WO2009133267A1

WO2009133267A1 - Tricycle with self-supporting platform

Info

Publication number: WO2009133267A1
Application number: PCT/FR2009/000354
Authority: WO
Inventors: Amaury De Buxeuil De Roujoux; Laurent Mathieu; Tristan Mathieu; Nicolas Tassel
Original assignee: Cycle&Co
Priority date: 2008-04-03
Filing date: 2009-03-27
Publication date: 2009-11-05
Also published as: FR2929585A1; FR2929585B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tricycle driven at least partially by muscle power, comprising: a self-supporting platform (100) of lightweight material having a longitudinal plane of symmetry, a front wheel (101) mounted on a fork (102) pivoting about an axis, two rear wheels (103a, 103b) mounted on a suspension mechanism and driven by a propulsion assembly, a handlebar (104) mounted on a steering shaft (105), said steering shaft comprising means of connection to said fork in order to turn it, a crank set (109) driving said propulsion assembly through transmission means, and a seat (106). The fork (102), the suspension mechanism, the propulsion assembly, the steering shaft (105), the crank set (109), and the seat (106) are put together from structurally independent modules mounted on said self-supporting platform (100).

Description

TRICYCLE WITH SELF-SUPPORTING PLATEAU.

The present invention relates to light vehicles, driven by the muscular force of a driver and capable of carrying passengers and / or goods. It applies more particularly, but not exclusively, to tricycles with or without one or more booster engines, for leisure use or otherwise.

Several vehicles of this type are already known, in particular EP 1 259 417 and WO 2007/071 412. All these vehicles comprise a hull provided with a fairing to protect the driver and the possible passengers, and a metal frame on which this hull rests. and on which are fixed in particular the wheels, the steering and the propulsion means. This metal frame has the function of taking the main efforts to which the vehicle is subject, including those emanating from the wheels and those exerted by the driver. However, this metal frame has a significant mass on a machine that must be as light as possible to facilitate its use and to reduce as much as possible the cost. There is therefore a need to provide a vehicle of the tricycle type, all or part of the hull would be self-supporting, that is to say that would not include a metal frame or means for fixing the metal frame on the hull.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a tricycle driven at least partially by the muscular force, comprising: a self-supporting plate of light material having a longitudinal axis,

- a front wheel, mounted on a fork pivoting about an axis,

- two rear wheels, mounted on a suspension mechanism and driven by a propulsion system, - A handlebar mounted on a steering shaft, said steering shaft having connecting means with said fork to drive it in rotation,

a crankset, driving said propulsion unit by means of transmission, a seat, in which the fork, the suspension mechanism, the propulsion assembly, the steering shaft, the crankset and the seat are constituted by structurally independent modules fixed on said self-supporting plate.

Thanks to these provisions, we obtain a tricycle no longer including a metal frame because all modules support (suspension), steering (front fork), propulsion and seating, which are structurally independent, are fixed directly on the plateau freestanding. To obtain a tricycle as light as possible, the plate can be made in one piece of any light material, for example composite material, and have suitable shapes to obtain a plate that withstands the bending and torsion forces generated by its use . Advantageously, the fibers used may be natural fibers such as flax or hemp fibers, which have the particularity of being easily recyclable. The weight gain compared to known solutions is at least 30%.

The tray is specifically designed to take the forces applied by the bodies that are directly attached to it, including the front fork, the rear wheel drive assembly, the pedal, the driver's seat and any passengers. It is particularly remarkable in that it comprises an inverted U-shaped hollow longitudinal ridge, which runs through a central portion of the plate, and which is connected to a front portion and to a rear portion of said plate. This ribbing is the main means of rigidity of the plate in the direction of vertical bending. Similarly, the front portion of the plate, which must take up the forces applied by the front fork, comprises a form-shaped boss, for example substantially frustoconical or cylindrical, delimiting a cavity open downwards. A bell-shaped piece is mounted integral with this boss; it comprises an axial tube traversed by a sleeve integral with the fork and rotatably mounted on this axial tube, thus ensuring a good distribution of the forces transmitted by the fork. The bell-shaped connecting piece can be mounted either over the boss or from below.

The different modules are structurally but not functionally independent: for example the crankset can be connected to the propulsion unit secured to the rear wheels by a chain, a belt or a transmission shaft; in the same way, connecting means are provided between the steering shaft and the fork of the front wheel so as to be able to actuate it in rotation.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures IA and IB are perspective views of the tricycle according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tricycle tray according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the connecting device between the front fork and the plate of the tricycle;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connecting means between the steering shaft and the front fork;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a propulsion assembly according to the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are simplified diagrams in section of mounting variants of a free wheel associated with a wheel; Figure 6 is a simplified diagram of a variant of a propulsion assembly according to the invention;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cockpit of the tricycle according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a fairing assembly according to the invention.

As illustrated in these drawings, the tricycle comprises a plate 100, a front wheel 101 mounted on a fork 102, two rear wheels 103a and 103b driven by a drive assembly 40, a handlebar 104 mounted on a steering shaft 105, a crank 109 and a driver seat 106. All these members, fork 102, pedal, propulsion assembly, steering shaft 105 and seat 106, are individually fixed on the plate 100. The tricycle may also include a seat at the rear 107 for any passengers and a 108 cowling in the front.

The plate 100 of the tricycle shown in Figure 2 is made of a single piece of light material, for example an epoxy resin or the like reinforced with flax fibers, both light and strong. It comprises a plane of symmetry and comprises a floor 2 in the central part, substantially horizontal in use, a front portion 3 and a rear portion 4. The floor 2 is traversed by a hollow longitudinal rib 5 which can take the form of a U reversed, so that it forms a tunnel open downwards, and which is connected to the front portions 3 and rear 4 of the plate 100. The rib 5 is provided to receive the pedal 109, the crank axle passing through said rib 5 by a recess 7, so that the transmission means associated with the crankset and which transmit the forces provided by the driver to a propulsion assembly, for example the front plates, a derailleur and the chain, a belt or a transmission shaft, take place inside this ribbing and are protected from the weather. On either side of this ribbing are two openings 8a and 8b, at the level of the pedal, which are each delimited on one side by said rib 5 and on the other side by a longitudinal spar 9a, 9b all of which is the floor 2. These openings 8a, 8b are designed to give passage to the cranks of the pedal and the feet of the driver. The side rails 9a, 9b comprise a flat part, on which the driver can rest the feet when he is not pedaling, and may have fallen edges, thus also contributing to the rigidity of the plate 100 in vertical bending and in torsion around a longitudinal axis. The plate 100 has a front portion 3 raised relative to the floor 2 so as to accommodate the front wheel. The rear portion 4 is also raised relative to the floor 2 to receive the suspension mechanism and a propulsion assembly. It comprises a flat portion 4a which can receive a seat 107 for passengers and under which are fixed the suspension mechanism and the propulsion unit. This flat portion and the connection 10 between the floor 2 and the rear portion 4 have fallen edges which on the one hand contribute to the rigidity of the plate 100 and secondly constitute passages protecting the rear wheels.

The front portion 3 comprises a boss 11 whose axis is situated on the plane of symmetry of the plate, also connected to the ribbing 5. This boss 11 delimits a shape cavity for example substantially frustoconical or cylindrical, with at its apex a recess l ia for the passage of a sleeve integral with the fork. The boss 11 has the function of taking up the efforts, including bending, transmitted by the front wheel via the fork. This recovery of effort is reinforced by the connection 5a between this boss 11 and the rib 5 and a double triangulation.

The device according to the invention shown in Figure 3 aims to assemble the fork 102 of a front wheel and the front portion 3 of the self-supporting plate of a light vehicle. The front portion 3 comprises a boss 11 of shape, for example substantially frustoconical or cylindrical, comprising a substantially circular and flat top portion 11b, an outer wall 1 Ic and a first recess l ia in the axis of said top portion.

The fork 102 comprises a jumper 22 surmounted by a sleeve 23. A hollow connecting piece 24, for example a bell-shaped, comprises an outer casing 24a, a top portion 24b having a second recess 24d, and a shoulder 24c at its end. based. Through this shoulder 24c, it bears on the top l lb and the flank 1 ie said boss 11. The first and second recesses 1a and 24d are coaxial.

A tube 25, provided inside the piece 24, is fixed to the top portion 24b of the piece 24 via a first washer 25a which it is integral, coaxial with the second recess 24d. A second washer 25b secured to the base of the tube 23 is intended to connect said tube 23 to the top 1 Ib of the boss 11, coaxially with the first recess l ia.

The sleeve 23 of the fork 102 is rotatably mounted in said tube 25 via two ball bearings 23a, located in the vicinity of the top portion 24b of the piece 24, and 23b located at the base of the tube 23. The sleeve is held in the tube 23 by a collar 26 at its upper end and clamped by a clamping means such as a screw. The editing follows the following steps: fixing the tube 23 on the inner face of the top portion 24b of the connecting piece 24 via the washer 25a, coaxially with the second recess 24d,

- Fixing the assembly thus formed on the boss 11 of the plate 3, through the shoulder 24c and the washer 25b, coaxial with the recess l ia, insertion of the sleeve 23 of the fork in the tube 25 , the sleeve being rotatably mounted by means of ball bearings 23a and 23b, clamping in place of said sleeve by means of collar 26. The fasteners mentioned above may use any known means such as gluing, riveting, etc.

The steering shaft 105 on which is fixed a handlebar 104, or a flywheel, is held at the plate 100 by means of a fastener 31 on which it is pivotally mounted. As it is not collinear with the axis of the fork 102 of the tricycle, connecting means are provided between these members so as to transmit the rotational movement printed by the driver to the steering shaft at the front fork, as shown in FIG. 4. Advantageously, these connecting means comprise: an arm 32 integral with the steering shaft 105, substantially orthogonal to said shaft, so that said arm is rotated in a plane substantially orthogonal to said steering shaft when it turns,

a connecting rod 33 connecting the end of said arm 32 and one of the branches 102a of the fork 102. If the axes of the fork 102 and of the steering shaft 105 are not parallel, said link 33 must be mounted at gimbal 34a, 34b at each end.

A light vehicle propulsion assembly 40 according to the invention and shown schematically in FIG. 5 comprises two parallel flanges 40a and 40b fixed by any known means to a frame or to a self-supporting plate of the vehicle. A shaft or drum 41 is rotatably mounted between said flanges. This shaft 41 is rotated by means of a first transmission means 42 (in broken lines), for example a chain, and a fixed gear 43 mounted on said shaft 41. The invention proposes four modes of production : In a first embodiment, the shaft 41 has a first and a second pinion 44 and 45 mounted in freewheel so that the driving part is their central part and the part led their peripheral part; in this assembly in fact the shaft 41 is motor. Through transmission means 46 and 47 (in phantom) the pinions 44 and 45 respectively drive gears 48 and 49 fixed respectively mounted on shafts Al and A2. These shafts Al and A2 respectively drive a wheel R1 and R2 of the vehicle. In this way, during a turn, the wheel which rotates faster drives faster the peripheral portion of the corresponding pinion mounted freewheel (44 or 45), it starts to coast and there is no skating.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the shafts A1 and A2 are not aligned because they are attacked by two different gears; at least one cardan mount can possibly align them. However, as illustrated in FIG. 6, an additional flange 40c interposed between the flanges 40a and 40b, parallel to the two preceding and secured to the light vehicle, for example connected to the flanges 40a and 40b, makes it possible to maintain the inner end of the shafts Al and A2, and thus align them while uncoupling and avoid this cardan mount. In a second embodiment, the pinions 44 and 45 are fixedly mounted on the shaft 41 and the pinions 48 and 49 are freewheeling on their respective shaft so that the driving part is their peripheral part and the part carried their central part, integral with the tree on which they are mounted.

In a third and a fourth embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 5A and 5B, the wheels R1 and R2 are no longer integral with their respective shaft, but are rotatably mounted by means of bearings 50 and freewheel gears are mounted on the tree near the wheels:

in a first variant (FIG. 5A), the driving portion of the freewheel gear 51 is the central portion 51a, integral with the shaft A1, and the driven portion is the peripheral portion 51b of the freewheel gear, integral with the hub; the wheel, possibly via a disc-shaped piece 52 coaxial with the hub; in this variant, the driving part being the central part of the freewheel device, it can be integrated in the hub of the wheel; in a second variant (FIG. 5B), the freewheel gear 54 is rotatably mounted on the shaft A1, the driving part being its peripheral portion 54a and the part carrying its central portion 54b, which is integral with the wheel R1. The tree Al, which is motor, is extended on the side of the pinion 54 by a circular piece 55 coaxial with the shaft A1; this piece 55 is of a diameter close to the pinion 54 and has securing means 55a with the peripheral portion 54a of the freewheel gear, for example axial teeth which are engrained in the teeth of the pinion 54. Thanks to this arrangement , the freewheel gear

54 is driven by the shaft A1 by its peripheral portion and itself drives the wheel Rl.

In the third and fourth embodiments, the pinions 43, 44, 48 and 49 are fixed. With reference to FIG. 6, the propulsion assembly may advantageously comprise a gearbox 60, for example of the integrated cable-controlled type, driven by the transmission means 42, and which drives the fixed gear 43 of the shaft 41 via a transmission means 61 (in broken lines).

In all these embodiments, the sprocket - chain assemblies can be replaced by any means for transmitting a torque, for example a notched crown - belt assembly.

Advantageously, the tricycle may comprise one or more booster engines, for example of the type which only functions when a force is exerted on the pedal, this force being able to be detected by various known means (tension of the chain by example) and which cuts beyond a certain speed, for example 25 km / h. This motor may for example be housed in the hub 35 of the front wheel. This gives a three-wheel drive tricycle, the rear wheels being human powered. Thus the engine, for example electric, can advantageously complement the effort of the driver in tight turns or parking maneuvers. Indeed, one of the characteristics of the non-differential propulsion assembly described above is that it makes it difficult to maneuver in a tight turn. In this case, an assistance of a motor placed in the hub of the front wheel can be very useful; this assistance can for example be controlled by the force exerted on the pedal or by the detection of the steering angle of the handlebar.

Advantageously, as represented in FIG. 7, the seat 106 of the conductor is mounted on the longitudinal ribbing 5 by means of a rider piece 61 which matches the shape of the ribbing 5, a tubular support 62 that is height-adjustable and a leg 63 providing the connection between the tubular support 62 of the seat 106 and the rider piece 61. The rider piece 61 can be held in different positions on the ribbing 5, for example by means of pins or bolts, so as to provide an adjustment of the longitudinal position of the seat 106.

As represented in FIG. 8, the tricycle may be provided with a fairing comprising, for example: a cowling or nose-piece 108 fixed on the front portion 3 of the self-supporting plate 100, which envelops and protects the front wheel and the tricycle steering members and . The steering shaft 105, which is rotatably mounted in the lower part on the plate 100 via the connecting piece 31, is retained in the upper part of the cowling 108 to take up the tilting forces applied at the handlebar 104,

two lateral protection panels 71a and 71b, each fixed on one side of the plate 100, on the floor 2 and the rear part 4 of the plate 100, joining in the lower part the cowling 108, providing a passage for the driver and the possible passengers and protecting the upper part of the rear wheels,

- Two thin side arches 72a and 72b bearing at their rear end on the respective upper parts of said side panels 71a and 71b and do not meet in the front part, but being fixed on each side, to the lower part of the front cowling 108, a canopy of translucent material 73 supported on said arches 72a and 72b and forming a roof for the driver and passengers.

Advantageously, the self-supporting plate 100, the front cowling 108 and the two side panels 71a and 71b are made in one go and therefore form one and the same piece.

Claims

claims

Tricycle driven at least partially by the muscular force, characterized in that it comprises: a self-supporting plate (100) of light material having a longitudinal plane of symmetry,

a front wheel (101) mounted on a fork (102) pivoting about an axis,

- two rear wheels (R1, R2), mounted on a suspension mechanism and driven by a propulsion assembly, - a handlebar (104) mounted on a steering shaft (102), said steering shaft having connecting means with said fork to rotate it,

- a pedal (109), driving said propulsion unit through transmission means,

a seat (106), said fork (102), said suspension mechanism, said propulsion assembly, said steering shaft (105), said crank (109) and said seat (106) being constituted by structurally independent modules fixed on said self-supporting tray (100).

2. Tricycle according to claim 1, characterized in that the self-supporting plate (100) is made in one piece.

3. Tricycle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said plate (100) comprises a floor (2) having an inverted U-shaped hollow longitudinal rib (5).

4. Tricycle according to claim 3, characterized in that the pedal (109) is fixed on said ridge (5), the crank axle passing through said ridge so that transmission means take place within said ribbing, and in that said floor further comprises:

- a longitudinal opening on either side of said rib (8a, 8b), at said pedal (109), delimited on one side by said rib (5) and on the other side by a longitudinal spar (9a , 9b), - a front portion (3) raised relative to said floor (2) having a boss (11) adapted to cooperate with a connecting device associated with the front fork (102) of the tricycle,

a rear part (4) raised with respect to said floor (2) constituting a support range that can be used for passengers and / or goods and, under said support, a zone for fixing said suspension mechanism and said propulsion assembly,

- said rib (5) and said longitudinal members (9a, 9b) being respectively connected to said front portion (3) and said rear portion (4) of the plate (100).

Tricycle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting means comprise:

an arm (32) integral with said steering shaft (105) in a plane substantially orthogonal to said steering shaft; - a connecting rod (33) connecting said arm (32) and one of the parts of said fork (102) by means of intermediate of a universal joint at each of its ends.

6. Tricycle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said seat (106) is slidably mounted on said longitudinal rib (5) and comprises means (61) for adjusting its longitudinal position on said rib (5). .

7. Tricycle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one engine booster.

8. Tricycle according to claim 7, characterized in that said motor is housed in the hub of the front wheel (101).

9. Tricycle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises: a cowling (108) fixed on the front (3) of said plate (100), including the front wheel (101) and the tricycle steering members, two side panels (71a, 71b) each attached to one side of said plate

(100) two lateral arches (72a, 72b) each bearing on a respective lateral panel (71a, 71b) and on the sides of said front cowl (108), - a canopy (73) of translucent material resting on said arches

(72a, 72b).

10. Tricycle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said self-supporting plate (100) is made of composite material.

11. Tricycle according to claim 10, characterized in that said composite material incorporates natural fibers.

12. Tricycle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said self-supporting plate (100), the front cowling (108) and the two side protection panels (72a, 72b) are one and the same piece.