Cowling unit of motorcycle

• US 6,619,415 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1999
• 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: Ohta, Yutaka, Hasumi, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/655,338
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/89.17, 180/219, 180/229, 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 296/78.1, 296/180.1
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• 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

Abstract

It is the object of the present invention to increase the opening area of an air introducing opening without increasing running resistance. An air introducing opening is made at the front of an upper cowling, and side radiators and front forks are exposed to left and right sides behind the air introducing opening when viewed from the front side. Air guide walls overhanging the air introducing opening from the left and right sides of a nose portion and covering the front portion of the front forks are integrally formed with the cowling to guide running air to the side radiators.

Claims

1. A cowling unit of a motorcycle comprising:

a cowling covering a front portion of the motorcycle and both sides of an engine, said cowling including a nose portion formed at a forward location of the motorcycle and an air introducing opening formed below the nose portion, the air introducing opening being bordered by edges including an upper edge;

a radiator mounted in the cowling; and

left and right air guide walls forming part of the upper edge of the air introducing opening and extending downward on left and right sides of the air introducing opening, as viewed from a front of the motorcycle and being offset to a rear of the motorcycle relative to the upper edge of the air introducing opening, as viewed from a top of the motorcycle, wherein the left and right guide walls cover front sides of a pair of left and right front forks, and guide running air toward the radiator.

2. The cowling unit of a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiator is a side radiator, having an air receiving face oriented parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the motorcycle.

3. The cowling unit of a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the left and right air guide walls are integrally formed with the cowling.

4. A cowling unit for a motorcycle, said motorcycle having a body including a pair of front fork members, said motorcycle further having at least one radiator, said cowling unit comprising:

a cowling member for partially covering the pair of front fork members and a front portion of the body of the motorcycle, the cowling member including a nose portion formed at a forward location of the motorcycle;

an air introducing opening located in said cowling member, the air introducing opening being bordered by edges including an upper edge and being located below the nose portion, for directing air to the at least one radiator; and

a pair of air guide walls, integrally formed with said cowling member and forming part of the upper edge, as viewed from a front of the motorcycle, and being offset to a rear of the motorcycle relative to the upper edge of the air introducing opening, as viewed from a top of the motorcycle, the pair of guide walls extending down on left and right sides of said air introducing opening to cover front sides of the front fork members and deflect air therearound toward the at least one radiator.

5. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein each air guide wall has a smooth curved surface.

6. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said air guide walls are separated from one another.

7. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein a height of each of said air guide walls increases as viewed from the front of the motorcycle and moving laterally outwardly along said air guide walls.

8. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said air guide walls has a cross-section in the shape of the letter S.

9. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said air guide walls has a cross-section in the shape of the letter J.

10. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said air guide walls has a cross-section in the shape of the letter V.

11. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said air guide walls are separated from one another.

12. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein a height of each of said air guide walls increases as viewed from the front of the motorcycle and moving laterally outwardly along said air guide walls.

13. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said air guide walls has a cross-section in the shape of the letter S.

14. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said air guide walls has a cross-section in the shape of the letter J.

15. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said air guide walls has a cross-section in the shape of the letter V.

16. The cowling unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said pair of air guide walls are connected together.