TILTING WHEELED VEHICLE

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A tilting wheeled vehicle having:
an elongate frame defining a frame plane extending substantially vertically along a longitudinal centerline of said frame, said frame tillable from side-to-side defining a range of movement of said frame; a tilting linkage operably secured to the frame, said tilting linkage operably securing a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart from and aligned substantially parallel to said first wheel; said first wheel pivotally secured to said linkage defining a first pivot axis and having a substantially vertical longitudinal centerline defining a first wheel plane that intersects said substantially vertical longitudinal centerline, said first pivot axis substantially intersecting said first wheel plane; said second wheel pivotally secured to said linkage defining a second pivot axis and having a second substantially vertical longitudinal centerline defining a second wheel plane that intersects said second substantially vertical longitudinal centerline, said second pivot axis substantially intersecting said second wheel plane; and, said first steering axis and said second steering axis aligned substantially parallel to said frame plane through said range of movement of said frame.