Air intake conduitry for a motorcycle

Abstract

A motorcycle includes a frame that mounts on engine and a fuel tank. The fuel tank is mounted above the engine. Air intake conduitry includes an upwardly extending intake pipe, an upwardly extending connecting pipe, and a connecting box immediately beneath the fuel tank, atop the intake and connecting pipers, which serves to connect them so as to provide an air intake conduit from the atmosphere to the engine. In a V-type engine, the pipes and box are disposed in the angle between the cylinders. In multi-bank engines, which utilize a pair of intake pipes, the connecting pipe, and also an air cleaner, can be disposed between them. When the fuel tank includes a pair of draped sides to form a saddle-like tank, the connecting box can be disposed between the draped sides.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination: a motorcycle frame;   a multi-bank, multi-cylinder V-type engine supported by said frame;   a fuel tank supported by said frame, said fuel tank being disposed above said engine and being generally V-shaped, with legs depending downwardly at each side; and   air intake conduitry comprising a respective air intake pipe extending upwardly from each bank of said engine, a connecting pipe extending substantially vertically adjacent to and between said intake pipes, and a connecting box disposed immediately beneath said fuel tank between said legs thereof, the upper ends of said air intake pipes also being disposed between said legs of said fuel tank, said connecting box interconnecting said upper ends of said intake pipes and said connecting pipe.   
     
     
       2. A combination according to claim 1 in which an air cleaner is disposed between said intake pipes and connected to the lower end of said connecting pipe. 
     
     
       3. A combination according to claim 2 in which the interior of said connecting box is so proportioned as to constitute an intake silencer. 
     
     
       4. A combination according to claim 1 in which there is a said intake pipe for each said cylinder. .Iadd. 
     
     
       5.  In combination: a motorcycle frame; a multi-bank, multi-cylinder V-type engine supported by said frame with its crankshaft extending transversely thereto, a fuel tank supported by said frame, said fuel tank being disposed above said engine and being generally V-shaped, with legs depending downwardly at each side; and air intake conduitry comprising a respective air intake pipe extending upwardly from each bank of said engine, a connecting box defining an inner cavity positioned in proximity to the valley of said V-type engine and contiguous to said fuel tank, said intake pipes all opening into the inner cavity of said connecting box, and an inlet device providing the air inlet to said connecting box, said inlet device being positioned in the area between said valley and said fuel tank and comprising an outlet communicating with said connecting box, an inlet and an air filter element interposed between said inlet and said outlet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the inlet device is positioned beneath the connecting box. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the connecting box is positioned at least in part between the depending legs of the fuel tank. .Iaddend.