Air management system for a motorcycle

• US 6,695,088 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• 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: Schroeder, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUBY, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US09/893,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 180/229, 180/219, 180/68-- 6, 165/41, 165/42, 296/208
• US Class Current: 180/229
• 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: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels

Abstract

An air management system for a motorcycle including a first air channel and a second air channel. The first air channel defines a first passageway extending through a body of the motorcycle, the first passageway having an inlet located on a first side of the motorcycle and an outlet located under a seat of the motorcycle. The second air channel defines a second passageway passing through the body of the motorcycle, the second passageway having an inlet located on a second side of the motorcycle and an outlet in communication with an engine air inlet. The first and second passageway inlets are relatively symmetrically disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle. The first air passageway delivers cooling air to a radiator that is disposed beneath the motorcycle seat, while the second air passageway delivers air to the engine air inlet. An air filter is disposed in a terminal portion of the second air channel and is oriented relatively transverse to the motorcycle axis.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising:

a body including a front wheel, a rear wheel, an engine, a seat, a gas tank assembly and a radiator disposed rearward of the engine;

a first air channel defining a first passageway extending through the body of the motorcycle, said first passageway having an inlet located on a first side of the motorcycle and an outlet communicating cooling air to the radiator; and

,

a second air channel defining a second passageway passing through the body of the motorcycle, said second passageway having an inlet located on a second side of the motorcycle and an outlet in communication with an engine air inlet, the second passageway inlet being located on a second side of the motorcycle, wherein the inlets for the first and second passageways are positioned in a substantially symmetrical manner at a front of the motorcycle.

2. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the first passageway outlet is disposed rearward of the engine.

3. The motorcycle according to claim 2, wherein the radiator is disposed generally horizontally and the first passageway outlet is disposed adjacent said radiator such that air flowing from the first passageway outlet flows downwardly through the radiator.

4. The motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising an air filter disposed relatively between the second passageway outlet and the engine air inlet.

5. The motorcycle according to claim 4, wherein the air filter is oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle.

6. The motorcycle according to claim 5, wherein the air filter is cylindrical and includes a closed proximal end including a fastener to releasably secure the air filter to a terminal portion of the second air channel.

7. The motorcycle according to claim 6, wherein the first passageway outlet is disposed relatively rearward of the seat.

8. The motorcycle according to claim 7, wherein the radiator is disposed generally horizontally and the first passageway outlet is disposed adjacent said radiator such that air flowing frop the first passageway outlet flows downwardly through the radiator.

9. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein a portion of the radiator is disposed rearward of the seat of the motorcycle, and wherein the first passageway outlet is disposed rearward of the seat.

10. A motorcycle comprising:

a body including a front wheel, a rear wheel, a steering head, an engine, a seat, a radiator, and a gas tank assembly, said motorcycle having a longitudinal axis aligned with said front and rear wheels, said gas tank assembly being disposed relatively behind said front wheel and said steering head and relatively above said engine, said seat being disposed relatively behind said gas tank assembly and said radiator being disposed rearward of the gas tank and relatively below the seat, said motorcycle further comprising;

an air management system for delivering air to the engine and radiator, said air management system comprising;

a first air channel defining a first passageway extending through the body of the motorcycle, said first passageway having an inlet located on a first side of the motorcycle and an outlet through which cooling air flows to said radiator; and

,

a second air channel defining a second passageway passing through the body of the motorcycle, said second passageway having an inlet located on a second side of the motorcycle and an outlet in communication with an air inlet of the engine, the second passageway inlet being located on a second side of the motorcycle, wherein the inlets for the first and second passageways are positioned in a substantially symmetrical manner at a front of the motorcycle and relatively forward of the steering head.

11. The motorcycle according to claim 10 wherein the first passageway outlet is disposed rearward of the gas tank and relatively below the seat.

12. The motorcycle according to claim 11, wherein the radiator is disposed generally horizontally and the first passageway outlet is disposed vertically adjacent said radiator such that air flowing from the first passageway outlet flows downwardly through the radiator.

13. The motorcycle according to claim 10, further comprising an air filter disposed relatively between the second passageway outlet and the engine air inlet.

14. The motorcycle according to claim 13, wherein the air filter is oriented relatively transverse to the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle.

15. The motorcycle according to claim 14, wherein the air filter is cylindrical and includes a closed proximal end including a fastener to releasably secure the air filter to a terminal portion of the second air channel.

16. The motorcycle according to claim 15, wherein the first passageway outlet is disposed relatively rearward of the seat.

17. The motorcycle according to claim 16, wherein the radiator is disposed generally horizontally and the first passageway outlet is disposed adjacent said radiator such that air flowing from the first passageway outlet flows downwardly through the radiator.