JP2000142450A - Automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile which can change a tread with a simple operation. SOLUTION: This automobile is provided with four wheels 1-4 which can change their directions, a tread change mechanism 90 for changing the directions of four wheels 1-4 and a sheet floor 80 communicated with the tread change mechanism 90 and able to change their directions. When a tread change lever provided on the sheet floor 80 is switched to a tread change position and the steering provided on the sheet floor 80 is turned, the directions of the sheet floor 80 and four wheels 104 are changed and the tread can be changed to a long tread LT or short tread ST.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile capable of easily changing the distance (tread) between left and right wheels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The tread of an automobile is generally fixed, and some of the treads are provided with changeable parts. The structure for the tread is extremely complicated, and the operation for that is also complicated. It was troublesome. An object of the present invention is to provide an automobile in which a tread can be changed by a simple operation.

[0003]

According to the present invention, there is provided an automobile having four wheels whose directions can be changed, a tread changing mechanism for changing the directions of the four wheels, and an interlocking movement with the tread changing mechanism. A seat floor that can change direction by switching a tread changing lever provided on the seat floor to a tread changing position, and turning a steering provided on the seat floor to change the direction of the seat floor and the four wheels. The configuration is such that the tread can be changed by changing. According to this vehicle, if the occupant performs the steering operation with the tread changing lever switched to the tread changing position, the seat floor (and thus the occupant himself) and the directions of the four wheels change, and the tread changes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the steering wheel is turned to the right, the front drive wheel is steered to the right, and is located on a diagonal line of the front drive wheel. It is possible to turn right around the rear wheel, and when turning the steering to the left, the rear drive wheel is steered to the right, centering on the front wheel located on the diagonal line of the rear drive wheel. It is configured to be able to turn to the left. According to this vehicle, it is possible to turn in a narrow space.

[0005]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle M according to the present embodiment has four wheels 1, 2, 3, 4 and a tread changing mechanism 90 for suspending these wheels and changing a tread T, and is mounted on the tread changing mechanism 90. A seat floor 80 is supported, and a seat 81 mounted on the seat floor 80 and a steering wheel 70 are provided.
For the four wheels 1 to 4, two types of wheels having different diameters are used. Hereinafter, two large diameter wheels 1 and 2
Are referred to as “drive wheels 1 and 2”, and the remaining two small-diameter wheels 3 and 4 are referred to as “driven wheels 3 and 4”.

A pair of left and right driving wheel arms 111 and 112 are fixed to both sides of the seat floor 80 so as to protrude laterally, and sub arms 113 and 114 are respectively attached to the tips of both driving wheel arms 111 and 112. Are supported so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction.
The drive wheels 1 and 2 are rotatably supported by 14. An electric motor 100 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is attached to each of the sub-arms 113 and 114 as a drive source for rotating the drive wheels 1 and 2. Also, before and after the seat floor 80, the driven wheel arms 115 and 116 are supported so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction within a range of approximately 90 °. , 4 are rotatably supported.

The automobile M according to the present invention is characterized in that the tread T can be changed in two levels, large and small. FIG. 1 shows the car M with the tread T set to a large dimension (long tread LT), and FIG. 2 shows the car M with the tread T set to a small dimension (short tread ST). The long tread LT is set to about twice the short tread ST. In FIG. 3, the lower side of the paper is the forward direction in the case of the long tread LT, and the right side of the paper is the forward direction in the case of the short tread ST. Hereinafter, the configuration of the tread changing mechanism 90 for switching the tread T between two levels, large and small, will be described in detail.

On the seat floor 80, a tread changing lever 101 and a turning switch lever are provided so as to be tiltable in the front-rear direction. The tread changing lever 101 is a tread changing lever, and the turning switching lever 102 is a steering lever. When the tread changing lever 101 is tilted forward, the gear 16 meshes with the gear of the pinion case 15 via a cable (not shown) as shown in FIG. Gear 16 is slide bar 1
Since it is slidably and non-rotatably supported via 6a and 16a, the gear of the pinion case 15 is non-rotatably locked by the forward tilt operation of the tread changing lever 101.

When the tread changing lever 101 is tilted forward, as shown in FIG. 7, the fork 24 ascends via a cable (not shown), which is slidably supported on the main shaft 17. The raised sleeve gear 18 rises. The fork 24 is provided so as to be able to move up and down in parallel via slide shafts 24a and 24a. When the sleeve gear 18 moves up, it engages with the connecting gear portion 13a of the gear 13. Since the gear 13 is fixed to the main shaft 17, the sleeve gear 18 is thereby integrated with the main shaft 17 for rotation.

Next, when the steering wheel 70 provided on the seat floor 80 is turned to the left, the gear 20 revolves counterclockwise around the gear of the pinion case 15, whereby the seat floor 80 rotates counterclockwise. Seat floor 8
Since the main shaft 17 is fixed to the center of the lower surface of 0, when the seat floor 80 rotates left, the main shaft 17 also integrally rotates left. That is, the seat floor 80 and the main shaft 17 rotate counterclockwise about the axis of the main shaft 17. Since the gear 13 is fixed to the main shaft 17 as described above, when the main shaft 17 rotates left, the gear 13 rotates left.

Since the gear 9 is always meshed with the gear 13, when the gear 13 rotates left, the gear 9 rotates right. The gear 9 is rotatably supported by a shaft 46. The gear 8 is provided on the shaft 46 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. When the gear 8 slides upward, the gear 9 is fixed to the shaft 46. The sprocket 7 is fixed to the shaft 46. Therefore, the gear 8 is slid upward and the gear 9 is
When the gear 9 rotates clockwise with the gear fixed to 6, the sprocket 7 also rotates clockwise.

When the sprocket 7 rotates clockwise, the sprocket 45 rotates clockwise via the chain 7a. The sprocket 45 is fixed to a shaft 45a, and the gear 6 is fixed to the shaft 45a. Therefore, when the sprocket 45 rotates clockwise, the gear 6 also rotates clockwise. The gear 6 is meshed with the gear 5. The gear 5 is fixed to a shaft 5a. A sprocket 35 is fixed to the shaft 5a. Therefore, when the gear 6 rotates clockwise, the gear 5 and the sprocket 35 rotate counterclockwise.
A chain 35a extends between the sprocket 35 and the sprocket 36. The sprocket 36 is fixed to the shaft 38 that supports the sub arm 114 for rotation. The driving wheel 2 is rotatably supported at the tip of the sub arm 114. Accordingly, when the sprocket 35 rotates counterclockwise, the shaft 38 rotates counterclockwise through the sprocket 36, whereby the sub arm 114 turns leftward (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) by about 90 °, and the one drive wheel 2 rotates about 90 °. Turn 90 °.

A right transmission path having the same configuration as the left transmission path from the gear 9 to the sub arm 114 is provided symmetrically. This right transmission path has a function of changing the direction of the other drive wheel 1 by 90 °. That is, since the gear 13 is always engaged with the gear 59, when the gear 13 rotates left, the gear 59 rotates right. The gear 59 is rotatably supported by the shaft 44. The shaft 44 is provided with a slide gear 58 slidable in the axial direction. When the slide gear 58 slides upward, the gear 59 is fixed to the shaft 44. A sprocket 57 is fixed to the shaft 44. Therefore, in a state where the gear 59 is slid upward and the gear 59 is fixed to the shaft 44, the gear 5
When 9 rotates clockwise, sprocket 57 also rotates clockwise.

When the sprocket 57 rotates clockwise, the sprocket 95 rotates clockwise via the chain 57a. This sprocket 95 is fixed to a shaft 95a,
The gear 56 is fixed to the shaft 95a. Therefore, when the sprocket 95 rotates clockwise, the gear 56 also rotates clockwise. A gear 55 is meshed with the gear 55. The gear 55 is fixed to the shaft 55a. A sprocket 85 is fixed to the shaft 55a. Therefore, when the gear 56 rotates clockwise, the gear 55 and the sprocket 85 rotate counterclockwise. A chain 85a extends between the sprocket 85 and the sprocket 86. The sprocket 86 is fixed to a shaft 88 that rotatably supports the sub arm 113. The driving wheel 1 is rotatably supported at the tip of the sub arm 113. Therefore, when the sprocket 85 rotates left, the sprocket 8
6, the sub-arm 113 turns to the left (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) by about 90 °, and the drive wheel 1 changes its direction by about 90 °.

Next, at the lower end of the main shaft 17,
Two sprockets 25 and 26 are fixed. A chain 25a extends between the lower sprocket 25 and a sprocket 21 fixed to a shaft 23 that rotatably supports the driven wheel arm 115 on the near side (the lower side in FIG. 3) in FIG. Also, the upper sprocket 2
A chain 26a extends between the wheel 6 and the sprocket 22 fixed to a shaft 27 that rotatably supports the driven wheel arm 116 on the rear side (the upper side in FIG. 3) in FIG. Thus, when the main shaft 17 rotates counterclockwise, the sprockets 21 and 22 also rotate counterclockwise, so that both the driven wheel arms 115 and 116 respectively turn left by about 90 °.

When the steering wheel 70 is turned to the left as described above, the seat floor 80 is turned to the left by about 90 °, and in conjunction with this, the sub-arms 11 of the drive wheels 1 and 2 are rotated.
Each of the driven wheels 3 and 4 is also turned about 90 ° to the left, and the driven wheel arms 115 and 116 of the driven wheels 3 and 4 are also turned about 90 ° to the left. Thereafter, when the tread changing lever 101 is reversely operated in the backward tilt direction, the sixteenth gear 16 retreats and disengages from the gear of the pinion case 15. When the tread changing lever 101 is tilted backward, the fork 2
4, the sleeve gear 18 is lowered, whereby the sleeve gear 18 is disengaged from the gear 13 and meshes with the gear 40. Since the gear 40 is fixed to the main shaft 17 and fixed to a frame (not shown) of the tread changing mechanism 90, the seat floor 80 is fixed to the frame side and locked so as not to rotate. Car M
To change the tread T from the long tread LT to the short tread ST (change from the state of FIG. 1 to the state of FIG. 2) is completed.

Conversely, the tread T is replaced with the short tread ST
To change to the long tread LT, the gear 16 is engaged with the gear of the pinion case 15 by operating the tread changing lever 101 forward, and the steering 70
Turn right. Thereby, the seat floor 80 and the main shaft 17 rotate clockwise in FIG. At the same time, the rotation of each part is transmitted in the direction opposite to the above, so that the two sub-arms 113 and 114 are
To rotate clockwise at both drive wheel arms 111 and 11
2 and the driven wheel arms 115 and 116 also rotate clockwise in FIG. 3 to move forward from the front end of the seat floor 80 and from the rear end of the seat floor 80. It moves to the position which respectively protrudes backward. By turning the steering 70 to the right as described above, the two sub-arms 113 and 114 and the two driven wheel arms 115 and 116 are moved, and then the tread changing lever 101 is tilted rearward to lower the seat floor 80. When locked, the operation of changing the tread T from the short tread ST to the long tread LT is completed.

Next, the tread T is replaced with the short tread ST.
A description will be given of the steering operation of the vehicle M in the state changed to. Immediately after changing to the short type ST as shown in FIG.
Numeral 14 is located at a rectilinear position which is bent by approximately 90 ° with respect to the arms 111 and 112, and this state is a rectilinear state. In this state, the drive wheels 1 and 2 are steered by rotating the sub-arms 113 and 114 in the horizontal direction. First, when the turning switching lever 102 is tilted backward, the fork 10 is raised via a cable (not shown). FIG.
When the fork 10 is raised as shown in FIG. 7, the slide gear 11 slides on the slide shaft 41 and meshes with the gear 12, whereby the gear 12 is connected to the slide shaft 41 for rotation, while the gear of the gear 8 is rotated. 9 is disengaged. On the other hand, when the turning switching lever 102 is similarly tilted backward, the fork 50 is lowered via a cable (not shown), whereby the slide gear 58 is engaged with the gear 59, while the slide gear 61 and the gear 65 are disengaged. .

When the steering wheel 70 is turned to the right, the gear of the pinion case 15 meshing with the gear 20 is rotated to the left, so that the gear 14 is rotated to the left. At this stage, since the tread changing lever 101 is not tilted forward, the gear 16 is not meshed with the gear of the pinion case 15, and the gear of the pinion case 15 is in a rotatable state. The gear 20 rotates (rotates) on the spot without revolving. When the gear 14 rotates left, the gear 12 rotates right. When the gear 12 rotates clockwise, the shaft 41 and the sprocket 42 fixed thereto also rotate clockwise. Chain 42a mounted on sprocket 42
Is wound around a sprocket 37 fixed to the shaft 38 of the sub arm 114. Therefore, when the sprocket 42 rotates clockwise, the sprocket 37 rotates clockwise via the chain 42a, whereby the drive wheel 2 is steered right (clockwise in FIG. 3). When the steering wheel 70 is turned to the right in this way, only the drive wheels 2 on the front wheel side (right side in FIG. 3) are steered to the right (clockwise in the drawing), whereby the vehicle M can be turned right.

On the other hand, when the steering wheel 70 is rotated leftward, the sub-arm 113 on the front wheel side comes into contact with the frame of the tread changing mechanism 90 when the sub-arm 113 is located at the straight-ahead position. Therefore, the sub arm 113
Is further shifted from the state where the
Is rotated to the left, the sub-arm 113 does not rotate, and therefore the gear 14 does not further rotate to the right. However, in this case, the gear 13 rotates clockwise, and the gear 59 meshing with the gear 13 rotates counterclockwise. When the gear 59 rotates counterclockwise, the shaft 44 and the sprocket 57 also rotate counterclockwise. A chain 57a extends between the sprocket 57 and the sprocket 95.

A gear 56 is fixed to a shaft 95a that rotatably supports the sprocket 95. This gear 5
6 is meshed with the gear 55. This gear 55
The shaft 55a is fixed to the shaft 55a.
A sprocket 85 is fixed above. A chain 85a extends between the sprocket 85 and a sprocket 86 fixed to a shaft 88 that supports the sub-arm 113 on the rear wheel side. Therefore, when the sprocket 57 rotates counterclockwise, the sprocket 95 and the gear 56 rotate counterclockwise through the chain 57a.
5 and sprocket 85 rotate right. Sprocket 8
When 5 rotates clockwise, the sprocket 86 and the shaft 88 rotate clockwise via the chain 85a, whereby the sub-arm 113 on the rear wheel side rotates clockwise. In this manner, when the steering wheel 70 is turned leftward, the sub-arm 113 on the rear wheel side rotates rightward, whereby the vehicle M can be turned left. As described above, in a state where the tread T is set to the short tread ST, the vehicle M can be turned right by turning only the front wheel side drive wheel 2 to the right, and only the rear wheel side drive wheel 1 is turned. By turning right, the vehicle M can be turned left.

When the tread T is set to the long tread LT, a right turn or a left turn can be freely performed by controlling the number of rotations of the electric motors 100, 100 attached to the two drive wheels 1, 2, respectively. Double electric motor 1
The rotation speeds of 00 and 100 can be controlled independently of the left and right sides by independently adjusting the amount of depression of a pair of left and right accelerator pedals (not shown) arranged on the seat floor 80.

According to the automobile M configured as described above,
Only by operating the tread changing lever 101 and the steering 70, the tread T can be easily changed to the long tread LT or the short tread ST. By setting the long tread LT, it is possible to drive stably. On the other hand, by setting the short tread ST, it is possible to travel easily even on a narrow road, and easily even in a parking space with a narrow frontage. Will be able to park in. Further, if the turning switch lever 102 is tilted backward in the state where the vehicle is set to the short tread ST, the vehicle M is immediately rotated by driving the other driving wheel about one driving wheel 1 (2). It can be turned, and thus can be easily turned even in a narrow place.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of an automobile in a state where a tread is set to a long tread.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of an automobile in a state where a tread is set to a short tread.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing moving directions of a driving wheel and a driven wheel when changing a tread. In this figure, the state set to the long tread is indicated by a solid line, and the state set to the short tread is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tread changing mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tread changing mechanism. This figure is a view seen from the direction of arrow (5) in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tread changing mechanism. This figure is a view seen from the direction of arrow (6) in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tread changing mechanism. This figure is a view as seen from the direction of arrow (7) in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M: automobile 1, 2 ... drive wheel 3, 4 ... driven wheel 7 ... sprocket 10 ... fork 11 ... slide gear 15 ... pinion case 17 ... main shaft 24 ... fork 35, 36 ... sprocket 44 ... shaft 45 ... sprocket, 45a ... Shaft 70 Steering 80 Seat floor 81 Seat 90 Tread changing mechanism 100 Electric motor 101 Tread changing lever 102 Turning switch lever 111, 112 Drive wheel arm 113, 114 Subarm 115, 116 Driven wheel arm 117 , 118 ... Free caster T ... Tread LT ... Long tread ST ... Short tread

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koji Mizumoto 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Motor Corporation (72) Inventor Takashi Imai 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Motor Corporation (72) Inventor Satoshi Iwazuki 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation F-term (reference) 3D034 CB08 CC17 CE15

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle comprising: four wheels capable of changing directions; a tread changing mechanism for changing the directions of the four wheels; and a seat floor capable of changing directions in conjunction with the tread changing mechanism.
An automobile having a configuration in which a tread changing lever provided on the seat floor is switched to a tread changing position, and a steering operation provided on the seat floor is turned to change the direction of the seat floor and the four wheels to change the tread. . 2. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein when the steering wheel is turned to the right, the front drive wheel is steered to the right, and the rear drive wheel located on a diagonal line of the front drive wheel is centered. When the steering wheel is turned to the left, the rear drive wheel is steered to the right, and the vehicle can turn left around the front wheel located on the diagonal line of the rear drive wheel. And a car.