JP2011201335A - Front wheel suspension device of saddle riding type vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a front wheel suspension device of a saddle riding type vehicle reducing a variation in controllability of the vehicle by reducing a variation in the caster angle when a fork member swings.SOLUTION: The front wheel suspension device 15 of a motorcycle 10 includes a lower arm 49 extended from a body frame 11, a fork member 60 swingably and steerably arranged in the front end part of the lower arm 49 and pivoting a front wheel 13, and a strut 56 whose one end is connected to the fork member 60 and the other end is connected to the body frame 11 through a cushion unit 57. A middle rink member 53 whose one end is swingably connected to a shaft extending in the vehicle width direction and the other end is connected to the strut 56 is arranged in a middle part 50 of the lower arm.

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a front wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle.

As a front wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle, a suspension device having a telescopic fork as a main element is widely known.
In a front wheel suspension system having a telescopic fork as a main element, a phenomenon that the front part of the vehicle sinks occurs when a brake is applied to the front wheel. This phenomenon is called a nose dive phenomenon. In order to solve the nose dive problem, it is necessary to adopt a structure different from that of the telescopic.

  As a means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a technique is known in which a fork member supporting a front wheel is suspended on a vehicle body frame so as to be swingable and steerable (for example, Patent Document 1 (FIGS. 3 and 2)). reference.).

  In FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1, a front-wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle has a hinge (88, 90) on a body frame (11) (the numbers in parentheses indicate the symbols described in Patent Document 1. The same applies hereinafter). A lower arm (83) that extends forward of the vehicle, a strut member (81) that is swingably attached to the tip of the lower arm (83) via a connecting member (92, 94), and the strut member A spring (99) and a cushion unit (91) passed between (81) and the vehicle body frame (11), and a fork member (85) extending downward from the strut member (81) and supporting the front wheel. The main component.

However, in the front wheel suspension device of Patent Document 1, an upward force is applied to the fork member (85) when the front wheel is braked, and the lower arm (83) swings upward with the hinges (88, 90) as fulcrums. Move. At this time, since the fork member (85) swings and tilts toward the rear of the vehicle, the angle (caster angle) formed between the fork member (85) and the ground changes. There is a problem that the maneuverability changes when the caster angle changes.
Any technique that can reduce the change in caster angle is suitable.

  Further, in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1, a front wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle has an upper arm (11, 53) that extends to the front of the vehicle via hinges (51, 53, 57, 59). 49) and the lower arm (47), and the upper arm (49) and the lower arm (47) are swingably attached to the tips of the upper and lower arms (47) via connecting members (55, 61), and extended downward to support the front wheel. A so-called double wishbone type front wheel suspension system, which mainly includes a fork member (41) that performs the above and a cushion unit (65) that is passed between the lower arm (47) and the vehicle body frame (11). is there.

Although the double wishbone type front wheel suspension device can reduce the change in the caster angle, there is a problem that the degree of freedom of arrangement of the front portion of the vehicle is low because of the upper arm (49).
It is more preferable that the change in the caster angle is reduced and the degree of freedom in arrangement of the vehicle front portion is increased.

US Pat. No. 4,179,135

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a front-wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle that makes it possible to reduce a change in vehicle maneuverability by reducing a change in caster angle when a fork member swings. And

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lower arm that extends from a vehicle body frame, a fork member that is swingable at a front end portion of the lower arm and that can be steered, and that supports a front wheel. In a front wheel suspension system for a saddle-ride type vehicle having a strut portion that is connected and the other end is connected to a vehicle body frame via a cushion unit, the one end can swing on an axis in the vehicle width direction at the middle portion of the lower arm And an intermediate link member having the other end connected to the strut portion.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the upper portion of the strut portion is connected to the fork member, and the lower portion of the strut portion is connected to the lower end portion of the cushion unit and to the other end of the intermediate link. To do.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 3, the rear part of a strut part is provided with the cylindrical case part extended upwards, enclosing a cushion unit, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the lower arm includes a pair of left and right arm portions that rise in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a fork connecting portion that is provided at a front portion of the pair of left and right arm portions and is connected to a fork member, and left and right arm portions. The left and right cross collar portions extending from the gap to the center in the vehicle width direction, and the pipe portion provided at the rear portion of the intermediate link member is sandwiched between the left and right cross collar portions It is characterized by that.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the steering stem integrally provided with the steering handle at the front portion of the vehicle body frame, the upper arm extending from the steering stem, and the tip of the upper arm are swingable. A fork member provided to be steerable and pivotally supporting a front wheel; and a strut portion having one end connected to the fork member and the other end connected to the vehicle body frame via a cushion unit. The front wheel suspension device of the type vehicle is characterized in that an intermediate link member is provided at an intermediate portion of the upper arm, one end of which is swingably connected to a shaft in the vehicle width direction and the other end is connected to a strut portion. And

In the first aspect of the invention, the shaft extends in the vehicle width direction from the intermediate portion of the lower arm, the intermediate link member is swingably connected to the shaft, and the other end of the intermediate link member is connected to the strut portion.
For example, in the front wheel suspension device in which the intermediate link member is not provided in the intermediate portion of the lower arm and the cushion unit is directly connected to the strut portion, when the upward force is applied to the fork member, the lower end of the cushion unit is Power is applied to the part. Then, the lower arm swings upward about the rear end portion of the lower arm located on the vehicle body frame side. When the lower arm swings upward, the angle (caster angle) formed between the fork member provided at the tip of the lower arm and the ground changes, and there is a problem that the maneuverability changes.

  In this regard, in the present invention, the shaft extends in the vehicle width direction from the intermediate portion of the lower arm, the intermediate link member is swingably connected to the shaft, and the other end of the intermediate link member is connected to the strut portion. With such a structure, when an upward force is applied to the fork member, the lower arm swings upward, but even in this case, the intermediate link member plays a role of maintaining the posture of the strut portion. Fulfill.

  Since the change in the posture of the strut portion is suppressed, the change in the posture of the fork member provided at the tip of the lower arm can be suppressed. Therefore, when the fork member swings up and down, the change in the caster angle can be reduced and the change in the controllability of the vehicle can be reduced.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 2, the upper part of the strut part was connected with the fork member, and the lower part of the strut part was connected with the lower end part of the cushion unit. With such an arrangement, part or all of the cushion unit can be superimposed on the strut portion in a side view of the vehicle, so that the amount of protrusion of the cushion unit upward of the vehicle can be suppressed.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 3, the rear part of the strut part is provided with the cylindrical case part extended upwards, surrounding a cushion unit. Since the cushion unit is surrounded by the strut portion and extends upward, the front wheel suspension device can be arranged more compactly than in the case where the cushion unit is arranged without being surrounded by the strut portion. In addition, since the strut portion is formed in a cylindrical shape, a decrease in the rigidity of the strut portion can be suppressed.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the left and right cross collar portions extending from the left and right arm portions to the center in the vehicle width direction are provided, and the intermediate link member is disposed between the left and right cross collar portions.

  With such a configuration, the intermediate link member can be arranged in the center in the vehicle width direction. By disposing the intermediate link member at the center in the vehicle width direction, the cushion load can be received at the center in the vehicle width direction. Since the cushion load is received at the center in the vehicle width direction, there is an advantage that it is easy to maintain a rigidity balance with respect to the left and right cushion loads of the body frame and the left and right lower arms.

In the invention which concerns on Claim 5, the intermediate link member by which one end is connected with the axis | shaft of a vehicle width direction so that rocking is possible, and the other end is connected with the strut part by the intermediate part of the upper arm.
In the front wheel suspension device in which the intermediate link member is not provided in the intermediate portion of the upper arm and the cushion unit is directly connected to the strut portion, when the upward force is applied to the fork member, the cushion unit A force is applied to the upper end. Then, the upper arm swings upward with the rear end portion of the upper arm located on the vehicle body frame side as an axis, and an angle formed between the fork member provided at the tip portion of the upper arm and the ground (caster angle) ) Changed.

  In this regard, in the present invention, an intermediate link member is provided at the intermediate portion of the upper arm, one end of which is swingably connected to the shaft in the vehicle width direction and the other end is connected to the strut portion. With the structure in which the intermediate link member is added to the upper arm in this way, when an upward force is applied to the fork member, the upper arm moves upward with the rear end portion of the upper arm positioned on the body frame side as an axis. Although swinging, the intermediate link member acts on the strut portion so as to maintain the posture of the strut portion.

  Since the posture change of the strut portion is suppressed, the change in the posture of the fork member provided at the tip of the upper arm can be suppressed. Therefore, when the fork member swings, the change in the controllability of the vehicle can be reduced by reducing the change in the caster angle.

1 is a left side view of a motorcycle according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a left side view of a main part of the motorcycle. It is sectional drawing explaining that the rear part of a strut part and the lower end part of a cushion unit are attached to the front-end part of an intermediate link member. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the motorcycle. FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a front wheel suspension device for a motorcycle. It is another Example figure of FIG. FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 7.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In the drawings and examples, “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” respectively indicate directions viewed from the driver who rides the motorcycle. The drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.

First, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the motorcycle 10 includes a vehicle body frame 11, a front wheel suspension device 15 provided at a front portion of the vehicle body frame 11 for suspending a front wheel 13, and a drive provided at a rear portion of the vehicle body frame 11. A rear wheel suspension device 16 for suspending a rear wheel 14 as a wheel, an engine 17 as a drive source attached to the vehicle body frame 11, a seat rail 18 extending rearward from the rear portion of the vehicle body frame 11, and the seat rail 18 And an occupant seat 19 that is disposed between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 14 and on which the occupant sits. This type of vehicle is called a saddle-type vehicle because the occupant rides on the occupant seat 19.

  The rear wheel suspension device 16 includes a pivot portion 21L disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle body frame 11, a rear swing arm 22 that extends rearward from the pivot portion 21L and pivotally supports the rear wheel 14, and the rear swing arm. And a rear cushion unit 23 interposed between the arm 22 and the vehicle body frame 11. The detailed structure and operation of the front wheel suspension device 15 will be described later.

In this example, the engine 17 is a V-type engine 17 in which cylinders are arranged in a V shape when the vehicle is viewed from the side. A fuel tank 25 is disposed above the V-type engine. An intake device 31 is provided below the fuel tank 25 between the front bank 27 and the rear bank 28 of the V-type engine 17, and an exhaust device 34 including an exhaust pipe 32 and a silencer 33 is provided on the engine 17. .
The engine type is not limited to the V engine, and any type of engine may be used.

  The vehicle body frame 11 includes a head pipe 41, a main frame 42L extending obliquely rearward and downward from the head pipe 41, a center frame 43L provided at a rear end portion of the main frame 42L, and the center frame 43L. A pivot portion 21L extending downward from the lower portion, a middle frame 45L extending forward from the center frame 43L, and a front end portion of the middle frame 45L extending downward from the middle portion of the main frame 42L to the vehicle. After that, a sub-frame 46L extending from the front end portion of the middle frame 45L to the rear portion of the main frame 42L and connected to form a substantially V shape in a side view of the vehicle is provided.

  A support point 48L is provided at the front end of the middle frame 45L, and the engine 17 is suspended from the support point 48L. In addition, a lower arm 49L as a component of the front wheel suspension device 15 is extended from the support point 48L to the front of the vehicle.

  In the above description, the configuration of the vehicle body frame provided on the left side of the vehicle has been described. However, the right main frame 42R is disposed so as to be paired with the left main frame 42L, and is paired with the left center frame 43L. The right center frame 43R is disposed on the left middle frame 45L, and the right middle frame 45R is disposed so as to be paired with the left middle frame 45L, and is opposed to the left support point 48L provided at the front end of the left middle frame 45L. The right support point 48R is disposed so as to form a pair, the right subframe 46R is disposed so as to be paired with the left subframe 46L, and the right pivot portion 21R is paired with the left pivot section 21L. Has been placed.

  The body frame 11 includes an engine 17 and engine parts fixed to the engine 17. That is, the engine body 17 is included in the body frame 11 as a rigid body. For example, the front wheel suspension device 15 or the rear wheel suspension device 16 may be attached to a portion having high rigidity of the engine 17.

Hereinafter, the front wheel suspension will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the front wheel suspension device 15 has a front wheel 13 attached to a lower end portion thereof, and supports the front wheel 13 so as to be swingable and steerable.

The front wheel suspension device 15 includes a left lower arm 49L extending forward from a support point 48 of a middle frame 45 as a component of the vehicle body frame 11, and an intermediate point 50 between the left lower arm 49L extending forward of the vehicle. An intermediate link member 53 provided so as to be swingable with respect to the lower arm 49L, a strut portion 56 and a cushion unit 57 attached to a front end portion 54 as a tip portion of the intermediate link member 53, and an intermediate link member 53 The upper end of the strut portion 56 is connected to the front end 54 of the vehicle, and the front end 51 of the lower arm is connected to the lower arm 49L and the strut 56 so as to be swingable and steerable. A fork member 60 that is provided and pivotally supports the front wheel 13 at the lower end, and expands and contracts upward from the top of the fork member 60 A steering link 62 connected to the steering stem 61 which is inserted into the head pipe 41 extended to the ability, a steering wheel 67 which is provided integrally with the upper portion of the steering linkage 62 consists.
A disk caliper 66 for braking the front wheel 13 is attached to the lower portion of the fork member 60.
A right lower arm 49R is provided so as to make a pair with the left lower arm 49L, and a support point 48R for supporting the right lower arm 49R is provided on the vehicle body frame 11.

The lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit is connected to the front end portion 54 of the intermediate link member, and the upper end portion 59 of the cushion unit is connected to the main frame 42.
When the front wheel 13 receives a shock from the ground, the shock is transmitted to the fork member 60 that supports the front wheel 13, and is transmitted to the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit via the lower arm 49 and the strut portion 56. The shock is alleviated by a cushion unit 57 provided between the main frame 42 connected to the upper end 59.

Next, the structure of the lower arm and its peripheral part as components of the front wheel suspension will be described.
The lower arm includes an upper arm portion 63 and a lower arm portion 64, and the upper arm portion 63 is linearly extended in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from the front end portion 63a to the rear end portion 63b, and the lower arm portion 64 is When viewed from the side of the vehicle, it has a downwardly arched shape, is spaced apart at the front end portion 63a of the upper arm portion and extends rearward, and merges at the rear end portion 63b of the upper arm portion.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lower arm portions 64L and 64R as constituent members of the lower arms 49L and 49R include a pair of left and right arm portions 65L and 65R extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a pair of left and right arms thereof. The front portions of the arm portions 65L and 65R are constricted and welded to the fork connecting portion 68 that is abutted and connected to the fork member 60, and the upper surfaces of the left and right arm portions 65L and 65R at a position extending in the same straight line in the vehicle width direction. Left and right cross collar portions 71L and 71R. Reference numeral 69 denotes a spacer.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the upper arm portion 63 of the lower arm 49 is disposed at a position overlapping the lower arm portion 64 in the vehicle top view, and as described above, the front end portion of the lower arm portion 64. And the rear end, respectively. By joining the front end portion 63a and the rear end portion 63b of the upper arm portion 63, the rigidity of the lower arm 49 is increased.
An intermediate link member 53 is disposed between the left and right cross collar portions 71L and 71R. The left and right cross collar portions 71L and 71R are fixed to the left and right lower arm portions 64L and 64R, respectively.

  The intermediate link member 53 includes a pipe portion 72 disposed between the left and right cross collar portions 71L and 71R, an arm main body 73 extending from the pipe portion 72 to the front of the vehicle, and extending from the arm main body 73 to the front of the vehicle. The left and right arm portions 74L and 74R support the strut portion 56 included in and integrated with the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit 57 from both sides.

  An intermediate link member pipe portion 72 is disposed between the left and right cross collar portions 71L and 71R, and an intermediate bolt 77 serving as an intermediate cross shaft includes a right cross collar portion 71R, a pipe portion 72, and a left cross collar portion. The intermediate bolt 77 is fastened with an intermediate nut 78. That is, the rear end portion 55 as one end of the intermediate link member 53 is supported by the intermediate portion 50 (intermediate point 50) of the lower arm, and the intermediate link member 53 swings around an intermediate bolt 77 as an intermediate cross shaft. It is supported movably.

  Further, a lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit is disposed between the left and right arm portions 74L and 74R, and the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit includes a lower end portion (FIG. 4, reference numeral 84) of a strut portion to be described later. The lower end portion 84 of the strut portion is integrated. The cushion lower cross shaft 82 is inserted into the right arm portion 74R, the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit, and the left arm portion 74L, and the cushion lower cross shaft 82 is fastened with a nut 85.

  A needle bearing 90 is interposed between the cushion lower cross shaft 82 provided on the intermediate link member 53 side and the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit. With this needle bearing 90, the cushion unit 57 can be smoothly swung with respect to the intermediate link member 53.

  Left and right cross collar portions 71L and 71R extending in the same straight line are provided between the left and right arm portions 65L and 65R, and the intermediate link member 53 is disposed between the left and right cross collar portions 71L and 71R. Has been. With such a configuration, the intermediate link member 53 can be disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction. By disposing the intermediate link member 53 at the vehicle width direction center BL0, the cushion load can be received at the vehicle width direction center BL0. Since the cushion load is received at the center in the vehicle width direction, there is an advantage that it is easy to maintain a rigidity balance with respect to the left and right cushion loads of the body frame 11 and the left and right lower arms 49.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lower arm 49, as described above, is branched from the upper arm 63 extending linearly and the front end of the upper arm 63 in the vehicle side view and to the rear of the vehicle. And a lower arm portion 64 that is connected to the rear end portion of the upper arm portion 63 and has an arcuate shape.

  The front end portion 51 of the lower arm is supported by the lower spherical bearing 87 so as to be swingable and steerable by the fork member 60. The lower spherical bearing 87 includes a spherical support portion 88 provided on the fork member 60 and a cap portion 89 engaged and supported by the spherical support portion 88 and fixed to the front end portion 51 of the lower arm.

  A cushion lower cross shaft 82 extends horizontally in the vehicle width direction at a front end portion of the intermediate link member 53 extending forward from the lower arm portion 64, and a lower portion of the strut portion 56 is attached to the cushion lower cross shaft 82. While being rotatably connected, the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit is rotatably connected.

Next, the structure of the strut part and its peripheral part will be described.
Referring also to FIG. 3, the strut portion 56 is provided at a rear portion thereof and extends upward while surrounding the cushion unit 57, and a front portion of the cylindrical case portion 91 rises while the front portion of the cylindrical case portion 91 rises. And a strut arm 92 that is extended. The lower end portion of the strut portion 56 is integrated with the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit.

  That is, the strut arm 92 constituting the upper portion of the strut portion 56 is connected to the fork member 60, and the lower end portion of the strut portion 56 is integrated with the lower end portion 58 of the cushion unit and constitutes the other end of the intermediate link member. The left and right arm portions 74L and 74R are swingably provided.

The strut arm 92 is swingably supported by the fork member 60 by an upper spherical bearing 97 and is supported to be steerable. The upper spherical bearing 97 includes a spherical support portion 98 provided on the fork member 60 and a cap portion 99 engaged and supported by the spherical support portion 98 and fixed to the strut arm 92.
A front end portion 54 as the other end of the intermediate link member 53 is connected to a strut portion 56.

  With such an arrangement, part or all of the cushion unit 57 can be overlaid on the strut portion 56 including the strut arm 92 in the vehicle height direction, so that the amount of protrusion of the cushion unit 57 upward in the vehicle can be reduced. Can be suppressed.

  The rear portion of the strut portion 56 includes a cylindrical case portion 91 that extends upward while surrounding the cushion unit 57. Since the cushion unit 57 is surrounded by the strut portion 56 and extends upward, the front wheel suspension device 15 can be arranged more compactly than when the cushion unit 57 is arranged without being surrounded by the strut portion 56. Is possible. In addition, since the strut portion 56 is formed in a cylindrical shape, a decrease in the rigidity of the strut portion 56 is suppressed.

Next, the structure of the upper end portion of the cushion unit will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, left and right cushion stays 101L and 101R are erected on a pair of left and right main frames 42L and 42R, respectively, and a collar member 102 is interposed between the left and right cushion stays 101L and 101R. 102, and the upper end portion 59 of the cushion unit is disposed between the collar members 102, 102. The right cushion stay 101R, the collar members 102, 102, the upper end portion 59 of the cushion unit, the collar member 102 and 102 and the left cushion stay 101 </ b> R are inserted through the cushion upper cross shaft 83 in this order, and the cushion upper cross shaft 83 is fastened by a nut 86.

The operation of the front wheel suspension system for the saddle-ride type vehicle described above will be described next.
In FIG. 6, the state when the front wheel suspension is fully bent is shown by a solid line, and the state when the front wheel suspension is fully extended is shown by an imaginary line. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the state of the front wheel suspension device when the occupant M is on board.

  According to the present invention, when the front wheel brake is applied (when the reference numeral 66 in FIG. 2 acts on the front wheel 13), the fork member 60 has a caster angle within the range from the position of the imaginary line to the position of the solid line. It is possible to move while keeping (θ) substantially constant.

That is, an intermediate link member 53 is connected to the intermediate portion 50 of the lower arm so that a rear end portion 55 as one end is swingably connected to a shaft in the vehicle width direction and a front end portion 54 as the other end is connected to a strut portion 56. Is provided. In this case, the intermediate link member 53 acts to suppress the change of the caster angle.
Therefore, the fork member 60 can move while keeping the caster angle (θ) substantially constant in the range from the position of the imaginary line to the position of the solid line.

  If the intermediate link member is not provided in the intermediate part of the lower arm and the cushion unit is directly connected, when an upward force is applied to the fork member, a force is applied to the lower end of the cushion unit. . Then, the lower arm swings upward about the rear end portion of the lower arm located on the vehicle body frame side, and the posture of the fork member provided at the front end portion of the lower arm changes. That is, since the intermediate link member is not provided, there is a problem that an angle (caster angle) formed between the fork member and the ground changes.

  In this regard, in the present invention, the rear end portion 55 of the intermediate link member is swingably connected to the shaft 50 in the vehicle width direction, and the front end portion 54 of the intermediate link member is connected to the strut portion 56. ing. Since the intermediate link member 53 is provided, when an upward force is applied to the fork member 60, the lower arm 49 swings upward around a support point 48 as a rear end portion of the lower arm located on the body frame side. However, due to the action of the intermediate link member 53, a change in the posture of the fork member 60 provided at the front end portion 51 of the lower arm can be suppressed. Therefore, when the fork member 60 swings, the controllability of the vehicle can be improved by keeping the caster angle (θ) substantially constant.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 7, the front wheel suspension device 15B of the motorcycle 10B includes a steering stem 61B integrally provided with a steering handle 67B at the front portion of the vehicle body frame 11B, and extends from the steering stem 61B. An upper arm 111, a fork member 60B that is swingable and steerable to the tip 112 of the upper arm, and that supports the front wheel 13B. One end of the fork member 60B is connected to the other end of the fork member 60B. Includes a strut portion 56B connected to the vehicle body frame 11B via a cushion unit 57B. One end 116 of the intermediate link member 53B is slidably connected to the shaft 118 in the vehicle width direction, and the other end 117 of the intermediate link member 53B is connected to the strut portion 56B.

  The upper end portion 59B of the cushion unit is connected to the other end 117 of the intermediate link member, and the lower end portion 58B of the cushion unit is connected to the fork member 60B. Further, the front end portion 114 as the other end of the strut portion 56B is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the vehicle body frame 11B side via a needle bearing.

Next, the operation when the front wheel suspension device 15B of the motorcycle 10B is fully bent will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the front wheel 13B receives a shock from the ground, this shock is transmitted to the fork member 60B that pivotally supports the front wheel 13B, and between the fork member 60B and the strut portion 56B. An upward force is applied to the cushion unit 57B interposed therebetween, and is transmitted to the intermediate link member 53B via the upper end portion 59B of the cushion unit 57B, and the upper arm 111 swings with respect to the vehicle body frame 11B.

Since the intermediate link member 53B is added between the upper arm 111 and the strut portion 56B, when an upward force is applied to the fork member 60B, the upper arm 111 is located at the rear end portion of the upper arm located on the vehicle body frame side. The intermediate link member 53 acts on the strut portion 56B so as to maintain the posture of the strut portion 56B. Since the change in the posture of the strut portion 56B is suppressed, the change in the posture of the fork member 60B provided at the distal end portion 112 of the upper arm can be suppressed.
Therefore, when the fork member 60B swings, the controllability of the vehicle can be improved by keeping the caster angle (θ) substantially constant.

  Although the present invention is applied to a motorcycle in the embodiment, it can also be applied to a saddle-ride type three-wheel vehicle (three-wheel buggy) and a saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle (four-wheel buggy). It can be applied to a ride type vehicle.

  The present invention is suitable for motorcycles.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... saddle-ride type vehicle (motorcycle), 11 ... body frame, 13, 13B ... front wheel, 15 ... front wheel suspension device, 49, 49L, 49R ... lower arm, 50 ... middle part of lower arm, 51, 51L, 51R ... lower arm 53, 53B ... intermediate link member, 54 ... other end (front end) of the intermediate link member, 55 ... one end (rear end) of the intermediate link member, 56, 56B ... strut portion, 57, 57B ... cushion Unit, 58 ... Lower end of cushion unit, 60, 60B ... Fork member, 61, 61B ... Steering stem, 65L ... Left arm, 65R ... Right arm, 67, 67B ... Steering handle, 68 ... Fork connecting part 71L ... left cross collar portion, 71R ... right cross collar portion, 72 ... pipe portion of intermediate link member, 91, 91B ... tube Case section, 111 ... upper arm, 112 ... front end portion of the upper arm, 116 ... One end of the intermediate link member (53B), 117 ... other end of the intermediate link member (53B).

Claims (5)

A lower arm (49L, 49R) extending from the vehicle body frame (11), and a fork member that is swingable at the tip of the lower arm (49L, 49R) and is steerable and pivotally supports the front wheel (13) (60) and a strut portion (56) having one end connected to the fork member (60) and the other end connected to the vehicle body frame (11) via a cushion unit (57). In the vehicle front wheel suspension system,
An intermediate link member (53) having one end pivotably connected to a shaft in the vehicle width direction and the other end connected to the strut portion (56) is provided to the intermediate portion (50) of the lower arm. A front wheel suspension system for saddle-ride type vehicles. An upper portion of the strut portion (56) is connected to the fork member (60),
The lower part of the strut part (56) is connected to the lower end part of the cushion unit (57) and is connected to the other end of the intermediate link member (53). Front wheel suspension system for riding type vehicles.   The saddle riding type vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rear portion of the strut portion (56) includes a cylindrical case portion (91) extending upward while surrounding the cushion unit (57). Front wheel suspension. The lower arms (49L, 49R) are provided at a pair of left and right arm portions (65L, 65R) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and at the front portion of the pair of left and right arm portions (65L, 65R). And fork connecting portions (68) connected to the left and right arm portions (65L, 65R) and left and right cross collar portions (71L, 71R) extending in the vehicle width direction center,
The pipe part (72) provided in the rear part of the intermediate link member (53) is sandwiched between the left and right cross collar parts (71L, 71R). The front-wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle according to claim 2 or claim 3. A steering stem (61B) provided integrally with the steering handle (67B) at the front portion of the body frame (11B), an upper arm (111) extending from the steering stem (61B), and the upper arm ( 111) and a fork member (60B) that is swingable and steerable and pivotally supports the front wheel (13B), one end connected to the fork member (60B), and the other end is a cushion. A straddle part (56B) connected to the vehicle body frame (11B) via a unit (57B), and a front wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle,
An intermediate link member (53B) is provided at the intermediate portion of the upper arm (111), one end of which is swingably connected to a shaft in the vehicle width direction and the other end is connected to the strut portion (56B). A front wheel suspension device for a saddle-ride type vehicle.

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