Motorcycle combination clutch and brake system
OwnerLewis L. Osborneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination clutch and brake system that may be original equipment for or retrofitted to a motorcycle having a clutch, brake and stick shift mechanical rear box. The sole operating lever for applying the clutch and brake includes an adjustable cam and linkage arrangement whereby either the clutch or brake may be activated first or both activated substantially concurrently. The clutch is controlled by cam action and the brake by a adjustable linkage to the cam which legs the rotation of the cam.
Claims10
In a motorcycle having a frame, a clutch mechanism, a mechanical gear shift and a brake mechanism, the improvement comprising a unitary clutch and brake system including:
- (a) a control lever mounted on the frame restricted to bidirectional rotation relative thereto;
- (b) a cam mounted for rotation with the control lever;
- (c) a clutch rod linkage engaged by the cam for operation of the clutch;
- and
- (d) an adjustable lost motion linkage coupled to the cam and lagging rotation therewith for activating the brake system, the adjustable linkage presettable to effect one of the following functions upon depression of the control lever:
- (i) disengaging the clutch and then engaging the brake;
- (ii) disengaging the clutch and engaging the brake substantially concurrently;
- and
- (iii) engaging the brake and then disengaging the clutch.
A unitary clutch and brake system for a motorcycle having a frame, a mechanical gear box and clutch for shifting gears and a hydraulic brake system including a master brake cylinder comprising:
- (a) an operating lever, having an integral cam with a camming surface and a lateral projection, attached to the frame restricted to oscillatory movement relative thereto;
- (b) a follower device tracking the camming surface attached to the clutch for disengaging and engaging the clutch to allow shifting of the gears;
- (c) a linkage having a slot engaging the lateral projection allowing limited presettable movement of the projection relative to the slot and adjustably attached to the master brake cylinder for activating the brake system;
- (d) whereby moving the operating lever in an applying motion initiates one of the following sequences:
- (i) disengaging the clutch and then engaging the brake system,
- (ii) disengaging the clutch and engaging the braking system substantially concurrent, and
- (iii) engaging the braking system and then disengaging the clutch;
- and
- (e) whereby moving the operating lever in a releasing motion reverses the applying motion sequence.
A unitary clutch and brake assembly for attachment to the frame of a motorcycle for operating the clutch and brake comprising:
- (a) a mounting bracket attached to the frame;
- (b) an operating member having a foot pedal sector and a cam sector mounted to the bracket restricted to rotary movement, the cam sector includes a camming face and a lateral projection;
- (c) a clutch rod mounted to the bracket at one end and seated against the camming face with the other end attached to the clutch for operation thereof;
- (d) a presettable lost motion linkage coupled between the lateral projection and the brake for operation thereof;
- (e) whereby depressing the foot pedal sector rotates the cam sector against the clutch rod and with the presettable lost motion linkage effect one of the following sequences:
- (i) disengaging the clutch and then engaging the brake;
- (ii) disengaging the clutch and engaging the brake substantially concurrently;
- and
- (iii) engaging the brake and then disengaging the clutch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.