All terrain vehicle with drive chain tension adjuster
AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTatsuya Matsuura, Tomoyuki Hayashi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An all terrain vehicle includes a caliper bracket that moves with the movement of a rear axle by the rotation of an eccentric hub. The eccentric hub rotatably supports the rear axle in a position eccentric to the radial center of an axle supporting section. The caliper bracket includes a range specifying section or, specifically, a first engaging portion, which engages with the rear arm, for specifying the rotating range of the eccentric hub according to the position of engagement with the rear arm. The rear arm includes a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion.
Claims15
A beltlike transfer section tension adjustment mechanism for a vehicle having a rear arm with a cylindrical axle supporting section having a circular inside diameter for supporting the rear axle and an eccentric hub passing through the cylindrical inside diameter of the cylindrical axle supporting section for supporting the rear axle rotatably in a position eccentric to the radial center of the inside diameter of the cylindrical axle supporting section, comprising:
- a part supporting member in communication with the eccentric hub in such a manner as to move with the rotation of the eccentric hub;
- and
- a range limiter coupled to the part supporting member in such a manner as to limit the free movement of the part supporting manner to a specified movement range and therefore to limit the rotational movement range of the eccentric hub to a specified movement range.
A method of adjusting the tension of a beltlike transfer section of a vehicle having rear wheels, a rear axle connected to the rear wheels, an eccentric hub through which the rear axle is passed for supporting the rear axle rotatably, a cylindrical axle supporting section having a circular inside diameter and restricting the rotation of the eccentric hub by clamping the eccentric hub, a vehicle body having the axle supporting section, a circular driven section configured to rotate with the rear axle and concentric with the rear axle, a beltlike transfer section wound around the circular driven section for transferring driving force to the circular driven section, a circular driving section disposed ahead of the circular driven section for driving the circular driven section via the beltlike transfer section, and a part supporting member moving with the movement of the rear axle by the rotation of the eccentric hub, the part supporting member including a range specifying section that engages with the vehicle body for specifying the rotating range of the eccentric hub according to the position of engagement with the vehicle body, wherein the eccentric hub rotatably supports the rear axle in a position eccentric to the radial center of the inside diameter of the axle supporting section, comprising the steps of:
- freeing the rotation of the eccentric hub by opening the clamp of the cylindrical axle supporting section;
- adjusting the tension of the beltlike transfer section by rotating the rear wheels of the vehicle causing the eccentric hub through which the rear axle is passed to rotate, and therefore causing the distance between the circular driven section concentric to the rear axle and the circular driving section disposed ahead of the circular driven section to adjust, wherein said rotation of the rear wheels is limited by the range specifying section of the part supporting member to a rotating range such that the rear axle does not reach the position farthest apart from the circular driving section;
- and
- restricting the rotation of the eccentric hub by closing the clamp of the cylindrical axle supporting section.
An all terrain vehicle comprising:
- rear wheels;
- a rear axle connected to the rear wheels;
- an eccentric hub through which the rear axle is passed, for supporting the rear axle rotatably;
- said eccentric hub rotatably supporting the rear axle in a position eccentric to the radial center of the inside diameter of the axle supporting section;
- a cylindrical axle supporting section having a circular inside diameter and restricting the rotation of the eccentric hub by clamping the eccentric hub;
- a vehicle body having the axle supporting section;
- a circular driven section configured to rotate with the rear axle and concentric with the rear axle;
- a beltlike transfer section wound around the circular driven section, for transferring driving force to the circular driven section;
- and
- a part supporting member moving with the movement of the rear axle by the rotation of the eccentric hub, the part supporting member including a range specifying section that engages with the vehicle body in such a manner as to limit the free movement of the part supporting manner to a specified movement range and therefore to limit the rotational movement range of the eccentric hub to a specified movement range.
A method of providing for the adjustment of the tension of a beltlike transfer section of a vehicle having rear wheels, a rear axle connected to the rear wheels, an eccentric hub through which the rear axle is passed for supporting the rear axle rotatably, a cylindrical axle supporting section having a circular inside diameter and restricting the rotation of the eccentric hub by clamping the eccentric hub, a vehicle body having the axle supporting section, a circular driven section configured to rotate with the rear axle and concentric with the rear axle, a beltlike transfer section wound around the circular driven section for transferring driving force to the circular driven section, a circular driving section disposed ahead of the circular driven section for driving the circular driven section via the beltlike transfer section, and a part supporting member moving with the movement of the rear axle by the rotation of the eccentric hub, the part supporting member including a range specifying section that engages with the vehicle body for specifying the rotating range of the eccentric hub according to the position of engagement with the vehicle body, wherein the eccentric hub rotatably supports the rear axle in a position eccentric to the radial center of the inside diameter of the axle supporting section, comprising the steps of:
- providing for the freeing of the rotation of the eccentric hub by enabling the opening of the clamp of the cylindrical axle supporting section;
- providing for the adjustment of the tension of the beltlike transfer section by enabling the rotation of the rear wheels of the vehicle causing the eccentric hub through which the rear axle is passed to rotate, and therefore causing the distance between the circular driven section concentric to the rear axle and the circular driving section disposed ahead of the circular driven section to adjust, wherein said rotation of the rear wheels is limited by the range specifying section of the part supporting member to a rotating range such that the rear axle does not reach the position farthest apart from the circular driving section;
- and
- providing for the restriction of the rotation of the eccentric hub by enabling the closing of the clamp of the cylindrical axle supporting section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.