Motor vehicles – Special wheel base – Having only two wheels
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-01
2001-02-20
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
Special wheel base
Having only two wheels
C474S133000, C474S135000, C474S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189639
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chain roller structure in a chain driven vehicle such as a motorcycle.
2. Description of Background Art
A chain roller structure in a motorcycle is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-60388 entitled “Slack Prevention Device for Drive Chain in Motorcycle”, for example. According to
FIG. 2
in this publication, the prior art chain roller structure includes a swing arm
16
pivotably supported at its one end to a body of the motorcycle, a roller
15
rotatably supported to the other end of the swing arm
16
, a fixed arm
21
located below the swing arm
16
and welded to the body, and an adjusting bolt
23
mounted to the fixed arm
21
in perpendicular relationship to the swing arm
16
so that an upper portion of the adjusting bolt
23
abuts against the swing arm
16
. The roller
15
functions to apply an upward force to a drive chain
1
, thereby preventing slack of the drive chain
1
.
The roller
15
is generally formed of a hard resin in consideration of wear resistance, resulting in poor shock absorptivity.
In a kind of motorcycle called an off-road motorcycle, there is a possibility of hopping (large vertical movement) upon deceleration during running on an unpaved rough road such as a mountain road. At this time, tension is cyclically applied to the chain
1
in a driving direction and a decelerating direction, and this chain tension becomes higher than that during normal running. The cycle of generation of such a high chain tension is about 15 times per second.
When the chain tension acts on a lower portion of the chain (in the decelerating direction) and the lower portion comes into contact with the roller
15
located below the chain, a force of contracting a rear suspension is generated. Such an impactive chain tension intermittently generated has an adverse effect on the rear suspension to possibly deteriorate ride comfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a chain roller structure having high absorptivity of displacement and shock with a simple structure and a low cost.
According to the present invention, there is provided in a chain driven vehicle having a body frame, a swing arm vertically pivotably mounted at its front end to said body frame, a rear wheel rotatably mounted to a rear end of said swing arm, an engine located before said swing arm, and a chain for transmitting a driving force of said engine to said rear wheel; a chain roller structure comprising a chain roller mounted to said body frame for supporting said chain when said rear wheel is lowered a given distance or more, said chain roller being elastically deformable.
The chain roller is elastically deformable. Accordingly, the absorptivity of displacement and shock can be easily improved, and the structure can be simplified to reduce the number of parts.
According to the present invention, said chain roller comprises a hard rubber or hard resin roller having a plurality of axial holes. By forming the plural axial holes in the hard rubber or hard resin solid roller, the deformability of the roller can be greatly improved. Further, a cost reduction can be expected because of the simple structure.
According to the present invention, said chain roller comprises a soft resin roller and a wear resistant member mounted on the outer circumference of said soft resin roller.
When the chain strikes against the chain roller, the soft resin roller is deformed to relax the chain tension. Further, the wear resistant member prevents wear of the chain roller. Thus, excess tension can be relaxed and durability can be improved.
According to the present invention, there is provided in a chain driven vehicle having a body frame, a swing arm vertically pivotally mounted at its front end to said body frame, a rear wheel rotatably mounted to a rear end of said swing arm, an engine located before said swing arm, and a chain for transmitting a driving force of said engine to said rear wheel; a chain roller structure comprising a roller supporting member vertically movably mounted to said body frame, a shock absorber connected between said body frame and said roller supporting member, and a chain roller mounted to said roller supporting member for supporting said chain when said rear wheel is lowered a given distance or more.
The roller supporting member is vertically movably mounted to the body frame. Accordingly, large displacement can be absorbed. Further, the shock absorber is provided on the roller supporting member. Accordingly, the absorptivity of shock can be improved. Further, the structure can be simplified to reduce the number of parts.
According to the present invention, there is provided in a chain driven vehicle having a body frame, a swing arm vertically pivotably mounted at its front end to said body frame, a rear wheel rotatably mounted to a rear end of said swing arm, an engine located before said swing arm, and a chain for transmitting a driving force of said engine to said rear wheel; a chain roller structure comprising a roller supporting member mounted to said body frame, said roller supporting member having elasticity, and a chain roller mounted to said roller supporting member for supporting said chain when said rear wheel is lowered a given distance or more.
The roller supporting member has elasticity. Accordingly, the absorptivity of displacement and shock can be improved. Further, the structure can be simplified to reduce the number of parts.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2572276 (1951-10-01), Moe
patent: 2839116 (1958-06-01), Friedl
patent: 3083584 (1963-04-01), Nanson
patent: 3188775 (1965-06-01), Cosmos
patent: 3626774 (1971-12-01), Schon
patent: 5244439 (1993-09-01), Rogus
patent: 5797819 (1998-08-01), Arai
patent: 762571 (1956-11-01), None
patent: 60-60388 (1985-04-01), None
patent: 998787 (1983-02-01), None
Fuse Tomohiro
Gogo Kazuhiko
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
DePumpo Daniel G.
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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