing & assembly which is undesirable. There is a need to have a solution which can be easily implemented in a standard vehicle with minimum changes to enable ease of manufacturing, reduced variety & cost effectiveness.

[00016] During riding condition when the vehicle undergoes bumps and pot
holes the passengers sitting at the back with load, generally, raises the body from
the seat or put the load pressure on the foot peg to avoid the shocks during such
events.
[00017] The vehicle carrying multiple pillion passengers with additional load
puts vertical force on the foot peg in the downward direction which creates stress •
at the points where the foot rest and the engines mounting brackets are connected.
Already the connecting points of the engine mounting bracket and the foot rest
assembly gets downward pressure due to mounting of the engine; additional load
with higher frequency causes more pressure on the connected portion of the engine
mounting bracket with the foot rest assembly.
[00018] The result of the additional load occurring at the rider footrest
mounting area, the load gets transferred to the engine mounting bracket making the
section weak and a result the engine mounting bracket can potentially get cut open
severely hampering the operability of the vehicle in addition to safety risk & loss
of revenue for the driver / owner.
[00019] The mounting area in the engine mounting bracket are generally
either thickened compromising on the weight / cost or provided with a washer but
the load pressure does not gets distributed evenly throughout the engine mounting
bracket and the foot rest assembly (if foot rest assembly is affixed onto the engine
mounting bracket) but the load pressure remains localized around the mounting
area. Hence, there is a need to provide an improved footrest structure for a vehicle
which overcomes all the above challenges & other problems in known art.
[00020] the present subject matter provides a stiffener plate which is
configured so as to prevent the damage done to the engine mounting bracket due to
additional load.
[00021] In another embodiment of the present subject matter configures a
stiffener plate which is sandwiched between the engine mounting bracket and the
foot rest plate to increase the stiffness of the engine mounting bracket.
[00022] In another embodiment of the present subject matter provides engine
mounting bracket sandwiched between the stiffener plate and the foot rest plate.

[00023] In yet another embodiment the present subject matter a stiffener
plate is configured which reduces the vertical loading and cracking when the passenger sitting behind the rider stands on the foot peg during bumpy ride by distributing load pressure evenly throughout the area of contact between the stiffener plate and the engine mounting bracket.
[00024] In another embodiment of the present subject matter the stiffener
plates are symmetrical in size and shape for ease in mounting on either left arm of the engine mounting bracket or the right arm of the engine mounting bracket. The stiffener plate is provided with mounting means to mount the foot rest assembly. The mounting means on the stiffener plate are of different diameter therefore the stiffener plate also functions as a poke yoke.
[00025] In another embodiment of the present subject matter eliminates the
necessity of increasing the thickness of the engine mounting bracket through process like forging as increasing thickness through other means causes uneven thickness and hence uneven load sharing. Also the present subject matter is easy to manufacture and cheaper as compared to other process.
[00026] Fig. 1 shows the side view of the exemplary two-wheeled vehicle
(1). The said two-wheeled vehicle (1) is provided with head light assembly (102) and immediately above the head light assembly (102) is a visor (101) provided to protect the instrument cluster (104) from external factors like wind, water, dust. The instrument cluster (104) displays several parameters of the two-wheeled vehicle (1) for example fuel level, state of charge of the battery, speed of the two-wheeled vehicle and several other parameters. The instrument cluster (104) is securely placed between the handle bar (105) and the visor (101) immediately behind the head light assembly (102). The handle bar (105) is fixedly attached to the head tube (113) and the suspension front fork assembly (not shown) is mounted on the wheel hub of the wheel (24). Side cowl (107) protects the delicate components like printed circuit board and other wire harness and circuits which may get damaged due to mud splashes or other factors like dirt and direct contact with moisture and air. Along with protection purpose, side cowl (107) is also meant for aesthetics.

Immediately above the side cowl (107) and between rider seat (108) and handle bar (105) a fuel tank (106) is located. Behind the rider seat (108), a pillion rider seat (110) is provided. To provide protection from shock during driving, rear shock absorber (not shown) is fixed below the fuel tank (106) and mounted on swing arm (not shown).
[00027] The rear shock absorber comprises a coil over spring which is
wrapped over and above the cylinder. The spring coil wrapped around the cylinder of the rear shock absorber which moves upwards and gets compressed while any kind of shock due to bumpy ride is encountered and the shock energy gets transferred to the spring. Tail lamp assembly (112) is provided behind the pillion rider seat (110) and immediately below the tail lamp assembly (112) a mud guard assembly (111) is provided which protects the pillion rider and the tail lamp assembly (112) from the mud splashes during driving the vehicle (1) on the roads with water and mud. The vehicle (1) is also provided with foot rest (120) and a foot peg (121) for the pillion rider to keep the foot in order to sit comfortably and avoiding hanging of the foot freely in the air. For the rider as well a foot peg (119) is provided which is fixedly attached with an ankle guard (not visible in the figure) to prevent the rider's foot to slip and to provide stability to the foot while driving. The vehicle (1) is essentially a two-wheeled vehicle.
[00028] Fig. 2 illustrates a frame structure of the vehicle (1). The main frame
(222) comprising a head tube (205) where the steering assembly is mounted. The head tube (205) is fixedly attached to a body tube (207) on the top portion. The lower portion of the head tube (205) is fixedly attached to a down tube (208). The head tube (205) gets support by a supporting plate (218) and the supporting plate (218) is provided in a triangular space created between the head tube (205), body tube (207) and the down tube (207) are fixedly attached.
[00029] A pair of upper tube (201) comprises a left upper tube (201a) and
right upper tube (201b) which are provided below the seat rail to provide sufficient support structure for the rider seat and the pillion rider load. The rear end of the left

upper tube (201a) and right upper tube (20lb) is terminated by a pillion handle bracket (215). The pillion handle bracket (215) is fixedly attached to the rear ends of the left upper tube (201a) and right upper tube (201b) in order to mount a pillion handle to provide a supporting mechanism to the pillion rider during riding conditions. In order to keep the left upper tube (201a) and right upper tube (201b) intact and to provide stability during jerks and vibrations, the two ends of a bridge intermediate bracket (214) provides required stability by securely attaching permanently in a perpendicular direction with left upper tube (201a) and right upper tube (201b).
[00030] A bridge tube (209) is provided between the body rube (207) and the
down tube (208) to provide additional support to the frame structure of the vehicle (1). Further, a pair of cover frame tube (202a, 202b) extending from both left side upper tube (201a) and right side upper tube (201b) towards downside, in the direction of body tube (207).
[00031] Further, an engine mounting bracket (204) which securely mounts
the engine of the vehicle (1) between body tube (207) and the down tube (208) is fixedly attached at one end of the body tube (207). The other end of the body tube (207) is fixedly attached to the head tube (205) of the vehicle (1).
[00032] The engine mounting bracket (204) is branched into two arms, left
arm (204a) and right arm (204b). The left arm (204a) is fixedly attached onto the tapered end of the left upper tube (201a) and the right arm (204b) is fixedly attached onto the tapered end of the right upper tube (201b). A footrest assembly (217) comprising a pair of foot rest plate (206a, 206b) which is removably affixed on to the engine mounting bracket (204) using fastening means such that the engine mounting bracket (204) along with each of the pair of foot rest plate (206a, 206b) forms a sandwich like structure with the stiffener plates (200). There is one stiffener plate (200) each for the left arm (204a) and right arm (204b).
[00033] The pair of foot rest plate (206a, 206b) connects with the foot peg
(216) to take the load of the rider who at certain occasion stands during bumps or

jerks. The load on the foot peg (216) gets transferred to the area where the pair of foot rest plate (206a, 206b) and the engine mounting bracket (204) are affixed. The engine mounting bracket (204) gets additional load of rider along with the load of the engine mounted on to it.
[00034] Pair of auxiliary add-on Stiffener plates (200) is configured in two
orders. In first order one out of the pair of stiffener plate (200) is sandwiched between the left arm (204a) and the left side foot rest plate (206a) on left side of the vehicle (1). Second of the pair of stiffener plate (200) is sandwiched between the right arm (204b) of the engine mounting bracket (204) and the right side foot rest plate (206b) of the vehicle (1). Each of the pair of stiffener plate (200) is sandwiched between each of the arms of the engine mounting bracket (204) and the foot rest plate (206). The each of the pair of stiffener plate (200) is affixed on to each arm of the engine mounting bracket (204).
[00035] Similarly, in second order, each arm of the engine mounting bracket
(204) is sandwiched between one of the pair of stiffener plate (200) and one of the foot rest pate (206) such that every time the pair of stiffener plate (200) is in contact with the arms of the engine mounting bracket (204).
[00036] Fig. 3 illustrates the enlarged portion of the area where the pair of
stiffener plate (200) is fixedly attached with the engine mounting bracket (204). The pair of stiffener plate (200) is provided with two mounting holes, first mounting hole (301) and second mounting hole (302) which over laps the holes provided on the engine mounting bracket (204). The foot rest plate (206) and the pair of stiffener plates (200) are permanently affixed on the arms of the engine mounting bracket (204). The pair of stiffener plates (200) is affixed in such a way that the engine mounting bracket (204) with pair of stiffener plate (200), together, gives the appearance of a single unit. Engine mounting bracket (204) and pair of stiffener plate (200), combined, increases the thickness in the area where engine and the foot rest assembly (217) is mounted in order to reduce the vertical downward load which prevents the engine mountain bracket (204) to crack up. The pair of stiffener plate

(200) evenly distributes the vertical load and the sheer pressure and thus preventing the possible damage of the engine mountain bracket (204).
[00037] The pair of holes provided on the left arm (204a) and right arm
(204b) overlaps the first mounting hole (301) and second mounting hole (302) such that after affixing the pair of stiffener plate (200) on both left arm (204a) and right arm (204b) an engine is mounted on the first mounting hole (301) and the foot rest assembly (217) is mounted on the second mounting hole (302) hence the weight of the engine as well as the weight experienced by the foot rest assembly (217) is supported by the engine mountain bracket (204) along with the pair of stiffener plate (200). Thus, as per an aspect of the present subject matter the auxiliary add¬on stiffener plate configured to be disposed in the region of the engine & footrest mounting high stress region to strengthen the load capacity of the vehicle structure while achieving a compact layout of a vehicle & overcoming problems from known art. The design makes a vehicle & its frame structure scalable for different usage conditions / markets with minimum modifications.
[00038] Fig. 4 provides another design of the pair of stiffener plate (200)
serving the same purpose of providing strength to the engine mounting bracket (204) and to prevent engine mounting bracket (204) cracking because of the increased load and also to distribute the additional load put on the foot peg (216) of the foot rest assembly (217) by the rider. In this additional embodiment, the pair of stiffener plate (200) is of angular or L-shape. Where the two arms of the pair of stiffener plate (200) are perpendicular to each other. Upper arm (401) and lower arm (401) are forming angle (a) at 90 degrees. The upper arm (401) provides stiffness to the engine mounting bracket (204) in vertical direction whereas the lower arm (402) provides additional support to both engine mounting bracket (204) and the foot rest assembly (217). The lower arm (401) is also used for center stand mounting purpose and thereby removing the requirement of additional parts like washer required for center stand mounting. The L-shape structure further increases the surface area to distribute the load pressure even more.

[00039] Fig. 5 shows the pair of auxiliary add-on stiffener plate (200) of two
different shapes. One is an L-shaped stiffener plate and another is a straight shaped stiffener plate without any bent or any angle but both the structures serving the same purpose of providing support to the engine mounting bracket (204).
[00040] Fig. 6 illustrates the front side of one of the pair of stiffener plate
(200). The font side of one of the pair of stiffener plate (200) which faces away from the engine mounting bracket (204) is provided with plurality of circular depressions. Upper circular depressions (601,602,603) are provided in close proximity to the first mounting hole (301) in triangular pattern and the lower circular depressions (604,605,606) are provided immediately above the second mounting hole (302) in triangular pattern. The lower circular depressions (604,605,606) are provided away from the second mounting (302) hole when compared with the upper circular depressions (601,602,603) which are provided in close proximity to the first mounting hole (301) in order to allow ease in welding process without causing any obstruction due to the already present fastener in the engine mounting bracket (204). The pair of stiffener plate (200) are welded onto the engine mounting bracket (204) through the process of spot welding.
[00041] Fig. 7 illustrates the back side view of one of the pair of stiffener
plate (200) which is fixedly attached onto the engine mounting bracket (204). The back side of the pair of stiffener plate.(200) is provided with weld projections. The weld projections are provided exactly below the circular depressions but on the reverse side face of said pair of stiffener plate (200). The weld projections on the pair of stiffener plate (200) are positioned in a pre-defined manner such that weld projections optimizes the strength and also at the same time provides accessibility to perform welding operation. The number of the weld projections are predefined and evenly located on the pair of stiffener plate (200) in such a manner that weld projections avoid interfering with any fixed or temporary fasteners mounted on the engine mounting bracket (204). Upper weld projections (701,702,703) surrounds the first mounting hole (301) and the rest lower weld projections (704,705,706) are provided immediately above the second mounting hole (302) such that the upper :FICE CHEN WAT 29/B^/>iVt9 14= OR

weld projections (701,702,703) are provided exactly below the upper circular depressions (601,602,603) on the reverse side and the lower weld projections (704,705,706) are provided exactly below the lower circular depressions (604,605,606) on the reverse side of each of the pair of stiffener plates (200).
[00042] Each of the pair of stiffener plate (200) are of symmetrical profile
which allows easy fusion with the arms of the engine mounting bracket (204) therefore, each of the pair of stiffener plates (200) for left hand side of the vehicle (1) as well as right hand side of the vehicle (I) has the same symmetrical profile which enables easy process of affixing the engine mounting bracket (204) with the pair of stiffener plate (200).The symmetrical profile of the pair of stiffener plate (200) also makes it easy to locate ,align and affix onto the engine mounting bracket (204) without the cause of any human error. The predetermined located weld projections on the pair of stiffener plate (200) reduces amount of power consumption to affix the pair of stiffener plate (200) with the engine mounting bracket (204). As per an embodiment, the mounting holes, first mounting hole (301) and second mounting hole (302) are of varying diameter with first mounting hole (301) having the diameter in the range of 7 to 11 mm whereas the second mounting hole (302) has the diameter in the range of 9 to 11mm respectively. The difference in the size of the diameter of the first mounting hole (301) and second mounting hole (302) makes a user easier to identify while affixing the pair of stiffener plate (200) on the engine mounting bracket (204) and hence the pair of stiffener plate (200) works as poke yoke.
[00043] Each weld projection on the pair of stiffener plate (200) has a
predetermined diameter in the range of 2mm to 3mm which allows the weld projections to penetrate during weld diffusion without causing any welding bum.
[00044] Fig. 8 illustrated one of the embodiments of the present subject
matter where the position of the each of the pair of stiffener plate (200) is between the engine mounting bracket (204) and the foot rest plate (206). The pair of stiffener

right arm of the engine mounting bracket (204). The foot rest plate (206) is affixed on the each of the pair of stiffener plate (200) such that foot rest plate (206) is the outermost layer. The affixation of the pair of stiffener plate (200) directly on the engine mounting bracket (204) provides additional strength to the engine mounting bracket (204). The vertical pressure falling on the engine mounting bracket (204) through the foot peg (216) gets distributed evenly all over the surface of the stiffener plate (206).The pair of stiffener plate (200), after it is affixed on engine mountain bracket (204), increases the affective thickness of the engine mounting bracket (204) along with the stiffener plate (200) in order to with stand the additional pressure created by the load like multiple pillion rider.
[00045] The weld projections provided on each of the pair of stiffener plate
(200) diffuses into the engine mounting bracket (204) in order to increase the strength of the engine mounting bracket (204). From outside, the configuration is in such a manner-first position is of the foot rest plate, second is the stiffener plate and third is the engine mounting bracket. A rider foot rest bar (800) which is connecting both the foot rest plate (206a, 206b) on left hand side and right hand side of the vehicle (1) transfers the load pressure to Lhe engine mounting bracket (204). The affixed pair of stiffener plate (200) reduces the pressure and distributes throughout the pair of stiffener plate (200) area. The holes on engine mounting bracket (204) immediately below the first mounting hole (301) and second mounting hole (302) due to the presence of pair of stiffener plate (200) experience reduced amount of pressure which reduces the wear and tear around the area of first mounting hole (301) and second mounting hole (302).
[00046] Fig. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the present subject matter
where the position of the stiffener is altered. The stiffener plate is affixed on the engine mounting bracket (204) but the location of the stiffener plates (206a, 206b) are changed from second position to third position. From outside, the first position is of the foot rest plate, second position is that of the engine mounting bracket and third and the last one is stiffener plate. The engine mounting bracket (204) is Fs£dwicrred b^tweenlne Mfener r?la?es'(2bo) aria ?oot rest places (20o\ 206b). In

fig. 8 and fig.9 the position of the foot rest plates (206 a, 206 b) remains unchanged .Only the position of the engine mounting bracket (204) and the pair of stiffener plate (200) changes such that the engine mounting bracket (204) and stiffener plates (206a, 206b) remain together in order to affix each of the pair of stiffener plate (200) on to the engine mounting bracket (204).
[00047] Arrows provided in the top right comer of each figure depicts
direction with respect to the two-wheeled vehicle, wherein an arrow F denotes front direction, an arrow R indicated Rear direction, T denotes top, D denotes down, I denote inside and O denotes outside direction as and where applicable. Improvements and modifications may be incorporated herein without deviating from the scope of the invention
[00048] 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.

1. A vehicle (1), said vehicle (1) comprising:
a mainframe (222), said mainframe (222) comprising a pair of upper tubes
(201), said pair of upper tubes (201) comprising a left upper tube (201a) and
a right upper tube (201b), said left upper tube (201a) and said right upper
tube (201b) runs parallel and extends from the rear end of said vehicle (1)
and converges towards a body tube (207), said left upper tube (201a) and
said left upper tube (201b) fixedly attached to said body tube (207);
a plurality of cover frame tubes(202a,202b) extending downwardly parallel
from said left upper tube (201a) and said right upper tube (201b);
an engine mounting bracket (204) comprising a left arm (204a) and a right
arm (204b), said left arm (204a) and said right arm (204b) fixedly attached
to tapered ends of said plurality of cover frame tubes (202a,202b) and said
body tube (207); and
a foot rest assembly (217), said foot rest assembly (217) removably attached
to said engine mounting bracket (204) through attaching means;
a pair of auxiliary add-on stiffener plates (200) provided with a first
mounting hole (301) and a second mounting hole (302), said first mounting
hole (301) is capable of mounting an engine, said second mounting hole
(302) is capable of mounting said foot rest assembly (217);
wherein
said pair of stiffener plates (200) fixedly attached to said right arm (204b)
and said left arm (204a) of said engine mounting bracket (204) in a first
order and a second order.
2. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said first order said
stiffener plate (200) is sandwiched between said engine mounting bracket
(204) and said foot rest plates (206a,206b).

3. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said second order said engine mounting bracket (204) is sandwiched between said pair of stiffener plates (200) and foot rest plates (206a,206b).
4. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of stiffener plate (200) is provided with said first mounting hole (301) with a diameter in the range from 7mm to 11mm and said second mounting hole (302) with a diameter in the range from 9mm to 11mm
5. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more weld projections are provided immediately below a plurality of circular depressions and on said pair of stiffener plates (200).
6. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary add-on stiffener plate configured to be disposed in a region of the engine and said footrest mounting high stress region to strengthen the load capacity of the vehicle structure.
7. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of stiffener plates (200) are of either an L-shaped or a straight shape.