Air intake structure for motorcycle

• US 7,380,624 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Momosaki, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanaman; Frank B
• Application Number:
  US10/921,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20050051375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 180/219, 180/229, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3
• US Class Current: 180/68.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 40/10 characterised by air duct arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/02 Air cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10013 Means upstream of the air filter; Connection to the ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10118 with variable cross-sections of intake ducts along their length; Venturis; Diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10262 Flow guides, obstructions, deflectors or the like for generating a charge motion in the cylinder F02B31/00; for re-atomising condensed fuel or homogenising fuel-air mixture F02M29/00
• 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

An air intake structure in a motorcycle having a body frame including a hollow head member in its front wall with an air inlet opening and supporting a steering shaft and paired hollow main frame members extending rearward from the head member on right and left sides of the motorcycle. The structure includes an air cleaner disposed behind the head member, an inlet duct having an open front end and an open rear end, an intake duct in the hollow main frame member, respectively having a front part extended toward the head member in the hollow main frame member and having an open front end, and a rear part connected to the air cleaner. An air passage defined by the intake duct has a sectional area increased downstream with respect to the direction of air flow. The intake ducts are internally provided with straightening plate, respectively.

Claims

1. An air intake structure for a motorcycle having a body frame including a hollow head member provided in a front wall of the body frame, the hollow head member being provided with an air inlet opening, and a head pipe located in a center of the hollow head member for supporting a steering shaft, the body frame further including paired, right and left hollow main frame members extending rearward from the hollow head member on right and left sides, respectively, of the motorcycle, the air intake structure comprising:

an air cleaner disposed behind the hollow head member;

an inlet duct having an open front end that opens forward, and an open rear end that connects to the air inlet opening of the head member; and

an intake duct inserted within the hollow main frame members,

wherein the intake duct has a front part, a front end and a rear part,

wherein the front part extends toward the head pipe but not forwardly thereof and into both of the hollow main frame members and the hollow head member,

wherein the intake duct has the front end with an opening that opens near the head pipe so as to communicate with an air intake path formed at both sides of the head pipe,

wherein the rear part extends outside of the body frame and connects to an air inlet opening of the air cleaner disposed outside of the body frame.

2. The air intake structure according to claim 1, wherein the number of the intake duct is two, one of the two intake ducts is inserted in the right main frame member, and the other intake duct is inserted in the left main frame member.

3. The air intake structure according to claim 2, wherein an air passage defined by each of the intake ducts has a cross sectional area increased downstream with respect to the direction of air flow.

4. The air intake structure according to claim 2,

wherein the intake ducts have bends bending in a horizontal plane, the bends being included within the body frame, and

wherein the intake ducts extend outwardly obliquely rearward along the right and the left main frame members, respectively, and rear parts of the intake ducts extend inwardly obliquely rearward from the bends to the air inlet openings of the air cleaner in the horizontal plane.

5. The air intake structure according to claim 4, wherein the intake ducts are internally provided with straightening plates for fairing air flow inside the intake ducts, and the straightening plates extend along the intake ducts from the open front ends of the intake ducts to near the bends in the horizontal plane.

6. The air intake structure according to claim 4, wherein the air cleaner has an air cleaner box containing a forward convex V-shaped air cleaner element, the air cleaner element being provided with the air inlet openings of the air cleaner.

7. The air intake structure according to claim 1, wherein the intake duct is separate and distinct from the hollow main frame member and the hollow head member.