Multi positional rotary steering damper assembly

Abstract

A hydraulic rotary steering damper with articulate linkage to enable mounting to a vehicle's steering mechanism coaxially, non-coaxially, or at an angle to the axis of steering rotation of the vehicle with the option of a hinged frame mount to attach to a vehicle's frame for the purpose of linking the steering damper to the vehicle's frame.

Claims

1. A multi positional rotary steering damper for vehicles utilizing handlebar assisted steering mechanisms, comprising a) a housing, b) a means for attaching said housing to a vehicle's steering mechanism with predetermined beneficial positioning, c) a hydraulic chamber of said housing with a working fluid therein, d) a means for containing said working fluid in said hydraulic chamber, e) a rotary vane that divides said hydraulic chamber into a sub-chamber set, f) a narrow passage that connects chambers of said sub-chamber set, g) a metering valve capable of adjusting flow of said working fluid through said narrow passage, h) a levered cylindrical shaft of said rotary vane, i) a boss, j) a means for attaching said boss to a vehicle's frame, k) a means for articulately connecting said levered cylindrical shaft to said boss, whereby synchronized motion of said rotary vane in relation to a vehicle's steering mechanism produces a damping of rotational forces with the steering damper positioned coaxially, non-coaxially, or angularly to a vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation.

2. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 1 wherein at least one internal surface of said hydraulic chamber has a set of at least one pressure relieving recesses.

3. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical shaft has a separate lever, a means for attaching the lever to the cylindrical shaft.

4. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 1 wherein a dog pin is slidably connected to said boss.

5. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 4 wherein said dog pin has a trochoid joint component therein with articulate connection to a mating trochoid joint component of said levered cylindrical shaft, thereby creating said articulate joint.

6. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 4 wherein a universal joint connects said dog pin to said levered cylindrical shaft, thereby creating said articulate joint.

7. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 4 wherein said levered cylindrical shaft has a rotatable end pivotally connected to the lever and a hinged dog pin pivotally connected to said rotatable end, thereby creating said articulate joint.

8. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 7 wherein said rotatable end is slidably and pivotably connected to the lever with pivotal connection to said hinged dog pin, thereby creating said articulate joint.

9. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 1 wherein said boss is pivotably connected to said vehicle's frame.

10. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 1 wherein said housing has an aperture configured to receive said handlebar, a means for restraining said handlebar within said aperture.

11. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 1 wherein a bracket connects said housing to the vehicle's steering mechanism.

12. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 1 wherein an adjustable bracket connects said housing to the vehicle's steering mechanism whereby the position of the rotary vane's axis of rotation relative to said vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of steering rotation is changeable.

13. A method for linking a non-coaxially mounted rotary steering damper to vehicles utilizing handlebar assisted steering mechanisms, comprising the steps of: a) providing a means for attaching the rotary steering damper to a vehicle's steering mechanism with predetermined beneficial non coaxial positioning of a rotary steering damper's axis of rotation relative to a vehicle's steering mechanisms axis of rotation, b) providing a levered cylindrical shaft of the rotary steering damper, c) providing a frame boss, d) providing a means for slidably connecting said frame boss to said levered cylindrical shaft with an articulate connection, e) providing a means for attaching said frame boss to a vehicle's frame, whereby allowing the rotary steering damper to be attached to said vehicle's steering mechanism parallel or at an angle to said vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation, and allowing synchronized motion between said levered cylindrical shaft of the rotary steering damper and said vehicle's steering mechanism.

14. The multi positional rotary steering damper of claim 13 wherein the cylindrical shaft has a separate lever, a means for attaching the lever to the cylindrical shaft.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a dog pin is slidably connected to said frame boss and has said articulate connection with said levered cylindrical shaft.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said articulate connection is comprising said dog pin with a hinged connection to a pin slidably and pivotably connected to said levered cylindrical shaft.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said articulate connection is a trochoid joint.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said articulate connection is a universal joint.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said frame boss is pivotably connected to the vehicle's frame, thereby compensating for manufacturing tolerances, installation inaccuracies, and or non-geometrically ideal mounting of the rotary damper or said frame boss.

20. A method for linking an angularly mounted rotary steering damper to vehicles utilizing handlebar assisted steering mechanisms, comprising the steps of: a) providing a means for attaching the rotary steering damper to a vehicle's steering mechanism with predetermined beneficial angular positioning of a rotary steering damper's axis of rotation relative to a vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation, b) providing a levered cylindrical shaft of the rotary steering damper, c) providing a frame boss, d) providing a means for slidably connecting said frame boss to said levered cylindrical shaft with an articulate connection, e) providing a means for attaching said frame boss to a vehicle's frame, whereby the angularly mounted rotary steering damper's axis of rotation moves along a semi conical path about said vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of steering rotation with synchronized motion of said levered cylindrical shaft of the rotary vane damper with said vehicle's steering mechanism.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the cylindrical shaft has a separate lever, a means for attaching the lever to the cylindrical shaft.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein a dog pin is slidably connected to said frame boss and has said articulate connection with said levered cylindrical shaft.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said articulate connection is comprising said dog pin with a hinged connection to a pin slidably and pivotably connected to said levered cylindrical shaft.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said articulate connection is a trochoid joint.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said articulate connection is a universal joint.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein said frame boss is pivotably connected to the vehicle's frame whereby compensating for manufacturing tolerances, installation inaccuracies, and or non-geometrically ideal mounting of said rotary damper.

27. A hinged frame mount for linking a rotary steering damper to a vehicle's frame, comprising a) a plurality of hinged members with an aperture set configured to receive said vehicle's frame, b) a means for pivotally connecting said plurality of hinged members, c) a means for applying a clamping force to said plurality of hinged members and said vehicle's frame, whereby said hinged frame mount may be installed, without the extensive disassembly of a vehicle's steering mechanism, onto said vehicles frame with contact in a plurality of predetermined beneficial locations to better transfer forces applied by the steering damper to the vehicle's frame.

28. The hinged frame mount of claim 27 wherein at least one member of said plurality of hinged members is comprising a boss.

29. The hinged frame mount of claim 28 wherein said boss is pivotally connected to said plurality of hinged members. whereby said boss, pivotally connected to said plurality of hinged members, compensates for manufacturing inaccuracies, installation inaccuracies, non-geometrically ideal mounting of said rotary steering damper, and or the predetermined beneficial positioning of said boss.

Description

DRAWING-FIGURES

[0008] In the drawings, closely related figures will have the same number with different alphabetic suffixes. Newly introduced components will have a drawing reference number that begins with the figure number they were introduced in.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi position rotary steering damper shown attached to a vehicle's handlebar and a vehicle's frame.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the inner working of a rotary vane steering damper.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a multi position steering damper and a hinged boss frame mounting assembly.

[0012] FIG. 3B is an exploded view of integral lever and shaft.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 showing geometric alignment of the steering damper and the vehicle.

[0014] FIG. 5A is a rider's perspective view of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 5B is a rider's perspective view of FIG. 1 with the vehicle's steering mechanism turned to the left.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the single position rotary steering damper shown attached to a vehicle's handlebar and a vehicle's frame.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the steering damper in FIG. 6.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative articulate joint connection.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another alternative articulate joint connection.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an adjustable mount for a multi position steering damper with a solid boss.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a close-up view of FIG. 10 with another alternative articulate joint connection.

[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the single position rotary steering damper of FIG. 6 with another alternative articulate joint connection.

[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a hinged boss frame mount assembly.

[0024] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a hinged boss frame mount assembly with non-pivoting boss.

DRAWING-REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0025] 101) housing [0026] 102) cover [0027] 103) metering valve [0028] 104) lever [0029] 105) articulate joint [0030] 106) slidable dog pin [0031] 107) boss, pivoting [0032] 108) vehicle's frame [0033] 109) hinged boss frame mounting assembly [0034] 110) vehicle's shock tube [0035] 111) vehicle's bottom triple clamp [0036] 112) vehicle's top triple clamp [0037] 113) vehicle's steering mechanism [0038] 114) vehicle's handlebar [0039] 115) vehicle's handlebar clamp assembly [0040] 116) clamp, housing [0041] 201) hydraulic chamber [0042] 202) sub-chamber [0043] 203) rotary vane [0044] 204) channel [0045] 205) recess [0046] 301a) aperture, housing [0047] 302) cover fastener [0048] 303) pin, lever [0049] 304a) socket, lever [0050] 305) clamp screw [0051] 306a) ball end, slidable dog pin [0052] 307) bushing, boss pivoting [0053] 308) screw, boss pivoting [0054] 309) center member [0055] 310) left member [0056] 311) right member [0057] 312a) frame aperture [0058] 313) screw pivoting [0059] 314) clamping screw [0060] 316a) aperture, clamp housing [0061] 320b) pin, vane [0062] 321b) levered shaft [0063] 322b) vane, pinned [0064] 401) axis of rotation, rotary vane [0065] 402) axis of rotation, vehicle's steering mechanism's [0066] 403) axes intersection point [0067] 404) center, articulate joint [0068] 405) deviation, axes intersection [0069] 501a) distance straight [0070] 501b) distance turned [0071] 601) housing alternative [0072] 602) frame mount, boss pivoting [0073] 603) pin, pivoting [0074] 604) bracket, housing [0075] 701) fastener set, bracket [0076] 702) locating recess [0077] 801) universal joint [0078] 802) slidable dog pin, universal [0079] 803) lever, universal [0080] 901) slidable dog pin, hinged [0081] 902) rotating lever pin [0082] 904) pivot pin, hinge [0083] 905) lever, pinned [0084] 1001) bracket mount [0085] 1002) screw, bracket [0086] 1003) adjustable bracket [0087] 1004) holes, bracket [0088] 1005) slot, bracket [0089] 1006) solid boss [0090] 1101) rotating slidable lever pin [0091] 1102) lever, rotating slidable pin [0092] 1201) boss dog pin [0093] 1202) slotted lever end [0094] 1203) lever, short [0095] 1301) nut [0096] 1302) piano hinge [0097] 1303) lip [0098] 1304) recess, frame [0099] 1305) fastener aperture [0100] 1401) boss, non-pivoting [0101] 1402a) boss aperture

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0102] The present embodiments find utility with a number of vehicles, including but without limitation to, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snow mobiles, personal watercraft, and other types of vehicles that employ handlebar assemblies to influence steering.

[0103] The first embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3. In FIG. 1, a multi positional rotary steering damper assembly is shown mounted to a vehicle's steering mechanism 113. A housing 101 is attached by a housing clamp 116 to a vehicle's handlebar 114 that is attached to a vehicle's top triple clamp 112 by a vehicle's handlebar clamp assembly 115. A vehicle's shock tube 110 set connects the vehicle's top triple clamp 112 to a vehicle's bottom triple clamp 111 forming the vehicle's steering mechanism 113 which rotates about a vehicle's frame 108.

[0104] FIG. 2. Housing 101 with a hydraulic chamber 201 filled with a working fluid therein is divided into a sub-chamber 202 set by a rotary vane 203. Sub-chamber 202 set is connected by a channel 204 allowing the working fluid to pass between the sub-chambers with flow rate controlled by a metering valve 103. This embodiment is shown with the option of a recess 205 set of hydraulic chamber 201. Recess 205 can be any size and positioned on any wall of hydraulic chamber 201.

[0105] FIG. 3. Housing 101 has a housing aperture 301A to accept the vehicle's handlebar 114 (FIG. 1) attached by a clamp housing aperture 316A of housing clamp 116 with a clamp screw 305 set. Hydraulic chamber 201 of housing 101 is hermetically sealed by a cover 102. In this embodiment, a set of cover fasteners 302 (one shown) are used. Other methods of attaching cover 102 are contemplated such as but not limited to adhesive, welding, or integral construction with housing 101. Cover 102 incases the vane portion of rotary vane 203. A shaft of the rotary vane protrudes out of the bottom of housing 101 where a lever 104 is attached to the shaft of rotary vane 203 by a lever pin 303 set. In this embodiment, lever pin 303 is a dowel pin for strength and space constraints. Other fasteners or a more permanent attachment may be used.

[0106] An articulate joint 105 (FIG. 1) is comprising a slidable dog pin ball end 306A of a slidable dog pin 106 and a lever socket 304A of lever 104. In this embodiment, articulate joint 105 is a trochoid joint, commonly known as a ball joint, that is connected by swaging lever socket 304A around the ball end 306A to restrain but allow articulate motion of the ball end 306A. Other methods of forming ball joints are well-known and ball joints are also readily available for purchase.

[0107] Slidable dog pin 106 has a slidable connection to a pivoting boss 107 of a hinged boss frame mounting assembly 109. Pivoting boss 107 is hinged to a center member 309 by a boss pivot bushing 307 and a boss pivot screw 308. Other methods for forming a hinge are contemplated, such as but not limited to a simple pin, a shoulder bolt, or an integral pin manufactured into pivoting boss 107. Pivoting boss 107 can be connected to the vehicle's frame 108 in many ways. In this embodiment, the hinged boss frame mounting assembly 109 is used. Center member 309 has a pivotable connection to a left member 310 and a right member 311 by a screw pivot 313 set. The members 309,310,311 have a frame aperture 312A to receive the vehicle's frame 108. A clamping screw 314 connects left member 310 to right member 311.

[0108] One geometric alignment is shown in FIG. 4 where a rotary vane axis of rotation 401 intersects a vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation 402 at an axes intersection point 403. An articulate joint center 404 of articulate joint 105 has an axes intersection deviation 405 distance from axes intersection point 403. In this embodiment, the axes intersection deviation 405 distance is shown with articulate joint center 404 being slightly above the axes intersection point 403 causing rotary vane 203 to rotate more degrees than the vehicle's steering mechanism 113 with approximately 1:1.02 ratio. By loosening clamp screw 305 set and rotating the housing 101, the articulate joint center 404 can be moved to or below the axis intersection point 403, causing rotary vane 203 to rotate fewer degrees than the vehicle's steering mechanism 113, thereby creating a changeable ratio between rotary vane 203 and the vehicle's steering mechanism 113. At the axes deviation distance 405 shown in this embodiment, articulate joint 105 moves toward the vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation 402 upon rotation of the vehicle's steering mechanism 113, while the rotary vane axis of rotation 401 orbits about the vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation 402 in a semi conical. Because lever 104 stays at 90 degrees from the rotary vane axis of rotation 401, articulate joint 105 moves with articulate motion. This is shown in the changes from FIG. 5A, with the vehicle's steering mechanism 113 not turned, to FIG. 5B, where the vehicle's steering mechanism 113 is turned. In FIG. 5B, lever 104 has pitched, articulate joint 105 has moved with articulate motion, pivoting boss 107 has rotated toward the vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation 402, and slidable dog pin 106 has moved slidably outward from pivoting boss 107. This is shown in the comparison of a distance straight 501A to a distance turned 501B. During the rotation of the vehicle's steering mechanism 113 in synchronized motion with rotary vane 203, the rotary vane transfers the working fluid between the sub-chambers with damping force controlled by metering valve 103. Recess 205 set offers an optional reduction of damping force as rotary vane 203 passes over recess 205, thereby creating sectors with less damping in the steering rotation.

[0109] The second embodiment is represented in FIG. 3B. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as the first embodiment represented schematically in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts from the first embodiment are illustrated with part numbers ending with the letter B. In this embodiment, a levered shaft 321B is one integral piece connected to a pinned vane 322B by a vane pin 320B.

[0110] The third embodiment is represented in FIG. 8. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as the first embodiment represented schematically in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts from the first embodiment are illustrated with part numbers beginning with the number 8. In this embodiment, articulate joint 105 is comprising a universal joint 801 (a well-known bearing) with pivotal connection to a universal lever 803 and a second pivotal connection to a universal slidable dog pin 802 with slidable connection to pivoting boss 107.

[0111] The fourth embodiment is represented in FIG. 9. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as the first embodiment represented schematically in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts from the first embodiment are illustrated with part numbers beginning with the number 9. In this embodiment, articulate joint 105 is comprising a hinged slidable dog pin 901 pivotably connected to a rotating lever pin 902 by a hinge pivot pin 904 and is also rotatably connected to a pinned lever 905 by a bearing 906. Hinged slidable dog pin 901 has a slidable connection to pivoting boss 107.

[0112] The fifth embodiment is represented in FIG. 12. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as the first embodiment represented schematically in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts from the first embodiment are illustrated with 4 digit part numbers beginning with 12. In this embodiment, articulate joint 105 is comprising a boss dog pin 1201 connected slidably in two axes to a slotted lever end 1202. Slotted lever end 1202 is pivotably connected to a short lever 1203.

[0113] The sixth embodiment is represented in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as the fourth embodiment represented schematically in FIG. 9. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts from the first and fourth embodiment are illustrated with 4 digit part numbers beginning with 10 or 11. In this embodiment, articulate joint 105 is comprising hinged slidable dog pin 901 pivotably connected to a rotating slidable lever pin 1101 by hinge pivot pin 904 and is also rotatably and slidably connected to a rotating slidable pin lever 1102. The hinged slidable clog pin 901 has slidable connection to a solid boss 1006.

[0114] The seventh embodiment is represented in FIG. 6. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as all previous embodiments. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts are illustrated with part numbers beginning with the number 6. In this embodiment, a boss pivoting frame mount 602 is attached to the vehicle's frame 108 by high strength epoxy. Other adhesives, welding, fasteners, etc. are contemplated. In this embodiment, pivot boss 107 is pivotably connected to boss pivoting frame mount 602 by a boss pin 603 as an alternative to previous embodiments.

[0115] The eighth embodiment is represented in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as all previous embodiments. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts are illustrated with 4 digit part numbers beginning with 10 or 11. In this embodiment, the steering damper utilizes a bracket to enable changeable positioning of the steering damper. A bracket mount 1001 set is attached to the vehicle's steering mechanism 113. This could be the bracket mount's sole purpose or, as in this embodiment, part of another component. A bracket screw 1002 set attaches bracket mount 1001 set to an adjustable bracket 1003 through a bracket hole 1004 set or a bracket slot 1005 set. In this embodiment, the steering damper can be positioned forward or backward, up or downward, or pivotably about adjustable bracket 1003, however other brackets with more or less positioning options can be used.

[0116] The ninth embodiment is represented in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as all, previous embodiments. The changes will be described below; additional or altered parts are illustrated with part numbers beginning with the number 6 or 7. In this embodiment, a housing alternative 601 with the same internal characteristics as housing 101 is attached to a housing bracket 604 at a predetermined beneficial orientation to the vehicle's steering mechanism's axis of rotation 402 (see FIG. 4) with a bracket fastener 701 set and is positioned in a locating recess 702 for added strength. It is contemplated that housing alternative 601 and housing bracket 604 could be a single integral piece.

[0117] The tenth embodiment is represented in FIG. 14. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as the first embodiment represented schematically in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The changes described below are specifically to the hinged boss frame mounting assembly 109 (see FIG. 1); additional or altered parts from the first embodiment are illustrated with 4 digit part numbers beginning with 14. In this embodiment, hinged boss frame mounting assembly 109 (see FIG. 1) is comprising a non-pivoting, boss 1401 with a boss aperture 1402A used to receive the pins used to dog the steering damper. It is contemplated that boss dog pin 1201 (see FIG. 12) or other non-pivoting type boss could be used.

[0118] The eleventh embodiment is represented in FIG. 13. This embodiment employs a similar arrangement as the first embodiment represented schematically in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The changes described below are specifically to the hinged boss frame mounting assembly 109 (see FIG. 1); additional or altered parts from the first embodiment are illustrated with 4 digit part numbers beginning with 13. In this embodiment, hinged boss frame mounting assembly 109 (see FIG. 1) is comprising pivoting boss 107 pivotably connected to center member 309 by boss pivoting screw 308 and a nut 1301. The center member 309 is connected pivotably to left member 310 and right member 311 by screw pivot 313 set forming a piano hinge 1302 set. This embodiment employs the piano hinges 1302 set for added shear strength of screw pivot 313. It is contemplated that a single or a plurality of hinges can be used. In this embodiment, left member 310, right member 311, and center member 309 have frame aperture 312A to contact the vehicle's frame with clamping forces applied by clamping screw 314. A frame recess 1304 accounts for frame imperfections or frame attributes. In this embodiment, a lip 1303 nests and or locates the vehicle's frame. It is contemplated that lip 1303 can be single or a set to nest or locate the vehicle's frame. In this embodiment, a fastener aperture 1305 is used to receive a pre-existing fastener of the vehicle's frame or to an added fastener to the vehicle's frame.

[0119] The use of the hinged boss frame mount assembly 109 allows for the addition of the steering damper's frame boss without a disassembly of the vehicle's steering mechanism 113 or the need to weld or glue the boss to the vehicle's frame 108. The clamping force is applied by clamping screw 314 to hinged members 309,310,311 with frame apertures 312A contacting the vehicle's frame 108 in a plurality of predetermined beneficial locations to better transfer the forces applied by the steering damper to the vehicle's frame 108.