Single track vehicle
OwnerJonathan Watkinsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle having a chassis frame and a single front and single rear wheel aligned on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and retractable side wheels on opposite sides of the frame. A basic linkage transmits force to the side wheels for extending and retracting them in response to operator activation. A family of mechanisms for assisting the operator in extending the side wheels is disclosed, including ratchet-and-pawl, linear actuator, and power assist mechanisms. When retracted, the side wheels are positioned to permit a lean angle of 40 degrees or greater up to the optimum tire traction loss lean angle. Control of the vehicle rear suspension is provided to prevent it from interfering with vehicle lean angle.
Claims44
A vehicle for use upon a road surface, said road surface defining a tire traction loss lean angle, said tire traction loss lean angle being that angle from the vertical at which the vehicle can lean in optimum tire traction conditions on the road surface of intended use without loss of tire traction, comprising:
- a frame having front and rear portions;
- an operator seat mounted on said frame and adapted to receive said operator in a substantially sitting position;
- a single front wheel mounted on said front portion of said frame and a single rear wheel mounted on said rear portion of said frame, said front and rear wheels being substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of said frame for providing dynamic balance for said vehicle when traveling;
- means including a pair of side wheels mounted on said frame for permitting tilting of said frame without touchdown of said side wheels on the road surface in turns while said vehicle is in dynamic balance at road speeds at an angle of from 0 degrees to the tire traction loss lean angle such that premature contact of the side wheels with the road surface does not limit vehicle turn radius or cause loss of vehicle control, and for facilitating catching of said vehicle at the tire traction loss lean angle, so that said vehicle may travel in a three-wheeled mode, said side wheels being selectively positionable, at least in part, through operator-applied force to (i) a first extended position in which said side wheels extend away from said vehicle and may touch the road surface in order to assist said front and rear wheels in holding the vehicle upright when said vehicle is moving slowly or stopped, and (ii) a second retracted position fixed adjacent said vehicle when said vehicle is in dynamic balance, said second retracted position allowing said vehicle to lean in a dynamically-balanced condition up to said tire traction loss lean angle;
- and
- further including a side wheel linkage for first and second side wheels, comprising:
- a rotatably mounted lateral torque tube having a hanging foot pedal extending therefrom;
- respective first and second push-pull tubes;
- respective first and second rotatably mounted longitudinal torque tubes;
- first and second upper crank arms, each rigidly connected at their first ends to said lateral torque tube and pivotally connected at their second ends to a respective one of said first and second push-pull tubes;
- first and second lower crank arms, each rigidly connected at their first ends to a respective one of said longitudinal torque tubes and pivotally connected at their second ends to a respective one of said push-pull tubes;
- and
- first and second mounting arms for the respective side wheels, respectively connected to one of said first and second longitudinal torque tubes.
Side wheel linkage apparatus for first and second side wheels of a single-track vehicle, comprising:
- a rotatably mounted lateral torque tube with a hanging foot pedal extending therefrom;
- respective first and second push-pull tubes;
- respective first and second rotatably mounted longitudinal torque tubes;
- first and second upper crank arms, each rigidly connected to the first ends to said lateral torque tube and pivotally connected at their second ends to a respective one of said first and second push-pull tubes;
- first and second lower crank arms, each rigidly connected at their first ends to a respective one of said longitudinal torque tubes and pivotally connected at their second ends to a respective one of said push-pull tubes;
- and
- first and second mounting arms for the respective side wheels, respectively connected to one of said first and second longitudinal torque tubes.
The apparatus comprising:
- a single-track vehicle having front and rear wheels and a rear suspension for said rear wheel;
- a pair of side wheels, one mounted on either side of said vehicle;
- means for retracting said side wheels to a retracted position defining a dynamically balanced driving mode wherein said side wheels do not contact the road surface at vehicle lean angles of 40 degrees or more from the vertical and for lowering said side wheels from said retracted position to contact the road surface;
- and
- means for detecting the lowering of the side wheels beyond a selected point and for thereupon restricting the movement of the rear suspension.
The apparatus comprising:
- a single-track vehicle having front and rear wheels and a rear suspension for said rear wheel;
- a pair of side wheels, one mounted on either side of said vehicle;
- a driver foot pedal lever-actuated means for retracting said side wheels to a retracted position defining a dynamically balanced driving mode wherein said side wheels do not contact the road surface at vehicle lean angles of 40 degrees or more from the vertical and for extending said side wheels to contact the road surface when said vehicle is slowing or stopped;
- and
- means for synchronizing the up and down movement of the side wheels while said side wheels are extended and contacting the road surface to follow the corresponding up and down movement of the rear wheel so as to eliminate changes of vehicle lean angle due to rear suspension movement while still permitting retracting and extension of said side wheels by said means for retracting and extending.
In a single-track vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a driver foot pedal lever-actuated retractable side wheel control system including side wheel mounting means for mounting a pair of side wheels to extend and retract with respect to said vehicle;
- and
- a combination of motor means and driver foot pedal lever means in said control system, the motor means for applying a first force to said side wheel mounting means which at least assists in causing a first partial extension of the side wheels, the foot pedal lever means for applying a second force to said side wheel mounting means which causes a second partial extension of the side wheels, the combined first and second partial extensions resulting in the full extension of the side wheels.
The apparatus comprising:
- a single-track vehicle having a pair of side wheels;
- and
- a driver foot pedal lever-actuated, power-assisted, retractable side wheel control means for retracting said side wheels to a position entirely out of contact with the road surface, said control means incorporating side wheel positional feedback, such that a one-to-one correlation exists between side wheel position and foot pedal lever position.
In a single-track, engine-driven vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a driver-actuated retractable side wheel system having at least a pair of side wheels:
- sensing means for detecting a condition wherein the engine is not running and the side wheels are not locked in the extended position and providing at least one electrical signal indicating said condition exists;
- warning means responsive to said at least one electrical signal for generating a warning signal perceptible to the human senses upon detection of said condition.
In a single-track vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a driver foot pedal lever-actuated retractable side wheel system including a pair of retractable side wheels and a foot pedal means actuable in response to foot pressure to move in a forward direction away from the driver to a first position to lower said pair of side wheels to an extended position;
- and
- a parking latch means for holding the side wheels in said extended position;
- said foot pedal means and said parking latch means cooperating such that said parking latch releases the hold on said foot pedal means when a driver's foot presses the foot pedal means further forward past said first position.
In a single-track vehicle having a transmission gear selector, the apparatus comprising:
- a driver-actuated retractable side wheel system having at least a pair of side wheels;
- means for locking the side wheels in an extended parking position;
- sensing means for detecting a condition wherein the side wheels are locked in the extended parking position and producing a first signal indicating said condition;
- a transmission gear selector mounted switch means for detecting an intent of a driver to drive the vehicle from the gear position selected by the driver and responsive to said detecting for producing a second signal indicating detection of said intent;
- and
- warning means responsive to said first and second signals for generating a warning perceptible to the human senses if the side wheels are locked in the extended parking position and the vehicle transmission gear selector mounted switch means detects an intent on the part of the driver to drive the vehicle.
In a single-track vehicle having a throttle and a pair of side wheels extendable by a foot pedal, said foot pedal being latchable into a latched, extended position by a parking latch, a warning system for eliminating the danger of a driver attempting to drive the vehicle with side wheels locked in the extended parking position, comprising:
- a first electrical switch means mounted on the throttle for detecting the advancement of the throttle above fast idle;
- a second electrical switch means connected in series with said first switch means for detecting that the parking latch is holding the foot pedal in the latched position;
- a third electrical switch means connected in series with said first and second switch means for detecting that the side wheels are in the extended position;
- and
- means for generating a warning signal perceptible to the human senses connected in series with said first, second, and third electrical switch means.
In a single-track vehicle having a throttle and a pair of side wheels latchable by a parking latch into a extended position for holding the vehicle upright when slowing or stopping without the legs of the operator touching the road surface, the apparatus comprising:
- first electrical switch means for monitoring the throttle condition, the parking latch condition, and the position of the side wheels and for generating a signal if, at the same time, the vehicle throttle is above a fast idle, the parking latch is engaged, and the side wheel position is extended;
- and
- warning means responsive to said signal for generating a warning signal perceptible to the human senses.
In a single-track vehicle having an engine, a pair of extendable side wheels, and a parking latch for holding the side wheels in an extended down position such that the vehicle is capable of remaining in a held-upright condition when slowing or stopping without the legs of the operator touching the road, the apparatus comprising:
- electrical switch means for detecting whether the parking latch is engaged, whether the side wheels are in the fully extended position, and whether the engine is running, and for generating a warning signal when the engine is not running and the side wheels are not locked in the down position.
A single-track vehicle, incorporating:
- retractable side wheels;
- a driver foot pedal lever-actuated retractable side wheel control system;
- and
- means, including a combination of motor means and driver foot pedal lever means which are serially linked together for extending and retracting the side wheels, such that the motor means generates a displacement to achieve a first partial extension of the side wheels, and the foot pedal lever means generates a displacement to achieve a second partial extension of the side wheels, the combined first and second partial extensions adding together mechanically to result in the full extension of the side wheels.
In a single-track vehicle having a pair of side wheels latchable by a parking latch in an extended position for holding the vehicle upright when moving slowly or stopped, a warning system for eliminating the danger of a driver attempting to drive the vehicle with the side wheels locked in the extended parking position, said warning system comprising:
- a first electrical switch means mounted on the transmission gear selector for detecting intent to drive the vehicle by sensing the gear position selected;
- a second electrical switch means connected in series with said first electrical switch means for detecting that the parking latch is holding the side wheels in the extended and latched position;
- and
- means for generating a warning signal perceptible to the human senses connected in series with said first and second electrical switch means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.