One particular application of the present invention relates to recumbent cycles including bicycles, tricycles and the like. Although it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this application it is not to be taken as a limitation of the scope of the invention.

Steering apparatus on cycles are generally complex and generally exhibit problems such as for example brake-dive, require the removal of the wheel from the cycle before removal of the tyre from the wheel, and are susceptible to large and complex force distribution which may cause damage and buckling to forks.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided steering apparatus for a recumbent cycle having a forward end and rearward end, ground engaging wheels at the forward and rearward ends at least one of which defines a direction control wheel, a chassis which includes an elongated main frame member having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction between the forward and rearward ends, the steering apparatus for the direction control wheel including a mounting arm which includes first arm section operatively connected to the main frame member and extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, and a second arm section secured to or integral with the first arm section and having a wheel mounting end portion, a wheel mounting assembly operatively connected to the wheel mounting end portion of the second arm section, including a wheel mounting adapted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which is disposed generally on the longitudinal axis of the main frame member and steering drive means including a linear actuator assembly operatively connected to the wheel mounting so that actuation thereof causes pivotal movement of the wheel mounting

about the pivot axis.

In one embodiment one end of the first arm section is operatively connected to the forward end of the elongated frame member so that it extends laterally therefrom. The second arm section preferably has one end secured to or integral with the other end of the first arm section and extends in an inclined fashion relative thereto so that the wheel mounting end portion thereof is generally in line or immediately adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the frame member and is spaced therefrom in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Thus, the arrangement provides for a space between the end of the frame member and wheel mounting end of the second arm section for the direction control wheel.

The direction control wheel may in one form include a hub and a rim, the hub being offset with respect to the plane containing the rim. In this manner the wheel mounting, and the wheel rim can be disposed generally in the same plane and along the longitudinal axis of the elongated frame member. The wheel may further include a plurality of spokes which extend between the offset hub and the rim.

In one form the wheel mounting includes a mounting member operatively connected to a pivot pin on the wheel mounting end of the second arm section.

Preferably, the mounting member is operatively connected to the wheel hub so that rotation of the mounting member about the pivot pin causes turning of the direction control wheel. A coupling link may be provided operatively connecting the piston cylinder assembly to the mounting member.

The linear actuator assembly may be in any suitable form, such as for example rods and bars linked with various knuckles and pivot points, however, in a preferred form, the linear actuator assembly includes a hydraulic piston cylinder, and attendant hydraulic lines and fluid. In this preferred form, the fluid may be in the form of oil, water or air.

The steering apparatus may further include actuator control means operable by a

cycle operator for activating the piston cylinder assembly. Preferably, the control means is disposed in a region adjacent to a seat for the operator. The actuator control means may include two actuating levers operatively linked together such that as one lever pivots forward the other lever pivots backward. These levers are operatively connected to the hydraulic fluid lines and ultimately the hydraulic cylinder. The levers may also support brake actuators and gear selectors. There may be further provided an hydraulic fluid source for driving the hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic system.

Preferably, the main frame member and the first and second arm sections of the mounting arm are hollow tubular members and the hydraulic fluid lines and the other linear actuator assembly components are arranged to be mounted within the tubular members.

Braking means may also be provided, in the form of a disc and hydraulically actuated piston/calliper arrangement wherein the calliper is located on the inside periphery of the disc. The disc may be fixed to the spokes, on its outside periphery.

Suspension means may also be provided, in one preferred form being rubber bump stops but may include rubber bushes or other spring and/or dashpot systems such as coil spring and viscous damper components and the like.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in those drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a recumbent bicycle having steering apparatus according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a section plan view through the centre of the wheel and wheel mounting assembly.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a recumbent cycle generally indicated at

10, which includes chassis 12, operator seat 14, steering assembly 16, rear support assembly 18, and cycle drive means 20 including pedals 38, crank 39, front sprockets 40 and rear sprockets (not shown) interconnected by a chain (not shown). Gear ratios may be changed by conventional derailleur systems operated by levers 42 and 43.

The chassis 12 includes a main frame member in the form of an elongated longitudinal extending tube 13 which supports the cycle drive means 20; operator seat 14; steering assembly 16; rear support assembly 18.

The steering assembly 16 includes a mounting arm 96 having a first arm section 76 and a second arm section 78. The second arm section 78 has a wheel mounting end portion 93 operatively connected to a wheel mounting assembly 92. A wheel mounting 94 forms part of the wheel mounting assembly 92 and is disposed on the lateral centreline of the cycle 10, also in the plane of a rim and tyre 66. As shown a wheel 17 including spokes 36 are included extending from a laterally offset position on the wheel mounting assembly 92 to the rim and tyre 66.

A linear actuator assembly 87 including a hydraulic cylinder 86 is disposed within arm section 76. The linear actuator assembly 87 further includes coupling link 84 pivotally connected to the outer end of a cylinder piston 85, and a pivot 82 operatively connected to an offset portion of the wheel mounting assembly 92, also pivotally connected to the other end of the coupling link 84. Disposed at the other end of the hydraulic cylinder 86 are input 88 and output 90 ports for the flow of hydraulic fluid in response to movement of the actuator levers 26 and 28.

The cycle 10 includes a brake disc 32 on the cycle centre line, with a calliper and piston assembly 72 located on the disc's inside periphery. The front and rear brake pistons are actuated by a hydraulic system, and are in fluid communication with lever 24 and control box 25 adjacent to the operator seat 14, via flexible tubes (not shown) extending along the longitudinal tube 13.

Extending from the back of the hydraulic cylinder 86 inside the first arm section 76, to the steering linkages 98 are flexible tubes (not shown) ensuring fluid communication between hydraulic cylinder 86 and steering linkages 98.

To manoeuvre the cycle 10 to the left an operator pivots the right-hand lever 28 forwards, which moves hydraulic fluid to retract the hydraulic piston 85, and the steering link 84 creates an anticlockwise torque (viewed from above) about the wheel mounting 94, pivoting the wheel in an anticlockwise direction (viewed from above). As the right-hand lever 28 pivots forward, a steering linkage (not shown) pivots the left-hand lever 26 backward by the same amount.

To manoeuvre the cycle 10 to the right the operator pivots the left-hand lever 26 forwards, which moves hydraulic fluid to extend the hydraulic piston 85, and the steering link 84 creates a clockwise torque about the wheel mounting 94, pivoting the wheel in a clockwise direction (viewed from above). The steering linkage again pivots the lever 28 backwards as the lever 26 pivots forwards.

Steering may also of course be performed in ways known to two-wheeled vehicles, ie by leaning into a turn. Obviously, only relatively wide-radius turns are possible with this method, whereas with the method described in previous paragraphs, or a combination of both styles of cornering relatively small-radius turns are possible.

The advantages of the present invention include: fewer parts, hence reduced assembly time and increased reliability reduced operator effort in steering; as well as keeping parts low and out of the field of vision of the operator, clearing the way for lower seated position and lower projected area and hence lower aerodynamic drag. There is a general simplification in the suspension componentry compared with present designs.

Although the invention will function in some manner with linkages of reciprocating rods and bars connected by knuckles and pivots, the advantage of hydraulic actuation is that the incidence of"bump steer"is reduced by incorporating an easily-installed cushioning effect rather than providing soft bushes at each pivot. In bump steer, as the front wheel rim 66

hits a bump, the front mounting arm 96 is raised up, and the wheel tends to pivot to the left or the right. Hydraulics provides an effective way of minimising this unsettling effect.

Advantageously, the front wheel does not need to be removed in order to change a tyre or tube, forces are more directly transmitted down the chassis, and a centre-mounted disc brake may be provided, with a calliper as disposed around the inner periphery thereof.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.