Mounting structure for an air-fuel ratio sensor in a motorcycle, and exhaust subassembly including same
First Claim
1. In a motorcycle of the type having a multi-cylinder engine and an exhaust system comprising a separate exhaust pipe extending from each respective cylinder of the engine, the improvement comprisingimproved mounting structure in said exhaust system for supportively receiving an air-fuel ratio sensor used for linearly detecting a concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas of the motorcycle during operation thereof,the air-fuel ratio sensor comprising an element whose output voltage changes in proportion to the oxygen concentration in an exhaust stream,wherein the exhaust pipes are joined together at a hourglass-shaped convergent connector having a minimum width portion, wherein said fuel-air ratio sensor is mounted substantially centrally on the convergent connector,wherein said convergent connector comprises a connector body having an inclined surface, and wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of said convergent connector so as to be inclined towards a rear of said motorcycle,wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface so as to be inclined towards a center of the motorcycle in a width direction of the motorcycle;
- andwherein said exhaust system is placed on of a left side and a right side of the motorcycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mounting structure is provided for an air-fuel ratio sensor on an exhaust pipe in a motorcycle in which a concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas can be detected efficiently and accurately by the air-fuel ratio sensor. The air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on a convergent connector of exhaust pipes, which, in turn, are operatively connected to the cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine. The air-fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of catalytic converters provided in the exhaust pipes, and may be mounted so as to be oriented substantially vertically when the motorcycle is in an upright configuration, or alternatively, may be inclined toward the rear of the motorcycle.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a motorcycle of the type having a multi-cylinder engine and an exhaust system comprising a separate exhaust pipe extending from each respective cylinder of the engine, the improvement comprising
improved mounting structure in said exhaust system for supportively receiving an air-fuel ratio sensor used for linearly detecting a concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas of the motorcycle during operation thereof, the air-fuel ratio sensor comprising an element whose output voltage changes in proportion to the oxygen concentration in an exhaust stream, wherein the exhaust pipes are joined together at a hourglass-shaped convergent connector having a minimum width portion, wherein said fuel-air ratio sensor is mounted substantially centrally on the convergent connector, wherein said convergent connector comprises a connector body having an inclined surface, and wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of said convergent connector so as to be inclined towards a rear of said motorcycle, wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface so as to be inclined towards a center of the motorcycle in a width direction of the motorcycle; - and
wherein said exhaust system is placed on of a left side and a right side of the motorcycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a motorcycle of the type having a multi-cylinder engine and an exhaust system comprising a separate exhaust pipe extending from each respective cylinder of the engine, the improvement comprising
an improved mounting structure in said exhaust system for supportively receiving an air-fuel ratio sensor used for linearly detecting a concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas stream of the motorcycle during operation thereof, said improved mounting structure formed in said exhaust system for supportively receiving a plurality of air-fuel ratio sensors, wherein selected exhaust pipes are joined together at least two convergent connectors, each of said convergent connectors having a respective longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle, each of said convergent connectors having a minimum width portion and wherein an air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on each of said at least two convergent connectors, respectively, at a central location thereof, the fuel-air ratio sensor comprising an element whose output voltage changes in proportion to the oxygen concentration, wherein each of said convergent connectors comprises a connector body having an inclined surface, and wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of each of said convergent connectors so as to be inclined towards a rear of said motorcycle, wherein said air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of each of the convergent connectors so as to be inclined towards a center of the motorcycle in a width direction of the motorcycle; - and
wherein said exhaust system is placed on both left and right sides of the motorcycle. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An exhaust subassembly for a motorcycle having a multi-cylinder engine, said exhaust subassembly comprising:
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a plurality of upstream exhaust pipes including a separate exhaust pipe for placement extending from each respective cylinder of the engine, each of said upstream exhaust pipes having a front end portion and a rear end portion; a convergent connector attached to the rear end portions of the upstream exhaust pipes, wherein the upstream exhaust pipes are joined together at the convergent connector, said convergent connector having a minimum width portion; a pair of downstream exhaust pipes attached to and extending rearwardly from the convergent connector; improved mounting structure for supportively receiving an air-fuel ratio sensor used for linearly detecting a concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas stream of the motorcycle during operation thereof, and wherein said improved mounting structure comprises a cylindrical collar centrally provided on said convergent connector proximate said minimum width portion thereof, said cylindrical collar having a threaded opening formed therein; a nut disposed in said threaded opening of the cylindrical collar; and an air-fuel ratio sensor threadably received by said nut disposed in said cylindrical collar, the air-fuel ratio sensor comprising an element whose output voltage changes in proportion to the oxygen concentration, wherein said convergent connector comprises a connector body having an inclined surface having said cylindrical collar formed thereon, and wherein the air-fuel ratio sensor is mounted on the inclined surface of said convergent connector so as to be inclined towards a rear of said motorcycle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification