TILTING TRIKE

[Stiggy]

Check this if you are looking for ideas. I have no plans to market it but I am very much looking forward to a first ride.

[juddyjuddster]

Love it already and it's electric, could be fun. I hope we can all try it next MEV day!

[Stiggy]

It may help if I explained my aims here.
I will have an enclosed cockpit so I cannot put my feet down when stationary.
It will have a narrow track and will need to tilt to turn to stop it falling over.
The overall length will be short enough to park nose to kerb.
It will have a range of up to 100 miles on one charge.
It will have a brush less motor and programmable controller.
It will be powered by Lithium Yttrium cells with a bespoke battery management system.
It will have 3 wheels with the driven single wheel being to the rear.
The rider will balance the forces and input required just like riding a bike.
Gravitational and lateral forces will be balanced to ensure traction is maintained.
Centrifugal forces/gyroscopic forces will interfere if not kept in check.
Steering input will be low in banked turns due to the leaning of the motor cycle tyres.
Body mass of the rider will move to the inside of a turn to help balance when the trike tilts.
The rear wheel will track to the outside of a turn when the trike tilts to help stability.
The tilt pivot will centre just below the axle line but inclined to help self centering.
Wishbone pivots will be offset from the main pivot so that they are effectively drawn in thus changing the angle of suspension slightly when the vehicle tilts. This will try to lift the nose but the load will try to resist this and so a degree of self centering is applied.
The pedal linkage will be arranged so it pivots on the main tilt frame but not on the centre line. This will give a further mechanical advantage in addition to the pedal ratio lever advantage.
No hydraulics or linear actuators or processors to maintain balance will be introduced.
The riders feet will operate pedals to stabilise the turn and keep it up right when stationary.
A brake pedal will pivot with and follow the left pedal and the accelerator will pivot with and follow the right pedal. This will maintain the control pedal position in relation to the riders feet.
The tilt action will require forward or backward movement of the pedals where as brake and accelerator operation will require the riders heals to pivot as they do in a conventional vehicle.
The load required to operate the pedals will be for balancing only and effort will be minimal.
All wheels will tilt, the offset off the front wheels will be used to ensure equilibrium is possible.
Steering will be separate from the tilt system to enable counter steer and parking without leaning.
Mass will be kept low apart from the rider. Balanced turns will be executed without excessive movement required by the rider, hanging off one side to force a tilt will not be required!
I made a CGI animation of the design in operation. It "looks" OK but shows areas requiring attention.
Can't wait to try it out. I will report back.

[beemer]

Hi Stuart, that looks well wicked. If it works well you might want to swap the tilt to the handlebars and the handlebar to the feet! Well I'm confused already.
Don't forget, torsional stiffness is everything to a motorcycles handling. My single wheeled motorbike trailer reminded me of that most succinctly.

I like this bike with the non tilting rear wheels and aluminium box frame. It could fit a 20KWH pack if it was a straight, horizontal beam frame.
www.schultzengineering.us/delta-12.htm

[alexmouj]

Hi Stuart! What is with this project? Is there a result? Goals that you put very interesting! This concept can allow to drive in the city all year round.The only thing I would like to add is the possibility of reducing the width in traffic jams. I think this is not a big problem, because when driving in traffic jams between cars, the speed is not great.

[Stiggy]

yes, we finished it over 5 years ago. The design is now available from a firm called Ningbo Chariot. They sent me a sample to show how well it worked out. Its still in my workshop. Pretty good actually but needs a handbrake for MSVA. It tilts just great.

[sanjoseev]

give it lower center of gravity like etrike wont need to tilt so much