Cooling air intake structure for small-sized vehicles

• US 4,793,293 A
• Filed: 03/04/1987
• Issued: 12/27/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Minami, Hidemi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelli, Raymond A.
• Application Number:
  US07/021,838
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 362/72, 123/41.7, 123/41.6, 123/41.61, 123/41.62, 280/289 S, 296/78.1
• US Class Current: 123/41.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/02 shielding only the rider's front
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/10 Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/06 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/20 for cooling F02M31/005 takes precedence; use of cold F02M17/52; cooling of charging-air or of scavenging-air F02B29/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10013 Means upstream of the air filter; Connection to the ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10124 Ducts with special cross-sections, e.g. non-circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10268 Heating, cooling or thermal insulating means air coolers F02B29/04; thermal treatment of combustion-air, fuel or fuel-air mixture F02M31/00; details of the throttle valve housing F02D9/1035
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/116 for engines with cylinders in V-arrangement or arranged oppositely relative to the main shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/162 Motorcycles; All-terrain vehicles, e.g. quads, snowmobiles; Small vehicles, e.g. forklifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

In a small-sized vehicle such as a motorcycle, a motor tricycle or the like in which a front portion of a vehicle body is covered by a vehicle body cover and a carburetor is disposed inside of the vehicle body cover, a cooling air intake port is formed on the front surface of the vehicle body cover, a cooling air duct adjoining to the cooling air intake port is extended backwards of the vehicle body for guiding running wind intaken through the cooling air intake port to the carburetor through the cooling air duct, and thereby the carburetor is cooled. A second cooling air duct serving to guide running wind intaken through the cooling air intake port to a radiator, could be provided integrally with the above-mentioned cooling air duct.

Claims

1. A cooling air intake structure for a small-sized vehicle in which a front portion of a vehicle body is covered by a vehicle body cover and a carburetor is disposed behind said vehicle body cover;

comprising a cooling air intake port formed on the front surface of said vehicle body cover at a side portion thereof, and a separate cooling air duct adjoining to said cooling air intake port and extending backwards of the vehicle body for guiding running wind entering into the cooling air duct towards the carburetor.

2. A cooling air intake structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the carburetor is disposed in a space portion between cylinders arranged in a V-shape in a V-type engine.

3. A cooling air intake structure as claimed in claim 1, in which a louver for directing the running wind within said cooling air duct towards said carburetor is provided at the rear end of said cooling air duct, and said louver is disposed in a nearly triangular space portion surrounded by a main pipe and a down tube connected to a head pipe in a front portion of the vehicle body and reinforcing member which connects said main pipe and said down tube with each other at their front portions.

4. A cooling air intake structure as claimed in claim 3, in which a membrane wall made of flexible material is provided between the lower side of said louver and the lower side of said carburetor.

5. A cooling air intake structure as claimed in claim 1, in which a second cooling air duct for guiding running wind to a radiator disposed in front of down tubes extending obliquely downwards from a head pipe in a front portion of the vehicle body, is formed integrally with said cooling air duct.

6. A cooling air intake structure as claimed in claim 1, in which said carburetor is disposed between left and right frame members of the vehicle body and the running wind entering into said cooling air duct is directed towards said carburetor through an opening provided in said frame member.

7. A cooling air intake structure as claimed in claim 6, in which both ends of said cooling air duct are detachably connected to said cooling air intake port and said opening respectively.

8. A cooling air intake structure as claimed in claim 1, in which an air cleaner is disposed adjacent to said carburetor and the running wind entering into said cooling air duct is further directed towards said air cleaner for cooling thereof.

9. A cooling air intake structure according to claim 1 in which said cooling air duct is longitudinally curved intermediate its ends whereby liquid entrained in the cooling air is inertially separated therefrom.