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US4616729A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Transmission chain adjuster for motorcycles

Assignee: Yamaha Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1985-03-06
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Granted: 1986-10-14
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Expires: 2005-03-06
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Abstract

Abstract An off the road motorcycle having a balloon tired rear wheel that is suspended by a trailing arm and which is driven by a pair of flexible transmitters, one positioned closer to the motorcycle center line than the other so as to provide clearance for the rider's feet. An arrangement is provided for adjusting the tension in each of the two chains and one of these adjusting mechanisms moves the pivot point of the trailing arm relative to the frame.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yasuhiro Kasai

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:42
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K25/00; B62K25/04; B62K25/28; B62K25/283

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle comprising frame means, power means carried by said frame means for driving a drive shaft rotatably about a first axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said frame means, trailing arm means supported for pivotal movement about a pivot axis by said frame means, an idler shaft rotatably journaled on said trailing arm means about a second axis parallel to said first axis and said pivot axis and spaced therefrom, first flexible transmitter means driving said idler shaft from said drive shaft, a wheel journaled by said trailing arm means for rotation about a third axis spaced from said first, said second and said pivot axes, second flexible transmitter means for driving said wheel from said idler shaft and means for adjusting the distance between said second axis and said first axis for adjusting the tension of said first flexible transmitter means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle comprising frame means, power means carried by said frame means for driving a drive shaft rotatably about a first axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said frame means, trailing arm means supported for pivotal movement about a pivot axis by said frame means, an idler shaft rotatably journaled on said trailing arm means about a second axis parallel to said first axis and said pivot axis and spaced therefrom, first flexible transmitter means driving said idler shaft from said drive shaft, a wheel journaled by said trailing arm means for rotation about a third axis spaced from said first, said second and said pivot axes, second flexible transmitter means for driving said wheel from said idler shaft and means for adjusting the distance between said second axis and said first axis for adjusting the tension of said first flexible transmitter means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the first and the second axis does not affect the distance between the second and third axes upon said adjustment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 further including means for adjusting the tension of the second flexible transmitter means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fist flexible transmitter means is disposed closer to the longitudinal center line of the frame means that the second flexible transmitter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the wheeled vehicle comprises a motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the rear wheel being mounted by the trailing arm means and having a substantially greater width than the frame means and the front wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 41 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the first and the second axis does not affect the distance between the second and third axes upon said adjustment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 5 further including means for adjusting the tension of the second flexible transmitter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the second axis and the first axis is operative to adjust the location of the pivot axis relative to the first axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 37 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein the first flexible transmitter means is disposed closer to the longitudinal center line of the frame means than the second flexible transmitter means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 52 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the wheeled vehicle comprises a motorcycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the rear wheel being mounted by the trailing arm means and having a substantially greater width than the frame means and the front wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 41 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means for adjusting the distance between the first and the second axis does not affect the distance between the second and third axes upon said adjustment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 10 further including means for adjusting the tension of the second flexible transmitter means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein the trailing arm means comprises a pair of spaced apart arm portions supporting eccentric bushing means rotatable with respect thereto for adjusting the pivot axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 28 words
A chain drive for a wheeled vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the rotatable bushings cooperate with a fixed pivot pin carried by the frame means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1143793A Cited
JPS5435470A Cited
US4433747A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-10-13 1990-04-14 1990-10-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-10-13 1994-04-14 1994-10-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-10-13 1998-04-14 1998-10-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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