Three-wheeled tilting vehicle

Abstract

An inclinable vehicle having a tilting front wheel set, comprising a double deformable parallelogram connecting the two front wheels to the chassis, and two dampers associated with suspension springs, each connecting one of the suspension arms, to a common connection plate, characterized in that said connection plate is guided by an arch secured to the chassis.

Claims

1. An inclinable vehicle having a tilting front wheel set, comprising a double deformable parallelogram connecting the front wheel set to the chassis, said double deformable parallelogram having each a bottom suspension arm and a top suspension arm and two dampers associated with suspension springs, each connecting one of the bottom or top suspension arms, to a common connection plate, wherein said connection plate is guided by an arch secured to the chassis and providing guidance of the connection plate to a predefined path, the connection plate forming a moveable part moving on the path imposed by the arch secured to the chassis, wherein said arch is formed by a hollow piece connected to the chassis, and having a curved guide path cooperating with complementary means connected to said connection plate, wherein said complementary means are formed by at least two rollers pivoting freely about perpendicular axes and said at least two rollers configured to roll over or under the arch.

2. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said arch has a radius of curvature decreasing towards each of the ends.

3. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said connection plate is secured to a guide carriage complementary to a guide path provided on said arch.

4. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the ends of said guide arch are connected to the chassis by connection arms defining a window for the dampers to pass.

5. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises a means for locking the relative movement of said connection plate with respect to said arch.

6. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said locking means is formed by at least one notched zone of said connection plate, and by at least one toothed plate able to move between a locking position in which it is meshed with said notch zone and an idle position in which it is disengaged from said toothed plate.

7. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said locking means is actuated by a mechanical connection connected by an actuation means to a mechanical member controlled by the rider.

8. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises locking means formed by two movable parts and two fixed parts and a separation system disposed between the two movable parts fixed to the frame, to provide locking of the relative movement of the connection plate with respect to the arch.

9. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said vehicle comprises a chassis having at its front part two transverse plates or tubular structures, parallel to each other and to the steering column, the shafts of the suspension arms being mounted between said two transverse plates.

10. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said guide path is secured to said transverse plates.

11. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said arch has a guide path delimited by an arched top surface and an arched bottom surface defining between them an arched space in which said connection plate moves.

12. An inclinable vehicle having a tilting front wheel set, comprising a double deformable parallelogram connecting the front wheel set to the chassis, said double deformable parallelogram having each a bottom suspension arm and a top suspension arm and two dampers associated with suspension springs, each connecting one of the bottom or top suspension arms, to a common connection plate, wherein said connection plate is guided by an arch secured to the chassis and wherein said vehicle comprises locking means formed by two movable parts and two fixed parts and a separation system disposed between the two movable parts fixed to the frame, to lock the relative movement of the connection plate with respect to the arch.

13. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said vehicle comprises a chassis having at its front part two transverse plates or tubular structures, parallel to each other and to the steering column, the shafts of the suspension arms being mounted between said two transverse plates.

14. The inclinable vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said guide path is secured to said transverse plates.

15. An inclinable vehicle having a tilting front wheel set, comprising a double deformable parallelogram connecting the front wheel set to the chassis, said double deformable parallelogram having a bottom suspension arm and a top suspension arm and two dampers associated with the suspension springs, each connecting one of the bottom or top suspension arms to a common connection plate, wherein said connection plate is guided by an arch secured to the chassis and providing guidance of the connection plate on a predefined path, the connection plate forming a movable part moving on the path imposed by the arch secured to the chassis wherein said arch is formed by an arched profile, having a top guide path and a bottom guide path arched and parallel to each other, joined by a flat rear surface and by a parallel front surface, wherein said connection plate supports two rollers coming into abutment with at least one of the guide paths in order to guide the connection plate on a curved path, the bottom path having a slot for the connection plate to pass.

16. An inclinable vehicle having a tilting front wheel set, comprising a double deformable parallelogram connecting the front wheel set to the chassis, said double deformable parallelogram having a bottom suspension arm and a top suspension arm and two dampers associated with the suspension springs, each connecting one of the bottom or top suspension arms to a common connection plate, wherein said connection plate is guided by an arch secured to the chassis and providing guidance of the connection plate on a predefined path, the connection plate forming a movable part moving on the path imposed by the arch secured to the chassis wherein said arch is formed by an arched profile, having a top guide path and a bottom guide path arched and parallel to each other, joined by a flat rear surface and by a parallel front surface, wherein said connection plate supports two rollers providing stability in the vertical plane, said connection plate having two series of rollers coming into abutment with at least one of the guide paths in order to guide said connection plate on a curved path, the bottom path having a slot for the connection plate to pass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be understood better from a reading of the following description, referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating a non-limitative example embodiment, where:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a schematic front view of the connection between the chassis and the wheels,

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 depict front views of the scooter, respectively in the upright position and in the inclined position,

(4) FIG. 4 depicts a detail view of the system for articulating the tilting front wheels,

(5) FIG. 5 depicts a detail view of the means for locking and holding the inclination,

(6) FIG. 6A depicts a view of the arch and of the guide plate,

(7) FIG. 6B depicts a view of the hollow arch and of the guide plate,

(8) FIG. 7 depicts a view of a system for locking the plate, in the idle position,

(9) FIGS. 8 and 9 depict perspective and side views of the chassis, and

(10) FIG. 10 depicts a variant embodiment of the guide rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIGS. 1 to 4 depict a schematic view of the system for articulating the tilting front wheels.

(12) The chassis (1, 8) extends longitudinally with respect to the machine and supports the various components (engine, steering column (40), rider's seat, the support for the rear wheel, the floor, and one or more props). The two front wheels (10, 20) are steered and tilting. They are mounted in a known fashion on swivels (11, 21) connected to the chassis (1) by deformable parallelograms respectively (12, 22). These deformable parallelograms (12, 22) each have a bottom link (or suspension arm) (13, 23) and a top link (or suspension arm) (14, 24). These links (14, 24; 13, 23) are articulated respectively with respect to the swivel carriers (11, 21) and to the chassis (1) by journals (15, 16, 25, 26; 17, 18; 27, 28).

(13) The front wheel set is suspended by two spring/damper suspensions (19, 29) each connected by a journal to the top suspension arm respectively (14, 24). The other end of the dampers (19, 29) is connected to a common plate (3) by articulations.

(14) This plate is secured to (or forms a single piece with) a movable carriage (5), the movement of which is constrained by an arched rail (6) placed in the transverse plane, and symmetrical with respect to the sagittal plane, the intersection of the transverse plane and sagittal plane defining the inclination axis of the chassis with respect to the vertical.

(15) This arched rail (6) is secured to the chassis, to which it is connected by a connection at the rail and by elements of the chassis (7, 8) connecting the arched rail (6) to the chassis (1).

(16) The guidance of the movable carriage (5) with respect to the arched rail (6) is provided by rollers disposed under the rail (6). These rollers limit the degrees of freedom between the carriage (5) and the rail (6), so that the only possible movement is determined by the profile of the rail (5). This profile determines a curve symmetrical with respect to the sagittal plane.

(17) When the decrease in the radius of curvature is great, the return torque increases. The variation in the radius of curvature may be continuous or variable in order to modulate the effect of the return between slight tilts, not requiring a high return torque, and pronounced tilts, where a higher return torque is sought.

(18) A locking mechanism (4) is provided for locking the carriage (5) with respect to the rail (6), in a central position, in order to provide static stability, and prevents inopportune tilting when the machine is stopped, in particular when parking. This locking mechanism (4) may be controlled mechanically, electrically or hydraulically.

(19) This locking mechanism (4) may also be actuated by a mechanical or electrical control, to enable the user to stabilise the machine when temporarily stopped, for example at a traffic light, or at low speed.

(20) FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the modification to the geometry of the system for articulating tilting front wheels when the scooter changes from an equilibrium situation (FIG. 2) to an inclined situation (FIG. 3).

(21) The bottom link (13) and the top link (14) form a first deformable parallelogram with the plate mounting the right front wheel.

(22) The bottom link (23) and the top link (24) form a second deformable parallelogram with the plate mounting the left front wheel.

(23) These two deformable parallelograms are symmetrical with respect to the median vertical plane when the scooter is in equilibrium, as depicted in the FIG. 2. When the scooter is inclined, these two parallelograms deform with a kinematics that is constrained by the movement of the carriage (6) moving on the rail (5).

(24) FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail the guide system when the vehicle is inclined. The guide arch (5) has a guide path delimited by an arched top surface (601) and an arched bottom surface (602) defining between them an arched space (603) in which the plate (6) moves. The plate (6) has rollers (604, 605) providing guidance by rolling over the arched surfaces (601, 601).

(25) Optionally, a system composed of two lateral carriages placed on either side of the central carriage and connected by springs assists the return to the straight top position. This system supplements or even replaces the irregular rounded form of the guide rail (5).

(26) Moreover, a device for locking the carriage (6) with respect to the rail (5), formed by the serrated rounded jaw, provides the locking of the carriage and the rocking position of the scooter, with the possibility of locking as required (from +10 to 10. This solution avoids or supplements the locking by the prop.

(27) This system is coupled either to a contact sensor connected to the electronic box, preventing the starting of the engine or limiting the engine revolutions to a tickover speed to prevent speeding up with the locking system engaged, or connected to a cable or other mechanism for actuating the parking brake to prevent any movement of the vehicle.

(28) FIG. 5 depicts a detail view of the means for locking the inclination.

(29) The locking means consist of two movable parts (50, 60) and two fixed parts (51, 61).

(30) The movable parts (50, 60) are formed by two arched notched plates (50, 60) with a radius of curvature in accordance with the radius of curvature of the arch (6). The teeth are oriented outwards.

(31) A separation system (52) is disposed between the two movable parts (50, 60) and fixed to the frame (53). This system is controlled by a mechanical connection by means of a cable connected to a manual control.

(32) When the separation system (52) is activated, it pushes the two movable parts (50, 60) outwards, until they come to mesh with the two fixed parts (51, 61) also notched, themselves inwards, secured to the guide plate (5). In this position, the two movable parts (50, 60) cooperate with the fixed parts (51, 61) in order to prevent the relative movement of the guide plate (5) with respect to the arch (6) and consequently with respect to the chassis (53). They thus prevent any change to the inclination of the vehicle.

(33) The movable parts (50, 60) have a limited extension, less than the extension of the arch (6) since the locking of the movement is useful only for a limited travel centered on the vertical position.

(34) This view also shows a return spring (70) that extends between a stop (71) secured to the first lateral carriage, coming to bear on the top stop of the central carriage (61), and an opposite stop coming into contact with the chassis (53) when the angle of inclination exceeds a reference value. This second stop is mounted on a second carriage (72) also positioned on the arch (6) symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the chassis.

(35) Thus, when the inclination continues to increase, the spring (70) will exert an additional return force, tending to straighten up the vehicle.

(36) Symmetrically, when the inclination changes side, it is the first stop (71) that comes into contact with the chassis, and the second stop (72) that acts on the top stop of the central carriage (61) in order to exert a return force.

(37) Naturally the vehicle may comprise two (or more) return springs, disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane.

(38) The lateral carriages (71, 72) each have lateral rollers and a roller resting on the top part of the arch.

(39) Hollow Arch

(40) FIGS. 6A and 6B depict a view of a variant embodiment of the system for guiding the plate (6). The guide system (600) is formed by an arched profile, having a top guide path (601) and a bottom guide path (602) arched and parallel to each other, joined by a flat rear surface (603) and by a parallel front surface.

(41) The plate (6) supports two rollers (604, 605) coming into abutment with at least one of the guide paths (602, 603) in order to guide the plate (6) on a curved path. The plate also has two series of rollers (606, 607) providing stability in the vertical plane. The bottom path (602) has a slot (608) for the plate (6) to pass.

(42) FIG. 6A depicts a view of another variant embodiment of the system for guiding the plate (6). The guide system (610) is formed by an arched profile, having a top guide path (611) and a bottom guide path (612) arched and parallel to each other, joined by a flat rear surface (613) and by a parallel front surface.

(43) The plate (6) supports two rollers (614, 615) providing stability in the vertical plane. The plate also has two series of rollers (616, 617) coming into abutment with at least one of the guide paths (612, 613) in order to guide the plate (6) on a curved path. The bottom path (612) has a slot (618) for the plate (6) to pass. This variant makes it possible to have control of the carriage in three dimensions while having the three bearings on two shafts. These two shafts serve as contact points for the two damper/suspension combinations.

(44) Locking System

(45) FIG. 7 shows a view of a system for locking the plate, in the idle position.

(46) The plate (6) has, on its top edge (100), at least one toothed zone. The arch (3) secured to the chassis has at least one window (101) for passage of a bolt (102), the bottom front surface of which has complementary teeth (103). This bolt (102) is actuated by a lever (104) and held in the disengaged position, at rest, by a return spring.

(47) The lever (104) is actuated by the user in order to lock the tilting of the machine in the vertical position. The actuation may be combined with the parking brake and the steering lock. The antitheft device provides locking of the lever (104).

(48) Optional Solution for Construction of the Chassis

(49) FIGS. 8 and 9 show perspective and side view of a chassis for a tricycle, formed by a fabricated assembly and having at its front part a rigid frame formed by two transverse plates (80, 81). The front plate (80) extends between a top ring (82) for guiding the steering column (92) and the shafts (83, 84) of the bottom suspension arms (85, 86).

(50) The shafts (96, 97) of the top suspension arms (98, 99) are also fixed between the two transverse plates (80, 81).

(51) This front plate (81) is secured to the rear plate (80) by means of tubes (87, 88, 89) extending the fabricated assembly.

(52) The guide arch (6) is formed by an arched body (93) having internal surfaces for guiding the plate (3).

(53) The available space between the two plates (80, 81) contains the guidance device, (optionally) the steering column (93) and the system for locking the guide arch. It may also contain other mechanical or electrical components.

(54) Alternative Guide Rail

(55) FIG. 10 depicts a view in cross section of a variant embodiment of the guide rail (1000) secured to the chassis and having three lobes: a top lobe (1001) the bottom (1001) of which has a tile shape, the centre of rotation of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A first roller (1003) comes into abutment on the bottom (1002) of this first lobe (1001).

(56) The guide rail (1000) has two lateral lobes (1010, 1020) extending with an angle of approximately 135 on either side of the top lobe (1001).

(57) In each of its lateral lobes (1010, 1020), a respective roller (1013, 1023) comes into abutment on a base (1012, 1022).

(58) The carriage (5) is formed by a piece supporting the three rollers (1002, 1012, and 1022) providing its positioning inside the guide structure (1000) and the connection with the suspension system, fixed on the bottom part of the carriage.