Apax tilting trike

[fredbert]

I have found another site that explains the basic principle that Apax uses http://www.moebius.es/ccalleja/index3.htm

Fig 6 shows the complete system the front half controls the tilting which is not required.The back end with 2 ram rods gives a push pull,so I am told, which controls the up down movement of wheels.

Apax has really complicated the issue if you go here http://jetrike.com/plans.html a more basic system is shown for recumbents, I can build this but it is too low down.

btw I meant 8-10cm and I am sticking to it.

 

[JemmaUK]

hi,

sorry was thinking in inches. 8-10cms is equal to the 3-4 inches travel I mentioned.
I think I understand better what your aiming at so how does this sound?

L shape suspension arm with MTB rear shocks mounted at the top in extension. pivot mounted halfway down the upright using wheel axle mounts with inboard 16" wheels - should give you the travel you want.

what, if any brake will you fit?

 

[Alaskavan]

Fredbert, have you looked at these homebuilt trikes? You might get some ideas there.

http://kb7mxu2.home.mindspring.com/trikes6.htm

 

[fredbert]

Sorry for not replying I am knocked off me feet with a silly bug my daughter brought home, she fine though! huh!

Thanks for the link Alaskavan I would really love a fully tilting three wheeler but they are too low down.


Jemma I found out that the two swing arms need to be connected to balance their movement so one goes up the other down or else it tips, I am sure you know that. I saw these site's http://jetrike.com/ or http://www.fastfwd.nl/eng/index.php I will try to adapt.

Ed

 

[mnbiker]

http://www.moebius.es/ccalleja/index3.htm fig 6 shows 1 spring/shock, could you just have 2, 1 for each wheel and just use the same equalizer?

 

[Alaskavan]

How about taking the plans for the Jetrike and altering them so it has a platform that you could roll your chair onto and fasten it down?

 

[fredbert]

Hi mnbiker thanks for the help Jemma and I was talking about that sort of arrangement but with me getting this bug I have'nt followed it up yet.

I was thinking about how to set the springs/shock so they are strong enough to hold up the back end and still allow the wheel move up when it goes over uneven ground. As I am not too sure about spring/shocks this is where I get lost.

Alaskavan I would need some sort of driving unit I am unable to peddle, saying that the Jetrike is a full tilter I would not feel safe. Is there a special reason why tilters are so low down?

 

[Alaskavan]

The tilting trikes are so low for 2 reasons. 1) Being low keeps the center of gravity inside the triangle of the wheels when cornering; and 2) Aerodynamics. Both related to high speed cornering.
I guess you are more interested in being able to operate on uneven terrain, and that poses different requirements. So I have to agree that the trikes on that site probably wouldn't have much relevance to your needs.
IMO, the question of power is relatively simple compared to the suspension issue. Something like the Staton setup shown in your first posts should be adaptable to most any wheeled vehicle.

 

[JemmaUK]

...What alaskavan said lol ...

The higher the centre of gravity the less stable the what-ever-it-is will be... which is why you find things like the new Discovery have computer controlled suspension so they dont end up doing the wingless equivalent of a ground loop ala the old Suzuki 4x4s and the Merc A class...

As to the interlink on the suspension it depends what you want ... if you want a non indepandant system two swing arms linked in a H frame shape with the damper on the crossbar of the H would be fine... but that wont do what you want..

the best way is a linked fluid/gas damper system such as that known as hydralastic/hydragas in the BL cars (princess & 1100/Mini) - problem there is complexity... and it can be a pain to get set up right (there was a reason the former was referred to as 'hydraspastic' in a less PC age - although that was, to be fair, more to do with BL's quality control rather than inherant faults with the system itself).

Oh and dont do what Rover did with the 213/216 - they managed to engineer in a 17% difference between the left and right rear springing rates... must have been the kid on work experience lol..

good luck with it

Jemma xx