JPH02299993A - Front wheel device for motorcycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate removal of a wheel without removing a front fender and a caliper by providing a pair of the lower tubes on both sides and the fender bracket of a front fork are relatively rotatably mounted around the axis of the lower tubes. CONSTITUTION:A front fork 5 to the lower end of which a front wheel 6 is mounted is formed with a pair of upper tubes 20 and 20 on both sides and a pair of lower tubes 21 and 21 on both sides engaged with the lower end side thereof axially slidably and rotatably around an axis. An axle 23 is removably mounted to the lower end of the lower tube 21, and a front fender 9 is secured to fender brackets 42, mounted to the lower tube 21, by means of a bolt 43. In this case, each fender bracket 42 is engaged eternally of the lower tube 21 relatively rotatably around an axis. The lower tube 21 is mounted to the upper tube 20 rotatably around an axis in a state to support a caliper 35, and removal of the front wheel 6 is facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a front wheel device for a motorcycle equipped with a disc brake and a front fender.

(Prior Art) The front fork of a motorcycle usually includes a pair of left and right upper tubes supported on the head pipe side of the vehicle body frame, and a pair of upper tubes that are slidable in the axial direction at the lower end of each of these upper tubes.
It also includes a pair of left and right lower tubes that are fitted together so as to be rotatable around the axis, and a front wheel is supported at both lower ends of these left and right lower tubes. The impact transmitted from the front wheel to the head pipe is absorbed by the upper and lower tubes sliding against each other.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned configuration, there is a conventional configuration as follows.

That is, - A disc brake is provided for braking the front wheel, and this disc brake has a brake disc attached to the side surface of the front wheel, and a caliper that fits into the brake disc so as to be able to frictionally join. It is fixed to the lower end of the lower tube. In this case, in order to prevent the caliper from protruding outward, the caliper is fitted into a recess between the rim of the front wheel and the outer peripheral edge of the brake disc. On the other hand, a front fender for the front wheel is provided, and this front fender is also fixed to the lower tube.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, when the front wheel is removed from the front fork during maintenance or inspection work, the caliper may fit into the recess between the rim of the front wheel and the outer periphery of the brake disc, as described above. If the rim remains fitted, the rim may come into contact with the caliper during removal, making removal impossible.

Therefore, in this case, in order to avoid the rim coming into contact with the caliper, a method is adopted in which the caliper is removed from the lower tube prior to removing the front wheel. In addition, as another method different from this, the front fender is removed from the lower tube while the caliper is fixed to the lower tube, and the lower tube is rotated together with the caliper about its axis relative to the upper tube. The caliper is removed from the recess outward in the vehicle width direction.

However, in any of the above methods, it is necessary to remove at least one of the caliper and the front fender, which complicates the task of removing the front wheel.

(Object of the Invention) This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to facilitate the removal of a front wheel from a front fork.

(Structure of the Invention) A feature of the present invention for achieving the above object is that in a front wheel device for a motorcycle in which a front fender is supported by fender brackets provided on left and right lower tubes, the lower tube and the fender bracket are connected to each other. is relatively rotatable around the axis of the lower tube.

(for production) The effects of the above configuration are as follows.

When attempting to remove the front wheel 6 from the left and right lower tubes 21.21, first release the support of the front wheel 6 from the left and right lower tubes 21.21.
1, the front wheel 6 is slightly moved together with the brake disc 34 in the radial direction of the front wheel 6, and this movement releases the fitting between the caliper 35 and the brake disc 34.

Then, since interference between the brake disc 34 and the caliper 5 in the vehicle width direction is avoided, the lower tube 21 can be moved around the axis of the upper tube 20 while the caliper 35 is fixed to the lower tube 21. The caliper 35 that rotates accordingly can be detached from the front wheel 6 side in the vehicle width direction outward.

Therefore, when the front wheel 6 is further moved in the radial direction from the above state, the front wheel 6 is prevented from coming into contact with the caliper 35, and therefore, the front wheel 6 can be removed.

In the above case, conventionally, since the front fender 9 is fixed to the lower tube 21, the lower tube 21 cannot be rotated as described above. Before moving, it is necessary to remove the front fender 9. However, in this invention, the lower tube 21 and the fender bracket 42 are relatively rotatable around the axis of the lower tube 21, so that the lower tube 21 and the fender bracket 42 are relatively rotatable around the axis of the lower tube 21.
Rotation 1 can be made without any problem without removing the front fender 9.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

2, l is a motorcycle, and a body frame 2 of this motorcycle l has a head pipe 3 at its front part.

A front fork 5 is supported on the head pipe 3 so as to be steerable, a front wheel 6 is supported on the lower end of the front fork 5, and a handle 7 is attached to the upper end. Further, a front fender 9 that covers the upper outer peripheral surface of the front wheel 6 is provided, and a disc brake 10 for the front wheel 6 is also provided.

In addition, 13 is a fuel tank, 15 is a cowling, and this cowling 15 covers the front surface of the front fork 5 above the front fender 9, each outer surface of the vehicle body frame 2, etc. Further, 16 is a road surface.

From FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, first, the front fork 5
I will explain in detail.

The front fork 5 has a steering shaft (not shown) that is fitted into the head vibrator 3 so as to be rotatable about its axis. The upper and lower ends of this steering shaft protrude from the Radvib 3 above, and an upper bracket 18 is attached to the upper end of this steering shaft, while a lower bracket 19 is attached to the lower end. A pair of left and right upper tubes 20.20 made of aluminum are fixed to these upper bracket 18 and lower bracket 19. In other words, these upper tubes 20.20 are attached to the head pipe 3 around the axis of the head vibe 3. It is rotatably supported on the side.

Furthermore, a pair of left and right lower tubes 21.21 made of steel are fitted into the lower end of each of the upper tubes 20 so as to be slidable in the axial direction and rotatable about the axis. In other words, this front fork 5 is of a so-called inverted type.

During driving when the road surface 16 is flat, the lower end side of each lower tube 21 is elastically projected downward from the lower end of the upper tube 20.
When the front wheel 6 receives an impact from the lower tube 2
1 is inserted into the upper tube 20 while sliding, and at this time,
The above impact is absorbed.

1 to 6, an axle hole 22 whose axis extends in the vehicle width direction is formed at the lower end of each of the lower tubes 21, and a bolt-shaped axle 23 is inserted into and removed from the left and right axle holes 22°22. A nut 24 is screwed into the threaded portion of the right end of the axle 23.

On the other hand, the front wheel 6 has a hub 26, and a rim 27 is integrally molded onto the hub 26. This rim 27 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction, and the tire 2 is attached to this rim 27.
8 is installed.

Further, an axle 23 is fitted into the hub 26, and a bearing 29 is interposed between the two.

30 is color. When the nut 24 is screwed on, the axle 23 is fixed to the lower tube 21.21, and the front wheel 6 is supported on the axle 23.

On the other hand, by loosening the nut 24, the axle 23 can be pulled out from each axle hole 22 or hub 26, and in this way, the front wheel 6 can be removed from each lower tube 21.

The disc brake IO has a pair of left and right brake discs 34 and 34 screwed to both left and right sides of the hub 26 by bolts 33.

Further, a caliper 35 is provided which fits into each brake disc 34 so as to be able to be frictionally joined, and this caliper 35 has a
The caliper bracket 36 is integrally formed at the lower end of the lower tube 21 and is detachably screwed to the caliper bracket 36 by a pair of upper and lower bolts 37 and 37.

The caliper 35 has three hydraulic cylinders 38, and when the rider operates the brake lever provided on the right side of the handle 7, each of the hydraulic cylinders 38 operates to frictionally connect the pads to the brake disc 34. This causes the front wheels 6 to be braked.

In the above case, in order to prevent each caliper 35 from protruding outwardly, the caliper 35 is inserted into the recess 3 between the rim 27 and the outer peripheral edge of the brake disc 34.
It is embedded in 9.

In FIGS. 1 to 6, the front fender 9 is made of carbon FRP, and the left and right upper tubes 20
．． 20, and from both left and right sides of this front fender 9, support plates are provided downwardly from each side of the front fender 9)-41
is integrally protruded. On the other hand, fender brackets 42 are attached to the lower end sides of the left and right lower tubes 21 and 21, respectively, and to these fender brackets 42,
The lower end of the support plate 41 is connected to a pair of upper and lower bolts 43.
43, and is removably screwed.

Further, in the above case, each fender bracket 42 is fitted onto the lower tube 21 so as to be relatively rotatable around the axis of the lower tube 21, and the fender bracket 42 is fitted around the caliper. It is slidably sandwiched between the upper surface of the bracket 36 and a circlip 44 fitted to the lower tube 21. and,
Thereby, the front fender 9 is supported by the left and right lower tubes 21 and 21.

In the above configuration, when attempting to remove the front wheel 6 from the left and right lower tubes 21.21, first remove the axle 23 and support the front wheel 6 on the left and right lower tubes 21.21, as shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. Release.

Next, as shown by the imaginary lines and arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front wheel 6 is moved forward and downward with respect to each lower tube 21 together with the brake disc 34, and as a result of this movement, the caliper 35 The fitting between the brake disc 34 and the brake disc 34 is released. This prevents the brake disc 34 and caliper 35 from interfering with each other in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, while the caliper 35 is fixed to the lower tube 21 via the caliper bracket 36, each lower tube 21 is connected to the upper tube 20 as shown by the imaginary line and arrow B in FIGS. 3 to 5. The caliper 35 is rotated about the axis, and the caliper 35, which rotates accordingly, is removed from the recess 39 outward in the vehicle width direction.

In this way, even if the front wheel 6 is moved further forward and downward from the above state, the rim 27 of the front wheel 6 will not come into contact with the caliper 35, and therefore, the front wheel 6 can be removed. .

Note that when the lower tube 21 is rotated as described above, the lower tube 21 and the fender bracket 42 rotate relative to each other, so the lower tube 21 can be rotated without any problem without removing the fender bracket 42. becomes.

Further, as described above, after releasing the support of the front wheel 6 from the left and right lower tubes 21 and 21, each of the lower tubes 21
If the front wheel 6 is moved forward and downward,
If the rim 27 comes into contact with the caliper 35 before the caliper 35 and the brake disc 34 are disengaged, interference between the brake disc 34 and the caliper 35 in the vehicle width direction cannot be avoided. .

Therefore, this embodiment is configured as follows. That is, the number of hydraulic sills 38 is conventionally two, but
In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, there are three of these, each having a small diameter as described above, and these are arranged in parallel along the circumferential direction of the front wheel 6. As a result, the dimensions of the caliper 35 seen from the radial direction of the front wheel 6 are reduced,
When the front wheel 6 is moved forward and downward as described above, the fitting between the brake disc 34 and the caliper 35 is released by the time the rim 27 comes into contact with the caliper 35.

Further, from the above state, the front wheel 6 can be attached to the left and right lower tubes 21° 21 by following the procedure reverse to the above.

By the way, when trying to attach the front wheel 6 to the left and right lower tubes 21° 21 in this way, each lower tube 21 slides freely relative to each upper tube 20, and the left and right axle holes 22° 22. If the upper and lower positions are deviated from each other, the installation of the axle 23 becomes complicated.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the left and right lower tubes 21, 21 are connected to each other by the front fender 9 and the support plate 41 so that they do not slide freely after the axle 23 is removed.

That is, the left and right fender brackets 42° 42 that support the front fender 9 and the support plate 41 are fitted onto each of the lower tubes 21 as described above, and are fitted onto the upper surface of the caliper bracket 36 and the lower tube 21, respectively. The lower tube 21 is sandwiched between the lower tube 21 and the circlip 44, thereby restricting relative movement in the axial direction with the lower tube 21. And, with this, the left and right lower tubes 21.21
are connected to each other by the front fender 9 and the support plate 41, that is, the vertical positions of the left and right lower tubes 21.degree. 21 are not deviated from each other.

Further, the front fender 9 and the support plate 41 are provided with sufficient strength and rigidity so that the connection is strong. This will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4 to 8.

The front fender 9 has a front cross section bent into an arc shape to provide sufficient strength and rigidity. Further, the support plate 41 is bent so that its planar cross section is approximately doglegged, so that the support plate 41
has sufficient strength and rigidity. Further, this support plate 41 is located near the front of the lower tube 21, so that if a thrown up stone or the like flies from the front while driving, this stone will not collide with the lower tube 21. Further, the support plate 41 is formed such that the convex side of the bent portion faces the outside of the vehicle body, and the front outer surface 46 located in the front half of the support plate 41 is The rear outer surface 47, located in the rear half of the support plate 41, extends in the vehicle width direction and is inclined outward toward the rear.
Therefore, the traveling wind C is smoothly guided outward and rearward by the front outer surface 46, that is, this traveling wind C directly hits the lower end of the upper tube 20 and the lower tube 21. This will be prevented.

A recess 48 is formed at the rear of the front outer surface 46 at the lower end of the support plate 41, and this recess 48 is screwed to the fender bracket 42 by the bolt 43 as described above. In this case, the bolt 43 is hidden behind the front outer surface 46 when viewed from the front.

Further, the lower end of the support plate 41 is closed by a bottom plate 49 integrally formed with the support plate 41. That is, the bottom plate 49 also improves the strength of the lower end of the support plate 41.

Furthermore, the front fender 9 and the support plate 41 are reinforced in the following manner.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the support plate 4
A hard foamed material 51 is firmly attached to the inner surface of the front part of 1. The upper part of this hard foam material 51 is attached to the upper surface of the front fender 9 to improve the strength of this part, and the lower part is attached to the inner surface of the recess 48 and the bottom plate 4.
9 is also firmly attached to the top surface.

Further, another hard foam material 52 is firmly attached to the rear inner surface of the support plate 41 as described above.

Each of the rigid foam materials 51 and 52 is further covered with a cloth 53 made of carbon Kevlar, which is aramid fiber, so that the rigid foam materials 51 and 52 are further protected against the front fender 9 and the support plate 41. It is firmly fixed.

Although the above is based on the illustrated example, the front fork 5 may have an upper tube 20 as an inner tube and a lower tube 21 as an outer tube, that is, may be of a royal type. The fender 9 and the support plate 41 may be separate bodies.Furthermore, the front outer surface 46 may be a convex arc surface or a concave arc surface.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, in a front wheel device for a motorcycle in which a front fender is supported by fender brackets provided on left and right lower tubes, the lower tube and the fender bracket are arranged relative to each other around the axis of the lower tube. Since it can be rotated freely, it has the following effects.

That is, when attempting to remove the front wheel from the left and right lower tubes, first release the support of the front wheel from the left and right lower tubes, then move the front wheel a little with the brake disc to release the engagement between the caliper and the brake disc. let Next, while the caliper is fixed to the lower tube, the lower tube is rotated toward the outside of the vehicle body around its axis relative to the upper tube, and the rotating caliper is rotated from the front wheel side. Remove it outward in the vehicle width direction.

In this way, when the front wheel is moved further in its radial direction, it is avoided that the front wheel comes into contact with the caliper, and therefore, the front wheel can be removed smoothly.

In the above case, since the lower tube and the fender bracket are relatively rotatable around the axis of the lower tube, the lower tube can be rotated without any trouble without removing the front fender.

That is, when removing the front wheel, it is not necessary to remove either the front fender or the caliper from the lower tube, and therefore, the front wheel removal work can be made easier.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 2, Figure 2 is a front side view of the motorcycle, and Figure 3 is a front side view of the motorcycle.
4 is a view of the front wheel viewed from the bottom side, FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line V[-VT in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■--■ in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1. Motorcycle, 2. Body frame, 3. Head vibe, 5. Front fork, 6. Front wheel, 9.
Front fender, 10... Disc brake, 20...
・Upper tube, 21.. Lower tube, 34.. Brake disc, 35.. Caliper, 36.. Caliper bracket, 42.. Fender bracket. Patent applicant Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right upper tubes on which the front fork is supported on the head pipe side of the vehicle body frame, and a pair of left and right upper tubes that fit into the lower end of each of these upper tubes so as to be slidable in the axial direction and rotatable around the axis. A front wheel is removably supported at both lower ends of the left and right lower tubes, and a brake disc is attached to the side of the front wheel, while a caliper that is frictionally fitted to the brake disc is attached to the lower tube. In a front wheel device of a motorcycle in which a front fender for the front wheel of the above is supported by fender brackets provided on the left and right lower tubes of the above, the lower tube and the fender bracket are relatively rotated around the axis of the lower tube. A freely movable motorcycle front wheel device.