@Cookie The opposite wheel locking on the long vehicles only works because the vehicle is rigid. A vehicle with a pivot between the mover and trailer would not work with counter lock steering. It would actually make it more difficult to control. When such trailes do have this, they are usually controlled by a person on the rear so the vehicle can get around corners without the trailer cutting it off too much.

@Afterbooster I look at your design and immediately think of a grader...



As you can see, the front wheels can lean over even when the machine is going straight.

Your design will not change the centrifugal force on the trailer. It has two wheels and the same force will be applied to those two wheels whether they are leaned over or straight up and down. The most it will do is slightly share some wear across the tread - but - you are now exerting extra forces on your rotating hitch. And going but what I can see in the photo, that force will be directly applied to the axle bolts where you have it attached. And that includes forces needed to over come inertia (stationary or kinetic when leaning changes as you now need to stop the trailer leaning one way to bring it to lean the other way)

And, unless you also have a pivot point so the bike can be on a slightly different line to the trailer (like when a semi turns a corner) then those forces will also be applied to your axle bolts and will also make the bike unridable - while the trailer is attached the trailer will want to go straight and force that onto the bike.

That's how it looks to me.

Michael

Ok, I didn't realize that the tie rod was connected to the circular bar and that controlled the steering.

What makes this different from the grader is that the only way the rear trailer wheels can be tilted is with the bike actually being tilted... in terms of making it more difficult to steer, it would take no thought or action to make the trailer do this motion, the hitch is similar to the hitch like this...

It pivots on the X axis allowing for slower turns when upright.

Quote from: mister on December 18, 2011, 12:13:30 PM
@Cookie The opposite wheel locking on the long vehicles only works because the vehicle is rigid. A vehicle with a pivot between the mover and trailer would not work with counter lock steering. It would actually make it more difficult to control. When such trailes do have this, they are usually controlled by a person on the rear so the vehicle can get around corners without the trailer cutting it off too much.

@Afterbooster I look at your design and immediately think of a grader...



As you can see, the front wheels can lean over even when the machine is going straight.

Your design will not change the centrifugal force on the trailer. It has two wheels and the same force will be applied to those two wheels whether they are leaned over or straight up and down. The most it will do is slightly share some wear across the tread - but - you are now exerting extra forces on your rotating hitch. And going but what I can see in the photo, that force will be directly applied to the axle bolts where you have it attached. And that includes forces needed to over come inertia (stationary or kinetic when leaning changes as you now need to stop the trailer leaning one way to bring it to lean the other way)

And, unless you also have a pivot point so the bike can be on a slightly different line to the trailer (like when a semi turns a corner) then those forces will also be applied to your axle bolts and will also make the bike unridable - while the trailer is attached the trailer will want to go straight and force that onto the bike.

That's how it looks to me.

Michael

Yes the grader came to mind to me too....perfect example of the slanted wheels creating side force.

If you notice...the blade on the grader is angled (in this picture) in such a way as to try to pull the grader to the right.....the front wheels are leaning to the left, to create a left turning force equal to the blades right turning force....resultant is the thing goes straight.....

When you tow a trailer, the trailer always makes the turn tighter than the pulling vehicle.  In fact, watch a tractor trailer trying to make a tight corner in a city....the cab ahs to go really wide and the trailer still cuts in close t the corner, often over the curb, and removing a street sign or two.

So I think in this motorcycle trailer design, the trailer will not only "track" to the inside (as all trailers do), but will also "push" to the inside...........making it difficult to ride the bike...

BTW hook and ladder are not always "rigid"...some articulate...and can drive straight down the street, with the vehicle at an angle..."dogging" as we call it!

The reason for the rear stearing is to negotiate city corners without running up on the curb....fron wheel and rear wheels travel same arc...Yes usually a rear driver........but ever see one of those huge flatbed heavy load load trailers, like the ones they can move a whole house on........they have wheels all over the place.......the whole mess is computer controlled so each wheel turns the correct, but different, amount to negotiate a turn.

Cookie

Ever see that Piaggio scooter with two front wheels?  And its not a "trike"  the whole deal leans just like a regular bike, but the two front wheels steer and lean in parallel, or almost parallel..


Cookie

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/06/vroom_vroom_piaggios_3wheeled.php

articuclated truck with rear steer...but requires rear dirver

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/06/vroom_vroom_piaggios_3wheeled.php

Quote from: afterbooster on December 18, 2011, 11:33:31 AM
Unfortunately this prototype needs a few modifications to get it totally road worthy... but I'm working with a mechanical engineer to have it ready by spring...

Well, spring is nearly over!  How's it going!

Quote from: Paulcet on June 11, 2012, 01:17:25 PM

Quote from: afterbooster on December 18, 2011, 11:33:31 AM
Unfortunately this prototype needs a few modifications to get it totally road worthy... but I'm working with a mechanical engineer to have it ready by spring...

Well, spring is nearly over!  How's it going!

well... The problem with working with a buddy is...more beer ends up getting drank then work being done, I've recently teamed up with a different engineer as of this past week...but with a deployment coming up, I dont know how much I can accomplish in two months and work... I'll keep on it though