Tilting Three-Wheeled Vehicle Linkage Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing three-wheeled vehicles fail to replicate the maneuverability of in-line two-wheeled vehicles, such as motorcycles, due to limitations in tilting capabilities, complex control systems, and reduced braking and traction.

Innovation Solution

A tilting three-wheeled vehicle design featuring a pair of spaced-apart steering wheels with a tilting linkage that allows each wheel to tilt similarly to the vehicle, mimicking the leaning mechanism of two-wheeled vehicles, without requiring complex linkages or control systems, and positioning the driver low in the vehicle to lower the center of gravity for improved stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a three-wheeled vehicle uses a forced leaning system with complex linkages and control systems, then the vehicle can achieve tilting capability, but the device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetilting capabilityVSAvoidcomplex linkages and control systems

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex forced leaning system (linkages and control systems) from the vehicle design, replacing it with a simpler configuration where the front wheel assembly naturally tilts with the vehicle body during turns, achieving tilting capability without the disturbing complex mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of forcing the vehicle to lean through complex mechanical linkages (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by allowing the front wheel assembly to tilt passively with the vehicle body, achieving the same effect through a fundamentally different, simpler mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If a three-wheeled vehicle uses a single front tire configuration, then the device complexity is reduced, but the braking and traction capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimpler vehicle structureVSAvoidbraking and traction capabilities

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single front tire configuration into two separate front tires mounted on independently tilting wheel assemblies, thereby dividing the braking and traction functions across multiple contact points while maintaining overall structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the driver sits high on the vehicle, then the ease of operation is improved, but the vehicle stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver positioningVSAvoidvehicle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the driver low in the vehicle and places the engine at the front, creating a weight distribution that counteracts the destabilizing effect of high driver positioning, thereby achieving both ease of operation and vehicle stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS7967306B2Tilting wheeled vehicle

Publication Date: 2011.06.28 ARCIMOTO INC

AI summary

A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft.