US 4,775,163 A · Motorcycle

Abstract

A motorcycle has a frame, a front wheel and Y-shaped rockers attached to the axle of the front wheel on either side. Also attached to each rocker is a rigid fork which directly connects the rocker to the frame of the motorcycle and a springed fork which connects the rocker to shock absorbing means which are likewise mounted on the rigid fork. The springed fork is mounted to the rocker intermediate the points at which the rigid fork and axle are mounted to the rocker. The rigid fork is attached to the rocker using an adjustable, split spherical bearing which is attached and held to the rigid fork by a stud. This bearing arrangement engages a pair of bearing races which are held in two prongs of the Y-shaped rocker. Similarly, the springed fork has a stud passing therethrough which also holds a spherical bearing. The bearing engages a bearing race which is held within the rocker. A brake caliper is pivotably mounted to the axle of the front wheel and has its top end connected to the rigid fork of the motorcycle by a reaction link. The reaction link is oriented so that when a downward force is applied along the rigid fork, the reaction link and brake caliper act to induce a force upward resisting the downward force. This configuration increases the effective resistance of the shock absorbing system of the motorcycle and provides for additional suspension during heavy braking of the motorcycle.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A motorcycle having a frame, said motorcycle comprising:

(1) a front wheel having an axle;
and
(2) means for attaching each end of said axle to said frame, said axle attaching means comprising:
(a) a Y-shaped rocker on each end of said axle, each of said rockers having a first end mounted to said axle and a second end;
(b) said second end of each of said rockers having first and second prongs and being pivotably mounted by a first spherical bearing means to a rigid fork secured to said frame;
(c) a springed fork having two tines each pivotably mounted by a second spherical bearing apparatus to one of said rockers intermediate said first and second ends, said springed fork being attached to shock absorbing means secured to said rigid fork;
and
(d) wherein said first spherical bearing apparatus comprises a first stud passing through said prongs of said rocker and said rigid fork, said first stud and said rigid fork having a first bearing attached about said rigid fork and between said prongs, said first bearing engaging a first bearing race assembly in said prongs of said rocker.

5 more elements

A motorcycle having a frame, said motorcycle comrrising:

(1) a front wheel having an axle;
and
(2) means for attaching each end of said axle to said frame, said axle attaching means comprising:
(a) a Y-shaped rocker on each end of said axle, each of said rockers having a first end mounted to said axle and a second end;
(b) a rigid fork secured to said frame and mounted to each of said rockers by a first stud passing through first and second prongs of said rocker and said rigid fork, said first stud and said rigid fork having a first bearing attached thereto, said first bearing engaging a first bearing race assembly in said prongs of said rocker;
(c) a springed fork having two tines each terminating at their lower end with a clevis, each rocker being pivotably held intermediate said first and second ends of said rocker within each said clevis of said springed fork by a second stud passing through said clevis and said rocker, said second stud and said clevis of said springed fork holding a spherical second bearing which engages a second bearing race assembly held within said rocker, said springed fork being attached to shock absorbing means secured to said rigid fork.

3 more elements

A motorcycle having a frame, said motorcycle comprising:

(1) a front wheel having an axle;
and
(2) means for attaching each end of said axle to said frame, each of said axle attaching means comprising:
(a) a Y-shaped rocker having a first end and a second end, said first end being mounted to said axle;
(b) said second end of each said rocker having first and second prongs mounted by a first spherical bearing apparatus to a rigid fork secured to said frame and being pivotable about a first axis;
(c) a springed fork having two tines each pivotably mounted by a second spherical bearing apparatus to one of said rockers intermediate said first and second ends, said springed fork being attached to shock absorbing means secured to said rigid fork;
and
(d) a brake disc mounted coaxially to said front wheel and a brake caliper having a lower end mounted to said axle and pivotable about a second axis therewith, said second axis being parallel to said axle, and an upper end mounted to said rigid fork by reaction link means designed to increase the effective resistance of said shock absorbing means under braking conditions.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Motorcycle

Life of this patent

Motorcycle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29