GB2329621A

GB2329621A - Motorcycle stabiliser

Info

Publication number: GB2329621A
Application number: GB9720237A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-24
Filing date: 1997-09-24
Publication date: 1999-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-24
Also published as: GB2329621B; GB9720237D0

Abstract

A motorcycle stabiliser comprises a pair of stabiliser wheels connected one to each side of the motorcycle frame and vertically movable relative to the frame, means to bias each wheel downwardly towards the ground, so that one of the stabiliser wheels engages and is biassed toward the ground when the motorcycle is banked in the direction of that wheel. As shown, each stabiliser wheel 12 is mounted on a wheel carrier 9 comprising sleeves 10A, 10B, connected by bar 11, slidable on parallel rods 8A, 8B of track 7 and biassed downwardly by coil spring 14.

Description

The present invention relates to a stabiliser for a motorcycle having a frame supporting front and rear wheels.

Motorcycles have two wheels. When rounding corners, the motorcycle is banked and a relatively small section of each wheel is in contact with the road surface. Above certain speeds or with slippery road conditions, the motorcycle can skid.

It is known to improve the cornering of motorcycles with use of recumbent motorcycles where the centre of gravity is lowered due to the lowering of the engine and driver positions.

These still can skid when cornering. Also it is inconvenient to support the motorcycle frame upright with the drivers legs when at a standstill.

The invention seeks to provide a stabiliser for motorcycles which also are useful in supporting recumbent motorcycles in the upright position when stationary.

According to the present invention there is provided a stabiliser for a motorcycle having a frame supporting front and rear wheels, said stabiliser comprising a pair of stabiliser wheels connected to either side of the frame and to move vertically relative to the frame by connection means, and biasing means to bias each stabiliser wheel vertically downwards towards the ground, whereby one of said pair of stabiliser wheels engages with and is biased towards the ground by the biasing means when the motorcycle is banked in the direction of said one stabiliser wheel.

Preferably the stabiliser comprises: a) at least one track mounted generally vertically on the motorcycle with a first bottom end and a second top end b) a pair of stabiliser wheels, one on each side of the motorcycle, c) at least one wheel carrier supporting the stabiliser wheels, the or each wheel carrier being adapted to slide on the or each track between the track top and bottom, and d) spring means to bias the or each wheel carrier towards the or each track bottom, one of said pair of wheels engaging with and being biased towards the ground by the spring means when the motorcycle is banked in the direction of said one wheel with the or its associated wheel carrier sliding towards the top of the track, said track and wheel carrier providing the connection means.

Preferably there are two tracks and two wheel carriers, one wheel carrier on each track, each wheel carrier supporting a stabiliser wheel.

Preferably both stabiliser wheels support the motorcycle in the upright position.

Each track may be in the form of two generally parallel rods connected to the motorcycle frame. Each wheel carrier may include a pair of interconnected sleeves which slide on the rods.

The sleeves may include bearings. The stabiliser wheel may be connected to the wheel carrier by a support arm.

A lock may be provided to lock the or each wheel carrier in a fixed position on the track.

The stabiliser may be mountable generally around the rear of the motorcycle, e.g. adjacent the rear wheel.

The stabiliser may further include a pair of secondary wheels generally towards the front of and either side of the motorcycle to engage the ground when the motorcycle banks beyond a predetermined angle. The secondary wheels may pivot in a plane other than their planes of rotation.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a recumbent motorcycle Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a stabiliser shown in Figure 1 Figures 3A and 3B show schematic views of a stabiliser and rear wheel when the motorcycle is upright and inclined respectively.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a recumbent motorcycle 1 having a frame 2 supporting front wheel 3 and rear wheel 4, and an engine 5. Such motorcycles are known in the art.

Mounted on each side of the frame 2 adjacent the rear wheel is a stabiliser 6A and 6B (6B not shown but not identical to 6A).

Stabiliser 6A has a track 7 formed by pair of generally parallel rods 8A,8B connected generally vertically to the motorcycle frame 2. Track 7 has a track top 7A and track bottom 7B. Mounted on the track 7 is a wheel carrier 9 provided by a pair sleeves lOA,lOB, interconnected by a support bar 11, which slide on the rods between the track top and bottom.

The sleeves may include bearings (not shown). A stabiliser wheel 12 is connected to the wheel carrier support bar 11 by a support arm 13. Each track 7 and wheel carrier 9 provide a connection means to connect wheel 12 to the frame 2, and allow each stabilser wheel to move vertically relative to the frame.

Biasing means in the form of coil spring (or other spring means) 14 is provided to bias the or each wheel carrier towards the track bottom 7B.

The stabiliser of the invention works as follows as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. When the motorcycle is at rest in the vertical position as shown in Figure 3A, both stabiliser wheels 12 are biased towards and engage with the ground as each spring 14 biases the two wheel carriers towards the bottom of the tracks. The strength of the spring is designed such that the stabilisers 6A and 6B support the motorcycle in the vertical position without the need for the rider's feet on the ground.

When the motorcycle takes a corner and is banked to the left as shown in Figure 3B, wheel 12 engages with and is biased towards the ground by the spring 14, but the wheel carrier 9 slides towards the top of the track as the spring is stretched by the weight of the motorcycle. It will be seen that the more the motorcycle is banked, the greater the spring is stretched and the spring thus exerts more righting moment to the motorcycle. It will also be seen that the more the motorcycle is banked, the greater is the distance between the stabiliser wheel 12 and rear wheel 4 which makes the motorcycle more stable the more it is inclined. In Figure 3B, the motorcycle is inclined to the left and the stabiliser 6A supports the motorcycle with the stabiliser 6B wheel being distant from the ground. If the motorcycle were to be inclined to the right, then stabiliser 6B would support the motorcycle with the stabiliser 6A distant from the ground.

The invention may include additional features to that shown in the drawings. For example a lock could be provided, e.g. operated from the steering column or handle bars by the rider, to lock the or each wheel carrier in a fixed position on the track when the motorcycle is stationary and both stabiliser wheels are on the ground. This would reduce the need for the power ofthe spring means to support the motorcycle in the upright position. Also dampers may be provided for the spring means to prevent or reduce a tendency for the motorcycle to "oscillate" when it is banked.

As an additional safety feature, the stabiliser may further include a pair of secondary wheels 15A,15B (15B not shown) generally towards the front of and either side of the motorcycle to engage the ground when the motorcycle banks beyond a predetermined angle. The secondary wheels may pivot (see arrows) in a plane other than their planes of rotation, e.g. like a castor.

Instead of two tracks, one track could be provided with one or two wheel carriers supporting the pair o stabliser wheels. Instead of a track and wheel carrier, the connection means could take a different form such as an arm pivoted at one end to the frame and supporting a stabiliser wheel at the other, the biasing means acting on the arm.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. According to the present invention there is provided a stabiliser for a motorcycle having a frame supporting front and rear wheels, said stabiliser comprising a pair of stabiliser wheels connected to either side of the frame and to move vertically relative to the frame by connection means, and biasing means to bias each stabiliser wheel vertically downwards towards the ground, whereby one of said pair of stabiliser wheels engages with and is biased towards the ground by the biasing means when the motorcycle is banked in the direction of said one stabiliser wheel.

2. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 1 where at least one track mounted generally vertically on the motorcycle with a first bottom end and a second top end.

3. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 where a pair of stabiliser wheels, one on each side of the motorcycle.

4. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 where at least one wheel carrier supporting the stabiliser wheels, the or each wheel carrier being adapted to slide on the or each track between the track top and bottom.

5. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 4 where spring means to bias the or each wheel carrier towards the or each track bottom, one of said pair of wheels engaging with and being biased towards the ground by the spring means when the motorcycle is banked in the direction of said one wheel with or its associated wheel carrier sliding towards the top of the track, said track and wheel carrier providing the connection means.

6. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 5 where there are two tracks and two wheel carriers one wheel carrier on each track, each wheel carrier supporting a stabiliser wheel.

7. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 6 where each track may be in the form of two generally parallel rods connected to the motorcycle frame.

8. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 7 where each wheel carrier may include a pair of interconnected sleeves which slide on the rods, where the sleeves may include bearings.

9. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 8 where the stabiliser wheel may be connected to the wheel carrier by a support arm.

10. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in any preceeding claim where a lock may be provided to lock the or each wheel carrier in a fixed position on the track.

11. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in any preceeding claim where the stabiliser may be mounted generally around the rear of the motorcycle.

12. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in any preceeding claim where the stabiliser may further include a pair of secondary wheels generally towards the front of and either side of the motorcycle to engage the ground when the motorcycle banks beyond a predetermined angle.

13. A stabiliser for motorcycles as claimed in claim 12 where the secondary wheels may pivot in a plane other than their planes of rotation.

14. A stabiliser for motorcycles substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.