Rough terrain vehicle with electric power steering system

• US 7,665,566 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Okada, Megumu, Handa, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Hau V
• Application Number:
  US11/376,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20060207823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.4, 180/376, 180/296, 180/309, 180/228, 180/311, 180/443, 180/291, 123/196.R, 123/198.C, 123/184.53, 123/54.4, 123/90.27, 123/90.31, 744/92
• US Class Current: 180/291
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/04 electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/01 Motorcycles with four or more wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels

Abstract

To effectively cool an electric power steering system having an electric motor. A rough terrain vehicle includes an electric motor that is disposed substantially orthogonal to a steering shaft with an engine and an exhaust pipe that are disposed behind the steering shaft and under a seat. A forced air cooling fan is provided for cooling the electric motor. The forced air cooling fan is provided behind the electric motor and in front of the engine or exhaust pipe.

Claims

1. A rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system, comprising:

an electric motor for the electric power steering system, the electric motor having an axis that extends rearwardly and downwardly in a direction approximately orthogonal to a steering shaft;

an engine and an exhaust pipe connected to the engine being disposed behind the steering shaft and under a seat; and

an air cooling fan for the engine disposed behind the electric motor and in front of at least one of the engine and the exhaust pipe,

wherein the electric motor is arranged on one side of the steering shaft and the exhaust pipe is arranged on the other side of the steering shaft in a plan view.

2. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor and the air cooling fan are disposed at an equal height when viewed from the side.

3. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 2, wherein the electric motor extends downwardly and rearwardly from one lateral side of the steering shaft.

4. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is disposed inside a component member constituting a body frame.

5. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 1, wherein a side cover is disposed on the outside of the electric motor and a protection plate is disposed obliquely below and in front of the electric motor.

6. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 1, wherein a body side cover covering a side part of the engine is provided with an opening.

7. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 1, further comprising a motor support member extending laterally across the vehicle for supporting a rear end of the electric motor.

8. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 7, and since the rear end of the electric motor is supported by the motor support member extending laterally across the vehicle, the rear end portion of the electric motor is therefore less likely to vibrate, and a portion of the electric power steering system to which the electric motor is attached is less likely to be subjected to a large cyclic load.

9. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 7, wherein a body frame of the rough terrain vehicle includes left and right upper main frames, left and right lower main frames, and left and right tilt frames extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper main frames,

wherein motor support member which supports the rear end of the electric motor extends laterally across the vehicle between the left and right tilt frames.

10. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one oil cooler disposed in front of the air cooling fan.

11. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 1, wherein the air cooling fan generates air flowing from the front to the rear of the vehicle to cool both the electric motor and at least one of the engine and the exhaust pipe behind the air cooling fan.

12. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a body frame of the rough terrain vehicle includes left and right upper main frames, left and right lower main frames, and left and right tilt frames extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper main frames,

wherein the left and right tilt frames overlap the electric motor for the power steering system when the vehicle is viewed in side view.

13. A rough terrain vehicle;

comprising;

an electric motor for an electric power steering system and an engine and an exhaust pipe connected to the engine being disposed behind a steering shaft comprising;

an air cooling fan for the engine disposed behind the electric motor and in front of at least one of the engine and the exhaust pipe for cooling the electric motor and at least one of the engine and the exhaust pipe with an air flow,

wherein electric motor is cylindrically shaped, with an axis extending downwardly and rearwardly from the steering shaft in a side view.

14. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 13, further comprising a motor support member extending laterally across the vehicle for supporting a rear end of the electric motor.

15. The rough terrain vehicle with an electric power steering system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one oil cooler disposed in front of the air cooling fan.

16. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 14, and since the rear end of the electric motor is supported by the motor support member extending laterally across the vehicle, the rear end portion of the electric motor is therefore less likely to vibrate, and a portion of the electric power steering system to which the electric motor is attached is less likely to be subjected to a large cyclic load.

17. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 14, wherein a body frame of the rough terrain vehicle includes left and right upper main frames, left and right lower main frames, and left and right tilt frames extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper main frames,

wherein motor support member which supports the rear end of the electric motor extends laterally across the vehicle between the left and right tilt frames.

18. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the electric motor and the air cooling fan are disposed at an equal height when viewed from the side.

19. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the electric motor is disposed inside a component member constituting a body frame.

20. The rough terrain vehicle according to claim 13, wherein a body frame of the rough terrain vehicle includes left and right upper main frames, left and right lower main frames, and left and right tilt frames extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper main frames,

wherein the left and right tilt frames overlap the electric motor for the power steering system when the vehicle is viewed in side view.