Automatic tilting vehicle

• US 10,513,291 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Yoshihisa, Murakami, Takashi, Adachi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US15/964,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20180319436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/05 between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/132 with a single trailing arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/32 The spring being in series with the damper and/or actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/422 Linear motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/422 Links for mounting suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8302 Mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/016 allowing controlled deformation during collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/11 the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/019 Inclination due to load distribution or road gradient
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/02 characterised by material or cross-section of frame members
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 : with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 : with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

An automatic tilting vehicle including a pair of wheels rotatably supported by wheel carriers and laterally spaced apart and a vehicle tilting device that tilts the vehicle to the inside of a turn when turning. The vehicle tilting device includes a swing member, an actuator that swings the swing member about a swing axis, and a pair of connecting rods pivotally attached to the swing member and the wheel carriers on both lateral sides of the vehicle. Each connecting rod has a preset weakest portion that is buckled to be deformed in a preset direction in a preset area when a buckling load equal to or larger than a preset value is applied.

Claims

1. An automatic tilting vehicle which comprises a pair of wheels spaced laterally and supported rotatably by corresponding wheel carriers and a vehicle tilting device configured to tilt the vehicle to the inside of a turn when the vehicle is turning, the vehicle tilting device including a swing member swinging about a swing axis extending in the front-rear direction, an actuator that is configured to swing the swing member about the swing axis, and a pair of connecting rods pivotally attached to the swing member at upper end pivoting portions and pivotally attached to corresponding wheel carriers at lower end pivoting portions on both lateral sides, wherein

each connecting rod has a preset weakest portion configured to be buckled to deform the connecting rod in a preset direction in a preset area when a buckling load equal to or larger than a preset value is applied.

2. The automatic tilting vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the preset direction is laterally outward of the vehicle as seen from above the vehicle.

3. The automatic tilting vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the preset value is a value at which a connecting rod is buckled to be deformed at the preset weakest portion in preference to damages of the swing member and the actuator in a situation where a compressive load acts on the connecting rod.

4. The automatic tilting vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pair of wheels each includes a wheel member rotatably supported by the wheel carrier and a tire mounted on an outer periphery of the wheel member, and a center of the preset weakest portion is located above an upper edge of a portion of the corresponding wheel member closest to the center.

5. The automatic tilting vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the center of the preset weakest portion is located above an upper edge of a portion of the corresponding tire that is closest to the center.