Tilting vehicle

Abstract

A tilting vehicle includes: a steering mechanism (31) which has two handles (311) arranged along an imaginary auxiliary line (L); a tilting mechanism (32) which has two vertical connecting bars (322) and upper and lower cross bars (321, 323) pivoted relative to the vertical connecting bars (322); a power unit (4) which includes a crankshaft (42) extending along an axis of rotation (R);and an air filter unit (5) which is disposed between the tilting mechanism (32) and a vertical longitudinal plane (S3) overlapping the axis of rotation (R), and which is disposed in a predetermined area (Z) delimited by a horizontal upper plane (S1) overlapping the auxiliary line (L), two vertical lateral planes (S2) respectively intersecting the vertical connecting bars (322) and extending along a front-to-back direction and a horizontal lower plane (S4) extending horizontally and overlapping the axis of rotation (R). [Fig. 3];

Description

Title of the invention: Tilting vehicle

[0001] The disclosure relates to a vehicle, and more particularly a tiltable vehicle having two tiltable front wheels.

[0002] With reference to [Fig. 1], a conventional motorcycle 1 comprises a vehicle body 10, a rear swing arm 11 connected to the vehicle body 10, a rear wheel 12 connected, in rotation, to the rear swing arm 11, and an air filter 13 mounted next to the rear wheel 12 and disposed at a height level between the vehicle body 10 and the rear swing arm 11. Since the air filter 13 is exposed to the external environment and disposed next to the rear wheel 12, foreign bodies such as dirt particles can easily accumulate on the air filter 13 and affect its performance.

[0003] Furthermore, for existing tiltable vehicles such as one equipped with two tiltable front wheels, the configuration mentioned above (i.e., the air filter 13 is located next to the rear wheel 12) becomes less suitable, taking into account the differences in the spatial arrangements of the components surrounding the air filter or the rear wheels. In such cases, the air filter becomes more susceptible to damage caused by foreign bodies and may require more frequent maintenance to achieve stable operation.

[0004] Therefore, one object of the disclosure is to propose a tiltable vehicle having two tiltable front wheels and an air filter unit which can reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0005] According to the disclosure, a tilting vehicle includes a chassis, a steering unit mounted on the chassis and comprising a steering mechanism which has two spaced handles arranged along an imaginary auxiliary line, a power unit mounted on the chassis and disposed behind the steering unit and an air filter unit mounted in the chassis.

[0006] The tilting vehicle is characterized in that the steering unit further comprises a tilting mechanism and two front wheel mechanisms. The tilting mechanism is connected to the steering mechanism and has two vertical connecting bars, each of which has upper and lower end segments, an upper crossbar with opposing end segments respectively pivoted relative to the upper end segments of the vertical connecting bars, and a lower crossbar disposed below the upper crossbar with opposing end segments respectively pivoted relative to the lower end segments of the vertical crossbars. The front wheel mechanisms are connected to the vertical connecting bars of the tilting mechanism. The power unit comprises an engine casing and a crankshaft that extends transversely and rotates through the engine casing along an axis of rotation. The air filter unit is arranged in a predetermined area delimited by a horizontal upper plane that overlaps the auxiliary line, two vertical lateral planes that respectively intersect the vertical connecting bars and extend along a front-to-back direction, and a horizontal lower plane that extends horizontally and overlaps the axis of rotation, and is arranged between the tilting mechanism and a vertical longitudinal plane that overlaps the axis of rotation.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a fragmented side view of a conventional motorcycle having an air filter;

[0009] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] is a side view of an embodiment of a tilting vehicle according to the disclosure;

[0010] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] is a fragmented side view of the embodiment, intended to be observed in conjunction with the [Fig.2] to illustrate an air filter unit mounted in a chassis of the embodiment;

[0011] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] is a fragmented front view of the embodiment, illustrating a unified direction of the embodiment;

[0012] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is a perspective view illustrating the air filter unit of the embodiment;

[0013] [Fig.6] Figures 6 and 7 are fragmented cross-sectional views of the air filter unit, intended to be observed in conjunction with [Fig.5] to illustrate a main body and an air inlet component of the air filter unit;

[0014] [Fig. 7] Figures 6 and 7 are fragmented cross-sectional views of the air filter unit, intended to be viewed in conjunction with [Fig. 5] to illustrate a main body and an air inlet component of the air filter unit; and

[0015] [Fig.8] The [Fig.8] is a fragmented rear view of the embodiment, illustrating the relative positions of the air filter unit and a tilting mechanism for the steering unit.

[0016] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, an embodiment of a tilting vehicle according to the disclosure includes a chassis 2 made of a rigid material, a steering unit 3 mounted on the chassis 2, a power unit 4 mounted on the chassis 2 and disposed behind the steering unit 3 and an air filter unit 5 mounted in the chassis 2.

[0017] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the steering unit 3 comprises a mechanism of steering mechanism 31, a tilting mechanism 32 connected to the steering mechanism 31, and two front wheel mechanisms 33 connected to the tilting mechanism 32. The steering mechanism 31 includes a steering mechanism 31 which has two spaced handles 311 arranged along an imaginary auxiliary line (L). The handles 311 are adapted to be operated by a motorcyclist's hands by rotation, so that the tilting mechanism 32 is driven to synchronously drive the front wheel mechanisms 33 in order to achieve tilting and / or steering.The tilting mechanism 32 has two vertical connecting bars 322, each of which has upper and lower end segments, an upper crossbar 321 which has opposite end segments respectively pivoted with respect to the upper end segments of the vertical connecting bars 322, and a lower crossbar 323 which is disposed below the upper crossbar 321, and which has opposite end segments respectively pivoted with respect to the lower end segments of the vertical connecting bars 322. The front wheel mechanisms 33 are connected to the vertical connecting bars 322 of the tilting mechanism 32, respectively, and define between them a passageway (H) which is spatially in communication with the air filter unit 5.By virtue of the configurations mentioned above, the upper crossbar 321, the vertical connecting bars 322 and the lower crossbar 323 are pivotally connected to each other and form, by cooperation, a quadrilateral shape which allows the tilting of the front wheel mechanisms 33. In addition, the passageway (H) between the front wheel mechanisms 33 allows maintenance or repair of the air filter unit 5 to be carried out without having to dismantle the front wheel mechanisms 33.

[0018] The power unit 4 comprises an engine casing 41, a crankshaft 42 which extends transversely and rotationally through the engine casing 41 along an axis of rotation (R), and a cylinder 43 which is disposed in the engine casing 41 and which is spatially in communication with the air filter unit 5.

[0019] With reference to Figures 5 to 7, the air filter unit 5 comprises a main body 51, a filter medium 52 and an air inlet component 53. The main body 51 defines an internal space 510, and is formed with an upward-facing inlet orifice 511 which is spatially in communication with the internal space 510. The filter medium 52 is disposed, in a detachable manner, in the internal space 510. The air inlet component 53 is connected to the main body 51 at the inlet orifice 511 and extends upwards.

[0020] Specifically, the main body 51 is further formed with two exhaust ports 512 which communicate spatially with the internal space 510 of the main body 51 and the cylinder 43 and which is disposed above the cylinder 43. The component The air inlet 53 is configured as an airflow guide structure that is integrally connected to the main body 51 in one piece, and has an air collection tube 531 that is spatially connected to the inlet port 511 and two intake tubes 532 that are connected to the left and right sides of the air collection tube 531, respectively. Each of the intake tubes 532 is formed with a suction port 530 open in a direction that is inclined downwards and backwards. Furthermore, with reference to Figures 7 and 8 in conjunction with [Fig. 3], the suction port 530 of each of the intake tubes 532 is disposed above the lower crossbar 323 of the tilting mechanism 32 relative to the ground, and is disposed at substantially the same height as the upper crossbar 321 of the tilting mechanism 32.

[0021] Since the inlet orifice 511 is oriented upwards and away from the ground, the probability of heavy, dirty particles, water droplets, or other foreign bodies entering the inlet orifice 511 is reduced. Furthermore, since the suction orifices 530 are open in a downward and rearward inclined direction and are arranged on the left and right sides of the air collection tube 531, its air intake is optimized and stabilized in terms of both its intake volume and its direction (i.e., from bottom to top).In addition, the position of the air filter unit 5 relative to the upper crossbar 321 and the lower crossbar 323 can ensure that the suction ports 530 are arranged substantially at the same height as the upper crossbar 321 of the tilting mechanism 32, and one can considerably prevent foreign bodies moving backwards during the movement from entering the suction ports 530, thereby reducing the workload of the filter medium 52 and thus prolonging the service life of the filter medium 52.

[0022] With reference to [Fig. 8] in conjunction with [Fig. 3], the air filter unit 5 is arranged in a predetermined area (Z), delimited by a horizontal upper plane (S1) that overlaps the auxiliary line (L), two vertical lateral planes (S2) that respectively intersect the vertical connecting bars 322 and extend along a front-to-back direction, and a horizontal lower plane (S4) that extends horizontally and overlaps the axis of rotation (R). Furthermore, the air filter unit 5 is arranged above the cylinder 43 and between the tilting mechanism 32 and a vertical longitudinal plane (S3) that overlaps the axis of rotation (R).

[0023] By virtue of the configuration of the exhaust ports 512 of the air filter unit 5, which are arranged above the cylinder 43, the air filter unit 5 is maintained at a certain height above the ground, and the air filtered by the air filter unit 5 can effectively enter the cylinder 43 from the exhaust ports 512 of the air filter unit 5. Furthermore, given that the air filter unit 5 is arranged Within the predetermined zone (Z) and opposite the axis of rotation (R) of the crankshaft 42, the air filter unit 5 can be arranged in a spatial position suitable for various types of tiltable vehicles equipped with a front wheel tilting mechanism equivalent to the present embodiment. Furthermore, since the air filter unit 5 is positioned behind the tilting mechanism 32 and at a certain distance from the front wheel mechanisms 33, the probability of foreign objects entering the air filter unit 5 is further reduced, thus ensuring stable operation of the air filter unit 5.

[0024] In summary, by virtue of the relative positions of the air filter unit 5 and the tilting mechanism 32, the present embodiment of the tiltable vehicle according to the disclosure is suitable for different types of vehicles by reducing the probability of foreign bodies entering the air filter unit 5 and facilitating the intake of air into the cylinder 43 of the power unit 4 of the air filter unit 5, thus ensuring the stable operation of the air filter unit 5 and extending the service life of the air filter unit 5.

[0025] In the above description, for explanatory purposes, numerous specific details have been presented to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment. However, it is clear to those skilled in the art that one or more other embodiments can be implemented without some of these specific details. It should also be noted that the reference throughout this disclosure to "an embodiment," "an embodiment," an embodiment with an ordinal number, and so on, means that a particular element, structure, or feature may be included in the practice of the disclosure.It should also be noted that in the description, different features are sometimes grouped into a single embodiment, figure or its description in order to simplify disclosure and help to understand the different inventive aspects and that one or more specific features or details of one embodiment may be put into practice jointly with one or more specific features or details of another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of disclosure.

Claims

Demands

1. Tilting vehicle comprising: a chassis (2), a steering unit (3) mounted on said chassis (2) and comprising a steering mechanism (31) having two spaced handles (311) arranged along an imaginary auxiliary line (L), a power unit (4) mounted on said chassis (2) and disposed behind said steering unit (3), and an air filter unit (5) mounted in said chassis (2), said tiltable vehicle being characterized in that: said steering unit (3) further comprises: a tilting mechanism (32) which is connected to said steering mechanism (31) and which has two vertical connecting bars (322), each of which has upper and lower end segments, an upper crossbar (321) which has opposite end segments respectively pivoted with respect to said upper end segments of said vertical connecting bars (322), and a lower crossbar (323) which is disposed under said upper crossbar (321), and which has opposite end segments respectively pivoted with respect to said lower end segments of said vertical connecting bars (322), and two front wheel mechanisms (33) which are connected to said vertical connecting bars (322) of said tilting mechanism (32), respectively; said power unit (4) includes an engine casing (41), and a crankshaft (42) which extends transversely and rotationally through said engine casing (41) along an axis of rotation (R); and said air filter unit (5) is disposed in a predetermined zone (Z), delimited by a horizontal upper plane (SI) which overlaps the auxiliary line (L), two vertical lateral planes (S2) which respectively intersect said vertical connecting bars (322) and which extend along a front-to-back direction, and a horizontal lower plane (S4) which extends horizontally and which overlaps the axis of rotation (R), and is disposed between said tilting mechanism (32) and a vertical longitudinal plane (S3) which overlaps the axis of rotation (R).

2. Tilting vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized in that that the air filter unit (5) comprises a main body (51) which defines an internal space (510) and which is formed with an upwardly oriented inlet orifice (511) spatially in communication with said internal space (510), a filter medium (52) which is disposed, in a detachable manner, in said internal space (510) and an air inlet component (53) which is connected to said main body (51) at said inlet orifice (511) and which extends upwards.

3. Tilting vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that said air inlet component (53) of said air filter unit (5) has an air collection tube (531) which is spatially in communication with said inlet port (511) and at least one intake tube (532) which is connected to said air collection tube (531) and which is formed with a suction port (530).

4. Tilting vehicle according to claim 3, further characterized in that said suction orifice (530) of said at least one intake tube (532) is open towards the rear.

5. Tilting vehicle according to any one of claims 3 and 4, further characterized in that said suction orifice (530) of said at least one intake tube (532) is open in a direction which is inclined downwards and backwards.

6. Tilting vehicle according to claim 3, further characterized in that said air inlet component (53) of said air filter unit (5) has two inlet tubes (532) which are connected to the left and right sides of said air collection tube (531), respectively.

7. Tilting vehicle according to any one of claims 3 and 6, further characterized in that said suction port (530) of said at least one intake tube (532) is disposed above said lower crossbar (323) of said tilting mechanism (32).

8. Tilting vehicle according to any one of claims 3 and 6, further characterized in that said suction port (530) of said at least one intake tube (532) is disposed substantially at the same height as said upper crossbar (321) of said tilting mechanism (32).

9. Tilting vehicle according to claim 1, further characterized in that said front wheel mechanisms (33) define between them a passageway (H) which is spatially in communication with said air filter unit (5).

10. Tilting vehicle according to claim 2, further characterized in that that said power unit (4) further comprises a cylinder (43) which is disposed in said engine casing (41), said main body (51) of said air filter unit (5) further being formed with at least one exhaust port (512) which is spatially intercommunicated with said internal space (510) of said main body (51) and said cylinder (43) and which is disposed above said cylinder (43).

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