# US 10,502,310 B2 · Cover structure for the transmission of a motorcycle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,310 B2 - Document ID: US10502310B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/564,998 - Filed: 2016-04-13 - Published: 2018-05-03 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-16 - Assignees: Piaggio & C. S.P.A. - Applicants: Piaggio & C. S.p.A - Inventors: Stefano Doveri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502310B2 ## CPC - F16H 57/0416: {Air cooling or ventilation} - B60K 11/06: with air cooling - B60K 17/00: Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles - F16H 57/031: characterised by covers or lids for gearboxes - F16H 57/035: Gearboxes for gearing with endless flexible members - F16H 57/04: Features relating to lubrication or cooling {or heating} (control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165) - F16H 57/0489: {with endless flexible members, e.g. belt CVTs} - F16H: GEARING - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A protective cover structure for a motorcycle transmission allows the entrance of clean air. The cover includes: a first cover member to protect the transmission members, longitudinally extending along a direction which coincides with the travel direction, from a receding front area, corresponding to the engine axis, to a rear area corresponding to the rear wheel drive axis, and an inlet hole positioned at an inlet port of the transmission at the receding front area; a second cover member overlapping the receding front area to protect the inlet hole, forming, with the first cover member, an air intake extending from an upper to a lower edge of the first cover member, defining an inlet section, oriented opposite to the motorcycle travel direction; and a baffle, disposed between the first and the second cover members at said air intake, forming a channel driving the air upwardly to the inlet hole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cover structure (1) for a motorcycle transmission, arranged sideways to protect a transmission member transmitting a driving force from an engine to a rear wheel, comprising: a first cover member (2) configured to protect said transmission members, longitudinally extending along a direction which coincides with a direction of travel (F), from a receding front area (4), corresponding to an engine axis, to a rear area (13) corresponding to a driven axis of the rear wheel, and comprising an inlet hole (6) positioned at an inlet port of the transmission at said receding front area (4); a second cover member (3) partially overlapping said receding front area (4) to protect said inlet hole (6), forming, with the said first cover member (2), an air intake (19) at a portion of the receding front area left uncovered by said second cover member (3), extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the first cover member (2) and defining an air inlet section facing said rear area (13), oriented in a direction opposite to the motorcycle direction of travel (F); a baffle (20), disposed between the first and the second cover members (2, 3) at said air intake (19), in such a way as to form a channel driving air upwardly to said inlet hole (6); and a base plate (5) arranged between the first and second cover members (2, 3), said base plate (5) having an opening corresponding to the inlet hole (6) and sealed to the first cover member (2), wherein the base plate (5) has a groove (33) contouring said inlet hole (6) and providing an airtight seat for an edge wall (23) perpendicularly projecting from an inner face of said second cover member (3) and partially contouring the inlet hole (6) having a closed curved profile, to form an annular space within a space between the base plate (5) and the second cover member (3). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cover structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein said air intake (19) has an end thereof, corresponding to said upper edge of the first cover member (2), that is positioned closer to the rear area (13) than an opposite end on the lower edge, the air intake (19) having a profile tilted towards the rear area (13). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cover structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein, at the air intake (19), slats (12) are formed between the first and the second cover members (2, 3) to form a louvered structure in correspondence with the air intake (19). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cover structure (1) according to claim 3, wherein both said baffle (20) and the slats (12) are tilted according to a direction opposite to the tiling direction of the air intake (19) profile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cover structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the base plate (5) further comprises a seat (8) contouring said inlet hole (6), for receiving a filter (21). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cover structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inlet section of the air intake (19) remains below a level defined by an outer surface of the second cover member (3) and by an outer surface of the rear area (13) of the first cover member (2). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cover structure (1) according to claim 6, wherein the front receding area (4) is joined with the rear area (13) by a sloped ramp (40). ### Claim 8 A cover structure (1) for a motorcycle transmission, arranged sideways to protect a transmission member transmitting a driving force from an engine to a rear wheel, comprising: a first cover member (2) configured to protect said transmission members, longitudinally extending along a direction which coincides with a direction of travel (F), from a receding front area (4), corresponding to an engine axis, to a rear area (13) corresponding to a driven axis of the rear wheel, and comprising an inlet hole (6) positioned at an inlet port of the transmission at said receding front area (4); a second cover member (3) partially overlapping said receding front area (4) to protect said inlet hole (6), forming, with the said first cover member (2), an air intake (19) at a portion of the receding front area left uncovered by said second cover member (3), extending from an upper edge to a lower edge of the first cover member (2) and defining an air inlet section facing said rear area (13), oriented in a direction opposite to the motorcycle direction of travel (F); and a baffle (20), disposed between the first and the second cover members (2, 3) at said air intake (19), in such a way as to form a channel driving air upwardly to said inlet hole (6); wherein the inlet section of the air intake (19) remains below a level defined by an outer surface of the second cover member (3) and by an outer surface of the rear area (13) of the first cover member (2), the front receding area (4) is joined with the rear area (13) by a sloped ramp (40) and wherein said front receding area (4) generally occupies two thirds of an overall longitudinal extension of the first cover member (2), while the second cover member (3) covers one third of the overall longitudinal extension, starting from a front end thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cover structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the baffle (20) is a continuation of the edge wall (23) of said second cover member (3). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cover structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein, from an inlet section of the air intake (19) to a narrowed inlet section (A) at a terminal end (41) of the baffle (20), a flow area gradually decreases since the baffle (20) and the edge wall (23) of the second cover member (3) form a narrowing funnel directing an air flow along a direction substantially tangential to the edge wall (23) encircling the inlet hole (6). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cover structure (1) according to claim 10, wherein said narrowed inlet section (A) defined by the terminal end (41) of the baffle (2) has a flow area which is less than or equal to 50% of a corresponding flow area defined by the inlet section of the air intake (19). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cover structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the front edge of the second cover member (3) is located at the front end of the first cover member (2), and a portion of the receding front area (4) left uncovered by the second cover member (3) achieves a calm zone from which an air flow is drawn through said air intake (19). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cover structure (1) according to claim 12, wherein an outer surfaces of the second cover member (3) and of the rear surface (13) forms one outer flat surface, defining a common outer surface of the cover structure (1).