Leaning vehicle with centrifugal force compensation

A three wheeled vehicle comprising:

• a rear frame assembly including a rear frame, a seat, a rear wheel, and vehicle propulsion means for moving the vehicle;
• a front frame assembly including a front frame, a pivotable right wheel, a pivotable left wheel, vehicle steering means for turning the vehicle in a right and left direction and linkage connections coupling said steering means to said right and left wheels for controlling the extent of turning of said right and left wheels in relation to the extent of turning of said steering means;
• and
• a mechanical control connection means coupling said steering means to said rear frame for causing said rear frame to lean toward the direction of a turn when said steering means is displaced in either direction to turn the vehicle and for maintaining said steering means, said front frame and said right and left wheels upright.

A three wheeled vehicle comprising:

• a right front steerable wheel and a left front steerable wheel disposed on respective sides of a central steering shaft having a handlebar attached thereto wherein each of said right and left front steerable wheels has a respective turning pivot;
• a rear wheel positioned on a rear axle and disposed aft of and between said two front wheels;
• a rider seat disposed intermediate said rear axle and said steering shaft, wherein said two front wheels including steering linkage disposed between their respective turning pivots and said central steering shaft;
• a front frame coupled to and supporting said two front wheels, said steering shaft, and steering linkage and said handlebar;
• a rear frame supporting a rider, said rear wheel, and a vehicle propulsion arrangement;
• a pivotable connection between said front frame and said rear frame;
• and
• mechanical control means coupling said rear frame to said steering shaft for causing said rear frame to lean in the direction the vehicle is turning to counteract centrifugal force produced during a turn of the vehicle and for maintaining said front frame, said two front wheels and said steering shaft upright.

A three wheeled vehicle comprising:

• a right steerable wheel having a first turning pivot;
• a left steerable wheel having a second turning pivot;
• a steering shaft disposed generally intermediate said right and left wheels;
• a center rear wheel having an axle disposed behind said right and left wheels;
• a rider seat disposed in front of said rear wheel axle and behind said steering shaft;
• steering linkage coupled to said right and left wheels between their respective turning pivots and said steering shaft;
• a front frame coupled to and supporting said right and left wheels, said steering shaft, said steering linkage and a handlebar;
• a rear frame coupled to and supporting a rider, said rear wheel, and vehicle propulsion means;
• a pivotable connection coupled said front frame and said rear frame;
• and
• mechanical control means coupling said rear frame and said steering shaft for causing said rear frame to lean in a direction the vehicle is turning to counteract centrifugal force produced during a vehicle turn, wherein the extent of leaning of the vehicle is a function of the magnitude of turning, in either direction, of said steering shaft and wherein said right and left steerable wheels, said steering shaft and said front frame are maintained upright.