A leaning vehicle includes a vehicle body, a plurality of wheels, a lean mechanism, and a lean stopper mechanism. The wheels include a left front wheel and a right front wheel. The lean mechanism causes the left front wheel and the right front wheel to lean about a front-rear direction as a rotation center when the vehicle body leans about the front-rear direction as a rotation center. The lean stopper mechanism prevents a lean angle from exceeding a limit angle. in a plan view, an area bounded by lines connecting contact positions of ground and tires of the plurality of wheels is referred to as a grounding surface inner area, and a gravity center is positioned in the grounding surface inner area in a state where the lean angle reaches the limit angle.

A vehicle comprising: a front wheel set and a rear wheel set, each set comprising two wheels and an axle attached to the said wheels; a base structure or chassis; a front elastic pivot structure, connecting the front wheel set to the chassis, wherein said front elastic pivot structure comprises a front set of at least one elastic joint, enabling the chassis to tilt along a front roll axis in respect to the said front wheel set; a front shock absorber, associated with the front wheel set; a rear elastic pivot structure, associated with the rear wheel set, wherein said rear elastic pivot structure comprises a rear set of at least one elastic joint, enabling the chassis to tilt along a rear roll axis in respect to the said rear wheel set; and a rear shock absorber, associated with the rear wheel set.

The invention describes a vehicle (100) having three or more tilting wheels comprising a main frame (2) provided with a suspension group (3) for at least two wheels (25). The suspension group (3) is joined to the main frame (2) through a hinge (8) that allows the free rotation of the main frame (2) with respect to the suspension group (3) along the axis of the hinge (8). The suspension group (3) comprises a pivoting arm (6) for each wheel (25). Each pivoting arm (6) is constrained to the suspension group (3) through the interposition of one or more elastic elements (9) consisting of elastomers. The elastic elements (9) operate as suspension or damping means, or with both of the associated functions. Each elastic element (9) is compressed and works under pressure inside a cavity obtained between one or more pins (7) having a closed polygonal section, operatively associated with the hinge (8), and one or more channels (32) having a closed polygonal section, obtained in the suspension group (3). The closed polygonal section of each channel (32) has a compatible shape and has a larger surface with respect to the closed polygonal section of each pin (7) that rotates inside such a channel (32) having a closed polygonal section.

A dual-mode suspension system using hydraulic dampers is disclosed. One or more dampers on each side of the four-wheel suspension system are coupled to a respective damper on the other side via a damper valve. One or more leaf springs may be arranged between the leading links coupled to some of the dampers, and trailing links coupled to other of the dampers. The suspension system may advantageously engage, lock, or partially disengage the respective dampers connected by the valve on each side of the system. Manipulating the valve to control engagement of the dampers, which may depend on the speed and related issues, provides control over whether heave motions should be separated from roll. In another embodiment, one or more single or double acting hydraulic cylinders may be used to engage dampers.

A leaning vehicle including a vehicle body frame having a main framework part, a seat, left and right steps, left and right front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a leaning linkage mechanism including left and right swing arms swingably supporting the left and right front wheels and connected to the vehicle body frame via left and right support parts, respectively, and a buffer device buffering movement of the left and right front wheels. The leaning vehicle leans the vehicle body frame leftward and rightward when turning left and right, respectively. The main framework part includes a main-framework-front portion that is located further forward than centers of the left and right steps, that is wider than a distance between the left and right support parts, and that supports the leaning linkage mechanism at a position further downward than at least a part of the left and right steps.

A suspension device for a non-steered driving wheel including a wheel carrier having an in-wheel motor incorporated therein for driving the driving wheel, and a suspension arm pivotally supported on a vehicle body and connected to the wheel carrier by a connecting structure. The connecting structure includes a plate member fixed to the wheel carrier by fastening and a pair of elastic bushing devices attached to the plate member. The suspension arm has an open cross sectional portions for receiving portions of the plate member and the elastic bushing devices, and the elastic bushing devices are fixed to the open cross sectional portions at both ends.

A vehicle of the present disclosure may include at least one pair of opposing wheels coupled to a tiltable central chassis by a four-bar linkage or the like, such that the wheels are configured to tilt in unison with the central chassis. A steering actuator and/or a tilting actuator may be discretely controllable by an electronic controller of the vehicle. The controller may include processing logic configured to maintain alignment between a median plane of the chassis and a net force vector caused by gravity and any induced centrifugal forces. Various control algorithms may be utilized to steer the vehicle along a desired path, either autonomously or semi-autonomously.

A method of tilting a vehicle is provided, and a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a tilt control system to control the tilt of the vehicle. The method includes tilting the tilting vehicle and/or another tilting vehicle in response to at least one external trigger.

The present invention provides a leaning vehicle comprising a leaning frame (1), a front suspension assembly (2), an undercarriage element (3), a rear suspension assembly (4) and a motor (10), wherein the leaning frame (1) comprises a straddle seat (5) and a hand steering element (6), the hand steering element operatively connected to the front suspension assembly (2); the undercarriage element comprises a front section (7) and a rear section (8), and is connected to a suspension connecting element (9); the front suspension assembly (2) comprises two ground engaging members (13) and at least one shock absorber (20), and is connected to the leaning frame (1) and the suspension connecting element, such that the ground engaging members (13) of the front suspension assembly will tilt in the same direction as the leaning frame; the rear suspension assembly (4) comprises at least one rear ground engaging member (23) and is connected to the rear section (8) of the undercarriage element; wherein the leaning frame (1) is pivotally connected to the undercarriage element (3), such that the leaning frame and the two ground engaging members may tilt in a sideways direction relative to the undercarriage element, the rear ground engaging member and the rear suspension assembly.

A narrow track tilting vehicle includes an undercarriage centered over a contact point, an upper chassis configured to pivot about a mobile longitudinal axis, and a cradle assembly configured to allow the mobile axis to move laterally relative to the contact point. In wheeled embodiments, the configuration of the carriage allows the upper chassis to tilt in response to centrifugal forces, while allowing the wheels to remain perpendicular to a level surface along which the vehicle is traveling. When the vehicle is traveling along a surface that is canted relative to the level surface, the configuration of the carriage allows to the upper chassis to remain upright relative to the level surface, and the wheels to extend perpendicular to the canted surface.