Construction of trike front suspension pivot

Continuing the recumbent trike project, here is the previous post:

https://bkhome.org/news/202401/starting-assembly-of-trike-front-suspension-frame.html

The two shock absorbers meet at a central point, and that is where it gets very interesting. The design is such that the trike can be tilting or non-tilting. If tilting, it can be achieved by either balancing, like on a bicycle, or by linkage with the steering. The idea is to experiment with all three.

In November 2023, I posted how the central pivot of the shock absorbers will work:

https://bkhome.org/news/202311/two-shock-design-with-swinging-steering-linkage.html

Reproducing the drawings here:

...if that pivot is locked in place, then it is a non-tilting trike. If allowed to swing, it becomes a tilting, or leaning, trike:

I don't have a nice drawing of that pivot, but have taken a snapshot of a rough sketch, that should give enough detail:

This is where some welding is required. Here are the two parts of the pivot:

...the welding is not pretty, but looks strong enough. Small bushes have been inserted where the shock absorbers are attached:

The bushes are 8mm inside, 10mm outside, 6mm long, ordered as "d8D10L6" from here. The pivot tubing is 14mm OD, 10mm ID, mild steel, from here.

I did a temporary assembly, to determine the weld-point for joining the two parts of the pivot:

Consequently, the two parts were welded together:

This pivot design is very experimental, and it is going to be a fascinating experience to test it and compare the three modes; non-tilting, free-tilting and tilting linked to the steering. Progress is slow, and cannot say when the trike will be basically operational. Ha ha, as I learn, keep getting ideas about a trike "mark 2" version.     

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