Motorized three-wheeled vehicle active suspension

• US 8,645,024 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sabertooth Motorcycles LLC
• Original Assignee: Sabertooth Motorcycles LLC
• Inventors: Daniels, Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US13/657,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 701/38, 701/41, 701/45, 701/70, 701/74, 701/79, 701/81, 180/215, 180/227
• US Class Current: 701/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/106 transversally
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/12 Cycles; Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/25 Stroke; Height; Displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/412 Speed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/00 Steering devices steering devices specially adapted for one particular kind of cycle specified in groups B62K1/00 - B62K17/00, see the relevant group
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023

Abstract

A system that stiffens the rear suspension of the three-wheeled vehicle in coordination with the operator turning the front wheel to prevent leaning in turns and thus improve handling, performance and safety. The suspension system is controlled by the suspension control computer that receives input from a variety of sensors including a sensor in the steering neck that measures the angular rotation as the handlebars are turned by the operator. Based on these inputs, using proprietary programming, the suspension control computer calculates the timing, degree and appropriate side rear shock absorbing unit to stiffen. Active suspension offers significant advantages over non-active independent rear suspension in that it minimizes adverse handling characteristics caused by suspension leaning in turns while still allowing the comfort and handling of an independent rear suspension, as opposed to a non-independent rear suspension which provides a poor quality ride.

Claims

1. A three wheeled vehicle active suspension system for improving steering and handling for a three wheeled vehicle with one front and two rear wheels in turns by stiffening the vehicle'"'"'s rear suspension component on the inboard side of the turn when the vehicle is turned in coordination with the turning of the front wheel by the vehicle operator, to prevent the three wheeled vehicle from leaning in the turn, which will keep all three of the vehicle'"'"'s wheels firmly planted on a road and the vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity over the vehicle'"'"'s rear end, comprising:

means for sensing angular rotation of any left or right turning movement of the vehicle'"'"'s front wheel when turned by the vehicle'"'"'s operator;

means for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s front wheel position sensor to the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer, electrically connected to said means for sensing angular rotation of any left or right turning movement of the front wheel by the vehicle'"'"'s operator;

means for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s road speed;

means for connecting vehicle'"'"'s speed sensor to suspension control computer, electrically connected to said means for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s road speed;

means for controlling of rear suspension which determines the stiffness, rate and other properties of the vehicle'"'"'s rear shock absorbers, electrically connected to said means for connecting vehicle'"'"'s speed sensor to vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer, and electrically connected to said means for connecting the front wheel position sensor to the suspension control computer;

means for providing shock absorbing to left rear end of three wheeled vehicle;

means for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer to the vehicle'"'"'s left rear shock absorbing unit, electrically connected to said means for providing shock absorbing to left rear end of three wheeled vehicle, and electrically connected to said means for controlling of left rear suspension which determines the stiffness, rate and other properties of the rear shock absorbers;

means for providing shock absorbing for the right rear end of three wheeled vehicle;

means for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s suspension computer to the vehicle'"'"'s right rear shock absorbing unit, electrically connected to said means for providing shock absorbing for the right rear end of three wheeled vehicle, and electrically connected to said means for controlling of right rear suspension which determines the stiffness, rate and other properties of the rear shock absorbers;

means for allowing the vehicle'"'"'s operator to turn the vehicle'"'"'s active suspension system on and off and/or control one or more functions of the vehicle'"'"'s active suspension system including rate, responsiveness, stiffness, ride height, ride quality and other functions; and

means for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s active suspension system control switch to the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer, electrically connected to said means for allowing the vehicle'"'"'s operator to turn the active suspension system on and off and/or control one or more functions of the system including rate, responsiveness, stiffness, ride height, ride quality and other functions, and electrically connected to said means for controlling of rear suspension which determines the stiffness, rate and other properties of rear shock absorbers.

2. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for sensing angular rotation of any left or right turning movement of the front wheel by the operator comprises a front wheel position sensor.

3. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connecting the front wheel position sensor to the suspension control computer comprises a front wheel position sensor connector.

4. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s road speed comprises a vehicle speed sensor.

5. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connecting vehicle speed sensor to suspension control computer comprises a vehicle speed sensor connector.

6. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling of rear suspension which determines the stiffness, rate and other properties of the rear shock absorbers comprises a suspension control computer.

7. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing shock absorbing to left rear end of three wheeled vehicle comprises a left rear shock absorbing unit actuated by air, hydraulic, electric or other mechanism.

8. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connecting the suspension control computer to left rear shock absorbing unit comprises a wire to left rear shock absorbing unit.

9. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing shock absorbing to right rear end of three wheeled vehicle comprises a right rear shock absorbing unit actuated by air, hydraulic, electric or other mechanism.

10. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connecting the suspension computer to the right rear shock absorbing unit comprises a wire to right rear shock absorbing unit.

11. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for allowing the operator to turn the active suspension system on and off and control the function of the system comprises a switch having an on position, off position, and one or more preset system positions.

12. The three wheeled vehicle active suspension system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for connecting the system control switch to the suspension control computer comprises a wire to system control switch.

13. A three wheeled vehicle active suspension system for improving steering and handling for a three wheeled vehicle with one front and two rear wheels in turns by stiffening the vehicle'"'"'s rear suspension component on the inboard side of the turn when the vehicle is turned in coordination with the turning of the front wheel by the vehicle operator, to prevent the three wheeled vehicle from leaning in the turn, which will keep all three of the vehicle'"'"'s wheels firmly planted on a road and the vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity over the vehicle'"'"'s rear end, comprising:

a front wheel position sensor, for sensing angular rotation of any left or right turning movement of the vehicle'"'"'s front wheel when turned by the vehicle'"'"'s operator;

a front wheel position sensor connector, for connecting the front wheel position sensor to the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer, electrically connected to said front wheel position sensor;

a vehicle speed sensor, for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s road speed;

a vehicle speed sensor connector, for connecting vehicle speed sensor to suspension control computer, electrically connected to said vehicle speed sensor;

a suspension control computer, for controlling of rear suspension which determines the stiffness, rate and other properties of the vehicle'"'"'s rear shock absorbers, electrically connected to said vehicle speed sensor connector, and electrically connected to said front wheel position sensor connector;

a left rear shock absorbing unit actuated by air, hydraulic, electric or other mechanism, for providing shock absorbing to left rear end of three wheeled vehicle;

a wire to left rear shock absorbing unit, for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer to left rear shock absorbing unit, electrically connected to said left rear shock absorbing unit, and electrically connected to said suspension control computer;

a right rear shock absorbing unit actuated by air, hydraulic, electric or other mechanism, for providing shock absorbing to right rear end of three wheeled vehicle;

a wire to right rear shock absorbing unit, for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer to right rear shock absorbing unit, electrically connected to said right rear shock absorbing unit, and electrically connected to said suspension control computer;

a system control switch having an on position, off position, and one or more preset system positions, for allowing the operator to turn the active suspension system on and off and/or control one or more functions of the system including rate, responsiveness, stiffness, ride height, ride quality and other functions; and

a wire to system control switch, for connecting the system control switch to the suspension control computer, electrically connected to said system control switch, and electrically connected to said suspension control computer.

14. A three wheeled vehicle active suspension system for improving steering and handling for a three wheeled vehicle with one front and two rear wheels in turns by stiffening the vehicle'"'"'s rear suspension component on the inboard side of the turn when the vehicle is turned in coordination with the turning of the front wheel by the vehicle operator, to prevent the three wheeled vehicle from leaning in the turn, which will keep all three of the vehicle'"'"'s wheels firmly planted on a road and the vehicle'"'"'s center of gravity over the vehicle'"'"'s rear end, comprising:

a front wheel position sensor, for sensing angular rotation of any left or right turning movement of the vehicle'"'"'s front wheel when turned by the vehicle'"'"'s operator;

a front wheel position sensor connector, for connecting the front wheel position sensor to the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer, electrically connected to said front wheel position sensor;

a vehicle speed sensor, for measuring the vehicle'"'"'s road speed;

a vehicle speed sensor connector, for connecting vehicle speed sensor to suspension control computer, electrically connected to said vehicle speed sensor;

a suspension control computer, for controlling of rear suspension which determines the stiffness, rate and other properties of the vehicle'"'"'s rear shock absorbers, electrically connected to said vehicle speed sensor connector, and electrically connected to said front wheel position sensor connector;

a left rear shock absorbing unit actuated by air, hydraulic, electric or other mechanism, for providing shock absorbing to left rear end of three wheeled vehicle;

a wire to left rear shock absorbing unit, for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer to left rear shock absorbing unit, electrically connected to said left rear shock absorbing unit, and electrically connected to said suspension control computer;

a right rear shock absorbing unit actuated by air, hydraulic, electric or other mechanism, for providing shock absorbing to right rear end of three wheeled vehicle;

a wire to right rear shock absorbing unit, for connecting the vehicle'"'"'s suspension control computer to right rear shock absorbing unit, electrically connected to said right rear shock absorbing unit, and electrically connected to said suspension control computer;

a system control switch having an on position, off position, and one or more preset system positions, for allowing the operator to turn the active suspension system on and off and/or control one or more functions of the system including rate, responsiveness, stiffness, ride height, ride quality and other functions; and

a wire to system control switch, for connecting the system control switch to the suspension control computer, electrically connected to said system control switch, and electrically connected to said suspension control computer.