JP2010012874A - Front wheel suspension device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a front wheel suspension device having improved vibration damping-absorbing ability, and excellent ride stability even on a greatly rugged ground. <P>SOLUTION: The front wheel suspension device includes: a steering rod rotatably pivoted at a front end of a frame body; a first connection arm in which a rear end is pivoted to an upper end of the steering rod; a second connection arm in which an upper end is pivoted to a front end of the first connection arm; a front fork which is installed ahead of the steering rod and in which a lower portion supports a front wheel through an axle; a suspension arm in which a front end is pivoted to a lower end of the second connection arm and in which a rear end is pivoted to a lower end of the steering rod; and a first swing arm in which a rear end is pivoted to an upper portion of the front fork and in which a front end is pivoted to a front end of the suspension arm. With the above structure, vibration from the front wheel is dampened to be transmitted to the steering rod. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a front wheel suspension device for a body frame, and more particularly to a front wheel suspension device that is attached to a front end of a frame body in a body frame of a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle to rotatably support a front wheel and attenuate vibrations from the front wheel.

  In general motorcycles and motorcycles such as motorcycles and tricycles, a front wheel suspension device is mounted at the front end of the frame body in the body frame so that the front wheel can be rotated and supported by the handle. ing. An example of this type of front wheel suspension device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Conventional front wheel suspensions generally have a four-link structure including a front fork and the like, and the four-link structure swings and is incorporated into the four-link structure in order to improve riding stability during traveling. By compressing the damper, the front wheel is configured to be able to attenuate and absorb the vibration caused by the topography.

  The four-link structure front wheel suspension system with a damper in Patent Document 1 functions to attenuate vibrations that occur on the front wheels of bicycles, motorcycles, etc., but for hill climbs, etc., the ability to cope with terrain rich in undulations Since there is still room for improvement, there is a need for a front wheel suspension system that can further improve the vibration damping capability.

US Patent 913961

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, that is, the present invention provides a front wheel suspension device that has improved vibration damping / absorption capability and excellent riding stability even in terrain rich in undulations. The purpose is to try.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a front wheel suspension device that is attached to a front end of a frame body in a vehicle body frame and configured to rotatably support a front wheel. A steering rod (2) pivotally supported at the front end, a first connecting arm (6) whose rear end is pivotally supported at the upper end of the steering rod, and an upper end at the first A second connecting arm (7) pivotally supported by the front end of the connecting arm, and a front fork (3) which is installed in front of the steering rod and supports the front wheel via an axle. ), A suspension arm (4) whose front end is pivotally supported by the lower end of the second connecting arm (7) and rear end is pivotally supported by the lower end of the steering rod, and the rear end is the front fork. of A first swing arm (5) pivotally supported by the side and having a front end pivotally supported by the front end of the suspension arm. 3) and the first swing arm (5), the front end of the suspension arm (4) is swung, and the pivot point between the steering rod (2) and the suspension arm (4). It can be guided to be transmitted to the steering rod (2) via the second connecting arm (7) and the first connecting arm (6) after being attenuated by the resistance of A front wheel suspension device is provided.

  Compared with the conventional four-link structure, the front wheel suspension device having the above configuration employs a structure having at least six links as described above including a front fork and the like to generate a larger swing stroke. Since a large lifting stroke can be applied to the front wheels, the reaction force applied to the undulations of the front wheels can be easily attenuated and absorbed to improve riding stability.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front wheel suspension device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front wheel suspension device of the present invention is rotatably mounted on the front end of the frame body 11 in the body frame of a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle, supports the front wheel W, and compresses the damper 13. Thus, it is configured to be able to attenuate and absorb the vibration caused by the front wheel topography.

  The front wheel suspension device according to the first embodiment is also applied to a hill climb motorcycle with particularly strong vibrations. The steering rod 2, the first connecting arm 6, the second connecting arm 7, The front fork 3, the suspension arm 4, the first swing arm 5, the second swing arm 8, and the third swing arm 9 are provided to form an eight link structure.

  The steering rod 2 is pivotally supported at the front end of the frame body 11 so as to be able to turn left and right by manipulating a handle (not shown) that controls the traveling direction of the motorcycle.

  The first connecting arm 6 has a rear end portion pivotally supported by the upper end portion of the steering rod 2 to be a pivot location 21.

  The upper end of the second connecting arm 7 is pivotally supported by the front end of the first connecting arm 6 to form a pivot point 61.

  The front fork 3 is installed in front of the steering rod 2 and its lower side portion supports the front wheel W via the axle S.

  The suspension arm 4 is a right-angled triangle arranged such that its right angle is on the lower front side, that is, its longest side is on the upper side. The suspension arm 4 is pivotally connected to a first swing arm 5 (described later) and a second connecting arm 7 at the top and bottom of the front end portion, respectively, to form pivot points 41 and 71, and the rear end portion is A pivot point 22 is pivotally supported by the lower end of the steering rod 2. Of course, the shape of the suspension arm 4 formed in a right triangle is only a design matter for securing three pivot points, and is not necessarily limited thereto. In this example, the damper 13 is attached between the suspension arm 4 and the front fork 3. The damper 13 is not limited to the illustrated one and quantity, and any type and arbitrary quantity are selected from commercially available ones.

  The first swing arm 5 has a rear end portion pivotally supported by the upper portion of the front fork 3 to be a pivot location 31, and a front end portion pivotally supported by the front end portion of the suspension arm 4 and a pivot location 41. It has become. The first swing arm 5 can move back and forth by the vertical vibration of the upper portion of the front fork 3 to swing the front end of the suspension arm 4.

  In this embodiment, the distance from the pivot point 41 of the first swing arm 5 and the suspension arm 4 to the pivot point 22 of the suspension arm 4 and the steering rod 2 is the distance between the suspension arm 4 and the second link. It is arranged and configured to be longer than the distance from the pivot point 71 with the arm 7 to the pivot point 22 between the suspension arm 4 and the steering rod 2.

  The second swing arm 8 is shorter in length than the first swing arm 5, the front end is pivotally supported on the lower end of the second connecting arm 7, and the rear end is pivoted on the upper side of the front fork 3. The pivot points 72 and 32 are formed. The second swing arm 8 can swing the front end portion of the suspension arm 4 in cooperation with the movement of the upper portion of the front fork 3 by vertical vibration of the first swing arm 5. Further, in this embodiment, the pivot point 72 which pivotally supports the front end portion of the second swing arm 8 in the second connection arm 7 is the front end of the suspension arm 4 in the second connection arm 7. It is the same location as the pivot location 71 that pivots the part.

  The third swing arm 9 has a front end portion pivoted on the second connecting arm 7 and a rear end portion pivotally supported on the upper side portion of the front fork 3 to form pivot points 73 and 33, respectively. Further, in this embodiment example, the pivot joint 73 that pivotally supports the front end portion of the third swing arm 9 in the second coupling arm 7 is the first coupling arm in the second coupling arm 7. The third swing arm 9 is aligned with the first connecting arm 6 in a normal state where the pivoting portion 61 is pivotally supported by the front end portion 6 and there is no burden on the wheels. When viewed from the side, they overlap partially. In addition, a pivot location 33 that pivotally supports the rear end portion of the third swing arm 9 in the front fork 3 pivotally supports the rear end portion of the first swing arm 5 in the front fork 3. This is the same location as the pivot location 31.

  Incidentally, the role of the second swing arm 8 and the third swing arm 9 is to support the first swing arm 5 and to swing the front end portion of the suspension arm 4, which is an indispensable requirement in the present invention. is not.

  Next, the operation of the front wheel suspension will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 4 to 6 are skeleton diagrams showing a series of states of the front wheel suspension device that are operated by the unevenness of the ground from the normal time when there is no load on the wheels.

  In a normal state in which the wheel 12 (see FIG. 3) is not burdened, this front wheel suspension is in the state shown in FIG. 4, but when the rider rides, the state shown in FIG. The first connecting arm 6 and the third swing arm 9 are arranged in parallel, and the second swing arm 8 is a pivot point 71 between the second connecting arm 7 and each suspension arm 4 of the steering rod 2. , 22 in parallel with the line 45 connecting the two, and perpendicular to the axis of the steering rod 2, the damper 13 is compressed and enters a state in which it can promptly respond to vibrations generated during traveling.

  When the ground hits a heavy uplift during traveling, the eight link structure is moved from the front fork 3 to the first fork in conjunction with the upward movement of the front wheel W so that the state shown in FIG. The swing arm 5, the second swing arm 8, the third swing arm 9, the suspension arm 4, the second connection arm 7, the first connection arm 6, and the steering rod 2 are swung to pass the damper 13. By compressing, vibration is easily damped and absorbed. Thereafter, when the front wheel W passes through a severe uplift, the eight link structure returns to the state shown in FIG. 5 by the repulsive force of the damper 13 rebounding.

  By using the front wheel suspension device having the above-described configuration, vibration from the front wheel W swings the front end portion of the suspension arm 4 via the front fork 3 and the first swing arm 5, and the steering rod 2 After being attenuated by receiving resistance from the pivot point 22 with the suspension arm 4, the second connection arm 7 and the first connection arm 6 are guided to be transmitted to the steering rod 2, and The damping stroke applied to the front wheel of the eight-link structure is much larger than the damping stroke of the conventional four-link structure, so the damping capacity applied to the front wheels of motorcycles and tricycles can be greatly increased in combination with dampers with larger expansion and contraction strokes. It is possible to reduce the burden on the rider and improve the riding stability.

  FIG. 7 is a skeleton diagram of the front wheel suspension device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the front wheel suspension device is similar to that of the first embodiment. However, the suspension arm 4B is slightly larger than the right angle in the angle corresponding to the right angle of the suspension arm 4 in the first embodiment. The point which is the triangle which is formed on the upper side, that is, the longest one side is located below, is arranged, and the pivot point 41B between the first swing arm 5B and the suspension arm 4B is also connected to the second connection. This is different from the above in that the arm 7B and the second swing arm 8B are disposed below the pivot point 71B.

  As with the front wheel suspension device according to the first embodiment, the front wheel suspension device according to this configuration has a much larger damping stroke applied to the front wheel of the eight link structure than the conventional four link structure. In combination with a damper having a larger stroke, the damping capacity applied to the front wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle can be greatly increased.

  FIG. 8 is a skeleton diagram of the front-wheel suspension device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the front wheel suspension is similar to that of the second embodiment, except that the first connecting arm 6C is disposed below the suspension arm 4C and the first swing arm 5C ( In this case, the pivot point 21C between the first connecting arm 6C and the steering rod 2C is below the pivot point 22C between the suspension arm 4C and the steering rod 2C).

  As with the front wheel suspension device according to the first embodiment, the front wheel suspension device according to this configuration has a much larger damping stroke applied to the front wheel of the eight link structure than the conventional four link structure. In combination with a damper having a larger stroke, the damping capacity applied to the front wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle can be greatly increased.

  FIG. 9 is a skeleton diagram of a front wheel suspension apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the front wheel suspension device is similar to that of the first embodiment, except that the first swing arm 5D is disposed below the second swing arm 8D and the third swing arm 9D, and The difference is that the pivoting portion 41D between the first swing arm 5D and the suspension arm 4D is disposed below the pivoting portion 71D between the second connecting arm 7D and the suspension arm 4D.

  As with the front wheel suspension device according to the first embodiment, the front wheel suspension device according to this configuration has a much larger damping stroke applied to the front wheel of the eight link structure than the conventional four link structure. In combination with a damper having a larger stroke, the damping capacity applied to the front wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle can be greatly increased.

  FIG. 10 is a skeleton diagram of a front wheel suspension apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the front wheel suspension is similar to that of the first embodiment, except that the first swing arm 5E is formed shorter than the second swing arm 8E and the third swing arm 9E is The second connecting arm 7E of the second swing arm 8E and the third swing arm 9E is disposed below the second swing arm 8E and in parallel with the second swing arm 8E. Is different from that of the second connecting arm 7E and the suspension arm 4E.

  As with the front wheel suspension device according to the first embodiment, the front wheel suspension device according to this configuration has a much larger damping stroke applied to the front wheel of the eight link structure than the conventional four link structure. In combination with a damper having a larger stroke, the damping capacity applied to the front wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle or a three-wheeled vehicle can be greatly increased.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, the present invention is not construed in a narrow sense as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the idea of the present invention.

  As can be seen from each of the above embodiments, the front wheel suspension device of the present invention has an eight-link structure that generates a larger swing stroke than the conventional four-link structure, so it is combined with a damper having a larger expansion / contraction range. In addition to giving a larger lifting stroke to the front wheels of motorcycles and tricycles, the ability to attenuate and absorb the reaction force hitting the undulations on the roads of the front wheels can be greatly increased, and the riding stability of motorcycles and tricycles can be improved. it can.

1 is a perspective view of a front wheel suspension device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. It is a side view of FIG. It is a skeleton figure which shows the front-wheel suspension apparatus of the normal time without a burden on a wheel. It is a skeleton figure which shows the front-wheel suspension apparatus of the state on which the person was riding. It is a skeleton figure which shows the front-wheel suspension apparatus of the state act | operated by the unevenness | corrugation of the ground. It is a skeleton figure of the front-wheel suspension apparatus concerning the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a skeleton figure of the front-wheel suspension apparatus concerning the example of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a skeleton figure of the front-wheel suspension apparatus concerning the 4th Example of this invention. It is a skeleton figure of the front-wheel suspension apparatus concerning the 5th Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Frame body 13 Damper 2, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E Steering rod 21, 21B-21E, 22, 22B-22E, 31, 31B-31E, 32, 32B-32E, 33, 33B-33E, 41, 41B- 41E, 61, 61B to 61E, 71, 71B to 71E, 72, 72B to 72E, 73, 73B to 73E Pivoting point 3, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E Front fork 4, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E Suspension arm 5, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E First swing arm 6, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E First connection arm 7, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E Second connection arm 8, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E Second swing arm 9, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E Third swing arm S Axle W Front wheel

Claims (9)

A front wheel suspension device that is attached to a front end of a frame body in a body frame and configured to rotatably support a front wheel,
A steering rod (2) pivotally supported at the front end of the frame body;
A first connecting arm (6) whose rear end is pivotally supported by the upper end of the steering rod;
A second connecting arm (7) whose upper end is pivotally supported by the front end of the first connecting arm;
A front fork (3) installed in front of the steering rod and having a lower side portion supporting the front wheel via an axle;
A suspension arm (4) whose front end is pivotally supported by the lower end of the second connecting arm (7) and rear end is pivotally supported by the lower end of the steering rod;
A first swing arm (5) having a rear end portion pivotally supported by the upper portion of the front fork and a front end portion pivotally supported by the front end portion of the suspension arm;
The vibration from the front wheel swings the front end of the suspension arm (4) via the front fork (3) and the first swing arm (5), and the steering rod (2) and the The steering rod (2) passes through the second connecting arm (7) and the first connecting arm (6) after being attenuated by receiving resistance from a pivotal point with the suspension arm (4). A front wheel suspension device characterized in that the front wheel suspension device can be guided to travel to   The front fork of the first swing arm (5) having a front end portion pivotally supported on the lower end portion of the second connecting arm (7) and a rear end portion pivoted on the upper portion of the front fork (3). 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second swing arm (8) that swings a front end portion of the suspension arm (4) in cooperation with movement of the upper side portion of (3) by vertical vibration. Front wheel suspension system.   The said 2nd swing arm (8) is directly pivoted by the pivot location of the said 2nd connection arm (7) and the said suspension arm (4), Front wheel suspension system.   A front end is pivotally supported by the second connecting arm and a rear end is pivotally supported by the front fork, and together with the second swing arm (8), the front fork and the second connecting arm (7), 4 The front-wheel suspension device according to claim 3, further comprising a third swing arm (9) having a link structure.   The front wheel suspension device according to claim 4, wherein the third swing arm (9) is arranged and configured to be parallel to the second swing arm (8).   The pivot point between the first connecting arm (6) and the steering rod (2) is located above the pivot point between the suspension arm (4) and the steering rod (2). The front wheel suspension apparatus according to claim 1.   The pivot point between the first connecting arm (6) and the steering rod (2) is below the pivot point between the suspension arm (4) and the steering rod (2). The front wheel suspension apparatus according to claim 1.   The second connecting arm (7) has a portion extending further downward from a pivotal position with the suspension arm (4). The third swing arm (9) and the second swing arm (8) The front wheel suspension device according to claim 5, wherein the front wheel suspension device is pivotally connected to the extended portion.   2. The front wheel suspension device according to claim 1, wherein a damper is attached between a position of the suspension arm (4) behind the steering rod (2) and the front fork (3). .

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