Motorcycle and fork for a motorcycle

Abstract

Motorcycle comprising a frame and a fork, wherein the frame comprises a steering head in which the fork is mounted, wherein the fork is additionally mounted on the frame via a longitudinal control arm element, and wherein the longitudinal control arm element is at least partially or partially designed as a spring element.

Description

The present invention relates to a motorcycle and a fork for a motorcycle.Forks for bicycles of the type in question are forks which are connected to a frame of the respective vehicle via at least one longitudinal link element. Known designs of this type are known, for example, under the name Telelever ® or Duolever ®. The aforementioned concepts are distinguished in particular in that the forks do not enter or do not enter into the forks at all during braking. Thus, even in critical situations, enough residual spring travel is maintained. However, in comparison with classic telescopic forks, the feedback from the front wheel may be lower.It is therefore an object of the present invention to specify a motorcycle and a fork for a motorcycle which develop the known concepts.This object is achieved by a motorcycle according to claim 1 and by a fork for a motorcycle according to claim 12. Further advantages and features are evident from the dependent claims and from the description of the flexurally joined figure.According to the invention, a motorcycle comprises a frame and a fork, wherein the frame comprises a steering head in which the fork is rotatably mounted, wherein the fork is additionally mounted on the frame via a trailing arm element and wherein the trailing arm element is configured at least partially or partially, in other words for example in sections, as a spring element. The fork comprises, similar to conventional telescopic forks, standpipes and dip tubes. The immersion pipes are connected to one another, for example, via a lower fork bridge. The trailing arm element is mounted on the latter accordingly, for example via a radial mounting. A complex radial articulated bearing can, as is generally customary in such yoke concepts, advantageously be dispensed with. The standpipes are connected to one another via an upper fork bridge. The standpipes are each pivotally connected to the upper fork bridge. Via the upper fork bridge, the fork is rotatably mounted in the steering head. Expediently, the trailing arm element, which is designed at least in regions as a spring element, enables the wheel elevation curve to be adjusted in a targeted manner.In addition, the rigidity of the entire front wheel guide can be adjusted accurately. The entire structure is distinguished above all by its low weight and, as already indicated, by the very low design outlay, which also requires very little installation space. Thus, no strut or shock absorber is further required, since the suspension is provided directly by the trailing arm element itself. The fork is expediently designed to provide a damping effect.According to one embodiment, the frame has a plurality of bearing points for mounting or connecting the trailing arm element, wherein the bearing points are offset with respect to one another in the direction of travel and / or in the vertical direction. The term "frame" is understood here not only to mean the frame construction of the motorcycle, but also to mean other supporting parts or components. For example, the trailing arm element can also be rotatably arranged on an engine block of the respective motorcycle. Expediently, the trailing arm element is mounted on the frame at a plurality of points, as a result of which in particular the lateral rigidity which is provided by the fork can also be increased and adjusted in a targeted manner.As already mentioned, the fork expediently has a damping device. The fork is thus expediently designed to provide a damping function, similar to "classic" telescopic forks.According to one embodiment, the trailing arm element, similar to the known Telelever® concepts, is mounted on the frame via a damper element or via a spring damper element. This opens up further possibilities for adjusting the chassis.The bearing points have at least two bearing points spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction. These are expediently spaced as far apart from one another as possible in the transverse direction, such that a laterally rigid connection of the trailing arm element to the frame can be provided. All bearing points, by means of which the trailing arm element is arranged or fastened on the fork and / or on the frame, can be designed as simple radial bearings. The axis of rotation extends perpendicular to the direction of travel, so that a spring-in movement along a vertical direction is made possible.Expediently, the trailing arm element is designed to provide a lateral guidance at least partially. Expediently, the spring element is designed accordingly in order to provide a spring-in movement along the vertical direction, but not transversely thereto. Expediently, the trailing arm element or in particular the spring element is designed in such a way that a flexibility, elasticity or, more generally, a "springing" is provided even in the longitudinal direction, at least slightly. Thus, shocks coming directly from the front can advantageously also be cushioned and damped. This leads to a marked gain in comfort.According to one embodiment, the spring element is designed as a single- or multi-layer leaf spring. The above-mentioned requirements can thus be fulfilled very well, for example. According to one embodiment, the trailing arm element is designed at least in regions as a single- or multi-layer leaf spring. Alternatively, the trailing arm element is designed completely or approximately completely as a leaf spring. Accordingly, the trailing arm element according to this embodiment is designed completely as a spring element. The spring element in turn can, as shown in the example of the leaf spring, be designed differently in areas or sections in order to provide a desired spring characteristic. In the example of the leaf spring, this means, for example, that it can have a different layer structure in sections or regions, wherein this means not only the number of layers, but also their mechanical properties, whether it relates to the geometry or to the materials used, etc.According to one embodiment, the trailing arm element is formed in an arc shape or approximately in a semicircular shape. Such an arcuate or semicircular longitudinal link element is preferably arranged and positioned in such a way that it is open to the front, that is to say in the direction of travel. A first end of the trailing arm element is arranged on the fork, and a second end of the trailing arm element is arranged on the frame. As already mentioned, the trailing arm element is preferably arranged at a plurality of bearing points on the frame side or at least guided over these. The arcuate configuration can also be used in particular to provide the flexibility of the entire system in the direction of travel.According to one embodiment, the curved trailing arm element is mounted on the frame side via two bearing points, wherein a front bearing point is arranged offset upwards with respect to a rear bearing point. This embodiment enables a stable lateral guidance as well as an optimum and sensitive suspension behavior.According to one embodiment, the trailing arm element is constructed in multiple parts. It is thus possible, for example, to provide different properties of the trailing arm element. As already mentioned, the trailing arm element does not have to be completely designed as a spring element. It is likewise possible for the spring elements, insofar as there are a plurality, to have different characteristics. The multipart construction also enables a correspondingly adapted construction of the trailing arm element in the region of the bearing points.According to one embodiment, the motorcycle comprises an additional lateral guiding element, which articulates the fork and the frame. The additional lateral guide element can also be considered an "auxiliary longitudinal link element", which is designed and provided in particular to support the lateral guidance of the fork.According to one embodiment, the spring element is based on metallic or non-metallic materials. The aforementioned leaf spring or the layers thereof can be formed from a metal. However, composite material spring elements are also advantageous. This allows very specific influencing or setting of the suspension behavior. In addition, these are very light and corrosion-resistant.The invention is also directed to a fork for a motorcycle, such as a motorcycle, comprising a longitudinal link element for mounting or connecting the fork to a frame of a motorcycle, wherein the longitudinal link element is designed at least partially or partially, in other words also in sections, as a spring element. The advantages and features mentioned in connection with the motorcycle apply analogously and correspondingly to the fork.Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of a motorcycle and a fork with reference to the accompanying figure.The following are shown: FIG. 1 : shows a schematic partial view of an embodiment of a motorcycle according to the invention.FIG. 1 schematically shows a partial view of a motorcycle comprising a frame 10 which has a steering head 12 in which a fork 20 is rotatably mounted. The fork 20 comprises standpipes 22 and immersion pipes 24. The immersion pipes 24 are connected to one another via a lower fork bridge 28, a longitudinal link element 30 being connected to the latter via a bearing point 40. This is designed in the present case to be approximately arcuate or semicircular and is mounted on the frame 10 via two further bearing points 40. The frame 10 comprises a front frame-side bearing point 42 and a rear frame-side bearing point 44, which are offset with respect to one another along a vertical direction H and along a travel direction F.The rear frame-side bearing point 44 is provided in the present case by the engine or the engine block, which is not shown in the present case, however. The engine block is connected to the frame 10 in the present case, for example, via the engine bearings 48. Instead, the spring action is provided directly via the trailing arm element 30, which is designed as a spring element at least in regions. The damping takes place via the fork 20. According to a preferred embodiment, the trailing arm element 30 is designed completely or at least in regions in the manner of a leaf spring.Such a construction enables, for example, a very exact matching of the suspension and of the wheel elevation curve, for example, by means of a specific layer construction or a specific material selection. Since this construction provides elasticity in particular also in the x direction, i.e. in and counter to the direction of travel, the driving behavior can be significantly positively influenced, in particular since the feedback to the driver via the front wheel guidance can be significantly optimized.List of reference characters10 Frame 12 steering head 20 fork 22 standpipe 24 immersion pipe 26 upper fork bridge 28 lower bearing bridge 30 longitudinal control arm element 40 bearing point 42 front (frame-side) bearing point 44 rear (frame-side) bearing point 46 (fork-side) bearing point 48 motor bearing F direction of travel H vertical direction

Claims

Motorcycle comprising a frame (10) and a fork (20), wherein the frame (10) comprises a steering head (12) in which the fork (20) is mounted, wherein the fork (20) is additionally mounted on the frame (10) via a trailing arm element (30), and wherein the trailing arm element (30) is at least partially or partially designed as a spring element.Motorcycle according to Claim 1, wherein the frame (10) has a plurality of bearing points (40) for mounting or connecting the trailing arm element (30), and wherein the bearing points (40) are offset with respect to one another in the direction of travel (F) and / or in the vertical direction (H).Motorcycle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fork (20) comprises a damping device.Motorcycle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the trailing arm element (30) is configured to provide at least in part lateral guidance.Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element is designed as a single- or multi-layer leaf spring.Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the trailing arm element (30) is designed completely as a spring element.Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the trailing arm element (30) is of arcuate configuration.Motorcycle according to Claim 7, wherein the arcuate longitudinal link element (30) is mounted on the frame side via two bearing points (40), and wherein a front bearing point (42) is arranged offset upwards with respect to a rear bearing point (44).Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the trailing arm element (30) is constructed in multiple parts.Motorcycle according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an additional lateral guide element which articulates the fork (20) and the frame (10).Motorcycle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element is based on metallic and / or non-metallic materials.Fork (20) for a motorcycle, comprising a longitudinal link element (30) for mounting and connecting the fork (20) to a frame of a motorcycle, wherein the longitudinal link element (30) is at least partially or partially designed as a spring element.

Images