U.S. patent number RE32,031 [Application Number 06/457,759] was granted by the patent office on 1985-11-19 for cambering vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Frank J. Winchell.
United States Patent |
RE32,031 |
Winchell |
November 19, 1985 |
Cambering vehicle
Abstract
A three-wheeled cambering vehicle having a platform for
supporting the vehicle operator and having a pair of laterally
spaced rear wheels mounted thereon. The vehicle has a centralized
tubular frame with a front leg member that supports a steerable
front fork and wheel assembly and a rearward seat for the vehicle
operator. A lower leg of the frame is supported for turning
movement with respect to a longitudinal roll axis by the platform
which permits the frame and front fork and wheel assembly to be
cambered by the vehicle operator as the platform remains in a
predetermined plane with respect to the support surface.
Inventors: |
Winchell; Frank J. (Orchard
Lake, MI) |
Assignee: |
General Motors Corporation
(Detroit, MI)
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Family
ID: |
26825110 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/457,759 |
Filed: |
January 13, 1983 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
126877 |
Mar 3, 1980 |
04325565 |
Apr 20, 1982 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/282; 180/210;
280/124.103; 280/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62K
5/027 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62K
5/00 (20060101); B62K 5/04 (20060101); B62K
005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;280/282,220,210 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2429238 |
|
Sep 1975 |
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DE |
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53217 |
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Oct 1945 |
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FR |
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2014094 |
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Aug 1979 |
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GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr.; Joseph F.
Assistant Examiner: Hill; Mitchell J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: White; Charles R.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A cambering vehicle for transporting a vehicle operator along a
support surface, said vehicle comprising a centralized main frame
having an upwardly extending forward frame member and a lower
tubular frame member extending along the longitudinal axis of the
vehicle rearwardly from the lower end of said forward frame member
to the rear of said vehicle, steerable front wheel means supported
by said forward frame member for contacting said support surface,
manual steering means operatively connected to said steerable front
wheel means, a seat for a vehicle operator attached to said lower
frame member, a one-piece support platform extending to the rear of
said vehicle from said forward frame member and laterally across
said lower frame member for receiving the feet of the vehicle
operator, bearing means operatively connecting said lower frame
member to said platform for supporting said frame on said platform
for free cambering movement about a longitudinal roll axis coplanar
with the longitudinal axis of said platform, transverse axle means
rotatably supporting the central frame secured to said platform,
rear wheel means underlying said seat means and supported on
opposite outboard ends of said axle means for contacting said
support surface to support said platform in fixed angular
relationship with respect to said support surface while allowing
the operator when seated to impart balancing moments through his
feet while cambering said central frame and said front wheel
means.
2. A cambering vehicle for transporting a vehicle operator along a
support surface, said vehicle comprising a central tubular frame
having an upwardly extending forward frame member and a lower frame
member extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
rearwardly from the lower end of said forward frame member to the
end of said vehicle, steerable front wheel means supported by said
forward frame member for contacting said support surface, manual
steering means operatively connected to said steerable front wheel
means, a shell-like support platform having a centralized
longitudinal axis extending to the rear of said vehicle from said
forward frame member and laterally across said lower frame member
for receiving the feet of the vehicle operator, bearing means
pivotally connecting said lower frame member to said platform for
supporting said frame on said platform for substantially
unrestrained clockwise and counterclockwise pivotal movement about
a longitudinal roll axis coplanar with the longitudinal axis of
said vehicle, transverse rear axle means secured to said platform,
rear wheel means supported on opposite outboard ends of said axle
means for contacting said support surface to support said platform
in fixed angular relationship with respect to said support surface
while allowing said operator to stand in a natural upright manner
on said platform and straddle said longitudinal roll axis to impart
balancing moments while simultaneously cambering said frame and
said front wheel means.
3. A cambering vehicle for transporting a vehicle operator along a
support surface, said vehicle comprising a centralized main
cambering frame having an upwardly extending forward frame member
and a tubular lower frame member extending along the longitudinal
axis of said vehicle and rearwardly from the lower end of said
forward frame member, a seat for the vehicle operator, an upright
for said seat extending upwardly from the trailing end portion of
said lower frame member for cambering movement therewith, steerable
front wheel means supported by said forward frame member for
contacting said support surface, manual steering means operatively
connected to said steerable front wheel means, an operator support
platform extending rearwardly from said forward frame member to
said upright and extending laterally across said lower frame member
for receiving the feet of the vehicle operator, bearing means
operatively connecting said lower frame member to said platform for
supporting said cambering frame on said platform for unrestrained
cambering moments about a longitudinal roll axis coplanar with the
longitudinal axis of said vehicle, transverse rear axle means
secured to said platform, rear wheel means supported on opposite
outboard ends of said axle means for contacting said support
surface to support said platform in a predetermined angular
relationship with respect to said support surface while allowing
said operator to sit on said seat and straddle the longitudinal
roll axis to impart balancing moments while cambering said seat
with said main frame and said front wheel means. .Iadd.
4. In a cambering vehicle having an engine for vehicle propulsion,
a cambering steering fork assembly at the front of the vehicle
mounting a road wheel at the lower end thereof and manual steering
means at the upper end thereof, a pair of laterally spaced rear
road wheels supporting a non-cambering support platform for the
feet of the vehicle operator, a cambering main frame having a
forward portion operatively mounting the steering fork assembly and
a cambering seat support at the rear of the vehicle for the vehicle
operator connected to the main frame for cambering movement
therewith about a camber axis to allow the operator to freely lean
into turns while standing or seated and while cambering the vehicle
with his feet on the support platform characterized in that the
engine is mounted on the steering fork assembly and is drivingly
connected to the front wheel of the steering fork assembly and that
the support platform extends between the forward portion of the
main frame and the seat support and is substantially unobstructed
to facilitate operator entry and egress and operator stabilization
of the vehicle during powered cambering maneuvers through foot
impressed loads to the platform in the event an unbalanced
condition occurs..Iaddend. .Iadd.5. A cambering vehicle according
to claim 4 characterized in that the seat support overlies a
rearward end portion of the support platform and the rear wheels
carried thereby. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A cambering vehicle according
to claim 4 characterized in that the main frame includes a tubular
and longitudinally extending member that is coextensive with and is
pivoted to the support
platform. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A cambering vehicle according to claim
6 characterized in that the support platform is a unitized shell
which supports and covers the rear wheels adjacent to the rearward
end thereof and which houses bearing means for said tubular member
of said main frame..Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A cambering vehicle according
to claim 7 characterized in that the main frame extends along the
longitudinal axis of the vehicle from rigid connection with the
seat support at the rear of the vehicle into pivotal connection
with the steering fork assembly and that the tubular member of the
main frame is a lower leg portion that encompasses the cambering
axis of the steering fork assembly and main frame. .Iaddend.
Description
This invention relates to a new and improved three-track cambering
vehicle for supporting an operator in a seated position while
allowing the operator to impart balancing moments into the vehicle
through his feet selectively positioned on a platform carried by
the vehicle frame and maintained in a substantially fixed plane by
rear contacts as a front steering assembly, the frame and attached
seat are cambered with respect to the platform.
Prior to the present invention, narrow three-track cambering
vehicles have had various suspension arrangements so that the
vehicle frame and wheels or other surface contact means could be
cambered for improved mobility and stability. For example, my prior
U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,106 for Cambering Vehicle issued May 2, 1978
discloses a vehicle in which trailing arms are pivotally mounted to
a front frame member so the front and rear contacts can be cambered
with the frame to permit a vehicle operator, preferably while
standing, to lean with the vehicle in a natural manner to execute
cornering and other vehicle maneuvers with a high degree of
stability. While my prior cambering vehicle provided a highly
stabilized and maneuverable vehicle and functioned as intended, it
was determined that a somewhat similar vehicle having a platform
maintained in a fixed plane with respect to the ground was
desirable so that a seated operator could put balancing moments
into the vehicle as it is being maneuvered using the platform as a
moving ground. To this end the present invention is drawn to a
lightweight three-place contact cambering vehicle in which a
steerable front contact and a centralized vehicle frame with a seat
for operator support can be cambered while a platform remains in a
substantially horizontal plane; i.e., a plane, fixed with respect
to the supporting surface. Laterally spaced rear contacts are
carried by the platform and cannot be cambered with the frame,
seat, and front contact. The platform, in effect, provides a ground
moving with the vehicle on which the seated operator places his
feet spread apart on opposite sides of the vehicle roll axis. In
this position, the operator preferably performs coordinated
cambered vehicle maneuvers such as high-speed cornering without
utilization of foot balance input. If, however, there is a loss of
balance, the operator can selectively impart left and right
balancing loads through feet grounded on the platform to regain
balance and to thereby improve control. When the vehicle is at a
standstill, the operator can impart foot balancing moments to the
platform to maintain the vehicle upright and ready for movement
without his feet contacting the roadway on opposite sides of the
vehicle, as would be the case with a conventional motorcycle or
mo-ped. While the operator preferably drives the vehicle while
seated, he may optionally stand on the support platform during
vehicle operation including all maneuvers.
It is a feature, object and advantage of this invention to provide
a new and improved cambering vehicle with a centralized cambering
frame supporting a steerable front ground contact and an operator
supporting seat; a platform for receiving the feet of the operator
and rockably supporting the frame is stabilized with respect to the
supporting surface by laterally spaced rear contacts carried
thereby to allow the operator to impart balancing moment to the
vehicle through his feet as the vehicle frame, seat and front
contact are cambered.
Another feature, object and advantage of this invention is to
provide a new and improved narrow-track vehicle with high lateral
acceleration potential produced by cambering the main frame and a
steerable front wheel; laterally spaced rear wheels are mounted on
a generally horizontal platform which remains in a plane
substantially fixed with respect to the ground during cornering and
other vehicle maneuvers.
Another feature, object and advantage of this invention is to
provide a new and improved three-wheel cambering vehicle having a
frame with an operator's seat fixed thereto which incorporates a
new and improved platform that carries the rear wheels and rockably
supports the frame for cambering movement and that remains
substantially parallel with respect to the support surface during
vehicle maneuvers including cambering of the steering wheel, seat
and frame.
Another feature, object and advantage of this invention is to
provide a new and improved cambering vehicle having a steerable
front support mounted on a cambering frame extending along
longitudinal axis of the vehicle and having a pair of laterally
spaced rear supports and platform mounted on the cambering frame in
a manner such that the platform remains substantially parallel to
the support surface as the frame and front contact are
cambered.
These and other features, objects and advantages of this invention
will be more apparent from the following detailed description and
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle illustrating a preferred
embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the vehicle of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of a portion of the vehicle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of the vehicle of FIG.
1;
FIG. 5 is an end view, partially in section, of a portion of the
vehicle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view, with parts broken away, of the
vehicle of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the vehicle of FIG.
4;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 7
as viewed in the direction of the sight line arrows.
Turning now in greater detail to the drawing, there is shown in
FIG. 1 a three-wheeled cambering vehicle 12 for providing
individual mobility for an operator. This three-track vehicle has a
centralized tubular main frame 14, generally L-shaped in side view
configuration with an upwardly inclined front leg portion 16. The
forward leg portion supports at its upper end a tubular collar 18,
inclined at a predetermined rake angle, in which a steering post 20
is rotatably journaled. The upper end of the steering post 20 is
connected to a handlebar assembly 22 by a gooseneck type connection
24.
The steering post 20 may be turned in clockwise or counterclockwise
direction within the collar 18 by the manual activation of the
handlebar assembly 22 by a vehicle operator sitting or standing on
the vehicle. The steering post 20 is connected by upper bracket 26
and lower bracket 28 to an inclined dual bar steering fork assembly
30.
A front axle 32 supported on the lower end of the fork assembly 30
rotatably mounts a front road wheel 34 steerable through the
turning of the fork assembly through the steering post and
handlebar assembly. A sprocket 36, drivingly connected to the front
wheel 34, is driven by an internal combustion engine 38 through an
endless chain 40. The engine mounted to the front fork assembly may
be started by pulling a starter cable 42 by means of a handle 44
mounted on the gooseneck connection 24 by a bracket 46. Engine
speed is controlled through a rotatable handlebar grip 48
operatively connected through a suitable cable to the throttle
valve of the engine. Pull cable 49 mounted on the handlebar
assembly adjacent to the grip 48 controls the engine choke.
The tubular main frame 14 extends in a longitudinal plane that
bisects the vehicle. In addition to leg portion 16, the main frame
has a lower leg portion 50 that extends rearwardly and slightly
upwardly from the bottom of the front leg portion 16. The central
longitudinal axis A of the lower leg portion 50 describes the roll
axis of the vehicle and is inclined at a predetermined angle to
intersect the support surface at, forward or aft of footprint P of
the front wheel 34 to provide a selected steering
characteristic.
An operator supporting platform 52 formed by a contoured shell is
rockably mounted on the lower leg portion 50 of the main frame for
cambering operations. To this end the platform 52 has a centralized
and longitudinally extending tunnel 54 in which support tube 56 is
mounted.
The lower leg 50 of the frame extends through and is rotatably
mounted within the support tube 56 by respective front and rear
bearings 58 and 60 which allow the main frame to be cambered
clockwise or counterclockwise about axis A and with respect to the
platform as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5.
The bearings 58 and 60 are substantially the same in construction
so that only bearing 58 is described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 7
and 8, the front bearing 58 comprises a cylindrical bushing 61 of
nylon or other suitable material mounted in the forward end of the
support tube 56. Annular retainer 64 mounted on the lower leg
portion 50 immediately in front of the bushing 61 retains the
bushing in place within the confines of the support tube.
The platform 52 is a lightweight component and preferably is formed
from a plastic shell filled with a reinforcing closed celled
plastic material. In a top plan configuration, the platform is
somewhat triangular as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The forward portion
of this platform is arched upwardly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 while
the rear corners are formed with arched fenders 68 and 70 to
accommodate the laterally spaced rear wheels 72 and 74. The rear
wheels are supported on a rear axle 76 which is mounted within a
cylindrical cross tube 78 extending laterally across the rear end
of the platform 52. The cross tube 78 is secured to aft end of the
centralized support tube 56 by a depending arm 80 as best shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5. The outboard ends of the cross tube 78 are secured
by angular brackets 84 and 86 to the underside of the platform 52
as shown in FIG. 6. Mounted to the brackets 84 and 86 are left and
right stationary housings 88 and 90 that contains cam-operated shoe
brakes. These shoe brakes are engaged with associated brake drums
not shown through a laterally extending brake shaft 92 turned by
crank arms 94 on actuation of a braking cable 96 which extends
along the bottom of the support platform and up to a manual brake
lever 98 mounted on the handlebar assembly adjacent to left hand
handlebar grip 100.
Extending upwardly from the rear end of the lower leg portion 50 of
the frame 14 is a telescoping spring strut 102 assembly that
incorporates the depending support post 104 of the saddle-type
operator's seat 106. Seat height adjustment is made in conventional
manner by loosening gripping collar 108, telescoping the seat post
to set the seat at the desired height and retightening collar 108
to grip the seat post. The strut 102 is protected by a convoluted
plastic cover 109.
The operator may be seated on the seat with his feet placed in any
selected position on opposite sides 110, 112 of the platform
including the outer preimeter thereof. Balancing moments can be
imparted through the feet on the platform to keep the vehicle
upright when stationary. The vehicle engine can then be started in
conventional manner and the vehicle driven forwardly. With the
platform moving in a relatively fixed plane, the operator can lean
naturally into turns while seated during vehicle operation since
the seat and its supporting spring strut are fixed to the cambering
main frame and move through the same camber angle. With the
platform riding in a fixed plane about the roadway and with the
operator leaning into a turn along with the frame, seat and front
steering assembly, the operator can, if necessary, impress loads
onto the platform through his feet at all speeds from zero to
maximum for lateral balancing. For example, when executing a sharp
turn, the operator can steer the vehicle into the turn at a large
camber angle. Normally the operator stays coordinated as on a
motorcycle so that the vehicle is in equilibrium. If, however, an
unbalanced condition occurs, the operator can use foot balance
moments as required to regain vehicle equilibrium without his feet
contacting the ground. With the moving platform serving as a
ground, there would be no need for the operator using his feet for
contact with the road surface to serve as a skid in order to impart
balancing moments, as might be the case when cornering a
conventional two-wheeled motorcycle. For evasive maneuvers, the
operator can use his feet to camber the vehicle of this invention
quicker than a conventional motorcycle can be cambered since no
momentary steering input opposite to the direction of camber is
necessary with this invention.
The vehicle can also be readily ridden with the operator standing
in a natural manner on the platform. During such cornering
operation, the operator can camber the vehicle by leaning the frame
and the front steering fork for stabilized cornering at a wide
range of vehicle speed. During the maneuvers, the platform will
remain parallel or at a fixed angle with respect to the supporting
surface.
With this narrow-track cambering vehicle, narrow and tortuous paths
can be readily negotiated with a proper match of vehicle speed,
camber angle and path curvature to maintain lateral stability. For
parking, hook 114 pivoted to main frame leg 16 is moved from an
upper over-center position into locking engagement with the apex of
the platform to secure the platform to the main frame so that the
vehicle will stand freely.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and
described to illustrate the invention, other modifications will
become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope
of this invention is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *