Leaning vehicle with tilting front wheels and suspension therefor
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60G-021/02
B62D-009/02
B62K-005/00
B62D-061/06
출원번호
US-0508919
(2009-11-16)
등록번호
US-8762003
(2014-06-24)
국제출원번호
PCT/US2009/064568
(2009-11-16)
§371/§102 date
20120509
(20120509)
국제공개번호
WO2011/059456
(2011-05-19)
발명자
/ 주소
Mercier, Daniel
출원인 / 주소
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
대리인 / 주소
BCF LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
6인용 특허 :
40
초록▼
A leaning vehicle has a frame pivotally connected to the lower end of a shock tower, the pivotal connection defining a frame leaning axis wherein the frame is adapted to lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower about the frame leaning axis. The leaning vehicle includes an
A leaning vehicle has a frame pivotally connected to the lower end of a shock tower, the pivotal connection defining a frame leaning axis wherein the frame is adapted to lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower about the frame leaning axis. The leaning vehicle includes an actuator operatively connected to the frame and to the shock tower which is adapted to impart a leaning motion to the frame relative to the shock tower about the frame leaning axis.
대표청구항▼
1. A leaning vehicle comprising: a frame having a front portion, a rear portion, a lower portion and an upper portion;an engine supported by the frame;a shock tower having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the shock tower being pivotally connected to the frame through a pivotal connecti
1. A leaning vehicle comprising: a frame having a front portion, a rear portion, a lower portion and an upper portion;an engine supported by the frame;a shock tower having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the shock tower being pivotally connected to the frame through a pivotal connection that defines a frame leaning axis about which the frame can lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower;a front left wheel and a front right wheel connected to the front portion of the frame via a front left suspension assembly and a front right suspension assembly respectively;a steering assembly having a rotatable steering column supported by the frame and being operatively connected to the front left wheel and the front right wheel;a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;at least one rear wheel connected to the rear suspension, at least one of the wheels being operatively connected to the engine;a braking system operatively connected to at least one wheel;each front suspension assembly including: a lower suspension arm pivotally connected to the frame about a pivot axis at a first end and pivotally connected to the wheel at a second end, the pivot axis being vertically higher than the frame leaning axis when the frame is upright relative to the shock tower; anda shock absorber having an upper end connected to the upper end of the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm; andan actuator mounted to one of the frame and the shock tower, the actuator including a rotating gear engaging a fixed gear, the fixed gear being mounted to the other of the frame and the shock tower;wherein rotation of the rotating gear imparts the leaning motion of the frame relative to the shock tower. 2. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising an electronic control unit (ECU) electrically connected to at least one sensor adapted to detect a direction and magnitude of a torque applied to the steering column and to send corresponding signals to the ECU representative of the direction and magnitude of the torque applied to the steering column, the ECU being operatively connected to the actuator; wherein in response to signals from the at least one sensor, the ECU sends command signals to the actuator to provide a leaning torque to the frame relative to the shock tower in a direction and at a speed corresponding to the direction and magnitude of the torque applied to the steering column. 3. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising an actuated lock to secure the frame to the shock tower and prevent relative movement between the frame and the shock tower about the frame leaning axis. 4. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein each front wheel is mounted to a spindle having a top portion and a lower portion, the top portion being rotatably connected to the lower portion about a steering axis such that the top portion may rotate relative to the lower portion to steer the wheel about the steering axis. 5. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein the lower portion of each spindle is pivotally connected to its corresponding lower suspension arm thereby defining a wheel tilting axis. 6. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein the lower portion of each spindle is a T-joint rotatably connected to the top portion by a shaft oriented along the steering axis and pivotally connected to its corresponding lower suspension arm by a shaft oriented along the wheel tilting axis. 7. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein each lower suspension arm includes a curved portion to provide clearance between its corresponding wheel and the lower suspension arm when the wheel is tilting about a wheel tilting axis. 8. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame is adapted to lean relative to the shock tower by an angle φ of between 0° and 50° to the right side and to the left side. 9. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein each front suspension assembly further includes a leaning rod connected to the frame at a proximal end and to the corresponding wheel at a distal end; further comprising: a left steering rod operatively connected to the actuator at a proximal end and to the left wheel at a distal end; anda right steering rod operatively connected to the actuator at a proximal end and to the right wheel at a distal end;wherein the proximal ends of the left and right steering rods are disposed vertically between the frame leaning axis and the proximal ends of the leaning rods. 10. A leaning vehicle comprising: a frame having a front portion, a rear portion, a lower portion and an upper portion;an engine supported by the frame;a shock tower having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the shock tower being pivotally connected to the frame through a pivotal connection that defines a frame leaning axis about which the frame can lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower;a front left wheel and a front right wheel connected to the front portion of the frame via a front left suspension assembly and a front right suspension assembly respectively;a steering assembly having a rotatable steering column supported by the frame and being operatively connected to the front left wheel and the front right wheel;a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;at least one rear wheel connected to the rear suspension, at least one of the wheels being operatively connected to the engine;a braking system operatively connected to at least one wheel;each front suspension assembly including: a lower suspension arm pivotally connected to the frame at a first end and pivotally connected to the wheel at a second end; anda shock absorber having an upper end connected to the upper end of the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm;a first actuator mounted to one of the frame and the shock tower, the actuator including a rotating gear engaging a first fixed gear, the first fixed gear being mounted to the other of the frame and the shock tower, rotation of the rotating gear imparting the leaning motion of the frame relative to the shock tower;a second fixed gear mounted to the steering column; anda second actuator engaging the second fixed gear to generate a torque in the steering column. 11. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 10, further comprising an electronic control unit (ECU) electrically connected to at least one sensor adapted to detect a direction and magnitude of a torque applied to the steering column and to send corresponding signals to the ECU representative of the direction and magnitude of the torque applied to the steering column, the ECU being operatively connected to the second actuator; wherein in response to signals from the at least one sensor, the ECU sends command signals to the second actuator to generate a torque in the steering column in a direction opposite to the direction of the torque applied to the steering column. 12. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein each front suspension assembly further includes a leaning rod connected to the frame at a proximal end and to the corresponding wheel at a distal end; further comprising: a left steering rod operatively connected to the first actuator at a proximal end and to the left wheel at a distal end; anda right steering rod operatively connected to the first actuator at a proximal end and to the right wheel at a distal end;wherein the proximal ends of the left and right steering rods are disposed vertically between the frame leaning axis and the proximal ends of the leaning rods. 13. A leaning vehicle comprising: a frame having a front portion, a rear portion, a lower portion and an upper portion;an engine supported by the frame;a shock tower having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the shock tower being pivotally connected to the front portion of the frame through a pivotal connection that defines a frame leaning axis about which the frame can lean to a right side and to a left side relative to the shock tower;a front left wheel and a front right wheel connected to the front portion of the frame via a front left suspension assembly and a front right suspension assembly respectively;a steering assembly having a rotatable steering column supported by the frame;a left steering rod operatively connecting the steering column to the front left wheel;a right steering rod operatively connecting the steering column to the front right wheel, the left and right steering rods lying in a first substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the frame leaning axis;a rear suspension connected to the rear portion of the frame;at least one rear wheel connected to the rear suspension, at least one of the wheels being operatively connected to the engine; anda braking system operatively connected to at least one wheel;each front suspension assembly including: a lower suspension arm pivotally connected to the frame about a pivot axis at a first end and pivotally connected to the wheel about a wheel tilting axis at a second end;a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the upper end of the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm; anda leaning rod having a proximal end connected to the frame and a distal end connected to a corresponding one of the left and right front wheels, the leaning rod lying in a second substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the frame leaning axis. 14. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 13, wherein each shock absorber lies in a third substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the frame leaning axis. 15. A leaning vehicle as defined in claim 14, wherein: the shock absorbers are disposed forward of the leaning rods; andthe leaning rods are disposed forward of the steering rods,such that when the frame leans about the frame leaning axis, the steering rods remain in the first substantially vertical plane, the leaning rods remain in the second substantially vertical plane and the shock absorbers remain in the third substantially vertical plane, thereby avoiding interference between the steering rods, the leaning rods and the shock absorbers. 16. A leaning vehicle according to claim 13, wherein proximal ends of the steering rods are disposed vertically between the frame leaning axis and the proximal ends of the leaning rods. 17. A leaning vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the frame comprises: a lower member;an upright member connected to the lower member, a part of the lower member extending forward of the upright member; andan upper member connected to the upright member, the upper member extending at least in part rearward of the upper member;wherein the shock tower is connected to the part of the lower member extending forward of the upright member and is disposed forward of the upright member. 18. A leaning vehicle according to claim 17, wherein each lower suspension arm has a front portion pivotally connected to the lower member at a front location forward of the shock tower and a rear portion pivotally connected to the lower member at a rear location rearward of the upright member; and wherein the shock tower and at least a portion of the upright member are disposed longitudinally between the front portions of the lower suspension arms and the rear portions of the rear suspension arms. 19. A leaning vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the proximal ends of the leaning rods are connected to the upright member; and wherein the proximal ends of the leaning rods are disposed longitudinally between the front and rear locations. 20. A leaning vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the steering column passes through an aperture in the upper member; and wherein a lower end of the steering column is connected to the upright member.
Michel Blondelet FR; Gregore Gogu FR; Olivier Piffard FR; Loic Serra FR; Davy Vernier FR, Motor vehicle equipped with a system for controlling the camber of the wheels of the vehicle on a bend.
Kuroki,Masahiro; Takayanagi,Shinji, Reinforcing support structure for a three-wheeled motor vehicle, and three-wheeled motor vehicle incorporating same.
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