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Self-centering return mechanism

  • US 7,568,541 B2
  • Filed: 05/12/2006
  • Issued: 08/04/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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:

  • 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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