Field of Invention

[01] Non-tilting steering system for reverse trike.

Background of Invention

[02] It is obvious that reverse trikes are more safe and stable than bikes and conventional trikes. Reverse trikes have many mechanical advantages over conventional trikes which include stability, traction in uphills and steerability. But providing an efficient steering mechanism for reverse trikes is a challenge. In recent past many models of reverse trikes have come up in the public domain offering tilting steering system. Tilting steering system has many issues which includes traction as well as ground clearance while cornering around a turn. Non-tilting steering system for reverse trikes have drawn little attention as it is understood by majority of folks that rack and pinion steering mechanism used in cars is sufficient for the purpose. But it has its own issues which includes big reduction ratio and too complex mechanism to handle on a trike. Non-tilting steering mechanism is provided in Newton reverse trike. It employs pitman arm to swing the kingpin attached to spindle mounted on each of the two front steer wheels.

Technical Problem

[03] Steering mechanism of reverse trike or four wheelers have externally moving parts in the form of steer transmission rods. It may be huge disadvantage in case of uneven land mass caused during snow fall.

[04] Rotation motion is converted into translational motion which is then converted back to rotation motion

[05] Non-tilting steering mechanism in Newton reverse trike applies the steering torque on the two wheels either from the front side of the head tube or rear side of the head tube due to which force gets exerted on the head tube rearward or forward direction respectively, thus making it difficult to operate as compared to steering system for a bicycle. In bicycles steering torque applied on the wheel is symmetric along the head tube. Summary of Invention

[06] One of our objective is to provide steering system for reverse trike which is as ergonomic to operate as that of a bicycle.

To achieve this objective steering system for reverse trike is designed such that two front wheels can be transversely rotated using coupled torque. Steering torque is applied on each of the front wheels symmetrically on both ends of the axle and symmetrically on front and rear side of the steerer rods, thereby providing easy and stable maneuverability to the steering system. Head tube is proportional to the length of steerer rod to provide sturdiness to steerer rod.

Wheels can be turned by 360 degree.

[07] Rotation steering action at the handle is transmitted as steering action on the wheel

through rotation motion and is not converted into translational motion as intermediate phase.

[08] It has no externally moving parts.

Brief Description of Drawings

[09] [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2] Side and Top view respectively of reverse trike with worm-pinion gearset based coupled torque steering system according to this invention.

[10] [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 4] Rear and front view, respectively, of worm-pinion gear set based coupled torque steering system according to this invention.

[11] [Fig. 5] Worm-pinion gear set based steering system according to this invention without head tubes.

[12] [Fig. 6] and [Fig. 7] Central, left and right worm-pinion gear set used in steering

mechanism according to this invention.

[13] [Fig. 8] Central, left and right worm-pinion gear set used in steering mechanism without head tube arms according to this invention.

[14] [Fig. 9] Reverse trike with rotated front wheels due to steering action by steering system according to this invention.

Description of Embodiments [15] As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3], worm-pinion gear set based coupled torque steering system for reverse trike (1) with top tube (TT) and down tube (DT), according to this invention comprises central steering system (CSS), left wheel steering system (LSS), right wheel steering system (RSS), steer transmission mechanism (STM), steering support mechanism (SSM).

Central steering system

[16] As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3], central steering system consists of central steering shaft (CST), central head tube (CHT), central gear set (CGS).

[17] As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3], central steering shaft (CST) is a straight shaft,

connected to a handle at its top, located on the center of the front part of reverse trike.

[18] As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3] central head tube (CHT) is a set of two sections of vertical tubes, upper section (CHT1) and lower section (CHT2) separated by distance equal to the height of central gear set with each section coaxially holding the central steering shaft using ball bearings and upper section on its rear attached to top tube (TT) and lower section attached on its rear side to down tube (DT).

[19] As shown in [Fig. 3], [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6] central gear set (CGS) consists of one vertical globoid worm gear (CWG) meshingly engaged, on its front and rear side with

transversely oriented pinion spur gears (CSG1) and (CSG2) respectively. Globoid worm gear (CWG) is coaxially fixedly mounted on the central steerer rod. Central pinion spur gears (CSG1) and (CSG2) are held in place by steer transmission mechanism (STM).

Left wheel steering system

[20] As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3], left wheel steering system consists of a wheel (LW), left steering fork (LSF), left head tube (LHT), left gear set (LGS) and left tubular cage (LTC).

[21] As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3], left wheel steering fork (LSF) is a rigid/ suspension fork with steerer rod (LSR) with fork blades at their ends holding the wheel (LW) at the ends of its axle. Left head tube (LHT) is a set of two sections of vertical tubes, upper section (LHT1) and lower section (LHT2) separated by distance equal to the height of left wheel gear set (LGS) with each section coaxially holding the central steering shaft using ball bearings. [22] As shown in [Fig. 3], [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6], left gear set (LGS) consists of one pinion spur gear (LSG) coaxially fixedly mounted on the steerer rod of the left wheel (LSR) and meshingly engaged, on its front and rear side with transversely oriented worm gears (LWG1) and (LWG2) respectively.

[23] As shown in [Fig. 3], left wheel tubular cage (LTC) consists of two L-shaped rods and one C-shaped rod. One L-shaped rod is located on upper right side of left wheel steerer rod (LSR) and connects upper section of left head tube (LHT1) to coupling rod (CPL1) of steer transmission mechanism (STM). One L-shaped rod is located on lower right side of left wheel steerer rod (LSR) and connects lower section left head tube (LHT2) to coupling rod (CPL1) of steer transmission mechanism (STM). C-shaped rod is located on right side of right wheel steerer rod (RSR) connects upper section of right head tube (RHT1) to lower section of right head tube (RHT2).

[24] As shown in [Fig. 3], [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6] left wheel worm gears (LWG1) and (LWG2) are held in place by steer transmission mechanism (STM).

Right wheel steering system

[25] As shown in [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 3], right wheel steering system consists of a wheel (RW), right steering fork (RSF), right head tube (RHT), right gear set (RGS) and right tubular cage (RTC). Right wheel steering fork (RSF) is a rigid/suspension fork with steerer rod (RSR) with fork blades at their ends holding the wheel (RW) at the ends of its axle.

Right head tube (RHT) is a set of two sections of vertical tubes, upper section (RHT1) and lower section (RHT2) separated by distance equal to the height of central gear set with each section coaxially holding the central steering shaft using ball bearings.

[26] As shown in [Fig. 3], [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6], right gear set (RGS) consists of one pinion spur gear (RSG) coaxially fixedly mounted on the steerer rod of the right wheel (RSR) and is meshingly engaged, on its front and rear side with transversely oriented worm gears (RWG1) and (RWG2) respectively.

[27] As shown in [Fig. 3], right wheel tubular cage (LTC) consists of two L-shaped rods and one C-shaped rod. One L-shaped rod is located on upper left side of right wheel steerer rod (RSR) and connects upper section right head tube (RHT1) to coupling rod (CPL2) of steer transmission mechanism (STM). One L-shaped rod is located on lower left side of right wheel steerer rod (LSR) and connects lower section right head tube (RHT2) to coupling rod (CPL2) of steer transmission mechanism (STM). C-shaped rod is located on right side of right wheel steerer rod (RSR) connects upper section of right head tube (RHT1) to lower section of right head tube (RHT2).

[28] As shown in [Fig. 3], [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6], right wheel worm gears (RWG1) and (RWG2) are held in place by steer transmission mechanism (STM).

Steer Transmission Mechanism

[29] As shown in [Fig. 3], [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6], central steering system is coupled with left wheel steering system and right wheel steering system via steer transmission mechanism (STM). Steer transmission mechanism (STM) consists of four transverse straight shafts, one transverse shaft (TS1) on right front side coaxially connecting central front pinion spur gear (CSG1) to right wheel front worm gear (RWG1), one transverse shaft (TS2) on right rear side coaxially connecting central pinion spur gear (CSG2) to right wheel rear worm gear (RWG2), one transverse shaft (TS3) on left front side coaxially connecting central pinion spur gear (CSG1) to left wheel front worm gear (LWG1), one transverse shaft (TS4) on left rear side coaxially connecting central pinion spur gear (CSG2) to right wheel rear worm gear (LWG2)

[30] As shown in [Fig. 3], [Fig. 5] and [Fig. 6], transverse shaft (TS1), (TS2), (TS3) and (TS4) are coaxially encased in straight tubes, right front head tube arm (TH1) right rear head tube arm (TH2), left front head tube arm (TH3) and left rear head tube arm (TH4) respectively, via ball bearings.

[31] As shown in [Fig. 3] and [Fig. 5], head tube arms on the right side (TH1) and (TH2) are connected by a tube (CPL1) and Head tube arms on the left side (TH3) and (TH4) are connected by a tube (CPL2).

[32] As shown in [Fig. 3], head tube arms on the left side and right side are connected at their rear side to top tube via rods left top tube arm (LTTA) and right top tube arm (RTTA) respectively.

Steer operation [33] On rotation in clockwise direction, handle causes worm gear (CWG) to rotate clockwise direction which in turn causes face gear causes spur gears (CSG1) and (CSG2) to rotate in opposite direction which in turn cause worm gears (LWG1) and (RWG1) to rotate clockwise direction and cause worm gears (LWG2) and (RWG2) to rotate anticlockwise direction respectively with respect to left steer transmission arm (TS1). Above mentioned rotation of worm gears (LWG1) and (LWG2) causes pinion spur gear (LSG) to rotate in clockwise direction and rotation of worm gears (RWG1) and (RWG2) causes pinion spur gear (RSG) to rotate in clockwise direction and thus steering the wheels in clockwise direction.