Wheeled tilting apparatus

• US 8,104,781 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis Gazarek
• Original Assignee: Dennis Gazarek
• Inventors: Gazarek, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/591,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.134, 280/124.135, 280/124.125, 280/124.136, 280/124.145, 280/124.15, 280/124.103, 280/5.509, 280/5.506, 280/5.507, 280/124.141
• US Class Current: 280/124.141
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/15 Mounting of subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/16 Mounting of vehicle body on chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/423 Rails, tubes, or the like, for guiding the movement of suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/45 Stops limiting travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/82 left and right unit on same axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8306 Permanent; Continuous
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/123 the arm having T-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/12 Cycles; Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/124 Quads
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/04 to a tricycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/06 to a quadricycle, e.g. by coupling together two bicycles side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

The apparatus has two tilting wheels which, when attached to a two-wheeled vehicle such as a motorcycle or a scooter, allows the vehicle to tilt into a curve notwithstanding the addition of the two wheels. The apparatus includes a frame, a pair of wheel supports and a pair of wheels each rotatable about a separate wheel support. A pair of links interconnect the frame with the wheel supports. The apparatus includes a rocker pivotally connected to the frame and a pair of transverse arms each pivotal about a separate wheel support and the rocker. Each transverse arm has a coil spring for biasing the wheel support and rocker apart. When a vehicle equipped with the apparatus rounds a curve, the frame tilts in the direction of the curve with like tilting of the wheels of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A wheel-tilting apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus including:

a frame, a pair of wheel supports;

a pair of wheels each rotatable about a separate said wheel support, a pair of links each pivotable about said frame and a separate said wheel support such that said frame, while traveling on a curve, tilts toward the direction of said curve and causes resulting tilting of said wheels;

a rocker pivotal relative to said frame;

a pair of transverse arms each pivotal about a separate said wheel support and said rocker and each having means for biasing said separate wheel support and said rocker apart.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said transverse arm is pivotal about a separate point on said rocker, said points being spaced apart from each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein both said transverse arms are pivotal about the same point on said rocker.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wheels are axially aligned.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said transverse arm is pivotally connected to a separate said link.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for selectively preventing said rocker from pivoting.

7. Wheel-tilting apparatus for a relatively light-weight vehicle, said apparatus including:

a frame;

a pair of wheel supports;

a pair of axially aligned wheels each rotatable about a separate said wheel support, two pairs of lower and upper parallel links, each pair of said links being pivotal about lower and upper pivot points, respectively, on a separate said wheel support and each pair of said links being pivotal about said frame such that said frame, while travelling on a curve, tilting toward the direction of said curve with resulting tilting of said wheels;

a rocker pivotal relative to said frame;

a pair of transverse arms each pivotal about a lower pivot point on a separate said lower link and an upper pivot point on said rocker, each said transverse arm being extendible from a retracted position to an extended position and including resilient means for biasing said transverse arm into said extended position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each said transverse arm is pivotal about a separate point on said rocker, said points being spaced apart from each other.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein both said transverse arms are pivotal about the same point on said rocker.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said upper pivot point is at a higher elevation than that of the lower pivot point of each said transverse arm.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 including means for selectively preventing said rocker from pivoting.

12. A wheel-tilting apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus including:

a frame, a pair of wheel supports;

a pair of wheels each rotatable about a separate said wheel support, a pair of links each pivotable about said frame and a separate said wheel support such that said frame, while traveling on a curve, tilts toward the direction of said curve and causes a resulting tilting of said wheels;

a rocker pivotal relative to said frame;

a pair of transverse arms each pivotal about a separate said wheel support and said rocker and each having means for biasing said separate wheel support and said rocker apart, and wherein said transverse arms are shock absorbers.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each said transverse arm is pivotal about a separate point on said rocker, said points being spaced apart from each other.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein both said transverse arms are pivotal about the same point on said rocker.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said wheels are axially aligned.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each said transverse arm is pivotally connected to a separate said link.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 further including means for selectively preventing said rocker from pivoting.

18. Wheel-tilting apparatus for a relatively light-weight vehicle, said apparatus including:

a frame;

a pair of wheel supports;

a pair of axially aligned wheels each rotatable about a separate said wheel support, two pairs of lower and upper parallel links, each pair of said links being pivotal about lower and upper pivot points, respectively, on a separate said wheel support and each pair of said links being pivotal about said frame such that said frame, while travelling on a curve, tilting toward the direction of said curve with resulting tilting of said wheels;

a rocker pivotal relative to said frame;

a pair of transverse arms each pivotal about a lower pivot point on a separate said lower link and an upper pivot point on said rocker, each said transverse arm being extendible from a retracted position to an extended position and including resilient means for biasing said transverse arm into said extended position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each said transverse arm is pivotal about a separate point on said rocker, said points being spaced apart from each other.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein both said transverse arms are pivotal about the same point on said rocker.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said upper pivot point is at a higher elevation than that of the lower pivot point of each said transverse arm.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 including means for selectively preventing said rocker from pivoting.