IP Library Granted Patent US 11,378,178
Granted Patent B2
US 11,378,178 · App. 16/916,524 · Granted Jul 5, 2022

Straddle vehicle

Inventors: Masaki Nishiyabu (Akashi, JP); Kyohei Izumi (Kobe, JP); Yuji Hida (Akashi, JP)
Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
F16H57/0435F16H57/021F16H57/031F16H57/0473F16H57/0404F16H57/0436F16H57/0452F16H2057/02065
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,378,178
App. No.
16/916,524
Granted
Jul 5, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A straddle vehicle includes: a prime mover; a hydraulically actuated main clutch disposed in a power transmission route between the prime mover and a drive wheel; an oil control valve unit that controls flow of a hydraulic oil supplied to the main clutch; and a power unit case including a case body and a cover removably mounted on the case body, the power unit case accommodating at least the main clutch. The oil control valve unit is secured to the case body.

Claims (33)

1. A straddle vehicle comprising:

a prime mover;

a hydraulically actuated main clutch disposed in a power transmission route between the prime mover and a drive wheel;

an oil control valve unit that controls flow of a hydraulic oil supplied to the main clutch; and

a power unit case comprising a case body and a cover removably mounted on the case body, the power unit case accommodating at least the main clutch, wherein

the oil control valve unit is secured to the case body,

the main clutch comprises an inlet port into which the hydraulic oil is supplied,

each of the case body and the cover comprises a hydraulic oil passage, and

the oil coming out of the oil control valve unit flows through the hydraulic oil passage of the case body and then through the hydraulic oil passage of the cover to enter the inlet port of the main clutch.

2. A straddle vehicle comprising:

a prime mover comprising a drive shaft having an axis extending in a vehicle width direction of the straddle vehicle;

a hydraulically actuated main clutch disposed in a power transmission route between the prime mover and a drive wheel;

an oil control valve unit that controls flow of a hydraulic oil supplied to the main clutch; and

a power unit case accommodating at least the main clutch and comprising:

a case body;

a cover removably mounted on the case body; and

a main chamber accommodating the drive shaft and a subsidiary chamber accommodating the main clutch, the subsidiary chamber being defined between the case body and the cover and located on one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the main chamber, wherein

the oil control valve unit is secured to the case body.

3. The straddle vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein at least a part of the oil control valve unit is at the same location in the vehicle width direction as the subsidiary chamber.

4. The straddle vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the oil control valve unit is secured to a lower front portion of the case body.

5. The straddle vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein when the oil control valve unit and the case body are viewed in the vehicle width direction, an upper end of the oil control valve unit is located above a lower end of the case body, and a rear end of the oil control valve unit is located rearwardly of a front end of the case body.

6. The straddle vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the case body comprises a side wall portion defining the main chamber and a frame-shaped wall portion projecting from the side wall portion and defining the subsidiary chamber,

the frame-shaped wall portion comprises a lower edge portion, a front edge portion, and an inclined portion extending obliquely forward and upward from the lower edge portion to the front edge portion,

the side wall portion has a mounting surface located forwardly of and below the inclined portion when viewed in the vehicle width direction, and

the oil control valve unit is secured to the mounting surface of the side wall portion.

7. The straddle vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein

the mounting surface is located inwardly of an outer end face of the frame-shaped wall portion in the vehicle width direction, and

an outer end of the oil control valve unit in the vehicle width direction is located inwardly of an outer end of the power unit case in the vehicle width direction.

8. The straddle vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the oil control valve unit is secured to the mounting surface by fastening a fastener element onto the mounting surface from outside to inside in the vehicle width direction.

9. The straddle vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the oil control valve unit has an elongated shape, and

the oil control valve unit is disposed to extend longitudinally in a forward/rearward direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2022
From: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 059630/0169 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: NISHIYABU, MASAKI; IZUMI, KYOHEI; HIDA, YUJI
To: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 053086/0531 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-123350 · Jul 2, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210003208A1 · Jan 7, 2021