U.S. patent application number 09/947750 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-14 for brake device.
Invention is credited to Honda, Yoshinobu, Iizuka, Chikashi.
Application Number | 20020029940 09/947750 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18758936 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020029940 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iizuka, Chikashi ; et
al. |
March 14, 2002 |
Brake device
Abstract
A motorcycle includes a rear wheel supported by a swing arm, and
a damper extends between the swing arm and the body. A swing arm
extension portion extends in the rearward direction from a rear
wheel shaft supporting portion of the swing arm. The damper is
connected to a rear end connecting portion of the swing arm
extension portion. A brake device includes a parking brake caliper
and a rear brake caliper. The parking brake caliper and the rear
brake caliper are arranged above and below the swing arm extension
portion. The rear brake caliper and the parking brake caliper can
be mounted without shifting the swing arm toward the outside in the
body in the width direction more than necessary.
Inventors: |
Iizuka, Chikashi; (Saitama,
JP) ; Honda, Yoshinobu; (Saitama, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
18758936 |
Appl. No.: |
09/947750 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
188/24.11 ;
188/71.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60T 1/065 20130101;
F16D 55/00 20130101; F16D 2123/00 20130101; F16D 2121/02 20130101;
B62L 1/00 20130101; F16D 2121/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
188/24.11 ;
188/71.1 |
International
Class: |
B62L 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 8, 2000 |
JP |
2000-272889 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A brake device of a motorcycle which supports a rear wheel with
a swing arm mounted on a body, stretches a damper between the swing
arm and the body, and includes first and second brake calipers to
apply a brake force to a brake disc of the rear wheel, wherein a
swing arm extension portion which is extended in the rearward
direction from a rear wheel shaft supporting portion is formed on
the swing arm, one end of the damper is connected to a rear end of
the swing arm extension portion, and the first and second brake
calipers are disposed above and below the swing arm extension
portion.
2. A motorcycle comprising: a body; a swing arm having a first end
pivotally attached to said body, a second opposite end which forms
a swing arm extension portion, and a wheel shaft supporting portion
therebetween; a wheel rotatably supported at said wheel shaft
supporting portion of said swing arm; and a brake device associated
with said wheel, said brake device including a brake disc attached
to said wheel; a first brake caliper disposed above said swing arm
extension portion for applying a brake force to said brake disc of
said wheel; and a second brake caliper disposed below said swing
arm extension portion for applying a brake force to said brake disc
of said wheel.
3. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a
damper extending between said swing arm and said body.
4. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 3, wherein one end of said
damper is connected to a distal end of said swing arm extension
portion.
5. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said wheel is a
rear wheel.
6. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first brake
caliper is a parking brake, and said second brake caliper is a
running brake.
7. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said parking
brake is actuated by pulling a cable attached to said first brake
caliper.
8. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 7, wherein said running
brake is actuated by hydraulic fluid pressure fed to said second
brake caliper.
9. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first brake
caliper is a running brake, and said second brake caliper is a
parking brake.
10. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 9, wherein said running
brake is actuated by hydraulic fluid pressure fed to said first
brake caliper.
11. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said parking
brake is actuated by pulling a cable attached to said second brake
caliper.
12. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first
brake caliper is disposed directly vertically above said wheel
shaft supporting portion of said swing arm.
13. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second
brake caliper is disposed directly horizontally behind said wheel
shaft supporting portion of said swing arm.
14. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second
brake caliper is disposed directly horizontally behind said wheel
shaft supporting portion of said swing arm.
15. A motorcycle comprising: a body; a swing arm having a first end
pivotally attached to said body, a second opposite end which forms
a swing arm extension portion, and a wheel shaft supporting portion
therebetween; a rear wheel rotatably supported at said wheel shaft
supporting portion of said swing arm; and a brake device associated
with said rear wheel, said brake device including a brake disc
attached to said rear wheel; a first brake caliper disposed above
said swing arm extension portion and directly vertically above said
wheel shaft supporting portion of said swing arm for applying a
brake force to said brake disc of said rear wheel; and a second
brake caliper disposed below said swing arm extension portion and
directly horizontally behind said wheel shaft supporting portion of
said swing arm for applying a brake force to said brake disc of
said rear wheel.
16. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a
damper extending between said swing arm and said body, wherein one
end of said damper is connected to a distal end of said swing arm
extension portion.
17. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 16, wherein said first
brake caliper is a parking brake, and said second brake caliper is
a running brake.
18. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 17, wherein said parking
brake is actuated by pulling a cable attached to said first brake
caliper.
19. The motorcycle as set forth in claim 18, wherein said running
brake is actuated by hydraulic fluid pressure fed to said second
brake caliper.
Description
[0001] This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a) on Patent Application No. 2000-272889 filed in
Japan on Sep. 8, 2000, which is herein incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a brake device of a
motorcycle which is provided with a plurality of independent brake
calipers at a rear wheel side.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] In Japanese Patent Publication No. 2782466 "motorcycle", a
brake device of a motorcycle is proposed which mounts a brake
caliper for rear brake on an arm member (swing arm). In this brake
device of the motorcycle, the rear brake caliper is mounted on a
support bracket of the swing arm and a brake force is applied to a
brake disc of a rear wheel using this rear brake caliper.
[0006] Among motorcycles, there exists a vehicle which requires a
parking brake in addition to the rear brake. To provide a caliper
of this parking brake together with the rear brake caliper at the
outer periphery of the brake disc, a space for mounting the parking
brake caliper is necessary. However, with respect to the motorcycle
disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the swing arm covers
the brake disc and hence, it is impossible to ensure the space for
mounting the parking brake caliper.
[0007] In JP-A No. 230201/1999 "disc brake device", a brake device
is proposed which is provided with two kinds of calipers, that is,
a rear brake caliper and a parking brake caliper. In this disc
brake device, the rear brake caliper and the parking brake caliper
are mounted on a mounting bracket and a boss portion of the
mounting bracket is fitted on a rear wheel shaft so that the
mounting bracket is supported on the rear wheel shaft.
[0008] According to this device, since it is unnecessary to mount
the rear brake caliper and the parking brake caliper on a swing arm
of a motorcycle, it is relatively easy to arrange two kinds of
brake calipers at positions corresponding to a brake disc of a rear
wheel. However, with respect to this disc brake device, since the
boss portion of the mounting bracket is fitted on the rear wheel
shaft, it is necessary to additionally shift the swing arm to the
outside in the body width direction by an amount of thickness of
the boss portion.
[0009] As a result, it is necessary to arrange the swing arm while
avoiding the boss portion which is bulged in the side direction and
hence, the arrangement of the swing arm receives the restriction
whereby the degree of freedom of designing becomes small. Further,
since the swing arm is additionally shifted to the outside in the
body width direction, there may be a case that a bank angle of the
motorcycle cannot be sufficiently ensured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a brake device of a motorcycle which can mount a rear brake
caliper and a parking brake caliper without shifting a swing arm to
the outside in the body width direction more than necessary.
[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a brake device of a
motorcycle supports a rear wheel with a swing arm mounted on a
body, stretches a damper between the swing arm and the body, and
includes first and second brake calipers to apply a brake force to
a brake disc of the rear wheel. A swing arm extension portion which
is extended in the rearward direction from a rear wheel shaft
supporting portion is formed on the swing arm, one end of the
damper is connected to a rear end of the swing arm extension
portion, and the first and second brake calipers are disposed above
and below the swing arm extension portion.
[0012] The swing arm extension portion which is extended in the
rearward direction from the rear wheel shaft supporting portion is
formed on the swing arm. A space which faces an outer periphery of
an upper portion of the brake disc can be formed at an upper side
of the swing arm extension portion and a space which faces an outer
periphery of a rear portion of the disc brake can be formed at a
lower side of the swing arm extension portion.
[0013] Accordingly, the first and second brake calipers which are
arranged above and below the swing arm extension portion can be
mounted on the upper and lower sides of the swing arm extension
portion. In addition, it is possible to make the first brake
caliper face the outer periphery of the upper portion of the brake
disc and it is also possible to make the second brake caliper face
the outer periphery of the rear portion of the brake disc. The rear
brake caliper and the parking brake caliper can be mounted without
shifting the swing arm to the outside in the body width direction
more than necessary.
[0014] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a motorcycle according to the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of a motorcycle according to the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of a brake device of
the motorcycle according to the present invention.;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along a
line 4-4; and
[0020] FIG. 5 is a view showing a layout of a motorcycle according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Hereinafter, the mode for carrying out the present invention
is explained in conjunction with the attached drawings. Here,
"front", "rear", "left", "right", follow directions as viewed from
a rider.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, a motorcycle 10 is provided with a front
brake lever 13 in the vicinity of a right grip 12 of a handle 11
and is provided with a rear brake lever 17 in the vicinity of a
left grip 16 of the handle 11. A parking lever 20 is arranged at
the right side of a body by mounting the parking lever 20 on a head
pipe of a body frame.
[0023] When a rider grips the front brake lever 13, a master
cylinder 14 generates hydraulic pressure and a brake pad of a front
brake caliper is pushed to a front brake disc due to this hydraulic
pressure so that a brake force is applied to a front wheel 25.
[0024] When the rider grips the rear brake lever 17, a master
cylinder 18 generates hydraulic pressure and a brake pad of a
second brake caliper (a rear brake caliper) is pushed to a rear
brake disc due to this hydraulic pressure so that a brake force is
applied to a rear wheel. Further, when the rider pulls the parking
lever 20 upward, a cable 22 is pulled so that a brake pad of a
first brake caliper (a parking brake caliper) is pushed to the rear
brake disc to hold the rear wheel in a locked state.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, in the motorcycle 10, the handle 11
and the front wheel 25 are respectively mounted on upper and lower
end portions of a front fork 32, a front brake disc 26 is mounted
on the front wheel 25, and a front brake caliper 27 is mounted on a
lower end portion of the front fork 32.
[0026] The motorcycle 10 is a scooter type motorcycle, wherein the
front fork 32 is mounted on a head pipe 31 of a body frame 30, an
engine 33 is mounted on the center of the body frame 30, a front
swing arm 34 is mounted on the engine 33 by way of an output shaft
33a such that the front swing arm 34 is capable of swinging in the
upward and downward direction, a swing arm 35 is mounted on the
front swing arm 34 by means of bolts 34a, 34a, the rear wheel 45 is
supported on a rear wheel shaft supporting portion 38 of the swing
arm 35 by way of a rear wheel shaft 46, a swing arm extension
portion 36 which is extended in the rearward direction from the
rear wheel shaft supporting portion 38 is formed on the swing arm
35, a rear end (rear end connecting portion) 37 of the swing arm
extension portion 36 is suspended from the rear portion of the body
frame 30 by way of a shock absorbing damper 43, and a brake device
60 of the motorcycle is mounted on the swing arm extension portion
36. Reference numeral 51 indicates a front cover, numeral 52
indicates a rear cover, numeral 53 indicates a seat, numeral 54
indicates a muffler, and numeral 55 indicates a floor step.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, in the brake device 60 of the
motorcycle, the rear wheel 45 is rotatably mounted on the rear
wheel shaft supporting portion 38 by way of the rear wheel shaft
46. The swing arm extension portion 36 is extended in the rearward
direction from the rear wheel shaft supporting portion 38 with the
upward gradient in a tapered form. A rear end connecting portion 37
is provided to the extended swing arm extension portion 36. One end
(lower end) 43a of a damper 43 is connected to the rear end
connecting portion 37 by means of a bolt 44. A parking brake
caliper 62 is arranged above the swing arm extension portion 36,
and a rear brake caliper 72 is arranged below the swing arm
extension portion 36.
[0028] By extending the swing arm extension portion 36 toward the
rear end connecting portion 37 from the rear wheel shaft supporting
portion 38 which supports the rear wheel shaft 46 with the upward
gradient in a tapered form, a gentle upper gradient extended in the
rearward direction is formed on an upper side 39a and a steep upper
gradient extended in the rearward direction is formed on a lower
side 39b.
[0029] Due to such construction, a space 49a which faces an outer
periphery 48a of an upper portion of the rear brake disc 48 is
formed along the upper side 39a of the swing arm extension portion
36 and a space 49b which faces an outer periphery 48b of a rear
portion of the rear brake disc 48 is formed along the lower side
39b of the swing arm extension portion 36. Accordingly, front and
rear mounting portions 41a, 41b can be protruded from the upper
side 39a with a given distance between them and by mounting a
parking brake caliper 62 to these mounting portions 41a, 41b by
means of bolts 42a, the parking brake caliper 62 can be arranged
such that the parking brake caliper 62 faces the outer periphery
48a of the upper portion of the rear brake disc 48.
[0030] By mounting a rear brake caliper 72 to the lower side 39b by
means of bolts 42b, the rear brake caliper 72 can be arranged so
that the rear brake caliper 72 faces the outer periphery 48b of the
rear portion of the rear brake disc 48. In this manner, by
extending the swing arm extension portion 36 in the rearward
direction of the body with the upward gradient, the swing arm
extension portion 36 can be arranged above the rear wheel shaft
supporting portion 38. Accordingly, the rear brake caliper 72 can
be arranged in the state that the rear brake caliper 72 is elevated
up to the outer periphery 48b of the rear portion of the rear brake
disc 48. Accordingly, the bank angle of the motorcycle 10 can be
increased.
[0031] With respect to the rear brake caliper 72, when the rear
brake lever 17 (shown in FIG. 1) is manipulated, the hydraulic
pressure is transmitted through a pipe 73 (see also FIG. 2) so as
to apply a brake force to the rear brake disc 48 using this
hydraulic pressure.
[0032] With respect to the parking brake caliper 62, when the
parking lever 20 (see FIG. 2) is pulled upwardly about a pin 21 as
an axis, a cable 22 is pulled as indicated by an arrow 1 and a
pulling force of the cable 22 is transmitted to a lever 64 by way
of a pin 63. Accordingly, the lever 64 is swung about a rod 65 as
an axis as indicated by an arrow 2 so as to lock the rear brake
disc 48. When the parking lever 20 is released, the lever 64
returns to the release position due to a spring force of a return
spring 66.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the rear wheel shaft supporting portion
38 of the swing arm 35 is provided with a boss 38a which is
recessed toward a body center 40 side and the rear wheel 45 is
rotatably supported on the rear wheel shaft supporting portion 38
by rotatably supporting the rear wheel shaft 46 on this boss
portion 38a by way of the bearing 38b.
[0034] By mounting the parking brake caliper 62 on the upper side
39a of the swing arm extension portion 36 by means of the bolts
42a, brake pads 67 of the parking brake caliper 62 can be arranged
at both sides of the outer periphery 48a of the upper end of the
rear brake disc 48. Further, by mounting the rear brake caliper 72
on the lower side 39b of the swing arm extension portion 36 by
means of the bolts 42b, brake pads 74 of the rear brake caliper 72
can be arranged at both sides of the outer periphery 48b of the
lower end of the rear brake disc 48.
[0035] In this manner, by mounting the parking brake caliper 62 and
the rear brake caliper 72 on the upper and lower sides 39a, 39b of
the swing arm extension portion 36, it becomes unnecessary to shift
the swing arm 35 from the center of the body 40 toward the outside
in the body width direction more than necessary. Accordingly, this
is advantageous in assuring the bank angle of the motorcycle
10.
[0036] With respect to the rear brake caliper 72, by manipulating
the rear brake lever 17 (shown in FIG. 1), the hydraulic pressure
is applied to two pistons 75 in the caliper 72 so as to push out
the pistons 75 from the caliper 72 so that the brake pads 74 are
pushed to both surfaces of the rear brake disc 48. Accordingly, it
is possible to apply the braking force to the rear wheel 45.
[0037] With respect to the parking brake caliper 62, when the
parking lever 20 shown in FIG. 1 is pulled upwardly about the pin
21 as an axis, the cable 22 is pulled and the lever 64 is swung as
shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the rod 65 is fed toward the rear
brake disc 48 side by a screw engagement so as to push brake pads
67 to both surfaces of the rear brake disc 48. Accordingly, the
rear brake disc 48 is locked so that the rear wheel 45 can be held
in the still state.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, by mounting the swing arm 35 on the
front swing arm 34 by means of the bolts 34a, the front swing arm
34 and the swing arm 35 are mounted so that they can swing in the
upward and downward about the center 33b of the output shaft 33a
(see FIG. 2) of the engine 33 as the center. Further, the swing arm
extension portion 36 of the swing arm 35 is extended in the
rearward direction from the rear wheel shaft supporting portion 38,
and the parking brake caliper 62 and the rear brake caliper 72 are
mounted on the swing arm extension portion 36.
[0039] The parking brake caliper 62 is shown in the state that the
parking brake caliper 62 is arranged at the swing arm 35 side for
the convenience sake. In this manner, by mounting the respective
brake calipers 62, 72 on the upper and lower sides 39a, 39b of the
swing arm extension portion 36 (see FIG. 4), it is unnecessary to
shift the swing arm 35 toward the outside in the body width
direction from the center 40 of the body more than necessary.
Accordingly, the center 35a of the swing arm 35 can be recessed
toward the body side from the position of the rear end connecting
portion 37 in a curved shape by a distance S. Accordingly, the
degree of freedom of designing can be enhanced with respect to the
shape and the arrangement of the muffler 54 (shown in FIG. 2), for
example.
[0040] Further, in this embodiment, the example in which the
parking brake caliper 62 is mounted on the upper side 39a of the
swing arm 35 as the first brake caliper and the rear brake caliper
72 is mounted on the lower side 39b of the swing arm 35 as the
second caliper has been explained. However, the parking brake
caliper 62 may be mounted on the lower side 39b and the rear brake
caliper 72 may be mounted on the upper side 39a.
[0041] Still further, although the example in which the parking
brake caliper 62 is used as the first caliper and hence, the first
caliper adopts a mechanical brake has been explained, by using the
rear brake caliper as the first brake caliper as in the case of the
second brake caliper, it is possible to adopt the hydraulic brake
in both of the first and second brake calipers.
[0042] The present invention achieves several advantageous effects
due to the above-mentioned constitution. The swing arm extension
portion which is extended in the rearward direction from the rear
wheel shaft supporting portion is provided to the swing arm. Due to
such a constitution, it is possible to form the space which faces
the outer periphery of the upper portion of the brake disc at the
upper side of the swing arm extension portion and the space which
faces the outer periphery of the rear portion of the brake disc at
the lower side of the swing arm extension portion.
[0043] Accordingly, it is possible to mount the first and second
brake calipers which are arranged above and below the swing arm
extension portion on the upper and lower sides of the swing arm
extension portion. In addition to the above, it is possible to make
the first brake caliper face the outer periphery of the upper
portion of the brake disc and to make the second brake caliper face
the outer periphery of the rear portion of the brake disc.
Accordingly, it is unnecessary to shift the swing arm toward the
outside in the body width direction more than necessary to mount
the first and second brake calipers.
[0044] As a result, the restrictions on the arrangement of the
swing arm can be attenuated so that the degree of freedom in
designing can be enhanced. In addition, it is possible to ensure
the sufficient bank angle of the motorcycle.
[0045] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *