Wheel-Mounted Pivoting Downforce Wings for Roll-Angle Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorcycles experience lift during acceleration due to torque exceeding the vehicle's weight, leading to reduced traction and grip, which can be improved by applying downforce to counteract this lift.
Innovation Solution
A system with pivotable downforce generating wings mounted to the wheel supports, controlled by sensors and motors to maintain a horizontal orientation relative to the road surface, ensuring a constant perpendicular downward force vector regardless of vehicle orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If downforce generating wings are mounted to the vehicle body, then downforce is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the downforce generating wings movable rather than fixed. The wings are pivotally mounted to the wheel support and can rotate about a pivot axis to maintain a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the support surface as the frame pivots between positive and negative roll angles. This dynamic adjustment allows the wings to continuously generate effective downforce regardless of the vehicle's lean angle, resolving the contradiction by adding movement capability to maintain force effectiveness without requiring complex active control systems.
2Device complexity
If fixed downforce wings are used, then device complexity is reduced, but downforce effectiveness deteriorates during turning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing a dynamically adjustable wing system that pivots about a horizontal axis. The wings are configured to maintain a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the support surface during frame pivoting, ensuring consistent downforce generation during turning and cornering maneuvers. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to changing vehicle orientations without requiring complex electronic control systems, thus maintaining downforce effectiveness while keeping the device relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances traction and grip by applying consistent downward force through unsprung components, improving driving performance and safety by maintaining contact with the road surface.
Implementation Method 1
A downforce generating system is mounted to the wheel support between the frame and the axle mounting portion. The downforce generating system includes a wing support mounted to the wheel support and a downforce generating wing pivotally mounted to the wing support. The downforce generating wing includes an aerodynamic surface having a leading edge.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a frame configured to pivot relative to a support surface through both positive and negative roll angles and a wheel support coupled to the frame. The wheel support includes an axle mounting portion. An axle defining an axis of rotation is mounted to the wheel support at the axle mounting portion. A downforce generating system is mounted to the wheel support between the frame and the axle mounting portion. The downforce generating system includes a wing support mounted to the wheel support and a downforce generating wing pivotally mounted to the wing support. The downforce generating wing includes an aerodynamic surface having a leading edge. The downforce generating system is configured to maintain a substantially horizontal orientation of the leading edge relative to the support surface as the frame pivots between the positive and the negative roll angles.