Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-06-12
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244610
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a two-wheeled vehicle, especially a bicycle, having a frame, a drive chain wheel arranged at a lower end of the frame, as well as a rear wheel which is spring-supported at a wheel support member at the rear end of the frame.
The special field of application of the inventive rear wheel spring arrangement with a corresponding wheel suspension are bicycles. -Basically, however, the general inventive principle is also suitable for and applicable to motor-driven, two-wheeled vehicles.
In conventional spring systems for two-wheeled vehicles, the bearing of the chain strut is usually positioned directly in the area of the tread bearing axle in order to achieve a largely drive-free and brake-effect-free spring kinematic action without a pedal back kick. Due to space problems, however, a large-dimensioned, stabile and long-lived bearing is often problematic in this area.
Based on the aforementioned, it is an object of the invention to create an improved spring system for two-wheeled vehicles, particularly, bicycles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As a technical solution, it is suggested by the invention that a first lever is rotatably arranged between the frame and the wheel support member, that a second lever is rotatably arranged respectively between the upper end portion of the wheel support member and the frame, and that a spring and/or damping element is rotatably arranged respectively between the first lever and/or the second lever and/or the wheel support member and the frame.
Thereby, a four-bar system of a two-wheeled rear spring arrangement is realized with a stable, large-dimensioned bearing of the rear structure swing at the frame and, at the same time, a drive-free and brake-impact-free spring kinematic action without a significant pedal back kick. The basic idea of the rear wheel spring arrangement is that the rear wheel support member for the rear wheel is rotatably arranged at the frame by two levers and, therefore, that this bar system defines a rear structure swing arranged at the frame. The two levers are respectively attached with their two end portions by rotary bearings to the frame and to the wheel support member. This is also true for the spring and/or damping element whose two end portions, respectively, are mounted by a rotary bearing to the frame or to the rear structure swing. The spring and/or damping element is preferably a compression spring, namely, a spiral coiled spring or a pneumatic spring.
An advantageous embodiment of the inventive two-wheeled vehicle suggests that the rotary bearing of the first lever is positioned at the frame above the bearing of the drive chain wheel. Advantageously, the rotary bearing is positioned above the drive chain wheel. “Above the drive chain wheel” is to be understood such that the rotary bearing is positioned outside of the circular area of the drive chain wheel, i.e., above the travel area of the drive chain. This has the advantage that the first lever does not interfere space-wise in the area of the drive chain wheel. In the event that several drive chain wheels are present, the rotary bearing can be positioned above the largest of the drive chain wheels. However, it is also conceivable that the rotary bearing is positioned only above the intermediate drive chain wheel, but within the circular area of the largest drive chain wheel. In a further alternative it is conceivable that the rotary bearing is positioned above the smallest drive chain wheel, but within the circular area of the intermediate drive chain wheel. Finally, it is also conceivable that the rotary bearing is positioned in the transition area of one of chain wheels to another chain wheel.
A further embodiment of the inventive two-wheeled vehicle suggests that the rotary bearing of the first lever is positioned at the wheel support member above the axis of the rear wheel. This is to be understood such that the rotary bearing is not positioned within the area of the rear wheel and, therefore, so that the first lever does not interfere with regard to space considerations. In combination with the aforementioned arrangement of the rotary bearing of the first lever above the drive chain wheel, the first lever is therefore positioned above the drive chain and, therefore, does not interfere. The particular advantage of this embodiment lies in the specific kinematic properties of the lever arrangement as a whole. This will be explained in detail later on.
Advantageously, the rotary bearing of the first lever is positioned at the wheel support member, as viewed from the axis of the rear wheel, at a DISTANCE of between 0.045 to 0.8 times, especially 0.25 to 0.4 times, the length of the wheel support member from the axis of the rear wheel. Translated into the relationship of the distance b of the axis of the rear wheel to the rotary bearing of the first lever at the wheel support member to the distance a of the rotary bearing of the second lever at the wheel support member, this means approximately: {fraction (1/20)}<b/a<{fraction (4/1)}. Thus, an optimum area is created for the arrangement of the rotary bearing at the wheel support member, with the length of the wheel support member normally amounting to 25 to 44 cm. The optimum position of the rotary bearing lies approximately—again as viewed from the axis of the rear wheel—at about ⅓ of the entire length of the wheel support member.
A further embodiment suggests that the rotary bearing of the first lever at the wheel support member is positioned, as viewed from the ground vertical direction, at least 20 mm above the axis of the rear wheel. Due to this feature, an optimum position for the rotary bearing of the first lever at the wheel support member is also created without resulting in spacial problems for the first lever. In co-operation with the arrangement of the lever system as a whole, optimum kinematic relationships result therefrom.
A further embodiment of the inventive two-wheeled vehicle suggests that the wheel support member is tilted. Advantageously, the wheel support member is tilted such that it defines a kind of a roof, i.e., the wheel support member is tilted upwardly, as viewed in the travel direction. The tilted area advantageously is positioned where the first lever is connected to the wheel support member.
A corresponding embodiment for the first lever suggests that it is also tilted, namely, upwardly, as viewed in the travel direction. The tilted area is advantageously positioned in the area of the attachment of the first lever to the frame.
A further embodiment of the inventive vehicle suggests that the second lever is tilted upwardly or downwardly, relative to the wheel support member.
An embodiment thereof suggests that, in the rest position of the spring, the angle between the connecting line between the rotary bearing of the first lever at the wheel support member and the rotary bearing of the wheel support member at the second lever, on the one hand, and the connecting line between the rotary bearing of the wheel support member at the second lever and the rotary bearing of the second lever at the frame, on the other hand, lies between 90° and 180° or between 270° and 360°. Thereby, an optimum lever kinematic action is created during the spring-compression movement. Upon this spring compression movement and an upward tilt of the lever, the angle between the wheel support member and the lever will decrease, e.g., to approximately 45° at maximum spring compression, while the second lever moves backwardly relative to the wheel support member. If the second lever is tilted upwardly, the angular range lies between 90° and 180°, while the angular range lies between 270° and 360° for a downward tilt. The 0°-line is defined by the connecting line of the rotary bearings of the two levers at the wheel support member.
Furthermore, it is suggested in an embodiment of the inventive two-wheeled vehicle that, in the rest position of the spring arrangement, the wheel support member and the spring and/or damping element lie approximately aligne
Huckett Gudrun E.
Ilam Ruth
Mai Lanna
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