WO2013111155A1

WO2013111155A1 - Scooter type vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2013111155A1
Application number: PCT/IN2012/000853
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sasikumar R; Mangaraju K VENKATA; Babu Rengarajan
Original assignee: Tvs Motor Company Ltd
Priority date: 2011-12-28
Filing date: 2012-12-26
Publication date: 2013-08-01

Abstract

A scooter type vehicle which comprises a front frame member (102) being a semi-closed duct type structure having openings (113, 102RO) at front and rear parts of it, for cooling an engine (11) mounted behind the front frame member (102).

Description

SCOOTER TYPE VEHICLE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a scooter type vehicle and more particularly to the frame structure of the scooter type vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the conventional frames are either tubular structure or a combination of tubular and pressed metal. In some cases, completely pressed metal frames are also available. Frames with tubular structure or combination of tubular structure o the pressed metal can support the vehicle embodiments such as engine, transmission system, body cover panels etc. Since the engine is covered with panels on all sides, cooling of the engine is an issue.

To provide proper cooling to the engine, arrangements are required to be done which are either costly or bulky. In some cases natural air flows to the engine through a duct passing below the frame but this arrangement again requires a mounting structure that becomes bulky and difficult to manufacture. Alternatively forced air cooling by a fan mounted onto the crankshaft is provided. However such forced air cooling utilizes the engine power thereby reduces the efficiency of the engine leading to higher fuel consumption.

Thus there is a requirement of a system that can support the vehicle with suitable strength and stiffness as well as can facilitates sufficient airflow towards the engine without the need for forced air cooling thereby improving the fuel economy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Main objective of the present invention is to provide a scooter type vehicle with a frame structure facilitating airflow through the frame body such that the air entering from front part of the frame flows through the frame member such that the air is directed towards the engine through the frame. Mentioned vehicle has a frame structure which is defining a head pipe, a front frame member and a rear frame member connected to each other. Said head pipe is extending downward and fixed with front part of the front frame member that is further extending downward followed by a rearward extension connected with the rear frame member. Said rear frame member is extending rearward followed by an upward extension and a rearward extension.

The front frame member is a duct type structure having at air inlet or openings on the front part, airflow passages in the centre area and an outlet on the rear end of the frame member facilitating air outlet on an engine. Further, mentioned duct ^tvP^e structure is defining partially open structure on inlet end and outlet end connected through said airflow passage.

These air flow passages are broad at the front part of the front frame member and gradually narrowing down towards the rear frame member such that velocity of the air increases as air reaches near the engine and intensity remains high at engine front in order to ensure maximum cooling effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more and fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute embodiments of the invention, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with a description of the embodiments serve to explain the principles of the invention and thus are not limited of the present invention and a brief description of the drawings is as follows:

Fig. No. 1 is the side view of the vehicle describing mounting arrangements of the claimed frame structure. Fig. No. 2 is depicting the mounting arrangement of the embodiments of the claimed frame structure.

Fig. No. 3 is showing top view of the vehicle showing the essential embodiments and their enabling arrangement. Fig. No. 4 is showing front view of the vehicle showings the arrangement of embodiments of the claimed frame.

Fig. No. 5 is the cross-sectional view of the front frame member of the claimed invention. Fig. No. 6 is another embodiment of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. The invention may have application to all types of two wheeled vehicles and description provided describes the best mode of the invention.

Reference is made to Fig. No. 1 to Fig. No. 6, for description of the claimed frame 101 in the scooter type vehicle 100. Mentioned frame 101 has three main parts i.e. head pipe 105, front frame member 102 and rear frame member 103. Said head pipe 105 is extending downward from the steering assembly 104 which is mounted of the front part F of the scooter type vehicle (hereinafter scooter) 100.

This steering assembly 104 is supported by the head pipe 105 and further connected to the front suspension system 107 at the lower end. Said suspension system 107 is further fixed with the front wheel 108 of the scooter 100.

Mentioned head pipe 105 is extending downward from the front part F of the scooterlOO and is connected with the front part 102F of the front frame member 102. Said front part 102F of the front frame member 102 is extending downwards from the front part F of the scooter 100. This downward extension of the front part 102F of the front frame member 102 is inclined towards the centre part C of the vehicle. Said front part 102F of the front frame member 102 is connected to the rear part 102R of the front frame member 102 on the connecting zone 102C. Rear part 102R of the front frame member 102 is further extending in rearward direction from the connecting zone 102C. Rear frame member 103 is fixed with the rear part of front frame member 102 through the mounting arrangement(s) 106. Said rear frame member 103 of the vehicle is extending firstly rearward on its front part 103F followed by its inclined rearward extension of its centre part 103C and horizontal rearward extension of the rear partl03R of said rear frame memberl03. Said extension(s) of the rear frame memberl03 is towards the rear part R of the scooterlOO.

An engine 111 is supported by the frame 101 at its centre part or the near the mounting arrangement 106 with the swing arm (not shown in figure(s)). Other side of enginelll is supported by or fixed with the transmission system 112 of the scooter 100 which is further connected to the axis of rear wheel 109 and configured to facilitate torque transmission from enginelll to the rear wheell09.Axis of the rear wheel 109 is also supported by the rear suspension system 108 which is further fixed with the rear part 103R of the rear frame member 103.

Again reference is made from Fig. No 1 to Fig. No 6 for description of the claimed front frame member 102 of the scooter 100. As shown in figure(s), air A opening 113/114 in the front part 102F of the front frame member 102 is acting as inlet for the air A inside the frame duct D. Mentioned opening/inlet 113/114 can be of any shape, size or design (as shown in Fig. No 5 and Fig. No 6) and can be located anywhere on the front partl02F of the front frame member 102 i.e. can be on top portion or bottom or centre portion.

Further, as shown in Fig. No 3 to Fig. No 6 frame duct D is extending from front part 102F of the front frame member 102 towards the rear part 102R of the front frame member 102. As shown,¹ said frame duct D (Fig. No 5 and Fig. No 6) is broader in the front 102F area and gradually narrowing down towards the rear part 102R of the front frame member 102.

Said gradually narrowing design of the air duct D ensures increasing velocity of air A flowing through the duct D as air is passing through broader area to narrower area and hence the intensity of the air A on the engine 111 remains high ensuring maximum cooling effect.

Further, frame duct D is splitting apart in the rear part 102R of the front frame 102 such that the outlet 102RO of air A flowing towards engine 111 ensures air A flow on left as well as right side of the engine 111. Rear part 102R of the said front frame member 102is forming a cavity 102RC like structure or a C shape structure in which front part of the engine lllis secured. Said cavity 102RC has multiple openings 102RO acting as outlets such that air coming out of the frame duct D directly falls on the engine 111.

As mentioned earlier, shape, size, design or location of the air openings 113, 114, 102RO (inlet and outlet) may vary as per the design requirements of the scooter type vehicle 100. Said inlets 113,114 may be one (Fig. No 6) or multiple (Fig. No 5) in number and can be on top or bottom area of the front part 102F of the front frame member 102.Similarly outlet opening 102RO can be on side as well as centre of the rear part 102R of the front frame member 102. Above described and claimed design and arrangement of the frame 101 of the scoter type vehicle 100 ensures easy, effective and natural cooling provision of the engine 111. Described frame structure 101 has suitable strength and stiffness to support the scooter type vehicle 100 as well as facilitates sufficient airflow towards the engine which ensures a cost effective and easy to manufacture solution for engine 111 cooling.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1) A scooter type vehicle comprising;

a frame structure defining a head pipe, a front frame member and a rear frame member connected to each other such that the head pipe is extending downward and fixed with front part of the front frame member that is further extending downward followed by a rearward extension connected with the rear frame member extending rearward followed by an upward extension and a rearward extension;

wherein the front frame member is a duct type structure comprises at least one air opening on the front part, at least one air flow passage having at least one outlet on the rear end of the frame member facilitating air outlet on an engine supported by the rear frame member and a transmission assembly fixed with a rear wheel;

and wherein the duct type structure is defining partially closed structure on inlet end and outlet end connected through said air flow passage.

2) The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein rear part of the front frame structure forming a cavity such that front part of the engine is accommodated in said cavity ensuring direct air outlet over the engine.

3) The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein air opening on the front part of the front frame member is facilitating air entry on forward movement of the scooter type vehicle.

4) The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein air opening on the rear part of the front frame member is extending on the left and right side of the engine.

5) The scooter type vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air flow passage(s) in the duct type frame are broad on front end of the front frame member and narrow at the rear frame member ensuring increase in velocity of air.