Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02258219 2000-04-07
AUXILIARY WHEEL CONVERSION
ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTORCYCLE
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of auxiliary
wheel conversion assemblies for motorcycles whereby they can
be converted from a conventional two wheel motorcycle into a
tricycle type of vehicle. The conversion assembly in this
case can be easily and quickly connected to a motorcycle for
use as a tricycle type vehicle, then just as easily and
quickly disconnected for use as a conventional two wheel
motorcycle.
Background of the Invention
Prior art of which the inventor is aware include
the devices and assemblies which are shown and described in
the following United States Patents:
No. 5, 529, 141 for a kit for converting a motorcycle
to a tricycle.
No. 5, 499, 689 for a motorcycle conversion rear axle
mounting system.
No. 4,697,659 for a vehicle fraction attachment.
No. 4,287,960 for a motorcycle conversion kit.
No. 4,133,402 for a two wheel motorized vehicle
side wheel outrigger assembly.
No. 3,767,000 for a motorcycle with auxiliary
wheel.
No. 3,419,098 for a three wheeled automotive
vehicle.
No. 2,889,891 for auxiliary wheel supports for
vehicles.
No. 1,956,319 for a convertible motorcycle chassis.
No. 1,933,102 for a motor tricycle.
No. 1,279,070 for a tractor attachment.
No. 1,152,821 for a motor vehicle.
Prior art conversion kits and assemblies for
converting a two wheel motorcycle into a tricycle type
vehicle have a number of disadvantages. Many of them require
removal of the rear drive wheel of the motorcycle and
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connection of the drive mechanism to the wheels of the
conversion assembly. Others require extensive connection of
the conversion assembly to the motorcycle making it difficult
if not impractical to change back for use as a conventional
two wheel motorcycle. Some of the prior art devices require
permanent connection of the conversion kits to the
motorcycle, with pivot arm assemblies to pivot the auxiliary
wheels out for use of the auxiliary wheels and to pivot them
back alongside the motorcycle when it is desired to use as a
two wheel motorcycle. In such cases, the auxiliary wheels
must of necessity be smaller than the auxiliary wheels so
they do not come into contact with the ground when pivoted to
their out-of-use position alongside the motorcycle.
Summary of the Invention
The auxiliary wheel conversion assembly in
accordance with the present invention is constructed in such
a way that it can be quickly and easily connected to and
disconnected from a motorcycle. The auxiliary wheels can be
and are as large as the rear drive wheel of the motorcycle,
and are preferably the same size as the motorcycle's rear
drive wheel.
The conversion assembly is of lightweight and
simplified construction, comprising a frame having a pair of
spaced apart side members, which extend parallel to each
other on opposite sides of a receiving space for the rear
drive wheel of the motorcycle, then having diagonal portions
which extend forwardly from that point to converge toward
each other, terminating at forward ends which are spaced
apart more closely than the rearwardly facing ends of the
side frame members. A cross-bar extends across the rear of
the conversion assembly from the rearward facing end of one
side member to the rearward facing end of the other.
A connection plate is mounted to the lower and
forward portion of the motorcycle frame, having laterally
extending tubular insert members. Corresponding sleeve
members are provided at the forward ends of each side frame
member to receive the insert members of the connection plate
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secured to the motorcycle frame, thereby connecting the
conversion assembly to the motorcycle. Locking pins are
provided to screw into an internally threaded portion of the
sleeve members, such locking pins having shaft portions which
extend into cylindrical bores of the tubular insert members
of the connection plate received in the sleeves at the ends
of the side frame members of the conversion assembly.
Additional coupling lugs are connected to a portion
of the motorcycle frame just forward of the rear drive wheel
and on each side of the motorcycle, and lug coupling or lug
receiving brackets are connected to the inside of each side
frame member of the conversion assembly, extending inwardly
thereof far enough to come into registration with the
coupling lugs when the rear drive wheel of the motorcycle is
received in the receiving space of the conversion assembly.
The lug receiving brackets are secured to the side frame
members at a location thereon which will seat the coupling
lugs in the brackets at such time as the rear drive wheel of
the motorcycle is received in the said receiving space and
the insert members on the forwardly positioned connection
plate are in registration with the sleeve members at the
forward ends of the side frame members of the conversion
assembly for reception therein.
The conversion assembly has its own braking system,
including a brake pedal which is positioned to lie adjacent
the brake pedal of the motorcycle when the conversion
assembly is connected to the motorcycle. Thus, both can be
depressed at the same time to apply the brakes of the
motorcycle and of the auxiliary wheel conversion assembly
simultaneously.
A more detailed description of the auxiliary wheel
conversion assembly in accordance with this invention is set
forth in the description of preferred embodiment section
hereinbelow.
Brief Description of the Drawincr
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motorcycle having
an auxiliary wheel conversion assembly in accordance with
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this invention connected thereto.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the auxiliary wheel
conversion assembly shown disconnected from the motorcycle.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of a motorcycle to
illustrate the cooperative connection members secured to the
motorcycle to enable quick releasable connection of the
auxiliary wheel conversion assembly to the motorcycle.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the auxiliary
wheel conversion assembly in position behind the motorcycle
just prior to bringing the two together for connection of the
conversion assembly to the motorcycle.
Fig. 5 is a larger side elevation view of the
auxiliary wheel conversion assembly to more clearly show the
parts thereof that can be seen from the left-hand side.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section of a connection
sleeve member of the auxiliary wheel conversion assembly and
of one of the insert ends of the connection assembly which is
secured to the frame of the motorcycle, the insert end shown
received in the sleeve member of the conversion assembly.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged end view from the front of
one of the U-shaped brackets of the auxiliary wheel
conversion assembly connected to one of the conversion
assembly's side frame members (shown in section).
Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of the U-shaped
bracket shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is an end view from the front of the lug
supporting bracket connected to one of the motorcycle's rear
wheel mounting frame side legs (shown in section), and
showing the connecting lug on such bracket which is received
in the U-shaped bracket shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the
conversion assembly when it is connected to the motorcycle.
Fig. 10 is a view of one of the wheels of the
auxiliary wheel conversion assembly showing the inwardly
facing side which faces inwardly of the conversion assembly,
showing the wheel support shaft in section which connects the
wheel to the conversion assembly.
Fig. 11 is a partial end view from the front of the
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right-hand side wheel of auxiliary wheel conversion assembly
to more clearly show its connection to the frame of the
conversion assembly.
Description of Preferred Embodiment
A tricycle conversion assembly 2 for a motorcycle
4 in accordance with this invention comprises a generally U-
shaped frame 6 having a pair of outboard auxiliary wheels 8
which can be easily connected to and disconnected from the
motorcycle to convert it into a tricycle type vehicle when
connected and to return to a conventional two wheel
motorcycle when disconnected.
The U-shaped frame 6 includes a laterally extending
cross-bar 10 across the rear of the conversion assembly 2, a
first longitudinally extending side leg 12 which extends
along the left hand side of the motorcycle when connected,
and a second longitudinally extending side leg 14 which
extends along the right hand side of the motorcycle when
connected thereto. The rear drive wheel 16 of the motorcycle
is received in the receiving space 18 of the frame 6 between
the spaced apart side legs 12 and 14 when the conversion
assembly 2 is connected to the motorcycle 4.
Each side leg 12 and 14 extend forwardly from
opposite ends of the cross-bar 10 in substantially parallel
relationship for a distance somewhat greater than the
diameter of the rear drive wheel 16 whereupon they converge
inwardly toward their respective connection points with a
connection assembly 20 secured to the lower mid-portion of
the motorcycle frame 22.
Side leg 12 includes the inwardly converging
diagonal leg portion 24 and side leg 14 includes the inwardly
converging diagonal leg portion 26. The diagonal leg portions
24 and 26 each terminate forwardly with an integrally formed
laterally extending connecting sleeve 28 having a through
passageway 30 to receive corresponding insert end 32 of
laterally extending, tubular connection bar 34 of connection
assembly 20 secured to the lower mid-portion of the
motorcycle frame 22.
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The integrally formed connecting sleeves 28 at the
forward end of the diagonal side leg portions 24 and 26 are
cylindrical. The inner diameter of their through passageway
30 corresponds to the outer diameter of the insert ends 32 of
the tubular connection bar 34 for snug reception of the
insert ends 32 into respective ones of the through passageway
30 of the connecting sleeves 28. The connecting sleeves are
preferably about two to three inches long from end to end,
and the insert ends 32 extend into the sleeves 28 most of
that distance.
However, the outer end 36 of each connecting sleeve
28 includes an integrally threaded portion 38 for threaded
engagement with the externally threaded portion 40 of
connecting and locking pins 42. The connection bar 34 and its
insert ends 32 are cylindrical and include a bore or through
passageway 44 therethrough. The connecting and locking pins
42 each include a cylindrical insert shaft 46 which extends
into the bore 44 of each insert end 32 when each locking pin
42 is screwed into threaded engagement of its externally
threaded portion 40 with internally threaded portion 38 of
the connecting sleeves 28.
Each locking pin 42 includes a handle 48 pivotally
connected to its outer end.
The U-shaped frame 6 also includes a front cross
bar 50 extending across between the diagonal side leg
portions 24 and 26 and secured thereto at a location inwardly
a short distance from their forward ends.
The frame 6 of the conversion assembly is
additionally connected to the motorcycle by a pair of U
shaped brackets 52 on the conversion assembly with their open
ends facing forwardly to receive a corresponding pair of
connecting lugs 54 extending laterally outwardly from
opposite sides of the motorcycle's rear wheel mounting frame
56.
The U-shaped brackets 52 are each connected to
respective ones of the side legs 12 and 14 by a connecting
bar 58 extending laterally and inwardly thereof into the
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receiving space 18 between the side legs 12 and 14, and at a
location rearwardly from the inwardly converging diagonal
side leg portions 24 and 26.
The corresponding pair of connecting lugs 54 are
connected to respective ones of the longitudinally extending
side arm members 60 of the rear wheel mounting frame 56 by a
bracket 62 bolted thereto and from which the lugs 54 project
laterally and outwardly.
The auxiliary wheels 8 are connected to the frame
6 of the converging assembly 2 as follows. A pair of wheel
support shafts 64 project outwardly from respective ones of
the side legs 12 and 14 at a location thereon about midway
between the rear cross-bar 10 and the beginning of the
inwardly converging diagonal side leg portions 24 and 26. A
cylindrical brake drum assembly 66 is secured to each of the
wheel support shafts at a location radially offset from the
center of the brake drum assembly on a radius which extends
vertically and downward from the center.
A rotatable axle 68 extends outwardly from each of
the brake drum assemblies 66 on which respective ones of the
pair of auxiliary wheels 8 are mounted for rotation.
The conversion assembly 2 includes its own separate
braking system to brake the auxiliary wheels 8, including a
separate auxiliary brake pedal 70 which is positioned on the
conversion assembly in such a way that it lies next to the
motorcycle brake pedal 72 when the conversion assembly is
connected to the motorcycle. The rider can then depress both
brake pedals 70 and 72 at the same time with his foot to
apply braking force simultaneously to the auxiliary wheels 8
and rear drive wheel 16 of the motorcycle.
The braking system of the conversion assembly
includes a fluid pressure assembly 74, tubular supply lines
76 leading from the fluid pressure assembly 74 to the brake
drum assemblies 66, a piston rod 78 extends from said fluid
pressure assembly, and a connecting shaft 80 connected at one
end to piston rod 78 and at the other end to the auxiliary
brake pedal 70 for operating the piston to apply fluid
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pressure to the brake drum assemblies 66 for braking the
auxiliary wheels 8 when the brake pedal 70 is depressed and
to release the braking pressure when pressure on brake pedal
70 is released.
A hand grasp 82 is provided along the diagonally
extending side leg portion 24 of side leg 12 of the
conversion assembly frame 6, extending laterally outward for
a user to grasp and pull the conversion assembly forward into
position for connecting to the motorcycle.
The tricycle conversion assembly 2 in accordance
with the present invention is easily connected to and
disconnected from a motorcycle.
To connect to a motorcycle, the conversion assembly
is pulled up behind the rear drive wheel 16 of the motorcycle
with the forward spaced apart ends of the side legs 12 and 14
of conversion assembly frame 6 facing the rear drive wheel 16
and positioned to receive it therebetween into the receiving
space 18 between the frame side legs 12 and 14.
The connection assembly 20, if not previously
connected, is then connected to the lower portion of the
motorcycle frame 22. The connection assembly 20 comprises a
laterally extending plate 84 which extends across from frame
member 86 to frame member 88 of the motorcycle frame 22 when
positioned in place at the forward lowermost portion of the
motorcycle frame 22. A flange 90 extends upwardly from the
plate 84 at each opposite end in facing relationship to
respective ones of the frame members 86 and 88 of the
motorcycle frame 22 to secure the connection assembly 20
thereto by tightening the bolts 92 which extend through
respective ones of the frame members 86 and 88 and through
respective ones of flanges 90.
Also, if not previously connected to the
motorcycle, the connecting lugs 54 and their brackets 62 are
secured to respective ones of the side arm members 60 of the
rear motorcycle wheel mounting frame 56, at the location
thereon which will seat the connecting lugs 54 in the
receiving recesses of respective ones of the U-shaped
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brackets 52 extending inwardly from side legs 12 and 14 of
the conversion assembly frame 6 when the insert ends 32 of
connecting bar 34 of the connection assembly 20 secured to a
forward portion of the motorcycle frame are in position for
reception in the connecting sleeves 28 at the forward ends of
the conversion assembly side legs 12 and 14.
The rear wheel 16 of the motorcycle is then backed
over the front cross-bar 50 of the conversion assembly frame
6 into the receiving space 18 between the side legs 12 and 14
of the conversion assembly frame until the rear wheel 6 of
the motorcycle is substantially in axial alignment with the
auxiliary wheels 8 of the conversion assembly 2. The person
connecting the assembly to the motorcycle then grasps the
hand grasp 82 to move the conversion assembly forwardly or
rearwardly whatever slight amount necessary for the
connecting sleeves 28 at the forward ends of the conversion
assembly side legs 12 and 14 to line up with the insert ends
32 of the connecting bar 34 on the connection assembly 20
secured to the motorcycle frame 22. The insert ends 32 are
then inserted into the connecting sleeves 28 at which time
the connecting lugs 54 secured to the side arm members 60 on
each side of the rear motorcycle wheel mounting frame 56
become seated in the receiving recesses of the U-shaped
brackets 52 extending inwardly from a rearward portion of the
conversion assembly side legs 12 and 14.
Each of the connecting and locking pins 42 are then
screwed in place, by inserting their insert shaft 46 in the
bore of respective ones of the tubular insert ends 32 of
connecting bar 34 and by threadedly engaging the external
threaded portion 40 of the locking pins 42 with the
internally threaded portion 38 of respective ones of the
connecting sleeves 28.
The tricycle conversion assembly 2 is now securely
connected and ready for operating the motorcycle as a
tricycle type vehicle, powered by the rear drive wheel 16 of
the motorcycle. A luggage carrier 94 is mounted at the rear
of the conversion assembly 2 by legs 96 connected at their
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lower end to the rear cross-bar 10 and to the carrier
platform 98 at the their upper end.
To disconnect the conversion assembly 2 from the
motorcycle is equally quick and easy to do. The locking pins
42 are unscrewed and the connecting sleeves 28 are separated
from the insert ends 32 of the connecting bar 34 on the
connection assembly 20 secured to the motorcycle frame. The
motorcycle can then be moved forwardly whereupon the
connecting lugs 54 secured to each side of the motorcycle
rear wheel mounting frame 56 forwardly of the rear drive
wheel 16, slip out from the receiving recesses of the U-
shaped brackets 52 on the inward sides of the conversion
assembly side legs 12 and 14. The motorcycle is then
completely disconnected from the conversion assembly 2 for
use as a conventional two wheel motorcycle.
The connection assembly 20 and the connecting lugs
54 can remain connected to the motorcycle when being used as
a conventional two wheel motorcycle. The conversion assembly
2 can then be quickly and easily re-connected to the
motorcycle when it is desired to use it as a tricycle type
vehicle.
When the conversion assembly 2 is connected to the
motorcycle as described, no additional connecting braces or
other connecting members are required. The spaces between the
rear drive wheel 16 of the motorcycle and the side legs 12
and 14 of the conversion assembly 2 spaced apart on opposite
sides of the rear drive wheel are in fact unobstructed. There
is nothing across such spaces that has to be connected and
disconnected when connecting and disconnecting the conversion
assembly to and from the motorcycle.
