TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present subject matter generally relates to a saddle type vehicle. The present subject matter specifically but not exclusively relates to an ECU mounting structure in a saddle type vehicle e.g a motorcycle type vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] An Engine control unit (henceforth to be referred ECU) is a core component of a saddle type two-wheeled vehicle for managing the function of the power unit such as internal combustion engine. The ECU controls a series of actuators to ensure proper functioning of the internal combustion engine. The ECU takes a multitude of values from the sensors mounted at various locations in the vehicle and based on the look up table or program configured in the ECU, it makes decisions related to the air-fuel mixture, ignition timing, idle speed etc. & releases signal to the downstream system of the vehicle accordingly.

[0003] ECU also sends out signal to electric components installed such as an instrument cluster, headlamp, tail lamp to act upon the signal received by such electric components.

[0004] In a motor cycle type vehicle the ECU is generally mounted on the outside of the seat rail and the ECU requires a cover member to prevent from any direct impact or outside environmental factors such as water or dust entry. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The detailed description is described with reference to a two wheeled saddle type motorcycle along with the accompanying figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.

[0006] Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary view of the left side of the motorcycle type vehicle. [0007] Fig. 2 illustrates depicts a side view of the vehicle in order to illustrate the mounting of the engine control unit on the vehicle.

[0008] Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of the vehicle depicting the mounting of the engine control unit on the central tube and below a fuel tank assembly. [0009] Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the vehicle depicting the mounting of the engine control unit on the ECU bracket and below a fuel tank assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00010] An ECU known in art is typically mounted on the outside of the seat rail requiring an extra cover demands for a change in the shape of the vehicle’s body which may affect the ergonomic properties of the vehicle and change of the shape also affect the ergonomic requirements of the vehicle and the aesthetic aspect of the vehicle. Due to an extra cover, the adjustment done on the other components may lead to reduction or compromise on the size of the utility box or relocating the battery or reducing the battery all of which are undesirable. [00011] Further, placing the ECU on the outside of the seat rail makes the ECU susceptible to theft or tampering as one can easily remove the outer cover for the seat of the vehicle and remove the ECU by unplugging the couplers.

[00012] Hence, it is an object of the present subject matter to provide an ECU mounting structure in a saddle type vehicle such that the ECU is mounted in a secure, stable & safe configuration overcoming all above cited problems or trade offs. As per the present invention, A space is created between a rear end of the fuel tank and a pair of side frames enabling the mounting of the ECU. The placing of the ECU below the fuel tank overcomes the problems associated with the requirement of the extra cover which adversely affects the ergonomic properties. Also, the present solution deters a person making an attempt to steal or fiddle with the ECU as providing the ECU immediately below the fuel tank makes the ECU inaccessible.

[00013] Another aspect of the present subject matter is to provide an ECU mounting bracket onto which the ECU is mounted. The ECU bracket is fixedly attached to a left hand side frame and a right hand side frame enabling mounting of the ECU on the ECU bracket.

[00014] Yet another aspect of the present subject matter is to provide ECU mounting on a front rail such as a centre tube located below the fuel tank assembly. The space created between the centre tube and the fuel tank assembly is configured to mount the ECU using a rubber boot. The ECU is mounted on the centre tube such that the ECU faces in the direction of the fuel tank assembly. The front rail can be a single tube structure extending below at the centre of the fuel tank or the front rail can be a pair of tubes extending below the fuel tank on each right hand side and a left hand side e.g. in trellis frame structure.

[00015] Another aspect of the present subject matter provides the ECU securely placed below a rear portion of the fuel tank assembly and above a front portion of the side frame of the vehicle. By providing the ECU below the fuel tank assembly, the configuration enables in achieving a compact packaging of the vehicle as no extra space is required to safely & securely dispose the ECU and at the same time the ECU remains secure from any vibration or shock loads as well as any outside factor or any impact from vehicle fall. Any potential malfunction or damage to the ECU can lead to catastrophic failure of the vehicle which can be fatal especially if the vehicle is in motion.

[00016] Yet another aspect of the present subject matter provides the ECU mounting in such a manner that an Engine Management System (henceforth to be referred EMS) is located immediately below the ECU. The EMS comprises of a fuel injector and throttle position sensor-map. This enables in reducing the length of the wire harness from the EMS to the ECU.

[00017] Another aspect of the present subject matter provides the ECU positioned in proximity to the battery box carrying a battery, the engine which makes the routing of the wiring quite simple and reduces the length of the wire thereby reducing the cost. [00018] Fig. 1 is a left side of the motorcycle type vehicle (100) (henceforth to be referred ‘the vehicle’)· According to one aspect of the present invention, the vehicle (100) includes the body frame (not shown) schematically configured to mount the fuel tank assembly (109) for disposing vapor tube in fuel tank assembly (109). In a front portion (F) of the vehicle (100), a steering shaft (not shown) is supported rotatable in a certain range. Further a handlebar (105) is rotatable integrally connected to the steering shaft for steering the vehicle (100) and is connected to a front wheel (108) through the steering shaft. A steering handle (118) is rotatable supported, independently of a front fork assembly (106), on a steering stem provided on the head tube an upper portion of the front wheel is covered by a front fender (107) which prevents mud and water from getting deflected towards the steering shaft. The front wheel (108) is rotatably mounted on the front portion (F) thereof and a rear wheel (117) is rotatable mounted on a rear portion (R) thereof. Further, the front fork assembly (106) is mounted over the front fender (107). In a portion lying ahead of the front fork assembly (106), a lighting device for example as a headlamp (103), a pair of signaling devices like as turn signal lamps (not shown), a display device like as a speedometer (not shown) are housed by a holding structure (not shown) mounted thereto. The portion, lying at the backside of the vehicle (100), includes the tail lamp (115), a rear fender (116) which prevents the entry of mud and water from getting deflected. An adjustable windscreen (102) is mounted to the front of the vehicle (100). A pair of rear view mirror (104) comprises a casing, the casing having a front mirror for reflecting the image of traffic approaching from behind. At least one of a right & left side shock absorber (112) is placed which gives better ride experience to the rider. A two legged stand (not shown) is used to support and hold the vehicle (100). The stand (not shown) moves on a pivot (not shown) to take up two positions, one folded up and the other on the ground.

[00019] Further in Fig.l, in the front portion (F) of the vehicle (100), the fuel tank assembly (109) is arranged immediately behind the head tube (not shown) and is disposed over an internal combustion engine (114). A seat assembly (111) is disposed immediately behind the fuel tank assembly (109). Below the seat assembly (11), on both sides of the vehicle (100), a side cover (110) covers the side frame (101) (refer fig. 2) and the rear down frame (121) (refer fig. 2). A pillion handle (113) is disposed rearward of the seat assembly. Suspension systems are provided for comfortable steering of the vehicle on the road. The front fork assembly (106) forms the front suspension system and serves as a rigidity component. An internal combustion engine (114) is mounted to a front lower portion of the vehicle body frame by means of an engine mounting bracket (not shown). An internal combustion engine (114) is equipped with an exhaust system that includes an exhaust pipe (not shown) connected to the engine and a muffler (not shown) connected to the exhaust pipe. The vehicle body frame comprises a head tube), a down tube (203) (refer fig.2) extending in a down wards direction from the head tube and toward the ground and the down tube (203) enables the mounting of the engine assembly (407)(Refer fig. 2) comprising the internal combustion engine (114) and the exhaust system. The vehicle body frame further comprises one or more front rail such as center tube at the vehicle body center extending rearwards from the head tube (403) (Refer fig.3) and extends towards the rear end of the vehicle and terminating at the side frame front (404,405) (Refer fig.3) or one or more front rail extending in both left and right sides the fuel tank and providing support to the fuel tank. The side frame front (404,405) forms a part of a left hand side frame (201) and a right hand side frame (202) which functions as a side rail to support the seat assembly (111).

[00020] Fig. 2 depicts a side view of the vehicle in order to illustrate the mounting of the engine control unit (henceforth to be referred as ECU (200) on the vehicle. In one of the embodiments the ECU (200) is mounted on the center tube (402) (Refer fig.3) and immediately below the fuel tank assembly (109) and above the engine assembly (407) such that the ECU (200) is mounted on the center tube (402) with the help of a round strap (401) such as a rubber boot. The location of the ECU (200) immediately below the fuel tank assembly (109) and immediately above the center tube (402) or immediately below the fuel tank assembly (109) and immediately above ECU mounting bracket (208) (fixedly attached to the side frames) prevents the theft of the ECU (200) as the location makes the ECU (200) inaccessible.

[00021] In another embodiment, the ECU (200) is located immediately above a left hand side frame (201) and a right hand side frame (202) such that an ECU bracket (208) is fixedly attached to the left hand side frame (201) and the right hand side frame (202) enabling mounting of the ECU (200) on the ECU bracket (208). The ECU (200) is securely placed below the rear portion of the fuel tank assembly (109) and immediately above the front portion of the side frames of the vehicle.

[00022] A space created between the rear end of the fuel tank assembly (109) and the side frames enables the mounting of the ECU (200) on the ECU bracket (208). The ECU (200) is located in such a manner that the engine management system (EMS) (not shown) is positioned immediately below the ECU (200). The EMS comprises of a fuel injector and throttle position sensor-map. The ECU (200) is placed in proximity to a battery box (204) (refer fig.2) where a battery is securely disposed and above the engine assembly (407) which makes the routing of the cable from the ECU (200) to the engine assembly (407) simple and reduces the length of the wire thereby reducing the overall cost of the vehicle.

[00023] Fig. 3 illustrates a top view of the vehicle. Fig. 3 shows a center tube (402) running along the vehicle body center extending rearwards from the head tube (403) and extends towards the rear end of the vehicle and terminating at the side frame front (404,405). One end of the ECU bracket (208) is fixedly attached to the meeting point of the center tube (402) and both the side frames (201,202) and the other end of the ECU bracket (208) is fixedly attached to a seat support structure (410). The ECU bracket (208) also takes the support of the side frame front (404,405) and the ECU bracket (208) arranged along a center line (CC’) which extends from the head tube (403) and towards the rear end of the vehicle, along the center tube (402). Below the center tube (402), an engine assembly (407) is installed which comprises a cylinder head (406) of the internal combustion engine (114). The engine assembly (407) is located below a fuel tank assembly (109) and a down tube such that the cylinder head is inclined to form a negative slope with respect to the ground (taken as reference). A clutch system (not shown) is located in juxtaposition to the engine assembly (407) and the clutch system is provided with a clutch cover (409) to protect the clutch system from any foreign material.

[00024] Further, an air fdter (408) is provided below on the right side of the vehicle to fdter the air taken in for the purpose of combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber of the engine. The ECU is securely adapted on the center tube (402) by using a loop structure and the ECU is introduced within the loop structure by sliding the ECU inside the loop structure. The loop structure is mounted on the rear end of center tube (402). The ECU is adapted inside the loop structure in such a way that the cables coming out of the ECU is in the rear direction which allows easy connection with the battery and the close proximity with the battery case reduces the length of the wire and hence the problem of voltage drop due to the length of the wire also decreases. Also, the mounting of the ECU over the top tube enables ease in the branching of the wiring harness on both the right hand side frame and left hand side frame of the vehicle.

[00025] Fig. 4 illustrates the mounting of the engine control unit on the ECU bracket and below a fuel tank assembly. The ECU (200) is mounted on the ECU bracket (408) and a round strap (401) such as a rubber boot holds the ECU (200) at one place in a stable & secure manner and does not allows the ECU (200) to move from its intended position during the riding condition of the vehicle or in a case when the vehicle falls down.