IP Library Granted Patent US 11,884,354
Granted Patent B2
US 11,884,354 · App. 16/828,627 · Granted Jan 30, 2024

Vehicle

Inventors: Kaoru Kouchi (Kakogawa, JP); Shusei Ueno (Kobe, JP)
Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
B62K23/04B62J50/22B62K11/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,884,354
App. No.
16/828,627
Granted
Jan 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a propulsion power source, a handlebar, an output adjusting grip, and a torque operation member. The handlebar is operable to steer the vehicle. The output adjusting grip is disposed on either a right or left portion of the handlebar operably so that an output level of the propulsion power source is adjusted by rotating the output adjusting grip relative to the handlebar. The torque operation member is operable to issue a command to change a torque output characteristic of the propulsion power source. The torque operation member is disposed on the same right or left portion of the handlebar with the output adjusting grip rotatably integrally with the output adjusting grip.

Claims (26)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a propulsion power source;

a handlebar operable to steer the vehicle;

an output adjusting grip disposed on either a right or left portion of the handlebar operably so that an output level of the propulsion power source is adjusted by rotating the output adjusting grip relative to the handlebar; and

a torque operation switch operable to issue a command to change a torque output characteristic of the propulsion power source, the torque operation switch being disposed on the same right or left portion of the handlebar with the output adjusting grip so as to be rotatable integrally with the output adjusting grip.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the torque operation switch is attached to the output adjusting grip.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the torque operation switch is disposed on one end portion of the output adjusting grip closer to a center portion of the handlebar between the right and left portions of the handlebar than the other end portion of the output adjusting grip, or on a portion of the handlebar closer to the center portion of the handlebar than the output adjusting grip.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second operation switch operable to issue a command other than the command to change the torque output characteristic,

wherein the second operation switch is disposed on the same right or left portion of the handlebar with the output adjusting grip, so that the second operation switch is unrotatable regardless of rotation of the output adjusting grip.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a display device displaying whether or not the torque output characteristic is changed.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the propulsion power source includes a motor, and wherein the torque output characteristic is changed by rotating the motor or by increasing a rotation speed of the motor.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is configured to travel by rotating a wheel driven by the propulsion power source.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the change of the torque output characteristic of the propulsion power source is a boosting that changes a normal torque output characteristic to a boosted torque output characteristic to increase an output torque of the propulsion power source.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the output adjusting grip is configured so that a command to change a torque output characteristic of the propulsion power source can be issued by rotating the output adjusting grip further in an output-increasing direction from a predetermined rotation angle after the output adjusting grip rotated in the output-increasing direction reaches the predetermined rotation angle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the torque operation switch is disposed at a position so that an operator can push the torque operation switch with their thumb of their hand that grips the output adjusting grip.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the torque operation switch is disposed rearward of the output adjusting grip.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the propulsion power source includes an engine and a driving motor.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a control unit configured to control the engine and the driving motor,

wherein the change of the torque output characteristic occurs when the control unit switches the addition of drive of the driving motor to drive of the engine, or a ratio of the additional drive.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the change of the torque output characteristic occurs when a travel mode of the vehicle is switched.

15. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an operation equipment, the operation equipment and the torque operation switch being rotatable integrally with the output adjusting grip.

16. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the change of the torque output characteristic of the propulsion power source is disabled when a braking operation is detected.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2022
From: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 059742/0477 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2020
From: KOUCHI, KAORU; UENO, SHUSEI
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 052225/0102 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-062486 · Mar 28, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200307739A1 · Oct 1, 2020