Self-centering return mechanism
First Claim
1. A lean control system for controlling a lean angle of at least a portion of a vehicle, the lean control system comprising:
- an energy storage device for storing energy to actuate the lean control system;
a stabilizing mechanism coupled to the energy storage device and to the at least a portion of the vehicle for applying energy received from the energy storage device to the at least a portion of the vehicleto adjust the lean angle of the at least a portion of a vehicle; and
a linkage coupled to the energy storage device and to the stabilizing mechanism for transferring energy from the energy storage device to the stabilizing mechanism;
wherein the linkage comprises a shaft translatably coupled to the at least a portion of the vehicle so as to provide rotation of the shaft in correspondence with rotation of the at least a portion of the vehicle, the shaft having a first portion coupled to the energy storage device and a second portion coupled to the stabilizing mechanism, and wherein the stabilizing mechanism comprises a cam secured to the vehicle so as to substantially prevent rotation of the cam with respect to the vehicle and a roller rotatably coupled to the second portion of the shaft for rollingly engaging a surface of the cam during translation of the shaft, whereby rolling engagement between the roller and the surface of the cam produces rotation of the shaft, thereby producing a corresponding rotation of the at least a portion of the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An auxiliary lean control system is provided for controlling a lean angle of at least a portion of a vehicle. The auxiliary lean control system includes an energy storage device for storing energy to actuate the lean control system, a stabilizing mechanism coupled to the energy storage device and to the at least a portion of the vehicle for applying energy received from the energy storage device to the at least a portion of the vehicle to adjust the lean angle of the at least a portion of a vehicle, and a linkage coupled to the energy storage device and to the stabilizing mechanism for transferring energy from the energy storage device to the stabilizing mechanism. The auxiliary lean control system controls the lean angle of the portion of the vehicle in an absence of control of the lean angle by a primary lean control system. In another aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle including a vehicle suspension apparatus and a vehicle lean control system coupled to the vehicle suspension apparatus for controlling a lean of at least a portion of the vehicle, the suspension apparatus being operable independent of the vehicle lean control system.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A lean control system for controlling a lean angle of at least a portion of a vehicle, the lean control system comprising:
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an energy storage device for storing energy to actuate the lean control system; a stabilizing mechanism coupled to the energy storage device and to the at least a portion of the vehicle for applying energy received from the energy storage device to the at least a portion of the vehicle to adjust the lean angle of the at least a portion of a vehicle; and a linkage coupled to the energy storage device and to the stabilizing mechanism for transferring energy from the energy storage device to the stabilizing mechanism;
wherein the linkage comprises a shaft translatably coupled to the at least a portion of the vehicle so as to provide rotation of the shaft in correspondence with rotation of the at least a portion of the vehicle, the shaft having a first portion coupled to the energy storage device and a second portion coupled to the stabilizing mechanism, and wherein the stabilizing mechanism comprises a cam secured to the vehicle so as to substantially prevent rotation of the cam with respect to the vehicle and a roller rotatably coupled to the second portion of the shaft for rollingly engaging a surface of the cam during translation of the shaft, whereby rolling engagement between the roller and the surface of the cam produces rotation of the shaft, thereby producing a corresponding rotation of the at least a portion of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification