Motor vehicles – Compensating devices
Patent
1985-03-21
1986-12-23
Bertsch, Richard A.
Motor vehicles
Compensating devices
180209, B60K 1704
Patent
active
046306994
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a driving wheel supporting system for an engine-powered, three- or four-wheeled off-road vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
Engine-powered, three- or four-wheeled vehicles equipped with ultra-low pressure tires around the wheels have been practically used for off-road driving or traveling in a farm, a pasture or a desert.
In the vehicles of the type described, it has been customary that left and right driving wheels are secured to the opposite ends of a long axle shaft extending through and rotatably supported, at an intermediate portion thereof, on a tubular supporting member extending transversely between ends of left and right longitudinal support members extending from the vehicle frame along a plane of the vehicle.
According to such prior driving wheel supporting system, the axle shaft is supported at its intermediate portion so that it is subjected to bending stresses due to severe vibrations and shock applied thereto during off-road traveling. In view of the relatively short supporting pipe member, an attempt has been made to enlarge the diameter of the axle shaft as well as the thickness of the supporting pipe member to thereby increase the strength and rigidity of these components. However, such attempt has caused another problem to be solved, namely an increase in weight of the axle shaft and its related components fails to meet the desire for reduction of the overall vehicle weight, results in a high material cost, and causes a substantial power loss.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in view of the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art driving wheel supporting systems.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a driving wheel supporting system for a three- or four-wheeled off-road vehicle, which has sufficient strength and rigidity, is simple in construction and is lightweight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view, partly in cross section, of main portions of FIG. 3.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of a final power transmission mechanism.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a tricycle or three-wheeled automotive vehicle having a driving wheel supporting system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3, with parts cut away.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a frame of a tricycle or three-wheeled vehicle as an examplary vehicle embodying the present invention. As described above, however, the present invention is also applicable to a four-wheeled vehicle.
The three-wheeled vehicle 1 includes a frame 2 which generally comprises a head tube 201, left and right main frames 202, 203 of large diameter pipes extending rearwardly downward from an upper portion of the head tube 201, left and right down tubes 204, 205 extending rearwardly downward from a lower portion of the head tube 201, left and right lower tubes 206, 207 extending rearward from lower ends of the respective lower tubes 206, 207, left and right middle stays 208, 209 interconnecting, respectively, the rear ends of the down tubes 204, 205 and rear portions of the main frames 202, 203, a cross pipe 210 extending transversely between lower portions of the middle stays 208, 209, left and right seat rails 211, 212 extending rearward from the rear portions of the respective main frames 202, 203, rear frames 213, 214 extending rearward from lower portions of the respective lower tubes 206, 207, then bent upwardly rearward and finally connected at respective upper ends to the rear portions of the respective seat rails 211, 212 a plurality of sub-tubes 215, 216 extending between the seat rails 211, 212 and the rear frames 213, 214 and between the seat rails 211, 212 and the cross pipe 210, and a cross member 217 extending transversely between the seat rails 211, 212. An engine 3 is mounted in a space defined jointly by the main frames 202, 203, the down tubes 204, 205, the lower tubes 206, 207 and the middle stays 208, 209. The main frames 2
REFERENCES:
patent: 2885018 (1959-05-01), Jackson
patent: 3378095 (1918-04-01), Sons, Jr.
patent: 4418783 (1983-12-01), Teraoka et al.
Washizawa Yoshikazu
Yamada Kozo
Bertsch Richard A.
Burt Pamela S.
Carrier Joseph P.
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Weiner Irving M.
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