Three-wheeled vehicle having a multi-part frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12528557-B2
Application number	US-202118014282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2021
Priority date	Jul 15, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A vehicle, such as a cargo cycle, may have a multi-part frame, a single wheel and a wheel pair having two mutually spaced wheels. The single wheel may be connected to a first frame part of the frame, and the two wheels may be rotatably mounted about a common axis on a second frame part of the frame, where the first and second frame parts are connected with at least one joint and are rotatable relative to each other about a pivot axis defined by the at least one joint, the pivot axis running through a contact point of the single wheel. The vehicle also has at least one first drive device which generates a torque, is arranged on the first frame part and is designed to transmit the torque via a device for torque transmission to at least one of the wheels of the wheel pair.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A vehicle, comprising:
a multi-part frame; a single wheel; and a pair of wheels having two mutually spaced-apart wheels, wherein the single wheel is connected to a first frame part of the frame, wherein the two wheels of the pair of wheels are mounted on a second frame part of the frame so as to be rotatable about a common axis, wherein the first frame part and the second frame part are connected by at least two joints and are mutually rotatable about a pivot axis defined by the at least two joints, wherein the at least two joints are disposed so as to be mutually spaced apart on the pivot axis, and wherein a position of a first joint of the at least two joints and/or of a second joint of the at least two joints in relation to the first frame part and/or the second frame part is adjustable, wherein the pivot axis runs through one contact point of the single wheel; and at least one first drive device generating a torque, wherein the at least one first drive device being disposed on the first frame part and is configured to transmit the torque to at least one of the wheels of the pair of wheels via a torque transmission device, and wherein the torque transmission device comprises a compensation device for compensating torsion of the torque transmission device that is caused by the rotation of the first frame part in relation to the second frame part about the pivot axis.

2 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the torque transmission device comprises at least one of a chain gear having a chain and a belt drive having a timing belt.

3 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the compensation device comprises a constant velocity joint.

4 . The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the constant velocity joint is assigned to at least one of the first frame part and the second frame part.

5 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the compensation device comprises a differential which by way of at least one articulated shaft transmits the torque to the at least one wheel of the pair of wheels.

6 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two wheels of the pair of wheels has a wheel hub motor.

7 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the single wheel is a front wheel, and wherein the front wheel is on a wheel fork that is connected to the first frame part so as to be pivotable about a steering axis.

8 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the first joint of the two joints being at least one of a ball joint, a radial bearing, and an elastomer element; and wherein the second joint of the two joints being at least one of a ball joint, a radial bearing, and an elastomer element.

9 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a position of the first joint and/or of the second joint is adjustable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in the context of the normal orientation of the vehicle, respectively, and/or in a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction in terms of the normal orientation of the vehicle.

10 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a delimiting device which is configured to restrict a rotatability of the first frame part in relation to the second frame part about the pivot axis.

11 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a restoring device which is configured to rotate the first frame part between a position deflected in relation to a pre-defined central position and the pre-defined central position.

12 . A vehicle, comprising:
a multi-part frame; a front wheel; and a pair of rear wheels having two mutually spaced-apart rear wheels, wherein the front wheel is connected to a first frame part of the frame, wherein the rear wheels are mounted on a second frame part of the frame so as to be rotatable about a common axis, wherein the first frame part and the second frame part are connected by exactly one joint and are mutually rotatable about a pivot axis defined by the one joint, wherein the pivot axis runs through one contact point of the front wheel, and wherein an angle of the one joint in relation to the first frame part and/or the second frame part is adjustable so as to be able to adjust a profile of the pivot axis through the contact point; and at least one first drive device generating a torque, wherein the at least one first drive device being disposed on the first frame part and is configured to transmit the torque to at least one of the rear wheels via a torque transmission device, and wherein the torque transmission device comprises a compensation device for compensating torsion of the torque transmission device that is caused by the rotation of the first frame part in relation to the second frame part about the pivot axis.

13 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the torque transmission device comprises at least one of a chain gear having a chain and a belt drive having a timing belt.

14 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the compensation device comprises a constant velocity joint.

15 . The vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the constant velocity joint is assigned to at least one of the first frame part and the second frame part.

16 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the compensation device comprises a differential which by way of at least one articulated shaft transmits the torque to the at least one of the rear wheels.

17 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein at least one of the rear wheels has a wheel hub motor.

18 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the exactly one joint is formed by at least one radial bearing.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Augustin Stephan
• Bobinger Robert

Classifications

• B62M6/45

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title

• B62K21/02

  Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine · CPC title

• B62K7/04

  having a carrying platform (article-carrying accessories B62J7/00 - B62J11/00) · CPC title

• B62K5/10

  with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends · CPC title

• B62K5/027

  Motorcycles with three wheels (specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023) · CPC title