CA3112104A1

CA3112104A1 - Vehicle with cable steering

Info

Publication number: CA3112104A1
Application number: CA3112104A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Fabrizio Cross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-03-18
Filing date: 2021-03-18
Publication date: 2022-09-18
Also published as: WO2022193002A1

Abstract

A vehicle with a cable steering assembly consisting of master steering tube and a slave steering tube. A master cable mounting, typically a pulley, is secured to the master steering tube. A slave cable mounting, typically a pulley, is secured to the slave steering tube. The slave steering tube has a fork crown junction with a depending fork for mounting a single steerable wheel. The slave cable mounting is positioned below the fork crown junction and is sheltered within the depending fork. This provides a number of advantages. When an endless cable loop is secured between the master cable mounting and the slave cable mounting, a master to slave relation is established. Rotation of the master steering tube is transmitted by the endless cable loop to the slave cable mounting resulting in a rotation of the slave steering tube, thereby steering the single steerable wheel.

Description

TITLE
[0001] Vehicle with cable steering FIELD

[0002] There is described a human powered or a motor powered vehicle, such as a bicycle, tricycle, motorcycle or motor tricycle that has a novel cable steering assembly.
BACKGROUND

[0003] There have been previous patents which disclose vehicles which use cable steering, the closest being U.S. Patent 4,659,098 (Jacobson) titled "Semi-recumbent bicycle".

[0004] There will hereinafter be described an alternative configuration for cable steering.
SUMMARY

[0005] There is provided a vehicle with a cable steering assembly. The vehicle has a frame with a first end and a second end. A seat to accommodate a rider is mounted to the frame in an intermediate position between the first end and second end. An upright master steering tube is mounted for rotation to the frame in the intermediate position. Steering controls are provided for selectively rotating the master steering tube in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. A master cable mounting is secured to the master steering tube in a position that is lower than the seat. A non-steerable wheel mounting is provided for mounting at least one wheel at the first end of the frame. An upright slave steering tube is mounted for rotation to the frame. The slave steering tube has a fork crown junction with a depending fork for mounting a single steerable wheel. A slave cable mounting is secured to the slave steering tube below the junction and sheltered within the depending fork. When an endless cable loop is secured between the master cable mounting and the slave cable mounting, a master to slave relation is established. A
manual input through the steering controls which rotates the master steering tube is transmitted by the endless cable loop to the slave cable mounting resulting in a rotation of the slave steering tube, thereby steering the single steerable wheel.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-18

[0006] A significant aspect of the cable steering is the positioning of the slave cable mounting (typically a pulley) that provides input into the slave steering tube below the fork crown junction and sheltered within the depending fork. With this positioning, the slave cable mounting is in a protected location. With this positioning, fewer cable guides are required to achieve a desired 90 degree connection with the slave steering tube and, depending upon the installation, the need for cable guides is eliminated altogether. With this positioning the endless loop cable does not need to be guided or protected by a cable conduit.
This results in less friction and a more natural steering feel. Lastly, and most importantly, it facilitates retrofitting of the cable steering system to standard forks.

[0007] There are various ways in which the slave cable mounting may be mounted to the slave steering tube. The preferred and most versatile way, that will hereinafter be further described, uses an expansion bolt. The expansion bolt is received in mating relation by insertion into a lower end of the slave steering tube below the fork crown junction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with cable steering.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the vehicle with cable steering of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view, in section, of the slave steering tube of the vehicle with cable steering of FIG. 1.
.. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] A vehicle with cable steering generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, vehicle 10 has a frame 12 with a first end 14 (rear end) and a Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-18 second end 16 (front end). A seat 18 to accommodate a rider is mounted to frame 12 in an intermediate position, generally indicated by reference numeral 20, between first end 14 and second end 16. An upright master steering tube 22 is mounted for rotation to frame 12 in intermediate position 20. Master steering tube 22 rotates about a longitudinal axis, indicated by broken lines 24. Steering controls 26, illustrated as handle bars, are provided for selectively rotating master steering tube 22 in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. A master cable mounting 28, illustrated as a pulley, is fixed to and rotates with master steering tube 22. It is preferred that master cable mounting 28 is positioned lower than seat 18, wherein it will be protected by frame 12, be away from the rider's clothing and protected from the elements. A non-steerable wheel mounting, generally indicated by reference numeral 30, is provided for mounting one non-steerable wheel for a bicycle configuration or two non-steerable wheels for a tricycle configuration. Non-steerable wheel mounting 30 is illustrated as being at the first end 14 (rear end) of frame 12.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, an upright slave steering tube 32 is mounted for rotation to frame 12. Slave steering tube 32 rotates about a longitudinal axis, indicated by broken lines 34. Referring to FIG. 1, slave steering tube 32 a fork crown junction 36 with a depending fork 38 for mounting a single steerable wheel (not shown). Referring to FIG.
3, a slave cable mounting 40, illustrated as a pulley) is secured to slave steering tube 32 below fork crown junction 36 and sheltered within depending fork 38. Slave cable mounting 40 is fixed to an expansion bolt 42. Expansion bolt 42 is received in mating relation by insertion into a lower end 44 of slave steering tube 32 below fork crown junction 36. Expansion bolt 42 is secured in place by securing a tool to exposed head 46 of screw 48 and rotating screw 48 to cause the components 42a and 42b of expansion bolt 42 to expand to engage lower end 44 of slave steering tube 32. Once expansion bolt 42 is secured to slave steering tube 32, slave cable mounting 40 rotates with slave steering tube 32.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, an endless cable loop 50 is secured between master cable mounting 28 and slave cable mounting 40. Endless cable loop 50 has a tensioning turnbuckle 52 which can be manually adjusted to maintain tension in endless cable loop 50. Cable Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-18 anchors 54 and 56 are provided on master cable mounting 28 and slave cable mounting 40 to maintain a secure connection between the master cable mounting and the slave cable mounting and thus a consistent relationship between the positions of the master cable mounting and the slave cable mounting.. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, cable guides 58 are positioned in an intermediate position between master cable mounting 28 and slave cable mounting 40.
The purpose of cable guides 58 are to route the cable within the protection of the frame and to ensure that the angle of approach to slave cable mounting is as close as possible to 90 degrees.
Operation:

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, when endless cable loop 50 is secured between master cable mounting 28 and slave cable mounting 40, a master to slave relationship is established between master steering tube 22 and slave steering tube 32. A manual input through steering controls 26 which rotates master steering tube 22 is transmitted by master cable mounting 28 to endless cable loop 50 and on to slave cable mounting 40 resulting in a rotation of slave steering tube 32, thereby steering the single steerable wheel which is mounted to forks 38.

[0017] Although the single steerable wheel has been shown to be the front wheel and the non-steerable wheel is shown as the back wheel, it will be understood that those could be reversed. It is preferred that the steerable wheel is the front wheel.
Steerable back wheels are viewed as not being suitable for some applications.

[0018] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0019] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-18 construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-18

Claims

What is Claimed is:

1. A vehicle with a cable steering assembly, comprising:
a frame having a first end and a second end;
a seat to accommodate a rider mounted to the frame in an intermediate position between the first end and second end;
an upright master steering tube mounted for rotation to the frame in the intermediate position;
steering controls for selectively rotating the master steering tube in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, a master cable mounting being secured to the master steering tube in a position that is lower than the seat;
a non-steerable wheel mounting for mounting at least one wheel at the first end of the frame;
an upright slave steering tube mounted for rotation to the frame, the slave steering tube having a fork crown junction with a depending fork for mounting a single steerable wheel, a slave cable mounting being secured to the slave steering tube below the junction and sheltered within the depending fork;
when an endless cable loop is secured between the master cable mounting and the slave cable mounting, a master to slave relation is established, such that a manual input through the steering controls which rotates the master steering tube is transmitted by the endless cable loop to the slave cable mounting resulting in a pivoting of the slave steering tube thereby steering the single steerable wheel.

2. The vehicle of Claim 1, wherein the slave cable mounting is non-rotatably fixed to an expansion bolt, and the expansion bolt is received in mating relation by insertion into a lower end of the slave steering tube below the junction with the depending fork.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-18

3. The vehicle of Claim 1, wherein the master cable mounting is a pulley.

4. The vehicle of Claim 1, wherein the slave cable mounting is a pulley.

5. The vehicle of Claim 1, wherein cable guides are positioned in an intermediate position between the master cable mounting and the slave cable mounting.

Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-18