Supporting arm assembly for a driving wheel of an automotive vehicle

Abstract

An oscillating supporting arm assembly for the driving wheel of a motorcycle, includes an arm mounted to oscillate angularly about a connecting shaft of the motorcycle and cooperating with a suspension assembly between the arm and motorcycle, the wheel being removably fixed to a supporting shaft on one side of the free end of the supporting arm, the supporting shaft extending through the arm on two bearings, a wheel driving pinion is fixed to the supporting shaft, on the side of the arm opposite to the wheel and is driven by a chain mechanically connected to the driving assembly of the motorcycle, the supporting arm having the configuration of a U with two legs between which the rim and the tire of the rear wheel are located, one of the legs having hinge connections which cooperate with the connecting shaft of the motorcycle, the wheel has its median plane extending at substantially equal distances from the two hinge connections of the supporting arm, the wheel is rigidly connected to a brake disc cooperating with brake tightening mechanism fixed to the supporting arm and wherein the brake disc is mounted substantially on the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle coinciding equally with the transverse median plane of the wheel so as to limit the torsion of the supporting arm and the reactions to the braking forces.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oscillating supporting arm assembly for the driving wheel of a motorcycle, comprising an arm mounted to oscillate angularly about a connecting shaft of said motorcycle and cooperating with suspension means .[.between said arm and motorcycle.]., said wheel being removably fixed to a supporting shaft on one side of the free end of the supporting arm, the supporting shaft extending through said arm on .[.two bearings.]. .Iadd.bearing means.Iaddend., a wheel driving pinion is fixed to the supporting shaft, on the side of the arm opposite to the wheel and is driven by a chain mechanically connected to the driving means of the motorcycle, said supporting arm having the configuration of a U with two legs between which the rim and the tire of said .[.rear.]. .Iadd.driving .Iaddend.wheel are located, one of the legs having hinge connections which cooperate with the connecting shaft of the motorcycle, .Iadd.wherein .Iaddend.said wheel has its median plane extending at substantially equal distances from the two hinge connections .Iadd.located at both ends of one leg .Iaddend.of the .Iadd.U-shaped .Iaddend.supporting arm, the wheel is .[.rigidly.]. connected to a brake .[.disc.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.cooperating with brake tightening means .[.fixed to said supporting arm.]. and wherein the brake .[.disc.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.is mounted substantially on the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle .Iadd.substantially .Iaddend.coinciding equally with the .[.transverse.]. median plane of the wheel so as to limit the torsion of the supporting arm and the reactions to the braking forces.Iadd., the supporting shaft extending through the other free leg of the U-.Iadd.shaped arm on bearing means located on said free leg between the wheel and the driving pinion, the wheel presenting an enveloping cross-section so as to mostly surround the free leg of the U-shaped arm. 
     
     
       2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wheel is mounted on the supporting shaft extending through said arm, with a brake .[.disc.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.cooperating with a brake tightening means, .[.such as a brake yoke.]. fixed to said supporting arm. 
     
     
       3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said brake .[.disc.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.is fixed to the supporting shaft, and said wheel is fixed to the hub of the brake .[.disc.]. .Iadd.surface. 
     
     
       4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the .[.two bearings.]. .Iadd.bearing means .Iaddend.having a high rigidity and supporting the wheel supporting shaft are rigidly locked in a bore provided in said arm, by means of a lateral slot of said arm, which opens into said bore and the edges of which are adapted to be brought near to each other by adjustable tightening means. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said adjustable tightening means .[.comprises.]. .Iadd.comprise .Iaddend.at least one bolt extending through said slot. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said adjustable tightening means .[.comprises.]. .Iadd.comprise .Iaddend.a clamping collar. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the supporting shaft is rotatably supported by two bearings respectively located in two bores respectively opening at opposite ends in the free leg of the U-shaped arm..Iaddend. .Iadd.8. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bearing means are mounted on one side of said median plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bearing means are mounted on both sides of said median plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the brake surface is a brake disc..Iaddend. .Iadd.11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the brake disc is mounted in the space between the wheel surrounding the free leg and the supporting shaft mounted in said free leg, said disc being connected to said wheel and said supporting shaft..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A braking surface assembly for use with an oscillating supporting lateral arm assembly for a vehicle wheel, said lateral arm being rotatably connected to a frame of the vehicle so as to cooperate with suspension and/or damping means, said wheel being fixed to a supporting shaft extending through said arm, on one side of the supporting arm in an easily removable manner, a driving pinion fixed onto said supporting shaft, on the other side of the arm, said supporting arm having a general U-shaped configuration with a first leg pivoted on the frame, the supporting shaft extending through the length of the second leg of the U-shaped arm, said wheel having an enveloping cross-section with respect to said second leg, so as to allow a rim and tire of said wheel to be located between the legs of the U-shaped arm, said braking surface assembly: (a). being mounted between the wheel and said second leg,   (b) having an enveloping cross-section with respect to the second leg and   (c) being mounted to rotate with an assembly formed by the supporting shaft   
     
     
        and the wheel fixed thereto..Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  A braking surface assembly according to claim 12, wherein the braking surface includes a hub which is fastened on a flange carried by the supporting shaft..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A braking surface assembly according to claim 13, wherein the braking surface is fastened to the flange by means of studs..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A braking surface assembly according to claim 14, wherein the studs are fastened on the flange and pass through the braking surface hub and through the wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A braking surface assembly according to claim 15, wherein the wheel is clamped by the studs..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A braking surface assembly according to claim 12, wherein the supporting shaft is connected by means of grooves to the wheel..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A braking surface assembly according to claim 17 wherein the shaft is connected by means of grooves to the braking surface assembly..Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A brake disc assembly according to claim 10, wherein the brake disc cooperates with a braking caliper which is pivotable after withdrawal of the vehicle wheel..Iaddend.