AU649375B2

AU649375B2 - Detachable drive for motorising a golf buggy

Info

Publication number: AU649375B2
Application number: AU44978/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Reginald Howard Cole; Douglas Paterson Paterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-03
Filing date: 1993-08-30
Publication date: 1994-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-30
Also published as: AU4497893A

Description

-IML

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION for a Standard Patent

ORIGINAL

649375 o r r r c cc

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NAME OF APPLICANTS:-(i) ANDREW REGINALD HOWARD COLE (ii) DOUGLAS PATERSON PATERSON ACTUAL INVENTORS::- ANDREW REGINALD HOWARD COLE (ii) DOUGLAS PATERSON PATERSON ADDRESS FOR SERVICE:

A.R.H.COLE

61 HALDANE STREET, MT. CLAREMONT, 6010 INVENTION TITLE: DETACHABLE DRIVE UNIT FOR MOTORISING A GOLF BUGGY DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION APPLICATION No. PL 4472/92.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- I 2 This invention relates to a detachable drive unit for motorising a manual golf buggy.

One such unit currently available on the Australian market is supported on two wheels which are of a small diameter and are driven through a worm gear. It consumes considerable current and is heavy to handle.

The object of the invention is to provide an efficient drive unit which draws a minimum of power from the battery and which is relatively easy to handle.

In one form the invention resides in a drive unit to be detachably fitted to a manual golf buggy comprising a frame substantially L-shaped in elevation, coupling-means fitted to the forward end of the frame for detachably coupling the unit to the rear axle of the golf buggy, a single drive wheel mounw.-d on the vertical arm of the frame, a motor mounted o o on the frame ,a drive coupling the output shaft of the motor to the 15 wheel through means which allow the wheel to free wheel when the drive is not operating, and control means for controlling the speed of the motor capable of being mounted on handle of the golf buggy, said coupling means being such that the drive unit has limited rotation about a transverse horizontal axis and about a vertical axis but not about a fore and aft axis so that the drive wheel remainsin a substantially vertical plane relative to the axle of the manual golf buggy.

o*°0* Preferably the drive includes a chain and sprocket drive coupled to the wheel through a free wheel sprocket of the type used in bicycles. A reduction gear box may be fitted between the motor and the chain drive 1 25 connected to a driving sprocket mounted on the output shaft of the gear box. Alternatively, the wheel may be mounted on the output shaft of the gear box. In another alternative the reduction drive may comprise a multiple belt and pulley drive. The motor is preferably an electric motor aALIA supplied with power from a battery mounted on the horizontal arm of the frame and directly coupled to a reduction gearbox which is preferably S an efficient helical cut or straight cut gearbox.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof powered by an electric motor shown in the accompanying drawings wherein;- Fig, 1 is a side elevation: and Fig. 2 is a plan view.

in both Figs. the battery has been omitted for the sake of clarity) As shown in the drawings the L-shaped frame 11 is formed of a pair of 10 U-shaped tubular members welded together at the junction of the arms the upper portion 12 of the vertical arm forming a carrying handle. The forward end of the horizontal arm of the frame is provided with coupling-means (to be described later) for connecting the unit to the axle 1.3 of the golf buggy a fragment of which axle is shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. An electric motor-reduction gear box 14,15 is also mounted on the vertical and/or horizontal portion of the frame with its drive shaft carrying a sprocket 16.. A wheel 17 is mounted with its axle transverse to the fore and aft axis of the frame and supported in a pair of slotted brackets 18 mounted on the vertical portion of the frame. The wheel is fitted with a ratchet sprocket 19 of the type used in bicycles and coupled by a chain 20 to the sprocket 16. By using such a ratchet sprocket the free wheeling of the unit as it moves down a slope or on the flat is enhanced with a consequent reduction in power consumption.The diameter of the wheel 17 is relatively large being substantially the same as that of the buggy wheels. As shown in Fig.l of the drawings the wheel is fitted witli a pneumatic tyre 17a and is similar in construction to a bicycle wheel. When the unit is to be used on soft terrain it is preferable that a wide flat tyre be used or alternatively an outer tyre 21 of approximately twice the width of the normal tyre and having a flat profile known as slik is fitted over the tyre or in place of the pneumatic tyre as shown in Fig.2 of the drawings.

A battery-supporting platform 22 in the form of a shallow tray is mounted on the forward portion of the frame. A cross-member 23 below the frame provides stability when the unit is detached from the golf buggy.

The unit is coupled to the axle 13 of a manually-propelled golf buggy (or a substituted equivalent member if the buggy has no complete cross member) by a U-shaped member 24 which carries C-shaped arms which fit over the axle and are locked in place by set screws 26. A second U-shaped member 27 carries two pivot pins 28 which fit into holes 10 in member 24 and one or both of which is locked in place by a retaining pin 29. If desired the first and second U-shaped members may be detachably coupled together by the pivot pins and retaining pin.Member 27 is welded to a similar vertical piece 30. This pivots on the bearing bolt 31 carried by a fourth member 32 which is fixed in a near-vertical 15 position to the forward end of the frame. It will be apparent that the drive unit is capable of rotation about two axes at right angles to each odher facilitating steering, balancing and shock absorption, but rotation about the horizontal fore and aft axis of the unit is prevented by bracket 24 so that the drive wheel is substantially vertical relative to the axle 13. If desired the C-shaped arms 25 may be omitted and the fourth U-shaped member bolted directly to the axle or equivalent of the manual golf buggy.

The unit is provided with supply cables (not shown) which connect the battery to an electronic control unit (not shown) mounted in a suitable location on the frame, The control unit is connected to a potentiometer and an on-off switch adapted to be detachably mounted on hlie handle of the buggy adjacent to the normal hand grip position.

To uncouple the unit from the buggy, pin 29 is withdrawn and the unit simply moved sideways to disengage the pivot pins 28, When the battery has been removed from the platform the unit can be lifted by the handle 12. By suitably locating the motor and gearbox the unit can be balanced so that the handle 12 is located substantially at the point of balance making handling of the unit relatively simple.

The use of a single drive wheel,' a roller chain and sprocket drive together with an efficient gearbox in place of the multiple wheels and the worm drive of the known unit ensures that the unit of the present invention uses less power. A comparison test with the known unit on a grass fairway indicates that the current consumption of the present unit is about 60-70% of that of the known unit.

In order to obtain the maximum traction between the wheel and the 10 surface of the ground it is desirable that the motor and battery be located as close to the wheel as possible, at the same time having regard to the balancing of the unit to facilitate handling as discussed above.

Whilst the invention has been described by specific reference to an electric powered unit the electric motor and gearbox may be replaced by a small 15 internal combustion engine.

0

Claims

1. A drive unit to be detachably fitted to a manual golf buggy comprising a frame substantially L-shaped in elevation, coupling-means fitted to the forward end of the frame for detachably coupling the unit to the rear axle or equivalent component of the golf buggy, a single drive wheel mounted on the vertical arm of the frame, a motor mounted on the frame, a reduction drive coupling the output shaft of the motor to the wheel through means which allow the wheel to free wheel, and control means for controlling the speed of the motor capable of being mounted on or adjacent to the handle of the golf buggy, Said coupling means being such that the drive unit has limited rotation about a transverse horizontal axis and about a vertical axis but not about a fore and aft axis so that the drive wheel remains in a substantially vertical plane relative to the axle of the manual buggy.

2. A drive unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drive is a chain and sprocket drive connected to the wheel through a free wheel sprocket of the type used in bicycles. S

3. A drive unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein a reduction gear box is fitted between the motor and the chain drive, the driving sprocket of the chain drive being mounted on the output shaft of the gear box. 0 5@ SS

4. A drive unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the gear box is provided with helical gears.

A drive unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reduction drive is a reduction gear box and the wheel is directly mounted on the output shaft of the gear box. *go 4.Adieui scamdi li hri h erbxi rvddwt eia box.

6. A drive unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reduction drive is a multiple belt t f 7 and pulley drive.

7. A drive unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the motor is an electric motor supplied with power from a battery mounted on the horizontal arm of the frame.

8 A drive unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the motor is asmall internal combustion engine and gear box mounted on the horizontal arm of the frame.

A drive unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling-means comprises a first U-shaped member fixed in a near-vertical position to the forward end of the frame, a second U-shaped member pivotally mounted on the first U-shaped member for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a third U-shaped member fixed to the second U-shaped member at right angles thereto, a fourth U-shaped member pivotally connected to the third U- o" shaped member for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the fore-aft axis of the vehicle, said fourth U-shaped member being provided with C- shaped arms adapted to fit over the axle or equivalent member of a manually propelled golf buggy, each C-shaped arm being provided with a set screw to lock it in position. eo**

10. A drive unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the fourth U-shaped member is connected to the third U-shaped member through removable pins, each pivot pin being held in place by a retaining pin.. I 8

11.. A drive unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first and second U-shaped members are connected through removable pivot pins and retaining pins.

12. A drive unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the C-shaped arms are eliminated and the fourth U-shaped member is bolted directly to the axle or equivalent member of the golf buggy.

13. A drive unit substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings. ANDREW REGINALD HOWARD COLE DOUGLAS PATERSON PATERSON 27th..August 1993 APPLICANTS 0 o 0** 0* 0* 00 000 *00* 0 0**0 0o *000 *005 0* 0 S 0 S 000* 00 0 OS* 0500 0 0 0000