Saddle-type electric vehicle

• US 9,027,694 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors Ltd (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Matsuda, Yoshimoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Craciun, Gabriela C
• Application Number:
  US13/988,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20130256049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 180/220, 180/229, 180/68.5, 180/68.3, 180/68.2, 180/219
• US Class Current: 180/220
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/50 Structural details of electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/16 on motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/28 hidden within the cycle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/30 Means for ventilation within devices provided on the cycle, e.g. ventilation means in a battery container
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/06 the frame being of single-beam type
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/04 below the frame
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/00 Casings; Enclosures; Supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An electric two-wheeled vehicle includes a motor generating traveling power transmitted to a rear wheel, and a motor case accommodating the motor, wherein the motor case has a traveling wind inflow port allowing traveling wind to flow in the motor case, and a traveling wind outflow port allowing traveling wind flowing in the motor case to flow out, and a space surrounded by the motor case is communicated with a space where a coil of the motor is arranged.

Claims

1. A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising:

a body frame;

a swing arm that pivots on the body frame;

a motor generating traveling power transmitted to a drive wheel;

a motor case accommodating the motor and being fixed to the body frame,

a battery supplying electric power to the motor and being fixed to the body frame; and

a battery case accommodating the battery,

wherein the motor case has a traveling wind inflow port allowing traveling wind to flow in the motor case, and a traveling wind outflow port allowing traveling wind flowing in the motor case to flow out,

a space surrounded by the motor case is communicated with a space where a coil of the motor is arranged,

the battery case has a traveling wind inflow port allowing traveling wind to flow in the battery case, and a traveling wind outflow port allowing traveling wind flowing in the battery case to flow out,

the battery case is arranged in front of the motor case,

the traveling wind outflow port of the battery case communicates with the traveling wind inflow port of the motor case through a duct, and the motor case is connected to the battery case,

wherein the battery case is connected to the motor case through the duct.

2. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, comprising:

a valve provided on a traveling wind path including the traveling wind inflow port and the traveling wind outflow port;

a valve actuator driving the valve;

a detector for detecting a parameter value associated with output of the motor; and

a controller controlling the valve actuator according to the parameter value detected by the detector.

3. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the detector is at least one of a current sensor detecting a value of a current flowing through the coil of the motor, a vehicle speed sensor detecting vehicle traveling speed, an accelerator operation-amount sensor detecting an accelerator operation-amount by a driver, a battery voltage sensor and a battery inside temperature sensor.

4. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the parameter value is such a value that causes an output of the motor to increase, the controller controls the valve actuator such that an opening degree of the valve becomes larger compared to a case where the parameter value is such a value that causes the output of the motor to decrease.

5. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the parameter value is such a value that causes an output of the motor to increase, the controller controls the valve actuator such that an opening degree of the valve becomes smaller compared to a case where the parameter value is such a value that causes the output of the motor to decrease.

6. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, the saddle-type electric vehicle being a motorcycle, comprising:

a body frame having a head pipe supporting a steering shaft, and a frame portion extending substantially rearward from the head pipe,

wherein the motor case and the battery case form a part of the frame portion,

the battery case extends such that a rear portion is located at a lower position, and

a rear end portion of the battery case is connected to a front end portion of the motor case.

7. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a traveling wind path including the traveling wind inflow port and the traveling wind outflow port includes a filter provided on the traveling wind inflow port or an upstream region with respect to the traveling wind inflow port.

8. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a traveling wind path including the traveling wind inflow port and the traveling wind outflow port includes a drain outlet provided on an upstream region with respect to the traveling wind inflow port, and allowing moisture attached to a wall surface forming the traveling wind path to be discharged outside by its own weight.

9. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a traveling wind outlet discharging traveling wind flowing through a traveling wind path including the traveling wind inflow port and the traveling wind outflow port to atmosphere is arranged above the motor case and below a seat for seating.

10. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in a traveling wind path including the traveling wind inflow port and the traveling wind outflow port, a traveling wind inlet taking in traveling wind from outside is provided upstream with respect to the traveling wind inflow port, and

an area of the traveling wind inflow port is smaller than that of the traveling wind inlet.

11. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in a traveling wind path including the traveling wind inflow port and the traveling wind outflow port, a traveling wind inlet taking in traveling wind from outside is provided upstream with respect to the traveling wind inflow port, and

the traveling wind path is provided with an auxiliary chamber partially expanding a flow path section between the traveling wind inflow port and the traveling wind inlet.

12. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a controller controls a valve actuator according to both of a parameter value associated with the motor and a parameter value associated with the battery.

13. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

the body frame having a head pipe supporting a steering shaft, and a frame portion extending substantially rearward from the head pipe, and wherein

the battery case is fixed to the frame portion.

14. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rear end portion of the battery case is connected to a front end portion of the motor case.

16. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

the body frame having a head pipe supporting a steering shaft, and a frame portion extending substantially rearward from the head pipe,

wherein the traveling wind inflow port of the battery case is located in the vicinity of the head pipe.

15. A saddle-type electric vehicle, comprising:

a body frame;

a swing arm that pivots on the body frame;

a motor generating traveling power transmitted to a drive wheel;

a motor case accommodating the motor and being fixed to the body frame,

a battery supplying electric power to the motor and being fixed to the body frame; and

a battery case accommodating the battery,

wherein the motor case has a traveling wind inflow port allowing traveling wind to flow in the motor case, and a traveling wind outflow port allowing traveling wind flowing in the motor case to flow out,

a space surrounded by the motor case is communicated with a space where a coil of the motor is arranged,

the battery case has a traveling wind inflow port allowing traveling wind to flow in the battery case, and a traveling wind outflow port allowing traveling wind flowing in the battery case to flow out,

the battery case is arranged in front of the motor case,

the traveling wind outflow port of the battery case communicates with the traveling wind inflow port of the motor case through a duct, and the motor case is connected to the battery case, and

wherein the traveling wind inflow port of the battery case is located at an upper portion of the vehicle.

17. A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising:

a motor generating traveling power transmitted to a drive wheel;

a motor case accommodating the motor; and

a duct connected to the motor case,

wherein the motor case has a traveling wind inflow port allowing traveling wind to flow in the motor case, and a traveling wind outflow port allowing traveling wind flowing in the motor case to flow out,

a space surrounded by the motor case is communicated with a space where a coil of the motor is arranged,

the duct discharges the traveling wind from the traveling wind outflow port of the motor case to atmosphere and has a U-shaped portion which is convex upward.