Rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and the like vehicles

Claim 2

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein two of said first and second joints defining the articulated polygon are movable while maintaining said first and second ends of said arms articulated to said axle support and motorcycle frame respectively to provide for continuous adjustment of the distance between said first and second joints formed by each of said oscillating arms.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said two movable joints comprise said first joints.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said transmission means comprises a transmission chain for transmitting motion from the second sprocket at the gear box output to the first sprocket at the rear drive wheel.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said transmission means comprises an intermediate gear arrangement for transmitting motion from the second sprocket at the gear box output to the first sprocket at the rear drive wheel.

Claim 6

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein said first joints and said first sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a first virtual triangle, and said second joints and said second sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a second virtual triangle, and wherein said first and second virtual triangles are substantially congruent and have orientations which are substantially the same as each other at all times.

Claim 7

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein said first joints and said first sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a first virtual triangle, and said second joints and said second sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a second virtual triangle, and wherein said first and second virtual triangles are substantially congruent and have orientations which are substantially the same as each other at all times.

Claim 8

The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said transmission means comprises a transmission chain for transmitting motion from the second sprocket at the gear box output to the first sprocket at the rear drive wheel.

Claim 9

The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said transmission means comprises an intermediate gear arrangement for transmitting motion from the second sprocket at the gear box output to the first sprocket at the rear drive wheel.

Claim 10

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein at least the oscillating arms of the articulated polygon constituting the oscillating ensemble, are formed of at least two mutually extensible and adjustable sections with means for adjusting and securing desired mutual position.

Claim 11

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein at least the oscillating arms of the articulated polygon constituting the oscillating ensemble, are formed of at least two mutually extensible and adjustable sections with means for adjusting and securing desired mutual position.

Claim 12

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein said oscillating axle support comprises a crank arm and said second joints are situated over and under the first sprocket axis of rotation respectively; and wherein said first joints and said first sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a first virtual triangle, and said second joints and said second sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a second virtual triangle, and wherein said first and second virtual triangles are substantially congruent and have orientations which are substantially the same as each other at all times.

Claim 13

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein said oscillating axle support comprises a crank arm and said second joints are situated over and under the first sprocket axis of rotation respectively; and wherein said first joints and said first sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a first virtual triangle, and said second joints and said second sprocket axis of rotation constitute apices of a second virtual triangle, and wherein said first and second virtual triangles are substantially congruent and have orientations which are substantially the same as each other at all times.

Claim 14

The mechanism of claim 9, wherein a line joining the first joints is at all times substantially parallel to a line joining the second joints.

Claim 15

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein the ends of the oscillating arms articulated to the oscillating support are also connected within respective bushings having screws which are operable from the outside to regulate the extension of the respective arms and secure an assumed position, with the cooperation of safety nuts whereby tensioning of the transmission means is controlled.

Claim 16

A rear wheel suspension mechanism for motorcycles and like vehicles which have a rear-wheel drive including a first sprocket coupled to the rear drive wheel for rotation about a first axis, a second sprocket mounted at a gear box output for rotation about a second axis, and transmission means for coupling said first and second sprockets, said rear wheel suspension means comprising: at least two oscillating arms extending substantially longitudinally relative to the motorcycle traveling direction; an oscillating axle support articulated to a first end of each of said oscillating arms at respective first joints; an axle for the rear driving wheel mounted in the oscillating support and coupled to the first sprocket; second ends of the oscillating arms opposite the first ends thereof being articulated to respective points of a motorcycle frame at respective second joints; such that the oscillating arms constitute, together with the rear wheel axle oscillating support, an oscillating ensemble, said first and second joints defining the shape of an articulated polygon; and wherein the ends of the oscillating arms articulated to the oscillating support are also connected within respective bushings having screws which are operable from the outside to regulate the extension of the respective arms and secure an assumed position, with the cooperation of safety nuts whereby tensioning of the transmission means is controlled.