Independent suspension system for a leaning vehicle

Abstract

A suspension for a leaning vehicle having a central frame, the central frame having a first longitudinal axis. The suspension includes a carrier assembly pivotably attached about a second longitudinal axis to the frame, the carrier assembly including a carrier body; a first spring and damper assembly pivotably mounted to a first side of the carrier body at a first end thereof; a second spring and damper assembly pivotably mounted to a second side of the carrier body at a first end thereof; a first bellcrank pivotably mounted to a first side of the carrier body at a second end thereof, the second end of the first spring and damper assembly also mounted to the first bellcrank; and a second bellcrank pivotably mounted to a second side of the carrier body at a second end thereof, the second end of the second spring and damper assembly also mounted to the second bellcrank; wherein the first and second bellcranks are pivoted about their attaching axes when the spring and damper assemblies are compressed; a pair of first upper connecting components; a pair of first lower connecting components; and a first suspension travel link and a second suspension travel link.

1 . A suspension for a leaning vehicle having a central frame, the central frame having a first longitudinal axis, comprising:
 a) a carrier assembly pivotably attached about a second longitudinal axis to the frame, the carrier assembly including a carrier body;
 i) a first spring and damper assembly pivotably mounted to a first side of the carrier body at a first end thereof; 
 ii) a second spring and damper assembly pivotably mounted to a second side of the carrier body at a first end thereof; 
 iii) a first bellcrank pivotably mounted to a first side of the carrier body at a second end thereof, the second end of the first spring and damper assembly also mounted to the first bellcrank; and 
 iv) a second bellcrank pivotably mounted to a second side of the carrier body at a second end thereof, the second end of the second spring and damper assembly also mounted to the second bellcrank; 
   wherein the first and second bellcranks are pivoted about their attaching axes when the spring and damper assemblies are compressed;   b) a pair of first upper connecting components, each first upper connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a first upper connecting axis link, the second end connected to a first upright at an upper end thereof, and a pair of second upper connecting components, each second upper connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a second upper connecting axis link, the second end connected to a second upright at an upper end thereof;   c) a pair of first lower connecting components, each first lower connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a first lower connecting axis link, the second end connected to a first upright at an lower end thereof, and a pair of second lower connecting components, each second lower connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a second lower connecting axis link, the second end connected to a second upright at an lower end thereof;   d) a first suspension travel link having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the first bellcrank and the second end connected to either the first upright, or the pair of first upper connecting components, or the pair of first lower connecting components, and a second suspension travel link having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second bellcrank and the second end connected to either the second upright, or the pair of second upper connecting components, or the pair of second lower connecting components; and   e) a first steering link having a first end and a second end, the second end connected to a first wheel mounting component, and a second steering link having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a steering control assembly, the second end connected to a second wheel mounting component   
     
     
         2 . The suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first steering link, and the first end of the second steering link, are connected to a steering control assembly and the suspension is steerable. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first steering link, and the first end of the second steering link, are connected to the frame and the suspension is fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension of  claim 2 , further comprising a first wheel, the first wheel mounted to the first wheel mounting component, and a second wheel, the second wheel mounted to the second wheel mounting component. 
     
     
         5 . The suspension of  claim 3 , further comprising a first wheel, the first wheel mounted to the first wheel mounting component, and a second wheel, the second wheel mounted to the second wheel mounting component. 
     
     
         6 . The suspension of  claim 4 , wherein when an upward force is exerted on either the first or second wheel or both of the first and second wheels, the first and/or suspension travel link from the first and/or second wheel rotates the corresponding bellcrank and compresses the corresponding first and/or second spring and damper assembly, allowing independent suspension actuation regardless of the pivoted location of the carrier assembly about its pivotable axis. 
     
     
         7 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein when an upward force is exerted on either the first or second wheel or both of the first and second wheels, the first and/or suspension travel link from the first and/or second wheel rotates the corresponding bellcrank and compresses the corresponding first and/or second spring and damper assembly, allowing independent suspension actuation regardless of the pivoted location of the carrier assembly about its pivotable axis. 
     
     
         8 . The suspension of  claim 4 , wherein if the frame is leaned about an axis parallel to its longitudinal axis and the ground plane, both the first and second wheels will lean to remain approximately parallel to a center plane of the central frame. 
     
     
         9 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein if the frame is leaned about an axis parallel to its longitudinal axis and the ground plane, both the first and second wheels will lean to remain approximately parallel to a center plane of the central frame. 
     
     
         10 . The suspension of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second wheels are steerable or adjustable about an axis created by the points connecting the first and second wheels to the pairs of upper and lower connecting components. 
     
     
         11 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the pivoting of the carrier assembly and the lean of the frame and the first and second wheels are independent of the compression of the first and second spring and damper assemblies through the motion of the first and second bellcranks of the carrier assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The suspension of  claim 4 , wherein the pivoting of the carrier assembly and the lean of the frame and the first and second wheels are independent of the compression of the first and second spring and damper assemblies through the motion of the first and second bellcranks of the carrier assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the leaning vehicle can lean during cornering while not compressing the first and second spring and damper assemblies from the leaning action while maintaining independent suspension travel at each of the first and second wheels. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension of  claim 4 , wherein the leaning vehicle can lean during cornering while not compressing the first and second spring and damper assemblies from the leaning action while maintaining independent suspension travel at each of the first and second wheels. 
     
     
         15 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second bellcranks of the carrier assembly are connected to the first and second suspension travel links, respectively, such that the first and second suspension travel links are placed in tension when reacting to suspension loads from the first and second wheels. 
     
     
         16 . The suspension of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second bellcranks of the carrier assembly are connected to the first and second suspension travel links, respectively, such that the first and second suspension travel links are placed in tension when reacting to suspension loads from the first and second wheels. 
     
     
         17 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second bellcranks of the carrier assembly are connected to the first and second suspension travel links, respectively, such that the first and second suspension travel links are placed in compression when reacting to suspension loads from the first and second wheels. 
     
     
         18 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second bellcranks of the carrier assembly are connected to the first and second suspension travel links, respectively, such that the first and second suspension travel links are placed in compression when reacting to suspension loads from the first and second wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The suspension of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second wheels are steerable relative to a center-plane of the central frame by a vehicle operator to control the direction of the leaning vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second wheels are fixed to remain approximately parallel to the center-plane of the leaning vehicle to maintain a direction of the leaning vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The suspension of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pairs of first upper connecting components, and/or pair of second upper connecting components, and/or pair of first lower connecting components, and/or pair of second lower connecting components are joined at their seconds to form unitary connecting components. 
     
     
         22 . A leaning vehicle having the suspension of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second wheels are positioned adjacent the front of the leaning vehicle, further comprising a third wheel positioned adjacent the rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . A leaning vehicle having the suspension of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second wheels are adjacent the rear of the vehicle, further comprising a third wheel adjacent the front of the vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . A leaning vehicle having the suspension of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension is located adjacent both the front and the rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . A leaning vehicle having the suspension of  claim 1 , wherein three or more suspensions are positioned in any location of the vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . A wheel mounting component for rotatably mounting the wheels of a leaning vehicle to its suspension components, wherein the axis about which the wheel mounting component can rotate relative to the frame is approximately perpendicular to the ground and the rotational axis of the wheel when a vehicle comprising the wheel mounting component is traveling along a straight path, and wherein the point at which a tire of the wheel contacts the ground is substantially rearward from the interception point of the axis about which the wheel mounting component can rotate and the ground with respect to the forward direction of motion of the vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The wheel mounting component of  claim 26 , wherein the point at which the tire contacts the ground is coincident with the intersection point of the axis about which the component is free to rotate and the ground when viewed from the front of the leaning vehicle while it is traveling along a straight path. 
     
     
         28 . The wheel mounting component of  claim 26 , wherein the point at which the tire contacts the ground is at a non-zero distance from the intersection point of the axis about which the component is free to rotate and the ground when viewed from the front of the vehicle while it is traveling along a straight path. 
     
     
         29 . A method of forming a suspension for a leaning vehicle having a central frame from a set of components, the central frame having a first longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
 a) providing a carrier assembly pivotably attached about a second longitudinal axis to the frame, the carrier assembly including a carrier body; i) a first spring and damper assembly pivotably mounted to a first side of the carrier body at a first end thereof; ii) a second spring and damper assembly pivotably mounted to a second side of the carrier body at a first end thereof; iii) a first bellcrank pivotably mounted to a first side of the carrier body at a second end thereof, the second end of the first spring and damper assembly also mounted to the first bellcrank and; iv) a second bellcrank pivotably mounted to a second side of the carrier body at a second end thereof, the second end of the second spring and damper assembly also mounted to the second bellcrank; wherein when the first and second bellcranks are pivoted about their attaching axis the spring and damper assemblies are compressed;   b) providing a pair of first upper connecting components, each first upper connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a first upper connecting axis link, the second end connected to a first upright at an upper end thereof, and a pair of second upper connecting components, each second upper connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a second upper connecting axis link, the second end connected to a second upright at an upper end thereof;   c) providing a pair of first lower connecting components, each first lower connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a first lower connecting axis link, the second end connected to a first upright at an lower end thereof, and a pair of second lower connecting components, each second lower connecting component having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a second lower connecting axis link, the second end connected to a second upright at an lower end thereof;   d) providing a first suspension travel link having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the first bellcrank and the second end connected to either the first upright, or the pair of first upper connecting components, or the pair of first lower connecting components, and a second suspension travel link having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second bellcrank and the second end connected to either the second upright, or the pair of second upper connecting components, or the pair of second lower connecting components; and   e) assembling a) through e) to form the suspension for a leaning vehicle.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of a providing a first steering link having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a steering control assembly, the second end connected to a first wheel mounting component, and a second steering link having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to a steering control assembly, the second end connected to a second wheel mounting component.