Suspension structure

Abstract

A suspension structure includes a pair of right and left cushion units. The right cushion unit is constituted of a compression coil spring and a right damper, and the left cushion unit is constituted of only a left damper having an outer diameter smaller than a diameter of the compression coil spring and larger than a diameter of the right damper. The left cushion unit is constituted of only the left damper and does not include the compression coil spring and hence, the suspension structure can be simplified. Further, in the left cushion unit, the left damper does not slide relative to the compression coil spring in performing a stroke and hence, no friction is generated.

We claim: 
     
       1. A suspension structure, comprising:
 paired first and second cushion units disposed on opposite sides of a steering stem, in a vehicle width direction, 
 said first cushion unit comprising a compression coil spring for alleviating vibrations and shocks and a first damper for damping vibrations and shocks, said compression coil spring extending between a lower tube of said first cushion unit and an axle support portion of a vehicle, 
 said second cushion unit comprising a second damper having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of said compression coil spring in said first cushion unit and larger than an outer diameter of said first damper in said first cushion unit, 
 wherein said second cushion does not include a compression coil spring extending between a lower tube of said second cushion unit and the axle support portion of the vehicle, 
 wherein said first and second cushion units are connected to each other by a top bridge and a bottom bridge, said first cushion unit, said second cushion unit, said top bridge and said bottom bridge cumulatively forming a front fork, 
 wherein said front fork is steerably supported on a vehicle body, 
 wherein an outer diameter of an upper fitting of said first cushion unit, supported on said top bridge, and an outer diameter of an upper fitting of said second cushion unit, supported on said top bridge, are different from each other, 
 wherein an outer diameter of a lower fitting of said first cushion unit, supported on said top bottom bridge, and an outer diameter of a lower fitting of said second cushion unit, supported on said top bottom bridge, are different from each other. 
 
     
     
       2. The suspension structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said second cushion unit includes a caliper bracket mounted to a brake caliper, said brake caliper being a component of a disc brake. 
     
     
       3. The suspension structure according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the outer diameter of said upper fitting of said first cushion unit, supported on said top bridge, and the outer diameter of said lower fitting of said first cushion unit, supported on said bottom bridge, are different from each other, and 
 wherein the outer diameter of said upper fitting of said second cushion unit, supported on said top bridge, and the outer diameter of said lower fitting of said second cushion unit, supported on said bottom bridge, are different from each other. 
 
     
     
       4. The suspension structure according to  claim 3 , wherein an outer diameter of said outer tube of said second cushion unit is gradually increased from said upper fitting of said second cushion unit to said lower fitting of said second cushion unit to a lower end of said outer tube of said second cushion unit in a tapered shape. 
     
     
       5. The suspension structure according to  claim 2 , wherein an outer diameter of said outer tube of said second cushion unit is gradually increased from said upper fitting of said second cushion unit to said lower fitting of said second cushion unit to a lower end of said outer tube of said second cushion unit in a tapered shape. 
     
     
       6. The suspension structure according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the outer diameter of said upper fitting of said first cushion unit, supported on said top bridge, and the outer diameter of said lower fitting of said first cushion unit, supported on said bottom bridge, are different from each other, and 
 wherein the outer diameter of said upper fitting of said second cushion unit, supported on said top bridge, and the outer diameter of said lower fitting of said second cushion unit, supported on said bottom bridge, are different from each other. 
 
     
     
       7. The suspension structure according to  claim 6 , wherein an outer diameter of said outer tube of said second cushion unit is gradually increased from said upper fitting of said second cushion unit to said lower fitting of said second cushion unit to a lower end of said outer tube of said second cushion unit in a tapered shape. 
     
     
       8. The suspension structure according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of said outer tube of said second cushion unit is gradually increased from said upper fitting of said second cushion unit to said lower fitting of said second cushion unit to a lower end of said outer tube of said second cushion unit in a tapered shape.