CA1176179A - Front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle and associated method - Google Patents
Front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle and associated methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA1176179A CA1176179A CA000397773A CA397773A CA1176179A CA 1176179 A CA1176179 A CA 1176179A CA 000397773 A CA000397773 A CA 000397773A CA 397773 A CA397773 A CA 397773A CA 1176179 A CA1176179 A CA 1176179A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- forks
- front wheel
- cases
- axle
- wheel suspension
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
- G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
- G01N21/6445—Measuring fluorescence polarisation
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Materials By The Use Of Chemical Reactions (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle comprising a frame having a head pipe, a pair of front forks steerably supported on the head pipe, and a pair of bottom cases slidably fitted on lower portions of the front forks to support a front wheel. Within a closed space formed within the front forks-and the bottom cases are arranged a damper to connect the forks and cases and a coil spring for biasing the forks and cases in extended direction to the damper and the coil spring thereby being protected from obstacles and considerably improving the riding comfort.
A front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle comprising a frame having a head pipe, a pair of front forks steerably supported on the head pipe, and a pair of bottom cases slidably fitted on lower portions of the front forks to support a front wheel. Within a closed space formed within the front forks-and the bottom cases are arranged a damper to connect the forks and cases and a coil spring for biasing the forks and cases in extended direction to the damper and the coil spring thereby being protected from obstacles and considerably improving the riding comfort.
Description
~ ~76.17~
The present invention relates to a motor tricycle, and principally to a front wheel suspension for the motor tricycle and associated method.
The present invention provides a front wheel suspension and associated method for a motor tricycle which, on severe roads, such as on waste land, soft land and in snow, can minimize inter-ference of various functional parts with obstacles, improve the riding comfort and enhance the running performance.
According to the present invention there is provided a front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle having a frame with a head pipe, said suspension comprising a pair of front forks steer-ably supported on the head pipe, a pair of bottom cases slidably fitted on said front forks for retracting and extending movements, said forks and cases defining respective enclosed spaces, means for supporting a front wheel of the tricycle from said cases, a wide tire mounted on said front wheel, damper means disposed in each of said enclosed spaces for coupling said forks and cases to oppose relative sliding movements thereof, and a coil spring dis-posed in each of said spaces to bias said forks and said cases in expanding direction, said pair of front forks each including an upper portion, and a lower portion fixedly secured to said upper portion, each of said bottom cases being slidably engaged with a respective one of said lower portions of the front forks, said up-per portion of said front fork having a straight upper part and curved lower part integral with said upper part, said straight upper parts of the pair of forks extending upwardly parallel to each other with a relatively small spacing therebetween and connec-ted to said head pipe, said curved lower parts being curved down-wardly in a transverse plane away from one another to form a wi-dened region for receiving said wide tire mounted on said front wheel, said lower portions of the front forks being substantially straight and engaged with said upper portion at the lower ends thereof.
Thus, the present invention provides an arrangement wherein i ~ 76~7~
a closed space is formed by a pair of front forks steerably sup-ported on a head pipeof a frame and a bottom case supporting a front wheel, and a buffer mechanism composed of a damper and a coil spring is housed in the space thereby to protect the buffer mechanism from obstacles and to greatly enhance the riding comfort.
The present invention also provides a method of suspend-ing a front wheel from the frame of a tricycle comprising rotatably mounting the front wheel, having a wide tire thereon, on an axle, securing the axle to cases at opposite ends of the axle, slidably mounting the cases on the lower portions of a pair of spaced forks steerably mounted on the frame, shaping the forks to provide a relatively small spacing at the top thereof where the forks are attached to the frame, and curved portions to provide wider spac-ing for accommodating said wide tire, and resiliently dampingrelative sliding movement of the cases and forks from within closed spaces formed between the forks and cases.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a motor tricycle provided with a device in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view thereof;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV in Figure 3.
Hereafter, a description will be given, with reference to the drawings, of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a motor tricycle for off road travel and provided with balloon tires. Namely, the tricycle is intended for travel not only on smooth roads, but on rough terrain as well.
~.
,0~
~ ~7617~ 1 The tricycle comprises a frame F having a head pipe 1 with top and bottom bridges 2 and 3 which steerably support a front fork 4 on head pipe 1. The front fork 4 includes on each side an upper fork member 4a and a lower fork member 4b integrally welded to a lower ~nd of the upper fork member 4a, the upper fork member 4a being curved in a transverse plane so as to be gradually enlarged externally from the reg~on of a connected portion of the bottom bridge 3 with respect to a longitudinal center line L-L of the motor tricycle. The lower fork member 4b, however, is substantially straight and extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line L-L, as can be best seen in Fig. 3. The front fork 4 whose lower region is enlarged in transverse spacing embraces a low pressure front wheel W having a wide balloon tire 5.
As shown in Fig. 3, a cylindrical bottom case 6 is engaged around each vf the lower portions of the lower fork members 4b of the left and right front forks 4 for vertical sliding movement. A closed space S is formed by the lower fork I -member 4b and the bottom case 6, and a damper 7 is housed in the closed space S, the damper 7 being, for example, a pneumatic cylinder having a lower end connected to the lower end of the bottom case 6 and an upper end connected to the lower end of the upper fork member 4a of the front fork 4. Within the closed space S is housed a coil spring 8 so as to encircle the outer periphery of the damper 7, the coil spring 8 being engaged ~ -3-I
.
176~79 between the lower end of the upper fork member 4a and the lower end surface of the bottom case 6 to bias the bottom case 6 away fro~ the front fork 4.
A clearance between the upper end of the bottom oase 6 and the outer periphery of the lower fork member 4b is sealed in oil-tight fash~on by means of a dust seal 9 provided on the upper end of the bottom case 6, and gr~ase is applied as a coating between the front fork 4 and the bottom case 6. Between the upper end of the bottom case 6 and the outer periphery of the upper fork member 4a is a bellows-like boot 10 to cover the upper end of the opening of the bottom case 6 and the dust seal 9 so as to prevent damage of th~ dust seal resulting from freezing of the outer peripheral surface of the lower fork member 4b.
In the lower portion of the bottom case 6, a plurality of axle mounting holes 111, 112 and 113 are arranged with vertical spacing while being offset from the longitudinal center line of the case so that the vehicle may be adjusted in height, and a front axle 12 is selectively fastened into one of the mounting holes (hole 111 in Figs. 3 and 4). A hub 14 is rotatably supported on the front axle 12 through a ball bearing 13 in a convention~l manner, and the front wheel W with balloon tire 5 is mounted on the hub 14. A brake panel 15 is supported on the front axle 12. The brake panel 15 having a stop bolt 16 inserted therethrough utilizing one of the mounting holes ! 176179 which is not used to mount the front axle 12 (hole 112 in Figs. 3 and 4) and the bolt 16 is threadedly engaged by a nut 17 welded to the brake panel 15 to block rotation of the latter.
In the drawing, reference numeral 18 designates a front fender fastened to the front fork 4, and numeral 19 designates a brake drum fastened to the hub 14.
When the motor tricycle runs, the bottom case 6 moves up and down in a damped fashion relative to the front fork 4 through the damper 7 and the coil spring 8 to damp and absorb shocks and vibrations from the front wheel W.
As described a~ove, in accordance with the present invention, the bottom case 6 with the ~uspended front wheel W
is fitted on the lower portion of the front fork 4 for relative vertical movement betwe~n extended and retracted pos~tions and within the space S formed in the front fork 4 and bottom case 6 are housed the damper 7 connected thereto and the coil spring 8 for biasing the front fork 4 and bottom case 6 to be in extended position, and therefore, the damper 7 and coil spring 8 absorb, in a damping fashion, shocks and vibrations applied to the front wheel W. This improves the riding comfort, and in addition, the damper 7 and coil spring 8 are not exposed externally and can not contact obstacles which allows them to function at all times without damage thereto.
The present invention relates to a motor tricycle, and principally to a front wheel suspension for the motor tricycle and associated method.
The present invention provides a front wheel suspension and associated method for a motor tricycle which, on severe roads, such as on waste land, soft land and in snow, can minimize inter-ference of various functional parts with obstacles, improve the riding comfort and enhance the running performance.
According to the present invention there is provided a front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle having a frame with a head pipe, said suspension comprising a pair of front forks steer-ably supported on the head pipe, a pair of bottom cases slidably fitted on said front forks for retracting and extending movements, said forks and cases defining respective enclosed spaces, means for supporting a front wheel of the tricycle from said cases, a wide tire mounted on said front wheel, damper means disposed in each of said enclosed spaces for coupling said forks and cases to oppose relative sliding movements thereof, and a coil spring dis-posed in each of said spaces to bias said forks and said cases in expanding direction, said pair of front forks each including an upper portion, and a lower portion fixedly secured to said upper portion, each of said bottom cases being slidably engaged with a respective one of said lower portions of the front forks, said up-per portion of said front fork having a straight upper part and curved lower part integral with said upper part, said straight upper parts of the pair of forks extending upwardly parallel to each other with a relatively small spacing therebetween and connec-ted to said head pipe, said curved lower parts being curved down-wardly in a transverse plane away from one another to form a wi-dened region for receiving said wide tire mounted on said front wheel, said lower portions of the front forks being substantially straight and engaged with said upper portion at the lower ends thereof.
Thus, the present invention provides an arrangement wherein i ~ 76~7~
a closed space is formed by a pair of front forks steerably sup-ported on a head pipeof a frame and a bottom case supporting a front wheel, and a buffer mechanism composed of a damper and a coil spring is housed in the space thereby to protect the buffer mechanism from obstacles and to greatly enhance the riding comfort.
The present invention also provides a method of suspend-ing a front wheel from the frame of a tricycle comprising rotatably mounting the front wheel, having a wide tire thereon, on an axle, securing the axle to cases at opposite ends of the axle, slidably mounting the cases on the lower portions of a pair of spaced forks steerably mounted on the frame, shaping the forks to provide a relatively small spacing at the top thereof where the forks are attached to the frame, and curved portions to provide wider spac-ing for accommodating said wide tire, and resiliently dampingrelative sliding movement of the cases and forks from within closed spaces formed between the forks and cases.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a motor tricycle provided with a device in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view thereof;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV in Figure 3.
Hereafter, a description will be given, with reference to the drawings, of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a motor tricycle for off road travel and provided with balloon tires. Namely, the tricycle is intended for travel not only on smooth roads, but on rough terrain as well.
~.
,0~
~ ~7617~ 1 The tricycle comprises a frame F having a head pipe 1 with top and bottom bridges 2 and 3 which steerably support a front fork 4 on head pipe 1. The front fork 4 includes on each side an upper fork member 4a and a lower fork member 4b integrally welded to a lower ~nd of the upper fork member 4a, the upper fork member 4a being curved in a transverse plane so as to be gradually enlarged externally from the reg~on of a connected portion of the bottom bridge 3 with respect to a longitudinal center line L-L of the motor tricycle. The lower fork member 4b, however, is substantially straight and extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line L-L, as can be best seen in Fig. 3. The front fork 4 whose lower region is enlarged in transverse spacing embraces a low pressure front wheel W having a wide balloon tire 5.
As shown in Fig. 3, a cylindrical bottom case 6 is engaged around each vf the lower portions of the lower fork members 4b of the left and right front forks 4 for vertical sliding movement. A closed space S is formed by the lower fork I -member 4b and the bottom case 6, and a damper 7 is housed in the closed space S, the damper 7 being, for example, a pneumatic cylinder having a lower end connected to the lower end of the bottom case 6 and an upper end connected to the lower end of the upper fork member 4a of the front fork 4. Within the closed space S is housed a coil spring 8 so as to encircle the outer periphery of the damper 7, the coil spring 8 being engaged ~ -3-I
.
176~79 between the lower end of the upper fork member 4a and the lower end surface of the bottom case 6 to bias the bottom case 6 away fro~ the front fork 4.
A clearance between the upper end of the bottom oase 6 and the outer periphery of the lower fork member 4b is sealed in oil-tight fash~on by means of a dust seal 9 provided on the upper end of the bottom case 6, and gr~ase is applied as a coating between the front fork 4 and the bottom case 6. Between the upper end of the bottom case 6 and the outer periphery of the upper fork member 4a is a bellows-like boot 10 to cover the upper end of the opening of the bottom case 6 and the dust seal 9 so as to prevent damage of th~ dust seal resulting from freezing of the outer peripheral surface of the lower fork member 4b.
In the lower portion of the bottom case 6, a plurality of axle mounting holes 111, 112 and 113 are arranged with vertical spacing while being offset from the longitudinal center line of the case so that the vehicle may be adjusted in height, and a front axle 12 is selectively fastened into one of the mounting holes (hole 111 in Figs. 3 and 4). A hub 14 is rotatably supported on the front axle 12 through a ball bearing 13 in a convention~l manner, and the front wheel W with balloon tire 5 is mounted on the hub 14. A brake panel 15 is supported on the front axle 12. The brake panel 15 having a stop bolt 16 inserted therethrough utilizing one of the mounting holes ! 176179 which is not used to mount the front axle 12 (hole 112 in Figs. 3 and 4) and the bolt 16 is threadedly engaged by a nut 17 welded to the brake panel 15 to block rotation of the latter.
In the drawing, reference numeral 18 designates a front fender fastened to the front fork 4, and numeral 19 designates a brake drum fastened to the hub 14.
When the motor tricycle runs, the bottom case 6 moves up and down in a damped fashion relative to the front fork 4 through the damper 7 and the coil spring 8 to damp and absorb shocks and vibrations from the front wheel W.
As described a~ove, in accordance with the present invention, the bottom case 6 with the ~uspended front wheel W
is fitted on the lower portion of the front fork 4 for relative vertical movement betwe~n extended and retracted pos~tions and within the space S formed in the front fork 4 and bottom case 6 are housed the damper 7 connected thereto and the coil spring 8 for biasing the front fork 4 and bottom case 6 to be in extended position, and therefore, the damper 7 and coil spring 8 absorb, in a damping fashion, shocks and vibrations applied to the front wheel W. This improves the riding comfort, and in addition, the damper 7 and coil spring 8 are not exposed externally and can not contact obstacles which allows them to function at all times without damage thereto.
Claims (12)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS;
1. A front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle having a frame with a head pipe, said suspension comprising a pair of front forks steerably supported on the head pipe, a pair of bot-tom cases slidably fitted on said front forks for retracting and extending movements, said forks and cases defining respective enclosed spaces, means for supporting a front wheel of the tri-cycle from said cases, a wide tire mounted on said front wheel, damper means disposed in each of said enclosed spaces for coupling said forks and cases to oppose relative sliding movements thereof, and a coil spring disposed in each of said spaces to bias said forks and said cases in expanding direction, said pair of front forks each including an upper portion, and a lower portion fixed-ly secured to said upper portion, each of said bottom cases being slidably engaged with a respective one of said lower portions of the front forks,said upper portion of said front fork having a straight upper part and curved lower part integral with said upper part, said straight upper parts of the pair of forks extending up-wardly parallel to each other with a relatively small spacing therebetween and connected to said head pipe, said curved lower parts being curved downwardly in a transverse plane away from one another to form a widened region for receiving said wide tire mounted on said front wheel, said lower portions of the front forks being substantially straight and engaged with said upper portion at the lower ends thereof.
2. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 1 where-in said coil spring surrounds said damper means.
3. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 1 in-cluding a top bridge and bottom bridge rotatably connecting said front forks to the head pipe.
4. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 3 where-in said means for supporting the front wheel comprises a front axle connected to said bottom cases rotatably supporting said front wheel.
5. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 4 where-in each of said curved lower parts of said upper portions of said front forks is curved and gradually widened outwardly in a region extending from said bottom bridge to said axle.
6. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 5 where-in each of said bottom cases is tubular, has a longitudinal axis, and is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced axle-mounting holes offset from the longitudinal axis of the respective case, said front axle being selectively engaged in one of said axle-mounting holes.
7. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 6 where-in said axle-mounting holes are offset from the axis of the respec-tive case in a forward direction with respect to forward travel of the tricycle.
8. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 6 com-prising brake means secured to said cases and said front wheel for applying braking force to said wheel.
9. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 8 com-prising attachment means securing said brake means to each of said cases, said attachment means being engaged in one of the axle-mounting holes not engaged by the front axle.
10. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 1 com-prising dust seal means between said cases and said front forks.
11. A front wheel suspension as claimed in claim 10 com-prising a deformable cover on said forks and cases enclosing said dust seal means.
12. A method of suspending a front wheel from the frame of a tricycle comprising rotatably mounting the front wheel, hav-ing a wide tire thereon, on an axle, securing the axle to cases at opposite ends of the axle, slidably mounting the cases on the lower portions of a pair of spaced forks steerably mounted on the frame, shaping the forks to provide a relatively small spacing at the top thereof where the forks are attached to the frame, and curved portions to provide wider spacing for accommodating said wide tire, and resiliently damping relative sliding movement of the cases and forks from within closed spaces formed between the forks and cases.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP32630/81 | 1981-03-09 | ||
| JP56032630A JPS57147039A (en) | 1981-03-09 | 1981-03-09 | Data discriminating device for photometer |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1176179A true CA1176179A (en) | 1984-10-16 |
Family
ID=12364164
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000397773A Expired CA1176179A (en) | 1981-03-09 | 1982-03-08 | Front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle and associated method |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS57147039A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1176179A (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP5193937B2 (en) | 2009-05-08 | 2013-05-08 | 株式会社日立ハイテクノロジーズ | Automatic analyzer and analysis method |
| JP5193940B2 (en) * | 2009-05-11 | 2013-05-08 | 株式会社日立ハイテクノロジーズ | Automatic analyzer |
| JP5520519B2 (en) * | 2009-05-20 | 2014-06-11 | 株式会社日立ハイテクノロジーズ | Automatic analyzer and analysis method |
| CN102985829B (en) * | 2010-07-14 | 2015-11-25 | 株式会社日立高新技术 | Automatic analysing apparatus, analytical approach and signal conditioning package |
-
1981
- 1981-03-09 JP JP56032630A patent/JPS57147039A/en active Pending
-
1982
- 1982-03-08 CA CA000397773A patent/CA1176179A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS57147039A (en) | 1982-09-10 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4455032A (en) | Front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle and associated method | |
| US7497530B2 (en) | Traction assembly for a vehicle | |
| US5599034A (en) | Single arm bicycle suspension fork | |
| US5192100A (en) | Independent suspension with double isolated suspension unit | |
| EP1578625A4 (en) | Integrated wheel suspension system | |
| CA2677421C (en) | Displacement limiting assembly for a track system | |
| CA1176179A (en) | Front wheel suspension for a motor tricycle and associated method | |
| EP0321803A2 (en) | Front wheel suspension for motorcycles and the like | |
| WO2020083806A1 (en) | Ski assembly | |
| SU1562216A1 (en) | Biotransportation means | |
| JPS6246634Y2 (en) | ||
| CN221214419U (en) | Front fork plastic component of electric vehicle | |
| JPH0748470Y2 (en) | Inverted front fork | |
| KR860000457Y1 (en) | Butter for bicycle | |
| JPH0751433Y2 (en) | Disc brake for motorcycles | |
| JPH07102796B2 (en) | Hydraulic disc brake device for front wheels of saddle type vehicle for rough land traveling | |
| EP2062755A2 (en) | Damping device particularly for vehicle suspensions | |
| JPH0744547Y2 (en) | Motorcycle fender mounting structure | |
| KR200147667Y1 (en) | Supporting plate of vehicle wheel house | |
| KR200187362Y1 (en) | Fixing structure of rear lower arm for a car | |
| KR200147668Y1 (en) | Supporting plate of vehicle wheel house | |
| JPS6136469Y2 (en) | ||
| JPH061908Y2 (en) | Under-floor piping protection structure for automobiles | |
| KR19980043190U (en) | Mounting Structure of Automobile Shock Absorber | |
| JPH092362A (en) | Brake caliper fitting structure of motorcycle |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |