Single-track vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12448079-B2
Application number	US-202318509961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2023
Priority date	May 17, 2021
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

A single-track vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, includes a frame, a rocker rotatable relative to the frame, and a leaf spring connected to the frame and to the rocker to achieve a spring effect between the rocker and the frame. The leaf spring is connected to the frame via a first lever and a first rotary bearing such that a first rotational axis of the first rotary bearing is transversely offset relative to the leaf spring as a result of the first lever. Alternatively or in addition, the leaf spring is connected to the rocker via a second lever and a second rotary bearing such that a second rotational axis of the second rotary bearing is transversely offset relative to the leaf spring as a result of the second lever.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A single-track vehicle comprising: a frame; a swingarm rotatable relative to the frame; and a leaf spring in contact with the vehicle at only two contact points by only two connections, a first connection of the two connections connecting the leaf spring to the frame, and a second connection of the two connections connecting the leaf spring to the swingarm to achieve a spring effect between the swingarm and the frame, wherein the leaf spring is connected to the frame via a first lever and a first pivot bearing such that a first pivot of the first pivot bearing is transversely offset relative to the leaf spring by the first lever, and/or wherein the leaf spring is connected to the swingarm via a second lever and a second pivot bearing such that a second pivot of the second pivot bearing is transversely offset relative to the leaf spring by the second lever.

2. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first pivot bearing is arranged directly on the frame, and/or the second pivot bearing is arranged directly on the swingarm.

3. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring is connected to the frame via the first lever, and is connected to the swingarm via the second lever.

4. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever forms a right or acute angle with the leaf spring, and/or the second lever forms a right or acute angle with the leaf spring.

5. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first lever and/or the second lever has an adjustable length to allow for setting a spring preload and/or a spring stiffness of the leaf spring.

6. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring has a flat body with a first end and a second end.

7. The single-track vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the first end of the leaf spring is clamped in the first lever in a positionally fixed manner, and/or the second end of the leaf spring is clamped in the second lever in a positionally fixed manner.

8. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring has a first curvature and/or a second curvature.

9. The single-track vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the first curvature and the second curvature form an S shape.

10. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic including a plurality of stacked fiber reinforcement plies of different lengths flooded with a plastic material or precursors of the plastic material.

11. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring has along a longitudinal axis thereof:
a first area of constant thickness,
a second area of varying thickness adjoining the first area, and
a third area of constant thickness adjoining the second area.

12. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first pivot bearing and the second pivot bearing are arranged one above the other.

13. The single-track vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second pivot bearing is arranged between a main pivot joint, connecting the swingarm to the frame, and a wheel axle.

14. A use of the single-track vehicle including the leaf spring according to claim 1 .

15. The single-track vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the leaf spring is configured such that the first end and the second end of the leaf spring bend backwards with respect to the direction of travel when deflected.

16. The single-track vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein a radius of curvature of the second curvature is smaller than a radius of curvature of the first curvature.

17. The single-track vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein the second connection of the two connections connecting the leaf spring to the swingarm is closer to the main pivot joint than to the wheel axle.

Assignees

• Ktm Ag

Inventors

• Gustafson Torbjoern
• Fellner Hannes

Classifications

• B62K2201/06

  Leaf springs · CPC title

• B62K25/283 Primary

  for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles · CPC title

• F16F1/26

  Attachments or mountings ({F16F1/182, F16F1/22} B60G11/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62K25/286 Primary

  the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism · CPC title

• B62K25/12 Primary

  with rocking arm pivoted on each fork leg (in combination with telescopic fork B62K25/06) · CPC title