Leaning Vehicle Linkage Synchronizes Front Wheel Toe Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing leaning vehicle designs experience inconsistencies in the posture of the left and right front wheels when the vehicle turns, due to differences in toe angles and leaning angles, which affect the vehicle's stability and handling.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a linkage system with offset intermediate and leaning bearings, and a steering force transmission mechanism that adjusts the positions of the front wheels relative to the body frame, using cylindrical bearings to maintain stability and reduce toe angle changes, thereby minimizing posture inconsistencies between the left and right front wheels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a linkage system is used to change relative positions of front wheels to cause body frame leaning, then the vehicle can achieve leaning turns, but the toe angles of the front wheels change in accordance with leaning angle causing inconsistency in posture between left and right front wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the steering mechanism into separate left and right suspension systems, each with independent steering bearings and linkages. This segmentation allows each suspension to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall symmetry, preventing posture inconsistency between left and right front wheels during leaning turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces asymmetric positioning of the intermediate steering bearing relative to the leaning bearing, creating a specific geometric relationship between the steering axis and leaning axis. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the front wheels maintain consistent posture during leaning turns by properly coordinating the steering and leaning movements.
2Ease of operation
If the steering member is turned to change the direction of the vehicle, then the vehicle can turn, but the left suspension and right suspension turn by different angles causing inconsistency in front wheel posture
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate steering bearing serves multiple functions: it acts as a steering pivot for the steering member and simultaneously as a reference point for the leaning mechanism. This multi-functionality ensures that a single steering input properly coordinates both left and right suspension movements, maintaining synchronization during turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate steering bearing acts as an intermediary element between the steering member and the leaning mechanism. It mediates the relationship between steering input and suspension movement, ensuring that the steering action is properly transmitted to both suspensions while maintaining the correct geometric relationship for consistent front wheel posture.
Data Source
AI summary
A first steering inter-axis distance between a left steering bearing and a right bearing of a linkage differs from a second steering inter-axis distance between a left joint steering bearing and a right joint steering bearing of a steering force transmission. A difference between a first left leaning inter-axis distance between a lower intermediate leaning bearing and a lower left leaning bearing and a second left leaning inter-axis distance between an intermediate joint leaning bearing and a left joint leaning bearing is smaller than a difference between a first left steering inter-axis distance between a front intermediate steering bearing and the left steering bearing and a second left steering inter-axis distance between an intermediate joint steering bearing and the left joint steering bearing.