Motor vehicles – Special wheel base – Having only two wheels
Patent
1988-10-07
1991-05-14
Hill, Michell J.
Motor vehicles
Special wheel base
Having only two wheels
180224, 280279, B62K 2524, B60B 100, B62M 1700
Patent
active
050148087
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle having front driving and steering wheels whose castor angle and castor are adjustable.
STATE OF THE PRIOR ART
Vehicles are already known which are, in particular, of the type having two wheels whose front and rear wheels are driving wheels. These motorcycles comprise a motor carrying a frame and two double pivotal arms supporting the front and rear wheels. Generally a damping device is disposed between the motor and each of the pivotal arms for damping the movements of each of the wheels relative to the frame and motor.
The solutions adopted as concerns the transmission to the wheels are based on the principle of a shaft provided with two universal joints, one being in direct engagement with the motor output shaft and the other driving the movable hub of the wheel. It has been found that this solution is not reliable over a period of time, since the universal joints undergo a large number of movements in different planes owing to the fact that, in particular, the front wheel, in addition to being driven in rotation, is a steering wheel, and moreover, it is necessary to add an intermediate shaft. It will, be moreover, understood that the fact of overdimensioning these various component parts has an adverse effect on the handling of the vehicle due to the increase in weight.
Another drawback of existing motorcycles results from the fact that the castor and the castor angle are initially defined for a given model and cannot be modified or adapted to other needs.
Lastly, it has been found that the driving of a motorcycle having two driving wheels is delicate, and it is advisable in certain cases to be in a position to disengage the drive from the front wheel, in particular when braking, since as the two wheels are driven through a common driving shaft, the locking of the rear wheel will cause the locking of the front wheel. A locking of the front wheel is very difficult to control and there are great risks of falls. Likewise, in certain special cases, on a surface of the asphalt type, it is preferable to reserve all of the power of the motor for the rear wheel and avoid losses of transmission to the front wheel, and it is here again advantageous to be able to uncouple the drive of the front wheel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a vehicle which overcomes the drawbacks presented by the vehicles of the prior art while proposing devices adapted to solve the aforementioned problems, this vehicle comprising at least two wheels, a front wheel and a rear wheel, a driving motor, a damping mechanism, a braking mechanism and a steering control device, characterized in that it comprises a frame carrying a steering assembly and at least one transmission between the driving motor and the wheels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the invention will be had from the reading of the following detailed description of various embodiments according to the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures in which,
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a motorcycle according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevational view of a mechanism for adjusting the castor and the castor angle according to the invention;
FIG. 3 represents in its upper part a sectional view of FIG. 2 taken on line 3--3 and, in the lower part of this same Figure, a plan view on line A--A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a motorcycle comprising a transmission for driving the steering wheel according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a device for declutching the drive of the steering wheel according to the invention; and
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a variant of the steering arrangement shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 there is represented a vehicle 10 of the motorcycle type having two wheels and a motor 12 to which a rigid frame or framework 14 is connected formin
Savard Frank J.
Savard Patrick A.
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