High performance motorcycle simulator

• US 4,978,300 A
• Filed: 09/26/1989
• Issued: 12/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernard Fried Racing Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Bernard Fried Racing Enterprises
• Inventors: Letovsky, Howard, Fried, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US07/412,671
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 434/61, 434/55, 434/58
• US Class Current: 434/61
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/058 for teaching control of cycles or motorcycles

Abstract

A motorcycle simulator which is capable of providing six degrees of movement freedom to realistically simulate the sensory cues experienced while operating a high performance motorcycle.

Claims

1. A motorcycle simulator comprising:

a motorcycle mount assembly;

a motorcycle frame having a front end and a rear end and including a front fork assembly, main frame and rear fork assembly wherein said motorcycle frame is attached to said mount assembly at said main frame;

roll means for controllably moving the motorcycle frame from a vertical position to inclined positions on the left or right side of said vertical position;

front fork elevator means for controllably lowering and raising the front end of said motorcycle frame;

rear fork elevator means for controllably lowering and raising the rear end of said motorcycle frame independently of said front fork elevator means wherein said roll means, front fork elevator means and rear fork elevator means can be controlled to provide movement of said motorcycle frame to thereby provide a simulation of riding a motorcycle.

2. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 further including a support structure having a left side, a right side, a front end, and a rear end;

and

surge means for controllably moving said motorcycle mount assembly between the front and rear ends of said support structure.

3. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 2 wherein said surge means comprises:

at least one surge guide rail extending from the support structure front to the support structure back; and

means for attaching said motorcycle mount assembly to said surge guide rail(s) to provide controlled movement of said motorcycle mount assembly along said surge rail(s).

4. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 2 further including sway means for controllably moving said motorcycle mount assembly between the left and rights sides of said support structure.

5. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 2 further including yaw means for controllably pivoting the motorcycle mount assembly to provide horizontal rotation of said motorcycle frame relative to said support structure.

6. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 further including a support structure having a left side, a right side, a front end, and a rear end;

and

yaw means for controllably pivoting the motorcycle mount assembly to provide horizontal rotation of said motorcycle frame relative to said support structure.

7. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 6 wherein said yaw means comprises:

a pivot plate attached to the base of said motorcycle mount assembly; and

horizontal rotation means for connecting said pivot plate to said sway sled and for providing controllable horizontal rotation of said pivot plate relative to said sway sled.

8. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 6 further including sway means for controllably moving said motorcycle mount assembly between the left and right sides of said support structure.

9. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 further including a support structure having a left side, a right side, a front end and a rear end;

and

sway means for controllably moving said motorcycle mount assembly between the left and right sides of said support structure.

10. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 wherein said roll means comprises:

a roll plate attached directly to the base of said motorcycle mount assembly; and

vertical rotation means for connecting said pivot plate to the base of said motorcycle mount assembly and for providing controllable vertical rotation of said motorcycle frame from a vertical position to inclined positions on the left or right side of said vertical position.

11. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 10 wherein said front fork elevator means comprises:

at least one front fork cylinder having a bottom end and a top end;

at least one front fork piston having a lower end housed within the top end of said front fork cylinder and an upper end attached to said motorcycle frame wherein said fork piston(s) is(are) movable between a retracted position within said front fork cylinder(s) and an extended position; and

means for controllably moving said front fork piston(s) between said retracted and extended positions to thereby provide lowering and raising of the front end of said motorcycle frame.

12. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 11 wherein said rear fork elevator means comprises:

at least one rear fork cylinder having a bottom end and a top;

at least one rear fork piston having a lower end housed within the top end of said rear fork cylinder and an upper end attached to said motorcycle frame wherein said rear fork piston(s) is(are) movable between a retracted position within said rear fork cylinder(s) and an extended position; and

means for controllably moving said rear fork piston(s) between said retracted and extended positions to thereby provide lowering and raising of the rear end of said motorcycle frame.

13. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 11 which further includes a front axle and wherein the bottom of said front fork cylinder(s) is connected to said front axle.

14. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 12 wherein said rear fork assembly comprises a swing arm having a rear end, a lower arm extending forward from said rear end and an upper arm extending forward from said rear end and wherein said upper arm is connected to the bottom end of said rear fork cylinder(s) and said lower arm is connected to said motorcycle frame.

15. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 wherein said front fork elevator means and rear fork elevator means are hydraulically, pneumatically or electromechanically controlled.

16. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 which further includes load sensor means for measuring the weight exerted against the simulator by the operator while the operator is riding said simulator.

17. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 which further includes a shift lever means for providing manual operation to simulate the shifting between gear on a motorcycle and means for measuring which gears are being shifted between.

18. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 17 wherein said shift lever means further includes:

a clutch lever which is operator controlled between clutched and de-clutched positions during shifting of gears; and

means for measuring whether said clutch lever is in said clutched or de-clutched position.

19. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 wherein said motorcycle frame includes a steering head for connecting the main frame to the front fork assembly and wherein said steering head includes handle bars to provide operator movement of said steering head.

20. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 19 wherein steering resistance means are provided for controlling the amount of operator force required to turn said steering head.

21. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 19 which further includes a throttle located on said handle bars wherein said throttle is operator controlled between open and closed positions and means for measuring operator control of said throttle.

22. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 21 wherein said means for measuring operator control throttle includes a tachometer which is visible to the operator.

23. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 19 which further includes:

a front brake lever located on said handle bars wherein said front brake lever is operator controlled between braking and non-braking positions; and

means for measuring operator control of said front brake lever.

24. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 23 which further includes:

a rear brake lever wherein said rear brake lever is operator controlled between braking and non-braking positions; and

means for measuring operator control of said rear brake lever.

25. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 which further includes means for controllably blowing air past said motorcycle frame at selected wind velocities.

26. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 which further includes visual display means for providing a visual representation which simulates the riding of a motorcycle.

27. A motorcycle simulator according to claim 1 which further includes means for providing sound which simulates the riding of a motorcycle.