Steering Device

Abstract

A steering device, in particular for single-track vehicles, is provided. The steering device includes a support structure, an encapsulating casing which surrounds at least part of a surface of the support structure, and a vibration damper that is located within the encapsulating casing or between the encapsulating casing and the support structure.

Claims

1. A steering device for single track vehicles, comprising: a supporting structure; an encapsulation surrounding at least a section of a surface of the supporting structure; and a vibration damper surrounding at least a portion of the section of the surface of the supporting structure and located radially inward of an outer side of the encapsulation facing away from the supporting structure.

2. The steering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration damper is integrated in the encapsulation.

3. The steering device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vibration damper is configured as a layer in the encapsulation.

4. The steering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration damper is located between the supporting structure and the encapsulation.

5. The steering device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vibration damper is a separate intermediate layer between the supporting structure and the encapsulation.

6. The steering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the supporting structure is metal.

7. The steering device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the metal is a light metal.

8. The steering device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a material of the encapsulation is fiber reinforced plastic.

9. The steering device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a material of the vibration damper is a plastic, in particular from elastomer.

10. The steering device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plastic is an elastomer.

11. The steering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the encapsulation surrounds lateral end sections of the supporting structure, and does not surround a center section of the supporting structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a supporting structure of a steering device.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a handle region of a steering device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through a handle region of a steering device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a steering device, in which side view only the supporting structure 11 is depicted. The supporting structure 11 is shown as handlebars which are configured in the axial direction from straight, curved and elbowed sections. The lateral or side regions are elbowed. Handle regions G are provided in the axial end regions, in which handle regions G handles can be mounted. The middle region M serves for fastening the handlebars 10 to a front wheel control device, for example a front wheel fork.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the handle region G of a steering device 10 in accordance with a first embodiment. In this region, the supporting structure 11 is surrounded by an encapsulation 12. In other words, the supporting structure 11 has a substantially cylindrical, prismatic shape, the axial course of which, however, can have not only straight sections, but rather also curved sections. The encapsulation 12 is applied in sections on the circumferential face of said prism. The encapsulation 12 is preferably formed from a carbon fiber reinforced plastic. A vibration damper 13 is incorporated into the encapsulation 12 integrally, that is to say in one piece. Said vibration damper 13 is configured on one side of the encapsulation 12, that is to say on an inner side of the encapsulation 12, with the result that it bears as closely as possible to an outer circumferential face of the supporting structure 11. Here, the vibration damper 13 is manufactured from elastomer.

[0023] The encapsulation 12 is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic which is configured from a plurality of individual coats. As a consequence, one of said coats or layers is configured as a vibration damper made from elastomer 13. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the vibration damper 13 does not extend completely through the encapsulation 12 in the axial direction, but rather penetrates it only in sections. It goes without saying that, in a further embodiment 13 (not shown), the vibration damper 13 can extend completely in the axial direction, that is to say precisely as far as the encapsulation 12.

[0024] A second, alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. As has already been described in reference to FIG. 2, the steering device 10 comprises a supporting structure 11 which is surrounded by an encapsulation 12. A vibration damper 13 is provided between the encapsulation 12 and the supporting structure 11. In accordance with the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 3, the vibration damper 13 is a separate component and is introduced as an intermediate layer between the supporting structure 11 and the encapsulation 12. The vibration damper 13 is also shown here to be shorter in its longitudinal direction than the encapsulation 12. In a further embodiment (not shown), the vibration damper 13 can likewise be configured over the complete length of the encapsulation 12.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the encapsulations and the vibration dampers are arranged merely in the handle region G. In a further embodiment of the invention, however, the supporting structure 10 can be surrounded completely, that is to say completely in the axial direction by an encapsulation and/or else completely by a vibration damper.

[0026] The present invention therefore also affords the advantage that particularly light handlebars are realized. Since the handlebars generally belong to the components of the motorcycle which lie at the highest point, the center of gravity of the motorcycle can be lowered effectively by way of a reduction of the handlebar weight.

[0027] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.