HUB ASSEMBLY FOR A TILTING VEHICLE SUSPENSION

• US 20090108555A1
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sway Motorsports, INC.
• Original Assignee: Joseph Wilcox
• Inventors: Wilcox, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,850,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/93.510
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/30 In-wheel mountings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A suspension system for a vehicle is provided that allows for the vehicle body to be tilted wherein the tilt is controlled by the operator'"'"'s legs in a manner that greatly enhances the stability of the vehicle while producing a fun vehicle to operate. Generally a hub is provided for use ad the vertical members in a four-bar suspension linkage that includes an inboard side and an outboard side such that the tilting pivots are positioned inboard and the steering pivots are positioned outboard. This arrangement allows for the optimum placement of the pivot axis for steering as close to the wheel as possible, even directly within the rim of the wheel, while the pivot point of the suspension linkage is optimally positioned a few inches inboard relative to the wheels thereby increasing the lever arm used to control the relative tilt of the wheel.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a tilting vehicle, comprising:

a central frame having a front, a rear and a support means for a rider;

top suspension bar and a bottom suspension bar each having a respective left end and right end, a central portion of said top and bottom suspension bars being pivotally affixed to the central frame; and

left and right hubs,

each of said hubs having an interior portion with top end and a bottom ends wherein said left and right ends of said top and bottom suspension bars are pivotally attached to said respective top and bottom ends of said interior portion of said left and right hubs, the points of attachment between said left and right hubs and said top and bottom suspension bars forming tilting axes,

each of said hubs having an exterior wheel support portion pivotally affixed to said interior portion, said pivots defining steering axes, said steering axes being inclined relative to said tilting axes.

2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein tilting of said central frame displaces said top suspension bar relative to said bottom suspension bar causing said left and right suspension bars to tilt at an angle equal to the tilt of the central frame.

3. The suspension system of claim 2, wherein the rider uses their legs to control the tilting of said central frame by exerting a force against one of the top or bottom suspension bars.

4. The suspension system of claim 3, wherein said tilting axes are spaced inwardly relative to wheels supported on said exterior wheel support portions of said hubs and said steering axes are positioned near said wheels.

5. The suspension system of claim 4, wherein the space between the tilting axes and the wheels creates a lever arm that reduces the force needed to control the tilting of the vehicle.

6. The suspension system of claim 4, wherein said left and right steering axes are inclined relative to one another such that they intersect at a top end thereof said bottom ends extending through a point where the wheels meet the ground.

7. The suspension system of claim 1, the exterior wheel support being a swing arm that is spring biased downwardly relative to said hubs.

8. The suspension system of claim 1, further comprising:

a steering linkage extending between said exterior portion of said right and left hubs to simultaneously control the pivot of said exterior portion of said hubs relative to said steering axes.

9. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein said left and right steering axes are inclined relative to one another such that they intersect at a top end thereof.

10. A wheel hub for use in a suspension for a tilting vehicle comprising:

an interior portion having a top end and a bottom end that interconnect with top and bottom suspension bars affixed to said vehicle, the point of attachment between said hub and said top and bottom suspension bars forming a tilting axis; and

an exterior wheel support portion pivotally affixed to said interior portion, said pivot defining a steering axis, said steering axis being inclined relative to said tilting axis.

11. The wheel hub of claim 10, the exterior wheel support being a swing arm that is spring biased downwardly relative to said hubs.

12. The wheel hub of claim 10, further comprising:

left and right hubs, each interconnected with respective left and right ends of top and bottom suspension bars affixed to said vehicle

13. The wheel hub of claim 12, further comprising:

a steering linkage extending between said exterior portion of said right and left hubs to simultaneously control the pivot of said exterior portion of said hubs relative to said steering axes.

14. The wheel hub of claim 12, wherein said left and right steering axes are inclined relative to one another such that they intersect at a top end thereof.

15. The wheel hub of claim 12, said suspension system further comprising:

a central frame having a front, a rear and a support means for a rider; and

top suspension bar and a bottom suspension bar each having a respective left end and right end, a central portion of said top and bottom suspension bars being pivotally affixed to the central frame, said left and right hubs, each interconnected with respective left and right ends of top and bottom suspension bars.

16. The wheel hub of claim 15, wherein tilting of said central frame displaces said top suspension bar relative to said bottom suspension bar causing said left and right suspension bars to tilt at an angle equal to the tilt of the central frame.

17. The wheel hub of claim 16, wherein the rider uses their legs to control the tilting of said central frame by exerting a force against one of the top or bottom suspension bars.

18. The wheel hub of claim 17, wherein said tilting axes are spaced inwardly relative to wheels supported on said exterior wheel support portions of said hubs and said steering axes are positioned near said wheels.

19. The wheel hub of claim 18, wherein the space between the tilting axes and the wheels creates a lever arm that reduces the force needed to control the tilting of the vehicle.

20. The wheel hub of claim 18, wherein said left and right steering axes are inclined relative to one another such that they intersect at a top end thereof said bottom ends extending through a point where the wheels meet the ground.