Movable Side Supports for Straddle-Seat Rider Lateral Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Straddle-type vehicles, such as snowmobiles and ATVs, lack lateral support for riders during turns, leading to rider fatigue due to the need to counterbalance centrifugal forces without obstructing the ability to lean into turns.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of left and right side supports that move in response to lateral acceleration, allowing riders to maintain balance while enabling leaning during turns without obstructing the rider's movement, utilizing actuators and sensors to adjust support surfaces based on vehicle orientation and passenger presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If side structures such as doors or consoles are added to provide lateral support, then lateral support is improved, but the ability to lean into turns is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The side support structure is made movable rather than fixed. The support surface can dynamically adjust its position between a retracted state (allowing rider to lean) and an extended state (providing lateral support during turns). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing lateral support only when needed while maintaining the ability to lean when the support is retracted.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed side supports are added to provide lateral support, then lateral support is improved, but rider fatigue increases due to obstruction of natural leaning
Solution Approach 1:
The movable side support allows the rider to lean naturally into turns when the support is retracted, reducing the need for continuous counterbalancing efforts. When lateral support is needed, the support extends to provide assistance. This dynamic behavior reduces rider fatigue by eliminating the constant effort required to counterbalance centrifugal forces while maintaining the ability to lean naturally.
3Ease of operation
If movable side supports are added to allow leaning, then the ability to lean into turns is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side support structure is equipped with sensors that automatically detect when the rider is leaning and autonomously adjust the support position accordingly. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex manual control mechanisms, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to lean into turns. The system serves itself by automatically responding to rider behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle has a straddle-type seat disposed on a frame. The straddle-type seat has at least one seating portion. A steering device is disposed forwardly of the seat. Left and right side supports are disposed laterally of the seating portion. The side supports have respective support surfaces facing laterally inwardly. The left and right support surfaces move in a direction of a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle in response to a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The left and right support surfaces move in a direction of a current rotation of the steering device in response to a current degree of rotation of the steering device. The support surfaces move in a direction of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle when a force is exerted thereon in a direction opposite a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. A method of supporting a rider is also described.