Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630675-B2
Application number	US-201414901351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

An excessive torque restricting mechanism restricts a magnitude of a torque which is to be transmitted from a steering shaft to a connecting mechanism including a tie rod, a magnitude of a torque which is to be transmitted from a left shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism, and a magnitude of a torque which is to be transmitted from a right shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a body frame that leans to the left of the vehicle when the vehicle turns to the left and leans to the right of the vehicle when the vehicle turns to the right;
a power source supported by the body frame and that generates a force to drive the vehicle;
a steering member that is turnable about a turning axis relative to the body frame;
a left front wheel disposed on the left of the turning axis in a left-right direction of the body frame;
a right front wheel disposed on the right of the turning axis in the left-right direction of the body frame;
a left shock absorbing mechanism connected to the left front wheel;
a right shock absorbing mechanism connected to the right front wheel;
a left side member disposed on the left of the turning axis in the left-right direction of the body frame, and that is not turnable in a turning direction of the steering member relative to the body frame;
a right side member disposed on the right of the turning axis in the left-right direction of the body frame, and that is not turnable in the turning direction of the steering member relative to the body frame;
a left turning portion supporting the left shock absorbing mechanism, and that is turnable relative to the left side member;
a right turning portion supporting the right shock absorbing mechanism, and that is turnable relative to the right side member;
an intermediate turning portion that is turnable relative to the body frame in accordance with turning of the steering member;
a connecting mechanism connecting the intermediate turning portion with the left turning portion and the right turning portion, and that causes the left turning portion and the right turning portion to turn in association with turning of the intermediate turning portion; and
an excessive torque restricting mechanism that restricts:
a magnitude of a torque transmitted from the steering member to the connecting mechanism;
a magnitude of a torque that is transmitted from the left shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism; and
a magnitude of a torque that is transmitted from the right shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism.

2. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the excessive torque restricting mechanism:
transmits the torque, that is transmitted from the steering member to the connecting mechanism, to the body frame via the intermediate turning portion;
transmits the torque, that is transmitted from the left shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism, to the left side member via the left turning portion; and
transmits the torque, that is transmitted from the right shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism, to the right side member via the right turning portion.

3. The vehicle as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the excessive torque restricting mechanism includes:
an intermediate restricting portion that transmits the torque, that is transmitted from the steering member to the connecting mechanism, to the body frame by restricting turning of the intermediate turning portion relative to the body frame;
a left restricting portion that transmits the torque, that is transmitted from the left shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism, to the left side member by restricting turning of the left turning portion relative to the left side member; and
a right restricting portion that transmits the torque, that is transmitted from the right shock absorbing mechanism to the connecting mechanism, to the right side member by restricting turning of the right turning portion relative to the right side member.

4. The vehicle as set forth in claim 3 , further comprising a link mechanism that causes the body frame to lean from an upright state to the left or to the right by changing positions of the left front wheel and the right front wheel relative to the body frame; wherein
the excessive torque restricting mechanism includes:
a left steering restricting mechanism that restricts a magnitude of a torque, that is transmitted from the steering member to the connecting mechanism, when a leaning angle of the body frame from the upright state thereof to the left exceeds a predetermined value; and
a right steering restricting mechanism that restricts a magnitude of a torque, that is transmitted from the steering member to the connecting mechanism, when a leaning angle of the body frame from the upright state thereof to the right exceeds a predetermined value.

5. The vehicle as set forth in claim 4 , wherein:
the link mechanism includes an upper cross member, and a lower cross member disposed below the upper cross member;
the upper cross member, the lower cross member, the left side member, and the right side member are connected such that the upper cross member and the lower cross member are held in postures which are parallel or substantially parallel to each other, and that the left side member and the right side member are held in postures which are parallel or substantially parallel to each other;
the left steering restricting mechanism includes a left recess provided in one of the lower cross member and the left turning portion, and a left projection provided on the other one of the lower cross member and the left turning portion;
the right steering restricting mechanism includes a right recess provided in one of the lower cross member and the right turning portion, and a right projection provided on the other one of the lower cross member and the right turning portion;
in a case where the leaning angle of the body frame from the upright state thereof to the left or to the right is a first leaning angle, when turning of the steering member reaches a first turning angle, the turning of the steering member is restricted by the left projection brought into abutment with an internal surface of the left recess or the right projection brought into abutment with an internal surface of the right recess; and
in a case where the leaning angle of the body frame from the upright state thereof to the left or to the right is a second leaning angle which is larger than the first leaning angle, when the turning of the steering member reaches a second turning angle which is smaller than the first turning angle, the turning of the steering member is restricted by the left projection brought into abutment with an internal surface of the left recess or the right projection brought into abutment with an internal surface of the right recess.

6. The vehicle as set forth in claim 5 , wherein:
the left recess and the right recess are provided in the lower cross member;
the left projection is provided on the left turning portion to define a portion of the left restricting portion; and
the right projection is provided on the right turning portion to define a portion of the right restricting portion.

7. The vehicle as set forth in claim 5 , wherein:
the left recess and the right recess are provided in the lower cross member;
the left projection is provided on the left turning portion;
the right projection is provided on the right turning portion;
the left projection is located outside of the left recess when the body frame is in the upright state thereof; and
the right projection is located outside of the right recess when the body frame is in the upright state thereof.

8. The vehicle as set forth in claim 5 , wherein:
the left recess and the right recess are provided in the lower cross member;
the left turning portion includes a left bracket provided with a portion supporting the left shock absorbing mechanism, and with a portion supporting the left projection which is a separate member from the left bracket; and
the right turning portion includes a right bracket provided w

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sasaki Kaoru
• Hirayama Yosuke

Classifications

• B62K5/08

  with steering devices acting on two or more wheels · CPC title

• B62K2202/00

  Motorised scooters · CPC title

• B62K5/05

  characterised by a single rear wheel · CPC title

• B62K5/10 Primary

  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