DE102021203090A1 - Drive arrangement for a vehicle and vehicle that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with motor power - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drive arrangement (100) for a vehicle (1), in particular an electric bicycle, e-bike or pedelec, which can be driven by muscle power and motor power, with a drive unit (10) which essentially runs in a first longitudinal direction (X1) and with a Electric motor for driving a unit (4) and in particular a drive wheel (4') of the vehicle (1) for locomotion, with a battery unit (20) which essentially runs in a second longitudinal direction (X2) and with a battery for the controlled Supplying the electric motor with electrical energy for its controlled operation, and with an adapter unit (30) which is designed for attaching and electrically connecting the drive unit (10) and the battery unit (20) to or with one another, in which the drive unit (10), the battery unit (20) and the adapter unit (30) in one via the adapter unit (30 ) are accommodated or can be accommodated in a frame part (3) of a frame (2) of the vehicle (1) in a mutually assembled state and in which the adapter unit (30) is designed such that in the assembled state the first longitudinal direction (X1) of the drive unit (10) and the second longitudinal extension direction (X2) of the battery unit (20) enclose a frame angle (φ) different from 0° and from 180°.

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a drive arrangement for a vehicle that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with motor power, in particular for an electric bicycle, e-bike or pedelec, and a vehicle as such that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with motor power, in particular an electric bicycle, e-bike or pedelec.

In the case of electric bicycles and other vehicles that can be driven with muscle power and additional motor power, in which drive units and/or battery units are accommodated in combination with one another in the tubular frame construction, there are strict boundary conditions with regard to the design due to the limited geometry of the combination of drive unit and battery unit in interaction with the frame construction and use of space.

Disclosure of Invention

In contrast, the drive arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with engine power has the advantage that simple yet reliable measures allow greater flexibility in designing the design and the use of space. According to the invention, this is achieved by creating a drive arrangement for a vehicle that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with engine power, and in particular for an electric bicycle, e-bike or pedelec, which is designed with a drive unit that extends essentially in a first longitudinal direction and with an electric motor for Driving a unit and in particular a drive wheel of the vehicle is designed for locomotion, with a battery unit, which is designed essentially in a second longitudinal direction and with a battery for the controlled supply of electrical energy to the electric motor for its controlled operation, and with an adapter unit, which is designed for fastening and electrically connecting the drive unit and the battery unit to and/or with one another, in which the drive unit, the battery unit and the adapter unit are mediated in one via the adapter unit When assembled together, they are received or can be received in a frame part of a frame of the vehicle and the adapter unit is designed such that in the assembled state the first direction of longitudinal extent of the drive unit and the second direction of longitudinal extent of the battery unit enclose a frame angle φ that differs from 0° and from 180° . The selection and design of the frame angle cp results in greater flexibility in the design of the design and the use of space with simple yet reliable measures.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the drive arrangement according to the invention, the adapter unit is designed as an angle piece, wedge and/or triangular prism with the frame angle φ as a wedge angle or prism angle or essentially in the form of an angle piece. As a result, the frame bracket can be realized in a stable manner using simple production technology means.

In another advantageous development of the drive arrangement according to the invention, the adapter unit is designed for particularly flexible design of the frame angle cp with an - in particular fixed - angle value in a range from 5° to 10°, in a range from 10° to 20° or in a range from 20 ° trained up to 30°.

A particularly high degree of stability is achieved in one embodiment of the drive arrangement according to the invention when the adapter unit with a mechanical load-bearing function is designed and/or mounted or can be mounted on one another in the manner of a holder for the drive unit and the battery unit.

A particularly high degree of reliability of the electrical connection results if, according to another embodiment of the drive arrangement according to the invention, the adapter unit has a main body which (i) has a or for receiving and/or holding a battery-side connection and/or plug and/or (ii) is designed with or for receiving and/or holding a drive-side connection and/or plug.

The design flexibility of the drive arrangement according to the invention is further increased by connections and/or plugs of the adapter unit being designed as a connection and/or plug combination, in particular one-piece or one-piece material, or as separate connections and/or plugs connected or connectable to one another.

A particularly high degree of simplification during assembly and manufacture results for the drive assembly according to the invention when the adapter unit, one or the main body of the adapter unit and / or one or more connections and / or plugs of the adapter unit with or from a Plastic material, aluminum and / or designed as a 3D printed part.

The electrical connection between drive unit and battery unit can be further improved in another advantageous exemplary embodiment of the drive arrangement according to the invention if an electrical connection between connections and/or plugs of the adapter unit is designed with at least one cable or as at least one cable.

In principle, the drive arrangement according to the invention can be used in all vehicles that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with engine power. However, the use is particularly advantageous in connection with drive arrangements which are designed as or for a central motor drive, orthogonal drive and/or in-tube drive for an electric bicycle, pedelec or the like as a vehicle.

Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a vehicle that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with engine power as such and in particular an electric bicycle, e-bike or pedelec, the vehicle being designed with a drive arrangement designed according to the invention for driving a unit and in particular a drive wheel.

character list

• 1 ist eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeugs zur Darstellung einer Grund Idee der erfindungsgemäßen Antriebsanordnung.
• 2 ist eine schematische Seitenansicht einer in einem Fahrzeug verwendeten erfindungsgemäß ausgestalteten Antriebsanordnung.
• 3 zeigt hervorgehoben die Antriebsanordnung aus der Darstellung der 2.
• 4 bis 6 zeigen in schematischer und teilweise geschnittener Seitenansicht Details einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Antriebsanordnung mit Fokus auf den Details einer Adaptereinheit.
• 7 zeigt in schematischer und teilweise geschnittener Seitenansicht Details einer anderen Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Antriebsanordnung.
• 8 und 9 zeigen in schematischer Seitenansicht Aspekte einer herkömmlichen Antriebsanordnung in einem herkömmlichen mit Muskelkraft und zusätzlich mit Motorkraft antreibbaren Fahrzeug.

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the attached figures.

• 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention to show a basic idea of the drive arrangement according to the invention.
• 2 FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a drive arrangement configured according to the invention used in a vehicle.
• 3 shows highlighted the drive assembly from the illustration of FIG 2 .
• 4 until 6 show details of an embodiment of the drive arrangement according to the invention with a focus on the details of an adapter unit in a schematic and partially sectioned side view.
• 7 shows details of another embodiment of the drive arrangement according to the invention in a schematic and partially sectioned side view.
• 8th and 9 show, in a schematic side view, aspects of a conventional drive arrangement in a conventional vehicle that can be driven by muscle power and additionally by engine power.

Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

In the following, with reference to the 1 until 9 Embodiments of the invention and the technical background are described in detail. Elements and components that are the same and equivalent, and elements and components that have the same or equivalent effect, are denoted by the same reference symbols. The detailed description of the designated elements and components is not reproduced in every case of their occurrence.

The features and other properties shown can be isolated from one another in any form and combined with one another in any way, without departing from the core of the invention.

The present invention is focused on 1 until 7 shown in detail, where in the 8th and 9 a conventional drive arrangement 100' in a conventional vehicle 1' is explained as a comparison.

How from the 8th and 9 As can be seen, in a conventional vehicle 1', for example a conventional electric bicycle or the like, in a frame 2 in a frame part 3, in particular in a down tube, there is a conventional drive arrangement 100' with a drive unit 10 with an electric motor and a battery unit coupled thereto 20 formed, namely in a recess of the lower tube 3 of the frame 2 and with active mechanical coupling to the pedal shaft 15 for motor-assisted driving of a unit 4, so in particular a drive wheel 4 ', namely a rear wheel.

As already mentioned above, the problem with the conventional drive arrangement 100′ is that the extension angles of the drive unit 10 and the battery unit 20 are oriented essentially collinear in relation to one another, so that the drive unit 100′ can only be installed in a down tube 3 with a linear design is, whereby the geometry of the conventional arrangement in a vehicle 1 'is severely limited.

At this problem, the present invention and allows according to the representation from the 1 and 2 different orientations of the first direction of extent X1 for the drive unit 10 compared to the second direction of extent X2 of the battery unit 20 in relation to the frame 2 and the frame part 3 or the down tube 3. This means in particular that the first and second directions of extent X1 and X2 form an angle φ, which is also used as a frame bracket is referred to, can include each other, which differs from 0 ° and from 180 °, so that the directions of extent X1 and X2 of the drive unit 10 and the battery unit 20 in relation to each other are not collinear, but can be arranged with a kink to each other, whereby a greater diversity of embodiments and configurations with corresponding geometries are made possible. This provides advantages not only in terms of design, but also in terms of the configuration, housing and assembly of the drive unit 10 and the battery unit 20 with respect to one another.

According to the invention, this greater degree of flexibility in the configuration is achieved in that, in addition to the drive unit 10 and the battery unit 20, an adapter unit 30 formed between them is used, which mechanically and electrically connects the drive unit 10 and the battery unit 20 to one another and in particular the drive unit 10 and the Battery unit 20 also holds together.

In other words, this means that the drive unit 10 and the battery unit 20 are coupled and fastened to one another by the adapter unit 30 in such a way that their main directions of extension X1 or X2 do not have to run collinearly with one another, but instead enclose an angle φ with one another that differs from 0° and differs from 180°.

In the 1 2 options φ1 and φ2 for the frame angle φ are given as possible examples, it being possible for the frame angle φ to be set suitably in an angle range Δφ by selecting and designing the adapter unit 30 during production.

The figures also show the longitudinal direction X, the transverse direction Y and the vertical direction Z of the underlying vehicle 1 in relation to the spatial directions x, y and z.

the 4 until 6 show details of an embodiment of the drive arrangement 100 according to the invention with a focus on the details of an adapter unit 30 in a schematic and partially sectioned side view.

The adapter unit 30 has a main body 31 in which a connection/connector combination 32 is formed. This connection/connector combination 32 carries a connection/connector 33 on the drive side and a connection/connector 34 on the battery side, which in the installed state are mechanically and electrically connected to a respective contact of the drive unit 10 or the battery unit 20, as is the case in connection with 4 and 7 is shown for two different embodiments of the adapter unit 30 according to the invention.

In the embodiment according to 4 the connection/connector 33 on the drive side and the connector/connector 34 on the battery side and their contacting with one another are inherently realized by the connection/connector combination 32 . During assembly, for example, the connection/plug combination 32 can be inserted as a prefabricated part into the main body 31 of the adapter unit 30 and then closed.

In the embodiment according to 7 For example, the battery-side connector/connector 34 and the drive-side connector/connector 33 can be formed as separate parts, which are inserted into the main body 31 and then connected and contacted to each other by a connection means, for example by means of a cable 35.

In the 4 and 7 It is also shown that the connection/connector 33 on the drive side is connected to a drive contact or drive connection 11 and the connection/connector 34 on the battery side is connected to a battery contact or battery connection 21 in order to bring about continuous electrical contact from the battery to the drive after installation has taken place.

• Für Elektrofahrräder, aufgefasst als Ausführungsformen erfindungsgemäßer mit Muskelkraft und zusätzlich mit Motorkraft antreibbarer Fahrzeuge 1, existieren derzeit unter anderem in folgenden drei Bauarten für Antriebseinheiten 10, die auch als Drive Units oder DU's 10 bezeichnet werden, nämlich als Fahrzeuge mit Nabenantriebe, mit Mittelmotorantrieb mit achsparallelen Aufbauten bezogen auf die Tretwelle und die Motorposition sowie mit Orthogonalkonzept, bei welchem die Tretwelle 15 und die Antriebswelle des Elektromotors zueinander orthogonal angeordnet sind.

These and other features and properties of the present invention are further explained on the basis of the following explanations:

• For electric bicycles, understood as embodiments of vehicles 1 according to the invention that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with motor power, there are currently three types of drive units 10, which are also referred to as drive units or DU's 10, namely as vehicles with hub drives, with central motor drives with axle-parallel Structures based on the pedal shaft and the motor position and with an orthogonal concept in which the pedal shaft 15 and the drive shaft of the electric motor are arranged orthogonally to one another.

1. (i) durch Beschränkung der Rahmengrößen aufgrund der vorgegebenen minimalen Unterrohrlänge,
2. (ii) durch begrenzte Möglichkeiten bei der Ausgestaltung der Kontur des Unterrohrs in Form, Verlauf, Knick, Radius und dergleichen, also hinsichtlich der designerischen Formgebung,
3. (iii) durch ein begrenztes Platzangebot in Längsrichtung oder in Richtung und Ausmaß der Länge des Unterrohrs innerhalb des vorderen Rahmendreiecks, und zwar mit dem Ergebnis einer verringerten Batteriekapazität (< 375 Wh) und vorausgesetzt, das Antriebssystem soll für verschiedene Rahmengrößen eingesetzt werden und eine Durchmesseränderung mit entsprechendem Aufwand in der Fertigung und in der Gewichtszunahme im Übergang zwischen DU 10 und Batterieeinheit 20 vermieden werden,
4. (iv) durch eine Begrenzung im Batterievolumen, das in der Batterieeinheit 20 herkömmlicherweise realisiert werden kann, mit einer entsprechenden Begrenzung der Batterieleistung, der Antriebsleistung und/oder der Reichweite, nämlich aufgrund gleichzeitig beschränkter maximal möglicher Stromabgabe, so dass auf Grund der herkömmlichen Bauweise keine größeren Batterien, leistungsstärkeren Antriebe und/oder bei gleicher Leistung gesteigerte Reichweiten realisiert werden können, weil der zur Verfügung stehende Bauraum durch die koaxiale Anordnung im Unterrohr begrenzt ist.

Orthogonal drives 100 each have in common that the battery unit 20 is arranged coaxially to a tube assembly of the drive unit 10 with or from the motor and gearbox of the orthogonal drive. If such a drive 100 is installed with a combination of drive unit 10 and battery unit 20, there are disadvantageous limitations, namely

1. (i) by limiting frame sizes due to the specified minimum down tube length,
2. (ii) due to limited possibilities in the design of the contour of the down tube in terms of shape, course, kink, radius and the like, i.e. with regard to the design shape,
3. (iii) by a limited space available longitudinally or in the direction and extent of the length of the down tube within the front triangle, with the result of a reduced battery capacity (< 375 Wh) and given that the drive system is to be used for different frame sizes and a diameter change be avoided with corresponding effort in production and in the weight increase in the transition between DU 10 and battery unit 20,
4. (iv) by limiting the battery volume that can be conventionally realized in the battery unit 20, with a corresponding limitation of the battery power, the drive power and/or the range, namely due to a simultaneously limited maximum possible current output, so that due to the conventional design no larger batteries, more powerful drives and/or increased ranges with the same performance, because the available space is limited by the coaxial arrangement in the down tube.

It is an object of the present invention as shown in FIG 2 to be able to vary the angle φ between the orthogonal drive unit 10 or DU 10 and the battery unit 20 during design and manufacture and at the same time the available space for the drive as an overall system of drive unit 10 and battery unit 20 both in terms of industrial design and the geometric characteristics to use in the best possible way.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the battery connector and thus the connection between the drive unit 10 or DU 10 and the battery unit 20 are integrated into the drive unit 10 and simultaneously run as a supporting part of the battery suspension, as is the case in connection with 2 until 4 and 7 is shown, wherein the design of the integration and connection by providing an additional adapter unit 30 of the angle φ between the orthogonal drive unit 10 or DU 10 and the battery unit 20 can be suitably selected to deviate from 0° and 180°.

A core of the present invention therefore lies in the fact that the battery unit 20 is connected in a fixed or detachable manner to the drive unit 10 by an additional battery adapter in the sense of an adapter unit 30 according to the invention at a specific angle ϕ defined by the adapter geometry, and the available installation space in the Down tube 3 can be increased.

The connector consists of a female-type battery connector, fixed connector and male-type battery connector, which is plugged, screwed, potted or glued into the adapter housing. The entire battery adapter assembly snaps onto the first coaxial battery mount holder. For example, three pins of an existing battery adapter take over the radial positioning, the power transmission in the axial and longitudinal direction as well as the rotation limitation of the battery adapter.

For example, the position taken when placing on the first holder can be fixed using two M4 screws.

the 4 until 6 show an example of a 30° adapter. It would be conceivable to provide several fixed adapter types, for example in steps of 10° or 15°, which cover an angular range between 20° and 60°.

The in 7 illustrated variant of the present invention, consisting of a cable adapter and a 3D printing adapter housing or plastic injection-molded housing. Due to the length of the cable, a flexible angle range is possible. Due to the length of the cable, the male-type connector can be used first. Screws, pressing in, clipping in (pressing with clip to secure against axial forces from the battery) and gluing are available as fixation options.

Then the female-type connector is inserted (position limitation by positive locking, contact surface in the 3D print adapter housing), which also has the above-mentioned fixing options.

Alternatively, the position of both plugs can finally be fixed by casting using an additional lateral opening.

Claims (10)

Drive arrangement (100) for a device that can be driven with muscle power and additionally with engine power Vehicle (1), in particular an electric bicycle, e-bike or pedelec, with: - a drive unit (10) which essentially extends in a first longitudinal direction (X1) and with an electric motor for driving a unit (4) and in particular a drive wheel (4') of the vehicle (1) is designed for locomotion, - a battery unit (20), which is designed essentially in a second longitudinal direction (X2) and with a battery for the controlled supply of electrical energy to the electric motor for its controlled operation, and - one Adapter unit (30), which is designed to attach and electrically connect the drive unit (10) and the battery unit (20) to or with each other, in which: - the drive unit (10), the battery unit (20) and the adapter unit (30 ) in a mounted state mediated with one another via the adapter unit (30) in a frame part (3) of a frame (2) of the vehicle (1) or received mbar and - the adapter unit (30) is designed in such a way that, in the installed state, the first direction of longitudinal extension (X1) of the drive unit (10) and the second direction of longitudinal extension (X2) of the battery unit (20) differ from 0° and from 180° Include frame angle (φ). Drive arrangement (100) after claim 1 , in which the adapter unit (30) is designed essentially in the manner of an angle piece, wedge and/or triangular prism with the frame angle (φ) as a wedge angle or prism angle. Drive arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the adapter unit (30) for forming the frame angle (φ) with a - in particular fixed - value in a range from 5° to 10°, in a range from 10° to 20° or is formed in a range of 20° to 30°. Drive arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the adapter unit (30) with a mechanically supporting function is designed and/or mounted on one another in the manner of a holder for the drive unit (10) and the battery unit (20). Drive assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter unit (30) comprises a main body (31) which (i) with or for receiving and/or holding a battery-side connection (34) and/or plug (34) and/or (ii) is designed with or for receiving and/or holding a connection (33) and/or plug (33) on the drive side. Drive arrangement (100) after claim 5 , in which connections (33, 34) and/or plugs (33, 34) of the adapter unit (30) as a connection and/or plug combination, in particular one-piece or one-piece material, or as separate connections (33, 34) that are or can be connected to one another and / or plugs (33, 34) are formed. Drive arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the adapter unit (30), one or the main body (31) of the adapter unit (30) and/or one or more connections (33, 34) and/or plugs (33, 34 ) of the adapter unit (30) are formed with or from a plastic material, aluminum and/or as a 3D printed part. Drive arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which an electrical connection between connections (33, 34) and/or plugs (33, 34) of the adapter unit (30) is designed with at least one or as at least one cable (35). Drive arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as or for a central motor drive, orthogonal drive and/or in-tube drive for an electric bicycle, pedelec or the like as vehicle (1). Vehicle (1), in particular electric bicycle, e-bike or pedelec, which can be driven by muscle power and additionally by engine power, which is designed with a drive arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims for driving a unit (4) and in particular a drive wheel (4').

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