Lean Vehicle Parallel Link Mounting Structure for Easier Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of the portion of the vehicle body frame that supports the parallel link mechanism in a lean vehicle is difficult due to the need for high precision in the positional relationship of the upper and lower support shafts, increasing the complexity and difficulty of the assembly process.

Innovation Solution

A lean vehicle configuration with a mounting member comprising support parts and a connecting part that supports the parallel link mechanism, where the mounting member is attached to a base on the vehicle body frame, allowing for easier assembly by reducing the need for precise alignment of individual support parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the upper support shaft and lower support shaft are formed with high precision to ensure proper operation of the parallel link mechanism, then the operational reliability is improved, but the assembly difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting member is divided into an upper mounting member and a lower mounting member that can be assembled separately and then connected. This segmentation allows each member to be positioned and fixed independently, reducing the overall assembly difficulty while maintaining the required precision for the parallel link mechanism operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The upper and lower mounting members serve as intermediary components between the frame and the parallel link mechanism. By using these mounting members as mediators, the direct requirement for high-precision positioning of the support shafts on the frame is reduced, as the mounting members can accommodate and adjust to minor position variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If high precision is required for the positions of upper support shaft and lower support shaft, then the parallel link mechanism operates properly, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaft position precisionVSAvoidframe structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure is segmented into separate upper and lower mounting members, each with its own support shafts. This segmentation simplifies the frame structure by moving the complex precision positioning requirements from the frame to the modular mounting members, which can be manufactured and assembled independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The upper and lower mounting members are designed to be assembled and positioned in advance before final assembly with the frame. This preliminary action allows for pre-adjustment and pre-positioning of the support shafts, ensuring the required precision without complicating the frame structure itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4667338A1Lean vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 KAWASAKI MOTORS LTD
  • EP4667338A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4667338A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4667338A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The lean vehicle 1 includes a left wheel 3a, a right wheel 3b, a parallel link mechanism 20, a mounting member 70, and a vehicle body frame 2. The parallel link mechanism 20 includes upper and lower arms 21, 22 arranged along the vehicle width direction between the left and right wheels 3a, 3b, and left and right arms 23, 24, arranged along the up-down direction, and operates in response to the lean of the vehicle. The mounting member 70 includes the plurality of support parts 72a, 72c and the connecting part 73. The multiple support parts 72a, 72c rotatably support fulcrums provided on the upper arm and the lower arm 21, 22, respectively. The connecting part 73 connects the multiple support parts in the up-down direction. The base 60 is formed on the vehicle body frame 2 to which a mounting member 70 is attached.