JP2004232705A - Front fork unit of motorcycle and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retain the most extended fork length of left and right front forks to be the same in a front fork unit where a suspension spring is mounted in one front fork and an attenuation generator is mounted in the other front fork. <P>SOLUTION: In a front fork unit 1 of a motorcycle and so on, front forks 10 and 20 composed of a tube of the vehicle body side and a tube of a vehicle axle side and slidably engaged with each other are mounted in the left and right side of a front wheel 2. A suspension spring 11 is mounted only in the front fork 10, and an attenuation generator 21 is mounted in the front fork 20. In the front fork unit 1, a first extension stop means 310 at the most-extended state of the front fork 20 is mounted, and it is connected to a second extension stop means 320 of a flexible linear shape which retains substantially the same most-extended fork length as the front fork 20. It is thereby possible to keep the most extended fork length of the both front forks to be the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a front fork device for a motorcycle or the like.
[Prior art]
As described in Patent Literature 1, there is a front fork device in which two front forks are provided on left and right sides of a front wheel, a suspension spring is mounted on one front fork, and a damping force generator is mounted on the other front fork. In such a front fork device, when two front forks are mounted on the vehicle body side and then the axles are mounted on the lower end portions of both front forks, the total length of both front forks becomes unbalanced, making it difficult to mount the axles. Become.
[0002]
Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163, the extension stop means for maintaining the same fork length at the maximum extension time on both the front fork with the suspension spring and the other front fork with the damping force generator. The interior is decorated. An extension stop means of one front fork is provided by interposing an elastic body 30 between a spring seat 28 at an upper end of a support rod 32 erected on an axle-side tube and a stopper 29 provided at a lower end of a body-side tube. Be composed. The extension stop means of the other front fork is provided by interposing a metal coil spring 22 between the upper closing member 20 of the damper cylinder erected on the axle side tube and the upper part of the piston rod of the piston rod connected to the body side tube. It is composed.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-74910 ([0058], [0059], FIG. 1)
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Patent Document 1 discloses that not only the extension stop means is provided in a tube of a front fork in which a damping force generating device is provided, but also the extension stop means is provided in a tube of one front fork in which a suspension spring is provided. , And it is complicated and expensive.
[0004]
In the case of a front fork in which the suspension spring provided along the inner periphery of the inner tube constituting the body-side tube or the axle-side tube extends beyond the opening end of the inner tube at the time of the maximum extension, It is difficult to provide the extension stop means between the vehicle body side tube and the axle side tube inside the front fork.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a front fork device in which a suspension spring is mounted on one of the left and right front forks and a damping force generator is mounted on the other front fork. The purpose is to keep the fork length at the maximum extension at the same length.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a front fork device for a motorcycle or the like provided with a front fork comprising a vehicle body side tube and an axle side tube which are slidably fitted to each other. Only one front fork provided with a caliper bracket for mounting the caliper is provided with a suspension spring, the other front fork is provided with a damping force generator, and the other front fork with the damping force generator is provided with the other front fork. First extension stop means for securing the minimum fitting length between the body side tube and the axle side tube when the front fork is fully extended, and the outer periphery of the body side tube and the axle of one of the front forks equipped with a suspension spring. Connect the caliper bracket of the side tube with the other front fork substantially Flip those linked by a second fully extended stop means of the flexible wire rod-shaped holding forks length when the outermost extension.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the second extension stop means comprises a cable, one end of which is provided with a detachable clamp means on the outer periphery of the vehicle body side tube, and the other end of which is a caliper. An insertion portion which can be removably inserted into a hole of the bracket is provided.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a front fork comprising a vehicle body side tube and an axle side tube which are slidably fitted is provided on the left and right sides of the front wheel, and a caliper bracket for mounting a brake caliper is provided on one a fork side of the axle side tube. In a front fork device such as a motorcycle in which a guide member for guiding a brake hose connected to a brake caliper is provided on a vehicle body side tube of one front fork, a suspension spring is provided only on one front fork, and the other is provided with a suspension spring. The front fork is provided with a damping force generator, and the other front fork with the damping force generator is provided with a minimum fitting length between the vehicle body side tube and the axle side tube when the other front fork is fully extended. Equipped with an extension stop means, and use one fluorocarbon Locked to the guide member when the uppermost extension of the fork, is provided with a stopper for holding the fork length when the other front fork substantially the same top-stretched to the one of the front fork.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 is an overall sectional view showing a front fork device, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing one of the left and right front forks, FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the upper part of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper part of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower part of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of one of the left and right front forks, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another example of the extension stop means provided on one of the left and right front forks.
[0010]
(1st Embodiment) (FIGS. 1-8)
As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle front fork device 1 includes left and right front forks 10 and 20 provided on both left and right sides of a vehicle such as a motorcycle or a bicycle. In the front fork device 1, both ends of the common axle 3 of the front wheel 2 are attached to the axle holes a of the axle brackets 111 and 209 with the front forks 10 and 20 attached to the vehicle body side bracket 9 (FIG. 7). The axle bracket 111 of the front fork 10 is integrally provided with a caliper bracket 6 for mounting a brake caliper 5 for the brake disc 4 provided on the front wheel 2 (FIG. 7).
[0011]
One of the left and right front forks 10 is configured as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the other one of the left and right front forks 20 is configured as shown in FIGS. The front fork device 1 has a built-in suspension spring 11 in one front fork 10 for damping an impact force received by a vehicle from a road surface, and a damping force generation device 21 in the other front fork 20 for damping expansion and contraction vibration of the suspension spring 11. Built-in. In the front fork device 1, the installation of the suspension spring 11 and the installation of the damping force generating device 21 are shared between the front fork 10 and the front fork 20, thereby reducing the cost.
[0012]
(Front fork 10) (FIGS. 1 to 3)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front fork 10 slidably fits an axle-side tube 102 made of an inner tube connected to an axle into a body-side tube 101 made of an outer tube supported on the body side. In this case, a suspension spring 11 is interposed between the tubes 101 and 102. A bush 101A sliding on the outer periphery of the axle tube 102 is provided on the inner periphery of the lower end of the vehicle body side tube 101, and a bush 102A sliding on the inner periphery of the vehicle body side tube 101 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the axle tube 102. An oil seal (seal member) 103 </ b> A and a dust seal 103 </ b> B that are in sliding contact with the outer circumference of the axle-side tube 102 are also provided on the inner periphery of the lower end of the body-side tube 101.
[0013]
The front fork 10 has an oil reservoir 12 including an oil chamber 12A and an air chamber 12B inside a body side tube 101 and an axle side tube 102.
[0014]
A cap 104 that seals the air chamber 12B is provided at an upper open end of the body-side tube 101. The cap 104 is screwed onto the inner periphery of the vehicle body side tube 101 via an O-ring. A spring adjuster 105 constituting a spring load adjusting device is provided at the center of the cap 104 so as to be rotatable and lockable via a detent mechanism 107. A cylindrical spring collar 109 constituting a cylindrical folder 108 is screwed to the spring adjuster 105. The spring collar 109 is prevented from rotating by a key 110 implanted in the spring adjuster 105, and as a result, the spring collar 109 can be moved up and down in the axial direction by rotating the operation element 106 provided on the spring adjuster 105.
[0015]
An axle bracket 111 is screwed onto the outer periphery of the lower end of the axle side tube 102, a bottom piece 112 is liquid-tightly engaged with the inner periphery of the lower end of the axle side tube 102, and an O-ring is inserted into a bolt insertion hole of the axle bracket 111. The bottom piece 112 is fixedly arranged on the bottom of the axle-side tube 102 by screwing a bottom bolt 113 which is liquid-tightly engaged with the bottom piece 112. A cover 111A is engaged with the bolt insertion hole of the axle bracket 111.
[0016]
The bottom piece 112 is provided with a lightening annular groove 112A for reducing the weight on the back surface side, and returns the hydraulic oil that has entered the annular groove 112A from the oil chamber 12A through the threaded portion of the bottom bolt 113 to the oil chamber 12A. A plurality of oil holes 112B.
[0017]
The front fork 10 is provided between an upper spring seat 117 supported by a rubber-like elastic body 115 and a plunger 116 loaded in a cylindrical folder 108 formed by a spring collar 109 and a lower spring seat 118 supported by a bottom piece 112. The suspension spring 11 described above is interposed. Then, by moving the spring collar 109 up and down by rotating the spring adjuster 105, the initial length of the suspension spoiler 11 and thus the initial spring load can be adjusted.
[0018]
The front fork 10 absorbs the impact force applied to the vehicle from the road surface by the suspension spring 11, the rubber-like elastic body 115, and the gas spring caused by the air reaction force confined in the air chamber 12B.
[0019]
In addition, the front fork 10 enters the oil chamber 12B through the lip of the oil seal 103A provided on the inner periphery of the lower end of the body-side tube 101 due to a violent expansion and contraction stroke, and removes the air that has been successively accumulated. A plug bolt 120 is screwed into an air passage 119 which communicates with the oil chamber 12B provided in the oil chamber 12B.
[0020]
(Front fork 20) (FIGS. 4 to 6)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front fork 20 slidably fits an axle-side tube 202 formed of an inner tube supported on an axle into a body-side tube 201 formed of an outer tube supported on the body side. In this case, the single cylinder type damper 204 is installed upside down. That is, the damper 204 includes a damper cylinder 206 and a piston rod 210, as will be described in detail later. The damper cylinder 206 is mounted on the vehicle body side tube 201, and the piston rod 210 is mounted on the axle side tube 202. You. A bush 201A sliding on the outer periphery of the axle tube 202 is provided on the inner periphery of the lower end of the vehicle body side tube 201, and a bush 202A sliding on the inner periphery of the vehicle body side tube 201 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the axle tube 202. An oil seal (seal member) 203 </ b> A and a dust seal 203 </ b> B that are in sliding contact with the outer periphery of the axle-side tube 202 are also provided on the inner periphery of the lower end of the body-side tube 201.
[0021]
The upper end of the damper cylinder 206 of the damper 204 is screwed via an O-ring to the upper end of the vehicle body side tube 201, and the upper open end of the damper cylinder 206 is closed by the cap 205. The cap 205 is inserted and screwed into the inner periphery of the damper cylinder 206 via an O-ring.
[0022]
An oil lock case 207 is liquid-tightly fitted on the inner periphery of the lower end bottom of the axle-side tube 202 via an O-ring, and the oil lock case 207 is mounted on the axle bracket 209 with the bottom bolt 208 in a liquid-tight manner via the O-ring. It is fixed. 209A is a cover engaged with the bolt insertion hole of the axle bracket 209. Further, the base end of a piston rod (hollow rod) 210 of the damper 204 is screwed to the bottom bolt 208 and locked by a lock nut 208A, and the distal end of the piston rod 210 is connected to the axial end of the damper cylinder 206. It is inserted from the tip side of the oil lock piece 211 provided in the section. The oil lock piece 211 is fixed by screwing the base cylindrical portion 211A to the opening at the distal end of the damper cylinder 206 in a liquid-tight manner via an O-ring. The piston rod 210 is supported by a bush 212A of a rod guide portion 212 provided below the cylindrical portion 211A of the oil lock piece 211, and is inserted into the damper cylinder 206 through the seal member 212B. The seal member 212 </ b> B has a one-way sealing function of sealing an oil chamber 233 </ b> B described later of the damper cylinder 206 and preventing the oil in the oil chamber 233 </ b> B from escaping out of the damper cylinder 206. A rebound spring 214 is seated on a lower end surface of a spring chamber 213 provided inside the tubular portion 211A of the oil lock piece 211 via a seal retainer 212C. The rebound spring 214 is housed in the spring chamber 213 while being held by a retaining ring 215 engaged with the upper inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 211A of the oil lock piece 211.
[0023]
Inside the vehicle body side tube 201 and the axle side tube 202, an oil reservoir 223 including an oil chamber 221 and an air chamber 222 is provided outside the damper 204, and the oil chamber 221 and the air chamber 222 pass through a free interface. The air that has come into contact with the air chamber 222 forms a gas spring. The suspension spring 11, the rubber-like elastic body 115, and the gas spring of the air chamber 12B in the front fork 10 and the gas spring of the air chamber 222 in the front fork 20 absorb the impact force that the vehicle receives from the road surface.
[0024]
The damper 204 has a piston valve device 230 and a base valve device 250 that constitute the damping force generator 21 of the front fork 20. The damper 204 absorbs the impact force of the suspension spring 11 and the rubber-like elastic body 115 of the front fork 10 and the gas spring of the front forks 10 and 20 due to the damping force generated by the piston valve device 230 and the base valve device 250. The expansion and contraction vibration of the tubes 101 and 102 of the front fork 10 and the tubes 201 and 201 of the front fork 20 is suppressed.
[0025]
(Piston valve device 230)
In the piston valve device 230, a piston holder 231A is mounted on the tip of a piston rod 210, and a main piston 232 is held in the piston holder 231A by a nut 231B or the like. The main piston 232 partitions the inside of the damper cylinder 206 into a piston-side oil chamber 233A in which the piston rod 210 is not accommodated and a rod-side oil chamber 233B in which the piston rod 210 is accommodated, and slides inside the damper cylinder 206. . The main piston 232 is an assembly of upper and lower pistons 232A and 232B. The main piston 232 includes an extension side plate valve 234A in which a number of plate valves are stacked in a pyramid shape, and can communicate between the piston side oil chamber 233A and the rod side oil chamber 233B. And a compression-side port 235 that includes a medium- and high-speed pressure-side plate valve 235A and a low-speed pressure-side plate valve 235B and that enables communication between the piston-side oil chamber 233A and the rod-side oil chamber 233B.
[0026]
In the piston valve device 230, the valve stopper 235C, the pressure side plate valves 235A and 235B, the main piston 232 (upper and lower pistons 232A and 232B), the extension side plate valve 234A, and the valve stopper 234B are inserted into the piston holder 231A. Is held by a nut 231B.
[0027]
Further, the piston valve device 230 allows the damping force adjusting rod 237 connected to the adjuster 236 inserted in a liquid-tight manner to the bottom bolt 208 to pass through the hollow portion of the piston rod 210, and to rotate in the axial direction by rotating the adjuster 236. The flow path area of the bypass passage 238 between the piston side oil chamber 233A and the rod side oil chamber 233B provided in the piston holder 231A can be adjusted by the needle 237A at the tip of the advancing and retracting damping force adjusting rod 237. Reference numeral 239 denotes a detent mechanism incorporated in the adjuster 236. The detent mechanism 239 can engage a ball urged by a spring with a detent recess provided in the bottom bolt 208, and can sequentially position the adjuster 236 at a plurality of positions in the rotation direction with a sense of moderation. I do.
[0028]
(Base valve device 250)
In the base valve device 250, the guide pipe 251 is screwed to the cap 205 screwed to the upper end of the damper cylinder 206, and the housing holder 251A is screwed to the tip of the guide pipe 251. The sub piston 252 is held by a nut 251B or the like. The upper part of the guide pipe 251 is formed in the small diameter part 251C. The sub-piston 252 is fixedly disposed inside the damper cylinder 206 so as to face the main piston 232 described above, is in liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral portion of the damper cylinder 206, and is disposed above the piston-side oil chamber 233A above the base valve chamber 233A. 253 are formed in the oil chamber 253A. The sub-piston 252 includes a medium- and high-speed pressure-side plate valve 254A in which a number of plate valves are stacked in a pyramid shape, and a pressure-side port 254 that enables communication between the piston-side oil chamber 233A and the oil chamber 253A of the base valve chamber 253. And an expansion side port 255 that includes an expansion side plate valve 255A (check valve) and enables communication between the piston side oil chamber 233A and the oil chamber 253A of the base valve chamber 253. Further, the housing holder 251A includes a bypass flow path 256 that allows the piston side oil chamber 233A and the oil chamber 253A of the base valve chamber 253 to communicate with each other by bypassing the compression side port 254 and the expansion side port 255.
[0029]
In the base valve device 250, a valve stopper 254B, a pressure-side plate valve 254A, a sub-piston 252, an extension-side plate valve 255A, and a valve stopper 255B are inserted into a housing holder 251A, and these are held by nuts 251B.
[0030]
The damping force adjusting rod 258 screwed to the fork bolt 205 has an adjuster 259, is inserted into the guide pipe 251, and flows through the bypass flow path 256 by a needle 258A at the distal end which advances and retreats in the axial direction by rotating the adjuster 259. The road area can be adjusted. The adjuster 259 and its holder 259A are embedded and held at the center of the head end surface of the fork bolt 205. Reference numeral 260 denotes a detent mechanism incorporated in the adjuster 259. The detent mechanism 260 engages a ball urged by a spring with a detent recess provided in the holder 259A, and can sequentially position the adjuster 259 at a plurality of positions in the rotation direction with a sense of moderation. And
[0031]
The housing holder 251A is provided with a branch flow path 256A on the oil chamber 253A side from a flow path area adjusting portion opened and closed by the needle 258A of the bypass flow path 256. In the housing holder 251A, a low-speed pressure side plate valve 254C is provided at a portion where the branch flow path 256A opens to the oil chamber 253A of the base valve chamber 253.
[0032]
The base valve device 250 includes a free piston type movable partition member 261 that slides in a liquid-tight manner through the O-ring 260A and the sealing member 260B along the damper cylinder 206 and the guide pipe 251 inside the damper cylinder 206. Is provided. The partition member 261 defines an oil chamber 253A communicating with the piston side oil chamber 233A on the side of the sub piston 252 of the base valve chamber 253, and a volume compensation chamber 253B on the side of the cap 205. The volume compensation chamber 253B is filled with air therein, and communicates with the air chamber 222 through a communication passage 263. The cap 205 removes air sequentially accumulated in the air chamber 222 and the volume compensation chamber 253B through the lip of an oil seal 203A provided on the inner periphery of the lower end of the vehicle body side tube 201 due to the intense expansion / contraction stroke of the front fork 20. A plug bolt 265 is screwed into an air passage 264 communicating with the volume compensation chamber 253B provided in the 205. The spring 262 is interposed between the partition member 261 and the cap 205 so as to have a slight initial load at the time of the maximum extension.
[0033]
When the piston rod 210 enters the damper cylinder 206 during compression, the spring 262 contracts, and the oil chamber in the damper cylinder 206 is pressurized by the amount of the spring load of the spring 262 at this time. It prevents cavitation in the oil chamber, and also avoids delay (spilling) of the generation of damping force during compression following expansion.
[0034]
Each time the piston rod 210 of the front fork 20 strokes, the base valve device 250 removes the oil in the oil chamber 221 adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 210 from the seal member 212B of the rod guide portion 212 to the damper cylinder 206. Bring it inside. Thus, when the hydraulic oil in the oil chambers 233A, 233B, 253A inside the damper cylinder 206 becomes equal to or more than a certain amount, the movable partition member 261 moves upward by the hydraulic pressure, and the seal member 260B on the inner periphery of the partition member 261 is moved. It has a blow function of discharging excess oil of the damper cylinder 206 from the volume compensation chamber 253B to the oil chamber 221 outside the damper cylinder 206 via the communication path 263 and the air chamber 222 when reaching the small diameter portion 251C of the guide pipe 251. .
[0035]
Therefore, the front fork 20 performs a damping action as described below.
(When compressed)
When the front fork 20 is compressed, when the piston speed is extremely low, a pressure-side damping force is generated by oil flowing through the needle 258A of the sub-piston 252 in the base valve device 250, and at low speed, the low-speed pressure side of the main piston 232 in the piston valve device 230. The oil flowing through the plate valve 235B generates a compression-side damping force, and the base valve device 250 generates a compression-side damping force by the oil flowing through the low-speed pressure-side plate valve 254C of the sub-piston 252. 232 generates a compression damping force by the oil flowing through the medium- and high-speed pressure side plate valve 235A, and generates a compression side damping force by the oil flowing through the compression side plate valve 254A of the sub piston 252 in the base valve device 250.
[0036]
(When extended)
When the front fork 20 is extended, when the piston speed is low, the oil flowing through the needle 237A of the main piston 232 generates an expansion-side damping force in the piston valve device 230. When the medium speed is high, the expansion side plate of the main piston 232 is generated in the piston valve device 230. The extension side damping force is generated by the oil flowing through the valve 234A, and the base valve device 250 hardly generates the damping force.
[0037]
By these damping forces on the compression side and the extension side, the expansion and contraction vibration of the front fork 10 and the front fork 20 is suppressed.
[0038]
When the front fork 20 is most compressed, the oil lock piece 211 provided at the axial end of the damper cylinder 206 is fitted into the oil lock case 207 provided at the bottom of the wheel side tube 202, and the oil lock piece 211 is provided between the two. The oil compressed in the oil lock oil chamber 270 which is formed in the oil lock 270 causes an oil lock action to prevent the damper 204 from bottoming out.
[0039]
When the front fork 20 is fully extended, the lower end surface of the piston holder 231A provided on the piston rod 210 is supported by the rod guide portion 212 of the oil lock piece 211 provided at the opening of the damper cylinder 206. The spring abuts against the spring 214 to provide a buffering action for extension.
[0040]
However, the front fork device 1 has the following configuration in order to keep the fork lengths of the front forks 10 and 20 at the maximum extension at the same length.
[0041]
(1) First extension stop means for securing the required minimum fitting length between the vehicle body side tube 201 and the axle side tube 202 when the front fork 20 is fully extended to the front fork 20 in which the damping force generator 21 is installed. 310 is installed. As shown in FIG. 4, the extension stop means 310 includes a rebound spring 214 provided on an oil lock piece 211 screwed to a damper cylinder 206 mounted on the vehicle body side tube 201, and a piston rod 210 mounted on the axle side tube 202. When the front fork 20 is fully extended, the lower end surface of the piston holder 231A abuts against the rebound spring 214 to define the fork length L2 when the front fork 20 is fully extended, as described above. .
[0042]
(2) As shown in FIG. 8, the outer periphery of the vehicle body side tube 101 of the front fork 10 having the suspension spring 11 therein and the caliper bracket 6 integrated with the axle bracket 111 screwed to the axle side tube 102, as shown in FIG. The fork 10 has a fork length L1 (L1 = L2) at the maximum extension practically the same as the front fork 20 (the required minimum fitting length of the body side tube 101 and the axle side tube 102 at the maximum extension of the front fork 10 is ensured). The fork lengths L1) obtained were connected by a flexible wire rod-shaped second extension stop means 320.
[0043]
(3) As shown in FIG. 8, the extension stop means 320 is composed of a cable 321 and is provided at one end thereof with a clamp 322 (clamp means) such as a bolted ring detachably attached to the outer periphery of the vehicle body side tube 101. An insertion portion 323 such as a pin that can be removably inserted into the hole b of the caliper bracket 6 is provided at an end.
[0044]
The cable 321 is a wire cable in which a plurality of metal strands are twisted, a linear cable made of synthetic fiber or natural fiber, a rope, a string, or the like, in which the body-side tube 101 and the axle-side tube 102 can relatively move in the axial direction. I just want it. The clamp 322 uses a protector guide (a plastic guide that guides the upper end of an arc-shaped mudguard cover that covers the front portion of the axle-side tube) fixed to the body-side tube 101 in addition to the one that bolts the C-shaped ring. Alternatively, one end of the cable 321 may be attached to the protector guide. The insertion portion 323 is not limited to the pin, and may be any as long as it can be locked in the hole b of the caliper bracket 6. Hooks may be provided at both ends of the cable 321, and one hook may be detachably engaged with the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body side tube 101, and the other hook may be detachably engaged with the hole b of the caliper bracket 6.
[0045]
According to the present embodiment, the following operation and effect can be obtained.
{Circle around (1)} The extension stop means 320 provided on one of the front forks 10 in which the suspension springs 11 are mounted connects the outer periphery of the vehicle body side tube 101 to the caliper bracket 6 on the axle side tube 102 side. The fork 10 is provided outside the tubes 101 and 102. Since the extension stop means 320 is not provided inside the tubes 101 and 102 of the front fork 10, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
[0046]
{Circle around (2)} One of the front forks 10 is provided with an extension stop means 320, and the other front fork 20 is provided with an extension stop means 310. The fork lengths L1, L2 of the front forks 10, 20 at the maximum extension are determined. Since the lengths are the same, the work of attaching the axle 3 to the front forks 10 and 20 can be quickly and easily performed when the front wheels 2 and the front forks 10 and 20 are replaced.
[0047]
{Circle over (3)} The extension stop means 320 provided on one of the front forks 10 has a flexible rod shape and has flexibility, so that when the axle 3 is mounted, the hub of the front wheel 2 and the left and right front forks 10, 20 are attached. When the axle 3 is inserted into the axle hole a of the axle brackets 111 and 209 and a nut is fastened to the axle 3, both front forks 10 and 20 can be extended and contracted with the front wheel 2 provided. Accordingly, the nuts can be fixed to the axle 3 after the front axles 10 and 20 eliminate twisting of the axle-side tubes 102 and 202 with respect to the vehicle body-side tubes 101 and 201, and the front wheel 2 and the front forks 10, 20 Workability can be improved.
[0048]
{Circle over (4)} Since the extension / stopping means 320 is composed of a cable 321 provided with a clamp 322 and an insertion portion 323 such as a pin at both ends of the cable 321, the extension / stopping means 320 can be made into a single component, and the cost is significantly reduced. Can be
[0049]
The lower end of the extension stop means 320 can be connected to a protector (an arc-shaped mudguard cover that covers the front part of the axle-side tube) provided on the side of the axle-side tube 102, but can be extended by connecting to the caliper bracket 6. It is also possible to detach the protector with the cutting stop means 320 provided.
[0050]
(2nd Embodiment)
The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the configuration of the extension stop means 320 provided on the front fork 10 having the suspension spring 11 therein. In the second embodiment, a brake hose 7 connected to the brake caliper 5 and a guide member 8 provided on the vehicle body side tube 101 of the front fork 10 to guide the brake hose 7 are used.
[0051]
That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the extension stop means 320 is locked to the guide member 8 when the front fork 10 is fully extended, and the fork length L1 when the front fork 10 is fully extended is substantially the same as the front fork 20. A stopper 331 for holding (L1 = L2) is provided on the brake hose 7. That is, the guide member 8 is fixed to the vehicle body side bracket 9 that holds the vehicle body side tubes 101 and 201 of the left and right front forks 10 and 20 of the front fork device 1, and the brake hose 7 is relatively movable in the guide hole of the guide member 8. It is inserted in the play. The stopper 331 is fixed at an appropriate position on the brake hose 7 opposite to the brake caliper 5 with the guide member 8 interposed therebetween (a position where the fork length L1 when the front fork 10 is fully extended is defined as described above). The stopper 331 is fixed to the brake hose 7 by fastening split rings 332A and 332B sandwiching the brake hose 7 with bolts 333 as shown in FIG. 9B. When the axle-side tube 102 moves down when the front fork 10 is fully extended, the stopper 331 fixed to the brake hose 7 that moves with this is locked to the guide member 8 on the vehicle-body-side tube 111, and the maximum extension is achieved. The fork length L1 at the time is defined.
[0052]
According to the present embodiment, the following operation and effect can be obtained.
{Circle around (1)} The extension stop means 320 provided on one of the front forks 10 in which the suspension springs 11 are mounted, connects the stopper 331 provided on the brake hose 7 to the brake hose guide member 8 provided on the vehicle body side tube 101 side. The front fork 10 is provided outside the tubes 101 and 102. Since the extension stop means 320 is not provided inside the tubes 101 and 102 of the front fork 10, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
[0053]
{Circle around (2)} One of the front forks 10 is provided with an extension stop means 320, and the other front fork 20 is provided with an extension stop means 310. The fork lengths L1, L2 of the front forks 10, 20 at the maximum extension are determined. Since the front wheels 2 and the front forks 10 and 20 are replaced with the same length, the work of attaching the axle 3 to both front forks 10 and 20 can be quickly and easily performed.
[0054]
{Circle over (3)} The extension stop means 320 provided on one of the front forks 10 uses the brake hose 7 and has flexibility, so that when attaching the axle 3, the hub of the front wheel 2 and the left and right front forks 10, When the axle 3 is inserted into the axle hole a of the axle brackets 111, 209 and the nut is fastened to the axle 3, both front forks 10, 20 can be extended and contracted with the front wheel 2 provided. Therefore, the nuts can be fixed to the axle 3 after the front forks 10 and 20 eliminate twisting of the axle-side tubes 102 and 202 with respect to the body-side tubes 101 and 201, and the front wheel 2 and the front forks 10 and 20 can be fixed. Workability can be improved.
[0055]
{Circle around (4)} Since the extension stop means 320 is configured by using the existing brake hose 7, the cost can be significantly reduced.
[0056]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and there may be a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. This is also included in the present invention. For example, in the left and right front forks of the front fork device of the present invention, the vehicle body side tube may be formed by an inner tube, and the axle side tube may be formed by an outer tube.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in a front fork device in which a suspension spring is mounted on one of the left and right front forks and a damping force generating device is mounted on the other front fork, the front forks have a simple configuration. The fork length at the maximum extension can be kept the same.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view showing a front fork device.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing one of left and right front forks.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper part of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the other of the left and right front forks.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the upper part of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a lower enlarged sectional view of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing one of the left and right front forks.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing extension stop means provided on one of the left and right front forks.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another example of the extension stop means provided on one of the left and right front forks.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front fork apparatus 2 Front wheel 5 Brake caliper 6 Caliper bracket 7 Brake hose 8 Guide member 11 Suspension spring 21 Damping force generator 10, 20 Front fork 101, 201 Body side tube 102, 202 Axle side tube 310 First extension stop Means 320 Second extension stop means 321 Cable 322 Clamp (clamp means)
323 insertion part 331 stopper

Claims (3)

In a front fork device such as a motorcycle provided with a front fork comprising a body side tube and an axle side tube which are slidably fitted,
Of the left and right front forks, only one of the front forks with the caliper bracket for mounting the brake caliper is equipped with a suspension spring, and the other front fork is equipped with a damping force generator,
On the other front fork in which the damping force generating device is installed, first extension stop means for securing the minimum fitting length between the vehicle body side tube and the axle side tube when the other front fork is fully extended, is installed,
The outer periphery of the body-side tube and the caliper bracket of the axle-side tube of one front fork with a suspension spring mounted therein are connected to the other front fork by a flexible wire rod-shaped second rod which holds substantially the same fork length at the maximum extension. A front fork device for a motorcycle or the like, wherein the front fork device is connected by an extension stop means. The second extension stop means comprises a cable, one end of which is provided with a clamp means which can be detachably attached to the outer periphery of the vehicle body side tube, and the other end of which is provided with an insertion portion which can be detachably inserted into a hole of the caliper bracket. A front fork device for a motorcycle or the like according to claim 1. Front forks consisting of a body side tube and an axle side tube that are slidably fitted are provided on the left and right of the front wheel,
A caliper bracket for mounting the brake caliper is provided on the axle side tube side of one front fork,
In a front fork device such as a motorcycle provided with a guide member for guiding a brake hose connected to a brake caliper on a body side tube of one of the front forks,
Only one front fork is equipped with a suspension spring, the other front fork is equipped with a damping force generator,
On the other front fork equipped with the damping force generating device, extension stop means for securing the minimum fitting length of the vehicle body side tube and the axle side tube when the other front fork is fully extended, is provided,
The brake hose is provided with a stopper which is engaged with the guide member when one of the front forks is fully extended, and the one front fork is provided with a fork length which is substantially the same as the other front fork in the most extended state. Characteristic front fork device for motorcycles and the like.

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