Mounting structure for an air-fuel ratio sensor in a motorcycle, and exhaust subassembly including same

• US 20060064964A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Abe, Takeru, Kono, Tomoya, Yamazaki, Ryutaro, Uraki, Mamoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/276
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/42 characterised by mounting
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/008 Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/009 having two or more separate purifying devices arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/011 having two or more purifying devices arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/107 More than one exhaust manifold or exhaust collector
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2560/025 for measuring or detecting O2, e.g. lambda sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/086 Sensor arrangements in the exhaust, e.g. for temperature, misfire, air/fuel ratio, oxygen sensors

Abstract

A mounting structure is provided for an air-fuel ratio sensor on an exhaust pipe in a motorcycle in which a concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas can be detected efficiently and accurately by the air-fuel ratio sensor. The air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on a convergent connector of exhaust pipes, which, in turn, are operatively connected to the cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine. The air-fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of catalytic converters provided in the exhaust pipes, and may be mounted so as to be oriented substantially vertically when the motorcycle is in an upright configuration, or alternatively, may be inclined toward the rear of the motorcycle.

Claims

1. In a motorcycle of the type having a multi-cylinder engine and an exhaust system comprising a separate exhaust pipe extending from each respective cylinder of the engine, the improvement comprising improved mounting structure in said exhaust system for supportively receiving an air-fuel ratio sensor used for detecting the concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas of the motorcycle, wherein the exhaust pipes are joined together at a convergent connector, and wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the convergent connector of said exhaust pipes connected to the cylinders of said engine.

2. The mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said exhaust system comprises at least one catalytic converter operatively connected to a plurality of said exhaust pipes, and wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of said at least one catalytic converter.

3. The mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein said convergent connector comprises a connector body having an inclined surface, and wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of said convergent connector so as to be inclined toward the rear of said motorcycle.

4. The mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said convergent connector comprises a connector body having an inclined surface, and wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of said convergent connector so as to be inclined toward the rear of said motorcycle.

5. The mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the convergent connector comprises a tubular portion having a side wall with a hole formed therein;

wherein said mounting structure further comprises a reinforcing member attached to the side wall of the tubular portion, the reinforcing member comprising a cylindrical collar with a threaded hole formed therein; and

wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor has an end cap with male threads thereon which fit in the threaded hole of the cylindrical collar.

6. The mounting structure of claim 1, wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the exhaust pipe so as to be pointed substantially vertically upwardly when said motorcycle is oriented in an upright configuration.

7. In a motorcycle of the type having a multi-cylinder engine and an exhaust system comprising a separate exhaust pipe extending from each respective cylinder of the engine, the improvement comprising improved mounting structure in said exhaust system for supportively receiving an air-fuel ratio sensor used for detecting the concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas of the motorcycle,

the improvement comprising a mounting structure formed in said exhaust system for supportively receiving a plurality of air-fuel ratio sensors, wherein selected exhaust pipes are joined together at least two convergent connectors, and wherein an air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on each of said at least two convergent connectors, respectively.

8. The mounting structure of claim 7, wherein the at least two convergent connectors are operatively connected together downstream of the air-fuel ratio sensors, so as to form a single common convergent connector.

9. The mounting structure according to claim 7, wherein said exhaust system comprises at least one catalytic converter operatively connected to a plurality of said exhaust pipes, and wherein said air-fuel ratio sensors are located upstream of said at least one catalytic converter.

10. An exhaust subassembly for a motorcycle having a multi-cylinder engine, said exhaust subassembly comprising a separate exhaust pipe for placement extending from each respective cylinder of the engine, wherein the exhaust pipes are joined together at a convergent connector,

said exhaust system comprising improved mounting structure for supportively receiving an air-fuel ratio sensor used for detecting the concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas of the motorcycle, and wherein said improved mounting structure comprising a cylindrical collar provided on said convergent connector and having threads formed therein;

and

an air-fuel ratio sensor threadably attached to said cylindrical collar.

11. The exhaust subassembly of claim 10, further comprising at least one catalytic converter operatively connected to a plurality of said exhaust pipes, and wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of said at least one catalytic converter.

12. The exhaust subassembly of claim 10, wherein said convergent connector comprises a connector body having an inclined surface, and wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of said convergent connector so as to be inclined toward the rear of said motorcycle in an installed configuration of said subassembly.

13. The exhaust subassembly of claim 10, wherein the convergent connector comprises a tubular portion having a side wall with a hole formed therein;

wherein said mounting structure further comprises a reinforcing member attached to the side wall of the tubular portion, the cylindrical collar forming a part of said reinforcing member; and

wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor has an end cap with male threads thereon which fit in the threaded hole of the cylindrical collar.

14. The exhaust subassembly of claim 10, wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the exhaust pipe so as to be pointed substantially vertically upwardly when said motorcycle is oriented in an upright configuration.

15. The exhaust subassembly of claim 10, wherein the subassembly is configured for use with a two-cylinder engine.

16. The exhaust subassembly of claim 10, wherein the subassembly is configured for use with a four-cylinder engine.

17. The exhaust subassembly of claim 10, wherein the subassembly is configured for use with a six-cylinder engine.