Motor vehicles – Special wheel base – Having only two wheels
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2001-11-13
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
Special wheel base
Having only two wheels
C280S284000, C280S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315071
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wheel support devices for motorcycles.
2. BACKGROUND ART
A rear support structure for a motorcycle is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei. 4-325389. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4
of the above mentioned publication, this technology has an axle shaft
7
with an outer rim
3
formed at one end of a hollow shaft
2
, and screw threads
9
formed on the other end. The axle shaft
7
is fixed between a rear fork
10
and fastened thereto by fixedly attaching and tightening a nut
9
onto the threads
9
.
When, for example, a sprocket (not shown) is attached to an outer rim
3
side of the axle shaft
7
, and this sprocket is driven by a chain, the outer rim
3
side is exposed to a large shearing force, as compared to the threaded side of the axle shaft
7
. Moreover, when the sprocket is driven by a chain, the axle shaft
7
is subjected to bending in the driving direction thereof However, since the axle shaft
7
is fastened between a rear fork and set at a fixed width with the nut
8
, if the axle shaft
7
is subjected to bending in the driving direction, the head section end is subjected to tensile force at the inner side.
As a result of the shear force in the vicinity of the outer rim
3
, and a force in a direction so as to open the head section end towards the outside, both acting on a section of the axle shaft
7
continuous to the outer rim
3
, there is a danger of cracks occurring in a base of the outer rim
3
.
In order to prevent this cracking, the overall thickness of the hollow shaft
2
is increased, which in turn hinders attempts to manufacture a vehicle light in weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rear wheel support device for a motorcycle that possesses sufficient strength without drastically increasing the weight.
In order to achieve the above described object, a wheel support structure for a vehicle is provided having a swingarm operatively attached to the vehicle; an axle shaft connected to the swingarm at essentially a distal end thereof, and a wheel rotatably supported via the axle shaft, the wheel having a wheel hub through which the axle shaft passes, wherein the axle shaft is constituted by a head section and a base section, the head section having a cross-sectional thickness greater than a cross-sectional thickness of the base section.
Thus, sufficient strength is ensured without drastically increasing the weight of an axle shaft, by making the axle shaft hollow, and forming the base section continuous with the head section thicker than other sections of the axle shaft.
The head section of the axle shaft is arranged on the chain side of the vehicle, and is made sequentially thinner from the head section to the base section, to the shaft section, therefore, manufacture of the axle shaft is simple.
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: 4540062 (1985-09-01), Kashiwai
patent: 4592596 (1986-06-01), Trautloff
patent: 4634139 (1987-01-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 4742884 (1988-05-01), Ishikawa
patent: 4782908 (1988-11-01), Trema
patent: 4810039 (1989-03-01), Trema
patent: 4880280 (1989-11-01), Panzica et al
patent: 5531289 (1996-07-01), Muramatsu
patent: 5782313 (1998-07-01), Kurawaki et al.
patent: 6109635 (2000-08-01), Maeda et al.
patent: 4325389 (1992-11-01), None
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Lum L.
Swann J. J.
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