AIR BOX FOR A MOTORCYCLE
A fuel tank and air box assembly for a motorcycle includes a fuel tank and an air box housing. The air box housing has an inlet configured to receive intake air into the housing and an outlet configured to direct the intake air from the housing to the motorcycle's engine. A filter element configured to separate debris from the intake air is positioned at least partially inside the housing. The air box housing hangs from the fuel tank.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/539,827, filed on Oct. 9, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a motorcycle. In particular, the invention relates to an air box for a motorcycle that mounts below the fuel tank of the motorcycle.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention provides a fuel tank and air box assembly for a motorcycle having a motorcycle engine. The assembly includes a fuel tank and an air box housing. The air box housing has an inlet configured to receive intake air into the housing and an outlet configured to direct the intake air from the housing to the motorcycle engine. A filter element configured to separate debris from the intake air is positioned at least partially inside the housing. The air box housing hangs from the fuel tank.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an air box for a motorcycle having a motorcycle engine and a fuel tank. A housing has an inlet configured to receive intake air into the housing and an outlet configured to direct the intake air from the housing to the motorcycle engine. A filter element is coupled to the housing, the filter element configured to separate debris from the intake air. At least one mounting feature extends from an upper portion of the housing. The remainder of the housing besides the upper portion is free of mounting features.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an air box for a motorcycle. A housing defines an interior volume. A filter element is positionable within the interior volume to separate debris from the intake air. Two pairs of mounting projections extend from an upper surface of the housing. The two mounting projections of each pair are spaced apart and include apertures that are coaxial with one another. A first common axis defined by the apertures of the first pair of mounting projections is spaced from and substantially parallel with a second common axis defined by the apertures of the second pair of mounting projections.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONWith continued reference to
Referring to
As best shown in
The fasteners 76A and 76B directly engage the air box 32, which then hangs from the first and second bores 74A and 74B in the fuel tank 36. In other embodiments, the mounting features of the air box 32 can be coupled directly or indirectly to the mounting locations of the fuel tank 36 in other manners. For example, in some embodiments, fasteners engage a threaded portion or insert in the fuel tank 36 rather than threading into the mounting features. The air box 32 can also be coupled to the fuel tank 36 with alternate types of fasteners, such as clamps, ties, snaps, hooks, adhesive, etc.
Claims
1. A fuel tank and air box assembly for a motorcycle including a motorcycle engine, the fuel tank and air box assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank;
- an air box housing having an inlet configured to receive intake air into the housing and an outlet configured to direct the intake air from the housing to the motorcycle engine; and
- a filter element positioned at least partially inside the housing, the filter element configured to separate debris from the intake air,
- wherein the air box housing hangs from the fuel tank.
2. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank includes a recess in a lower surface thereof, and at least a portion of the air box housing is configured to be positioned within the recess in the lower surface of the fuel tank.
3. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 2, wherein the air box housing includes at least one mounting feature, and the fuel tank includes at least one pocket configured to receive the at least one mounting feature.
4. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one mounting feature includes at least one flange formed integrally as a single piece with the air box housing and extending upwardly from an upper surface of the air box housing.
5. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one mounting feature includes a pair of mounting flanges defining spaced, coaxial apertures, and the at least one pocket in the fuel tank includes a pair of pockets corresponding to and configured to at least partially receive the pair of mounting flanges, the fuel tank and air box assembly further comprising a fastener configured to engage the apertures of both mounting flanges.
6. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 5, wherein a first one of the mounting flanges includes a threaded insert configured to engage the fastener.
7. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 5, wherein the air box includes a second pair of mounting flanges defining spaced, coaxial apertures, the fuel tank and air box assembly further comprising a second fastener configured to engage each of the second pair of mounting flanges.
8. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 7, wherein a first one of the second pair of mounting flanges includes a threaded insert configured to engage the second fastener.
9. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 5, wherein the fastener is further configured to pass through a bushing in the fuel tank.
10. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 2, wherein the fuel tank includes at least one substantially horizontally-extending bore, the air box housing being supported by a fastener through the at least one bore.
11. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fuel tank cover positionable over the fuel tank to at least partially cover the fuel tank, the fuel tank cover having a lower edge, wherein the air box housing is formed with a ridge that follows a contour of the lower edge of the fuel tank cover.
12. A fuel tank and air box assembly for a motorcycle including a motorcycle engine, the fuel tank and air box assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank having a lower surface with a recess;
- an air box housing having an inlet configured to receive intake air into the housing and an outlet configured to direct the intake air from the housing to the motorcycle engine, at least a portion of the air box housing being configured to be positioned within the recess in the lower surface of the fuel tank;
- a filter element coupled to the housing, the filter element configured to separate debris from the intake air;
- at least one pocket formed in the recess in the lower surface of the fuel tank;
- at least one mounting projection extending from the housing, the mounting projection being configured to be at least partially received within the at least one pocket when the air box housing is positioned within the recess; and
- a fastener configured to couple the airbox housing with the fuel tank at an interface between the at least one mounting projection and the at least one pocket.
13. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one mounting projection includes a first pair of mounting projections having coaxial apertures configured to receive the fastener.
14. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 13, wherein the aperture of one of the first pair of mounting projections includes a clearance aperture for the fastener and the aperture of the other of the first pair of mounting projections is a threaded aperture for engaging the fastener.
15. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 14, wherein the threaded aperture is provided by a threaded insert.
16. The fuel tank and airbox assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one mounting projection includes a second pair of mounting projections having coaxial apertures configured to receive a second fastener.
17. An air box for a motorcycle comprising:
- a housing defining an interior volume;
- a filter element positionable within the interior volume to separate debris from the intake air; and
- two pairs of mounting projections extending from an upper surface of the housing, the two mounting projections of each pair being spaced apart and including apertures that are coaxial with one another, a first common axis defined by the apertures of the first pair of mounting projections being spaced from and substantially parallel with a second common axis defined by the apertures of the second pair of mounting projections.
18. The air box of claim 17, wherein each pair of mounting projections is configured to receive a single fastener.
19. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 18, wherein each pair of mounting projections includes a first mounting projection having a clearance aperture for the fastener and a second mounting projection having a threaded aperture for engaging the fastener.
20. The fuel tank and air box assembly of claim 19, wherein the second mounting projection of each pair includes a threaded insert providing the threaded aperture.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 3, 2010
Publication Date: Jun 3, 2010
Applicant: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY GROUP, LLC (Milwaukee, WI)
Inventors: Gregory R. Schmidt (Port Washington, WI), Joseph R. Konshak (Menomonee Falls, WI), Frank Savage (West Bend, WI)
Application Number: 12/699,136
International Classification: B62M 7/02 (20060101);