JP2009056871A - Steering torque detecting device for motorcycle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adopt a steering torque detecting device without changing a vehicle body structure of a motorcycle. <P>SOLUTION: A strain gauge attaching member 12 is provided between a pair of right and left fork pipes 3 and 4. Both ends of the attaching member 12 are secured with screws together with a front fender 10 to caliper brackets 3c and 4c attached to lower ends of slide pipes 3b and 4b of the lower part. The strain gauge attaching member 12 whose top is formed so that the intermediate portion thereof is lifted to a position above a top of a front wheel 1 is formed into a gate shape as a whole. A strain gauge 15 is pasted to the intermediate portion of the strain gauge attaching member 12. By bending the strain gauge attaching member 12 into the gate shape to substantially increase the length of the strain gauge attaching member 12, the elasticity of the member is improved, and thereby weakening an influence to a steering feel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering torque detection device for a two-wheeled vehicle, and more particularly to a steering torque detection device for a two-wheeled vehicle that can be easily applied without changing an existing vehicle body structure.

Conventionally, it is known to detect a steering torque for a vehicle based on distortion of a torsion bar, and use the detection result for electric steering control, a running performance test of the vehicle, or the like. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-324731 has a first rotating body and a second rotating body that are disposed at positions that can rotate around one rotation axis, and a portion that extends in a direction intersecting the rotation axis. A steering torque transmitting body for transmitting a steering torque; and a steering torque transmitting body configured to include a connecting body that is fixed to each of the first rotating body and the second rotating body and connects them so as to be able to transmit the rotation. A steering system including a deflection amount detector that detects a deflection amount of the coupling body caused by torque and a steering torque detection device that detects the magnitude of steering torque based on the detected deflection amount is described. .
JP-A-2005-324731

  The steering system described in Patent Document 1 is advantageous for a vehicle that can ensure a relatively large space around the handle shaft, such as a four-wheel vehicle, but is a motorcycle that is difficult to secure a large space around the handle shaft. Is difficult to apply. That is, in order to provide a torsion bar (a connecting body fixed to each of the first rotating body and the second rotating body in Patent Document 1) on the steering stem, the shape of the steering stem must be changed greatly.

  Further, since the torsional deformation of the torsion bar is a precondition, the steering angle is increased by the amount of the torsional deformation, which has a subtle effect on the steering feeling. In order to absorb such an influence on the steering force, it is necessary to change the vehicle body specifications. As a result, the vehicle body structure differs between the vehicle having the steering torque detection device and the other vehicles, and as a result , Can not take a common body structure.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a steering torque detection device for a two-wheeled vehicle that can be easily mounted on a vehicle body without changing the vehicle body structure.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a steering torque detecting device for a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising: a suspension member comprising a pair of fork pipes supporting an axle of a front wheel; and a steering handle provided on the suspension member. The pipe includes an upper member and a lower member that is slidably provided on the upper member and supports the axle. Both ends of the pipe are coupled to the lower member, and an intermediate portion is positioned above the front wheel. There is a first feature in that it includes a gate-shaped belt-like elastic member forming a top portion and a strain gauge attached to the top portion of the belt-like elastic member.

  Further, the present invention has a second feature in that the top of the belt-like elastic member includes a horizontal plane, and the strain gauge is attached to the horizontal plane.

  In addition, the present invention has a third feature in that the strain gauge is disposed on a central axis in the vehicle body width direction.

  The lower member of the fork pipe comprises a slide pipe slidably engaged with the upper member, and a caliper bracket including a brake caliper mounting portion and a front fender mounting portion, A fourth feature is that both end portions of the belt-like elastic member are screwed together with the front fender to the attachment portion of the front fender.

  Furthermore, the present invention has a fifth feature in that the detection output of the strain gauge is taken out by the wiring arranged along the surface of the belt-like elastic member.

  According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, when steering is performed using the steering handle, the steering force is transmitted to the front wheels via the fork pipe. At this time, a reaction force corresponding to the ground contact force of the front wheel is generated, and the suspension member is twisted. That is, one of the fork pipes is displaced forward and the other is displaced rearward to twist the suspension member. Then, the band-shaped elastic member provided to connect the fork pipes is also twisted, and the strain gauge attached to the top of the band-shaped elastic member is distorted according to the magnitude of the twist of the band-shaped elastic member, A detection output is generated. This detection output corresponds to the steering torque.

  Since the belt-like elastic member can be retrofitted to the fork pipe, there is no need to change the vehicle body structure, and the steering torque detecting device can be easily adopted. Further, since the belt-like elastic member provided by connecting the fork pipes does not affect the steering torque, the fluctuation of the steering feeling is small.

  According to the present invention having the second feature, since the strain gauge is affixed to a horizontal plane, initial strain at the time of affixing can be eliminated.

  According to the present invention having the third feature, since the strain gauge is disposed on the central axis in the vehicle body width direction, the sensitivity of the gauge to strain can be improved.

  According to the present invention having the fourth feature, since the attachment portion of the fender can be used to attach the belt-like elastic member, it is possible to employ the steering torque detection device without changing the structure of the suspension member. It becomes.

  According to the present invention having the fifth feature, it is possible to make it easy to collect the wiring by arranging the wiring along the belt-like elastic member.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a rear view of a main part of a motorcycle equipped with a steering torque detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention (viewed from the rear of the vehicle), and FIG. 2 is a left side view of the same. 1 and 2, a front suspension 2 that rotatably supports a front wheel 1 of a motorcycle includes a right fork pipe 3 positioned on the right side of the front wheel 1 and a left fork pipe 4 positioned on the left side of the front wheel 1. And have. The right fork pipe 3 and the left fork pipe 4 are provided with upper outer pipes 3a and 4a and lower slide pipes 3b and 4b slidably fitted to the outer pipes 3a and 4a. Caliper brackets 3c and 4c for attaching a brake caliper (not shown) are provided at the lower ends of the slide pipes 3b and 4b. The slide pipes 3 b and 4 b and the caliper brackets 3 c and 4 c are lower members of the right fork pipe 3 and the left fork pipe 4.

  The outer pipes 3 a and 4 a are connected to each other by a bottom bridge 5 and a top bridge 6. The bottom bridge 5 is provided with a steering stem 7 which is integrated with a lower end coupled thereto. The upper end of the steering stem 7 penetrates the top bridge 6 and protrudes upward. The left and right handle pipes 14 and 14 are coupled to the outer pipes 3a and 4a near the top bridge 6, respectively.

  The steering stem 7 passes through a head pipe 8 disposed at a front end portion of the vehicle body frame with a rearward inclination angle with respect to the vehicle body. That is, the front suspension 2 supported by the head pipe 8 is rotatable about the steering stem 7 and is supported by a bearing integrated with the caliper brackets 3c and 4c using the handle pipes 14 and 14. The front wheel 1 can be steered.

  The caliper brackets 3c and 4c have a caliper mounting portion 9 provided with a female screw for mounting a brake caliper, and a fender mounting portion 11a protruding at two front positions and one upper position for mounting the front fender 10, respectively. , 11b, and 11c are formed.

  The front fender 10 is attached to the fender attachment portions 11a, 11b, and 11c with screws. A strain gauge attaching member 12 is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the front fender 10. A strain gauge 15 is attached to the upper surface of the strain gauge mounting member 12. The installation mode of the strain gauge 15 will be further described later with reference to FIG. The strain gauge mounting member 12 is a metal composed of a vertical portion 12a rising upward from the fender mounting portion 11c and a horizontal portion 12b disposed along the upper outer surface of the front fender 10 between the upper ends of the vertical portions 12a and 12a. It consists of a strip-shaped plate.

  The set screws 13 and 13 for attaching the front fender 10 to the attachment portions 11c and 11c are screwed into the attachment portions 11c and 11c through the strain gauge attachment member 12 and the front fender 10, respectively. That is, the front fender 10 and the strain gauge attachment member 12 are fastened together with the attachment portions 11c and 11c by the set screws 13 and 13.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the strain gauge mounting member 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the band-shaped elastic member which is the strain gauge attaching member 12 includes both end portions coupled to the caliper brackets 3c and 4c and an intermediate portion (the lateral portion 12b) which is lifted and forms a top portion. It is formed into a gate shape. As described above, the bent shape substantially lengthens the dimension of the strain gauge mounting member 12 to increase the elasticity and reduce the influence on the steering feeling.

In the horizontal plane formed on the lateral portion (top portion) 12b of the strain gauge attaching member 12, a thin film strain gauge 15 is attached on the center line CL in the vehicle body width direction. As this thin film strain gauge 15, a known one that outputs a detection signal corresponding to the strain can be used. For example, an insulating film such as Al ₂ O ₃ or SiO ₂ is PVD deposited on the surface of a thin metal (stainless steel, etc.) plate, and a strain sensor made of CrN, CuNi, or NiCr is deposited thereon by PVD deposition. Those are preferred. If the dimension of the strain gauge mounting member 12 is too long, the sensitivity of the strain gauge 15 decreases, so that the lateral portion 12b is positioned above the front wheel 1, that is, the uppermost position of the front fender 10 as shown in FIG. It should be the same level as.

  A lead wire (wiring) 16 for taking out the detection output of the thin film strain sensor 14 and inputting it to an electric control circuit (ECU) (not shown) extends to the caliper bracket 3c or 4c along the outer periphery of the strain gauge mounting member 12. From there, it can be extended along the hydraulic pipe of the caliper to an ECU provided at the center of the vehicle body, for example.

  In the above configuration, when the handle pipes 14 and 14 are operated, a steering force is transmitted to the front wheels 1 via the front suspension 2. A reaction force corresponding to the grounding force of the front wheel 1 acts on the right fork pipe 3 and the left fork pipe 4 and is displaced in directions opposite to each other about the steering stem 7. For example, if the right fork pipe 3 is displaced forward, the left fork pipe 4 is displaced later. When the right fork pipe 3 and the left fork pipe 4 are displaced, the vertical portions 12a and 12a of the strain gauge attaching member 12 attached to the right fork pipe 3 and the left fork pipe 4 via the caliper brackets 3c and 4c. Are displaced in the same manner. As a result, the lateral portion 12b of the strain gauge mounting member 12 is twisted and deformed, and the thin film strain gauge 15 is distorted to generate a detection output. The detection output of the thin film strain gauge 15 is based on the reaction according to the grounding force of the front wheel 1, and the steering torque can be detected by this detection output.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the strain gauge is attached to the strain gauge mounting member 12 spanned between the left and right fork pipes, and the left and right fork pipes corresponding to the steering torque based on the detected output. Can be detected. Since the strain gauge attaching member 12 is fixed to the member for attaching the front fender by fastening together, it is only necessary to lengthen the set screw 13 without changing the conventional vehicle body structure.

  Although the example which made the strain gauge attaching member 12 metal was given, it is not limited to this. In short, any elastic member may be used as long as it is an elastic member that deforms according to the twist of the left and right fork pipes and returns to the original shape when the twist of the left and right fork pipes is returned.

  Although the strain gauge attaching member 12 has a shape along the outer periphery of the front fender 10, it may have a shape along the inner periphery of the front fender 10. In short, the members that support the front wheel on both the left and right sides may be formed in a shape having a bent portion so that the length thereof is not linear but long.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fork pipe is described as an inverted type in which the outer pipes 3a and 4a are arranged on the upper part, and the small-diameter slide pipes 3b and 4b are provided manually with respect to the outer pipe. However, the form of the fork pipe is not limited to this, and the lower member may be a large-diameter outer pipe and the upper member may be a small-diameter slide pipe.

1 is a rear view of a main part of a motorcycle equipped with a steering torque detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a left side view of an essential part of a motorcycle equipped with a steering torque detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a strain gauge attachment member.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Front wheel, 2 ... Front suspension, 3 ... Right fork pipe, 4 ... Left fork pipe, 5 ... Bottom bridge, 6 ... Top bridge, 7 ... Steering stem, 8 ... Head pipe, 9 ... Caliper attachment part, 10 ... Front fender, 11c: Fender mounting portion, 12: Strain gauge mounting member, 14 ... Handle pipe, 15 ... Strain gauge

Claims (5)

In a steering torque detection device for a two-wheeled vehicle having a suspension member composed of a pair of fork pipes that support the axle of the front wheel, and a steering handle provided on the suspension member,
The fork pipe is composed of an upper member and a lower member that is slidably provided on the upper portion and supports the axle,
Both ends of the lower member are coupled to the lower member, and an intermediate portion forms a top portion located above the front wheel.
A steering torque detecting device for a two-wheeled vehicle, comprising: a strain gauge affixed to the top of the belt-like elastic member.   The steering torque detecting device for a two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a top portion of the belt-like elastic member includes a horizontal plane, and the strain gauge is attached to the horizontal plane.   The steering torque detecting device for a two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the strain gauge is disposed on a central axis in a vehicle width direction. The lower member of the fork pipe is composed of a slide pipe slidably engaged with the upper member, and a caliper bracket composed of a brake caliper mounting portion and a front fender mounting portion,
The two-wheeled vehicle steering torque detection device according to claim 1, wherein both end portions of the belt-like elastic member are screwed together with the front fender to a mounting portion of the front fender.   The steering torque detection device for a two-wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the detection output of the strain gauge is taken out by wiring arranged along the surface of the belt-like elastic member.

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