Three wheeled motorcycle

Abstract

To provide a three wheeled motorcycle having a lean traveling function of a motorcycle, a stable traveling function of a three wheeled trike, and a self-standing assisting function in parking and stopping.SOLUTION: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three wheeled motorcycle including: a chassis body; a 460mm suspension disposed substantially vertically behind an engine driving portion of the chassis body; left and right rear tires connected and fixed to a rear lower portion of the chassis body; and a driving force transmitting means for transmitting a driving force from the engine driving portion of the chassis body to one of the left and right rear tires.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This relates to a three-wheeled bike that combines the lean running function of a motorcycle, the stable running function of a three-wheeled trike, and the self-supporting function when parking or stopping. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional motorcycles have two running wheels at the front and rear of the body, and are designed to be driven while maintaining balance between the left and right sides.When turning, leaning or changing lanes can be done easily and instantly by tilting the center of gravity of the body and the driver.However, when parking, stopping, or maneuvering, the driver must support the balance of the vehicle's weight, making it difficult for weaker elderly people or women to operate.

[0003] Furthermore, conventional three-wheeled trikes have a stable structure with one running wheel at the front of the vehicle and two running wheels at the rear, which allows for stable driving and handling without having to support the balance of the vehicle's weight when driving or parking, making them easy to operate even for weak elderly people or women.However, the turning radius is large when turning, making them difficult to operate.

[0004] Meanwhile, motorcycles equipped with devices to assist the vehicle in standing still when parking or stopping have been proposed. For example, a "center stand device for motorcycles" (Patent Document 1) has been proposed that aims to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic performance when the center stand device is removed from the motorcycle body, and that makes it possible to adjust the height at which the rear wheel rises when the motorcycle is parked, thereby improving stability and ease of maintenance when the motorcycle is parked. Furthermore, a "center stand device for motorcycles" has been proposed that prevents impairing the operability of the center stand device due to fastening a stand stopper, and that improves the ease of assembly of the center stand device.

[0005] Furthermore, a compact and inexpensive "Motorcycle Center Stand Device" (Patent Document 2) has been proposed as a center stand device that electrically raises or retracts the center stand of a motorcycle.

[0006] However, while both of the proposals for the "Motorcycle Center Stand Device" (Patent Document 1) and the "Motorcycle Center Stand Device" (Patent Document 2) can stably support the vehicle body when parking or stopping, when setting the center stand, the vehicle body must be pulled up to set the center stand, which is not easy for weak elderly people or women to operate.

[0007] Therefore, in order to solve the problems of the lean running function of motorcycles, the stable running function of three-wheeled trikes, and the self-supporting function when parking and stopping, a "saddle-type vehicle" (Patent Document 3) has been proposed, which is a motorcycle specification with two front wheels and one rear wheel.

[0008] However, the proposal for the "saddle-type vehicle" (Patent Document 3) is that if the vehicle is maneuvered with the front wheel turned to the left or right, the stable triangular structure formed by the contact points of the front and rear wheels will be lost, and the self-supporting function when parking only functions when the stable triangular structure formed by the contact points of the front and rear wheels is established in an upright position, and it is not a three-wheeled bike that combines the leaning function of a motorcycle, the stable driving function of a three-wheeled trike, and the self-supporting function when parking.

[0009] The applicant has taken the above problems into consideration and conceived the idea of ​​providing a three-wheeled bike that combines the lean running function of a motorcycle, the stable running function of a three-wheeled trike, and the ability to assist in self-support when parking and stopping. He developed a three-wheeled bike that combines the lean running function of a motorcycle, the stable running function of a three-wheeled trike, and the ability to assist in self-support when parking and stopping, and has come up with the proposal for the "three-wheeled bike" of this invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-62661 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-290123 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-6428 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a three-wheeled bike that combines the lean running function of a motorcycle, the stable running function of a three-wheeled trike, and the self-support function when parking or stopping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention is a three-wheeled motorcycle that combines lean running functions, stable running functions, and self-supporting functions, and is equipped with a monoshock coilover unit that is arranged approximately vertically behind the engine drive unit of the chassis body, left and right rear tires that are connected and fixed to the lower rear part of the chassis body with a tread width between the tires of 460 mm or less, a double-sided swing arm or a single-sided swing arm that is connected to an axle shaft that is inserted into the wheel axle of the rear tires and to which the lower part of the coilover unit is connected, and driving force transmission means that transmits power from the engine drive unit of the chassis body to either the left or right rear tire.

[0013] The three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention is a three-wheeled motorcycle that combines lean running functions, stable running functions, and self-supporting functions, and is equipped with a monoshock coil-over unit that is arranged approximately vertically behind the engine drive section of the chassis body, left and right rear tires that are connected and fixed to the lower rear part of the chassis body with a tread width between the tires of 460 mm or more within the vehicle body width of the three-wheeled motorcycle, a double-sided swing arm or single-sided swing arm that is connected to an axle shaft inserted into the wheel axle of the rear tires and to which the lower part of the coil-over unit is connected, and driving force transmission means that transmits power from the engine drive section of the chassis body to either the left or right rear tire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The three-wheeled bike of the present invention can provide a three-wheeled bike that combines the lean running function of a motorcycle, the stable running function of a three-wheeled trike, and the self-supporting function when parking and stopping, which has the excellent effect of providing a large bike for seniors and women who are not very strong.

[0015] Furthermore, the three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention has a motorcycle structure with one running wheel at the front of the body and two rear tires at the rear of the body, and therefore is considered a motorcycle under the law and can be driven with a motorcycle license corresponding to the engine displacement.It also has the excellent effect of providing a three-wheeled motorcycle with a lean running function similar to the one-wheel balance running (two-wheel running) of a motorcycle structure, a stable running function unique to three-wheeled motorcycles, and an independent assistance function when parking or stopping.

[0016] Furthermore, the three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention has a three-wheeled trike structure with a rear tire with a large tread width between the tires at the rear of the vehicle body, and therefore is considered a standard motor vehicle under the law and can be driven with a standard motor vehicle license.It also has the excellent effect of providing a three-wheeled motorcycle with a lean running function similar to the one-wheel balanced running (two-wheel running) of a motorcycle structure, a stable running function unique to three-wheeled trikes, and an independent assistance function when parking or stopping.

[0017] Furthermore, with the three-wheeled bike of the present invention, a means is adopted for detachably connecting the trailer cabin to the rear of the towing vehicle (three-wheeled bike, two-wheeled bike) via a center-bend towing device, which allows the towing vehicle (three-wheeled bike, two-wheeled bike) and the trailer cabin to be detached at the travel destination, providing the excellent effect of allowing the user to simultaneously enjoy sleeping in the car at tourist destinations and solo motorcycle touring. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention (Example 1). [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a running state of the three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention. [Figure 3] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention (Example 2). [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of use of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The three-wheeled bike 10 of the present invention is characterized by its combination of the leaning function of a motorcycle, the stable running function of a three-wheeled trike, and the self-supporting function when parking or stopping. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] The three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, i.e., within the range of shapes and dimensions that can achieve the same functional effects. Furthermore, the drawings only show the basic configuration of the main parts, and do not include the center stand, disc brakes, exhaust muffler, mounting parts, etc. Furthermore, the three-wheeled bike 10 of the present invention has been described assuming an engine-driven bike structure, but the structure of an electric bike is substantially the same except for the drive force transmission means 22. [Example]

[0021] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a three-wheeled motorcycle according to the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is an exploded perspective view of the main components of a three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention, as seen from the rear. FIG. 1(b) is a side view of the three-wheeled bike 10 of the present invention. FIG. 1(c) is a rear view of the three-wheeled bike 10 of the present invention. The three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention comprises a monoshock coil-over unit 15 arranged approximately vertically behind the engine drive unit 21 of the chassis main body 12; left and right rear tires 16 connected and fixed to the lower rear part of the chassis main body 12 with a tread width between the tires of 460 mm or less; a double-sided swing arm 19a or a single-sided swing arm 19b connected to an axle shaft 18 inserted into the wheel axle 17 of the rear tires 16 and to which the lower part of the coil-over unit 15 is connected; and driving force transmission means 22 for transmitting power from the engine drive unit 21 of the chassis main body 12 to either the left or right rear tires 16.

[0022] The chassis body 12 is formed into the shape of a vehicle body to support the engine, transmission, etc. Its basic structure is generally made of steel pipes, but aluminum is used for sports bikes. The shape can also be made by combining pipes, by pressing and welding steel or aluminum plates, or by using extruded aluminum. The overall structure consists of a frame, engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, and wheels / tires, and the structure is divided into a body part that consists of a driving force transmission means 22 that generates power in the engine and transmits it to the rear tires 16, a steering unit for driving operation, a suspension that absorbs shocks, and brakes that slow down and stop the vehicle.

[0023] The coilover unit 15 is a monoshock type, with one compression suspension positioned approximately vertically behind the engine drive unit 22 of the chassis body 12, and connected via a link unit 14 to the vicinity of the pivot shaft hole 20 of the double-sided or single-sided swing arm 19. Compared to twin-shock suspension, it allows for greater wheel travel, and the damper unit can be positioned closer to the vehicle's center of gravity to reduce the moment of inertia in pitching and yaw. Those positioned lower in the vehicle can also lower the center of gravity. By designing the length and angle of the links, it is possible to create nonlinear suspension characteristics in terms of the change in spring load relative to wheel travel. Typically, the suspension is soft in the small stroke range, and as the stroke increases, it becomes firmer and prevents bottoming out. Unlike twin-shock suspension, there is no need to synchronize the left and right suspensions, making adjustments easier.

[0024] The rear tire 16 is a W tire formed by connecting wheel axles 17 of two tires whose tread surfaces are rounded rather than flat, and is composed of two tires, left and right, connected and fixed together with a tread width T between the tires of 460 mm or less, and is provided with a rear sprocket 22c constituting a driving force transmission means 22 on one side and a disc brake on the other side.

[0025] The axle shaft 18 is a shaft that passes through the center of the wheel axis 17 of the rear tire 16 to fix the rear tire 16 to the vehicle body, and is supported on both sides or one side by a swing arm 19.

[0026] The swing arm 19 is a part that connects the rear tires 16 to the chassis body 12, and is attached to the frame side by a large, sturdy shaft, which acts as an axis for swinging up and down. It is attached so that it sandwiches the two rear tires 16 from both sides or one side, and is supported by the axle shaft 18. A double-sided swing arm 19a that supports the rear tire 16 from both sides of the swing arm 19, and a single-sided swing arm 19b that supports the rear tire 16 from one side of the swing arm 19 are used. The function of the swing arm 19 is to absorb impacts from bumps received from the road surface by the coilover unit 15 connected via the swing arm 19. In addition, the swing arm 19 itself bends appropriately, so that it also absorbs the force of being pulled outward when turning a corner and thus absorbs impacts from bumps during driving.

[0027] The driving force transmission means 22 is, for example, a means for transmitting power generated from the engine drive unit 21 of the chassis main body 12 to the rear tire 16, and is composed of a transmission intermediate shaft 22e equipped with a first chain 22a, a second chain 22b, a rear sprocket 22c, and two intermediate sprockets 22d.

[0028] The rear fender 23 is attached to the rear of the chassis body 12 and is formed in the shape of a mudguard cover that covers the rear tire 16.

[0029] The three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention, configured as described above, is considered a motorcycle under the law because the distance in a straight line passing through the center point of the vehicle's contact point on the same axle is less than 460 mm, and it can be driven with a motorcycle license appropriate to the engine displacement.It also makes it possible to provide a three-wheeled motorcycle 10 that has a lean driving function similar to the one-wheel balanced driving (two-wheel driving) of a motorcycle structure, a stable driving function unique to three-wheeled motorcycles, and an independent assistance function when parking or stopping.

[0030] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the three-wheeled motorcycle of the present invention in a running state. FIG. 2(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a lean operation state when the three-wheeled motorcycle 10 turns left. When turning left, lean driving is made possible by tilting the body weight and the center of gravity G of the vehicle to the left, resulting in one-wheel balance driving (two-wheel driving).

[0031] FIG. 2(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the three-wheeled bike 10 traveling in a straight line. When traveling straight, the body and body weight are kept vertical, allowing for unprecedented stability in motorcycle riding, and when parking, the body can be kept vertical, allowing it to stand on its own.

[0032] FIG. 2(c) is an explanatory diagram showing a lean operation state when the three-wheeled motorcycle 10 turns to the right. When turning right, leaning is made possible by tilting the body weight and the center of gravity G of the vehicle to the right, resulting in one-wheel balance (two-wheel driving).

[0033] The three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention, configured as described above, provides a three-wheeled motorcycle 10 that has a lean running function similar to the one-wheel balanced running (two-wheel running) of a motorcycle structure, a stable running function unique to three-wheeled motorcycles, and an independent support function when parking or stopping. [Example]

[0034] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the three-wheeled bike of the present invention. FIG. 3(a) is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention as seen from the rear. FIG. 3(b) is a rear view of the three-wheeled bike 10 of the present invention. The three-wheeled motorcycle (10) according to the present invention comprises a monoshock coil-over unit (15) arranged substantially vertically behind the engine drive section (21) of the chassis main body (12); left and right rear tires (16) connected and fixed to the lower rear part of the chassis main body (12) with a tread width between the tires of 460 mm or more within the vehicle body width S of the three-wheeled motorcycle (10); a double-sided swing arm (19a) or a single-sided swing arm (19b) connected to an axle shaft (18) inserted into the wheel axle (17) of the rear tires (16) and to which the lower part of the coil-over unit (15) is connected; and driving force transmission means (22) for transmitting power from the engine drive section (21) of the chassis main body (12) to either the left or right rear tire (16).

[0035] The rear tires 16 are W tires, each consisting of two tires with a rounded shoulder portion rather than a flat tread surface, connected by a wheel axle 17. One side of the rear tires 16 is provided with a rear sprocket 22c that constitutes the driving force transmission means 22, and the other side of the rear tires 16 is provided with a disc brake. The tread width T between the tires is 460 mm or more, and the tires are connected and fixed within the vehicle body width S of the three-wheeled motorcycle 10. Although not shown, a differential device may be disposed in the middle of the wheel shaft 17 to vary the rotational speed of the left and right rear tires 16 in accordance with the running speed.

[0036] Furthermore, when adjusting the tread width T between the rear tires 16, in the case of the double-supported swing arm 19a, this can be achieved by enlarging the opening of the double-supported swing fork portion. In the case of the cantilever swing arm 19b, this can be achieved by increasing the crank width of the cantilever swing fork portion.

[0037] The driving force transmission means 22 is a means for transmitting the power generated from the engine drive unit 21 of the chassis main body 12 to the rear tire 16, and is composed of, for example, a first chain 22a, a second chain 22b, a rear sprocket 22c, and a transmission intermediate shaft 22e equipped with two intermediate sprockets 22d. By setting the tread width T of the rear tire 16 to 460 mm or within the body dimension width S of the three-wheeled bike 10, the driving force transmission means 22 is set inside the rear tire 16 (it can also be attached to the outside), and the second chain 22b is provided inside the first chain 22a.

[0038] The three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention, configured as described above, has a straight line distance passing through the center point of the vehicle's contact point on the same axle that is 460 mm or less, within the vehicle body dimension width S of the three-wheeled motorcycle 10, and therefore has a three-wheeled trike structure that is as close as possible to the specifications of a motorcycle.As a result, it is considered a standard automobile under the law and can be driven with a standard automobile license.It also makes it possible to provide a three-wheeled motorcycle 10 that has a lean driving function similar to the one-wheel balance driving (two-wheel driving) of a motorcycle structure, a stable driving function unique to three-wheeled trikes, and an independent assistance function when parking or stopping.

[0039] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of use of the present invention. FIG. 4(a) is a side view of the towing vehicle version of the present invention. FIG. 4(b) is a top view of the towing vehicle specification of the present invention. A trailer cabin 27 can also be detachably connected to the rear of a towing vehicle 26 (three-wheeled motorcycle or two-wheeled motorcycle) via a center-folding towing device 28.

[0040] The trailer cabin 27 is provided with a center-bending towing device 28 having a revolving frame structure at the front of the vehicle body, and the cabin body dimension width W is formed to be 650 to 1480 mm.

[0041] The cabin body dimension width W is restricted in weight, height, width and length by regulations of the Road Transport Vehicle Act, Road Act and Road Traffic Act, and therefore the width and weight of the trailer cabin 27 are restricted by the displacement of the towing vehicle 26 (three-wheeled motorcycle, two-wheeled motorcycle). The cabin body dimension width W of the present invention is formed within the range of 650 to 1480 mm to match the displacement of the towing vehicle 26 (three-wheeled motorcycle, two-wheeled motorcycle).

[0042] The center-bending towing device 28 is composed of a rotating base attached to the rear of the towing vehicle 26 (three-wheeled motorcycle, two-wheeled motorcycle) body, and an approximately L-shaped rotating frame with a reinforcing structure attached to the front of the body, and is equipped with wiring connectors, air duct hoses, etc. The mounting and fixing means for the swivel frame is mounted to match the mounting height of the towing vehicle 26 (three-wheeled motorcycle, two-wheeled motorcycle) after the tandem seat is removed.

[0043] By allowing the connection between the towing vehicle 26 (three-wheeled motorcycle, two-wheeled motorcycle) and the trailer cabin 27 to be bent in the middle, the turning radius can be reduced and driving and steering can be improved.

[0044] The three-wheeled motorcycle 10 of the present invention, configured as described above, can be detached from the towing vehicle 26 (three-wheeled motorcycle, two-wheeled motorcycle) and trailer cabin 27 at the travel destination, allowing the user to enjoy sleeping in the vehicle at a tourist destination and solo motorcycle touring at the same time. [Industrial Applicability]

[0045] The three-wheeled bike of the present invention is a "three-wheeled bike" that combines the lean running function of a motorcycle, the stable running function of a three-wheeled trike, and the self-supporting function when parking and stopping, and is therefore believed to have extremely great industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10. Tricycle 12 Chassis body 14 Link section 15 Coilover unit 16 rear tires 17 Wheel axle 18 Axle shaft 19 Swingarm 19a double-sided swingarm 19b single-arm swingarm 20 Pivot shaft hole 21 Engine drive unit 22 Driving force transmission means 22a First Chain 22b Second Chain 22c rear sprocket 22d intermediate sprocket 22e Transmission intermediate shaft 23 Rear fender 24 rider seat 26 Towing vehicles (tricycles, motorcycles) 27 Trailer Cabin 28 Center-bending traction device T Tread width S body width G center of gravity W Cabin body width

Claims

1. A three-wheeled bike that has a lean running function, a stable running function, and a self-supporting function, The three-wheeled motorcycle includes a monoshock coilover unit disposed substantially vertically behind the engine drive unit of the chassis body; left and right rear tires connected and fixed to the rear lower portion of the chassis body with a tread width between the tires of 460 mm or less; a double-sided swing arm or a single-sided swing arm connected to an axle shaft inserted into the wheel shaft of the rear tire and to which a lower portion of the coilover unit is connected; and a driving force transmission means for transmitting power from the engine drive unit of the chassis body to either the left or right rear tire.

2. A three-wheeled bike that has a lean running function, a stable running function, and a self-supporting function, The three-wheeled motorcycle includes a monoshock coilover unit disposed substantially vertically behind the engine drive unit of the chassis body; Left and right rear tires connected and fixed to the rear lower part of the chassis body with a tread width between the tires of 460 mm to the vehicle body width of the three-wheeled motorcycle; a double-sided swing arm or a single-sided swing arm connected to an axle shaft inserted into the wheel shaft of the rear tire and to which a lower portion of the coilover unit is connected; and a driving force transmission means for transmitting power from the engine drive unit of the chassis body to either the left or right rear tire.

Images