Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6622666
-
Patent Number
6,622,666
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, January 22, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 23, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Yuen; Henry C.
- Ali; Hyder
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 123 411
- 123 4144
- 123 4172
- 123 4152
- 123 4133
- 123 4147
- 123 4182 R
- 180 682
- 180 683
- 180 681
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a front fender (12), and an engine (3) provided with water jackets and mounted on a body frame (F) at a position between front and rear wheels includes a radiator (45) provided with a water inlet (54) and disposed in a front part of the body frame (F), a water filling cup (16) provided with a water filling opening (16a), and a thermostat case (17) holding a thermostat (17a) therein. The water filling cup (16) is separated from the radiator (45). The water filling cup (16) and the thermostat case (17) are placed in a part of a connecting pipe connecting the water inlet(54) of the radiator (45) and the outlets (57, 58) of the water jackets of the engine (3) at the highest level in a cooling water circulating passage. A protruded portion (18) is formed on the front fender (12) so as to surround a steering shaft, and the water filling cup (16) and the thermostat case (17) are placed inside the protruded portion (18).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a water-cooled engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 8
, a conventional engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a water-cooled engine includes a radiator
101
, a cooling fan
102
disposed behind the radiator
101
, and a water reserve tank, not shown. The radiator
101
is covered with the front fender of the vehicle. A water filler port
106
is formed in the upper wall of the radiator
101
and is closed by a radiator cap
109
detachably attached to the radiator
101
. A water inlet
110
is formed in one upper corner of the rear surface of the radiator
101
at a level at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the radiator
101
. A water outlet
111
is formed in one lower corner of the rear surface of the radiator
101
. The water inlet
110
is connected to an outlet
113
of the water jacket of the engine by a return pipe
112
. The water outlet
111
is connected to a water pump
103
by a water supply pipe
116
. A thermostat, not shown, is placed in a cooling water outlet formed in the cylinder head of the engine. Prior art relating with the present invention is disclosed in JP-U No. Hei 5-10743.
When the radiator
101
provided with the water filler port
106
formed in the upper wall thereof as shown in
FIG. 8
is mounted on an all-terrain vehicle as shown in
FIG. 1
, the water filler port
106
is located near a position indicated by the arrow A in
FIG. 1
, i.e., a position near the lower surface of the front fender
12
. Therefore, when supplying water into the radiator
101
, the operator needs to reach out a hand through a gap between the lower surface of the front fender
12
and the upper end of a side panel
120
to remove the radiator cap
109
, which requires difficult work for supplying water into the radiator
101
.
The radiator
101
of the engine cooling system shown in
FIG. 8
is provided with the water filler port
106
in its upper wall to place the water filler port
106
at a desired level. However, only a limited space is available in the body of the vehicle for placing the radiator
101
and there are restrictions on the level of the radiator
101
. Consequently, the water filler port
106
cannot be located at a high level enough to secure a sufficient pressure head difference between the outlet
113
of the water jacket of the engine and the water filler port
106
. Thus, air remaining in the radiator
101
, the water jacket and the piping cannot be easily removed when supplying water into the radiator
101
, water must be supplied at a low rate and the work for supplying water into the radiator
101
takes much time.
Since the water inlet
110
of the radiator
101
is formed at a level at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the radiator
101
, air is not easy to escape from the radiator
101
when water is supplied into the radiator
101
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle, including a radiator provided with a radiator cap which can be easily put on and removed from the radiator and capable of being supplied with water by simple, efficient work, and capable of making difficult the accumulation of air in cooling water circulating passages.
According to the present invention, an engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a front fender, a steering handlebar and an engine provided with a water jacket and mounted on a body frame at a position between front and rear wheels comprises a radiator provided with a water inlet and disposed in a front part of the body frame, a water filling cup provided with a water filling opening covered with a cap, said water filling cup being formed as a different body from the radiator and a thermostat case holding a thermostat therein; wherein the water filling cup and the thermostat case are placed in a part of a connecting pipe connecting the water inlet of the radiator and an outlet of the water jacket, at the highest level in a cooling water circulating passage and located in a space under the front fender and near the steering handlebar.
In the engine cooling system thus configured, the position of the water filling cup is not subject to restrictions placed by the disposition of the radiator and the water filling cup can be disposed in a proper space in the body frame, such as a space near the steering handlebar for the efficient use of the space in the body frame. A large pressure head difference can be secured between the water filling opening of the water filling cup and the outlet of the water jacket of the engine, air remaining in the cooling water passage can be smoothly removed, water supplying work can be efficiently achieved, and air will not accumulate in the water jacket of the engine.
Preferably, a protruded portion may be formed on the front fender so as to surround a steering shaft connected to the steering handlebar, the water filling cup and the thermostat case may be placed inside the protruded portion, and the protruded portion may be provided with an access opening for the water filling cap.
Thus the water filling opening and the thermostat can be easily disposed at a high level, and the cap of the water filling cup can be easily removed by reaching out a hand through the access opening to the cap, and water can be easily supplied through the water filling opening of the water filling cup into the radiator.
Preferably, the water inlet of the radiator may be formed in the upper wall of the radiator.
Thus the connecting pipe connecting the water inlet of the radiator and the outlet of the water jacket of the engine can be easily arranged and air can be easily removed from the cooling water passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a side elevation of a saddle-type four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle equipped with an engine cooling system in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged side elevation of the engine cooling system shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is an enlarged side elevation of a thermostat case and a water filling cup shown in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is an exploded perspective view of a front fender;
FIG. 5
is an exploded perspective view of a side cover;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a body frame included in the all-terrain vehicle shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged plan view of the thermostat case and the water filling cup; and
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of a conventional engine cooling system for an all terrain vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIG. 1
showing a saddle-type four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle equipped with an engine cooling system in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, right and left front wheels
1
and right and left rear wheels
2
are suspended from a front part and a rear part, respectively, of a body frame F. A two-cylinder V engine
3
is mounted on a part of the body frame F between the front wheels
1
and the rear wheels
2
. An air cleaner
4
and a carburetor
5
are disposed above the engine
3
. A steering handlebar
7
is disposed above a front end part of the engine
3
. The engine
3
has a crankcase
8
, a front cylinder
10
tilted forward and held on the crankcase
8
and a rear cylinder
11
tilted rearward and held on the crankcase
8
.
A front fender
12
is fixed to a front part of the body frame F, and a rear fender
13
is fixed to a rear part of the body frame F. A side cover
14
is joined to the rear edge of the front fender
12
so as to extend on the right and the left side of the air leaner
4
and the carburetor
5
. An air cleaner cover
15
is detachably attached to an upper part of the side cover
14
so as to cover the air cleaner
4
. A saddle-type seat
6
is disposed behind the side cover
14
. A rear part of the seat
6
extends over the rear fender
13
.
A protruded portion
18
is formed integrally with a rear end part of the front fender
12
so as to surround a steering shaft
7
a
connected to a handlebar
7
. The protruded portion
18
surrounds a water filling cup
16
through which cooling water is supplied into a radiator
45
, a thermostat case
17
and the air intake pipe
19
of the air cleaner
4
. An access opening
34
is formed in a front part of the protruded portion
18
, and a cover
35
is detachably attached to the protruded portion
18
so as to cover the access opening
34
. A water reserve tank
9
is held on the left side wall of the crankcase
8
of the engine
3
.
Referring to
FIG. 6
showing the body frame F in a perspective view, the body frame F is built by welding together a pair of upper longitudinal pipes
21
, a pair of lower longitudinal pipes
22
, first front pipes
23
connecting the respective front ends of the upper pipes
21
and the corresponding lower pipes
22
, second front pipes
24
spaced a predetermined distance apart from the first front pipes
23
toward the rear and extended between the upper longitudinal pipes
21
and the lower longitudinal pipes
22
, a plurality of upper cross pipes
26
extended between the right and the left upper longitudinal pipes
21
, and a plurality of lower cross pipes
27
extended between the right and the left lower longitudinal pipes
22
. Rear end parts of the lower longitudinal pipes
22
are bent obliquely upward in curved parts
22
a
to form rising parts
29
tilted forward. The upper ends of the rising parts
29
are welded to the upper longitudinal pipes
22
. Rear support pipes
28
extending obliquely rearward and upward have front ends welded to the curved parts
22
a
, respectively, and rear ends welded to the rear ends of the upper longitudinal pipes
21
, respectively.
The distance between the lower ends of the first front pipes
23
are shorter than that between the upper ends of the same, and the distance between the lower ends of the second front pipes
24
are shorter than that between the upper ends of the same. The first front pipes
23
are tilted rearward. The first front pipes
23
are provided with brackets
36
for holding the radiator
45
. A suspension bracket
32
for supporting front suspensions is extended between parts of the upper longitudinal pipes
21
between the upper ends of the front pipes
23
and
24
. A thermostat support bracket
40
for supporting the thermostat case
17
is welded to a part of the left, upper longitudinal pipe
21
at a position behind the suspension bracket
32
. The bracket
40
has a cross section of an inverted letter L. The thermostat support bracket
40
has an upper part provided with a pair of through holes
41
.
Referring to
FIG. 4
showing the front fender
12
in an exploded perspective view, the front fender
12
has right and left front wheel covering parts
12
a
, and a hood part
12
b
between the right and the left front wheel covering parts
12
a
. The protruded portion
18
is formed on a rear end part of the hood part
12
b
. The protruded portion
18
has the shape of a half frustum. The access opening
34
having a laterally elongate shape is formed in a curved front part of the protruded portion
18
and a groove is formed along the edge of the access opening
34
. The cover
35
is detachably fitted in the groove formed along the edge of the access opening
34
. The front fender
12
and the cover
35
are formed of the same resin.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, the side cover
14
has an upper access opening
43
to permit access to the air cleaner
4
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, engine cooling system includes the radiator
45
held on the brackets
36
in front of the first front pipes
23
, a water pump
46
attached to a generator case, not shown, connected to the left side wall of the crankcase
8
, the water filling cup
16
disposed in the protruded portion
18
, the thermostat case
17
disposed in the protruded portion
18
, the water jacket of the engine
3
, the water reserve tank
9
, a supply pipe
47
, return pipes
48
and
49
, a water hose
50
for the radiator
45
, and a reserver pipe
51
connected to the water reserve tank
9
.
The radiator
45
is held on the brackets
36
so as to extend in a tilted position along the first front pipes
23
. A cooling fan
52
is disposed behind the radiator
45
. The water inlet
54
is formed in a left end part of the upper wall of the radiator
45
. The water hose
50
is connected to a water inlet
54
. The supply pipe
47
has one end connected to a water outlet
55
formed in a lower right corner of the back surface of the radiator
45
and the other end connected to a suction port of the water pump
46
.
A discharge port of the water pump
46
communicates with the water jackets of the cylinders
10
and
11
by means of cooling water passages formed in the generator case and the crankcase
8
. The water jackets are connected to water outlets
57
and
58
formed in upper end parts of the cylinders
10
and
11
. The return pipes
48
and
49
are connected to the water outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets, respectively.
Referring to
FIG. 3
showing the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
in an enlarged side elevation, the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
are separated from the radiator
45
and are disposed on levels above the upper longitudinal pipes
21
. The thermostat case
17
is supported on the upper part of the thermostat support bracket
40
. A thermostat
17
a
is held in the thermostat case
17
. The thermostat
17
a
opens the water passage between the water outlets
57
,
58
of the water jacket and the water inlet
54
of the radiator
50
when the temperature of the cooling water rises beyond a predetermined temperature and closes the same while the temperature of the cooling water is below the predetermined temperature. An air passage is formed in the thermostat
17
a
to enable air to flow from a lower inlet side toward an upper outlet side even if the water passage is closed by the thermostat
17
a
. The water filling cup
16
has an upper water filling opening
16
a
. A cap
56
is attached to the water filling cup
16
so as to close the water filling opening
16
a.
Referring to
FIG. 7
showing the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
in a plan view, the thermostat case is fastened to the upper part of the bracket
40
with two bolts
60
. Bifurcate water inlet pipes
61
and
62
are formed integrally with the thermostat case
17
so as to extend toward the rear. The return pipes
48
and
49
are connected to the water inlet pipes
61
and
62
, respectively. A water outlet pipe
63
provided with a flange at its extremity is formed integrally with an upper part of the thermostat case
17
so as to extend toward the right. The water filling cup
16
is fastened to the flange of the water outlet pipe
63
with bolts. A connecting pipe
64
extends rearward from the water filling cup
16
and is connected to the water reserve tank
9
by the reserver pipe
51
. A connecting pipe
65
extends forward from the water filling cup
16
and is connected to the radiator
45
by the water hose
50
. The thermostat case
17
is provided with a temperature sensor
66
for measuring the temperature of the cooling water. A warning lamp placed on the instrument panel of the vehicle is turned on when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor
66
is higher than a predetermined temperature.
Referring again to
FIG. 2
, the reserver pipe
51
extends from the water filling cup
16
downward along the second front pipe
24
and is connected to a connecting pipe
9
a
projecting from a front part of the water reserve tank
9
. The water hose
50
extends upward from the water inlet
54
formed in the upper wall of the radiator
45
, is bent rearward at a position on a level above the upper longitudinal pipe
21
of the body frame F and slopes up gradually toward the water filling cup
16
. A middle part of the water hose
50
is held through an elastic pad on the suspension bracket
32
. The return pipes
48
and
49
slope up continuously from the water outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets toward the thermostat case
17
and are connected to the water inlet pipes
61
and
62
of the thermostat case
17
.
Thus the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
are disposed at the level above the upper longitudinal pipes
21
and at a position between the return pipes
48
and
49
connected to the water outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets, and the water hose
50
connected to the water inlet
54
of the radiator
45
, and the return pipes
48
and
49
and the water hose
50
slope up respectively toward the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
. Thus, the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
are located at the highest position in the cooling water circulating passage.
While the temperature of the cooling water in the thermostat case
17
is lower than the predetermined temperature after the engine
3
has been started, the thermostat
17
a
held in the thermostat case
17
keeps the water passage closed and hence the cooling water is scarcely circulated. The thermostat
17
a
opens the water passage after the temperature of the cooling water in the thermostat case has risen beyond the predetermined temperature. Then the cooling water discharged through the water outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets of the engine
3
flows through the return pipes
48
and
49
, the thermostat case
17
, the water filling cup
16
, the water hose
50
and the water inlet
54
into the radiator
45
. The cooling water cooled while the same is flowing through the radiator
45
is sucked through the supply pipe
47
into the water pump
46
and is pumped by the water pump
46
into the water jackets of the engine
3
. Thus the cooling water is circulated through the cooling water circulating passage including the radiator
45
to cool the engine
3
.
The cooling water is inspected before using the engine
3
for the first time. If the cooling water is insufficient, the cover
35
is removed from the protruded portion
18
, a hand is inserted through the access opening
34
into the protruded portion
18
to remove the cap
56
, and then cooling water is supplied through the water filling opening
16
a
into the engine cooling system. Normally, the water passage is closed by the thermostat
17
a
when cooling water is thus supplied through the water filling opening
16
a
into the engine cooling system. Therefore, most part of the cooling water supplied through the water filling opening
16
a
of the water filling cup
16
flows through the water hose
50
and the water inlet
54
into the radiator
45
. Then the cooling water flows through the supply pipe
47
and the water pump
46
into the water jackets of the engine
3
. When the cooling water is thus supplied, air remaining in the water jackets bleeds through the return pipes
48
and
49
and the thermostat case
17
and is discharged through the water filling opening
16
a
. Air remaining in the radiator
45
bleeds through the water inlet
54
formed in the upper wall thereof into the water filling cup
16
and is discharged through the water filling opening
16
a.
Since the water filling cup
16
is disposed at the level above the upper longitudinal pipes
21
, the pressure head differences between the pressure head at the water filling opening
16
a
at a level H
1
, and the pressure heads at the water outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets of the engine
3
and the water inlet
54
of the radiator
45
at levels H
2
, H
3
and H
4
, respectively, are large. Therefore, the cooling water supplied through the water filling opening
16
a
is able to flow quickly through the radiator
45
into the water jackets.
Naturally, the present invention is applicable to other all-terrain vehicles other than the all-terrain vehicle specifically described herein and provided with other types of engines or engines having other number of cylinders other than two cylinders.
In the engine cooling system according to the embodiment of the present invention for the all-terrain vehicle provided with the engine
3
mounted on the body frame F at a position between the front and the rear wheels, the radiator
45
is disposed in the front part of the body frame F, the water filling cup
16
provided with the water filling opening
16
a
is separated from the radiator
45
, and the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat
17
a
are placed at the highest level in a part of the water passage between the water inlet
54
of the radiator
45
and the outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets in the cooling water circulating passage, and in a space under the front fender and near the steering handlebar. Thus, the pressure head differences between the pressure head at the water filling opening
16
a
, and the pressure heads at the water outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets of the engine
3
are large. Therefore, air remaining in the cooling water circulating passage is able to bleed easily and water supplying work can be efficiently carried out. Air remaining in the water jackets of the engine
3
is able to bleed smoothly when cooling water is supplied through the water filling opening
16
a
into the engine cooling system.
In the engine cooling system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the protruded portion
18
is formed on the front fender
12
so as to surround the steering shaft
7
a
, the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
holding the thermostat
17
a
therein, and the protruded portion
18
provided with the access opening
34
. Thus the water filling opening
16
a
of the water filling cup
16
and the thermostat case
17
holding the thermostat
17
a
therein can be easily disposed at a high level, and the cap
56
of the water filling cup
16
can be easily removed by reaching out a hand through the access opening
34
to the cap
56
, and water can be easily supplied through the water filling opening
16
a
of the water filling cup
16
into the engine cooling system.
In the engine cooling system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the water inlet
54
is formed in the upper wall of the radiator
45
. Thus the connecting line connecting the water inlet
54
of the radiator
45
and the outlets
57
and
58
of the water jackets of the engine
3
can be easily arranged and air can be easily removed from the cooling water circulating passage and cooling water can be easily supplied into the engine cooling system.
Although the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment with a certain degree of particularity, obviously many changes and variations are possible therein. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.
Claims
- 1. An engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a front fender, a steering handlebar and an engine provided with a water jacket and mounted on a body frame at a position between front and rear wheels, said engine cooling system comprising:a radiator provided with a water inlet and disposed in a front part of the body frame; a water filling cup provided with a water filling opening covered with a cap, said water filling cup being formed as a different body from the radiator; a thermostat case holding a thermostat therein, the thermostat case having an inlet and an outlet, the thermostat case being formed integrally with the water filling cup such that the outlet communicates with the water filling cup; a first connecting pipe for connecting an outlet of the water jacket of the engine and the inlet of the thermostat case, the first connecting pipe being arranged so as to extend upward from the outlet of the water jacket to the inlet of the thermostat case; and a second connecting pipe for connecting an inlet of the radiator and the water filling cup, the second connecting pipe being arranged so as to extend downward from the water filling cup to the inlet of the radiator, wherein the water filling cup and the thermostat case with the thermostat are placed apart from the radiator and the outlet of the water jacket of the engine, at the highest part of a cooling water circulating passage of the engine cooling system, and are located in a space under the front fender and near the steering handlebar.
- 2. The engine cooling system according to claim 1, wherein a protruded portion is formed on the front fender so as to surround a steering shaft connected to the steering handlebar, the water filling cup and the thermostat case are placed inside the protruded portion, and the protruded portion is provided with an access opening for the water filling cap.
- 3. The engine cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the water inlet of the radiator is formed in an upper wall of the radiator.
- 4. The engine cooling system according to claim 1,wherein the engine is a two-cylinder V engine having a front cylinder tilted forward and a rear cylinder tilted rearward, each of the front cylinder and the rear cylinder has the outlet of the water jacket on an upper part of each of the cylinders, and the thermostat case has two inlets, each of the two inlets and the outlet provided in each of the cylinders is connected independently to each other by the first connecting pipe.
- 5. The engine cooling system according to claim 1, further comprising fastening means for fastening the thermostat case and the water filling cup to each other and for fitting the thermostat case and the water filling cup on a part of the body frame existing between the radiator and the engine.
- 6. An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:an engine provided with a water jacket and mounted on a body frame at a position between front and rear wheels; a radiator provided with a water inlet and disposed in a front part the body frame; a steering handlebar disposed between the engine and the radiator; a front fender covering a front part of the body frame and disposed forward to the engine; and an engine cooling system for cooling the engine; said engine cooling system comprising: a water filling cup provided with a water filling opening covered with a cap, said water filling cup being formed as a different body from the radiator; a thermostat case holding a thermostat therein, the thermostat case having an inlet and an outlet, the thermostat case being formed integrally with the water filling cup such that the outlet communicates with the water filling cup; a first connecting pipe for connecting an outlet of the water jacket of the engine and the inlet of the thermostat case, the first connecting pipe being arranged so as to extend upward from the outlet of the water jacket to the inlet of the thermostat case; and a second connecting pipe for connecting an inlet of the radiator and the water filling cup, the second connecting pipe being arranged so as to extend downward from the water filling cup to the inlet of the radiator, wherein the water filling cup and the thermostat case with the thermostat are placed, apart from the radiator and the outlet of the water jacket of the engine, at the highest part of a cooling water circulating passage of the engine cooling system, and are located in a space under the front fender and near the steering handlebar.
- 7. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a protruded portion is formed on the front fender so as to surround a steering shaft connected to the steering handlebar, the water filling cup and the thermostat case are placed inside the protruded portion, and the protruded portion is provided with an access opening for the water filling cap.
- 8. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the water inlet of the radiator is formed in an upper wall of the radiator.
- 9. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 6,wherein the engine is a two-cylinder V engine having a front cylinder tilted forward and a rear cylinder tilted rearward, each of the front cylinder and the rear cylinder has the outlet of the water jacket on an upper part of each of the cylinders, and the thermostat case has two inlets, each of the two inlets and the outlet provided in each of the cylinders is connected independently to each other by the first connecting pipe.
- 10. An engine cooling system for an all-terrain vehicle provided with a front fender, a steering handlebar and an engine provided with a water jacket and mounted on a body frame at a position between front and rear wheels, said engine codling system comprising:a radiator provided with a water inlet and disposed in a front part of the body frame; a water filling cup provided with a water filling opening covered with a cap, said water filling cup being formed as a different body from the radiator; and a thermostat case holding a thermostat therein, wherein the water filling cup and the thermostat case are placed in a part of a connecting pipe connecting the water inlet of the radiator and an outlet of the water jacket, at the highest part of a cooling water circulating passage and located in a space under the front fender and near the steering handlebar, and wherein a protruded portion is formed on the front fender so as to surround a steering shaft connected to the steering handlebar, the water filling cup and the thermostat case are placed inside the protruded portion, and the protruded portion is provided with an access opening for the water filling cap.
- 11. The engine cooling system according to claim 10, wherein the water inlet of the radiator is formed in an upper wall of the radiator.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2001-014570 |
Jan 2001 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5410991 |
Beaudry et al. |
May 1995 |
A |
6454040 |
Fukuda |
Sep 2002 |
B1 |
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3-117614 |
May 1991 |
JP |
5-10743 |
Feb 1993 |
JP |