Steering Device for Two- and Three-Wheeled Vehicles

Abstract

The invention proceeds from a steering device for two- and three-wheeled vehicles, which ensures a rotationally fixed connection between handlebars and a handlebar stem and/or between a handlebar stem and a fork of the two- or three-wheeled vehicle, and a steering device for two- and three-wheeled vehicles having a stop. The steering device has a frame with a head tube (1), a fork (2) with a stem tube (3) and a handlebar stem (4) with handlebars (7). In addition, a stop can be provided for the handlebars (7), which consists of a base (12), which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the fork (2) of the two- or three-wheeled vehicle, with a recess (14) and a stop element (15), which is securely arranged in the bearing shell (11) and protrudes radially into the recess (14).

According to the invention, in each case one component of the rotationally fixed connection has a smooth cylindrical surface over its axial length, whilst the surface, which is in frictional operative connection with this smooth cylindrical surface in the mounted state, of the other component, which is arranged coaxially to that first-mentioned, is constructed as an n-sided polygon.

Claims

1. A steering device for two- and three-wheeled vehicles which have a frame with a head tube (1), a fork (2) with a stem tube (3), and a handlebar stem (4) with handlebars (7), the stem tube (3) being guided through the head tube (1) and mounted in the same, by means of an upper and a lower headset bearing (10), and connected in a rotationally fixed manner at its upper free end, which protrudes out of the head tube (1) of the frame, to the handlebar stem (4), and the handlebar stem (4) having a recess, through which the handlebars (7) are guided and fastened in a rotationally fixed manner, characterized in that the inner lateral surface of the region of the handlebar stem (4) connected to the stem tube (3) or the outer lateral surface of the region of the stem tube (2) connected to the handlebar stem (4) is constructed as an n-sided polygon, and the lateral surface of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal lateral surface, is a cylindrical lateral surface, and/or in that the inner lateral surface of the mount of the handlebar stem (4) for the handlebars (7) or the outer lateral surface of the region of the handlebars (7) connected to the handlebar stem (4) is constructed as an n-sided polygon, and the outer lateral surface of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal lateral surface, is a cylindrical lateral surface.

2. The steering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter of the circle, to which the edges of an inner polygon are tangent, is equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal inner lateral surface.

3. The steering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter of the circle, which encloses the corners of an outer polygon, is equal to and larger than the inner diameter of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal outer lateral surface.

4. The steering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of polygonal surfaces is not smaller than 10.

5. The steering device according to claim 1, characterized in that non-flat surfaces are located between the surfaces of the polygon.

6. The steering device according to claim 1, characterized in that grooves (16) extending in the axial direction are arranged between the surfaces of the polygon.

7. A steering device for two- and three-wheeled vehicles which have a frame with a head tube (1), a fork (2) with a stem tube (3), a handlebar stem (4) with handlebars (7), and a stop for the handlebars (7), the stem tube (3) being guided through the head tube (1) of the frame, mounted in the same, by means of an upper and a lower headset bearing, which have a rolling bearing in each case, and connected in a rotationally fixed manner at its upper end, which protrudes out of the head tube (1) of the frame, to the handlebar stem (4), and the stop being arranged in one of the two headset bearings, the stop consisting of a base (12), which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the fork (2) of the two- or three-wheeled vehicle, on the outer lateral surface of which base a circular arc shaped recess (14), which is open towards the inner lateral surface of the bearing shell (11) of the rolling bearing, is located, and a stop element (15), which is securely arranged in the bearing shell (11) and protrudes radially into the recess (14), the lower bearing shell (11) coaxially accommodating the base (12) and the rolling bearing and being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the head tube (1), characterized in that for the rotationally fixed connection of the base (12) to the stem tube (3) of the fork (2), the inner lateral surface of the base (12) or the outer lateral surface of the region of the stem tube (3) connected to the base (12) is constructed as an n-sided polygon, and the lateral surface of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal lateral surface, is a cylindrical lateral surface, and/or for the rotationally fixed connection of the bearing shell (11) to the head tube (1) of the frame, the outer lateral surface of the lower bearing shell (11) or the inner lateral surface of the region of the head tube connected to the bearing shell (11) is constructed as an n-sided polygon, and the lateral surface of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal lateral surface, is a cylindrical lateral surface.

8. The steering device according to claim 7, characterized in that the diameter of the circle, to which the edges of an inner polygon are tangent, is equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal inner lateral surface.

9. The steering device according to claim 7, characterized in that the diameter of the circle, which encloses the corners of an outer polygon, is equal to and larger than the inner diameter of the respectively other component of the rotationally fixed connection, which is in operative connection with the polygonal outer lateral surface.

10. The steering device according to claim 7, characterized in that the number of polygonal surfaces is not smaller than 10.

11. The steering device according to claim 7, characterized in that non-flat surfaces are located between the surfaces of the polygon.

12. The steering device according to claim 7, characterized in that grooves (16) extending in the axial direction are arranged between the surfaces of the polygon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the subject according to the invention are illustrated in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following. In the figures

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a steering device of a cycle in an isometric exploded illustration,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged exploded illustration of the steering device from FIG. 1,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the lower headset bearing of the steering device from FIG. 1 with a stop in a plan view from below as an exploded illustration,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged exploded illustration of the lower headset bearing of the steering device from FIG. 3,

[0031] FIG. 5 shows the rotationally fixed connection of the outer bearing shell of the lower headset bearing to the head tube, and

[0032] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged exploded illustration of the lower headset bearing of the steering device from FIG. 5,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a steering device of a cycle with a frame, of which only a head tube 1 and two frame tubes emerging from the same are illustrated, and a fork 2 with a stem tube 3, which is guided through the head tube 1, mounted in the same by means of an upper and lower headset bearing, which is not illustrated in more detail, and connected in a rotationally fixed manner at its upper, free end to a handlebar stem 4. The handlebar stem 4 consists of a vertical clamping sleeve 5 and a horizontal clamping sleeve 6 fastened to the same, wherein the central axes of the two clamping sleeves 5, 6 run at right angles to one another. The upper end of the stem tube 3 of the fork 2 is accommodated in a rotationally fixed manner by the vertical clamping sleeve 5, whilst the handlebars 7 of the steering device are guided through the horizontal clamping sleeve 6 and are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the horizontal clamping sleeve 6. The two clamping sleeves 5, 6 are in each case constructed in the known manner as longitudinally slotted tube sections, one outer lateral surface half of which has a thickening with two through holes, which are arranged at right angles to the respective rotational axis of the clamping sleeves 5, 6, for accommodating clamping means, which are not illustrated here in any more detail.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the handlebar stem 4 in an enlarged illustration, from which, due to an interrupted view of the stem tube 3 and the handlebars 7, the inner lateral surface of the vertical clamping sleeve 5 and the horizontal clamping sleeve 6 can be seen. The inner lateral surface of the vertical clamping sleeve 5, which encloses the upper end of the stem tube 3, is formed by a multiplicity of polygonal surfaces 8, and the inner lateral surface of the horizontal clamping sleeve 6, which encloses the handlebars 7, is formed by a multiplicity of polygonal surfaces 9, whilst the stem tube 3 and the handlebars 7 have their original, cylindrical or annular cross section in this region. In practical implementation, 20 to 30 polygonal surfaces have proven practicable for transmitting the required minimum torque of 60 Nm.

[0035] A further possibility for implementing the invention on the steering device of a two-or three-wheeled vehicle relates to steering devices which are provided with a stop for the handlebars, wherein the stop is arranged in the upper or lower headset bearing, as described for example in DE 10 2018 123 310 A1. To this end, FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a lower headset bearing 10, wherein to recognize the design according to the invention of the torque-transmitting components, only the stem tube 3 of the fork 2 is illustrated, specifically broken on one side. FIG. 4 shows a detail of the lower headset bearing 10 with a stop from FIG. 3 in an enlarged illustration. The lower headset bearing 10 has a lower bearing shell 11, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the head tube 1 of the frame, and a base 12, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the stem tube 3. A lower rolling bearing, which is not illustrated in more detail here, rests on the base 12, the outer ring of which lower rolling bearing is pressed into the lower bearing shell 11. The height of the lower bearing shell 11 corresponds at least to the sum of the height of the base 12 and the lower rolling bearing. The upper edge thereof bears against the lower end face of the head tube 1 in the mounted state. The stem tube 3 is guided through the base 12, the inner ring of the lower roller bearing and the inner ring of the upper rolling bearing, which is likewise not illustrated here, of the upper headset bearing and protrudes as far as into the vertical clamping sleeve 6 of the handlebar stem 4, by which it is accommodated in a rotationally fixed manner, as described above, by the polygonal inner surface thereof.

[0036] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the inner lateral surface of the base 12 has a multiplicity of polygonal surfaces 13, whilst the stem tube 3 is an outwardly smooth tube in the known manner. In practical implementation, 20 to 30 polygonal surfaces have proven practicable for transmitting the required minimum torque of 60 Nm. A third of the outer lateral surface of the base 12 is provided with a coaxially running recess 14, which is open towards the outer periphery, so that the angle enclosed by the flanks of the recess 14 is 120°.

[0037] A recess for accommodating a stop element 15, which recess runs parallel to the rotational axis of the headset bearing and is open towards the lower rolling bearing, is introduced into the inner lateral surface of the lower bearing shell 11. As can also be seen from FIG. 4, the stop element 15 consists of a cuboid body, the effective height of which corresponds to the height of the lower bearing shell 11 and the width of which corresponds to the width of the open recess. The thickness thereof changes suddenly in the plane in which in the mounted state, the base 12 and the lower rolling bearing lying above the same contact one another, wherein the thickness thereof is dimensioned such in the region bearing against the lower rolling bearing, that the inner lateral surface thereof does not protrude over the inner lateral surface of the lower bearing shell 11. It is advantageous to construct the inner lateral surface of the stop element 15 concavely, so that it runs virtually in continuation of the inner lateral surface of the lower bearing shell 11 and at the same time bears against the outer lateral surface of the lower rolling bearing. In its region opposite the base 12, the stop element 15 has a radially inwardly projecting shoulder, which in the mounted state protrudes into the recess 14 of the base 12. For mounting the stop in the lower headset bearing, this therefore means that when joining the stop element 15 together with the lower rolling bearing into the lower bearing shell 11, the stop element 15 must always be positioned in the angular range of the recess 14. When actuating the handlebars 7, the steering angle is therefore limited by the flanks of the recess 14 striking the stop element 15. Therefore, it is also clear that the lower bearing shell 11 must withstand the torque emanating from the handlebars 7, that is to say must likewise be arranged in the head tube 1 of the frame in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0038] Another characteristic of the shaping of the polygonal surfaces 13 of the base 12 can be seen from FIG. 4. A groove 16 extending in the axial direction is provided between the polygonal surfaces 13, which groove forms a free space for accommodating deformations possibly occurring at the polygonal surfaces 13 during the joining of the base 12 on the stem tube 3 of the fork 2. Free spaces of this type can be provided on all polygonal surfaces 8, 9, 17 however.

[0039] The implementation of the rotationally fixed connection between the head tube 1 and the lower bearing shell 11 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. It likewise follows the principle according to the invention of designing the surfaces of the two coaxial connection partners, which contact one another in the mounted state, wherein in the present example, the outer lateral surface of the lower bearing shell 11 is expediently formed by a multiplicity of polygonal surfaces 17, whilst the inner lateral surface of the head tube 1 is constructed as a smooth cylindrical surface. It is noted at this point that all four described rotationally fixed connections can also be designed in the reverse manner, i.e. the lateral surface of the connection partner respectively having the cylindrical shape can also be constructed polygonally.

[0040] All of the features presented here may be important for the invention both individually and in any desired combination with one another.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Head tube 2 Fork 3 Stem tube 4 Handlebar stem 5 Vertical clamping sleeve 6 Horizontal clamping sleeve 7 Handlebars 8 Polygonal surfaces of the horizontal clamping sleeve 9 Polygonal surfaces of the vertical clamping sleeve 10 Lower headset bearing 11 Lower bearing shell 12 Base 14 Recess 15 Stop element 16 Groove 17 Polygonal surfaces of the lower bearing shell