Claims:1. A tilting mechanism for a three-wheeled vehicle that comprises two non-powered wheels in front and one powered wheel in rear, the tilting mechanism comprising:
a dual swing-arm arrangement connecting the two non-powered wheels, wherein the dual swing-arm arrangement comprises two swing-arms that pivot about a single axis;
a tilting member comprised in a chassis of the three-wheeled vehicle, wherein the tilting member produces no change in the three-wheeled vehicle's tyre-plane;
a pivot axis for the wheels, wherein the pivot axis for the wheels is placed near the middle of the chassis;
a de-coupled suspension system and steering system; and,
a handlebar assembly.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the dual swing-arm arrangement is designed to pivot about an axis on the chassis of the three-wheeled vehicle, and wherein the swing-arms are mounted at the time of construction of the vehicle, and wherein the linked swing-arms are rotated in opposite directions through a tilt-bar tilting the chassis, and wherein a the dual swing-arm arrangement is designed to provide a free movement of the two swing-arms independent of each other, and wherein the two swing-arms are linked by a tilt bar to remove an instability caused in the vehicle due to the independent motion of swing-arms motions, and wherein the tilt-bar is freely rotated about a third point on the chassis.

3. The mechanism according to claim 1, the two non-powered front wheels of the vehicle are connected to the swing-arms by uprights, and wherein the wheels are enabled to rotate along the pins, and wherein the pivoting mechanism is designed to control the steering of the vehicle by turning the wheels.

4. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the wheels are turned through tie-rods, and wherein the steering mechanism is operated independent of the tilting mechanism and irrespective of the angle of tilt of the vehicle.

5. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is aligned perpendicular to the chassis to reduce the distance between the two non-powered wheels.

6. The mechanism according to claim 1, further comprises a decoupled steering system and suspension system, and wherein the decoupled steering system and suspension system are two independent sub-structures.

7. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein two suspensions are designed to connect the tilt-bar and swing-arm with ball joints on either ends, and wherein the two suspensions are designed to absorb the road shocks independently for each wheel.

8. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the two non-powered wheels are steered by the tie-rods when the handle bar is rotated, and wherein the ball joints and a position of a steering flag are designed to operate the steering mechanism, even when the vehicle is tilted.

9. The mechanism according to claim 1, further comprises a handlebar assembly, and wherein the handlebar assembly is designed as a direct control interface between a vehicle rider and the vehicle.

10. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the handle bar assembly is connected to a steering shaft, and wherein the steering shaft is designed to rotates a steering column through a universal joint, and wherein the steering column is connected to a second universal joint which is coupled to a steering flag, and wherein the tie-rods are designed to link the uprights with the steering flag using ball joints, and wherein the upright links are designed to enable the vehicle rider to receive only steering feedback.
, Description:[0037] In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0038] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a tilting mechanism for a reverse-trike, which comprises two non-powered wheels in the front and one powered wheel in the rear. The present invention also enables a three-wheeled vehicle to achieve a leaning action and provides a ride experience of a motorcycle.
[0039] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tilting mechanism for a three-wheeled vehicle is provided. The three wheeled vehicle comprises two non-powered wheels in the front and one powered wheel in the rear. The tilting mechanism comprises a connected a dual swing-arm arrangement, a tilting member, a pivot axis, a handlebar assembly and a decoupled suspension system and steering system. The connected dual swing-arm arrangement comprises two connected swing-arms that pivot about a single axis. The tilting member is comprised in a chassis of the three-wheeled vehicle, and wherein the tilting member produces no change in the three-wheeled vehicle's tyre-plane. The pivot axis for the wheels is placed near the middle of the chassis.
[0040] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the tilting mechanism comprises a connected dual swing-arm arrangement pivoting about an axis on the chassis of the three-wheeled vehicle. The swing-arms are mounted at the time of construction of the vehicle. The linked swing-arms rotate in opposite directions through a tilt-bar tilting the chassis. A simple placement of the connected dual swing-arm arrangement provides a free movement of the two swing-arms independent of each other, and an instability caused in the vehicle due to the independent motion of swing-arms motions is overcome by linking the two swing-arms by a tilt bar. The tilt-bar is free to rotate about a third point on the chassis.
[0041] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the two non-powered front wheels of the vehicle are connected to the swing-arms vertically (by uprights). The wheels are enabled to rotate along the pins, and the pivoting mechanism enables a vehicle driver to control the steering of the vehicle by turning the wheels.
[0042] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the turning of the wheels is achieved by means of tie-rods. The steering setup is independent of the tilting mechanism and is operated irrespective of the angle of tilt of the vehicle.
[0043] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the pivot axis is aligned perpendicular to the chassis of the vehicle. The pivot axis alignment reduces the distance between the two non-powered wheels. The dual swing-arm arrangement is configured/designed to provide an enhanced ride quality, without any additional structural elements between the wheels.
[0044] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the decoupled steering system and suspension system are two independent sub-structures/systems.
[0045] According to one embodiment of the present invention, two suspensions (suspension rods) are connected to the tilt-bar and swing-arm with the ball joints on either ends. The two suspensions are designed to absorb the road shocks independently for each wheel.
[0046] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the two non-powered wheels are steered by the tie-rods , when the handle bar is rotated. The ball joints and the position of a steering flag are designed to enable the steering mechanism to function even when the vehicle is tilted.
[0047] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a handlebar assembly is a direct control interface between the vehicle rider and the vehicle. The handle bar assembly is connected to a steering shaft, which rotates a steering column through a universal joint. The steering column is connected to a second universal joint that is coupled to a steering flag. The tie-rods are provided to link the uprights with the steering flag through ball joints, and the arrangement of links enables the vehicle rider to receive only steering feedback.
[0048] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a tilting mechanism for a three-wheeled vehicle is provided. The mechanism comprises two swing-arms pivoting about an axis on the chassis. The swing-arms are mounted at the time of construction of the vehicle. A simple placement of the twin swing-arms enables a free movement of the swing-arms independent of each other, which causes instability in the ride. The instability in the ride is overcome by linking the swing-arms together by a tilt bar. The tilt bar is free to rotate about a third point on the chassis. Two suspensions are connected to the tilt-bar and the swing-arms with ball joints. The wheels are connected to the swing-arms vertically (by uprights) through two members, which are allowed to rotate along pins. The pivoting mechanism allows the vehicle driver to control the steering of the vehicle by turning the wheels. The turning of the wheels is achieved by means of the tie-rods, which are in turn connected to the handle through an arrangement of the links. The steering setup is independent of the tilting mechanism, which is operated irrespective of the angle of tilt of the vehicle.
[0049] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a handlebar assembly is mounted to provide a direct control interface between the vehicle rider and the vehicle. The handle bar is connected to the steering shaft, which rotates a steering column through the first universal joint. The steering column is connected to second universal joint, which is coupled to a steering flag. The tie-rods link the upright members with the steering flag through ball joints. This arrangement of links is designed to enable the vehicle rider to receive only steering feedback.
[0050] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the linked swing-arms are rotated in opposite directions through the tilt bar for tilting the chassis of the vehicle.
[0051] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the steering is enabled or achieved by the tie-rods, when the handle bar is rotated. The ball joints and the position of the steering flag are designed to allow the steering mechanism to function, even when the vehicle has tilted.
[0052] FIG. 1a-1c illustrates a tilting mechanism fitted in a three-wheeled vehicle. FIG. 1a illustrates a top view of a three-wheeled vehicle fitted with a tilting mechanism. FIG. 1b illustrates an isometric view of a tilting mechanism for a three-wheeled vehicle. FIG. 1c illustrates a front view of a three-wheeled vehicle fitted with a tilting mechanism. The mechanism comprises two swing-arms 128, 129 pivoting about an axis 124 on the chassis. The swing-arms 128, 129 are mounted at the time of construction of the vehicle. A simple placement of the twin swing-arms enables free movement of the swing-arms 128, 129 independent of each other, which causes instability in the ride. The instability in the ride is overcome by linking the swing-arms 128, 129 together by a tilt bar 104. The tilt bar is free to rotate about a third point 127 on the chassis. Two suspensions 107, 108 connect the tilt-bar 104 and swing-arms 128, 129 with ball joints 105 106 110 111. The wheels 121 122 are connected to the swing-arms 128 129 by uprights 118 119, which are allowed to rotate along pins 114 115 116 117. The pivoting mechanism allows the driver to control the steering of the vehicle by turning the wheels. The turning of the wheels is achieved by means of tie-rods 130 131, which are in turn connected to the handle via an arrangement of links. The steering setup is independent of the tilting mechanism, which is enabled irrespective of the angle of tilt of the vehicle.
[0053] With respect to FIG. 1a-1c, a handlebar assembly forms a direct control interface between the rider and the vehicle. The handle bar 101 is connected to the steering shaft 102, which rotates the steering column 123 through the universal joint 103. The steering column 123 is connected to another universal joint 109, which couples to a steering flag 120. The tie-rods 130 131 link the uprights with the steering flag 120 using ball joints 112 113 125 126. This arrangement of links enables the rider to receive only steering feedback.
[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates a leaning of the three-wheeled vehicle. The linked swing-arms rotate in opposite directions through the tilt bar tilting the chassis of the vehicle.
[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates the steering of two non-powered wheels. The steering is enabled by tie-rods when the handle bar rotates. The ball joints and the position of the steering flag allow the steering mechanism to function even when the vehicle has tilted.
[0056] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such as specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.
[0057] It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.