Air duct device for a motorcycle

• US 5,012,883 A
• Filed: 03/17/1989
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1988
• 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: Hiramatsu, Kinuo
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/325,167
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 280/281.1, 280/283, 280/274, 180/219, 180/225
• US Class Current: 180/225
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/10 Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels

Abstract

An air intake structure for a motorcycle includes a pair of hollow laterally spaced frames extending from a headpipe to a rear portion of the motorcycle, a hollow cross member connecting the frames together at an intermediate portion thereof, wherein the hollow interior of the cross member communicates with the hollow interiors of the frames. Intake openings are provided at a front portion of the frames for feeding air into the frames, while an exhaust opening is formed on the bottom of the cross member for exhausting air downward to the engine air intakes. A fuel tank cover is provided to cover a flexible fuel tank disposed between the laterally spaced hollow frames. The fuel tank cover includes a hollow fairing stay formed integrally therewith for supporting a motorcycle fairing, wherein the hollow fairing stay forms an air duct for directing air from an air inlet in the fairing to the intake openings of the frame.

Claims

1. A frame for a motorcycle having a transverse in-line engine, comprising:

a headpipe for supporting a front wheel;

a pivot section for supporting a swing arm for a rear wheel;

a lower frame passing along sides of said engine and extending downwardly from said headpipe to said pivot section, said lower frame including a pair of laterally spaced frame sections, one on each side of said engine; and

an upper frame extending from said headpipe to an area near a front end of a motorcycle seat and passing over said engine, said upper frame including a pair of laterally spaced frame sections, corresponding to said lower frame laterally spaced frame sections, wherein said upper and lower frames are connected together at rear end portion thereof;

wherein said upper and lower laterally spaced frame sections are joined together by a generally vertical right side plate on one side of said motorcycle and generally vertical left side plate on the other side of said motorcycle to form laterally spaced right and left frames extending outward from said head pipe, each having a hollow interior; and

a hollow cross-member connecting said right and left frames together at an intermediate portion thereof, wherein the hollow interior of said cross member communicates with the hollow interiors of said frames;

intake openings disposed on said right and left frames on portions thereof extending laterally beyond said headpipe, said portions located in front of said cross member, for feeding air into said right and left frames;

an exhaust opening formed on the bottom of said cross-member for exhausting said air downward.

2. The frame of claim 1, wherein said plates extend from the headpipe to the rear end portion of said upper frame.

3. The frame of claim 1, wherein said plates connect forward portions of said upper and lower frames.

4. The frame of claim 1, wherein said plates connect rear portions of said upper and lower frames.

5. A frame for a motorcycle having a transverse in-line engine, comprising:

a headpipe for supporting a front wheel;

a pivot section for supporting a swing arm for a rear wheel;

a lower frame passing along sides of said engine and extending downwardly from said headpipe to said pivot section, said lower frame including a pair of laterally spaced frame sections, one on each side of said engine; and

an upper frame extending from said headpipe to an area near a front end of a motorcycle seat and passing over said engine, said upper frame including a pair of laterally spaced frame sections, corresponding to said lower frame laterally spaced frame sections, wherein said upper and lower frames are connected together at rear end portions thereof, and

wherein said upper and lower laterally spaced frames sections are joined together by a generally vertical right side plate on one side of said motorcycle and a generally vertical left side plate on the other side of said motorcycle, wherein said plates extend from the headpipe to the rear end portion of the upper frame, and wherein each of said plates includes a removable plate at an intermediate portion thereof, said removable plates being positioned on both sides of an air chamber formed inside of said frame.

6. An air intake structure for a motorcycle, comprising:

a pair of hollow, laterally spaced right and left frames extending outward from a headpipe and to a rear portion of the motorcycle, such that portions of said right and left frames extend laterally beyond said headpipe;

a hollow cross-member connecting said frames together at an intermediate portion thereof, wherein the hollow interior of said cross member communicates with the hollow interiors of said frames;

intake openings disposed on said right and left frames on said portions thereof extending laterally beyond said portions located in front of said cross member, for feeding air into said frames;

an exhaust opening formed on the bottom of said cross-member for exhausting said air downward.

7. The air intake structure of claim 6, further including a plurality of exhaust openings formed on the bottom of said cross-member for exhausting air downward into an air chamber containing engine air intakes.

8. The air intake structure of claim 6, wherein said intake openings are formed on top of said frames.

9. The air intake structure of claim 6, wherein said intake openings are formed on the sides of said frames.

10. An air intake structure for a motorcycle, comprising:

a pair of hollow, laterally spaced frames extending from a headpipe to a rear portion of the motorcycle;

a hollow cross-member connecting said frames together at an intermediate portion thereof, wherein the hollow interior of said cross member communicates with the hollow interiors of said frames;

intake openings disposed at a front portion of said frames for feeding air into said frames;

a plurality of exhaust openings formed on the bottom of said cross-member for exhausting said air downward, into an air chamber containing engine air intakes; and

wherein said air chamber is formed between a front plate connected to a forward edge of the cross-member and extending downward at an angle inclined forwardly and a rear plate connected to a rear edge of the cross-member and extending downward therefrom.

11. The air intake structure of claim 10, further comprising a forward plate formed between said hollow frames at a position forward of said front plate.

12. The air intake structure of claim 11, further comprising means for conducting air from the front of the motorcycle, through said forward and front plates to said air chamber.

13. An air intake structure for a motorcycle, comprising:

a pair of hollow, laterally spaced frames extending from a headpipe to a rear portion of the motorcycle;

a hollow cross-member connecting said frames together at an intermediate portion thereof, wherein the hollow interior of said cross member communicates with the hollow interiors of said frames;

intake openings disposed at a front portion of said frames for feeding air into said frames;

an exhaust opening formed on the bottom of said cross-member for exhausting said air downward, and

a box member fixed between said frames and behind said cross-member for supporting a flexible fuel tank therein.

14. An air intake structure for a motorcycle, comprising:

a pair of hollow, laterally spaced frames extending from a headpipe to a rear portion of the motorcycle;

a hollow cross-member connecting said frames together at an intermediate portion thereof, wherein the hollow interior of said cross member communicates with the hollow interiors of said frames;

intake openings disposed at a front portion of said frames for feeding air into said frames;

an exhaust opening formed on the bottom of said cross-member for exhausting said air downward, and

a cover, covering said frames, said cover integrally including hollow fairing stays extending therefrom for supporting a motorcycle fairing, wherein said hollow fairing stays duct air from intake ports on said fairing to said intake openings on said frames.