Motorcycle having a stub-axle steering

• US 5,503,244 A
• Filed: 05/10/1994
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilhelm K. Beirlein
• Original Assignee: Wilhelm K. Beirlein
• Inventors: Beirlein, Wilhelm K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US08/190,192
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 180/219, 180/227, 280/93, 280/96.1, 280/660, 280/661, 280/673, 280/675, 280/96.3
• US Class Current: 180/219
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/005 Steering pivot axis arranged within the wheel, e.g. for a hub center steering arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/005 characterised by the axle being supported at one end only

Abstract

A motorcycle having a stub-axle steering for the front wheel (16) of the motorcycle, said front wheel (16) being suspended on the frame (2) of the motorcycle by at least one swinging arm (1) linked to a stub-axle bearer (21) journalling a stub-axle pin (3) rotatable about its longitudinal pin axis constituting the steering axis (12) about which the front wheel (16) can be pivoted, the stub-axle pin (3) being arranged in the front wheel hub (5) of the front wheel (16), the longitudinal pin axis being offset from the front wheel axis (14) towards the rear of the motorcycle and extending in the center plane of the front wheel (16) at such an angle (α alpha!) of the steering axis with respect to the ground (15) that a positive trail (n) results. The stub-axle pin (3) is longitudinally divided and the pin sections are screwed into the front wheel hub (5) and clamped to the stub-axle bearer (21) through taper roller bearings (24).

Claims

1. Motorcycle having a stub-axle steering for a front wheel (16) of the motorcycle, said front wheel (16) being suspended on a frame (2) of the motorcycle by at least one swinging arm (1) linked to a stub-axle bearer (21) journalling a stub-axle pin (3) rotatable about its longitudinal pin axis constituting a steering axis (12) about which the front wheel (16) can be pivoted, the stub-axle pin (3) being arranged in a front wheel hub (5) of the front wheel (16), the longitudinal pin axis being offset from the front wheel axis (14) towards the rear of the motorcycle and extending in a center plane of the front wheel (16) at such an angle (α

-alpha) of the steering axis with respect to the ground (15) that a positive trail (n) results, characterised in that the stub-axle pin (3) is divided into longitudinal pin sections and the pin sections are screwed into the front wheel hub (5) and clamped to the stub-axle bearer (21) through taper roller bearings (24).

2. Motorcycle according to claim 1, characterised in that the front wheel hub (5) is rigidly coupled to a steering arm (4) connected by a lower universal joint (6), a torque-transferring telescoping shaft (7) and an upper universal joint (8) to a motorcycle handlebar (9) rotatable by the driver (10).

3. Motorcycle according to claim 2, characterised in that the telescoping shaft (7) comprises a splined shaft (26) and a torque-transferring ball-circulating sleeve (27) displaceable along the splined shaft (26).

4. Motorcycle according to claim 1, characterised in that the stub-axle bearer (21) has an axle (22) extending concentrically with the front wheel (16), the end of said axle (22) adjacent the wheel (16) being rigidly coupled to a bearing shell (23) offset laterally towards the rear of the vehicle for receiving the stub-axle pin (3).

5. Motorcycle according to claim 1, characterised in that the swinging arm (1) comprises only one arm including a control arm (17) having an arcuate form curving upwards and at the same time outwards with respect to the motorcycle.

6. Motorcycle according to claim 5, characterised in that a shock absorber (11) is hinged to the control arm (17) in a crown area (19) thereof.

7. Motorcycle according to claim 5, characterised in that a bracing arm (18) is welded to the control arm (17) for bracing the latter, the bracing arm (18) having an arcuate form curving downwards and outwards with respect to the motorcycle.

8. Motorcycle according to claim 1, characterised in that the spokes (29) of the front wheel (16) are arranged symmetrically to the center plane of the wheel.