Cambering device for cambering vehicle

• US 4,065,146 A
• Filed: 09/28/1976
• Issued: 12/27/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Denzer, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rubenstein, Jack D.
• Application Number:
  US05/727,591
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 280/87 R, 280/87 B, 280/112 R, 280/112 A, 280/278, 280/287, 280/6 R, 280/6 H, 280/6.1, 280/6.11, 280/200, 280/210, 280/218, 280/220, 280/221, 280/224, 280/21 R , 280/21 A, 280/12.1, 280/12 H, 280/282, 280/293, 280/87.04 R, 280/87.04 A, 280/283, 180/25 R, 180/25 A, 180/26 R, 180/41
• US Class Current: 280/278
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A cambering vehicle having pivoted trailing arms interconnected through a cambering device including a two-piece bell crank that incorporates locking means for allowing the trailing arms to be locked together for parking purposes and also folded towards the vehicle frame so as to provide a compact package which can be readily stowed.

Claims

1. In combination with a cambering vehicle having a steering frame provided with a pair of pivotally supported trailing arms, a mechanical cambering device for interconnecting the trailing arms so they move in equal and opposite directions when the vehicle is leaned into a turn, said cambering device including a bell crank comprising a pair of wing members mounted on said steering frame for pivotal movement about a common axis, a pair of links, means pivotally connecting one of said links between one of said wing members and one of said trailing arms, means pivotally connecting the other of said links between the other of said wing members and the other of said trailing arms, each of said wing members having an opening formed therein, a locking pin carried by one of said wing members and adapted to be located in the opening in each wing member for securing said wing members together in a first position wherein said trailing arms are positioned relative to the steering frame for normal operation of said vehicle, a handle connected to said locking pin for removing the latter from the opening in one of the wing members so that the wing members are movable to a second position wherein said trailing arms are located adjacent said steering frame so the vehicle can be stowed in a minimum of space, and a lock device carried by said steering frame and including a pair of jaws for clamping said wing members therebetween and thereby maintaining said bell crank in a fixed position relative to said steering frame when said wing members are in either of said first or second positions.

2. In combination with a cambering vehicle having a steering frame provided with a pair of pivotally supported trailing arms, a mechanical cambering device for interconnecting the trailing arms so they move in equal and opposite directions when the vehicle is leaned into a turn, said cambering device including a bell crank comprising a pair of substantially identical overlapping wing members mounted on said steering frame for pivotal movement about a common axis, a pair of links, means pivotally connecting one of said links between one of said wing members and one of said trailing arms, means pivotally connecting the other of said links between the other of said wing members and the other of said trailing arms, each of said wing members having an opening formed therein, a locking pin carried by one of said wing members, spring means normally urging said locking pin into the opening in each wing member for securing said wing members together in a first position wherein said trailing arms are located relative to the steering frame for normal operation of said vehicle, a handle connected to said locking pin for removing the latter against the bias of said spring means from the opening in one of the wing members so that the wing members are movable to a second position wherein said trailing arms are located adjacent said steering frame so the vehicle can be stowed in a minimum of space, and a lock device carried by said steering frame and including a pair of jaws for clamping said wing members therebetween and thereby maintaining said bell crank in a fixed position relative to said steering frame when said wing members are in either of said first or second positions.

3. In combination with a cambering vehicle having a steering frame provided with a pair of pivotally supported trailing arms, a mechanical cambering device for interconnecting the trailing arms so they move in equal and opposite directions when the vehicle is leaned into a turn, said cambering device including a bell crank comprising a pair of members mounted on a pivot shaft secured to said steering frame for pivotal movement about a common axis, a pair of links, means pivotally connecting one of said links between one of said members and one of said trailing arms, means pivotally connecting the other of said links between the other of said members and the other of said trailing arms, each of said members having an opening formed therein, a locking pin carried by one of said members and adapted to be located in the opening in each member for securing said members together in a first position wherein said trailing arms are positioned relative to the steering frame for normal operation of said vehicle, a handle connected to said locking pin for removing the latter from the opening in one of the members so that the members are movable to a second position wherein said trailing arms are located adjacent said steering frame so the vehicle can be stowed in a minimum of space, and a lock device carried by said steering frame and including a pair of jaws for clamping said wing members therebetween and thereby maintaining said bell crank in a fixed position relative to said steering frame when said members are in either of said first or second positions, said lock device including a lever pivotally supported by said pivot shaft for operating said pair of jaws.