FR2822795A1 - Suspension fork for small wheel scooter comprises resilient fork arm and fixed rigid stop with flexible stop inserted between fixed stop and wheel axle - Google Patents

Abstract

The suspension consists of a resilient fork arm (13) and a fixed rigid maximum driving stop (15) for the wheel (4). A flexible stop (16) is inserted between the fixed stop and the wheel axle. The arm is connected to the steering pivot (12) by means of a plate (14) welded to the fork arm.

Description

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 The present invention relates to a suspension system for a preferably small wheel, directing or not, such as that encountered on scooters for example.

 The scooters currently on the market are most often devoid of suspension; the very small size of the wheels (about 100 mm most often) makes the machine particularly unpleasant on poor pavement (paving stones, gravel, ruts ...) and in particular with regard to the front wheel since the phenomenon of the wheel pushed against the obstacle is particularly known and highlighted with the rolling of a wheelbarrow.

 The front wheel therefore must be suspended to considerably improve comfort, convenience and safety.

 Front suspension scooters are now available on the market. The solutions used are reductions of systems known in the world of motorcycles and bicycles, namely telescopic fork mainly.

- 2-Confort perfectible, car le recul de la roue sur l'obstacle est très faible en comparaison du mouvement vertical nécessaire. Two major drawbacks appear in these types of suspension: - 1-Relatively high cost because complex assembly

- 2-Perfectible comfort, because the wheel's recoil on the obstacle is very low compared to the vertical movement required.

 The shock caused is proportional to the capacity to absorb the horizontal and vertical energy, components of the vector oriented from the point of impact of the wheel towards its center.

The system according to the invention makes it possible to remedy these two major defects, while providing a particular design; technical, modern, specific, suitable for this type of vehicle
For this, the fork arm (s) which support, guide and control the movement of the front wheel (or which only serve as support for the wheel, in case the wheel is not steerable), are made of an elastic material forming suspension spring (spring steel, composite materials)
Preferably according to the invention at least one stop for the maximum insertion travel is produced from the same element as the fork arm (s), preferably always from the same element also is the part receiving or constituting the wheel axle, and possibly also the part secured to the steering pivot (plate).

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Selon l'invention sont aboutissement le plus simple est la réalisation d'une fourche suspendue à deux composants assemblés solidairement : Un pivot de direction et un bras de fourche élastique/support de roue/butée rigide d'enfoncement/platine de pivot.

According to the invention, the simplest outcome is the production of a suspension fork with two components joined together: A steering pivot and an elastic fork arm / wheel support / rigid driving stop / pivot plate.

Preferably, the rigid stop comes directly from the pivot and / or the fork arm (plate), but it can also be attached to one and / or the other.

-The said fork arm could be for example formed wire or sheet metal cut by stamping and formed on a tool to follow; or it would only remain to secure the fork on the steering pivot, and possibly to insert a flexible stop between the movable part (wheel axle) and the fixed rigid stop part.

The fixed rigid stop (s) is (are) desirable or even necessary in order to avoid excessive movement of the wheel which could cause said wheel to come into contact with the plate and / or the pivot thus causing an untimely blocking of the front wheel and therefore a risk of serious fall ...! According to the invention a possible means of adjusting the hardness of the suspension and / or damping (for example friction) is an additional advantage of the invention, both in terms of user comfort and in terms of marketing and / or communication.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

FIG. 1 represents the system according to the invention seen from the front. FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the development of the system according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a variant of FIG. 1.

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.

FIG. 6 is the development of the system according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is another variant of the system always seen from the front.

Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is another variant seen from the front.

Figure 10 is a side view of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a variant incorporating a suspension arm support and a friction damper adjustable in hardness.

Figure 12 is a side view of Figure 11.

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 With reference to these drawings, the system is mounted, for example, on a scooter type vehicle (1) equipped with a steering axle (2) connected to a front wheel axle (3) (4). A head tube (5) is connected to a handlebar (not shown), held in this for example by a clamp (6).

 The steering operates by a set of upper (8) and lower (11) cup and ball cones, adjusted and maintained by a nut and a lock nut (7).

-Au moins un bras de fourche (13) particulièrement élastique et constitué par une lame (ou fil) de ressort ou des lames (ou fils) superposées et/ou accolées (métallique (s) et/ou composite (s)). Le (s) bras de fourche (13) est (sont) particulièrement élastique (s) dans le mouvement presque vertical de suspension de l'axe (3) de la roue (4) et particulièrement rigide (s) dans les efforts latéraux appliqué à la roue (4). A steering column (9) is integral with the chassis (frame) (10). A steering pivot (12) generally connects the fork (18) to the tube (5)
According to the invention, the fork (18) consists of different parts such as:

-At least one fork arm (13) particularly elastic and constituted by a blade (or wire) of spring or blades (or son) superimposed and / or joined (metallic (s) and / or composite (s)). The fork arm (s) (13) is (are) particularly elastic (s) in the almost vertical movement of suspension of the axle (3) of the wheel (4) and particularly rigid (s) in the lateral forces applied to the wheel (4).

- A plate (14) sometimes ensures, depending on the embodiment, the link between the fork arm (13) and the pivot (12).

- At least one protuberance (15) constitutes a fixed rigid stop of maximum clearance for the wheel (4), also so as not to exceed the elastic limit of the arms (13) under excessive load of the wheel (4).

- At least one attached flexible stop (16) is intended to absorb the violent shocks which drive the wheel (4) until it hits the stop (s) (15), the said flexible stop (s) is integral with (15) and / or the axis (3) of the wheel (4).

- Screws (17) or nut (s) maintain the wheel (4) on the fork (18).

Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the invention in a simple and economical embodiment. At least one sheet of spring steel sheet is cut (stamped for example) according to FIG. 3, then is folded along 5 axes (or zones) A-A wheel axis B-A suspension axis (deformation of (13 )) C-Two stop axes (15) D-A plate axis (14)

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-Une soudure pourrait solidariser les butées (15) à la platine (14) -Préférentiellement une soudure solidarisera la platine (14) au pivot (12) - Après quoi il ne reste plus qu'a clipser les butées souples (16) sur les butées rigides fixes (15).

- A weld could secure the stops (15) to the plate (14) - Preferably a weld will secure the plate (14) to the pivot (12) - After which it remains only to clip the flexible stops (16) on the fixed rigid stops (15).

 Preferably but not required, Figure (3) shows the steering axis (2) coaxial with the stops (15) according to the view in Figure (2).

fil formé. Figures 4,5 and 6 are a variant of the systems as described above in the sense that the ends of the fork arms (13) are not rolled to form the support of the wheel (4), but twisted at 90 degrees and drilled (for stamping for example) to receive said wheel (4). The rest of the process is identical. A similar result can be obtained by cold or hot forged forming and / or stamping for example, both for cut sheet metal and for

wire formed.

 Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a particular variant in the direction where the fork arm element (s) (13) is (are) produced from an elastic steel wire (piano cord) and formed ( s) optionally and / or preferably a hairpin (at least one turn) in the area of high elastic stress. A spacer could connect the two pins of the arms (13) in order to increase the lateral rigidity of the system in a similar manner to that which will be described in FIGS. 11 and 12. The said fork arms (13) in piano wire also by shaping the stops (15), supports of the flexible stops (16), and always also by shaping, each constitutes at one of its ends a support loop of the wheel axle (4). The other end (if the system consists of two symmetrical elements, but which could be one) being folded respectively inwardly in order to keep the assembly rigid laterally since the plate (14) secures the two elements (13) and (15) which are one, by simple crushing (crimping) of hooks (claws) (19) made directly in the plate (14).

 Still according to the invention, FIGS. 9 and 10 are the illustration of another variant, of a type with at least one fork arm (13) and produced for example in wire (piano cord) with or without a pin in the zone of high elastic stress (as in FIG. 8), but anchored integral by one end (welding for example) and preferably in FIG. 9 in a spacer (20) for blocking cooperating with an anti-rotation section (21) of the ( or) arms (13), this section

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antirotation serait par exemple : moletée, à facette (s) (carré, hexagonale..), soudée... Le (s) bras de fourche (13) pénètre (nt) directement dans un pivot (12), qui a la particularité de s'étendre en au moins une partie latérale basse pour constituer la

(les) butée (s) (15). Dans ce cas, par exemple la butée (s) souple (s) (16) pourrait (ent) être solidaire de l'axe de roue (4). Dans ce cas de figure la roue (4) est montée directement sur l'extrémité repliée de (13) constituant fusée de roue. Un écrou (17) maintien la roue en place.

anti-rotation would be for example: knurled, faceted (square, hexagonal ..), welded ... The fork leg (s) (13) penetrate (s) directly into a pivot (12), which has the particularity to extend in at least one lower lateral part to constitute the

(the) stop (s) (15). In this case, for example the flexible stop (s) (16) could (ent) be integral with the wheel axle (4). In this case the wheel (4) is mounted directly on the folded end of (13) constituting the wheel stub. A nut (17) holds the wheel in place.

In the case where the arm (13) is double, that is to say one on each side of the wheel (4) in a perfectly symmetrical or slightly different manner; at least one of the two arms (13) could be removable from the wheel (4) and the spacer (21) and therefore from the pivot (12) in order to facilitate the disassembly of said wheel (4)
Figures 11 and 12 are an improved variant of Figures 9 and 10 but also of Figures 7 and 8. Indeed, at least one fork arm (13) preferably made of spring wire is wound in a pin on at least one turn . In this so-called pin a spacer stop (23) cooperates with another spacer stop (24) in order to be able, by means of a clamping means (25) (of the butterfly nut type for example) to modify the contact pressure of the turns of the pin, thereby adjusting the friction damping hardness and therefore the suspension hardness.

 This mainly allows the suspension to be adapted according to the weight of the user and / or the quality of the road. With this suspension hardness adjustment system, rigid stops (15) may be less essential.

 Optionally, but preferably, the spacer (23) will act as a bearing supported by at least one extension (22) of the plate (14) towards the front.

 A screw (26) secures the spacer bearing (23) to the bearing support (22) through it. Said screw (26) can also serve as a clamping element for the nut (25).

 At least one fixed rigid stop (15) is formed from the plate element (14) / advanced support (22).

Preferably at least one flexible stop (16) is coaxial with the axis (3), and serves as a spacer for the (x) bearing (s) of the wheel (4).

 Optionally where the end (s) (27) of the arm (13) can be sleeved (by steel tube (s) for example) over all or part in order to increase the resistance of the arm (13) in the areas requiring a particular rigidity

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A mixture of the solutions constituting the fork system (18) according to the invention formed of (s) arms (13), of stop (s) (15), of (s) plate (s) (14), of (s ) attachment (s) of wheel (4), of flexible stop (s) (16), of pivot (12) as for example, of arms (13) as in FIGS. 7 and 8 associated with stops (15) integral with the plate (14) as in Figures 1 and 2 are an integral part of the invention.

 Similarly, the section of the arm (s) (13) can be round, square, rectangular or profiled. Over the entire length of said arm (13) this section can be constant or evolving in shape as in size. The system according to the invention is particularly intended for vehicles equipped with small wheel (s) and in this case for scooters.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS 1) Suspension fork system (18) for vehicle (1) equipped with at least one wheel, preferably front (4) and steering (2); characterized in that its fork arm (s) (13) for supporting, guiding and controlling the wheel (4) is (are) elastic in order to constitute a suspension, preferably limited in its maximum driving travel by at least one fixed rigid stop (15). The said fork arm (13) is (are) made of one or more elastic element (s) of identical or different material (s) superimposed and / or attached (s).  2) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the fork arm (s) (13) constitute (s) directly the wheel support (s) (4) and / or the wheel axle (3) .  3) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the fork arm (s) (13) constitutes a zone forming a plate (14) of the same element directly integral with the steering pivot (12).  4) System according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 characterized in that the fork arm (s) (13) have an appropriate section which is constant and / or evolutive and / or sleevable in areas (27) requiring particular rigidity.  5) System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm (s) (13) directly constitutes one and the same element with the wheel support (s) (4) and / or the support of pivot (plate) (14) and / or the insertion stop (s) (15).  6) System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm (s) (13) also constitute (s) directly by forming their material at least one stop (15) for the maximum driving-in clearance of the wheel. (4).  7) System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm (s) (13) directly support (s) the axle (3) of the wheel (4), for this one of the end of the arm (s) (13) can (can) be rolled (s) and rent twisted (s) and drilled (s) and / or formed (s) and rent folded ...  8) System according to claim 1 or 3 characterized in that the arm (s) (13) is (ent) connected (s) to the steering pivot (12) via a plate (14) constituting an element separate and secured to the fork leg (13) by a system <Desc / Clms Page number 8>  hooked welded or preferably secured by hooks (claws) (19) crushed (crimped) on the (s) arm (13).  9) System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one flexible stop (16) is integral with the rigid stop (15) and / or the wheel axle (14) thus making shock absorber extremes.  10) System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot (12) extends laterally towards the wheel axle (4) by at least one lower lateral part forming a fixed rigid stop (15), and in that the pivot (12) directly receiving penetratingly the arm (s) (13) cooperates (s) with a spacer (20) for blocking the arm (s) (13) by combinations of anti-rotation or welding forms.  11) System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one friction damper is produced by pressurizing (s) turn (s) of the arm pin (13) under the effect of '' an adjustable clamping means (25) acting on a set of spacer stops (23) and (24). Said spacer stop (23) can constitute a bearing on the arm (13) by being secured by a screw (26) to the advanced end / support (22) of the plate (14). The screw (26) can serve as a tightening means by cooperating with the nut (25).