Multiple wheel motorcycle suspension and drive system

Claim 2

In a motorcycle having a frame, a steerable front wheel, first and second laterally related rear wheels having respective axles, a wheel suspension system connecting all said wheels with the frame, an engine, and means connecting the engine with the rear wheels, the improvement comprising: the connecting means including: a driveshaft transversely journaled in the frame, means for rotating all said rear wheels in response to driveshaft rotation, the driveshaft having a differential therein responsive to the means for rotating the driveshaft whereby each rear wheel can be rotated relative to the other said rear wheel, the suspension system including means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis, the wheel suspension system including a transverse arm having first and second ends and a pivotal connection to the frame intermediate said ends, first and second dashpot members, each dashpot member having connection at the upper end thereof with a respective end of said transverse arm, and each dashpot member having a pivotal connection at the lower end thereof with a respective means for supporting a rear wheel.

Claim 3

In a motorcycle as recited in claim 1, each dashpot member connection at the upper end thereof being a pivotal connection, each dashpot member having a spring for exerting a force in alignment with the direction of operation, of the respective dashpot member the direction of force of one said spring being opposed to that of the other said spring, and the spring-constant of said springs being less than sufficient to maintain said motorcycle upright on the wheels thereof when stationary.

Claim 4

In a motorcycle as recited in claim 2, the means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis including a first trailing link having a portion extending rearwardly from the driveshaft alongside the first rear wheel and engaging the axle thereof, a second trailing link having a portion extending rearwardly from the driveshaft alongside the second rear wheel and engaging the axle thereof, the means for rotating at least one rear wheel including: a first driveshaft output member on a first side of the differential, a first drive member on said first wheel, a first elongage member operatively connecting the first driveshaft output member and the first drive member, and a second driveshaft output member on a second side of the differential, a second drive member on said second wheel, a second elongate member operatively connecting the second drive-shaft output member and the second drive member.

Claim 5

In a motorcycle as recited in claim 3, all said operative connection of the respective driveshaft members with the drive members by the elongate members being on the inner sides of the respective wheels, thereby being compactly laterally associated, and being shielded by the wheels proximately outboard thereof.

Claim 6

In a motorcycle as recited in claim 4, all said pivotal connections at the lower ends of the respective dashpot members to the respective trailing links being on the inner sides of the respective wheels, thereby being shielded by the wheels proximately outboard thereof.

Claim 7

In a motorcycle as recited in claim 5, each said trailing link being in the shape of an "H" in plan, with the forward ends thereof journaled to the driveshaft, the rearward ends affixed to the axle of a respective wheel, and the crossbar of the "H" shape holding the "H" shape in-plane.

Claim 8

In a motorcycle as recited in claim 6, all said driveshaft output members and drive members being sprockets, and all said elongate members being chains.

Claim 9

In a motorcycle having a frame, a steerable front wheel, first and second laterally related rear wheels having respective axles, a wheel suspension system connecting all said wheels with the frame, an engine, and means connecting the engine with the rear wheels, the improvement comprising: the connecting means including: a driveshaft transversely journaled in the frame, means for rotating the driveshaft in response to the engine, means for rotating all said rear wheels in response to driveshaft rotation, the driveshaft having a differential therein responsive to the means for rotating the driveshaft whereby each rear wheel can be rotated relative to the other said rear wheel, the suspension system including means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis, the wheel suspension system including a transverse arm having first and second ends and a pivotal connection to the frame intermediate said ends, first and second dashpot members, each dashpot member having connection at the upper end thereof with a respective end of said transverse arm, each dashpot member having a pivotal connection at the lower end thereof with a respective means for supporting a rear wheel, each dashpot member including a cylinder having fluid therein and a piston in the cylinder, an accumulator member having fluid therein with a spring-loaded piston for exerting pressure on the fluid; and a manifold interconnecting the fluid in all said accumulator and dashpot members.

Claim 10

In a motorcycle having a frame, a steerable front wheel, first and second laterally related rear wheels having respective axles, a wheel suspension system connecting all said wheels with the frame, an engine, and means connecting the engine with the rear wheels, the improvement comprising: the connecting means including: a driveshaft transversely journaled in the frame, means for rotating the driveshaft in response to the engine, means for rotating all said rear wheels in response to driveshaft rotation, the driveshaft having a differential therein responsive to the means for rotating the driveshaft whereby each rear wheel can be rotated relative to the other said rear wheel, the suspension system including means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis, the wheel suspension system including a transverse arm having first and second ends and a pivotal connection to the frame intermediate said ends, first and second dashpot members, each dashpot member having connection at the upper end thereof with a respective end of said transverse arm, each dashpot member having a pivotal connection at the lower end thereof with a respective means for supporting a rear wheel, each dashpot member including a cylinder having fluid therein and a piston in the cylinder, an accumulator member having fluid therein with a spring-loaded piston for exerting pressure on the fluid; and a manifold interconnecting the fluid in all said accumulator and dashpot members.

Claim 11

In a motorcycle having a frame, a steerable front wheel, first and second laterally related rear wheels having respective axles, a wheel suspension system connecting all said wheel with the frame, an engine, and means connecting the engine with the rear wheels, the improvement comprising: the connecting means including: a driveshaft transversely journaled in the frame, means for rotating the driveshaft in response to the engine, means for rotating all said rear wheels in response to driveshaft rotation, the drive-shaft having a differential therein responsive to the means for rotating the driveshaft whereby each rear wheel can be rotated relative to the other said rear wheel, the suspension system including means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis, the means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis including a first trailing link having a portion extending rearwardly from the driveshaft alongside the first rear wheel and engaging the axle thereof, a second trailing link having a portion extending rearwardly from the driveshaft alongside the second rear wheel and engaging the axle thereof, the means for rotating at least one rear wheel including: a first driveshaft output member on a first side of the differential, a first drive member on said first wheel, a first elongate member operatively connecting the first driveshaft output member and the first drive member, a second driveshaft output member on a second side of the differential, a second drive member on said second wheel, a second elongate member operatively connecting the second driveshaft output member and the second drive member, all said operative connection of the respective driveshaft members with the drive members by the elongate members being on the inner sides of the repective wheels, thereby being compactly laterally associated and shielded by the wheels proximately outboard thereof, the wheel suspension system including a transverse arm having first and second ends and a pivotal connection to the frame intermediate said ends, first and second dashpot members, each dashpot member having connection at the upper end thereof with a respective end of said transverse arm, and each dashpot member having a pivotal connection at the lower end thereof with a respective said trailing link all said pivotal connections at the lower ends of the respective dashpot members to the respective trailing links being on the inner sides of the respective wheels, thereby being shielded by the wheels proximately outboard thereof, and the respective dashpot members extending downwardly and inwardly from the respective ends of the transverse arm to said respective pivotal connections at the lower ends, whereby on pivoting of the transverse arm, as by rising or falling of one of said trailing links relative to the other of said trailing links, the upper ends of the dashpot members move closer in alignment with the lower ends of the dashpot members.

Claim 12

In a motorcycle having a frame, a steerable front wheel, first and second laterally related rear wheels having respective axles, a wheel suspension system connecting all said wheel with the frame, an engine, and means connecting the engine with the rear wheels, the improvement comprising: the connecting means including: a driveshaft transversely journaled in the frame, means for rotating the driveshaft in response to the engine, means for rotating all said rear wheels in response to driveshaft rotation, the drive-shaft having a differential therein responsive to the means for rotating the driveshaft whereby each rear wheel can be rotated relative to the other said rear wheel, the suspension system including means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis, the means pivotally supporting each rear wheel independently about the driveshaft axis including a first trailing link having a portion extending rearwardly from the driveshaft alongside the first rear wheel and engaging the axle thereof, a second trailing link having a portion extending rearwardly from the driveshaft alongside the second rear wheel and engaging the axle thereof, the means for rotating at least one rear wheel including: a first driveshaft output member on a first side of the differential, a first drive member on said first wheel, a first elongate member operatively connecting the first driveshaft output member and the first drive member, a second driveshaft output member on a second side of the differential, a second drive member on said second wheel, a second elongate member operatively connecting the second driveshaft output member and the second drive member, all said operative connection of the respective driveshaft members with the drive members by the elongate members being on the inner sides of the repective wheels, thereby being compactly laterally associated and shielded by the wheels proximately outboard thereof, the wheel suspension system including a transverse arm having first and second ends and a pivotal connection to the frame intermediate said ends, first and second dashpot members, each dashpot member having connection at the upper end thereof with a respective end of said transverse arm, and each dashpot member having a pivotal connection at the lower end thereof with a respective said trailing link all said pivotal connections at the lower ends of the respective dashpot members to the respective trailing links being on the inner sides of the respective wheels, thereby being shielded by the wheels proximately outboard thereof, and the respective dashpot members extending downwardly and inwardly from the respective ends of the transverse arm to said respective pivotal connections at the lower ends, whereby on pivoting of the transverse arm, as by rising or falling of one of said trailing links relative to the other of said trailing links, the upper ends of the dashpot members move closer in alignment with the lower ends of the dashpot members.