Motorcycle with lowered center of gravity

• US 20060090945A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishida, Yousuke, Oishi, Akifumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/230
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/06 the frame being of single-beam type
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters

Abstract

A motorcycle has a frame and a power unit. The frame comprises a main frame member extending rearward from a steering head pipe. The power unit comprises a drive source, power transmission devices attached to the output end of the drive source, and a casing that houses the power transmission devices and that is suspended from the main frame member. The casing of the power unit comprises a recess opening toward the main frame member. A boss is formed on the bottom of the recess and is suspended from the main frame member.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising a steering head pipe, a main frame member extending rearward from the steering head pipe, a power unit comprising a drive source and a power transmission device attached to the output end of the drive source, the power transmission device being positioned within a casing, the casing comprising a recess that opens toward the main frame member, a boss being formed on the base of the recess, the boss being suspended from the main frame member such that the power unit is suspended from the main frame member.

2. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein a bracket depends downward from the main frame member, the bracket having a lower end that is connected to the boss and the joint between the lower end of the bracket and the boss being located in the recess.

3. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the power transmission device comprises a centrifugal clutch, the power transmission device also comprises a gear train that is located at the output end of the centrifugal clutch, the centrifugal clutch having a diameter greater than that of the gear train and the recess being formed at a position offset from the centrifugal clutch.

4. The motorcycle of claim 3, wherein the casing comprises a first case block and a second case block, the gear train being positioned generally within the first case block and the centrifugal clutch being positioned generally within the second case block, the first and the second case block being joined along a generally longitudinal connection and the boss being provided on the first case block.

5. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the drive source comprises an engine having a crankcase, the crankcase housing a crankshaft, a cylinder extending generally forward from a forward end of the crankcase, and the casing being positioned generally rearward of the crankcase and integrated with the crankcase.

6. The motorcycle of claim 5, wherein the main frame member is inclined generally downward as it extends rearward from the steering head pipe and the base of the recess being inclined generally downward as it extends toward the rear of the casing.

7. A motorcycle comprising a frame comprising a steering head pipe and a main frame member extending rearward from the steering head pipe, a power unit being suspended from the main frame member of the frame, the power unit comprising a drive source, the drive source comprising a casing, a continuously variable transmission being attached to the casing of the drive source and comprising a portion that extends upward to a location generally vertically higher than the casing, the casing comprising a boss that is suspended from the main frame member, the boss being disposed on an upper portion of the casing and the boss being provided in such a position that it overlaps an upper portion of the continuously variable transmission when the power unit is viewed from a side.

8. The motorcycle of claim 7, wherein the continuously variable transmission comprises a primary sheave that can be driven by the drive source, a secondary sheave that is operatively connected to a power transmission device housed in the casing, a belt that connects the primary sheave to the secondary sheave, the primary sheave, the secondary sheave and the belt being positioned within a CVT case, the CVT case comprising an upper portion that extends farther upward than the casing, the upper portion of the CVT case being generally aligned with the boss in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

9. The motorcycle of claim 8, wherein the drive source comprises an engine, the engine comprising a crankcase, a crankshaft being positioned within the crankcase, a cylinder extending forward of a forward end of the crankcase, and the casing being located behind the crankcase and being integrated with the crankcase.

10. The motorcycle of claim 9, wherein the continuously variable transmission extends in the longitudinal direction of the power unit along one side of the crankcase and one side of the case, and the cylinder of the engine comprises an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the power unit and offset toward the continuously variable transmission from the longitudinal center line of the frame.

11. The motorcycle of claim 8, wherein the power transmission device comprises a centrifugal clutch that receives torque from the secondary sheave, the centrifugal clutch and the secondary sheave being generally aligned in a vehicle width direction, and the boss being provided in a position that does not interfere with the centrifugal clutch and the secondary sheave.

12. The motorcycle of claim 7, wherein a bracket depends from the main frame member, the bracket comprising a lower end that is connected to the boss, and the joint between the boss and the bracket overlapping the continuously variable transmission when the power unit is viewed from one side.

13. The motorcycle of claim 7, wherein the main frame member inclines downward as it extends rearward from the steering head pipe, the upper portion of the case inclining downward as it extends rearward and the boss being located at a rear portion of the case.