Reinforcing and Locking Device for Vehicle Frame

• US 20130228996A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dahon Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Dahon Technologies Limited (Dahon Global)
• Inventors: Hon, David Tak-Wei, Mo, Yiping, Li, Zheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,899,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/287
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/008 foldable about 2 or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/28 Means for strengthening joints

Abstract

A reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame includes a reinforcing component (2), a connecting component and a locking component, the vehicle frame comprises a beam (1) and a seat tube (3). The beam (1) can be folded into at least two segments (11, 12). A hinge axle (81), through which various segments of the vehicle beam (1) are hinged with each other, is provided vertically. The reinforcing component (2) is connected to the beam (1) and the seat tube (3). The seat tube (3) is provided with a connecting component. A front end of the reinforcing component (2) is hinged with a front segment (11) of the beam (1), and a rear end of the reinforcing component (2) is connected with the seat tube (3) through the connecting component. The reinforcing component (2) is locked by a locking component, so that the rear end of the reinforcing component (2) after being connected, deviates horizontally from its original position in natural connection and moves to a side of the vehicle beam (1), where the hinge axle (81) is installed. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame is used for folding or unfolding the vehicle body rapidly, enhancing the beam and providing pre-tightening forces for contact interfaces of the beam (1) coupled. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame has good stability, simple structure and low cost.

Claims

1. A reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame, wherein, the vehicle frame includes a beam (1) and a seat tube (3);

the beam includes at least two foldable segments;

a hinge axle (81) for hinging the segments of the beam is provided vertically;

the reinforcing and locking device includes a reinforcing component (2), a connecting component and a locking component;

the reinforcing component (2) is connected with the beam and the seat tube;

the connecting component is provided on the seat tube;

wherein, a front end of the reinforcing component is hinged to a front segment (11) of the beam, a rear end of the reinforcing component is connected to the seat tube through the connecting component; and

the reinforcing component is locked by the locking component, so that the rear end of the reinforcing component deviates from its original position and moves to one side of the beam where the hinge axle is installed.

2. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein, the locking component is an eccentric locking component, through which the rear end of the reinforcing component is locked;

and the rear end of the reinforcing component is displaced under a force of the eccentric locking component.

3. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 2, wherein, the eccentric locking component comprises a rod, a nut and an eccentric handle;

the rod runs through clamp heads of the connecting component;

the nut is disposed on one end of the rod and the eccentric handle is disposed on the other end of the rod; and

the rear end of the reinforcing component is provided with a hook, which hooks the rod and is locked and fixed.

4. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein, in an original position of natural connection, a center of the rear end of the reinforcing component deviates from a vertical plane containing a center line of the beam;

and the center of the rear end of the reinforcing component and the hinge axle of the beam are respectively disposed at different sides of the vertical plane containing the center line of the beam.

5. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein, the front end of the reinforcing component is ∩

-shaped or Λ

-shaped so as to have two arms; and

the two arms are respectively hinged to two ends of a second hinged shaft, which is fixed on the front segment of the beam and the two ends thereof extends towards two sides of the beam respectively.

6. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 5, wherein, traverse distance between front ends of the two arms of the reinforcing component is greater than transverse width of the beam.

7. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 5, wherein, one arm of the reinforcing component, which is near to the hinge axle (81), comprises two segments;

and between the two segments of the arm, a gap is disposed and a locking structure is provided.

8. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein, a base with two projecting lugs is provided on the front segment of the beam;

and the front end of the reinforcing component is hinged between the two projecting lugs through a first hinged shaft.

9. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein, the connecting component is an integral clamping ring integrated by a connecting part and a clamping ring (6) for the seat tube.

10. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 9, wherein, surfaces of two clamp heads of the integral clamping ring deviate from a center of the integral clamping ring;

the integral clamping ring is additionally provided with a reinforcing lug parallel to the clamp heads; and

the reinforcing lug and the two clamp heads are respectively disposed at different sides of the center of the integral clamping ring.

11. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to of claim 1, wherein, the connecting device component comprises a front cover and a rear cover;

the front cover and the rear cover are joined and locked through bolts; and

the front cover is provided with clamp heads.

12. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to of claim 1, wherein, the beam comprises three segments and is provided with two hinge axles which are parallel;

and when the vehicle is folded, axis of an intermediate segment (13) of the beam is approximately perpendicular to those of a front segment (11) and a rear segment (12) of the beam.

13. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein, the rear end of the reinforcing component deviates from its original position and moves to one side of the beam where the hinge axle is installed, with a displacement ranging from 2 mm to 8 mm.

14. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 3, wherein, the connecting component is an integral clamping ring integrated by a connecting part and a clamping ring (6) for the seat tube.

15. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 7, wherein, the connecting component is an integral clamping ring integrated by a connecting part and a clamping ring (6) for the seat tube.

16. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 3, wherein, the connecting component comprises a front cover and a rear cover;

the front cover and the rear cover are joined and locked through bolts; and

the front cover is provided with clamp heads.

17. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 7, wherein, the connecting component comprises a front cover and a rear cover;

the front cover and the rear cover are joined and locked through bolts; and

the front cover is provided with clamp heads.

18. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 3, wherein, the beam comprises three segments and is provided with two hinge axles which are parallel;

and when the vehicle is folded, axis of an intermediate segment (13) of the beam is approximately perpendicular to those of a front segment (11) and a rear segment (12) of the beam.

19. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 7, wherein, the beam comprises three segments and is provided with two hinge axles which are parallel;

and when the vehicle is folded, axis of an intermediate segment (13) of the beam is approximately perpendicular to those of a front segment (11) and a rear segment (12) of the beam.

20. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame according to claim 3, wherein, the rear end of the reinforcing component deviates from its original position and moves to one side of the beam where the hinge axle is installed, with a displacement ranging from 2 mm to 8 mm.