Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle, and method for tilting a vehicle

• US 7,647,999 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Geiser
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Geiser
• Inventors: Geiser, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/589,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20070193803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 180/210, 180/211, 180/215, 280/124.103, 280/124.106
• US Class Current: 180/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01925 Pendulum-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/62 Seat occupation; Passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/96 Presence, absence or inactivity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/019 Inclination due to load distribution or road gradient
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A curve-tilting vehicle, e.g., a three-wheeled vehicle (30), including a laterally tilting device (4) at least one section (5) of the vehicle by a tilting axis (6) that runs substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (3) of the vehicle such that the center of gravity of the vehicle can be displaced perpendicular to the direction of travel when driving, especially in curves or on a sloped or uneven ground. The vehicle includes at least one vehicle seat (8a) that is disposed in the tilting section (5) of the vehicle and is allocated to the driver who steers the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a detector (9a) for detecting a lateral force of the seat, which the body of the driver applies at least to one zone of the vehicle seat (8a) in a lateral direction (10a) extending perpendicular to the direction of travel. The lateral force of the seat may be detected using a pivotal spring-centered vehicle seat (8a). The detector (9a) is effectively connected to the lateral tilting includes (4) in such a way that lateral tilting occurs in accordance with the detected lateral force of the seat while the tilting speed is a function at least of the lateral force of the seat and the vehicle speed, the tilting speed increasing as the lateral force of the seat rises at a factor that decreases as the speed of the vehicle goes up. The invention further relates to a method for tilting such a vehicle.

Claims

1. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle having at least three supporting elements for at least the purposes of transmitting a lateral guiding force between the vehicle and a ground, wherein

at least two of the at least three supporting elements are laterally disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal axis and

at least one of the at least three supporting elements can be steered for directional control of the vehicle,

with

means for laterally tilting at least one section of the vehicle about a tilting axis running essentially parallel to the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal axis, so that while driving, the center of gravity of the vehicle can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, and

at least one vehicle seat disposed on the tiltable section of the vehicle, for a driver steering the vehicle,

characterized in that

means of detection are provided for capturing a lateral sitting force exerted by the driver'"'"'s body onto at least one vehicle-seat portion of the vehicle seat in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel,

the means of detection are in operative connection with the means for lateral tilting, in such a way that

the lateral tilting occurs as a function of the detected lateral sitting force and

the tilting speed is a function, at least of the lateral sitting force and the speed of the vehicle, the tilting speed increasing with increasing lateral sitting force, with a factor that decreases with increasing vehicle speed.

2. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 1,

characterized in that

the supporting elements are formed as wheels, and the vehicle is formed as a three-wheeled vehicle with a curve-tiltable vehicle frame, wherein two of the three wheels are arranged side by side essentially symmetrically relative to the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal axis, and the third wheel is arranged essentially in the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal axis but centrally offset, and

the lateral tilting by the means for lateral tilting occurs in such a way, and the vehicle is designed in such a way that the wheels assume an inclined position corresponding to the tilt, and the two wheels positioned side by side act like a fictitious single central wheel essentially in the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal axis.

3. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 1,

characterized in that

at least a vehicle-seat portion of the vehicle seat is mobile in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel within the range of movement of the vehicle seat, and

the means of detection are so designed that they capture quantitatively or qualitatively the lateral sitting force by a direct or indirect measurement of force or distance at least at the vehicle-seat portion of the vehicle seat.

4. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 3,

characterized in that

the vehicle seat or the vehicle seat portion is mounted in such a way via a ball-and-socket joint with an axis of rotation of the vehicle seat running essentially parallel to the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal axis and centered relative to the vehicle seat that the vehicle seat is pivotable about the axis of rotation of the vehicle seat into the lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel within the range of movement of the vehicle seat.

5. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 4,

characterized in that

the operative connection between the means of detection and the means for lateral tilting are formed in such a way that the lateral tilting occurs toward the side that corresponds to the direction of the lateral sitting force.

6. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 3,

characterized in that

the vehicle seat has a backrest with lateral bulges for lateral support of the driver'"'"'s torso and

the lateral bulges form the vehicle seat portion that is mobile in the lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel within the range of movement of the vehicle seat.

7. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 3,

characterized in that

the vehicle seat comprises a seat squab or is designed as a seat squab and

the seat squab forms the vehicle seat portion that is mobile in the lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel within the range of movement of the vehicle seat.

8. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 7,

characterized in that

the operative connection between the means of detection and the means for lateral tilting are formed in such a way that the lateral tilting occurs toward the side opposite to the direction of the lateral sitting force.

9. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 3,

characterized in that

elastic centering means are provided which center at least the vehicle seat portion that is mobile in the lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel within the range of movement of the vehicle seat portion, through a restoring force to a central initial position, so that from the position of at least the vehicle-seat portion of the vehicle seat with in the range of movement of the vehicle seat the lateral sitting force can be determined, and

the means of detection are formed as at least one position detector capturing the position of at least the vehicle seat portion of the vehicle seat within the range of movement of the vehicle seat, so that the lateral sitting force can be captured.

10. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 9,

characterized in that

the elastic centering means are formed as centering springs having a variable initial spring bias that increases with increasing vehicle speed, and thus an increasing restoring force.

11. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 1,

characterized in that

the means for lateral tilting can be controlled hydraulically, and

the operative connection between the means of detection and the means for lateral tilting are formed as a hydraulic connection and

the means of detection are formed as hydraulic means of detection, through which the means for lateral tilting can be controlled via the hydraulic connection.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said hydraulic means of detection comprises a hydraulic valve.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said valve comprises a 4/3 directional control valve.

14. Multitrack curve-tilting vehicle of claim 1,

characterized in that

the means for lateral tilting can be controlled electrically, and

the operative connection between the means of detection and the means for lateral tilting are formed as an electrical signal link and

the means of detection are formed as electrical means of detection, through which the means for lateral tilting can be controlled via the electrical signal link.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein said means of detection comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said driving is on a bend, or on sloping or uneven ground.

17. Method for tilting a multitrack curve-tilting vehicle with

means for lateral tilting of at least one section of the vehicle about a tilting axis that runs essentially parallel to the vehicle'"'"'s longitudinal axis, so that during travel, the vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity can be shifted in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel,

at least one vehicle seat disposed on the tiltable section of the vehicle, for a driver steering the vehicle, and

means of detection for capturing a lateral sitting force exerted by the driver'"'"'s body onto at least one vehicle-seat portion of the vehicle seat in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel,

including the repeating steps of

capturing the lateral sitting force with the means of detection,

capturing the speed of the vehicle, and

tilting at least the section of the vehicle toward one side, wherein

the side is determined by the direction of the lateral sitting force and

the tilting speed is a function, at least of the size of the captured lateral sitting force and the captured velocity, and the tilting speed increases with increasing lateral sitting force, with a factor that decreases with increasing vehicle speed.

18. Method of claim 17, wherein

the tilting occurs toward the side corresponding to the direction of the lateral sitting force.

19. Method of claim 17, wherein

the tilting occurs toward the side opposite to the direction of the lateral sitting force.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said travel is in a bend, or on sloping or uneven ground.