Vehicle body frame for motorcycle and it fabrication method

• US 6,416,072 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1998
• 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: Mochizuki, Shinsuke, Nakagawa, Masahiko, Koya, Eitarou
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/371,509
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 280/281.1, 280/274, 294/60, 298/972, 294/58, 29/907
• US Class Current: 280/281.1
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/86 other parts for bicycles or motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/12 having cast members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49616 Structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49888 Subsequently coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49984 and casting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting

Abstract

To adopt die cast products as parts of a vehicle body frame. A vehicle body frame is provided with an alumite treating, showing that brightness and appearance of pivot plates which are die cast products differ from those of non-die cast products, head pipes, longitudinal pipes and cross pipe. By carrying out a local coating treatment on the pivot plates, the pivot plates are provided with a color the same as that of the head pipe, the longitudinal pipes and the cross pipe. By making die cast products portions of constituent parts, the fabrication cost of the vehicle body frame can be reduced.

Claims

1. A vehicle body frame for a motorcycle, comprising:

at least one first frame member being made of gravity die cast aluminum;

at least one second frame member being made of injection die cast aluminum, said at least one first and second frame members being secured together by welding to form a main frame of the motorcycle.

2. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first and second frame members are coated.

3. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 2, wherein said coating is alumite.

4. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second frame member is fabricated with molten aluminum injected into a cavity under high pressure.

5. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 4, wherein said at least one second frame member is a plurality of pivot plates for the vehicle body frame, said plurality of pivot plates being die cast and shot grain projected to finish a surface of the pivot plates.

6. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 4, wherein a gate speed for injection die casting of said at least one second frame member is 5-15 m/s for molten aluminum.

7. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 3, wherein only said at least one second frame member is coated with a cross linked coating, said cross linked coating being dried at room temperature.

8. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein only said at least one second frame member is coated with a cross linked coating, said cross linked coating being dried at room temperature.

9. The vehicle body frame for a motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising at least one third frame member, said at least one frame member being made of extruded or drawn aluminum and being welded to said first and second frame members.