JP7001291B1 - Front wheel suspension mechanism and three-wheeled vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lower the floor, lower the center of gravity and miniaturize a three-wheeled vehicle such as an electric type, to easily operate intuitively like a bicycle, to have excellent running stability, and to be able to produce at low cost. Provides a front wheel suspension mechanism. SOLUTION: In a front wheel suspension mechanism 1, the lateral width of an arm portion 26 is longer than the lateral width of a vehicle body frame 6, and the shaft portion 27 is connected to the vehicle body frame 6 so as to be relatively rotatably connected to the steering mechanism. Reference numeral 8 has a steering member 18 operated by the driver, and when the steering member 18 is tilted to the left or right, the arm portion 26 of the lower arm 25 maintains substantially horizontal with respect to the ground contact surface of the front wheel 3, while the floor plate 7 is used. , The vehicle body frame 6, and the pair of front wheels 3 are inclined in the same direction as the inclination direction of the steering member 18 with the central axis of the shaft portion 27 located at the lower part of the floor plate 7 as the fulcrum of inclination, and the steering member 18 is rotated. When rotating in the circumferential direction of the shaft, the steering angle of the pair of front wheels 3 changes independently of the inclination. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to a lean front wheel suspension mechanism and a three-wheeled vehicle used for a three-wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a lean front wheel suspension mechanism and an electric three-wheeled vehicle used for an electric three-wheeled vehicle.

In recent years, a new concept of transportation called MaaS (Mobility as a Service) has been proposed, and from among multiple means of transportation, the most suitable means of transportation should be selected according to individual tastes and desires and the situation at that time. Is becoming possible. For example, it is conscious of the first mile from the door of the house to the station and the last mile from the door of the destination to the door of the destination, and services such as motorcycle sharing and share scooter have already been developed.

Two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles have a smaller body than four-wheeled vehicles, so they can be parked in narrow places when not in use, and can be easily ridden for short-distance travel, as described above. Suitable for various uses. However, since the number of wheels that touch the ground is small and the width of the wheels is narrow, the stability during driving is lacking, and depending on the road surface conditions, the weather, the skill of the occupant, etc., it may be easy to fall. Therefore, as a small vehicle that anyone can ride safely, a tricycle with two front wheels and one rear wheel is being actively developed. In particular, as an electric vehicle that is easy for everyone, including women and the elderly, to ride and handle, it is important to be able to drive easily and safely while reducing the floor and size.

Various three-wheeled vehicles have been proposed as three-wheeled vehicles having two front wheels and one rear wheel. For example, a load-holding structure that integrally provides an upright handle post in the center of the front end of the tread, supports the lower end of the handle post protruding downward from the tread, and holds it swingably to the left and right is orthogonal to the tread. , Both ends are connected to two front wheel axles, the rear end of the tread is connected to one rear wheel axle, and the handle post and the tread are tilted to the left and right to steer the two front wheels. A type skateboard is known (see Patent Document 1).

Further, a swinging three-wheeled vehicle having a swinging mechanism between a rear wheel and a front wheel is known. In the swinging three-wheeled vehicle, a rotating member is provided on a central frame extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle so as to be rotatable around the axis of the central frame, and the rotating member is provided with a floor plate on which a driver is placed and a cross axis orthogonal to the central frame. After fixing, attach the left and right front wheels to the left and right ends of this cross shaft, attach one rear wheel to the rear of the central frame via the power unit, and stand the operating member operated by the driver on the front of the central frame. Therefore, the camber angle of the front wheels is maintained at zero, and the central frame and the rear wheels are swinging portions of the front wheels and the floor plate via the rotating members (see Patent Document 2).

As a steering control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body provided with two front wheels, a steering control system including a steering operation unit and two tilt operation units is known (see Patent Document 3). The steering control system is provided between two front wheels and a steering operation unit provided on the vehicle body so as to control and operate the traveling direction of the vehicle body, and is interlocked with the steering operation unit so as to incline the vehicle body. A first tilt operation unit having a first tilt adjuster provided and driven by the operation of the steering operation unit so as to be able to swing, and a first tilt provided on the vehicle body so as to tilt the vehicle body. It is provided so as to be interlocked with the adjuster, and can be expanded and contracted so as to adjust the height position of the joint part connected to the first tilt adjuster driven by the swing of the first tilt adjuster. It comprises a second tilt operating unit, which has a second tilt adjuster.

Further, as a vehicle having a vehicle body provided with two front wheels, a vehicle including a vehicle body frame, a link mechanism, a steering force transmission mechanism, and a load transmission mechanism is known (see Patent Document 4). In the vehicle, the load transmission mechanism includes a left foot resting surface on which the left foot of the driver boarding the vehicle is placed, and a right foot resting surface on which the driver's right foot is placed. The load transmission mechanism is configured to be able to transmit the load to the left portion of the link mechanism through the left foot rest surface, and is configured to be able to transmit the load to the right portion of the link mechanism through the right foot rest surface.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-32991 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-62573 Japanese Patent No. 6532579 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-94906

The electric skateboard described in Patent Document 1 has a low floor, so that it is easy to ride, and because it is small, it is easy to carry and handle. In addition, the driving operation method is a simple method of steering the two front wheels by tilting the steering wheel post and the tread to the left and right, so you can feel the joy of tilting the vehicle body by moving your weight. .. However, since the driving operation of the skateboard is an operation only by tilting the vehicle body, the driving operation requires a sense of balance and skill, and there are situations where the driver and the use are limited.

In the swinging three-wheeled vehicle described in Patent Document 2, since the camber angle of the front wheels is maintained at zero when turning, the postures of the vehicle and the driver do not tilt. Further, there is a description that the vehicle body can be made to stand on its own when the vehicle is stopped because only the central frame and the rear wheels swing, that is, incline, with respect to the front wheels and the floor plate via the rotating member.

Compared to a four-wheeled vehicle, a three-wheeled vehicle has a higher center of gravity with respect to the distance between the left and right wheels, and has a relatively high risk of falling when turning. In the case of a non-tilting three-wheeled vehicle as in Patent Document 2, the driver may fall due to the outward centrifugal force received during turning, and the running stability may be insufficient, as compared with the tilting three-wheeled vehicle. It is believed that there is. Therefore, in a three-wheeled vehicle, it is preferable that the vehicle is an inclined type vehicle in which the vehicle body turns inward while turning so as to secure running stability and turn safely. Tilt-type vehicles are also called lean-type vehicles, and in order to realize lean-type vehicles, it is important to adopt a lean-type front wheel suspension mechanism for freely tilting the vehicle.

In the steering control system described in Patent Document 3, when the grip member is turned to the left or right in order to change the traveling direction of the vehicle, the first tilt adjuster is interlocked and swung to the left or right. Then, when the first tilt adjuster is swung, the front wheels are rotated with respect to the vehicle traveling direction and are tilted with respect to the ground in conjunction with this. As a result, there is a description that the riding stability when turning a curve is excellent. However, since the inclination of the vehicle body and the steering angle of the front wheels are mechanisms that change at the same time by turning the grip member, the degree of freedom of driving operation is low and it is not suitable for intuitive driving operation. Conceivable. Further, in the suspension mechanism having a so-called double wishbone structure as shown in Patent Document 3, the number of parts is large and the structure is complicated, so that the cost tends to increase.

In the vehicle described in Patent Document 4, there is a description that the inclination of the vehicle can be controlled by directly applying a load to the link mechanism through the driver's foot. In this vehicle, the left foot rest surface and the right foot rest surface are independent rather than a single floor plate, and the load applied to the left foot rest surface through the driver's left foot and the load applied to the right foot rest surface through the driver's right foot are applied to the right foot rest surface. By adjusting the load individually, the inclination of the vehicle body frame is suppressed. This makes it a sporty vehicle that makes a turn with a large lean angle and makes you feel the joy of manipulating it.

However, in the vehicle described in Patent Document 4, the vehicle body frame, the link mechanism, and the steering force transmission mechanism are located above the front wheels, the center of gravity of the vehicle is higher than the footrest surface, and the above-mentioned Since it has a structure that takes a large inclination (lean angle) and adjusts the left and right loads to turn, it requires a certain sense of balance in the driving operation, and it is intuitive for everyone, especially women and elderly people, like a bicycle. It is considered that it is not easy to operate the bicycle. Further, since the load transmission mechanism is provided for each of the left and right front wheels, the number of parts is large and the structure is complicated, so that the cost tends to increase.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to lower the floor, lower the center of gravity, and reduce the size of a three-wheeled vehicle such as an electric type, and it is easy to operate intuitively like a bicycle. The purpose is to provide a front wheel suspension mechanism that has excellent running stability and can be produced at low cost.

The front wheel suspension device of the present invention is a front wheel suspension mechanism for a three-wheeled vehicle provided with a vehicle body frame provided under a floor plate on which both feet are placed and a pair of left and right front wheels. A steering mechanism for steering, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and a pair of left and right that are fixed to the pair of front wheels and link the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism to the pair of front wheels, respectively. The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm, and the upper arm extends to the left and right from the vehicle body frame side and is an upper portion of each of the pair of link mechanisms. The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. The shaft portion is rotatably connected to the vehicle body frame, the steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver, and the link mechanism has the upper arm and the lower arm. It has a kingpin to be connected, and the central axis of the kingpin is perpendicular to the ground plane of the front wheel when the front wheel is viewed from the side, and is arranged in front of the front wheel fixing portion of the kingpin in the vehicle traveling direction. When the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are at the lower part of the floor plate while the arm portion of the lower arm is maintained substantially horizontal with respect to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the central axis of the shaft portion located at is tilted in the same direction as the tilting direction of the steering member and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft, the pair of front wheels are tilted. It is characterized by the fact that the steering angle changes independently.

The front wheel suspension device of the present invention is a front wheel suspension mechanism for a three-wheeled vehicle provided with a vehicle body frame provided under a floor plate on which both feet are placed and a pair of left and right front wheels. A steering mechanism for steering, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and a pair of left and right that are fixed to the pair of front wheels and link the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism to the pair of front wheels, respectively. The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm, and the upper arm extends to the left and right from the vehicle body frame side and is an upper portion of each of the pair of link mechanisms. The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. The shaft portion is rotatably connected to the vehicle body frame, and the steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver. When the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the lower arm The floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels tilt the central axis of the shaft portion located below the floor plate, while the arm portion of the arm portion maintains substantially horizontal to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the steering member is tilted in the same direction as the tilting direction as a fulcrum and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft, the steering angle of the pair of front wheels changes independently of the tilt, and the front wheel suspension The mechanism has a return mechanism for returning the inclination of the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels, and the return mechanism is a support member fixed orthogonally to the central axis of the shaft portion. The elastic body is fixed to the vehicle body frame side facing the support member, and the elastic body is compressed by the inclination of the support member due to the rotation of the shaft. The support member is returned to a non-tilted state.

The front wheel suspension mechanism is characterized by having a folding portion for tilting the steering member along the floor plate.

The three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention includes a floor plate on which both feet are placed, a vehicle body frame provided under the floor plate, a pair of left and right front wheels provided in front of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction, and vehicle traveling of the vehicle body frame. It is a three-wheeled vehicle including a rear wheel which is a drive wheel provided at the rear in the direction and a front wheel suspension mechanism for suspending the pair of front wheels, and the front wheel suspension mechanism steers the pair of front wheels. A steering mechanism for tilting, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and a pair of left and right link mechanisms fixed to the pair of front wheels and linking the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism to the pair of front wheels. The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm, and the upper arms extend left and right from the vehicle body frame side and are connected to the upper portions of each of the pair of link mechanisms. The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. The steering mechanism is connected to the vehicle body frame so as to be relatively rotatable, the steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver, and the link mechanism is a kingpin to which the upper arm and the lower arm are connected. The central axis of the kingpin is perpendicular to the ground plane of the front wheel when the front wheel is viewed from the side, and is arranged in front of the front wheel fixing portion of the kingpin in the vehicle traveling direction. When the member is tilted to the left or right, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are located below the floor plate while the arm portion of the lower arm remains substantially horizontal to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the central axis of the shaft portion is used as a fulcrum of inclination and the steering member is inclined in the same direction as the inclination direction of the steering member and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft, the pair of front wheels are independent of the inclination. It is characterized by a change in steering angle.

The three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention includes a floor plate on which both feet are placed, a vehicle body frame provided at the bottom of the floor plate, a pair of left and right front wheels provided in front of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction, and vehicle traveling of the vehicle body frame. It is a three-wheeled vehicle including a rear wheel which is a drive wheel provided at the rear in the direction and a front wheel suspension mechanism for suspending the pair of front wheels, and the front wheel suspension mechanism steers the pair of front wheels. A steering mechanism for tilting, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and a pair of left and right link mechanisms fixed to the pair of front wheels and linking the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism to the pair of front wheels. The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm, and the upper arms extend left and right from the vehicle body frame side and are connected to the upper portions of each of the pair of link mechanisms. The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. The steering mechanism is connected to the vehicle body frame so as to be relatively rotatable, and has a steering member operated by the driver. When the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the arm of the lower arm is tilted to the left or right. The floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are tilted with the central axis of the shaft portion located at the lower part of the floor plate as a fulcrum of inclination while the portion maintains substantially horizontal with respect to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the steering member is tilted in the same direction as the tilting direction and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft, the steering angle of the pair of front wheels changes independently of the tilting, and the front wheel suspension mechanism changes the steering angle. It has a return mechanism for returning the inclination of the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels, and the return mechanism includes a support member fixed orthogonally to the central axis of the shaft portion and the support. It has an elastic body that faces the member and is fixed to the vehicle body frame side, and the elastic body is compressed by the inclination of the support member due to the rotation of the shaft, and the support member is caused by the repulsive force generated. Is characterized by returning to a non-tilted state .

The three-wheeled vehicle is characterized by having a seat fixed to the floor plate or the vehicle body frame.

The front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention has an arm portion in which both ends of the lower arm are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion extending vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. This shaft portion is rotatably connected to the vehicle body frame, and the steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver, and when the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the arm portion of the lower arm The floor plate and front wheels are inclined in the same direction as the inclination direction of the steering member with the central axis of the shaft portion located at the lower part of the floor plate as the fulcrum of inclination while maintaining substantially horizontal to the ground contact surface. When the rudder is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation axis, the rudder angle of the pair of front wheels changes independently of the inclination. The steering angle of the front wheels with respect to the vehicle traveling direction can be operated independently. Therefore, by providing this front wheel suspension mechanism, the degree of freedom of operation by the driver of a three-wheeled vehicle such as an electric type is increased, the driving operation can be intuitively performed like a bicycle, and the running stability when turning is excellent. A three-wheeled vehicle that can be easily and safely driven by everyone, especially women and the elderly, will be obtained. In addition, since there is only one lower arm, the number of parts is small, and the structure is simple, it can be produced at low cost.

The link mechanism has a kingpin to which the upper arm and the lower arm are connected, and the central axis of the kingpin is perpendicular to the ground plane of the front wheel when the front wheel is viewed from the side, and is in the vehicle traveling direction from the front wheel fixing portion of the kingpin. Since it is located in the front, it is possible to achieve both high straight-line stability and excellent turning performance even with wheels with a small diameter, and it is superior in running stability.

The front wheel suspension mechanism has a return mechanism for returning the inclination of the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels, and the return mechanism is a support member fixed orthogonally to the central axis of the shaft portion and this support. It has an elastic body that faces the member and is fixed to the vehicle body frame side, and the elastic body puts the support member in a non-tilted state by the repulsive force generated by being compressed by the inclination of the support member due to the rotation of the shaft. Since it is returned, when the vehicle body is tilted, the shaft portion receives a repulsive force from the inner surface of the front frame to return to the non-tilted state via the support member. As a result, the driver is assisted in returning the vehicle body to the non-tilted state, so that even a weak woman or an elderly person can easily drive.

Since the front wheel suspension mechanism has a folding portion for tilting the steering member along the floor plate, it can be miniaturized when the three-wheeled vehicle is not in use, and is easy to carry and store.

The three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention includes a floor plate on which both feet are placed, a vehicle body frame provided at the bottom of the floor plate, a pair of left and right front wheels provided in front of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction, and rear of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction. A rear wheel, which is a drive wheel provided in the vehicle, and a front wheel suspension mechanism for suspending a pair of front wheels are provided. Since this front wheel suspension mechanism is the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention, the driver operates the vehicle. It has a high degree of freedom, can be driven intuitively like a bicycle, has excellent running stability when turning, and can be easily and safely driven by everyone, especially women and the elderly. In addition, since the number of parts of the front wheel suspension mechanism is small and the structure is simple, it is possible to produce an electric three-wheeled vehicle equipped with this at low cost. As a result, the three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention can be suitably used as a foot for everyday use.

Further, the three-wheeled vehicle can be driven in a sitting state by having a seat fixed to the floor plate or the vehicle body frame. As a result, the position of the center of gravity of the driver is lower than that of driving in a standing state, so that the driver is less likely to fall and has excellent running stability. In addition, since it is hard to get tired even when driving for a long time, women and elderly people can easily ride it. Further, the driving operation while sitting is mainly the upper body driving operation, and it is difficult to tilt the vehicle body as compared with the driving while standing. However, the three-wheeled vehicle provided with the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention steers the front wheels. Because it can be tilted independently, even a three-wheeled vehicle with a seat can turn easily and safely like a bicycle.

It is a perspective view of a three-wheeled vehicle equipped with a front wheel suspension mechanism. It is an enlarged perspective view of the front wheel suspension mechanism. It is a top view of a three-wheeled vehicle equipped with a front wheel suspension mechanism. It is a top view of the front wheel suspension mechanism seen from the front. It is a side view of the front wheel suspension mechanism. It is sectional drawing and plan view of the return mechanism. It is a perspective view of a three-wheeled vehicle without a seat. It is the figure of the state that the front wheel is steered. It is the figure of the state that the vehicle is tilted.

An example of the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric three-wheeled vehicle equipped with the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention as viewed diagonally from the front. FIG. 1 is a view of the entire vehicle. Hereinafter, the electric three-wheeled vehicle is also simply referred to as a three-wheeled vehicle or a vehicle. In addition, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" indicate the direction seen from the driver who got on the vehicle facing the vehicle traveling direction.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a three-wheeled vehicle as an example of the electric three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the three-wheeled vehicle 2 includes a vehicle body 5, a pair of left and right front wheels 3 arranged on the left and right sides thereof, one rear wheel 4, a seat 50, and a front wheel suspension mechanism 1 of the present invention. ing. The front wheel suspension mechanism 1 is provided with a steering member 18 having a grip portion 22 that is gripped when the driver operates the three-wheeled vehicle 2. The grip portion 22 is provided with an accelerator button, a brake, and the like for accelerating the three-wheeled vehicle (not shown).

The front wheel suspension mechanism 1 has a folding portion 31 for tilting the steering member 18 along the floor plate. The folding portion 31 is provided at the lower part of the steering member 18, and the steering member 18 can be folded at the root portion thereof. By tilting the folded steering member 18 along the vehicle body 5, the size of the folded three-wheeled vehicle 2 can be reduced. This makes it easy to carry and store. The seat plate of the seat 50 can be opened laterally with respect to the vehicle traveling direction. As a result, the folded steering member 18 can be accommodated between the columns of the seat, and the size can be reduced. The steering member may have a length adjusting portion for adjusting the length thereof. As a result, when the steering member is folded at the folded portion, it can be miniaturized without interfering with the seat, and it can be adjusted so that the optimum driving posture can be taken according to the physique of the driver.

The vehicle body 5 has a single floor plate 7 on which both feet are placed, and a vehicle body frame 6 provided below the floor plate 7. The vehicle body frame 6 includes a battery as a power source and a driving device such as a motor inside the vehicle body frame 6 (not shown). The power source and the drive device can be provided not only inside the vehicle body but also inside the seat. From the viewpoint of lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle, it is preferable to provide it inside the vehicle body frame. The drive device drives the rear wheels to drive the vehicle. In the present invention, the power source may be an internal combustion engine type engine using gasoline fuel or the like as well as an electric type engine.

The seat 50 is fixedly provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body 5. The seat does not have to be fixed to the vehicle body, and may be provided, for example, so that it can be freely removed from the vehicle body and folded. The floor plate 7 is fixed on the vehicle body frame 6. The width of the floor plate 7 in the left-right direction is about 30 cm, and the height of the upper surface of the floor plate from the ground plane is about 15 cm. From the viewpoint of ease of riding and loading of luggage on the floor plate, the width of the floor plate in the left-right direction is preferably in the range of, for example, 15 to 50 cm. Further, the height of the upper surface of the floor plate from the ground plane is preferably in the range of, for example, 5 to 30 cm. On the floorboard, the driver can face forward and place both feet together. The driver drives a three-wheeled vehicle while sitting in a seat.

A pair of front wheels 3 are provided on the left and right sides of the front wheel suspension mechanism 1, and one rear wheel 4 is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle body frame 6. The pair of front and rear wheels are provided with one disc brake for each wheel, and the pair of front and rear wheel brakes are independent of each other. Further, the pair of front wheels are filled with nitrogen gas at a predetermined air pressure, and also fulfills a shock absorbing function. The diameter of the pair of front and rear wheels is about 20 cm. From the viewpoint of ease of handling and lowering the center of gravity, the diameter of the pair of front wheels and rear wheels is preferably 10 to 30 cm. When traveling, it is possible to travel at a speed of 30 km or more, but from the viewpoint that everyone can drive safely, traveling at 20 km or less is preferable.

Details of an example of the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the front wheel suspension mechanism at the front of the vehicle shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 3A is a view of the entire vehicle, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the front right portion of the vehicle. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front wheel suspension mechanism of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front.
As shown in FIG. 2, the front wheel suspension mechanism 1 is fixed to the steering mechanism 8 for steering the pair of front wheels 3, the tilting mechanism 9 for tilting the pair of front wheels 3, and the pair of front wheels 3, respectively. It is provided with a pair of left and right link mechanisms 10 for linking the steering mechanism 8 and the tilting mechanism 9 to a pair of front wheels.

The link mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. The pair of left and right link mechanisms 10 have a knuckle 11 and a kingpin 12, respectively. The kingpin 12 has a first joint portion 13 at its upper portion and a second joint portion 14 at its lower portion. The knuckle 11 is fixed to the kingpin 12, and the knuckle arm 15 extends forward from the fixed portion between the knuckle 11 and the kingpin 12. A fourth joint portion 17 to which a tie rod 16 described later is connected is provided at the tip of the knuckle arm 15.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the knuckle arm 15 has a knuckle 11 and a kingpin 12 so as to follow an extension line m of a line connecting the rotation center 100 of the rear wheel 4 and the central axis 101 of the kingpin 12. It extends from the fixed location. The knuckle arm 15 is fixed to the kingpin 12 at an angle facing outward from the vehicle traveling direction. Here, the outside of the vehicle traveling direction means diagonally forward to the right in the case of the knuckle arm on the right side, and means diagonally forward to the left in the case of the knuckle arm on the left side. Since the left and right knuckle arms 15 have the same length, a trapezoid is formed by connecting the four points of the left and right fourth joint portions 17 and the central axes 101 of the left and right kingpins 12, and the shape satisfies the Ackermann mechanism. As a result, the steering angle of the inner front wheels when the vehicle turns is larger than the steering angle of the outer front wheels, so that all the wheels move smoothly and the running stability is excellent. Further, since there is a disc brake (not shown) fixed to the front wheel 3 between the kingpin 12 and the front wheel 3, the width of the knuckle arm 15 is set so as not to come into contact with the disc brake.

The steering mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. The steering mechanism is provided to give a steering angle to the pair of left and right front wheels and to steer. The steering mechanism 8 includes a steering member 18, a first bearing member 19, a connecting member 20, and a tie rod 16. The steering member 18 is provided perpendicular to the ground plane. A pair of left and right third joint portions 21 are provided on the upper portion of the connecting member 20. The tie rods 16 are provided in pairs on the left and right, and both ends of the pair of tie rods 16 are connected to a third joint portion 21 of the connecting member 20 and a fourth joint portion 17 at the tip of the knuckle arm 15, respectively. Ball joints are used in the third joint portion 21 and the fourth joint portion 17, and the tie rod 16 moves not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction when combined with the rotation of the steering member.

A preferable form of the steering mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (b). For smooth movement of the front wheels 3 during steering, the distance L1 between the rotation shaft 102, which is the central axis of rotation of the steering member 18, and the third joint portion 21, and the central axis of the kingpin 12 It is preferable that the distance L2 between the 101 and the fourth joint portion 17 is the same. This is because the rotation of the connecting member 20 and the rotation of the knuckle arm 15 can be interlocked without a load.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first bearing member 19 inscribes with the steering member 18 and slides rotatably with each other. The connecting member 20 is fixed to the steering member 18 and rotates by the same angle as the rotation angle of the steering member 18. The steering member 18 has a grip portion 22 at the upper end (see FIG. 1). When the driver grips the grip portion and rotates it around the rotation axis of the steering member 18, the connecting member 20 rotates in conjunction with it. The rotation of the connecting member 20 rotates the knuckle 11 through the tie rod 16. In this way, the turning power of the steering member 18 is transmitted to the connecting member 20, the tie rod 16, and the knuckle 11, so that the pair of front wheels 3 are steered.

For example, when the grip portion is gripped and the steering member 18 is rotated to the left, the connecting member 20 is rotated to the left by the same angle as the rotation angle of the steering member 18. When the connecting member 20 rotates to the left, the knuckle 11 also rotates to the left through the tie rod 16, and the pair of front wheels 3 steer to the left.

FIG. 8 shows a simplified view of the vehicle when the steering member is rotated. FIG. 8 is a view of the state of the vehicle when the steering member is steered to the left, as viewed from six directions at the same time. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the vehicle viewed from diagonally above the left front, and FIG. 8B is a plan view of the vehicle viewed from the front. FIG. 8C is a plan view seen from above, and FIG. 8D is a plan view seen from the right side. FIG. 8 (e) is a plan view seen from below, and FIG. 8 (f) is a plan view seen from the left side. As shown in FIG. 8, the pair of front wheels 3 can be independently steered without tilting the steering member 18, that is, without tilting the vehicle 2.

Hereinafter, the tilting mechanism will be described again with reference to FIG.
The tilting mechanism is provided to tilt the pair of front wheels and the vehicle body. The tilting mechanism 9 has two upper arms 24 and one lower arm 25. The vehicle body frame 6 has a front frame 23 in front of the vehicle in the traveling direction, and the front frame 23 is provided between a pair of left and right front wheels 3. The lower arm 25 is one member having an arm portion 26 and a shaft portion 27. Both ends of the arm portion 26 are connected to the lower part of the pair of left and right link mechanisms 10. Specifically, both ends of the arm portion 26 are connected to the second joint portion 14 below the left and right kingpins 12. The shaft portion 27 extends vertically from the center of the arm portion 26 toward the vehicle body frame 6, and is partially contained in the front frame portion 23. The shaft portion 27 is lower than the height of the floor plate 7 and is rotatably connected to the front frame 23 in parallel with the ground plane (see FIG. 4). As a result, the center of gravity of the vehicle can be lowered and the floor can be lowered. By lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle, driving stability is improved, so even a driver who is not proficient in driving is less likely to fall and can drive safely. In addition, because the floor is lowered, it is easy to get on and off the three-wheeled vehicle, so it is easy for women, elderly people, and drivers with disabilities to use it. The vehicle body frame may not include the front frame, and the shaft portion may be partially included in the vehicle body frame.

With reference to FIG. 4, the positional relationship of each member when the vehicle is viewed from the front will be described. FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the tie rod is removed from the front wheel suspension mechanism. The height of the central portion of the arm portion 26 and the shaft portion 27 is higher than the height of both ends of the lower arm 25 connected to the pair of left and right second joint portions 14.
As a result, the vehicle height can be made higher than the minimum ground clearance, so that even if the ground contact surface is uneven, the vehicle body is unlikely to come into contact with the ground clearance. Here, "vehicle height" means the shortest distance between the lower surface of the vehicle body frame 6 and the ground contact surface. Further, the "minimum ground clearance" means the shortest distance between the lower end of the kingpin 12 and the ground contact surface.

The width of the arm portion 26 is preferably longer than the width of the vehicle body frame 6. Here, the "horizontal width of the arm portion" means the linear distance between the left end and the right end of the arm portion 26 connected to the pair of left and right kingpins 12. Further, the "horizontal width of the vehicle body" means the length of the longest portion of the length in the left-right direction of the vehicle body 5 with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle body.
As a result, it is possible to secure a long distance between the front wheels while making the vehicle body frame 6 and the vehicle body 5 small, and the structure is such that the vehicle body is less likely to tip over. Further, when the vehicle is viewed from the front, the vehicle body 5 fits between the pair of front wheels 3 and is miniaturized. Therefore, if the front wheels can pass through, the vehicle can easily pass even on a narrow road and is easy to handle. Is. Further, since the lateral widths of the vehicle body frame 6 and the floor plate 7 are relatively narrow, the structure is such that the floor plate 7 is inclined in a single piece configuration, but it is difficult for the floor plate 7 to come into contact with the ground contact surface at the time of inclination.

As described above, the lower arm is one member composed of an arm portion and a shaft portion. The lower arm has not only the function of connecting each part due to the inclination of the front wheel but also the function of rotating relative to the vehicle body. In addition, the lower arm also has a load support function that distributes the load to the upper arm to develop high strength. As a result, the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention can be produced at low cost because the number of parts is small and the structure is simple.

The shape of the lower arm may be a T-shape by arranging both ends and the center portion of the arm portion in a straight line. In this case, the floor can be further lowered and the cost of members can be reduced, which is particularly preferable for applications such as traveling on paved road surfaces.

The two upper arms 24 extend left and right from the vehicle body frame 6 side and are connected to the upper portions of the pair of link mechanisms 10. Specifically, the two upper arms 24 extend to the left and right from the upper part of the front frame 23, which is a part of the vehicle body frame 6. Both ends of the upper arm 24 are connected to a first joint portion 13 on the upper part of the link mechanism 10 and a fifth joint portion 28 on the upper part of the front frame 23, respectively. A bush or a rolling bearing is used for the fifth joint portion 28, and the upper arm 24 rotates only in the vertical direction at the fifth joint portion 28. Further, a ball joint is used for the first joint portion 13, and not only the upper arm 24 rotates in the vertical direction, but also the first joint portion 13 tilts in the steering angle direction with respect to the upper arm 24.

A second bearing member 29 that is slidable with the shaft portion 27 inscribed is provided in the lower portion of the front frame 23. The height of the front frame 23 is lower than the height of the left and right front wheels 3. Further, the height of the floor plate 7 of the vehicle body 5 is lower than the height of the left and right front wheels 3. Here, the "height of the front frame" means the distance between the upper end of the front frame 23 and the ground contact surface when the left and right front wheels 3 are viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation, and the "height of the left and right front wheels" is , Means the distance between the upper end of the front wheel 3 and the ground contact surface when viewed in the same manner. "Floor board height" means the distance between the lowest surface of the floor board and the ground plane when viewed in the same manner.

If the tilt angle of the vehicle body during turning becomes too large, the side portion of the floor plate may easily come into contact with the ground contact surface. Therefore, the maximum tilt angle is preferably 20 ° or less. Here, the "tilt angle" is defined as "tilt angle" when the steering member is perpendicular to the ground plane of the front wheels, that is, when the floor plate is horizontal to the ground plane at 0 °, the steering member is tilted to the right or left from that state. Means an angle. Further, the "maximum tilt angle" means the maximum tilt angle when the vehicle is tilted during turning. Further, it is more preferable that the maximum inclination angle is 17 ° or less so that everyone can easily operate the foot and turn easily and safely as a foot for everyday use. Even when the maximum value of the tilt angle is limited to such a low angle, the present invention has sufficient turning performance because the front wheels can be steered and the vehicle body can be tilted independently.

Since the first bearing member 19 has a structure inscribed in the steering member 18, it is inclined by the same angle as the inclination of the steering member 18. The first bearing member 19 is fixed to the vehicle body frame 6 via the front frame 23. When the driver tilts the steering member 18 in the left-right direction, the steering member 18 tilts with the central axis 103 of the shaft portion 27 as a fulcrum of tilting. Due to the structure of the front wheel suspension mechanism 1, the steering member 18 is tilted only in the left-right direction and not in the front-rear direction.

For example, when the steering member 18 is tilted to the right, the first bearing member 19 is also tilted to the right, and the fifth joint portion 28 is also tilted to the right accordingly. At that time, the vehicle body frame 6 also tilts to the right. The tilting force due to the tilt of the fifth joint portion 28 to the right is transmitted to the first joint portion 13 by the upper arm 24 on the right side, and the front wheel 3 fixed to the kingpin 12 is also fixed by tilting the kingpin 12 to the right. Tilt to the right. In this case, since the arm portion 26 of the lower arm 25 is connected to the shaft portion which is the fulcrum of the inclination, the amount of change in the inclination angle is remarkably small as compared with the movement of the upper arm 24. As a result, even though the lower arm 25 has only one arm portion 26, a sufficient inclination angle required for operation can be obtained. In addition, since the steering member, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are tilted in the same direction, the operation can be performed with a natural feeling.

FIG. 9 shows a simplified view of the vehicle when the steering member is tilted. FIG. 9 is a view of the state of the vehicle 2 when the steering member 18 is tilted to the right, as viewed from six directions at the same time. 9 (a) is a perspective view of the vehicle 2 viewed from diagonally above the left front, and FIG. 9 (b) is a plan view of the vehicle 2 viewed from the front. 9 (c) is a plan view seen from above, and FIG. 9 (d) is a plan view seen from the right side. 9 (e) is a plan view seen from below, and FIG. 9 (f) is a plan view seen from the left side. As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle body 5, the pair of front wheels 3, the rear wheels 4, and the seat 50 can all be tilted in the same direction independently of the steering of the front wheels 3 without the rotation of the steering member 18. ..

The driving operation for turning is performed by changing the angle (camber angle) of the front wheels with respect to the ground contact surface due to the inclination of the steering member and changing the steering angle of the front wheels via the grip portion of the steering member. In particular, the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention can independently change the camber angle and the steering angle of the front wheels. Specifically, when the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are located below the floor plate while the arm portion of the lower arm remains substantially horizontal to the ground plane of the front wheels. The central axis of the shaft portion is used as a fulcrum of inclination, and the steering member is inclined in the same direction as the inclination direction. Further, when the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation axis, the steering angle of the pair of front wheels changes independently of the inclination direction.

In the operation of a bicycle, at low speeds, the vehicle makes a turn by changing the steering angle without tilting it, and as the speed increases, the weight shifts to take a slight tilt angle while turning. This series of operational sensations is a sensation that a person accustomed to riding a bicycle has. When the inclination and the change in the steering angle are mechanically linked, it is considered that the difference from the feeling on the bicycle causes a feeling of strangeness in driving. In the present invention, a three-wheeled vehicle can be intuitively driven and operated like a bicycle by providing a structure capable of independently steering the front wheels and tilting the vehicle body while having a predetermined low center of gravity structure or the like. As a result, it is possible to drive the bicycle with the same feeling as a bicycle, depending on the road surface conditions such as unevenness and slope of the road surface.

The favorable relationship between the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism will be described again with reference to FIG.
For smooth movement of the front wheels when steering and tilting at the same time, the height of the fifth joint portion 28 is preferably lower than the height of the third joint portion 21. This is because the inclination of the connecting member 20 and the inclination of the front frame 23 are less likely to interfere with each other and can move independently without a load. Here, the "height of the fifth joint portion" means the height of the fifth joint portion 28 from the ground plane of the rotation center, and the "height of the third joint portion" is the third joint portion 21. Means the height from the ground plane at the center of the ball joint.

FIG. 5 shows a side view around the front wheels of the three-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the central axis of the kingpin 12 is perpendicular to the ground plane. Further, the kingpin 12 is fixed in front of the front wheel fixing portion 30 of the kingpin 12 in the vehicle traveling direction. When the vehicle is viewed from the side in the direction of the rotation axis of the front wheel 3, the intersection 105 of the extension line of the central axis of the kingpin 12 and the ground contact surface is in front of the ground contact point 104 between the front wheel 3 and the ground contact surface. To position. Here, the distance between the central axis of the kingpin and the front wheel fixing portion is called the trail length. Specifically, when the vehicle is viewed from the side, the distance between the intersection of the extension line of the central axis of the kingpin and the ground contact surface and the ground contact point between the front wheel and the ground contact surface is called "trail length L3". Further, the fact that the intersection is located in front of the grounding point is referred to as "positive trail".

By setting the relationship between the front wheel and the kingpin to a positive trail, it is possible to achieve both high straight-line stability and excellent turning performance even with a small-diameter wheel for a small tricycle, which is preferable because it is superior in running stability. Further, by making the central axis of the kingpin perpendicular to the ground plane, it is easy to steer and grip moss can be suppressed, and manufacturing is easy and productivity is excellent. As described above, the three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention has a small wheel diameter (10 to 30 cm), so that it is difficult to benefit from the caster angle, and it is easy to adopt such a vertical kingpin structure.

The trail length L3 is preferably 20 mm or less, for example. Also. The ratio of the trail length L3 to the diameter of the front wheel is preferably smaller than 0.3. Within the above range, it becomes easy to achieve both straight-line stability and turning performance. The trail length and the distance between the central axis of the shaft portion of the lower arm and the third joint portion are such that interference between the tie rod and the knuckle is unlikely to occur even if the steering member is steered and tilted at the same time. Set.

Between the shaft portion and the front frame, a return mechanism for returning the inclination of the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels after the three-wheeled vehicle has turned to the non-inclined state is provided. Hereinafter, the return mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of a shaft portion having a return mechanism and a front frame. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the return mechanism when viewed in the direction of the central axis of the shaft portion. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA'in FIG. 6A, and is a cross-sectional view when the return mechanism is viewed from the side perpendicular to the central axis direction of the shaft portion. FIG. 6 (c) is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 6 (a), and is a plan view when the return mechanism is viewed from above the shaft portion toward the ground plane. FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view of the return mechanism deformed by the inclination of the front frame when viewed in the direction of the central axis of the shaft portion. When the vehicle body frame does not have a front frame and has an integrated structure, the return mechanism may be provided between the shaft portion and the vehicle body frame.

A return mechanism 32 is provided between the shaft portion 27 and the lower plate 23a of the front frame. The return mechanism 32 includes a support member 33 and an elastic body 34. A support member 33 is fixed to the lower side of the shaft portion 27 so as to be orthogonal to the central axis of the shaft portion 27. The support member 33 is fixed to the shaft portion 27 by welding. The elastic body 34 faces the support member 33 and is fixed to the lower plate 23a of the front frame. The elastic body 34 is fixed to the lower plate 23a of the front frame with an adhesive, and the material of the elastic body 34 is urethane rubber.

The details of the return operation by the return mechanism will be described. When the steering member is tilted due to the turning of the vehicle, the lower plate 23a of the front frame is also tilted. In that case, the shaft portion 27 rotates relative to the front frame while sliding with the second bearing member (not shown) of the front frame. When the front frame is tilted, the elastic body 34 is compressed and deformed between the support member 33 and the lower plate 23a of the front frame. The deformed elastic body 34 generates a repulsive force to return to the non-tilted state with respect to the lower plate 23a of the front frame (see FIG. 6D). As a result, the return mechanism can return the tilted state of the front frame during turning to the non-tilted state after turning. This action assists the driver in the driving operation and makes the driving operation easier. Therefore, the electric tricycle equipped with the front wheel suspension mechanism of the present invention is suitable for use by women and elderly people. ..

The three-wheeled vehicle provided with the front wheel suspension mechanism having the return mechanism shown in FIG. 6 preferably has a maximum inclination angle of 20 ° or less as described above. As a result, excessive inclination of the vehicle body can be suppressed, so that driving stability is excellent, and even women and elderly people can easily operate the vehicle. The maximum tilt angle can be adjusted by the configuration of the tilt mechanism and the configuration of the return mechanism described below.

The return mechanism can tilt the vehicle body depending on the size, shape, elastic modulus of the elastic body, the size and shape of the support member, or the mounting method of each member (positional relationship between the elastic body and the support member). You can adjust the angle and the force to assist from the state of inclination.
For example, the elastic body may be a metal spring, an air spring, or the like, in addition to a rubber spring such as urethane rubber or urethane foam. When an air spring is used, minute vibration can be damped, which is preferable from the viewpoint of improving running stability. Further, the elastic body may be provided not only between the support member and the lower plate of the front frame but also between the upper plate. As a result, since the support plate is sandwiched from above and below, when the vehicle body is tilted, repulsive force is received from both the lower plate and the upper plate of the front frame via the elastic body. This is preferable because it makes it easier for the vehicle body to recover from the inclined state.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an electric three-wheeled vehicle having no seat. The three-wheeled vehicle 2'shown in FIG. 7 has the same configuration as the three-wheeled vehicle 2 shown in FIG. 1 except that it has no seat. When driving a three-wheeled vehicle 2', the driver stands on the floor plate 7 and drives toward the front. At that time, since the driver is standing, it is easy to move the weight in the left-right direction by using the lower body, and it is possible to drive with the vehicle body tilted positively when turning.

On the other hand, when driving while sitting on a three-wheeled vehicle with a seat, the position of the center of gravity is lower than when driving while standing on a three-wheeled vehicle without a seat, and the driving operation is mainly for the upper body. In that case, it is difficult to tilt the vehicle body as compared with driving in a standing state, but in the three-wheeled vehicle equipped with the front wheel suspension device of the present invention, the steering angle of the front wheels can be changed independently of the tilting of the vehicle body. Even a three-wheeled vehicle with a suspension can turn easily and safely.

The lean front wheel suspension mechanism for a three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention can lower the floor, lower the center of gravity, and reduce the size of an electric or other three-wheeled vehicle, and it is easy to operate intuitively like a bicycle and is stable in running. Since it has excellent characteristics and can be produced at low cost, it can be easily used by everyone, and can be widely used for daily transportation such as commuting, school, and shopping.

1 Front wheel suspension mechanism 2, 2'Three-wheeled vehicle 3 Front wheel 4 Rear wheel 5 Body 6 Body frame 7 Floor plate 8 Steering mechanism 9 Tilt mechanism 10 Link mechanism 11 Knuckle 12 Kingpin 13 First joint part 14 Second joint part 15 Knuckle arm 16 Tie rod 17 4th joint part 18 Steering member 19 1st bearing member 20 Connecting member 21 3rd joint part 22 Grip part 23 Front frame 23a Front frame lower plate 24 Upper arm 25 Lower arm 26 Arm part 27 Shaft part 28 5th joint Part 29 Second bearing member 30 Front wheel fixing part 31 Folding part 32 Return mechanism 33 Support member 34 Elastic body 50 Seat 100 Rotation center 101, 103 Center axis 102 Rotation axis 104 Grounding point 105 Intersection point

Claims (6)

It is a front wheel suspension mechanism for tricycles equipped with a body frame provided at the bottom of the floor plate on which both feet are placed and a pair of left and right front wheels.
The front wheel suspension mechanism includes a steering mechanism for steering the pair of front wheels, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism fixed to the pair of front wheels, respectively. It is equipped with a pair of left and right link mechanisms that link the mechanism to the pair of front wheels.
The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm.
The upper arm extends from the vehicle body frame side to the left and right and is connected to each upper portion of the pair of link mechanisms.
The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. It is connected so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the vehicle body frame.
The steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver.
The link mechanism has a kingpin to which the upper arm and the lower arm are connected.
The central axis of the kingpin is perpendicular to the ground plane of the front wheel when the front wheel is viewed from the side surface, and is arranged in front of the front wheel fixing portion of the kingpin in the vehicle traveling direction.
When the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are at the lower part of the floor plate while the arm portion of the lower arm is maintained substantially horizontal with respect to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the central axis of the shaft portion located at is tilted in the same direction as the tilting direction of the steering member and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, the pair of front wheels are tilted. A front wheel suspension mechanism characterized by the fact that the steering angle changes independently. It is a front wheel suspension mechanism for tricycles equipped with a body frame provided at the bottom of the floor plate on which both feet are placed and a pair of left and right front wheels.
The front wheel suspension mechanism includes a steering mechanism for steering the pair of front wheels, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism fixed to the pair of front wheels, respectively. It is equipped with a pair of left and right link mechanisms that link the mechanism to the pair of front wheels.
The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm.
The upper arm extends from the vehicle body frame side to the left and right and is connected to each upper portion of the pair of link mechanisms.
The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. It is connected so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the vehicle body frame.
The steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver.
When the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are at the lower part of the floor plate while the arm portion of the lower arm is maintained substantially horizontal with respect to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the central axis of the shaft portion located at is tilted in the same direction as the tilting direction of the steering member and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation axis, the pair of front wheels are tilted. The rudder angle changes independently ,
The front wheel suspension mechanism has a return mechanism for returning the inclination of the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels.
The return mechanism has a support member that is fixed orthogonally to the central axis of the shaft portion, and an elastic body that faces the support member and is fixed to the vehicle body frame side.
The elastic body returns the support member to a non-tilted state by a repulsive force generated by being compressed by the inclination of the support member accompanying the rotation of the shaft.
The front wheel suspension mechanism is characterized by this. The front wheel suspension mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the front wheel suspension mechanism has a folding portion for tilting the steering member along the floor plate. A floor plate on which both feet are placed, a vehicle body frame provided at the bottom of the floor plate, a pair of left and right front wheels provided in front of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction, and rear of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction. A three-wheeled vehicle including a rear wheel which is a driving wheel and a front wheel suspension mechanism for suspending the pair of front wheels.
The front wheel suspension mechanism includes a steering mechanism for steering the pair of front wheels, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism fixed to the pair of front wheels, respectively. It is equipped with a pair of left and right link mechanisms that link the mechanism to the pair of front wheels.
The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm.
The upper arm extends from the vehicle body frame side to the left and right and is connected to each upper portion of the pair of link mechanisms.
The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. It is connected so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the vehicle body frame.
The steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver.
The link mechanism has a kingpin to which the upper arm and the lower arm are connected.
The central axis of the kingpin is perpendicular to the ground plane of the front wheel when the front wheel is viewed from the side surface, and is arranged in front of the front wheel fixing portion of the kingpin in the vehicle traveling direction.
When the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are at the lower part of the floor plate while the arm portion of the lower arm is maintained substantially horizontal with respect to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the central axis of the shaft portion located at is tilted in the same direction as the tilting direction of the steering member and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, the pair of front wheels are tilted. A three-wheeled vehicle characterized by the fact that the rudder angle changes independently. A floor plate on which both feet are placed, a vehicle body frame provided at the bottom of the floor plate, a pair of left and right front wheels provided in front of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction, and rear of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle traveling direction. A three-wheeled vehicle including a rear wheel which is a driving wheel and a front wheel suspension mechanism for suspending the pair of front wheels.
The front wheel suspension mechanism includes a steering mechanism for steering the pair of front wheels, a tilting mechanism for tilting the pair of front wheels, and the steering mechanism and the tilting mechanism fixed to the pair of front wheels, respectively. It is equipped with a pair of left and right link mechanisms that link the mechanism to the pair of front wheels.
The tilting mechanism has two upper arms and one lower arm.
The upper arm extends from the vehicle body frame side to the left and right and is connected to each upper portion of the pair of link mechanisms.
The lower arm has an arm portion whose ends are connected to the lower portion of the pair of link mechanisms, and a shaft portion that extends vertically from the center of the arm portion toward the vehicle body frame. It is connected so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the vehicle body frame.
The steering mechanism has a steering member operated by the driver.
When the steering member is tilted to the left or right, the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels are at the lower part of the floor plate while the arm portion of the lower arm is maintained substantially horizontal with respect to the ground contact surface of the front wheels. When the central axis of the shaft portion located at is tilted in the same direction as the tilting direction of the steering member and the steering member is rotated in the circumferential direction of the rotation axis, the pair of front wheels are tilted. The rudder angle changes independently ,
The front wheel suspension mechanism has a return mechanism for returning the inclination of the floor plate, the vehicle body frame, and the pair of front wheels.
The return mechanism has a support member that is fixed orthogonally to the central axis of the shaft portion, and an elastic body that faces the support member and is fixed to the vehicle body frame side.
The elastic body returns the support member to a non-tilted state by a repulsive force generated by being compressed by the inclination of the support member accompanying the rotation of the shaft.
A three-wheeled vehicle characterized by that. The three-wheeled vehicle according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the three-wheeled vehicle has a seat fixed to the floor plate or the vehicle body frame.

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