# US 8,540,045 B2 · Systems and apparatus for a three-wheeled vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,045 B2 - Document ID: US8540045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/662,832 - Filed: 2012-10-29 - Published: 2013-05-02 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-31 - Assignees: Tanom Motors, LLC - Applicants: Tanom Motors, LLC - Inventors: Merrill C. Hall; Adam J. Canni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540045B2 ## CPC - B62K 5/027: Motorcycles with three wheels (specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023) - B60G 3/20: all arms being rigid - B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) - B60K 5/04: with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle - B60K 6/42: characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle - B60K 15/063: Arrangement of tanks - B60W 20/10: Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand - B60W 20/40: Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} - B62J 35/00: Fuel tanks specially adapted for motorcycles or engine-assisted cycles; Arrangements thereof (fuel tanks forming part of cycle frames B62K11/00; tanks in general B60K {; closure caps for fuel tanks B60K15/0406}) - B62K 5/05: characterised by a single rear wheel - B62K 25/283: {for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles} - B62M 9/04: of changeable ratio - B60G 2204/421: Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage - B60G 2300/122: Trikes - B60K 2015/0638: {the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle} - B60K 2015/0639: {the fuel tank is arranged near or in the roof} - B60W 2556/00: Input parameters relating to data - B60Y 2200/122: Trikes - B62D 61/065: {with single rear wheel} - Y10S 903/93: Conjoint control of different elements - Y10S 903/951: Assembly or relative location of components - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An apparatus includes a vehicle frame, a swing arm and a fuel tank. The vehicle frame includes a front portion and a rear portion and defines a longitudinal centerline therebetween. The front portion is configured to support a recumbent seat. The rear portion is configured to be coupled to the swing arm and. The swing arm defines a longitudinal centerline and includes a wheel mounting portion configured to be coupled to a wheel assembly. The wheel mounting portion defines a radial axis that is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle frame in at least one plane. The fuel tank is coupled to the rear portion of the vehicle frame such that the fuel tank is above the longitudinal centerline of the swing arm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle frame defining a longitudinal centerline, a front portion of the vehicle frame configured to support a recumbent seat; a swing arm coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle frame, the swing arm including a wheel mounting portion configured to be coupled to a wheel assembly such that a rear wheel axis defined by the wheel mounting portion is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle frame in at least one plane; and a fuel tank coupled to the rear portion of the vehicle frame such that the fuel tank is above a longitudinal axis defined by the swing arm, at least a portion of the fuel tank being disposed above the wheel mounting portion such that a plane perpendicular to a vehicle support surface intersecting the rear wheel axis intersects the portion of the fuel tank; wherein the plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle frame is the vehicle frame for a three-wheeled vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the vehicle frame defines an enclosure configured to substantially surround the recumbent seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the vehicle frame includes a seat back member, the vehicle frame including an engine mounting portion between the seat back member and the swing arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the recumbent seat supported by the front portion of the vehicle frame, the recumbent seat including a back portion, the vehicle frame including an engine mounting portion between the back portion of the seat and the swing arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the recumbent seat supported by the front portion of the vehicle frame, a position of the recumbent seat configured to be adjusted in a direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline relative to the vehicle frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle frame includes an engine mounting portion, the fuel tank coupled to the rear portion of the vehicle frame above the engine mounting portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear wheel axis is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the wheel assembly relative to the wheel mounting portion and intersects the portion of the fuel tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the recumbent seat is a first recumbent seat; and the front portion of the vehicle frame is configured to support a second recumbent seat such that the longitudinal centerline is between the first recumbent seat and the second recumbent seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear wheel axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the swing arm and intersects the wheel mounting portion. ### Claim 11 An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle frame defining a longitudinal centerline, a front portion of the vehicle frame configured to support a recumbent seat, a rear portion of the vehicle frame including an engine mounting portion configured to mount an engine rearward of the recumbent seat; a swing arm coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle frame via a rotatable coupling defining a pivot point, the swing arm including a wheel mounting portion configured to be coupled to a wheel assembly such that a rear wheel axis defined by the wheel mounting portion is substantially aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle frame in at least one plane; and a fuel tank coupled to the rear portion of the vehicle frame such that the fuel tank is above, in a vertical plane, a longitudinal axis defined by the swing arm, and such that a majority of a length of the fuel tank along the longitudinal axis is rearward of the pivot point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the vehicle frame is the vehicle frame for a three-wheeled vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the front portion of the vehicle frame includes a seat back member, the engine mounting portion of the vehicle frame between the seat back member and the swing arm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: the recumbent seat supported by the front portion of the vehicle frame, a position of the recumbent seat configured to be adjusted relative to the vehicle frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: the wheel assembly coupled to the swing arm; and an engine coupled to the engine mounting portion of the vehicle frame, the engine operably coupled to the wheel assembly via a chain drive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one plane is a first plane, at least a portion of the fuel tank is disposed above the wheel mounting portion such that a second plane perpendicular to a vehicle support surface intersecting the rear wheel axis intersects the portion of the fuel tank. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rear wheel axis is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the wheel assembly and intersects a portion of the fuel tank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rear wheel axis is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the swing arm and intersects a portion of the fuel tank. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, the entire fuel tank is rearward of the engine mounting portion. ### Claim 20 An apparatus, comprising: a vehicle frame for a three-wheeled vehicle, the vehicle frame defining a longitudinal centerline; a body coupled to the vehicle frame, the body including a seat support surface configured to support a seat; a swing arm coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle frame, the swing arm including a wheel mounting portion configured to be coupled to a wheel assembly such that a rear wheel axis defined by the wheel mounting portion is substantially aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle frame in at least one plane; and a fuel tank coupled to the vehicle frame such that the fuel tank is above a plane defined by the seat support surface, at least a portion of the fuel tank being disposed above the wheel mounting portion such that a plane perpendicular to a vehicle support surface intersecting the rear wheel axis intersects the portion of the fuel tank; wherein the plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: a recumbent seat movably coupled to the body, a position of the recumbent seat configured to be adjusted in a direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline relative to the vehicle frame. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein: the body includes a seat back surface; and the vehicle frame includes an engine mounting portion between the seat back surface and the swing arm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the rear wheel axis is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the wheel assembly and intersects the portion of the fuel tank. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the rear wheel axis is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the swing arm and intersects the portion of the fuel tank.