GB2214883A

GB2214883A - Motorcycle attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2214883A
Application number: GB8804084A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Henry Gale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-23
Filing date: 1988-02-23
Publication date: 1989-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-23
Also published as: GB2214883B; GB8804084D0

Abstract

Transport means comprising a motor bicycle and wheeled sidecar with the driver and controls positioned upon or within the sidecar and the transport means driven and controlled by the driver from that position whereby the centre of gravity of the whole vehicle plus driver is within the triangle connecting the three road wheel road connecting points. <IMAGE>

Description

Attachment means whereby a motorcycle is operated as a three wheeled vehicle.

The invention relates to the practice of attaching to a motorcycle the single wheeled attachment generally known as a sidecar. Such practice is usually in order to gain extra carrying capacity. The change in the driving characteristics of any machine so modified is that it requires that such a sidecar be sufficiently heavy and wide as to maintain enough stability to avoid overturning when cornering at speed. Thus the use of a sidecar usually requires extra skill and care from the driver and is most often considered to be a penalty for the extra capacity rather than any advantage.

The purpose of the invention is to use the change in the handling characteristics alone, so that any extra carrying capacity is incidental, by applying the practice to smaller motorcycles than would be practicable for the higher powered motorcycles which are normally used for this purpose and by allowing the, thus proportionately greater, weight of the driver to be transfered to the sidecar seat in order that the centre of gravity of the total mass of the vehicle and the driver is substantially within the triangle of contact points of the wheels with the road surface.

To accomplish this shift of the centre of gravity and to allow the vehicle to still be driven in a convenient and safe manner, all the necessary means of controlling all the relevant actions of the so modified vehicle are also moved or extended to positions. which allow them to be operated in a convenient manner by the driver.

Experimentation has shown that those motorcycles which are of less than 50 cubic centimetres in engine capacity and are detuned by law to be not be capable of speeds of more than thirty miles per hour are still quite capable of giving a quite acceptable performance when the invention is applied to them.

Because most of the larger motorcycles are provided with additional fixing lugs on their frames, or the frames are of tubular construction which will readily accept clamping devices of circular form whereas the smaller mopeds and such machines often have pressed steel frames, there may be need for specially designed clamping means or modifications to the frame of the smaller motorcycle in order to attach the sidecar in a suitable manner.

The construction of the sidecar may be that of prior art in the frame structure, wheel placement, seating, and other such features with the proviso that it may be much lighter in construction in accordance with its purpose.

An example of the invention in minimal form is shown in the diagrams on page 3. Figs 1, 2, and 3 are side elevation plan view, and front elevation respectively.

The sidecar is attached to the motorcycle at three points 1, 2, and 3, two of which would normally have some means of adjustment to provide means of alignment of the assembly.

The performance -of the invented function is obtained by handlebars 4 being placed at a position which enables the driver of the assembly to reach and manipulate them whilst seated in the sidecar seat. These handlebars 4 may be those of the motorcycle which have been repositioned and may also incorporate such controls as may be convenient for the use of the driver in this situation.

The steering of the front wheel of the motorcycle may be accomplished by mounting the handlebars 4 pivotally within a steering-head 5, and by having a steering-arm 6 which is similar in form and action to the "drop-arm" used in the steering linkage of motorcar, which steering-arm 6 is fixed rigidly to an extent ion of the handlebars 4. Steering-arm 6 has a pivotal joint 7 which may be of a spherical ball joint action, at its outer end. This pivotal joint 7 is fixed to a track-rod 6 which has a second similar pivotal joint 9 fixed to it. This pivotal joint 9 is so jointed to an extension to the motorcycle forks in the form of a second steering-arm 10 which is rigidly fixed to the front forks of the motorcycle.

To fix this steering arrangement within the assembly, the steering-head 5 is held in a suitable position by means of a bracket 11 which may be rigidly fixed to the frame of the sidecar It will thus be understood that the invention comprises a means of transfering the centre of gravity of the total mass of the vehicle and driver from a point between the unstable pair of wheels of the original motorcycle to a point within a stable triangle formed by the three wheels as provided by the addition of the sidecar, and that such transfer is made possible by the transfer of the position of the driver in conjunction with the utilisation of motorcycle and sidecar of sufficiently lightness as to provide that the moving of the weight of the driver shall substantially move the centre of gravity of the mass of vehicle and driver combined. The feeling of stability, improved control, and comfort is thus a means of allowing less able drivers to use the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. Transport means comprising an assemblage of a motor bicycle with a wheeled attachment rigidly fixed to a side of the motor bicycle, wherein the total weight of that assemblage is so little, and the wheel or wheels of the attachment are so positioned that a person using this means for their self-transport is required to travel upon or within the attachment in order to provide that the centre of gravity of the combination of assemblage and person may be within the plan view of the base termed b all the roadwheels, to a sufficient degree as to ensure stability against the combination overturning when executing turns at speeds appropriate to use upon public highways.

2. Positioning of, modification to, and/or additions to the steering mechanism, brakes, accelerator. lightwitches, starting mealys, and other necessary controlling nears for the assemblage in Claim 1, to provide that the perE.cXr travelling, as in Claim 1, may convenientifiy control that assemblage whilst being transported bv it, as in Claim 1, upon public highways at appropriate speeds.

3. Positioning of, modification to, and additio- to such lights, brakes, guards, and other features of the assemblage as in Claim 1 and Claim 2, as shall provide that the assemblage shall be adjudged to be safe, legally roadworthy, and manageable, for a person, as in Claim 1 and Claim 2, to be transported by it at appropriate speeds upon public highways.