Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-11
2001-07-24
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S788000, C180S291000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264241
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a frame structure for a saddling type vehicle such as a four-wheel buggy for driving on uneven ground.
2. Description of Background Art
A four-wheel buggy is generally constructed such that a pair of left and right vehicle body frames, for supporting an engine thereon, are formed substantially in a loop-like configuration from pipe members. In addition, at portions of a front portion of the vehicle body frames at which a front wheel suspension apparatus is provided, reinforcement pipes extend obliquely forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly as viewed in a side elevation in an intersecting relationship. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. Heisei 1-109186, a four-wheel buggy is disclosed wherein front end portions of a pair of left and right loop frames having a substantially loop-like configuration as viewed in a side elevation and supporting an engine thereon are connected to a box-like member and support portions for a front wheel suspension apparatus is provided on side faces of the box-like member.
When a front portion of a vehicle body on which front wheel suspension mechanisms are provided are formed from a large number of reinforcement pipe members as described above, since a large number of portions to be welded are involved, many welding steps are required and a high cost is required. In addition, quality control is difficult due to the influence of heat upon welding.
Meanwhile, where a front portion of a vehicle body is formed as a unitary box-like member as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. Heisei 1-109186, the number of welding steps is reduced advantageously. However, since the entire front portion of the vehicle body has a high rigidity, if, during driving on uneven ground, an impact is inputted to a lower portion of the front portion of the vehicle body from the ground side, then the impact is transmitted to the entire vehicle body frame, and therefore, also it is desired that the front portion of the vehicle body should be constructed so as to absorb an impact to some degree.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the subject described above, a frame structure for a saddling type vehicle of the present invention wherein an engine is supported below a pair of left and right main frames extending in forward and backward directions and a pair of left and right steering front wheels are suspended independently of each other and are provided on the left and right of a front portion of a vehicle body. A pair of left and right lower members extend downwardly from front end portions of the left and right main frames and further extend rearwardly substantially in parallel to the main frames. An inclined frame extends rearwardly obliquely downwardly as viewed in a side elevation from front end portions of the left and right main frames to positions rearwardly of the front wheel axles and include rear end portions coupled to rear portions of the left and right lower members. The inclined frame and the lower members serve as support elements for a front wheel suspension mechanisms and the inclined frame are formed by casting or forging.
The invention according to a second aspect includes the rear end portions of the inclined frame and the lower members that are coupled to each other by fastening.
The invention according to a third aspect includes lower members that are formed from members having a higher extensibility than the inclined frame.
The invention according to a fourth aspect includes a pair of left and right engine support members extending downwardly from the left and right main frames on the opposite sides of a rear portion of the engine, and an engine underlying member extending below the engine for removably connecting lower end portions of the engine support members and the rear end portions of the left and right lower members to each other.
With the invention according to the first aspect, since the support portions for the front wheel suspension mechanisms are formed from the oblique inclined frame and the lower members at the front portion of the vehicle frame and the inclined frame is formed as a unitary member by casting or forging, the number of portions to be welded can be reduced. As a result, the number of production steps can be reduced to reduce the cost. In addition, the influence of heat is reduced to facilitate quality control. Further, compared with another structure wherein an entire front portion of a vehicle body is formed integrally in a box-like configuration, the rigidity of the lower side of the front portion of the vehicle body can be reduced, and even if an impact is inputted from the ground side, the impact can be absorbed well. Consequently, the frame structure is suitable for driving on uneven ground.
With the invention according to the second aspect, since the rear end portions of the inclined frame are fastened to the lower members, the number of portions to be welded can be further reduced.
With the invention according to the third aspect, since the lower members are formed as members having an extensibility higher than that of the inclined frame, absorption of an impact upon ground hitting can be efficiently performed.
With the invention according to the fourth aspect, since the engine underlying member can be removed solely, the engine can be mounted or dismounted from below the main frames, and comparing with another case wherein an engine is mounted or dismounted from the side of a vehicle body as in the prior art, the mounting or dismounting operation is facilitated remarkably, and as a result, the maintenance facility is improved.
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.
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patent: 3806149 (1974-04-01), Huszar
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patent: 4817985 (1989-04-01), Enokimoto et al.
patent: 4852678 (1989-08-01), Yamaguchi
patent: 4892165 (1990-01-01), Yasui et al.
patent: 5265690 (1993-11-01), Amundsen et al.
patent: 5704643 (1998-01-01), Yamanaka et al.
patent: 5833269 (1998-11-01), Gastesi
patent: 1-109186 (1989-04-01), None
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Draper Deanna
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Johnson Brian L.
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