IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,384,724
Granted Patent B1
US 10,384,724 · App. 16/044,900 · Granted Aug 20, 2019

Cover for regulator

Inventors: Kevin C. Stockmeier (Marysville, OH); Michael J. Griffin (Dublin, OH); Michael V. Peterson (Marysville, OH); Samira S. Johnson (Dublin, OH)
Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
B62D25/168B60K11/06B60K11/08B60K2001/003H02K19/365
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,384,724
App. No.
16/044,900
Granted
Aug 20, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a body on the vehicle frame, the vehicle frame and the body defining a wheel well, a wheel disposed in the wheel well, an engine for propelling the vehicle, and an electrical system for providing electrical power to the engine. The electrical system includes a regulator for maintaining a constant voltage across the electrical system located in the wheel well. A cover is located in the wheel well between the regulator and the wheel. An air intake is located in the body for directing airflow into a portion of the wheel well defined by the cover and housing the regulator to cool the regulator.

Claims (54)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a body on the vehicle frame, the vehicle frame and the body defining a wheel well;

a wheel disposed in the wheel well;

an engine for propelling the vehicle;

an electrical system for providing electrical power to the engine, comprising:

a regulator for maintaining a constant voltage across the electrical system, the regulator being disposed in the wheel well;

a cover disposed in the wheel well between the regulator and the wheel; and

an air intake disposed in the body for directing airflow into a portion of the wheel well defined by the cover and housing the regulator.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises:

first and second front wheels;

first and second rear wheels, the first rear wheel being disposed in a first rear wheel well and the second rear wheel being disposed in a second rear wheel well; and

wherein the regulator and the cover are disposed in the first rear wheel well.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the air intake is disposed in the body longitudinally forward of the first rear wheel well.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the air intake comprises:

a mesh screen.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the cover further comprises:

an outlet for directing airflow away from the regulator and into the wheel well.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the outlet for directing airflow away from the regulator and into the wheel well is located vertically beneath the regulator.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the airflow is directed away from the regulator after passing through a space between the regulator and the cover to cool the regulator.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the cover is disposed and constructed to deflect debris away from the regulator thrown by the wheel in the wheel well during operation of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the cover is made of plastic.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a body on the vehicle frame, the vehicle frame and the body defining first and second rear wheel wells;

first and second front wheels rotatably attached to the vehicle frame;

first and second rear wheels rotatably attached to the vehicle frame, the first rear wheel being disposed in the first rear wheel well and the second rear wheel being disposed in the second rear wheel well;

an engine for propelling the vehicle;

an electrical system for providing electrical power to the engine, comprising:

a regulator for maintaining a constant voltage across the electrical system, the regulator being disposed in the first rear wheel well;

a cover disposed in the first rear wheel well between the regulator and the first rear wheel; and

an air intake disposed in the body for directing airflow into a portion of the first rear wheel well defined by the cover and housing the regulator.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the air intake is disposed in the body longitudinally forward of the first rear wheel well.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the air intake is disposed in the fender longitudinally forward of the first rear wheel well.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the cover further comprises:

an outlet for directing airflow away from the regulator and into the wheel well.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the outlet for directing airflow away from the regulator and into the wheel well is located vertically beneath the regulator.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the airflow is directed away from the regulator after passing through a space between the regulator and the cover to cool the regulator.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the cover is disposed and constructed to deflect debris away from the regulator thrown by the wheel in the wheel well during operation of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the cover is made of plastic.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a body on the vehicle frame, the vehicle frame and the body defining first and second rear wheel wells;

first and second front wheels rotatably attached to the vehicle frame;

first and second rear wheels rotatably attached to the vehicle frame, the first rear wheel being disposed in the first rear wheel well and the second rear wheel being disposed in the second rear wheel well;

an engine for propelling the vehicle;

an electrical system for providing electrical power to the engine, comprising:

a regulator for maintaining a constant voltage across the electrical system, the regulator being disposed in the first rear wheel well; and

a cover disposed in the first rear wheel well between the regulator and the first rear wheel.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 further comprising:

an air intake disposed in the body longitudinally forward of the first rear wheel well for directing airflow into a portion of the first rear wheel well defined by the cover and housing the regulator.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein the cover further comprises:

an outlet for directing airflow away from the regulator and into the first rear wheel well; and

wherein the airflow is directed away from the regulator after passing through a space between the regulator and the cover to cool the regulator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2018
From: STOCKMEIER, KEVIN C; GRIFFIN, MICHAEL J; PETERSON, MICHAEL V; JOHNSON, SAMIRA S
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046456/0429 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,246,591