TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present subject matter relates generally to a two-wheeled or three wheeled vehicle. More particularly but not exclusively the present subject matter relates to the location of an Acceleration position sensor (APS) unit in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, in internal combustion engine powered vehicles, required fuel is supplied to the engine through the throttle control unit. The throttle control body includes a valve that opens and allows required fuel to flow, based on the acceleration or throttle input applied by the rider of vehicle . In Electric vehicles, the traction power is supplied by a battery to a motor that drives a rear wheel. The battery supplies power based on input received from an electronic control unit (ECU). Said control unit receives signal from an acceleration position sensor that senses and transmits the position of the accelerator to the control unit. Based on this information, the torque or power requested by the driver can be supplied immediately. In drive-by-wire two or three wheeled vehicles, which may be configured with either a carburetor or a throttle body EFI system, the acceleration position sensor also performs similar function of sensing the demand from the user & providing the signal input to the ECU to perform necessary downstream function. [0003] Location of the acceleration position sensor, which is an important & relatively large in size component, becomes a major challenge while packaging the two-wheeled vehicle due to space constraints. Generally, in two-wheeled or three wheeled vehicles, said acceleration position sensor (APS) unit is mounted either near the control unit or handlebar region. [0004] In one scenario, the acceleration position sensor (APS) unit mounted near the handlebar region is positioned in proximity to the grip region of the handle bar. At this location, cover panels of the vehicle, also covers the handle bar, thereby covering the acceleration position sensor (APS) resulting in a bulky packaging for the handlebar region. Bulky handle bar regions are not preferable for the two wheelers as this cause customer discomfort. Additionally, if the vehicle falls, due to mishandling or some accident, the handlebar region gets the maximum impact, which leads to damages of the acceleration sensor unit causing vehicle immobility & potentially high cost of repair to the user. Additionally, higher mass disposition on the handle bar unit can disturb the balance of the handle bar unit thereby leading to handling problems like one side pulling of the vehicle or constant stress on the rider to counterbalance the imbalance while riding.

[0005] In another scenario, the acceleration position sensor (APS) unit is mounted near the control unit, which is typically placed in longitudinally middle region of the vehicle. This location of the acceleration position sensor results in long cable requirement, extending from the handlebar to the acceleration position sensor placed near the control unit. With higher distance between the acceleration lever on the handle bar and the acceleration position sensor, the output from the acceleration position sensor will not be accurate and can have lag, which may affect the traction performance of the vehicle. Additionally, with a longer length of the cable usage wear and tear of the cable increase which again adds to the maintenance cost for the customer. There also exists a challenge of enabling ease of assembly as well as ease of access for service of the APS unit.

[0006] Also, with high style requirements from the customers, packaging a two wheeler or three-wheeler is challenging due to high functional component requirement and limited space available to mount said functional components. Therefore, a secure and suitable location for mounting the acceleration position sensor becomes a challenge while packaging two-wheeled or three wheeled vehicles especially with a handle bar configuration where the rider is disposed axis- symmetrically along the longitudinal central plane of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 exemplarily illustrates a two-wheeled vehicle.

[0008] Figure 2 (a) & (b) exemplarily illustrates the magnified view of an APS unit placed between the first and second panel members. [0009] Figure 3 (a) and (b) exemplarily illustrates the APS unit mounted on the head pipe of the frame.

[00010] Figure 4 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the acceleration position sensor (APS) mounted on the head pipe of the vehicle frame. [00011] Figure 5 (a) exemplarily illustrates an enlarged local view of the APS unit.

[00012] Figure 5 (b) exemplarily illustrates an interfacing region between the front brakes and the APS unit.

[00013] Figure 6 exemplarily illustrates the mounting surfaces of the APS mounting brackets. [00014] Figure 7 and Figure 8 exemplarily illustrates the positioning of the APS unit with respect to a cable guide and the head pipe of the vehicle.

[00015] Figure 9 and 10 exemplarily illustrates a routing of a throttle cable from the handle bar assembly to the APS unit.

[00016] Figure 11 exemplarily illustrates the APS unit in a front view of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0001] The main objective of the present subject matter is to provide a secure stable and effective mounting location for an acceleration position sensor (APS) unit to achieve a compact layout of a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle. For the present subject matter, the two wheeled vehicle is described with an embodiment in an electric two-wheeled scooter type vehicle. However, the invention is applicable to any two wheeled or three wheeled vehicles in general including motorcycles, scooters, rickshaws etc. Said electric two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion includes a head pipe and a down tube. The acceleration position sensor (hereinafter APS) is mounted on the head pipe attached to the frame of the vehicle. The acceleration position sensor is mounted by the means of a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is disposed on the head pipe of the frame. The mounting of APS can be done in different configuration. [0002] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a location of APS unit which is easily accessible from either side of the two-wheeled vehicle. Placing the APS in a forward offset disposition to the head pipe results in easy access to the APS unit during assembly and thus helps in ease of assembly.

[0003] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide ease of serviceability to the customer. The APS unit is placed such that more than half region of the APS unit is covered by a second panel and remaining portion of the APS unit is covered by a first panel. The second panel covers the head pipe of the two-wheeled vehicle from the rear side of the two-wheeled vehicle. The first panel covers the head pipe from the front side of the two-wheeled vehicle. The first panel also accommodates a headlamp unit, a number plate, a pair of turn light signals, battery (if placed in front portion of vehicle), and other related components. The second panel covering the rear side of the head pipe is easy to remove for servicing purposes as compared to the first panel. In the present embodiment, user of the two wheeled vehicle need not to remove first panel and remove multiple components to access the APS unit, however the APS unit is accessible easily from second panel making serviceability easy. In a motorcycle type two wheeled vehicle, it can be the headlamp assembly or its constituent parts which can be easily dismantled to access the APS unit.

[0004] Another object of the present subject matter is to dispose the APS unit on the head pipe of the frame, such that the APS unit and the headlamp unit overlaps each other to ensure a secured location for the APS unit. In case of vehicle imbalance or mishandling leading to a fall or frontal crash of the vehicle, the headlamp unit will take the impact load and transfer it to the vehicle frame thereby keeping the APS unit stable and secure. Thus, the durability of APS unit is maintained.

[0005] According to another embodiment of the present subject matter, the mounting bracket used for mounting APS unit has four surfaces, a side surface, a top surface, a first rear surface, and a second rear surface. The APS unit rests on the side surface. The second rear surface & top surface forms an obtuse angle with the side surface. The first rear surface is formed by joining the second rear surface and top surfaces tangentially. With this configuration, a brake cable, which is typically routed through the front region of the head pipe, when in maximum extended condition, the brake cable or hose rests on the first rear surface of the APS mounting bracket so that the brake cable durability is not affected.

[0006] According to yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the mounting bracket used for mounting the APS unit is disposed in proximity to a cable guide at a predetermined distance D. This distance D, between the APS unit and the cable guide lies, as per an embodiment is in the range of 15mm to 55 mm depending upon the stiffness of the brake cable. The cable guide provides restriction for the brake cable and the throttle cable movement so that the cables do not interfere with the APS unit in rotated condition of the handlebar.

[0007] According to yet additional embodiment of the present subject matter, the acceleration position sensor (APS) unit is connected to a throttle cable which is routed such that the throttle cable forms an acute angle with a vertical axis of the head pipe when viewed from side of the vehicle. In an alternate embodiment, the throttle cable can be routed parallel to the vertical axis of the head pipe.

[0008] According to yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the throttle cable emerging out of the handlebar is routed from the rear part of the head pipe and moves to the front part terminating at the APS unit, when viewed from the front side of the vehicle.

[0009] According to yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, when the handlebar of said two-wheeled vehicle is rotated towards one side e.g. right direction, the brake cable routed in opposite region, i.e. left hand (LH) region of the head pipe, is in maximum extended condition. In this condition, the brake cables passing along with the head pipe in downward direction rests & is guided on the surface of the APS mounting bracket. This configuration results into adequate operable gap for the brake cable with the APS unit. The brake cables interface with the APS mounting brackets. Hence, no undesirable interference occurs between the brake cables and the APS unit.

[00010] According to yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the two-wheeled vehicle run by battery as a power source unit, the acceleration controlled by the APS unit is packaged near a column tube of the handlebar assembly.

[00011] According to yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the acceleration position sensor for the two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle is placed such that an axis of the acceleration position sensor disposed in a lateral direction is parallel to the ground. The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to an embodiment in a scooter type two wheeled electric vehicle along with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiments.

[00012] Fig. 1 exemplarily illustrates a schematic side view of a two wheeled vehicle 100 with body panels omitted for clarity. A frame structure of the two-wheeled vehicle 100 depicts a frame assembly having a front portion (F) and a rear portion (R). The front portion includes a head pipe 215 in the front part of the two-wheeled vehicle 100. A front suspension 113 is connected to the head pipe 215 at one end and to a front wheel 112 at the other end. A handlebar assembly 102 is placed at the upper end of the head pipe 215 of the two-wheeled vehicle 100. A cover handle assembly 101 (shown schematically) is provided to cover the handle bar 102 of the two-wheeled vehicle. A front brake cable or hose assembly 116 is connected to the handle bar assembly 102 and runs all the way downward along the front suspension 113 where it terminates and connects to the front wheel 112. The front portion (F) of the frame assembly is covered by a first panel 201 on its front side and is covered by a second panel 103 on its rear side. The frame assembly extends downward and runs backward of the two-wheeled vehicle 100. A seat assembly 106 is mounted at the rear side of the frame assembly. A rear wheel 109 is connected to one or more rear shock absorbers 108. The other end of the rear shock absorber 108 is connected to the rear portion (R) of the frame assembly. The rear portion (R) of the vehicle 100 is covered by a rear panel 107. A swingarm 110 is connected to the rear wheel 109 at one end. The other end of the swingarm 110 is connected to the frame assembly in forward longitudinal direction as that of the two-wheeled vehicle 100. [00013] Fig. 2 (a) and (b) exemplarily illustrates a magnified local view of an APS unit 204 placed between a first and a second panel respectively (201 and 103). The front part (F) of the frame assembly of the two-wheeled vehicle 100 below the handle bar assembly 102 is covered by the first panel 201. The rear side of the front part (F) of said frame assembly is covered by the second panel 103. As per an additional embodiment, the APS unit 204 is disposed such that at least a portion of the APS unit overlaps with a joining region 121 of the first and second panel respectively (201, 103) when seen in side view of the vehicle. The APS unit 204 is disposed on the head pipe 215 with at least a portion of the APS unit overlapping with the joining region 121. The APS unit 204 is positioned on the head pipe 215 such that more than half region of the APS unit 204 is overlappingly covered by the second panel 103 and remaining portion is covered by the first panel 201. This configuration results in easy access to an APS mounting fasteners 209 at the time of serviceability of the APS unit 204.

[00014] The Acceleration Position Sensor (APS) unit 204 is mounted on the head pipe 215 of the frame 104 as exemplarily illustrated in Fig. 3 (a) and Fig. 3 (b). The APS unit 204 is positioned below the handlebar 102. The APS unit 204 is mounted using an APS mounting bracket 206 which is attached to the head pipe 215 of the frame 104. The APS unit 204 is disposed in a forward offset to the head pipe 215. In another embodiment, the APS unit 204 is placed in a lateral left hand (LH) or right hand (RH) region of the head pipe 215 so as to enable a throttle cable 202 from the handlebar 102 to have reduced length. This reduction in length of the throttle cable 202 results in better efficiency & effective working of the APS unit 204. In addition, the positioning of APS unit 204 at one of the lateral region of the vehicle, results in ease of accessibility at the time of assembly as well as service or repair. In an alternate embodiment, as per packaging and layout requirements, the APS unit 204 may be mounted on the RH side of the head tube, or in front of the head tube.

[00015] Fig. 4 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the mounting of the APS unit 204 on the head pipe 215. The APS unit 204 is mounted on a mounting bracket 206 attached to the head pipe 215. In an additional embodiment, the APS unit 204 is mounted on the APS mounting bracket 206 using a number of APS mounting fasteners 209. The APS unit 204 is disposed within a region formed between two or more headlamp mounting bracket 205 when viewed from the side of the two-wheeled vehicle 100. The headlamp unit 203 is mounted to the headlamp mounting brackets 205 using a plurality of mounting fasteners (208, 210). The APS unit is disposed behind the headlamp unit 203 in order to provide a secure position for the APS unit 204. In case of any accident or any frontal impact to the vehicle 100, the headlamp unit 203 and the headlamp mounting brackets 205 take the impact force to prevent any damage to the APS unit 204. The headlamp brackets 205 transfers impact force to the frame 104 keeping the APS unit 204 stable and secure.

[00016] Fig.5(a) exemplarily illustrates an enlarged view of the APS unit 204 mounted to the head pipe 215 in a handle bar steered condition. When the handlebar 102 is rotated towards right, the front suspension 113 and the front brake cable or hose 116 are also rotated in the right direction. In the right rotated condition, the front brake cable or hose 116 and the APS mounting bracket 206 interface with each other creating an interfacing region 117, as exemplarily illustrated in Fig 5 (a). In the right rotated condition of the handlebar 102, the brake cable or hose 116 routed in the LH region of the head pipe 215 is in a maximum extended condition as exemplarily illustrated in Fig.5 (b). Even in the extended condition, due the mounting location of the APS unit, an adequate working gap 207 is created between the brake cable or hose 116 and the acceleration position sensor (APS) unit 204. Such gap 207 will ensure that the brake cables or hoses 116 does not interfere with the APS unit 204 and thus protects the brake cable or hose from getting damaged.

[00017] Referring to Fig. 6, the mounting bracket used for mounting the APS unit 204 have a side surface 211, a top surface 212, a first rear surface 214, and a second side surface 213. The APS unit 204 rests on the side surface 211. The second rear surface 213 & the top surface 212 form an obtuse angle with the side surface 211.The first rear surface 214 is formed by joining the second rear surface 213 & the top surface 212 tangentially. So, the interfacing surface or region 117 (not shown in this figure) thus formed helps the brake cables 116 (not shown in this figure) to rest on it during extreme extended steered conditions. With this configuration brake cable or hose 116 in maximum extended condition rests on the first rear surface 214 so that the brake cable durability does not get affected. This helps in maintaining the brake cable life under different operating conditions. [00018] Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 exemplarily illustrates positioning of the APS unit 204 with respect to the head pipe 215. In one of the embodiments, the throttle cable joining region axis on the APS unit 204 and the joining portion of the throttle cable 202 are disposed parallel to a head pipe axis 219 of the head pipe 215 with a predetermined offset D between them. In another embodiment, the throttle cable joining region axis on the APS unit 204 and the joining portion of the throttle cable 202 is disposed at an acute angle C with respect to the head pipe axis 219 of the head pipe 215 towards upward direction when viewed from side of the vehicle. This configuration provides ease of routing of the throttle cable 202 & also reduces assembly time.

[00019] As per an additional embodiment, A guide 224 is provided around the head pipe 215 for arresting the motion of the brake cable or hose 116 and the throttle cable 202 during handlebar rotation condition as shown in Fig 8. This guide 224 helps in keeping the brake cables or hose 116 and the throttle cable 202 in one stable position during movement of the handlebar 102 so that it does not interfere with the APS unit 204 or with any other vehicular components. The APS unit 204 is disposed in proximity to the cable guide 224 at a predetermined offset V from the guide 224 used for holding the brake cable or hose 116 and the throttle cable 202. This distance between the APS unit 204 and the cable guide 224 lies between the range of 15 mm to 55 mm depending upon the stiffness of the brake cable or hose 116 and the throttle cable 202. This position provides restriction of movement for the brake cables or hose 116 and the throttle cable 202. In addition, the gap 207 (shown in Fig 5(b)) created between the APS unit 204 and the brake cables or hose 116, wherein the brake cable or hose resting on the APS mounting bracket 206, prevents contact of the brake cable or hose 116 with APS unit 204 during the brake actuation condition. [00020] Fig. 9 and 10 exemplarily illustrates a routing of the throttle cable 202 from the handle bar grip assembly 217 to the APS unit 204 in a front view of the vehicle. The throttle cable 202 starts from the handle bar grip assembly 217 and terminates at the APS unit. The throttle cable 202 runs all the way in downward direction substantially along the head pipe 215. The throttle cable 202 from the handle bar grip assembly 217 is routed from the rear portion of the vertical axis 219 of the head pipe 215, and is routed towards the front portion of the vertical axis 219 of the head pipe 215 when viewed from the side of the vehicle 100. The throttle cable 202 thus terminates at the APS unit 204. [00021] Fig. 11 exemplarily illustrates the APS unit 204 in a front view of the vehicle 100. The APS unit 204 mounted on the head pipe 215 of the vehicle 100 have an axis 224 passing through the APS unit 204 when viewed from the front of the vehicle 100. This axis 224 is disposed in a lateral direction parallel to axis of the ground 225 to attain stability and to facilitate ease of mounting of the APS unit 204. This configuration helps in articulation of throttle cable 202 so that throttle cable length is also reduced.

List of Reference numerals:

100: Two- wheeled vehicle 101: Cover handle assembly 102: Handle bar

103: Second panel 104: Frame 106: Seat assembly 107: Rear panel 108: Rear Shock absorber

109: Rear wheel 110: Swing arm 112: Front wheel 113 : Front suspension 116: Front brake cable

117: Front brake cable & APS mounting bracket interfacing region 121: Front and rear parts joining line 201: First panel 202: Throttle cable 203 : headlamp unit

204: APS (Acceleration Position Sensor)

205 : Stay headlamp mounting brackets 206: APS mounting bracket 207: Gap 208: Stay headlamp top mounting fasteners 209: APS mounting fasteners 210: Stay headlamp bottom mounting fasteners 211: Front Surface 212: Top Surface 213: Side Surface

214: Rear Surface (formed by joining surface 212& 213 tangentially) 215: Head pipe 217: Handlebar grip assembly 219: Vertical axis of head pipe 224: Cable guide

V : Distance between the Cable guide and APS F : Front portion

R: Rear portion C: acute angle D: Throttle cable disposed parallel to head pipe axis 224: Axis from APS unit parallel to the ground

225: Ground