Non-Rolling Front Fairing on an Articulated Roll Quadrilateral
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-wheel rolling vehicles face challenges in maintaining aerodynamic efficiency due to the tilting fairing, which affects air resistance and headlight illumination during rolling movements, and are complicated to design and produce.
Innovation Solution
The front fairing is connected to a cross member of the articulated quadrilateral mechanism, allowing it to maintain a fixed orientation relative to the support surface, reducing its height and simplifying design while improving aerodynamics and headlight functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the front fairing is rigidly connected to the vehicle frame, then the fairing maintains structural stability, but the fairing tilts during rolling movements which degrades aerodynamic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fairing connection system by detaching it from the rolling frame and connecting it instead to the non-rolling cross member of the quadrilateral mechanism. This segmentation allows the fairing to be isolated from rolling movements while maintaining structural stability through its connection to the stable cross member.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross member of the quadrilateral mechanism serves as an intermediary element between the frame and the fairing. By connecting the fairing to this intermediary rather than directly to the frame, the patent eliminates the transmission of rolling movements to the fairing while maintaining structural support.
2Device complexity
If the front fairing is connected to the frame, then the design is straightforward, but the headlight illumination direction changes during rolling which reduces safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination system by detaching the headlight mounting from the rolling frame and attaching it to the non-rolling fairing. This segmentation ensures that the illumination system inherits the stable orientation of the fairing relative to the ground, maintaining consistent illumination direction during rolling movements.
3Area of stationary object
If the fairing is designed to accommodate large rolling angles, then the fairing can cover larger wheel displacement, but the fairing height increases which worsens aerodynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not designing the fairing to follow rolling movements, but rather designing it to remain stationary relative to the ground. This inversion allows the fairing to maintain optimal aerodynamic height while still accommodating wheel movements through the suspension system's vertical motion.
Data Source
AI summary
A saddle-riding type motor vehicle comprises steerable and rollable front wheels, a drive rolling wheel, an articulated rolling quadrilateral connected to a frame, and a steering assembly pivotably connected to the frame to control the front wheels. A suspension assembly is interposed between the front wheels and the quadrilateral to allow a sussultatory movement of the wheels with respect to the quadrilateral. The latter comprises lower and upper cross-members hinged to the frame to oscillate about rolling median axes parallel and substantially lying on a center plane of the motor vehicle. The articulated rolling quadrilateral further comprises first and second uprights hinged to the cross-members to rotate about further rolling axes parallel to the median rolling axes. A front-end fairing is directly and rigidly connected to one of the cross-members of the articulated roll quadrilateral, and comprises two wheel arch portions arranged above the front wheels.