Shift actuator mounting arrangement for motorcycle

• US 7,380,630 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Nozaki, Hiroshi, Yamada, Masaichi, Suzuki, Takahiro, Fukushima, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner; Tony H.
• Application Number:
  US11/256,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 180/230, 180/219
• US Class Current: 180/230
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/00 Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles rider operated controls for cycles in general B62K23/00; gearing speed change mechanisms F16H

Abstract

A sub-frame of a motorcycle is attached to the rear end of a main frame of the motorcycle and extends rearward. An AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) mechanism is attached to the sub-frame which prevents direct conduction of heat and vibrations generated by an engine on the main frame to the AMT. The AMT mechanism includes a hydraulic clutch actuator, a hydraulic shift actuator, an accumulator, a valve block, a pump, and an oil tank.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising:

a driving wheel;

an engine that generates power;

a transmission arranged to switch to a plurality of transmitting states that transmit power to the driving wheel at different gear ratios;

a clutch operable in a connected state in which the power generated by the engine is transmitted to the transmission and a disconnected state in which the power generated by the engine is not transmitted to the transmission;

a main frame that holds the engine;

a sub-frame that is attached to a rear end portion of the main frame so as to extend rearward from the rear end portion of the main frame;

a clutch driving device that switches the clutch between the connected state and the disconnected state; and

a shift driving device that performs a shift operation to shift the transmitting state of the transmission;

wherein

the shift driving device is attached to the sub-frame.

2. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the clutch driving device is attached to the sub-frame.

3. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the shift driving device is a hydraulic shift driving device.

4. The motorcycle according to claim 3, wherein the clutch driving device is a hydraulic clutch driving device.

5. The motorcycle according to claim 4, further comprising a pump that generates a hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic shift driving device and the hydraulic clutch driving device, wherein the pump is attached to the sub-frame.

6. The motorcycle according to claim 4, further comprising a fluid path switching valve that switches a fluid path that circulates through the hydraulic shift driving device, the hydraulic clutch driving device, and the pump, wherein the fluid path switching valve is attached to the sub-frame.

7. The motorcycle according to claim 4, further comprising a pressure accumulator that accumulates a pressure of an operating fluid supplied to the hydraulic shift driving device and the hydraulic clutch driving device, wherein the pressure accumulator is attached to the sub-frame.

8. The motorcycle according to claim 4, further comprising a storage tank that stores an operating fluid supplied to the hydraulic shift driving device and the hydraulic clutch driving device, wherein the storage tank is attached to the sub-frame.

9. The motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the shift driving device is an electrically-driven shift driving device.

10. The motorcycle according to claim 9, wherein the clutch driving device is an electrically-driven clutch driving device.

11. The motorcycle according to claim 10, wherein the shift driving device includes a first electric motor and a transmitting mechanism that transmits power of the first electric motor to the transmission, the clutch driving device includes a second electric motor and a master cylinder that converts power of the second electric motor into a hydraulic pressure, and the first electric motor, the second electric motor, and the master cylinder are attached to the sub-frame.

12. The motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising a battery that accumulates electric power and an electric component that operates with the electric power accumulated in the battery, wherein the battery is held by the main frame in a position further forward than the engine.