Leaning vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789930-B1
Application number	US-201615143964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 2, 2016
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A leaning vehicle has a frame, a straddle seat, a motor, a shock tower pivotally connected the frame, the frame being pivotable relative to the shock tower, and front left and right suspension assemblies connected the frame. Each of the front left and right suspension assemblies comprises a leg operatively connected to a corresponding front left or right ground engaging member and being rotatable about a steering axis, an upper suspension arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to the leg, a lower suspension arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to the leg and a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm and a brake assembly connected to the frame and the shock tower.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A leaning vehicle comprising:
a frame having a front portion and a rear portion;
a straddle seat mounted on the frame;
a motor supported by the frame;
a shock tower pivotally connected to the front portion of the frame, the frame being pivotable relative to the shock tower about a pivot axis between an upright position and a plurality of leaning positions;
a front left suspension assembly and a front right suspension assembly operatively connected to the front portion of the frame;
a front left ground engaging member operatively connected to the front left suspension assembly;
a front right ground engaging member operatively connected to the front right suspension assembly;
a steering assembly operatively connected to the front left ground engaging member and to the front right ground engaging member to steer the vehicle, the steering assembly having a steering column supported by the frame and a handlebar connected to the steering column;
a rear suspension assembly operatively connected to the rear portion of the frame;
a rear ground engaging member operatively connected to the rear suspension assembly;
each of the front left suspension assembly and the front right suspension assembly comprising:
a leg operatively connected to a corresponding one of the front left ground engaging member and the front right ground engaging member, the leg being rotatable about a steering axis;
an upper suspension arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to the leg;
a lower suspension arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a second end pivotally connected to the leg, the lower suspension arm being lower than the upper suspension arm; and
a shock absorber having an upper end connected to the shock tower and a lower end connected to the lower suspension arm; and
a brake assembly connected to the frame and the shock tower, the brake assembly being adapted for reducing a speed of rotation of the frame about the pivot axis.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the brake assembly comprises:
at least a section of a brake disc connected to one of the frame and the shock tower; and
a caliper and brake pad assembly connected to another one of the frame and the shock tower, the caliper and brake pad assembly being adapted to apply a braking force to the at least the section of the brake disc.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the braking force applied to the at least the section of the brake disc is adapted for at least one of:
stopping the frame from pivoting about the pivot axis; and
reducing the speed of rotation of the frame about the pivot axis.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile; and
wherein:
the rear portion of the frame includes a tunnel;
the front left ground engaging member is a left ski;
the front right ground engaging member is a right ski;
the rear ground engaging member is an endless track disposed at least in part under the tunnel;
the leg of the front left suspension assembly is a left ski leg; and
the leg of the front right suspension assembly is a right ski leg.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the caliper and brake pad assembly is actuated via an actuator operable by a driver of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the actuator is a lever connected to the handlebar.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle is a snowmobile; and
wherein:
the rear portion of the frame includes a tunnel;
the front left ground engaging member is a left ski;
the front right ground engaging member is a right ski;
the rear ground engaging member is an endless track disposed at least in part under the tunnel;
the leg of the front left suspension assembly is a left ski leg; and
the leg of the front right suspension assembly is a right ski leg.

8. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least the section of the brake disc is connected to the frame; and
the caliper and brake pad assembly is connected to the shock tower.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the at least the section of the brake disc is disposed in front of the shock tower.

10. A snowmobile comprising:
a frame having a front portion;
a straddle seat mounted on the frame;
a motor supported by the frame;
a front left suspension assembly and a front right suspension assembly operatively connected to the front portion of the frame;
a front left ski operatively connected to the front left suspension assembly;
a front right ski operatively connected to the front right suspension assembly, the front left and right suspension assemblies and the front left and right skis being pivotable about a pivot axis of the frame;
a handlebar operatively connected to the front right and left skis;
a rear track operatively connected to the frame, the rear track being pivotable about the pivot axis of the frame; and
an angle limiting device operatively connected to the frame and the front suspensions, the angle limiting device being adapted for being selectively actuated while the snowmobile is stopped or in motion, the angle limiting device being further adapted for being selectively actuated independent of an angle of rotation of the frame about the pivot axis,
the angle limiting device being adapted for at least one of:
stopping the frame from pivoting about the pivot axis, and
reducing a speed of rotation of the frame about the pivot axis.

11. The snowmobile of claim 10 , wherein the angle limiting device is controlled by a rider of the snowmobile during operation of the snowmobile.

12. The snowmobile of claim 10 , wherein the angle limiting device provides a restrictive force to at least one of the frame and the front suspensions.

13. The snowmobile of claim 10 , wherein the angle limiting device is a brake assembly operatively connected to the frame and the front suspensions.

14. The snowmobile of claim 13 , wherein the brake assembly comprises:
at least a section of a brake disc connected to one of the frame and the front suspensions; and
a caliper and brake pad assembly connected to another one of the frame and the front suspensions, the caliper and brake pad assembly being adapted to apply a braking force to the at least the section of the brake disc.

15. The snowmobile of claim 13 , wherein the brake assembly is actuated via an actuator operable by a rider of the snowmobile.

16. The snowmobile of claim 15 , wherein the actuator is a lever connected to the handlebar.

17. A method of operating a leaning vehicle, the method comprising:
operating the leaning vehicle in a normal operation mode; and
activating an angle limiting device,
the angle limiting device being adapted for
reducing a speed of lean of the leaning vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the activating the angle limiting device occurs while the vehicle is in forward motion.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the activating the angle limiting device occurs while the leaning vehicle is leaning away from vertical.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the angle limiting device is further adapted for locking a lean angle of the leaning vehicle.

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Vezina Sebastien
• Fortier Jonathan

Classifications

• B62M2027/028

  Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork · CPC title

• B62M2027/026

  Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means · CPC title

• B62M27/02 Primary

  power driven · CPC title

• B62D9/02

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

• B60G2300/45

  Rolling frame vehicles · CPC title