Multi positional rotary steering damper assembly
AssigneeGeorge John Athanasiou
InventorGeorge John Athanasiou
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims29
A rotary steering damper having an articulated connection to a vehicle steering mechanism and a vehicle frame, said damper comprising:
- a) a housing and a boss;
- b) means for attaching said housing to the steering mechanism;
- c) said housing includes a hydraulic chamber with a working fluid therein;
- d) means for containing said working fluid in said hydraulic chamber;
- e) said hydraulic chamber having a rotary vane that divides said chamber into two sub-chamber set and a passage that connects the two sub-chamber set;
- f) a metering valve capable of adjusting flow of said working fluid through said passage;
- g) said rotary vane includes a levered cylindrical shaft;
- h) means for attaching said boss to the vehicle frame;
- and
- i) means for articulating a connection between said levered cylindrical shaft and said boss, wherein when synchronizing a motion of said rotary vane in relation to the vehicle steering mechanism it produces dampening forces with the steering damper positioned coaxially, non-coaxially, or angularly to a vehicle steering axis.
A method for connecting a rotary steering damper to a vehicle that utilizing a handlebar assisted steering mechanism, comprising the steps:
- a) providing means for attaching the rotary steering damper to said steering mechanism at a predetermined non coaxial positioning of a rotary steering damper axis relative to a steering axis;
- b) providing a levered cylindrical shaft;
- c) providing a frame boss;
- d) providing means for slidably connecting said frame boss to said levered cylindrical shaft;
- and
- e) providing means for attaching said frame boss to a vehicle frame, wherein such connection would provide the rotary steering damper to be attached to said steering mechanism at a parallel or at an angle to a steering axis, and allowing a synchronized motion between said levered cylindrical shaft and said steering mechanism.
A method for linking a rotary steering damper to a vehicle that utilizing a handlebar assisted steering mechanism, comprising the steps:
- a) providing means for attaching the rotary steering damper to a vehicle steering mechanism at a predetermined angular positioning of a rotary steering damper axis of rotation relative to a steering mechanism axis of rotation;
- b) providing a levered cylindrical shaft;
- c) providing a frame boss;
- d) providing means for slidably connecting said frame boss to said levered cylindrical shaft with an articulated connection;
- e) providing means for attaching said frame boss to a vehicle frame;
- and
- wherein the rotary steering damper axis of rotation relative to the steering mechanism axis of rotation at an angle and rotating said rotary steering damper axis of rotation in a semi conical path provide synchronized motion of said levered cylindrical shaft with said steering mechanism.
A hinged frame mount for linking a rotary steering damper to a vehicle frame, comprising:
- a) a plurality of hinged members forming an aperture set configured to receive said vehicle frame;
- b) means for pivotally connecting said plurality of hinged members;
- c) means for applying a clamping force of said plurality of hinged members and to said vehicle frame;
- and
- wherein said hinged frame mount may be installed, without the extensive disassembly of a vehicle steering mechanism, onto said vehicle frame with contact in a plurality of predetermined locations of said vehicle frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.