Internal-combustion engines – Accessories – Covers – trays – vibrators – corrosion inhibitors – air filters
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-09
2004-05-04
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Accessories
Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters
C123S1950HC
Reexamination Certificate
active
06729294
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-273597 filed on Sep. 10, 2001 the entire contents thereof is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a V-type engine for a motorcycle in which a first bank having a first cylinder coupled to a first cylinder head and a second bank having a second cylinder coupled to a second cylinder head are arranged in a V-shape in a plane orthogonal to the axis of a crankshaft. A length between a cross point at which cylinder axes of the first and second cylinders cross each other in the plane and a deck surface of the first cylinder head and a length between said cross point and a deck surface of the second cylinder head are set to be different relative to each other.
2. Description of Background Art
A V-type engine for a motorcycle is disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Sho 60-53625. To set a nip angle of a pair of banks to a minimum, a cross point of cylinder axes of a pair of banks is arranged in a position offset from the axis of a crankshaft and the lengths between the cross point and deck surfaces of the cylinders of both the banks are set to be different relative to each other. In this disclosure, the lengths between the cross point and the deck surfaces of the cylinder heads of both the banks are considered to be essentially different relative to each other.
In a motorcycle, particularly, a custom-type motorcycle, the functional beauty (functional appearance) of the mounting of an engine occupies an important position. As described above, the lengths between the deck surfaces of the cylinder heads of a pair of banks and a cross point of cylinder axes of both the banks are different for both of the banks. A difference in height between both the banks is significantly visual. A feeling of unbalance may be produced to deteriorate the functional beauty. In particular, in a V-type engine having a nip angle below 90° which is mounted on a custom-type motorcycle in many cases, the height of both the banks is easily compared visually so that the unbalance feeling is easily emphasized.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances and it is an object of the present invention is to provide a V-type engine for a motorcycle which enhances the functional beauty of the engine and improves the marketability so that the height of a pair of banks is visually recognized to be almost equal.
To achieve the foregoing object, in the present invention, a V-type engine for a motorcycle including a first bank having a first cylinder coupled to a first cylinder head and a second bank having a second cylinder coupled to a second cylinder head are arranged in a V-shape in a plane orthogonal to the axis of a crankshaft. A length between a cross point at which cylinder axes of the first and second cylinders cross each other in the plane and a deck surface of the first cylinder head and a length between the cross point and a deck surface of the second cylinder head are set to be different from each other. In the sides of the first and second cylinders or the sides of dummy covers for covering at least part of the first and second cylinders from the sides and in the sides of the first and second cylinder heads or the sides of the dummy covers for covering at least part of the first and second cylinder heads from the sides, a plurality of fins are aligned in the direction along the cylinder axes of the first and second cylinders that are provided so that the total numbers of the fins and center line mutual distances of the fins are almost equal in the first and second banks. The lengths in the plane between the center lines of the fins closest to the crankshaft of the fins and the cross point are set to be almost equal in the first and second banks.
In such a construction according to the present invention, the heights of a pair of the banks are visually recognized to be almost equal to enhance the functional beauty of the engine. A plurality of fins are provided on the sides of the cylinders and the cylinder heads for the purpose of cooling or a plurality of fins are provided in the sides of the dummy covers for covering at least part of the cylinders and the cylinder heads from the sides for enhancing the appearance and having a function to decide the appearance shape of both the banks. The total numbers of a plurality of the fins aligned in the direction along the cylinder axes of the first and second cylinders and the center line mutual distances of the fins are almost equal in the first and second banks. The lengths of the center lines of the fins closest to the crankshaft of the fins and the cross point of both the cylinder axes are set to be almost equal in the first and second banks. The fins of both the banks are arranged to correspond to almost the same position along the cylinder axes of the banks. Thus, a visual impression without any difference in height between the pair of banks can be obtained. The present invention provides for a functional beauty of the V-type engine to be enhanced. The marketability of the V-type engine is thus improved.
In the present invention, the contour shapes including the fins of the first and second cylinders or the dummy covers for covering at least part of the first and second cylinders from the sides and the first and second cylinder heads or the dummy covers for covering at least part of the first and second cylinder heads from the sides are formed almost symmetrically with respect to a plane including a bisector between both the banks passing though the cross point in the side view in the direction along the axis of the crankshaft. According to such a construction, the contour shapes of the first and second banks are shaped almost symmetrically. The functional beauty of the V-type engine can be enhanced. The marketability can be improved.
In the present invention the lengths between cross points at which first and second head covers are coupled to the first and second cylinder heads or first and second overhead covers are provided for covering at least part of the first and second head covers from above and the sides cross the cylinder axes of the first and second cylinders in the plane and the cross point at which the cylinder axes of the first and second cylinders cross each other in the plane are set to be almost equal in the first and second banks. According to such a construction, the height difference and the appearance shape difference between both the banks appear to be smaller. The functional beauty of the V-type engine can be enhanced. Thus, the marketability can be improved.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 60-53625 (1985-03-01), None
Inayama Tsuguto
Okano Shigetaro
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Kamen Noah P.
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