US 4,624,469 AGranted

Three-wheeled vehicle with controlled wheel and body lean

OwnerMaurice W. Bourne, Jr.inventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The specification discloses a three-wheeled vehicle with a steering mechanism configured and arranged to provide driver-controlled wheel and body lean as the vehicle is making a turn. A cradle is rotatably mounted at the front of the vehicle for rotation about an axis generally longitudinal relative to the body. An axle connected to the cradle is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cradle and a spindle is pivotally connected to each end of the axle. A wheel is rotatably mounted on each spindle. A tie rod pivotally connected at its ends to the spindles is held in a selected position about the axis of the axle by a tie rod linkage. A coupler rotatably connects the linkage to the body. The linkage is also rotatably connected to the axle for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axle to move the tie rod laterally. When the linkage is disposed to hold the tie rod forward of the axle, a force causing rotation of the movement of the tie rod laterally produces a conventional turning effect. When the linkage is disposed to hold the tie rod vertically above the axle, movement of the tie rod laterally causes the body to rotate about its connection to the cradle by virtue of the coupler, and causes the wheels to lean, producing simultaneous wheel and body lean. Locating the linkage to hold the tie rod in an intermediate position produces a combined leaning and turning effect.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A three-wheeled vehicle with controlled wheel and body lean having an elongate body with a longitudinal axis and a wheel rotatably mounted on one end of the body generally along the longitudinal axis of the body, comprising:

a cradle rotatably mounted on the body for rotation about a generally longitudinal axis relative to the body;
an axle connected to said cradle having an axis that is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cradle;
a pair of spindles, each spindle being connected to one of the opposite ends of said axle, respectively;
a pair of wheels, each wheel being rotatably mounted on one of said spindles, respectively;
means for connecting each of said spindles to said axle for providing at least pivotal motion of said spindles relative to said axle;
a tie rod having an axis generally parallel to the axis of said axle for controlling the pivotal motion of said spindles relative to said axle, said tie rod being movable through an arc about said axle;
means for pivotally connecting the ends of said tie rod to said spindles so that lateral movement of said tie rod generally parallel to the axis of said axle causes said spindles to pivot on the ends of said axle;
tie rod linkage means for holding said tie rod in a selected position disposed about the axis of said axle, and being configured to provide motion of said tie rod to positions between a first position forward of said axle through an approximately 90 degree arc to a second position generally vertically above said axle, while providing for lateral movement of said tie rod generally parallel to the axis of said axle;
coupling means for rotatably connecting said tie rod linkage to the body, said coupling means providing for rotation of said tie rod linkage relative to the body about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cradle relative to the body;
and
steering means for imparting a force to move said tie rod laterally so that when said tie rod is in said first position, lateral movement of said tie rod causes said spindles and wheels to pivot relative to said axle about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cradle relative to the body, and when said tie rod is in said second position, lateral movement of said tie rod causes said spindles and wheels to pivot relative to said axle about an axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said cradle relative to the body and causes the body to rotate relative to said cradle;
and
adjustment means for adjusting and holding said tie rod in any desired intermediate position along said 90 degree arc.

10 more elements

A three-wheeled vehicle with controlled wheel and body lean, having an elongate body with a longitudinal axis and a wheel rotatably mounted on one end of the body generally along said longitudinal axis of the body, comprising:

a cradle rotatably mounted on one end of the body for rotation about a generally longitudinal axis relative to the body;
an axle rotatably connected to said cradle so that the axis of rotation of said axle is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cradle relative to the body;
a pair of wheel supports located on opposite ends of said axle, each of said wheel supports operable to support a wheel for pivotal motion relative to said axle;
a pair of wheels, each wheel being rotatably mounted on one of said wheel supports;
a tie rod pivotally connected to each of said wheel supports on opposite ends of said axle for lateral movement relative to the body and for movement generally parallel to the axis of said axle, so that lateral movement of said tie rod causes said wheel supports to pivot on the ends of said axle;
a tie rod linkage for linking said tie rod to said axle, said linkage being rotatably connected to said axle for being rotated to move said tie rod laterally while holding said tie rod generally parallel to said axle;
means for rotating said axle in said cradle so that said tie rod linkage moves said tie rod about the axis of said axle to positions between a first position with said tie rod forward of said axle through an approximately 90 degree arc to a second position with said tie rod generally vertically above said axle;
coupling means for rotatably connecting said tie rod linkage to the body, said coupling means configured to provide for rotation of said tie rod linkage relative to the body about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said cradle relative to the body;
and
steering means for imparting a force to rotate said tie rod linkage to move said tie rod laterally so that when said tie rod is in said first position, lateral movement of said tie rod causes said wheel supports and wheels to pivot relative to said axle about a generally vertical axis, and when said tie rod is in said second position, lateral movement of said tie rod causes said wheel supports and wheels to pivot relative to said axle about a generally horizontal axis and causes said linkage to act against said coupling means so that the body rotates relative to said cradle.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.