Suspension system for wheeled vehicles

摘要

A suspension system for supporting a frame of a vehicle on at least one wheel that is coupled via a chain to a chain ring on the frame. The suspension system includes a structural member supporting an axle of the wheel, a first linkage arm connecting the structural member to the frame, a second linkage arm connecting the structural member to the frame, and a shock absorber coupled between the frame and one of the structural member, the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm. Additionally, the center of curvature (CC) of the axle of the wheel is located within a predetermined radius of a tangent contact point between a tension segment of the chain and the chain ring throughout a range motion of the suspension system.

主权项

1. A suspension system for supporting a frame of a vehicle on at least one wheel of the vehicle, the wheel being coupled via a chain to a chain ring located on the frame and the chain ring being rotatable to apply a driving force to the wheel along a tension segment of the chain, the suspension system comprising:
a structural member supporting an axle of the wheel; a first linkage arm connecting the structural member to the frame, the first linkage arm including a first anchor pivot joint rotatably coupling the first linkage arm to the frame and a first floating pivot joint rotatably coupling the first linkage arm to the structural member; a second linkage arm connecting the structural member to the frame, the second linkage arm including a second anchor pivot joint rotatably coupling the second linkage arm to the frame and a second floating pivot joint rotatably coupling the second linkage arm to the structural member; a shock absorber coupled between the frame and one of the structural member, the first linkage arm and the second linkage arm, the shock absorber being configured to flexibly maintain a separation between the frame and the structural member, wherein a first linkage line extending through the first floating pivot joint and the first anchor pivot joint intersects with a second linkage line extending through the second floating pivot joint and the second anchor pivot joint to define an instantaneous center of rotation (IC) of the structural member, wherein a perturbation of the suspension system causes a plurality of intersecting axle lines extending from the axle to the IC to define a center of curvature (CC) of the axle at the intersections thereof, wherein the second linkage arm is between the chain ring and the first linkage arm, and wherein a location of the CC is bounded by a first vertical line drawn through the second anchor pivot joint and a second vertical line drawn through the second floating pivot joint, and the CC is disposed within a predetermined radius of a tangent contact point between the tension segment of the chain and the chain ring throughout a range motion of the suspension system, the predetermined radius being less than one half of a radius of the chain ring.