Rear wheel suspension system of motorcycle

• US 6,427,796 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Tsutsumikoshi, Shinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): LERNER, AVRAHAM H
• Application Number:
  US09/862,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 180/227, 180/228, 180/219, 180/230, 180/291, 180/292, 180/226
• US Class Current: 180/227
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/10 characterised by the engine being over or beside driven rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/20 for rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 17/00 Transmissions characterised by use of rotary shaft, e.g. cardan shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/1808 two
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/02 for driving cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/16 Engines characterised by number of cylinders, e.g. single-cylinder engines F02B75/26 takes precedence

Abstract

In a motorcycle in which an engine unit is mounted to a motorcycle body and a power transmission unit coupled to the engine unit is arranged to the motorcycle body to be swingable through a pivot shaft, a rear wheel suspension system is formed so as to include the power transmission unit, a pair of arm members disposed to lateral side portions of the motorcycle body in parallel to each other, and connection members connecting both end portions of the arm members. One of the arm members constitutes the power transmission unit which has an inner hollow portion in which a power transmission member is accommodated and has a structure dividable into lateral two parts forming an arm base section and a cover section.

Claims

1. A rear wheel suspension system of a motorcycle in which an engine unit is mounted to a motorcycle body and a power transmission unit coupled to the engine unit is arranged to the motorcycle body to be swingable through a pivot shaft, said rear wheel suspension system, comprising the power transmission unit, a pair of arm members disposed to lateral side portions of the motorcycle body in parallel to each other, and connection members connecting both end portions of the arm members at portions behind the pivot shaft, wherein one of said arm members constitutes the power transmission unit including a propeller shaft, a bearing for the propeller shaft and a reduction mechanism, said transmission unit having inner hollow portion in which the propeller shaft is accommodated and having a structure dividable into lateral two parts forming an arm base section and a cover section, and said bearing is formed in the cover section of the power transmission unit so as to support one end portion of the propeller shaft.

2. A rear wheel suspension system according to claim 1, wherein one of said connection members connecting one end portions of the arm members constitutes a support member supporting the pivot shaft and wherein a swing motion center of a universal joint coupling the propeller shaft and a power output shaft of the engine unit is disposed on an extension of an axis of the pivot shaft.

3. A rear wheel suspension system according to claim 1, wherein at least other one of said arm members, the arm base section and connection members are formed through a casting process.

4. A rear wheel suspension system of a motorcycle in which an engine unit is mounted to, a motorcycle body and a power transmission unit coupled to the engine unit is arranged to the motorcycle body to be swingable through a pivot shaft,

said rear wheel suspension system comprising:

the power transmission unit including a propeller shaft, a bearing for the propeller shaft and the reduction mechanism, said transmission unit having inner hollow portion in which the propeller shaft is accommodated;

a pair of arm members disposed to lateral side portions of the motorcycle body in parallel to each other, one of said arm members constituting said power transmission unit; and

connection members connecting both end portions of the arm members at portions behind the pivot shaft, said power transmission unit having a structure dividable into lateral two parts forming an arm base section and a cover section, so that a mating surface of the divided two parts are arranged in substantially vertical manner so as to pass through an axis of the propeller shaft, and said bearing being formed in the cover section of the power transmission unit so as to support one end portion of the propeller shaft.