AU2008200551A1 - Vehicle-engine air intake device - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 843649

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., of 1-1, Minami-Aoyama 2chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-8556, Japan Dai Hiwatashi Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Vehicle-engine air intake device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(1119170_1) 00 0 VEHICLE-ENGINE AIR INTAKE DEVICE c Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-engine air intake device in which an IO engine body and an air cleaner are mounted on a vehicle body frame, and in which a fuel s injection device for supplying fuel to the engine body and the air cleaner are connected to _each other through a connecting tube.

Background of the Invention In Japanese Patent No. 3537817, an air intake device for a motorcycle engine is 00 known in which a carburetor is placed directly below an air cleaner, and the carburetor S 10 and the air cleaner are connected to each other by a short connecting tube.

In some vehicles, an intake pipe length is desirably made as long as possible to enhance low-speed torque. However, in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3537817, it is difficult to ensure a space for placing a connecting tube, which causes difficulties in ensuring a necessary intake pipe length.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

An object of the present invention, at least in its preferred fbrm(s), is to provide a vehicle-engine air intake device that can be constructed compactly while increasing an intake pipe length to enhance low-speed torque.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a vehicle-engine air intake device comprising: an engine body mounted on a vehicle frame; an air cleaner mounted on the vehicle frame; a fuel injection device for supplying fuel to the engine body; and a connecting tube for connecting the fuel injection device and the air cleaner, wherein the connecting tube is formed by being bent to reciprocate in a vehicle width direction.

Part of the connecting tube is preferably formed by blow molding of synthetic resin.

AH21(111 5853_1)PH -2o00 O A breather tube is preferably extended from the engine body. The fuel injection device and the engine body are preferably arranged below the air cleaner. The connecting Stube is preferably provided with: IO a first fall pipe portion being connected to the air cleaner, and directing air from the air cleaner downwardly; a rise pipe portion being reversed from a lower end of the first fall pipe t and directing the air upwardly; and a second fall pipe portion being reversed from an upper end of the rise 0, pipe portion and being connected to the fuel injection device so as to direct the air oO downwardly, and i the breather tube is preferably connected to a connecting portion of the first fall tube portion and the rise tube portion.

The air cleaner is preferably provided with a cleaner case, the cleaner case preferably being composed of: an upper case supported by the vehicle body frame and is connected to an upstream end portion of the connecting tube, and a lower case detachably attached to the upper case. A cleaner element is preferably provided for dividing an interior of the cleaner case into an uncleaned chamber and a cleaned chamber communicating with the connecting tube. The cleaner element preferably allows maintenance work to be carried out with the lower case detached from the upper case, and is preferably contained in the cleaner case.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle; Fig. 2 is a general enlarged view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a left side view showing an enlarged front portion of the motorcycle; Fig. 4 is a left side view showing a partial configuration of an intake system; Fig. 5 is a view in direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 6-6 of Fig. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a partial configuration of an exhaust system; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a partially cut left side view showing a portion in the vicinity of a fuel tank; AH2I(I 115853_1):JPH 00 0 Fig. 10 is a view in direction of arrow line 10-10 in Fig. 9 in a state that a rider's seat and a pump cover are omitted; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fuel hose connection structure; IDFig. 12 is a partially cut left side view showing an enlarged front portion of a vehicle body frame; Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of electric components of Sa main frame seen from a right and obliquely backward direction; Fig. 14 is a left side view of a stay; 00 Fig. 15 is a view in direction of arrow 15 in Fig. 14; and 00 Fig. 16 is a view in direction of arrow 16 in Fig. 14.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention Fig. 1 to Fig. 16 show one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the main part of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a left side view showing an enlarged front portion of the motorcycle. Fig. 4 is a left side Is view showing a partial configuration of an intake system. Fig. 5 is a view in direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a partial configuration of an exhaust system. Fig. 8 is a crosssectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a partially cut left side view showing a portion in the vicinity of a fuel tank. Fig. 10 is a view in direction of arrow line 10-10 in Fig. 9 in a state that a rider's seat and a pump cover are omitted. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fuel hose connection structure. Fig. 12 is a partially cut left side view showing an enlarged front portion of a vehicle body frame.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of electric components of a main frame seen from a right oblique rear direction. Fig. 14 is a left side view of a stay. Fig.

15 is a view in direction of arrow 15 in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a view in direction of arrow 16 in Fig. 14.

Incidentally, in the explanation set forth below, "front", "back", "left", and "right" indicate the direction to which the motorcycle moves.

First, in Fig. 1, a vehicle frame F of a motorcycle, which is a small vehicle, is composed of a head pipe 22, which steerably supports a front fork 21 that pivotably supports a front wheel WF at a lower end portion, a pipe-shape main frame 23, which extends in a rear downward direction from the head pipe 22, and a rear frame 24, which is connected to a lower portion of the main frame 23 to be dividable into left and right frame AH21(I 1115853_1):JPH -4- 00oo O halves. A bar-type steering handle 25 is connected to an upper portion of the front fork 21, and a front fender 26, which covers the front wheel WF from above, is provided on Sthe front fork 21. Moreover, the rear frame 24 is shaped to function as a rear fender that IDcovers the rear wheel WR from above, and a maintenance lid 28 is attached to a left side surface of the rear frame 24 to correspond to a battery 27 contained and placed in the rear frame 24.

In An engine body 30 of an engine E that provides power to drive the rear wheel WR is supported by the main frame 23 so as to be placed below the main frame 23, and a N, transmission (not shown) that transmits power of the engine E is contained in a crank case oO 00 31 of the engine body 30. Thus, an output shaft 33 of the transmission is projected from r the crank case 31, a front end portion of a swing arm 34 extending to the side of the rear wheel WR is swingably supported at the crank case 31 more backward than the output shaft 33, an axle 35 of the rear wheel WR is axially supported to be rotatable at a back portion of the swing arm 34, and a rear cushion unit 36 is provided between the rear is frame 24 and the back portion of the swing arm 34.

Chain drive means 38 using an endless chain 37 is provided between the output shaft 33 and the axle 35, and power outputted from the output shaft 33 is transmitted to the rear wheel WR through the chain drive means 38.

A fuel tank 40 is provided on the front portion of the rear frame 24 to serve as an appearance part, and a rider's seat 41 is placed in such a way to cover the fuel tank from above.

With reference to Figs. 2 and 3 together, the engine E is an air-cooled type, and the engine body 30 is supported by the main frame 23 of the vehicle body frame F with its cylinder axis substantially horizontal. Thus, an intake system 42 is connected to an upper side surface of a cylinder head 32 that forms part of the engine body 30, and the intake system is provided additionally with an air cleaner 43 placed at an obliquely upward position in front of the engine body 30, a connecting tube 44 for introducing cleaned air by the air cleaner 43, and a fuel injection valve 46, and is further provided with a throttle body 45 placed below the air cleaner 43 so as to be connected to a downstream end of the connecting tube 44, and an intake pipe 47 disposed between the throttle body 45 and the cylinder head 31.

With reference to Figs. 4 to 6 together, a cleaner case 48 of the air cleaner 43 is composed of an upper case 49, which is made of synthetic resin, and a lower case which is made of synthetic resin, to be attachable and detachable to and from the upper case 49. The upper and lower cases 49 and 50 are fastened to each other by multiple AH21(I I 15853_I):JPH 00 O screw members 51, 51, such that an lower end of the cap-like upper case 49 opened N, downwardly and an upper end of the cap-like lower case 50 opened upwardly are joined Sto each other.

SA pair of brackets 49a, 49a, which sandwiches the main frame 23 on the vehicle s body frame F from both sides, is integrally provided on the upper portion of the upper case 49, and these brackets 49a, 49a are fastened to the main frame 23 by bolts 52, 52 t Namely, the upper case 49 is supported and fixed to the vehicle body frame F.

In the cleaner case 48, there is contained a cleaner element 54, which is attached C to an element support frame 53 and is cylindrically shaped, in such a manner that 00 maintenance work can be carried out with the lower case 50 detached from the upper case C 49. Thus, in this embodiment, rubbers 57, 57, which are attached to two locations of the lower portion of the element support frame 53, are supported by the lower case 50, when being snap-fit into fitting holes 58 formed on the lower case 50. When the lower case having the element support frame 53 attached with the cleaner element 54 mounted, is attached to the upper case 49, the whole circumference of the upper surface of the element support frame 53 is in close contact with an inner surface of the upper portion of the upper case 49.

An interior of the cleaner case 48 with the cleaner element 54 contained is divided into an uncleaned chamber 55 placed around the cleaner element 54 and a cleaned chamber 56 placed in the cleaner element 54. Air from an outer section as shown by an arrow in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is introduced into the uncleaned chamber 55 from air introduction ports 57, 57, which are provided on both left and right sides of the lower case and opened to the rear side.

Moreover, the connecting tube 44 is formed by connecting a rubber-made upstream-side connecting pipe 60 and a rubber-made downstream-side connecting pipe 61, which is connected to the throttle body 45, to both ends of a tube 62, which is formed by blow molding of synthetic resin, by fastening belts 63 and 64, and an intermediate portion of the upstream-side connecting pipe 60 is attached to the upper case 49 of the cleaner 48 such that an upstream end of the upstream-side connecting tube 60 enters the cleaned chamber 56 of the air cleaner 43.

Thus, the upstream side connecting pipe 60 passes through the upper case 49 such that air in the cleaning room 56 is directed upwardly, and the downstream end of the upstream side connecting pipe 60 is curved to face an obliquely right downward direction of the rear side thereof. Moreover, an upstream-side half portion of the tube 62 is connected to the upstream side connecting pipe 60, and is extended backwardly to run in AH2I(I 115853_l):JPH 00 Sa rear downward direction along the main frame 23 while being convex curved right. A downstream-side half portion of the tube 62 is reversed from the downstream end of the Supstream-side half portion, and is extended to an obliquely left upward direction of the IND front side thereof, and the downstream end of the downstream-side half portion is further reversed and convex curved upwardly to face a downward direction. Furthermore, the downstream-side connecting pipe 61 is formed in such a manner to extend downwardly In from the upstream end, which is placed to face an upward direction, and to be bent right 0to be connected to the downstream end of the tube 62, and to be further bent backwardly C to be connected to the throttle body oO 00 i0 In other words, the connecting tube 44, which is constructed by connecting the C upstream-side and downstream-side connecting pipes 60 and 61 to both ends of the tube 62, is formed by connecting in the order of: a first rise pipe portion 44a, which is formed of the upstream-side connecting pipe 60 so as to direct air upward from the interior of the air cleaner 43; a first fall pipe portion 44b, which is formed of the upstream-side half portion of the tube 62 so as to reverse air from the first rise pipe portion 44a to be directed downwardly; a second rise pipe portion 44c, which is formed of the downstream-side half portion of the tube 62 and part of the downstream-side connecting tube 61 so as to reverse air from the first fall pipe 44b to be directed upwardly; and a second fall pipe portion 44d, which is formed of the remaining part of the downstream-side connecting pipe 61 so as to reverse air from the second rise pipe portion 44c,thereby the reversed air flowing into the lower throttle body 45. The connecting tube 44 is formed by being bent to reciprocate in a width direction of the motorcycle and reciprocate in a vertical direction thereof.

Additionally, on a lower portion of a connecting portion of the first fall pipe portion 44b and the second rise pipe portion 44e of the connecting tube 44, a connecting pipe portion 65, which extends in a rear downward direction, is integrally formed, and a breather tube 66 for introducing blow-by gas from the crank case 31 of the engine body is connected to the connecting pipe With attention paid to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 7, an exhaust system 67 of the engine body 30 is connected to a lower portion side surface of the cylinder head 32, and the exhaust system 67 includes: a first exhaust pipe 68 having an upstream end connected to the lower side surface of the cylinder head 32 and reversing backward; a catalytic converter 69 connected to a downstream end of the first exhaust pipe 68; a second exhaust pipe 70 having an upstream end connected to the catalytic converter 69 and extending to the right side of the rear wheel WR; and an exhaust muffler 71 connected to a downstream end of the second exhaust pipe AH21(III5853_I):JPH -7- 00 O In Fig. 8, the catalytic converter 69 includes an inner case 72, an outer case 73 N, that covers the inner case 72, and a catalyst 74 that is cylindrically formed and contained in the inner case 72.

IDThe inner case 72 has a division wall 77, which divides a space portion facing Sone end side of the catalyst 74 into an entrance chamber 75 and an exit chamber 76, and an intermediate chamber 78 facing other end side of the catalyst 74 is formed in the inner In case 72. Thus, the first exhaust pipe 68 passes through the outer case 73 air-tightly and is connected to the inner case 72 in order to cause its downstream end to communicate with I the entrance chamber 75, whereas the second exhaust pipe 70 passes through the outer oO 00 0 o case 73 air-tightly and is connected to the inner case 72 in order to cause its upstream end C to communicate with the exist chamber 76. In other words, exhaust gas introduced from the cylinder head 32 is: introduced into the entrance chamber 75 on one end side of the catalytic converter 69; circulated to the intermediate chamber 78 on the other end side of the catalytic converter 69 through the catalyst 74; further circulated to the exist chamber 76 on the one end side of the catalytic converter 69 from the intermediate chamber 78 through the catalyst 74; and then introduced into the second exhaust pipe With reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 together, mounting plate portions 40a and are mounted on the lower portion of the fuel tank 40 in a protruding manner with space in front and behind thereof, and the mounting plate portions 40a and 40b are fastened to the rear frame 24 by bolts 79 and 80, whereby the fuel tank 40 is fixed onto the rear frame 24.

Fuel in the fuel tank 40 is supplied to the fuel injection valve 46 by a fuel pump 84. The fuel pump 84 has a suction pipe 85 extending vertically in the fuel tank 40, a strainer 86 connected to a lower end of the suction 85 and a discharge pipe 87 disposed above the fuel tank 40. A flange 84a, which is connected to the upper portion of the fuel pump 84 so as to sandwich a gasket 83 between itself and the upper surface of the fuel tank 40, and a press plate 88, which sandwiches the gasket 83 and the flange 84a between itself and the fuel tank 40, are fastened together to the fuel tank 40 with multiple bolts 89,89 embedded in the fuel tank 84 side and nuts 90,hich are screwed into the bolts 89,89 so as to abut against the press plate 88 or to be engaged therewith, whereby the fuel pump 84 is fixed to the fuel tank 40. Moreover, a float 91 for detecting a fuel liquid level in the fuel tank 40 is additionally provided on the fuel pump 84 The front portion of the rider's seat 41 is connected to the upper portion of the front side of the fuel tank 40 through a hinge 92. The driver's seat 41 is rotatable between a position where the fuel tank 40 is covered from above and a position where forward AH2I(! I 5853_I):,PH -8o00 O rotation is performed so as to cause the upper portion of the fuel tank 40 to expose N, upward. When being located at the position where the fuel tank 40 is covered from Sabove, a pair of elastic members 93, 93, which is in contact with the upper surface of the fuel tank 40, is attached to a rear bottom of the rider's seat 41.

Fuel supplied from the discharge pipe 87 of the fuel tank 40 is supplied to the fuel injection valve 46 through conduit means 94 and the conduit means 94 is disposed so Sas to pass through the fuel tank 40 vertically.

In Fig. 11, the conduit means 94 is composed of a first fuel hose 95 on the fuel C tank 40 side, and a second fuel hose 96 on the fuel injection valve 46 side. On the other oO 00 hand, upper and lower portions of a cylindrical member 98, which forms a first through C hole 97 passing through the fuel tank 40 vertically, are welded to keep liquid tightness over the whole circumference. The first fuel hose 95, which forms at least part of the conduit means 94(part in this embodiment) and is connected to the discharge pipe 87 of the fuel tank 40, is laid so as to pass through the first through hole 97, and below the fuel Is tank 40, the first fuel hose 95 is laid so as to extend forward through the rear frame 24.

Additionally, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a grommet 100 having a second through hole 99 is attached to the front portion of the rear frame 24, and the first fuel hose 95 is extended forward so as to pass through the second through hole 99.

On at least one of both ends of the first fuel hose 95, that is, an end portion of the second fuel hose 96 side in this embodiment, a male joint 104 of a first quick connector 101 is provided to allow the first and second through holes 97 and 99 to pass therethrough, and an outer diameter of the male joint 104 is smaller than an inner diameter of each of the first and second holes 97 and 99. Moreover, a female joint 107 of a second quick connector 102 is attached to an end portion of the fuel tank 40 side of the first fuel hose In addition, a male joint 106 of the second quick connector 102 is attached to the discharge tube 87 of the fuel tank 40 and the female joint 107 of the first fuel hose 95 is fitted into and connected to the male joint 106, whereby one end of the first hose fuel hose 95 is connected to the discharge pipe 87. Moreover, a female joint 105 of the first quick connector 101 is attached to one end of the second fuel hose 96, which forms the conduit means 94 together with the first fuel hose 95, so as to fit and connect the male joint 107 of the other end of the first fuel hose 95 thereinto and thereto. Furthermore, the other end of the second fuel hose 96 is connected to the fuel injection valve 46 through a third quick connector 103, and a female joint 109 of the third quick connector 103 is AJZ2(115853_1):JPH 00 O attached to the other end of the second fuel hose 96 and a male joint 108 of the third quick connector 103 is attached to the fuel injection valve 46 side.

SMoreover, the normal fuel hose generally has female joints on its both ends, and Ithe normal hose is used as the second fuel hose 96.

In Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 again, the fuel pump 84 attached to the upper surface of the fuel tank 40, the discharge pipe 87 of the fuel pump 84, the connecting portion of the first Sfuel hose 95, and an insertion portion of the first fuel hose 95 to an upper end of the cylindrical member 98 are covered with a pump cover 110 from above. The pump cover N, 110 is fastened to the press plate 88 for attaching the fuel pump 84 to the fuel tank oO 00 io with multiple bolts 111, 111, thereby being attached to the upper surface of the fuel tank CI Moreover, the intermediate portion close to one end of the second fuel hose 96 in the conduit means 94 is held by a clip 112, and the clip 112 is mounted on a stay 113 attached to the engine body With reference to Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 together, to a connecting portion of the head pipe 22 and the main frame 23, there is attached a gusset 115, which has a mounting surface 115a inclined to face obliquely backward and covers the connecting portion from above. A support stay 116, which extends in a rear upward direction, is fixed to the gusset 115, and an electronic control unit 117, a regulator 118, and a bank angle sensor 119 as electrical components are attached to the support stay 116.

Moreover, with reference to Figs. 14 to 16 together, the support stay 116 is formed by welding two curved metallic plate members, and includes: a flat mounting plate portion 116a mounted on the mounting surface l15a of the gusset 115; a first support plate portion 116b, which is perpendicularly continuous to the right edge of the mounting plate portion 116a and extends in a rear upward direction to the rear side; a second support plate portion 116c, which has a base end connected to a left side surface of a lower portion of an intermediate portion of the first support plate portion 116a in a vertical direction and extends upward and is inclined to separate from the first support plate portion 116b along a upward direction; a leg portion 116d, which is substantially Lshaped and is extended reward from the lower portion of the intermediate portion of the first support plate portion 116b in the vertical direction; a third support plate portion 116e, which is perpendicularly continuous to a back end of the leg portion 116d and extends in left and right directions; a support claw portion 116f, which is perpendicularly continuous to an upper portion of the intermediate portion of the first support plate portion 116b in the vertical direction in such a way to be projected to both left and right sides; and a AH21(11 15853_I)JP-I

I

oo00 o fourth support plate portion 116g which is perpendicularly continuous to a rear portion of the first support plate portion 116b.

SAn up-and-down pair of weld nuts 120, 120 is fixed to a rear side of the INDmounting surface 115a of the gusset 115 and the mounting plate portion 116a is fixed to Sthe gusset 115 with bolts 121, 121 that are screwed into these nuts 120, 120.

A pair of weld nuts 122, 122 is fixed to a left side surface of the first support t' plate portion 116b with space in front and behind thereof, and the regulator 118 disposed Sat the right side of the first support plate portion 116b is attached to the first support plate 00 portion with bolts 123, 123 that are screwed into both the weld nuts 122, 122.

00 Furthermore, the electronic control unit 117 is held by a holding frame 124, C1 which is made of elastic material such as rubber, and is disposed at the right side of the first support plate portion 116b, and the second support plate portion 116c is inserted into a support hole 125 formed on the holding frame 124, whereby the electronic control unit 117 is attached to the second support plate portion 116c.

Weld nuts 126 and 126 are fixed to two portions of the front surface of the third support plate portion 116e with intervals in left and right directions. The bank angle sensor 119 disposed at the back side of the third support plate portion 116e is attached to the third support plate 116e by bolts 128, 128 that are screwed into the weld nuts 126,126 with mount rubbers 127, 127 disposed between itself and the third support plate portion 116e.

Moreover, the support stay 116, the electronic control unit 117, the regulator 118 and the bank angle sensor 119 are covered from the upper and both left and right sides with an electrical component cover 128, which is substantially U-shaped with longitudinal section opened downwardly and is formed of elastic material. The electrical component cover 128 is supported by the support stay 116 by inserting the support claw portion 116f of the support stay 116 into the upper portion of the electrical component cover 128.

In addition, left and right legs of a rider, who seats on the rider's seat 41, are covered with a leg shield 129, and a lower portion of the leg shield 129 is fastened to the stay 131 fixed to both sides of the engine body 30. Moreover, the leg shield 129 is one that covers the main frame 23 from above and is integrally connected to a center cover 130, which covers the front portion of the engine body 30 and the intake system 42 from both left and right sides, and a front upper portion of the center cover 130 is fastened to both sides of the front portion of the main frame 23 close to the head pipe 22.

AH21(I 115853_1I):JPH -11- 00 o Thus, a cover portion 130a, which covers the support stay 116, the electronic N control unit 117 attached to the support stay 116, the regulator 118, the bank angle sensor S119, and the electrical component cover 128, is integrally mounted on the center cover IND 130 so as to raise upwardly, and an opening portion 132 is formed on a back portion of the cover portion 130a.

A cap 133, which closes the opening portion 132, is detachably attached to the tt fourth support plate portion 116g of the support stay 116. In other words, a mounting bolt 134, which projects backwardly from the opening portion 132, is fixed to the fourth 00 support plate portion 116g. The cap 133 is attached to the support stay 116 so as to close 00 the opening 132 by screwing a bag nut 135 into a projection end portion of the mounting C bolt 134 passing through the cap 133.

The function of this embodiment is next explained and the connecting tube 44, which connects the air cleaner 43 and the throttle body 45 to each other in the intake system 42, is formed by being bent to reciprocate in a width direction of the motorcycle.

Thus, it is possible to construct an intake device compactly while ensuring an intake tube length to enhance low-speed torque.

Additionally, the tube 62 that forms part of the connecting tube 44 is formed by blow molding of synthetic resin, thereby making it easy to form the bent connecting tube 44 and enabling the connecting tube 44 to be longer.

Moreover, the throttle body 45 and the engine body 30 are disposed below the air cleaner 43, and the connecting tube 44 is provided with; the first fall pipe portion 44b, which is connected to the air cleaner 43 and directs air downwardly from the air cleaner 43; the second rise pipe portion 44c, which reverses air from the lower end of the first fall pipe 44b to be directed upwardly; and the second fall pipe portion 44d, which is connected to the throttle body 45 so as to reverse air from the upper end of the second rise pipe portion 44c to be directed downwardly. The breather tube 66 extended from the crank case 32 of the engine body 30 is connected to the connecting portion of the first fall tube portion 44b and the second rise tube portion 44c, and therefore the connecting tube 44 is bent so as to reciprocate in a vertical direction, whereby the connecting tube 44 can be made longer and more compactly. Concurrently, the breather tube 66 is connected to the lowermost portion of the connecting tube 44, thereby making it possible to return oil, flowing along with blow-by gas circulating in the breather tube 66, to the engine body side from the breather tube 66, again.

Moreover, the cleaner case 48 of the air cleaner 43 is composed of: the upper case 49, which is supported by the vehicle body frame F and to which the upstream-side AH21(I1115853 I):PH -12o00 O portion of the connecting tube 44 is connected; and the lower case 50, which is N, detachably attached to the upper case 49. The cleaner element 54, which divides the Sinterior of the cleaner case 48 into the uncleaned chamber 55 and the cleaned chamber 56 communicating with the connecting tube 44, allows maintenance work to be carried out Swith the lower case 50 detached from the upper case 49, and is contained in the cleaner case 48. Therefore, maintenance work of the cleaner element 54 can be carried out with In the upper case 59 detached from the lower case 50 without releasing the connecting state of the connecting tube 44 of the cleaner 43, thus allowing maintainability to be improved.

C1 Moreover, the fuel pump 84, which has the discharge pipe 87 for discharging 00 lo fuel disposed at the upper portion of the fuel tank 40, is additionally provided in the fuel C tank 40. The conduit means 94, which makes connection between the discharge pipe 87 and the fuel injection valve 46, is disposed so as to pass through the fuel tank 40 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the conduit means 94 is not exposed outside at a portion corresponding to the fuel tank 40, and even in the motorcycle where the fuel tank is forms the appearance part, it is possible to prevent the conduit means 94 from being exposed outside as much as possible while avoiding an increase in the number of parts and a reduction in appearance commodity properties, thereby preventing unnecessary contact with the conduit means 94, so that an influence due to external environment can be hardly received.

Additionally, the cylindrical member 98, which passes through the fuel tank vertically, is mounted on the fuel tank 40. The first fuel hose 95, which forms at least part of the conduit means 94 (part in this embodiment) and is connected to the discharge pipe 87, is laid so as to pass through the cylindrical member 98. Therefore, the whole circumstance of the upper portion and the lower portion of the cylindrical member 98 is welded to the fuel tank 40, thereby making it possible to easily ensure sealability of the portion where the first fuel hose 95 passes through the fuel tank Further, the fuel tank 40 is mounted on the rear frame 24 that forms part of the vehicle frame F. The first fuel hose 95, which has passed through the cylindrical member 98, is laid so as to pass through the rear frame, thereby eliminating the need for providing a special cover for covering the first fuel hose 95, and making it possible to prevent a longer portion of the first fuel hose 95 from being exposed outside.

Moreover, the male joint 104 of the first quick connector 101 is connected to at least one of both ends of the first fuel hose 95, that is, the end portion of the second fuel hose 96 side in this embodiment and the male joint 104 has a diameter smaller than that of the female joint, and therefore, even if a narrow clearance and a small-diameter through AH21(115853_I):IPH 13o00 O hole exist on the way of a laying route of the first fuel hose 95, it is possible to easily lay N, the first fuel hose 95 and improve degree of freedom of routing the fuel hose.

SIn addition, the male joint 104 provided on the first fuel hose 95 can pass through the through holes provided on the way of the laying route of the first fuel hose namely, the first through hole 97 formed on the cylindrical member 84, and the second through hole 99 formed on the grommet 100 attached to the front portion of the rear t frame 24. Therefore, it is possible to enhance routing work efficiency of the first fuel 0 hose 95. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the male joint 104 is smaller than inner diameters of the first and second holes 97 and 99. Thus, it is possible to: easily cause the 00 oO O0 first fuel hose 95 to pass through the cylindrical member 98 and the grommet 100; C improve routing work efficiency of the first fuel hose 95; and facilitate work for connecting the conduit means 94 to the fuel pump 84.

The female joint 105 of the first quick connector 101 is connected to the second fuel hose 96 that forms the conduit means 94 together with the first fuel hose 95, and therefore only an optional range of the conduit means 94 can be formed by the first fuel hose 95 having the male joint 104, and the second fuel hose 96 of the general type having the female joint 105 connected can be used in the other ranges.

Furthermore, the fuel pump 84 is attached to the upper surface of the fuel tank 4.

On the upper surface of the fuel tank 40, there is attached the pump cover 110, which covers, from above, the fuel pump 84, the discharge pipe 87 of the fuel pump 84, the connecting portion of the first fuel hose 95, and the insertion portion of the first fuel hose to the upper end of the cylindrical member 98. Thus, it is possible to prevent unnecessary contact with the connecting portion of the first fuel hose 95 to the fuel pump 84 side in the conduit means 94.

Additionally, the support stay 116, which extends in a rear upward direction, is fixed to the vehicle frame F at the back of the head pipe 22. The electronic control unit 117, the regulator 118 and the bank angle sensor 119 as electrical components are covered with the center cover 130, which is connected to the leg shield 129 that covers left and right legs of the rider, who sits on the rider's seat 41 from the front, and which covers the part of the vehicle frame F. Accordingly, this configuration eliminates the need for providing the special part for covering the electronic control unit 117, the regulator 118 and the bank angle sensor 119, and reduces the number of parts, thereby allowing contribution to cost reduction.

AH21(111 58553_I)JPH -14- 00 o As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described, Showever, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various design Schanges may be made without departing from the present invention described in claims.

In oO 0, AH21(1115853_1)JPH

Claims (4)

1. A vehicle-engine air intake device comprising: San engine body mounted on a vehicle frame; an air cleaner mounted on the vehicle frame; a fuel injection device for supplying fuel to the engine body; and a connecting tube for connecting the fuel injection device and the air cleaner, t wherein the connecting tube is formed by being bent to reciprocate in a vehicle width direction. oO 2. The vehicle-engine air intake device according to claim 1, wherein part of the connecting tube is formed by blow molding of synthetic resin.

3. The vehicle-engine air intake device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising: a breather tube extended from the engine body, and wherein the fuel injection device and the engine body are arranged below the air cleaner, the connecting tube is provided with: a first fall pipe portion being connected to the air cleaner, and directing air from the air cleaner downwardly; a rise pipe portion being reversed from a lower end of the first fall pipe and directing the air upwardly; and a second fall pipe portion being reversed from an upper end of the rise pipe portion and being connected to the fuel injection device so as to direct the air downwardly, and the breather tube is connected to a connecting portion of the first fall tube portion and the rise tube portion.

4. The vehicle-engine air intake device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a cleaner case of the air cleaner, the cleaner case being composed of: an upper case supported by the vehicle body frame and connected to an upstream end portion of the connecting tube, and a lower case detachably attached to the upper case; and a cleaner element for dividing an interior of the cleaner case into an uncleaned chamber and a cleaned chamber communicating with the connecting tube, wherein the cleaner element allows maintenance work to be carried out with the lower case detached from the upper case, and is contained in the cleaner case. AHI21( 115853_I):JPH

16- 00 o 5. A vehicle-engine air intake device substantially as hereinbefore described with N reference to the accompanying drawings. o Dated 6 February, 2008 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SSPRUSON FERGUSON oo (N AH21(III5853 1):JPH