Abstract
In the field of vehicle suspension, theoretically, single pivot architecture is the simplest way to produce a suspension. However, in practice, this requires specific parts to manage the forces associated with the braking system, which creates a complicated architecture that is incompatible with standard interface elements. The device according to the present disclosure has a specific caliper support member enabling this type of suspension to be considerably simplified and optimized. The device is provided with a single pivot rocker, which provides a single degree of freedom for the front wheel to move in an arc, a caliper support member connected to the rocker by a pivot joint coaxial with the wheel axis and a torque link connecting the rocker to the fork frame by pivot or ball joints. The device according to the present disclosure is particularly suitable for front steering wheel suspension, for motorcycles, bicycles, two-wheeled vehicles, etc.
Claims
1. A suspension device for a front steering wheel for a vehicle with two or more wheels, comprising a fork frame connected to the steering column of the vehicle by a standard pivot joint configured to ensure the degree of freedom necessary for the transmission of the vehicle guide movements, a rocker connected to the fork frame by a pivot joint whose axis of rotation is parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel and located behind the axis of rotation of the wheel, and to the wheel, and a dissipative and/or resilient system installed between all relatively moving parts of the suspension device, wherein the suspension device has a caliper support with an interface compatible with the mounting of a standard brake caliper, the caliper support connected to the rocker by a pivot joint coaxial with the wheel axle, and to a torque link by a pivot or ball joint, the torque link being connected to the fork frame by a pivot or ball joint such that the segments connecting these joints and the joint of the rocker to the fork frame form a non-intersecting convex quadrilateral with one degree of freedom allowing movement of the wheel axle in a plane normal to its direction.
2. The suspension device according to of claim 1, wherein the dissipative and/or resilient system is connected directly to the caliper support by a joint selected from among a pivot joint, a ball joint, a flexible joint, or an embedded joint.
3. The suspension device of claim 2, wherein the joints on the caliper support of the dissipative and/or resilient system and of the torque link are coaxial.
4. The suspension device of claim 3, wherein the caliper support is positioned on an inner side of the rocker between the rocker and the wheel, and such that the joint interface between the caliper support and the rocker is located on a diameter greater than or equal to that of the joint interface between the wheel and the rocker.
5. The suspension device of claim 4, wherein the caliper support and/or the joint interface between the caliper support and the rocker has/have a radial opening, relative to the axis of the wheel, sufficiently wide to allow passage of the wheel and/or the joint interface of the wheel with the rocker.
6. The suspension device of claim 4, wherein the joint between the caliper support and the rocker comprises a bearing mounted in the caliper support and configured to slide without play around the interface provided on the rocker.
7. The suspension device of claim 6, wherein: the device has a half-moon with a narrow cylindrical shape, having a radial opening sufficient for the passage of the wheel and/or of its mounting interface, and a shape complementary to the wheel and/or its mounting interface in its center which makes it possible to ensure the positioning of the wheel during its mounting, the external face of the half-moon abuts the bearing which forms the joint between the caliper support and the rocker, and the face of the rocker which is the interface between the rocker and the wheel and/or its mounting interface, the half-moon is fixedly mounted relative to the rocker.
8. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein: the fork frame is hollow and receives between its inner faces at least the rocker, the fork frame has at least openings for the passage of the mobile elements that are external to the fork frame and connected to the rocker, and the fork frame has at least openings for access to the wheel axis.
9. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein an interface between the caliper support and the brake caliper is located in a space below and/or in front of the axis of the wheel.
10. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein the dissipative and/or resilient system comprises a tension leaf spring linked by joints to the fork frame, and to the rocker or the torque link in a zone located at the rear of their joint with the fork frame.
11. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein the caliper support and/or the joint interface between the caliper support and the rocker has/have a radial opening, relative to the axis of the wheel, sufficiently wide to allow passage of the wheel and/or the joint interface of the wheel with the rocker.
12. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein the caliper support is positioned on an inner side of the rocker between the rocker and the wheel, and such that the joint interface between the caliper support and the rocker is located on a diameter greater than or equal to that of the joint interface between the wheel and the rocker.
13. The suspension device of claim 12, wherein the joint between the caliper support and the rocker comprises a bearing mounted in the caliper support and configured to slide without play around the interface provided on the rocker.
14. The suspension device of claim 13, wherein: the device has a half-moon with a narrow cylindrical shape, having a radial opening sufficient for the passage of the wheel and/or of its mounting interface, and a shape complementary to the wheel and/or its mounting interface in its center, which makes it possible to ensure the positioning of the wheel during its mounting, the external face of the half-moon abuts the bearing, which forms the joint between the caliper support and the rocker, and the face of the rocker, which is the interface between the rocker and the wheel and/or its mounting interface, the half-moon is fixedly mounted relative to the rocker.
15. A vehicle, comprising: a front steering column; a front wheel; and a suspension device coupled to the front steering column and the front wheel, the suspension device comprising: a fork frame connected to the front steering column by a pivot joint; a rocker having a first end connected to the fork frame by a pivot joint having an axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the front wheel and located behind the axis of rotation of the front wheel, the rocker having a second end connected to the front wheel; a caliper support configured to support a brake caliper thereon, the caliper support connected to the second end of the rocker by a pivot joint coaxial with the axis of rotation of the front wheel; a torque link connected to the caliper support by a pivot or ball joint, the torque link also connected to the fork frame by a pivot or ball joint; wherein the fork frame, the rocker, the caliper support, and the torque link form a quadrilateral configured to allow translational movement of the front wheel with only one degree of freedom in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the front wheel; and a dissipative and/or resilient system connected between the fork frame and the caliper support.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The attached drawings illustrate the present disclosure:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a simplified lateral view of a cycle equipped with the front suspension that is an object of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a simplified perspective view of a cycle equipped with the front suspension that is an object of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a simplified side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fork frame is shown there in cross-section in order to view the main internal elements and their joints/axes are identified therein.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a kinematic diagram of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The main internal elements and their joints/axes are identified therein.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a simplified front perspective view of the present disclosure. For more visibility, the fork frame and the elements of the wheel that are not interacting with the suspension are not shown therein.
[0027] FIG. 6 is identical to FIG. 5 but without the representation of the standard elements of the wheel and the brake caliper.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows a simplified rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of easier reading, the fork frame and the elements of the wheel that are not interacting with the suspension are not shown therein.
[0029] FIG. 8 is identical to FIG. 7 but without the representation of the standard elements of the wheel and brake caliper.
[0030] FIG. 9 is a front cross-section view at the wheel axis, which makes it possible to view the lateral arrangement of the parts.
[0031] FIG. 10 shows the interface zone between the wheel and the rocker.
[0032] FIG. 11 shows the interface zone between the rocker and the caliper support.
[0033] FIG. 12 shows the assembly between the rockers and the wheel.
[0034] FIG. 13 shows the positioning role of the half-moon.
[0035] FIG. 14 is identical to FIG. 10 with the half-moon replaced by two screws.
[0036] FIG. 15 is identical to FIG. 13 with the half-moon replaced by two screws.
[0037] FIG. 16 shows the internal elements transparent through the outer fork frame.
[0038] FIG. 17 shows the internal elements via a cross-section of the fork frame.
[0039] FIG. 18 shows the lower position of the brake caliper and the corresponding clearance of the fork frame.
[0040] FIG. 19 shows in a rear view, the arrangement of the fork frame as close as possible (compact) to the brake disc by virtue of the lower position of the brake caliper.
[0041] FIG. 20 shows the rear upper position of the brake caliper and the corresponding clearance of the fork frame.
[0042] FIG. 21 shows in a bird's-eye rear view, the arrangement of the fork frame as close as possible (compact) to the brake disc in the case of a high rear position of the brake caliper.
[0043] FIG. 22 is a front sectional view that shows the lateral arrangement of the parts in the case of a single-arm assembly.
[0044] FIG. 23 is a front perspective view that shows, in transparency, the tension leaf spring through the fork frame.
[0045] FIG. 24 is a front perspective view that shows the tension leaf spring via a cross-section of the fork frame.
[0046] FIG. 25 is a side view that shows the tension leaf spring via a cross-section of the fork frame.
[0047] For greater clarity, identical or similar elements (i.e., those with the same function(s)) of the various figures are denoted by identical reference signs in all of the drawings. The parts are identified by numbers, and their joints/axes identified by upper case letters. The lowercase letters associated with numbers represent information related to the part with the same number.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] FIGS. 1-19 represent a first embodiment of the present disclosure with an inner caliper support in the low position, the damper connected directly to the caliper support with coaxial damper and torque link joints, an outer fork frame made a single piece and use of the half-moon to manage the wheel/rocker/caliper support interface.
[0049] FIGS. 20 and 21 represent a second embodiment with the brake caliper in the upper rear position.
[0050] FIG. 22 represents a third embodiment with a single-arm architecture.
[0051] FIGS. 23-25 represent a fourth embodiment using a tension leaf spring.
[0052] FIGS. 1 and 2 represent an embodiment of the present disclosure mounted on an all-terrain cycle. The elements that are interfaced thereto are indicated: The frame of the cycle connected to the present disclosure via its steering bushing whose pivot joint will be denoted (A) in the rest of the present disclosure, the wheel (8) and its brake disc (7), and finally the brake caliper (6). The central element of the present disclosure is also found, the caliper support (3). The axis (O) is the main axis of the single-pivot kinematics, i.e., the wheel axis (denoted (W) later) describes an arc centered on (O).
[0053] The device according to the present disclosure has a fork frame (1) connected on the one hand to the cycle frame by a standard pivot joint (A), and on the other hand to the rocker (2) by a pivot joint (O).
[0054] FIG. 4 shows the kinematic diagram of a particular embodiment, for which the caliper support (3) is connected on the one hand to the rocker (2) by a pivot joint (W), coaxial to the wheel axis, and on the other hand to the torque link (4) by a pivot joint (C). The torque link (4) is itself connected to the fork frame (1) by a pivot joint (B). For this particular embodiment, the spring or damper (5) is connected on the one hand directly to the caliper support (3) by a pivot joint (C) and on the other hand to the fork frame by a pivot joint (D). It will be noted that, for this specific embodiment, the joint on the one hand between the caliper support (3) and the torque link (4), and on the other hand that between the caliper support (3) and the damper (5) are coaxial and therefore both represented by (C). Finally, FIG. 4 shows the trajectory of the wheel (and therefore of its axis (w)) identified by (t). (t) is an arc centered on (O).
[0055] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the preceding embodiment without the fork frame (1). The wheel (8) (the parts not useful to the understanding of the present disclosure are not shown therein) and its brake disc (7) are identified in that figure. This embodiment being of the double-rocker type (i.e., non-single arm and having a rocker in two separate parts, one left and the other right), the right rocker (2) is shown there. It will be noted that the axes (w) and (O) are noted in an identical manner on the left rocker (2) and the right rocker (2) since they are effectively combined; this is necessary for the operation of the mechanism. In other words, the kinematics of the right rocker (2) are strictly identical to the kinematics of the left rocker (2). According to this embodiment, the function of the right rocker (2) is only to participate in the transmission of the guide forces between the fork frame (1) and the wheel (8) and to ensure the geometric stability of the wheel axis (W). Finally, FIGS. 5 and 6 make it possible to view the coaxial assembly (C) of the damper (5) and of the torque link (4) on the caliper support (3).
[0056] FIG. 9 makes it possible to view a mode of assembly of the preceding parts by means of standard elements of the rolling and bearing type. In particular, the damper (5) connected to the caliper support (3) is identified by means of an axis (C) screwed into the caliper support (3) and equipped with a bearing (not marked) ensuring the rotation interface between the axis (C) and the damper (5). Inserted between the caliper support (3) and the damper (5), the torque link (4) is identified, the element of which ensuring its interface with the axis (C) is a rolling bearing (not marked). There is therefore indeed a double coaxial joint. As for the caliper support (3), its interface can be seen with the rocker (2) provided by the rolling bearing (11). As specified in the preceding description, the interface of this bearing (11) with the rocker (2) is indeed located on a diameter (d3) greater than the diameter (d8) of the mounting interface between the wheel (8) and the rocker (2). Thus, the wheel (8) is not in contact with the caliper support (3), and it is indeed in direct contact and in an embedded connection with the rocker (2) (this connection will be detailed further on). The half-moon (9) is also identified, which ensures the positioning of the bearing (11) but also of the wheel (8). Its operation will be detailed later.
[0057] FIG. 9 shows the compatibility of the interface diameters (d8) and (d3) necessary for the disassembly of the wheel (8). However, if searching for maximum compactness, i.e., by bringing the caliper support (3) as close as possible to the brake disc (7), this is not sufficient. To this end, the caliper support (3) must have an opening (o3) (shown in FIG. 10) to allow the radial passage of the wheel (8) during its mounting or removal. FIG. 10 makes it possible to view the site of interface of the wheel (8) with the rocker (2) and the half-moon (9). Only the central face of the half-moon (9) and the inner face of the rocker (2) are in contact with the wheel (8) in operation. FIG. 11 makes it possible to view the single interface of the caliper support (around this mounting zone), which is done with the rocker (2) via the bearing (11). The caliper support (3) has no contact with the wheel (8) nor the half-moon (9).
[0058] FIG. 12 shows how the wheel (8) is connected with a joint (connection) of the embedded type with the rocker (2). In the present case, the two rockers (2) and (2) are connected to the wheel (8) by planar supports, and then the axis (W) (not shown) passes through the two rockers (2) and (2) and the wheel (8), which therefore ensures the axial joint. By friction, the tightening of the axis (W) ends up eliminating any degree of freedom. The assembly of the two rockers (2) and (2) and wheel (8) therefore form a single piece from a kinematic point of view.
[0059] FIG. 13 specifies the interface between the wheel (8) and the half-moon (9) and thus explains the positioning of the wheel (8) by virtue of this system. FIGS. 14 and 15 show that it is easy to replace the half-moon (9) with two screws (9) to perform the same function but in a simpler way.
[0060] FIGS. 16 and 17 show how all of the elements of the present disclosure can be integrated into an outer frame (1). The term outer frame is understood to mean a hollow part receiving the main parts such as the rocker (2) on its inner faces. Here, all of the elements (except for the caliper support (3) are integrated into the outer frame (1)). Thus, the various parts, and, in particular, the rolling bearings, other bearings and seals of the damper, are protected from external elements (impacts, UV, water, etc.). The other advantage of this embodiment is to optimize the mass/stiffness ratio of the fork frame (1). Indeed, hollow parts of the monocoque type are known for their great rigidity and lightness thanks to the optimization of their inertial sections. It will be noted that the fork frame (1) necessarily has openings (o1) and (o1) allowing the passage of the mobile elements or for access to different internal parts during assembly or adjustment. This type of opening is shown in FIG. 23 at the wheel axis (w).
[0061] According to the embodiment described above, the brake caliper is placed in the low position in order to optimize the lateral compactness of the assembly. FIG. 18 shows the necessary release under the fork frame (1) for the passage of the caliper support (3) and the caliper (6), and FIG. 19 shows that this position makes it possible to bring the inner face (i.e., toward the wheel (8)) closer to the fork frame (1) and the inner face of the caliper support (3) of the brake disc (7); these two faces then being coplanar.
[0062] FIGS. 20 and 21 show another embodiment for which the brake caliper is placed in the rear high position. It can be seen therein that no release under the fork frame (1) is necessary, which is an advantage for its structure, but that the presence of the caliper support (3) between the disc (7) and the frame (1) (in fact more precisely the joint (O) of the frame (1)) limits the compactness.
[0063] FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of the single-arm type. This makes it possible to dispense with problems of assembly/disassembly of the wheel (8), as its installation requires only axial movements. In this case, the function of the half-moon type is no longer necessary and the lateral compactness can be maximal. It is shown in this figure that the interface diameters (d8) and (d3) of the wheel (8) and of the caliper support (3) can be strictly identical.
[0064] FIGS. 23 and 24 show an embodiment using a tension leaf spring (12), here mounted on the side opposite the brake. Tension leaf springs (12) have large advantages (adjustability, lightness, reliability, etc.) but cannot generally be used on conventional kinematics since they must be placed in tension and not compression. The rocker arm of the present disclosure is perfectly suited to the use of this type of spring. In the present embodiment, the tension leaf springs (12) linked on the one hand to the frame (1) by a pivot (or ball) joint (E), and on the other hand to the rocker (2) by a pivot (or ball) joint (F) located at the rear (i.e., toward the rear wheel) of the joint (O). As can be seen in these figures, the leaf spring (12) can be totally or partially integrated with the frame (1).
[0065] The present disclosure (and its various embodiments) is particularly suitable for the production of a front suspension of a cycle, bicycle, motorcycle, two-wheeled vehicle or equivalent.
[0066] The present disclosure is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to produce different variant embodiments of the present disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0067] (1) Fork frame [0068] (2), (2) Rocker(s) [0069] (3) Caliper support [0070] (4) Torque link [0071] (5) Damper (or spring, i.e., the dissipative and/or resilient element) [0072] (6) Brake caliper [0073] (7) Brake disc [0074] (8) Wheel [0075] (9) Half-moon [0076] (9) Screws serving the function of the half-moon [0077] (10) Wheel axis (the part necessary for mounting the wheel) [0078] (11) Interface bearing between the caliper support (3) and the rocker (2) [0079] (12) Tension leaf [0080] (A) Joint between (1) and the vehicle frame [0081] (B) Joint between (1) and (4) [0082] (C) Joint between (3) and (4) [0083] (D) Joint between (1) and (5) [0084] (E) Joint between (1) and (12) [0085] (F) Joint between (2) or (2) and (12) [0086] (0) Joint between (1) and (2) [0087] (W) Joint between (2) and (3) or representation of the wheel axis [0088] (t) Wheel path along (W) [0089] (d3) Interface diameter between (3) and (2) [0090] (d8) Interface diameter between (8) and (2) [0091] (o3) Opening onto the part (3) [0092] (o1) and (o1) Openings onto the part (1)
