JP2001017479A - Brake system for manual traveling vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple-structure and low-cost brake for a manual traveling vehicle which can be applied to gradient climbing traveling. SOLUTION: This brake system is provided to be adjacent to a wheel 2 of a manual traveling vehicle 1. In this case, two brake arms 4, 5 shaft- supported by a frame 3 of the wheelchair the vehicle 1 to freely oscillate, and installed to get in contact with/apart from the wheel 2 are provided, and contact surfaces between the brake arms 4, 5 and the wheel 2 are set in inverse directions to each other to a line connecting support shafts of the brake arms 4, 5 to a hub of the wheel 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a brake device for a manually driven vehicle such as a wheelchair and a baby carriage, and more particularly to a brake device that can be used safely on a slope or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a brake mounted on a wheelchair is provided with a swingable lever on a frame of the wheelchair, and by pulling the lever toward the front, a part of the lever is pressed against a wheel, thereby releasing the brake. It has a structure to hang. Since the wheelchair has a structure in which both wheels rotate individually, the brake is always applied to both wheels.

[0003] When the vehicle is started on a hill on a wheelchair, the driver must retreat unless the brakes are released and both wheels are turned at the same time. However, it is difficult to operate the lever with both hands of the wheelchair user occupied.

[0004] Even if an attempt is made to hold down the wheel with a hand that operates the lever, the wheel cannot be held down with sufficient force, and there is a possibility that a dangerous situation may occur, such as a wheelchair turning on a slope.

[0005] In addition, when traveling uphill, the next rowing operation is performed quickly while the wheelchair that the user has rowed is running with inertia, and the wheelchair is run by elderly or severely ill persons. It is extremely difficult for people with disabilities.

Therefore, there is a wheelchair described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-28231 as a wheelchair that can safely start on a slope. This is a brake device that presses the brake arm against the wheel by operating a lever, and a one-way roller (a roller that rotates smoothly in one direction but does not rotate in the opposite direction) is operated to be able to freely contact and separate from the wheel. It is equipped with a hill start lever.

[0007] When starting on a slope, only the one-way roller is brought into contact with the wheel. Then, the brake is not applied in the reverse direction and the vehicle does not move backward, and only the forward movement is possible. Therefore, it is possible to safely start the slope without paying attention to the release of the brake.

[0008]

However, the mechanism for preventing reverse running of a wheelchair described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-28231 employs a one-way roller, so that the structure is complicated and the lever has two levers. There is a problem that it is necessary to get used to the operation (for normal brake and for slope brake). In addition, since one-way rollers cannot be used with large diameters,
There is a disadvantage that the roller and the wheel must be in point contact, and it is difficult to obtain a sufficient stopping force on a steep slope. Furthermore, since the stopping force of the one-way roller is not effective on a downhill, it is inconvenient for the vehicle to start backward on a downhill.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a simple and inexpensive wheelchair applicable to uphill traveling.
It is a technical object to provide a brake device for a manually driven vehicle such as a baby carriage. It is another technical object of the present invention to provide a manually operated vehicle brake device that can be switched to all operation modes with a single operation.

It is another technical object of the present invention to provide a brake device for a manually driven vehicle which can provide a sufficient stopping force on a steep slope and can cope with a reverse start on a downhill.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a brake device for a manually driven vehicle such as a wheelchair or a baby carriage, and is configured as follows to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

That is, the first invention is a brake device provided adjacent to a wheel 2 of a wheelchair (manually driven vehicle) 1. The brake device is pivotally supported by a frame 3 of the wheelchair 1 and is supported by the wheel 2. It has two sets of brake arms 4 and 5 installed so as to be able to contact and separate from each other, and the contact surfaces between the respective brake arms 4 and 5 and the wheels 2 are provided on the support shafts 7 and 8 of the brake arms 4 and 5. It is characterized by being set (offset) in mutually opposite directions with respect to a line connecting the center axis (hub) of the wheel 2.

The second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, a pressing portion 6 for operating each of the brake arms 4 and 5 in a direction away from the wheel 2 is provided.

In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the pressing portion 6 comprises a first cam 9 for pressing one brake arm 4 and a second cam 1 for pressing the other brake arm 5.
0, and the pressing portion 6 includes the first cam 9 and the second cam 9.
By selectively operating the cam 10, a mode in which both brake arms separate from the wheel, a mode in which only one of the brake arms abuts on the wheel, and a mode in which both brake arms abut on the wheel are provided. It is characterized in that the brake arms 4 and 5 are set.

The first cam 9 and the second cam 10 do not necessarily have to be separate bodies, but may be integrally formed of synthetic resin, aluminum or the like. A brake shoe for improving the friction coefficient may be attached to the contact surface with the wheels on the brake arms 4 and 5. Further, the wheel contact surfaces of the brake arms 4 and 5 may be formed into curved surfaces corresponding to the shapes of the wheels. Further, a protrusion may be formed on the surface of the brake shoe in a direction opposite to the support shafts 7 and 8 of the brake arms 4 and 5.

The pressing section 6 may be automatically switched according to the slope of the slope. In this case, an inclination sensor may be provided, and the actuator may be operated according to the direction and angle of the inclination to drive the pressing portion 6.

Further, the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the present invention is provided with two sets of brake arms 4, which are pivotally supported by the frame 3 of the wheelchair 1 and one end of which is urged to contact the wheel. 5 and a pressing portion 6 for individually pressing these brake arms to separate any of the brake arms 4 and 5 from the wheel 2. The contact surface between each of the brake arms 4 and 5 and the wheel 2 is The pressing portions 6 are offset in opposite directions to each other with respect to a line connecting the support shafts 7 and 8 of the brake arms 4 and 5 and the center axis of the wheel, and the pressing portion 6 applies a pressing pin 14 to a lever 13 pivotally supported. Provided and configured, lever 13
According to the set angle, the pressing pins 14 may be brought into contact with the individual brake arms 4 and 5 to push up the brake arms 4 and 5.

When the present brake device is used, a manually driven vehicle does not fall downward on a slope, the vehicle can be started only by rowing a wheel (hand rim) without releasing the brake, and the vehicle can be run uphill. Easy to do.

Further, all the brake modes can be set only by operating the pressing portion 6, so that the operation is easy. In addition, it is desirable to provide two units of the brake device of the present invention so as to correspond to each of the left and right wheels of the wheelchair.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS.

<Embodiment 1> Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Wheels 2 and 2 are mounted on both sides of a wheelchair (manual traveling vehicle) 1, and brake arms 4 and 5 are swingably supported near the wheels 2 on a frame 3 of the wheelchair 1. This brake arm 4,5
As shown in FIG. 2, are supported by support shafts 7, 8 provided in parallel with the rotation axis of the wheel 2, respectively, and are swingably provided around the support shafts 7, 8. A part of the brake arms 4 and 5 comes into contact with the wheels 2, and brake shoes 4 a and 5 a are respectively attached to the contact surfaces.

The brake arms 4 and 5 are provided with an urging device (not shown) (for example, a spring such as a leaf spring or a spiral spring).
The brake shoes 4a, 5a are pressed against the wheels 2 when no force is applied from the outside. In this state, the wheels 2 are locked.

Pressing pieces 4b, 5
b are extended respectively. The pressing pieces 4b, 5b are provided on the surface opposite to the brake shoes 4a, 5a,
From one end side of each of the brake arms 4 and 5, a projecting piece having a lateral width of about half of the entire width of the brake arms 4 and 5 is formed. And the brake arms 4 and 5 are pressed pieces 4b and 5b.
The two pressing pieces 4b and 5b are arranged in parallel with the brake arms 4 and 5 having substantially the same horizontal width as a whole by arranging them to face each other.

The frame 3 is provided with a pressing portion 6 for individually pressing the brake arms 4 and 5 to separate any brake arms 4 and 5 from the wheels 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing portion 6 is formed as a disc-shaped first cam 9 and a second cam 10 that individually press the brake arms 4 and 5, respectively. Then, the first protrusion 9 and the second protrusion 12 are respectively provided on the first cam 9 and the second cam 10.
Are formed with an angle difference of 90 degrees.

Further, the first cam 9 and the second cam 10 are
90 for each primary projection 11 (second projection 12).
Polymerized with an angle difference of degrees. Therefore, the first
When the cam 9 and the second cam 10 are viewed as a whole, the first protrusion 1
A total of three projections, that is, a portion where the first and second projections 12 independently project and a portion where both are overlapped, can be seen.

The first cam 9 and the second cam 10 are connected to the shaft 2
0 supports the frame 3 and rotates freely. A disk-shaped operation plate 21 is attached to the shaft 20. The operation plate 21 is displayed with an operation mode (stop) (stop) and the like so that the current operation mode can be understood. In addition, it is desirable to provide irregularities on the outer periphery of the operation plate 21 to facilitate operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first cam 9 and the second cam 10 are provided adjacent to the pressing pieces 4b and 5b, and by rotating the first cam 9 and the second cam 10, The first cam 9 and the second cam 10 sequentially press the pressing pieces 4b, 5b.
By pressing b, the brake arms 4 and 5 are pivoted about the support shafts 7 and 8 in the direction opposite to the arrow F direction.

The respective brake arms 4, 5 and wheels 2
Contact surfaces with the support shafts 7 of the brake arms 4 and 5,
8 and the wheel 2 are offset in opposite directions to each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the axis of the wheel 2 and the support shafts 7 and 8, and a straight line L connecting the axle and the innermost contact point of the brake shoes 4a and 5a.
3, the angle difference of the angle A is set between L4.
Thus, in a state where the brake shoes 4a and 5a are in contact with the wheels 2, when the wheels 2 rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow G, the brake arm 4 exerts a self-boosting action to bite into the wheels 2. Similarly, when the wheel 2 rotates in the arrow H direction, the brake arm 5 bites into the wheel 2.

Next, the operation of the apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given based on FIG. FIG. 4 shows the brake arms 4, 5
Both show the state of normal running separated from the wheel 2. In this mode, the second projection 12 of the first cam 9 presses the pressing piece 4b, and the first projection 11 of the second cam 10 presses the pressing piece 5b.
2a separate from the wheel 2 against the urging force of the urging device.

Here, when the operation plate 21 is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow J, a forward blocking mode shown in FIG. 5 is set. In this mode, the first cam 9 separates from the pressing piece 4b, the second protrusion 12 of the second cam 10 presses the pressing piece 5b, and the brake arm 4 comes into close contact with the wheel 2. Thus, the wheel 2 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow H, but does not rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow G. Therefore, even if the user releases his hand on a downhill, the wheelchair 1 does not inadvertently go down the hill, and can rotate up the hill by rotating the wheel 2 in the reverse direction (H direction).

Further, when the operation plate 21 is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction of arrow J, a stop mode shown in FIG. 6 is set. In this mode, both the projections of the first cam 9 and the second cam 10 are disengaged from the pressing pieces 4b and 5b, and both the brake arms 4 and 5 come into close contact with the wheels 2. Thereby, the wheel 2 is completely locked.

Further, when the operation plate 21 is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow J, a retraction preventing mode shown in FIG. 7 is set. In this mode, the first projection 11 of the first cam 9 presses the pressing piece 4b, the second cam 10 separates from the pressing piece 5b, and the brake arm 5 comes into close contact with the wheel 2. As a result, the wheel 2 rotates in the arrow G direction but does not rotate in the reverse direction (H direction).

Therefore, the wheelchair 1 does not inadvertently go down the hill even if the user releases his hand on the uphill. In the hill start (hill running) mode, the presence of the brake arms 4 and 5 causes a slight resistance during traveling, but the actual resistance is reduced because the boosting action of the brake acts in reverse. Almost no problem.

In the above-described apparatus, manual operation of the apparatus is required for setting the brake mode. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the setting of the brake mode is automated. In this embodiment, the tilt sensor 56 detects the tilt state of the wheelchair 1 and sends angle information to the central control unit 55.

Further, an actuator 57 is connected to the central control section 55 via a power control section (not shown), and the rotation of the pressing section 6 is controlled by the actuator 57.

A controller 50 is connected to the central control unit 55, and the controller 50 can be provided with a travel button 51, a stop button 52, a forward stop button 53, and a reverse stop button 54 for manual control. .

It should be noted that the inclination sensor 56 may be one in which oil is sealed so as not to react sensitively to unevenness of the road surface. For example, when a ball type sensor is employed, oil may be used to dampen the movement of the ball. desirable.

In the above-described configuration, when the wheelchair 1 approaches a slope, the inclination sensor 56 detects which direction the wheelchair 1 is inclined (forward or rearward), and the central control unit 55 sets any mode. Is calculated, and the actuator 57 is operated to automatically switch to the optimal brake mode.

Here, since unexpected switching is not desirable, it is preferable to notify the wheelchair user in advance by a buzzer or the like. In some cases, it may be inconvenient to control all of the brake devices automatically. Therefore, the mode can be manually set using the manual button. In this case, the manual setting should always be given priority.

<Second Embodiment> A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the brake mode can be switched by lever operation without using a rotary cam.

The frame 3 of the wheelchair 1 is provided with two sets of brake arms 4, 5 each having one end supported by a shaft 19. These brake arms 4 and 5 are indicated by arrows Q and R
The ends of the brake arms 4 and 5 are always in contact with the wheels 2 by a spring (not shown). As described in the first embodiment, the contact surfaces between the respective brake arms 4 and 5 and the wheels 2 are provided on the support shafts 7 and 8 of the brake arms 4 and 5.
It is arranged so as to be mutually offset in the opposite direction with respect to the line connecting the vehicle and the wheel.

A lever 13 is pivotally supported (18) on the frame 3 of the wheelchair 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the lever 13 is operated at three angles of vertical, 45 degrees forward and horizontal.

A pressing pin 14 is provided in the vicinity of the shaft of the lever 13, and this pressing pin 14
5 can be pressed from the inside. Then, the pressing pin 14 comes into contact with each of the brake arms 4 and 5 according to the set angle of the lever 13, and the brake arms 4 and 5
5 to operate individually.

That is, in the mode shown in FIG. 10, the lever 13 is horizontal. In this position, the pressing pin 14 pushes the individual brake arms 4 and 5 to separate both ends of the brake arms 4 and 5 from the wheel 2. . Therefore, the wheels 2 rotate freely and can perform normal traveling.

When the lever 13 is raised up to 45 degrees, as shown in FIG. 11 (the brake arm 4 is not shown for explanation), the pressing pin 14 is released from the brake arm 5 and the brake arm 5 is (Not shown) to rotate in the direction of arrow R and abut on the wheel 2. In this state, the wheel 2 can rotate only in the direction indicated by the arrow S and does not rotate in the opposite direction. Therefore, the wheelchair does not move backward even on an uphill, and only forward movement is possible.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is raised vertically, the pressing pin 14 is separated from both of the brake arms 4 and 5, and the brake arms 4 and 5 are rotated by springs in the directions indicated by arrows Q and R, respectively, and contact the wheels 2. In this state, the wheels 2 are completely locked.

In the first and second embodiments, the brake arms 4 and 5 are urged toward the wheels 2 by the urging device in a normal state (when no external force is applied from the pressing portion 6). However, when pressed from the pressing portion, a configuration may be employed in which the pressing portion is in close contact with the wheel 2 side. In this case, the pressing force of the brake arms 4 and 5 toward the wheel 2 (the pressing force from the pressing portion to the brake arms 4 and 5) may be changed stepwise so that the braking force can be arbitrarily changed. .

[0048]

According to the present invention, two sets of brake arms are provided so as to be able to contact and separate from the wheel, and the contact surface between each of the brake arms and the wheel is provided with a support shaft of the brake arm. The brake device is set in a direction opposite to the line connecting the center axis of the wheel.

Accordingly, a brake device having both functions of a forward brake and a backward brake of a wheelchair can be provided at a low cost with a simple structure. In addition, each brake arm has a self-boosting effect and can obtain a relatively strong stopping force.

Further, since the operation mode can be switched to all the operation modes only by operating the single pressing portion, the operation is easy. Further, since the two sets of brake arms can be operated individually, it is possible to easily cope with a backward start on a downhill.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wheelchair.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view showing the periphery of a brake arm of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the periphery of a cam of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an operation mode (at the time of normal traveling) of the brake device for a manually traveling vehicle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an operation mode (at the time of stopping forward movement) of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation mode (at the time of stoppage) of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an operation mode (at the time of preventing backward movement) of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an automatic control device of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state in which a brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a wheelchair.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing an operation mode (during traveling) of a brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing an operation mode (at the time of preventing reverse movement) of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing an operation mode (at a stop) of the brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wheelchair (manual traveling vehicle) 2 Wheel 3 Frame 4 Brake arm 5 Brake arm 6 Pressing part 7 Support shaft 8 Support shaft 9 First cam 10 Second cam 11 First protrusion 12 Second protrusion

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3J058 AA06 AA17 AA24 AA30 AA37 BA10 BA12 BA62 BA63 CA06 CA07 CA08 CA19 CB04 CC52 CC66 CD13

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A brake device provided adjacent to a wheel of a manually driven vehicle, comprising: a brake device rotatably supported by a frame of the manually driven vehicle, and two sets of brake devices installed so as to be able to contact and separate from the wheels. A brake arm, wherein contact surfaces between the respective brake arms and the wheels are set in mutually opposite directions with respect to a line connecting a support axis of the brake arm and a center axis of the wheel. Brake device for manually driven vehicles. 2. The brake device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing portion that operates the brake arm in a direction away from the wheels. 3. The pressing portion includes a first cam that presses one brake arm, and a second cam that presses the other brake arm, wherein the pressing portion connects the first cam and the second cam. By selectively operating the brake arms, the brake arms can be set in a mode in which both brake arms separate from the wheels, a mode in which only one of the brake arms contacts the wheels, and a mode in which both brake arms contact the wheels. The brake device for a manually driven vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the brake device is set.