GB2111443A - Folding motor bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

The frame of the bicycle is of tubular metal construction a main frame tube 11 is hinged at 12 to front part 10 carrying steering column 15 and folding handlebars 16. Engine 23, which drives rear wheel 14 by chain 27, is mounted between main tube 11 and seat post 20 to form a triangular load-carrying structure. The exhaust manifold 28 forms part of this structure and delivers the exhaust into the frame tube 11, from which it escapes through openings in the rear fork 13. Fuel tank 30 is tubular and U- shaped with arms embracing the seat post 20. It protects the user against contact with the engine. The bicycle is light weight and can be folded up and lifted by the rider to put into a storage space or onto another vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding motor bicycle The present invention relates to a folding motorbike and is concerned particularly with a machine of light weight which can be folded up and lifted by the rider to put it into a storage space or onto a vehicle for transport over longer distances than can conveniently be covered on a light-weight low-power machine.

The frame of the bike is of tubular metal construction. It has a main frame tube which in the running condition extends from front to rear and is inclined upwardly towards the front. The main frame tube is composed of front and rear parts which are joined by a hinge whose axis is offset to one side of the tube and extends generally vertically. The hinge can be locked by insertion of a pin in registering holes in the two parts or by a screw clamp. Other forms of lockable hinge may be used.

The front part of the main frame tube carries at its forward end a near vertical sleeve which receives a tubular steering column rotatably supported by bearings at the upper and lower ends of the sleeve. The lower end of the column carries a fork between the arms of which the front wheel is mounted.

An approximately U-shaped handlebar is secured to the upper end of the steering column and the right hand grip serves as a throttle control in conventional motorbike fashion. Near each grip there are brake handles. The steering column includes a hinge which can be released to allow the handlebar to swing forwards and downwards to an inverted position. This further reduces the stowage volume.

The rear part of the main frame tube carries foot rests mounted near its forward end. These may be fixed or at least partially foldable. At the lower rear end the rear part of the main frame tube is fixed to a rear fork between the arms of which the rear wheel is mounted. A second fork whose ends are secured to the ends of the rear fork, and thus to the axle on which the rear wheel is mounted, carries a tubular saddle post. The saddle post inclines upwardly and forwardly from the rear axle in the normal position of use and carries the saddle at its upper end.

The engine is mounted in the angle between the saddle post and the main frame and is attached to both of these members by brackets. A chain drive couples the engine to the rear wheel.

The engine exhaust pipe is arranged to extend forwardly and downwardly to the main frame tube and thus provide some support for the engine.

Both the engine casing and the exhaust pipe are stressed structural parts of the moped frame, forming a triangulated structure with the main frame tube and the saddle post. The exhaust pipe opens into the interior of the main frame tube which is blanked off forward of the exhaust pipe and conveys the exhaust gases into the arms of the rear fork, each of which has an opening in its lower side for the discharge of the exhaust gases.

The petrol tank for supply of fuel to the engine is made in the form of a U tube which lies in a horizontal position with the bend towards the front and has its two arms embracing and secured to the saddle post.

This U-shaped petrol tank, which is disposed below the saddle and above the engine, thus serves as a leg guard to protect the user against contact with hot and/or dirty parts of the engine.

The rear end of one arm of the tank is fitted with a filler cap which can be sealed to prevent loss of fuel when the bike is being transported. The rear end of the other arm is closed. The U-shaped tubular tank additionaly serves as a carrying handle when the bike is folded up.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows in side view a motor bicycle in accordance with the invention.

The bike shown has a main frame tube consisting of a forward part 10 and a rear part 11 joined by a hinge 12. The rear part 11 has at its rear end a generally-U-shaped fork 13 within which a rear wheel 14 is mounted. The main frame tube inclines forwardly and upwardly from the rear wheel 14 and the front of the forward part 10 is welded to a steering column tube 15. Rotatabiy mounted within the tube 1 5 is a steering column 16 which at its lower end has a generally Ushaped fork 1 7 within which the front wheel 1 8 is mounted. The upper end of the steering column 1 6 carries handle-bars 1 9.

A tubular saddle post 20 which supports a saddle 21 has at its lower end a generally Ushaped fork 22 the arms of which embrace the rear wheel 14 and are welded at their ends to the arms of the fork 13. A petrol engine 23 is mounted in the angle between the formallyinclined saddle post 20 and the upwardly inclined rear part 11 of the main frame tube. The engine 23 is attached to the post 20 by upper and lower mounting brackets 24 and 25 and to the part 11 by a mounting bracket 26. The engine drives the rear wheel 14 through a chain 27.

The engine 23 has an exhaust pipe 28 which curves down forwardly and is connected to the rear part 11 of the frame tube. The exhaust pipe 28 communicates with the interior of the tubular rear part 11 and the exhaust gases pass through the part 11 before emerging from orifices in the lower side of the two arms of the rear fork 13.

The saddle post 20 also supports a tubular petrol tank 30 which has a U formation with the two arms of the U embracing the post 20 and the bend of the U at the front. The end of one arm of the tank 30 is closed and the end of the other has a sealed filler cap 31. A bracket 32 connects the tank 30 with the engine 23. A petrol line 33 leads by way of a tap 34 from the tank 30 to the engine 23.

Conventional controls are provided for the engine 23 in the form of a kick start (not visible in the drawing) and a throttle controlied by hand grip 35. A head-light 36 is powered from the engine. A tail lamp and brake light 37 is mounted between the arms of the petrol tank 30.

Conventional brakes are operated by levers 38 on the handle-bars.

The hinge 12 has a generally vertical axis about which the front part 10 of the main frame tube can be swung to lie adjacent the rear part 11. A locking pin 39 prevents such movement about the hinge while the bike is in use. When the bike is folded up the steering column 1 6 is turned through a right angle so that the front wheel 1 8 lies transverse to the plane of the drawing. The handlebars 19 are then folded down about a hinge 40 to reduce the overall height of the assembly. The folded assembly can be lifted by means of the petrol tank 30 which acts as a carrying handle.

The rear part 11 carries a foot-rest 41 on which the rider's feet rest. The legs of the rider are protected against contact with the engine by the U-shaped petrol tank 30 arranged below the saddle 21 and extending forward beyond the engine 23.

Claims (Filed on 24 Nov. 82).

1. A folding motor bicycle comprising a hinged main frame tube supporting at one end the rear wheel and at the other end a steering column which carries the f.ront wheel and is equipped with handlebars, and further comprising an engine which drives the rear wheel, wherein the engine is mounted between the main frame tube and à seat post to form a triangular load-carrying structure.

2. A motor bicycle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engine has an exhaust pipe which extends down to the main frame member to form part of the structure connecting the engine with the frame member.

3. A motor bicycle as claimed in claim 2 in which the exhaust pipe communicates with the interior of the frame tube, the latter having openings at its rear end for the escape of the exhaust gases.

4. A motor bicycle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein a fuel tank is mounted on the seat post above the engine, the tank being formed by a U-shaped tube arranged with the arms of the U embracing the seat post and the base of the U pointing forward.

5. A folding motor bicycle comprising an engine arranged to drive the rear wheel, a seat mounted above the engine, and a fuel tank disposed between the seat and the engine, the tank being formed by a U-shaped tube arranged with the base of the U pointing forward and the arms of the U extending generally horizontaily towards the rear on opposite sides of the seat.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. engine. A tail lamp and brake light 37 is mounted between the arms of the petrol tank 30. Conventional brakes are operated by levers 38 on the handle-bars. The hinge 12 has a generally vertical axis about which the front part 10 of the main frame tube can be swung to lie adjacent the rear part 11. A locking pin 39 prevents such movement about the hinge while the bike is in use. When the bike is folded up the steering column 1 6 is turned through a right angle so that the front wheel 1 8 lies transverse to the plane of the drawing. The handlebars 19 are then folded down about a hinge 40 to reduce the overall height of the assembly. The folded assembly can be lifted by means of the petrol tank 30 which acts as a carrying handle. The rear part 11 carries a foot-rest 41 on which the rider's feet rest. The legs of the rider are protected against contact with the engine by the U-shaped petrol tank 30 arranged below the saddle 21 and extending forward beyond the engine 23. Claims (Filed on 24 Nov. 82).

1. A folding motor bicycle comprising a hinged main frame tube supporting at one end the rear wheel and at the other end a steering column which carries the f.ront wheel and is equipped with handlebars, and further comprising an engine which drives the rear wheel, wherein the engine is mounted between the main frame tube and à seat post to form a triangular load-carrying structure.

2. A motor bicycle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engine has an exhaust pipe which extends down to the main frame member to form part of the structure connecting the engine with the frame member.

3. A motor bicycle as claimed in claim 2 in which the exhaust pipe communicates with the interior of the frame tube, the latter having openings at its rear end for the escape of the exhaust gases.

4. A motor bicycle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein a fuel tank is mounted on the seat post above the engine, the tank being formed by a U-shaped tube arranged with the arms of the U embracing the seat post and the base of the U pointing forward.

5. A folding motor bicycle comprising an engine arranged to drive the rear wheel, a seat mounted above the engine, and a fuel tank disposed between the seat and the engine, the tank being formed by a U-shaped tube arranged with the base of the U pointing forward and the arms of the U extending generally horizontaily towards the rear on opposite sides of the seat.