Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
  • B62K25/00—Axle suspensions
  • B62K25/005—Axle suspensions characterised by the axle being supported at one end only
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
  • B62M23/00—Transmissions characterised by use of other elements; Other transmissions

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a directional and driving front suspension device for a two-wheel drive motorcycle.
• Two-wheel drive motorcycles comprising a frame, a motor and a double drive of the rear wheel and the front wheel.
• the rear wheel is generally mounted in rotation relative to an oscillating arm and it is driven by a pinion-chain-chainring assembly in a known manner.
• a damping element is interposed between the frame and the swinging arm in order to absorb the faults of the terrain on which this motorcycle moves.
• Front suspensions are also known which simultaneously ensure the rotational driving of the front wheel, the damping of ground faults as well as the steering function.
• a front swinging arm is provided, one of the ends of which is secured to the frame and the other end of which is secured to a pivot, a pivot on which a directional hub is mounted eccentrically.
• the swing arm remains in the axis of the motorcycle just like the pivot, while the directional wheel support hub can rotate around the steering axis.
• This suspension further comprises a front fork whose arms come from either side of the directional hub, the upper end of the front fork receiving a relay box interposed between a first transmission member driven in rotation by the motor and a second transmission member driving the front wheel, as well as a strut interposed between the frame and the fork constituting a casing for the first transmission member, in a preferred embodiment.
• the two ends of this strut and the two ends of the swinging arm constitute the vertices of a deformable quadrilateral.
• a damping element is interposed between the swinging arm and the frame so as to compensate for ground defects.
• Two compasses hinged relative to each other by their top have their branches respectively fixed on the axis of the steering column for the upper compass and on the upper end of the fork for the lower compass.
• the joints are universal joints.
• the steering axis it is rotatably mounted in a steering plate secured to the frame in a known manner, the upper end of this axis receiving a handlebar.
• the present invention relates to a front directional and driving suspension device whose number of parts, weight and size are reduced, whose maintenance is facilitated, whose reliability and rigidity are increased compared to existing systems.
• the front directional and driving suspension device of a two-wheeled motorcycle driving wheels comprising telescopic suspension means composed of a first element, and a second element, the first element being articulated relative to the frame and the second element carrying the axis of rotation of the wheel, a strut, interposed between the suspension means and the frame, a drive relay unit integral with the second element a first transmission member integrated in the strut, driven by a drive shaft and connected to the relay unit, a second transmission member connected to the first member by the relay box and driving the wheel, characterized in that the first element is a single arm, the second element consists of at least one sheath and means for joining in ion are provided between the arm and the sheath.
• the arm is in the median plane of the motorcycle
• the sheath comprises an upper part coaxial with the arm and a lower part offset transversely so that this lower part is parallel to the plane of the front wheel.
• Damping means are interposed between the arm and the sheath so as to constitute a shock absorber of the front fork.
• a damping element is interposed between the strut and the frame, a force reduction rocker articulated on the frame can be arranged between this damping element and this strut.
• the means for securing the arm in rotation relative to the sheath comprise two compasses hinged together by their apex the branches of each of them being articulated, one on the arm and the other on the scabbard.
• these idarization ground means in rotation consist of grooves and grooves cooperating with one another in translation and carried respectively by the arm and the sheath or vice versa.
• the second transmission member is integrated in the sheath and constitutes a sealed casing.
• the relay box comprises a universal joint, the input element of which is mounted for rotation in a casing, itself mounted for rotation about the steering axis by means of two bearings integral with the sheath and of which the 'outlet element is rotatably mounted relative to the sleeve.
• the strut is also rotatably mounted relative to the casing of the relay box, but in the plane of the strut.
• the sheath comprises a split lower part which is fixed on the wheel axle on either side of this wheel.
• FIG. 1 represents a side elevation view of the front directional and driving suspension according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 shows a detail view with partial section of the upper part of the sheath of the suspension according to the invention as well as of the relay box,
• FIG. 4 represents the lower part of the sheath shown in FIG. 3, and
• FIG. 5 shows a variant of directional and driving front suspension according to the invention.
• Figure 1 there is shown the front part of a motorcycle comprising a frame 10, a front suspension 12, and the front wheel 14, steering and driving of the vehicle.
• the frame comprises a steering plate 16 on which the lugs 18 handlebar support 20 are fixed. This plate is articulated relative to the frame.
• the frame also includes a motor not shown for the simplification of the drawing which drives a motor pinion 22 which will be considered as the driving element of the device.
• a strut 24 is mounted at one of its ends, oscillating around the shaft 26 supporting the drive pinion 22 and articulated at its other end on the front suspension 12 as detailed below.
• This front suspension 12 comprises a fork 28 consisting of a fork arm 30 and a sheath 32.
• the upper part 34 of the sheath 32 is profiled to cooperate telescopically with the lower end of the fork arm 30.
• the lower part 36 of the sheath is offset transversely so that this lower part is parallel to the plane of the front wheel 14 as shown in FIG. 2.
• An insert 38 strengthens the sheath in line with the offset so that it does not undergo any deformation during the various efforts.
• This fork before 28 has only one arm and only one scabbard.
• the arm 30 and the upper part of the sleeve 32 are coaxial with the steering axis 40 shown in phantom in FIG. 1.
• the front suspension 12 is completed by two upper 42 and lower 44 compass articulated at their ends on the same axis 46, the arms of the upper compass 42 being articulated with respect to the plate of direction 16 while the branches of the lower compass 44 are articulated relative to the upper part 34 of the sheath 32.
• the angle ⁇ that the two compasses make between them can therefore vary during the movement of the arm 30 relative to the upper part 34 sheath 32.
• the sleeve 32 also comprises a relay box 48 comprising a casing 50 of substantially cylindrical shape and whose longitudinal axis 52 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle.
• This casing 50 further comprises two journals 54 projecting outside the cylinder and diametrically opposite receiving fastening screws 56 on upper 58 and lower 60 bearings, centered on the steering axis 40, these bearings being integral with the fork.
• the casing 50 further comprises a bearing 62 at one of its ends in which the input element 64 of a universal joint 66 rotates.
• This input element 64 has its axis of rotation coincident with the longitudinal axis 52 of the casing 50.
• This input element 64 is connected to the output element 68 in a known manner by a spider 70, the two branches of which are mounted in a journalling relationship with respect to the element input, the other relative to the output element.
• the outlet element 68 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 72 integral with the sheath.
• the end 74 of the input element receives a pinion 76 mounted fixed in rotation relative to this input element 74, this pinion 76 cooperating with a first transmission member 78 driven by the motor pinion 22 as indicated in figure 1.
• a driving pinion 80 is also fixed on the outlet element 68, this pinion being disposed in a housing 82 formed inside the lower part 36 of the sleeve 32.
• This pinion 80 cooperates with a second drive member, which itself cooperates with a plate 86 for driving the front wheel as shown in detail in FIG. 4.
• the plate B6 is represented fi xed on the shaft 88 integral with the hub 90 of the front wheel 14.
• This shaft 88 is mounted for rotation relative to the sheath by means of two bearings 92 and 94 mounted respectively in the two lateral parts of the lower part 36 of the sheath 32 defining the housing 82.
• the lower part 36 also includes two removable covers 98 and 100, allowing direct and easy access to the pinion 80 and the plate 86.
• the strut 24 is articulated relative to the housing relay 48 and more particularly with respect to the casing 50 so that the plane of the strut 24 is in the same plane as the driven pinion 76 (FIG. 3).
• the strut 24 is mounted in rotation relative to the casing 50 by means of a bearing 102, the longitudinal axis of the strut being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 52 of this casing 50.
• the front suspension 12 is completed by a damping element 104 schematically represented in FIG. 1, interposed between the frame 10 and a force multiplier rocker 105, mounted pivotally about an axis 106 relative to the frame, one of the ends 108 of the rocker being secured to the damping element and its other end 110 cooperating with a link 112 secured to a stiffener 114, one of the ends of which is coaxial with the axis 26 of the drive pinion 22 and the other of which end is secured to the strut 24.
• a damping element 104 schematically represented in FIG. 1, interposed between the frame 10 and a force multiplier rocker 105, mounted pivotally about an axis 106 relative to the frame, one of the ends 108 of the rocker being secured to the damping element and its other end 110 cooperating with a link 112 secured to a stiffener 114, one of the ends of which is coaxial with the axis 26 of the drive pinion 22 and the other of which end is secured to the strut 24.
• the wheel 14 When the wheel 14 meets an obstacle on the ground it rises relative to the frame 10 which causes the displacement of the sheath 32 relative to the arm 30, the latter penetrating inside the upper part 34 of the sheath. At the same time, the angle ⁇ decreases to compensate for the variation in distance. As for the strut, it pivots around the axis 26 which brings up the link 112 and therefore simultaneously the end 110 of the rocker by rotating it around the axis 106 and compressing the damping element 104. This in turn reacts by pushing the end 108 and by making the assembly perform a reverse return movement which tends to press the wheel 14 on the ground. During these different movements, the steering axis 40 is slightly modified in inclination thanks to the articulation of the steering bearing 16 relative to the frame 10.
• the directional movements are obtained by rotation of the handlebar 20 around the steering axis 40, which causes a rotation movement of the arm 30 and the upper and lower compasses 42 and 44 which in turn drive the sheath 32, this sheath driving itself in rotation the axis 88 of the front wheel which allows an angular displacement of the latter.
• the drive is maintained because the first transmission member 78 drives the pinion 76 in rotation and the input element 64 of the gimbal, without qt "e these perform no angular displacement relative to the assembly of motorcycle.
• the input element 64 drives the output element 68 which itself drives the driving pinion 80, which by means of the second transmission member 84 rotates the plate 86 and the axis of rotation 88.
• the outlet element 68 is also driven in angular displacement by the sheath, the spider 70 continuing to provide the drive .
• the front suspension is well directional and driving, the sheath grouping together several functions such as that of the directional member of the wheel, of casing for the second member of transmission, bearing for a part of the relay box, support for the axle 88 of the front wheel, length compensation member and at the same time a shock absorber.
• FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention in which the identical elements have the same references as in the main embodiment preceded by a 1.
• the set of two compasses 142 and 144 is oriented towards the front and articulated in the same way around an axis 146.
• the upper part 134 of the sheath 132 receives the fork arm 130 to constitute a telescopic shock absorber in its own right.
• the steering column 116 is also articulated around an axis 118 relative to the frame so as to allow angular movement of the front suspension device 112 according to the invention.
• the arms and sheath are no longer coaxial with the steering axis.
• the lower part 136 of the sleeve 132 also envelops the braking system which in this case is provided for braking in an oil bath because the lower part 136 of the sleeve 132 constitutes a sealed casing in which the second member rotates transmission in the same way as in the main embodiment.
• a removable lower cover 200 is provided.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Axle Suspensions And Sidecars For Cycles (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9396466

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1990
  • 1990-05-10 FR FR9005826A patent/FR2661884B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1991
  • 1991-05-07 EP EP19910910405 patent/EP0527935A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1991-05-07 WO PCT/FR1991/000380 patent/WO1991017076A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-05-07 JP JP50990891A patent/JPH05508363A/ja active Pending
  • 1991-05-08 PT PT9760391A patent/PT97603A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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