Rolling type vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9499024-B2
Application number	US-201615016055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2015
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A pair of left and right arm members supported in a swingable manner by a vehicle body on inner sides in the transverse direction for supporting left and right front wheels in a steerable manner on outer sides in the transverse direction. A shock absorber support arm has a transversely central portion thereof supported by the vehicle body in a swingable manner and is connected to the left and right arm members through shock absorber units on outer sides in the transverse direction, respectively. The actuator is capable of controlling the swinging of the shock absorber support arm. A load detection unit for detecting a load transmitted between the shock absorber support arm and the actuator is provided at a connection portion between the actuator and the shock absorber support arm. A control unit controls the actuator on the basis of detection results by the load detection unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rolling vehicle having a pair of left and right front wheels and having a vehicle body capable of rolling, the rolling vehicle comprising:
a pair of left and right arm members supported in a swingable manner by the vehicle body on inner sides in a transverse direction and which support the left and right front wheels in a steerable manner on outer sides in the transverse direction, respectively;
a shock absorber support arm having a transversely central portion thereof supported by the vehicle body in a swingable manner and being connected to the left and right arm members through shock absorber units on outer sides in the transverse direction, respectively;
an actuator capable of controlling the swinging of the shock absorber support arm;
a load detection unit, adapted to detect a load transmitted between the shock absorber support arm and the actuator, is provided at a connection portion between the actuator and the shock absorber support arm; and
a control unit adapted to control the actuator on the basis of detection results by the load detection unit.

2. The rolling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the actuator so as to reduce at least a load inputted from the shock absorber support arm to the actuator, of loads transmitted between the shock absorber support arm and the actuator.

3. The rolling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator, and
the swing arm describes a circular arc-shaped trajectory in conjunction with an operation of the actuator.

4. The rolling vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator, and
the swing arm describes a circular arc-shaped trajectory in conjunction with an operation of the actuator.

5. The rolling vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the load detection unit is rotatably connected respectively to the swing arm and the shock absorber support arm, and
a connection portion between the load detection unit and the swing arm and a connection portion between the load detection unit and the shock absorber support arm are deviated from each other in a direction along the trajectory, as viewed from a direction along an axis about which the shock absorber support arm can swing.

6. The rolling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the load detection unit is formed in a tubular shape, and a center axis of the load detection unit is disposed along a vehicle width direction.

7. The rolling vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the load detection unit is formed in a tubular shape, and a center axis of the load detection unit is disposed along a vehicle width direction.

8. The rolling vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the load detection unit is formed in a tubular shape, and a center axis of the load detection unit is disposed along a vehicle width direction.

9. The rolling vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the load detection unit is formed in a tubular shape, and a center axis of the load detection unit is disposed along a vehicle width direction.

10. The rolling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator,
the load detection unit is rotatably connected respectively to the swing arm and the shock absorber support arm, and
spherical bearings are provided respectively at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the swing arm and at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the shock absorber support arm.

11. The rolling vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator,
the load detection unit is rotatably connected respectively to the swing arm and the shock absorber support arm, and
spherical bearings are provided respectively at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the swing arm and at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the shock absorber support arm.

12. The rolling vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator,
the load detection unit is rotatably connected respectively to the swing arm and the shock absorber support arm, and
spherical bearings are provided respectively at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the swing arm and at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the shock absorber support arm.

13. The rolling vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator,
the load detection unit is rotatably connected respectively to the swing arm and the shock absorber support arm, and
spherical bearings are provided respectively at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the swing arm and at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the shock absorber support arm.

14. The rolling vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator,
the load detection unit is rotatably connected respectively to the swing arm and the shock absorber support arm, and
spherical bearings are provided respectively at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the swing arm and at a connection portion between the load detection unit and the shock absorber support arm.

15. A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
a pair of left and right arm members supported in a swingable manner on a vehicle body on inner sides in a transverse direction and for supporting left and right front wheels in a steerable manner on outer sides in the transverse direction, respectively;
a shock absorber support arm having a transversely central portion thereof supported by the vehicle body in a swingable manner and being connected to the left and right arm members through shock absorber units on outer sides in the transverse direction, respectively;
an actuator controlling the swinging of the shock absorber support arm;

a load detection unit detecting a load transmitted between the shock absorber support arm and the actuator, said load detection unit being provided at a connection portion between the actuator and the shock absorber support arm; and
a control unit controlling the actuator on the basis of detection results by the load detection unit.

16. The suspension system for a vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the control unit controls the actuator so as to reduce at least a load inputted from the shock absorber support arm to the actuator, of loads transmitted between the shock absorber support arm and the actuator.

17. The suspension system for a vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein a swing arm connected to the load detection unit is connected to an output portion of the actuator, and the swing arm describes a circular arc-shaped trajectory in conjunction with an operation of the actuator.

18. The suspension system for a vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein the load detection unit is rotatably connected respectively to the swing arm and the shock absorber support arm, and
a connection portion between the load detection unit and the swing arm and a connection portion between the load detection unit and the shock absorber support arm are deviated from each other in a direction along the

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mori Yotaro

Classifications

• B60G2204/127

  with the mounting of springs or dampers moving so that the direction of the related force vector can be changed, thus contributing to a variation of the loading of the wheel · CPC title

• B60G2204/8302

  Mechanical · CPC title

• B60G2300/122

  Trikes · CPC title

• B60G15/067

  characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the spring and damper unit · CPC title

• B60G17/018

  characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method · CPC title