JP2001097274A - Vehicle with auxiliary power - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle with auxiliary power capable of providing a sufficient assist force, so-called an auxiliary force, when an assistance is required and extending a running distance for each charging. SOLUTION: This vehicle with auxiliary power comprises a manual drive part and an electric drive part driving a motor 39 based on a manual torque. An assist ratio, which is the output ratio of an electric drive force to a manual drive force, is set higher than usual at the start of running or during running on ascending slope. Then, these set values are formed switchable with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a human-powered driving unit for driving wheels by a human-powered driving force, and an electric-powered driving unit that operates according to the magnitude of the human-powered driving force. The present invention relates to a vehicle with auxiliary power that can travel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of vehicle with auxiliary power, for example, an electrically assisted bicycle, includes a human-powered drive unit that drives wheels by manual power as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-309283 (B62M23 / 02). And an electric drive unit that operates in accordance with the magnitude of the manual driving force, and the ratio of the electric driving force to the manual driving force, that is, the assist ratio, is increased only at the start of rowing, thereby making traveling at the start of traveling easier. That control was performed.

However, in the case of a vehicle with auxiliary power as described above, the assist ratio is increased at low speed in any state, so that the assist force at low speed is too large and the vehicle starts suddenly. However, there is a problem that the user feels unsatisfactory because the assist ratio is insufficient because the assist ratio is too low when starting up an uphill. Also, since there is only one pattern of the assist ratio, even if an attempt is made to reduce the battery consumption, the vehicle always runs at a high ratio at the start of traveling, so that the battery consumption increases and the user cannot suppress it. There was such a problem.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks. When assisting is required, a sufficient assisting force, that is, so-called assisting force, can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle with an auxiliary power which can extend the power.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a human-powered driving unit for driving a wheel by human power, a torque detecting unit for detecting a human-powered driving force of the human-powered driving unit, and a motor that controls the wheel by a motor. An electric drive unit that drives the vehicle, a detecting unit that detects a start of traveling or traveling uphill, and an assist ratio that is a ratio of an output of the electric driving force to a detection value of the torque detecting unit. And a control circuit that sets a high assist ratio only when the vehicle is detected, wherein the control circuit presets different assist ratios of a plurality of ratios that increase when the vehicle starts traveling or traveling uphill, and sets the assist ratio to a high assist ratio. A changeover switch for switching is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control circuit sets only the assist ratio when the start of traveling or traveling on an uphill is detected to a high value, and switches the assist ratio by the changeover switch.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control circuit sets the assist ratio to a high value also for a predetermined period after the start of traveling or the detection of traveling uphill is completed.

According to a fourth aspect, the assist ratio during the predetermined period is gradually reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a human-powered driving unit for driving wheels by human power, a torque detecting unit for detecting a human-powered driving force of the human-powered driving unit, and an electric driving unit for driving the wheels by a motor. Detecting means for detecting the start of traveling or traveling uphill, and an assist ratio, which is a ratio of the output of the electric driving force to the detected value of the torque detecting unit, being a high value only when the detecting means detects traveling start or traveling uphill. A control circuit that sets a power mode in which a plurality of different assist ratios are set when the vehicle starts traveling or traveling uphill, and the assist mode is substantially equal to the assist ratio of the power mode. Set the high power mode in which the assist ratio is set higher than the power mode in the same pattern, and switch between the mode and the assist ratio Characterized in that a changeover switch that.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the control circuit sets only the assist ratio at the time of detecting the start of traveling or traveling uphill in each mode to a high value.
A mode and an assist ratio are switched by the changeover switch.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the control circuit sets the assist ratio to a high value for a predetermined period after the start of traveling or detection of traveling uphill in each mode.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.

In such a vehicle with auxiliary power, the motor is driven in accordance with the magnitude of the manual driving force detected by the torque detecting unit, and the vehicle runs with the manual driving force and the electric driving force of the motor. And the assist ratio at this time is
At the start of traveling or traveling uphill, the assist ratio is set higher than during normal traveling, and a large electric driving force is applied when the user needs an assisting force. Furthermore, as for this assist ratio, a plurality of types having different ratios at the start of traveling or at the time of traveling uphill are provided.
By the operation of the changeover switch by the user, it is possible to change the assisting force at the start of traveling or traveling uphill.

The assist ratio switched by the changeover switch is set to a high ratio for a predetermined period even after the start of traveling or traveling on an uphill, and is assisted by a large electric driving force in this predetermined period by switching with the changeover switch. be able to.

Further, the assist ratio is set so as to gradually decrease during a predetermined period after the start of traveling or after traveling uphill.
The assist power does not drop suddenly.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the assist ratio is set to a high value only when the start of traveling or traveling uphill is detected. A power mode having a low assist ratio as a whole and a high power mode having a high value in a pattern substantially similar to the power mode are set, and the assist ratio can be switched by a user's operation of a changeover switch. .

In each mode, the control circuit sets only a high assist ratio when the start of travel or the uphill travel is detected. When the user operates the changeover switch, the control circuit starts the travel or uphill travel. The assisting force can be increased during traveling. That is, in the power mode, when the assisting force at the start of traveling or uphill traveling is insufficient, the high power mode is used to increase the assisting force at the start of traveling or uphill traveling. By setting the assist ratio in the high power mode higher than in the power mode, the user can select various ratios using the changeover switch.

Further, the control circuit sets the assist ratio to a high value for a predetermined period after the start of traveling or the detection of traveling on an uphill in each mode, so that the control circuit keeps a predetermined value in the power mode even after starting traveling or traveling on an uphill. The electric driving force operates at a high assist ratio only during the period.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a vehicle with auxiliary power according to the present invention will be described by taking an electric assist bicycle as an example.

The vehicle with auxiliary power according to the present invention is not limited to an electrically assisted bicycle, and it is needless to say that all vehicles that are assisted by a motor, such as an assist type electric wheelchair, include all of them.

Regarding the configuration of the entire electric assist bicycle,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

1 is a head pipe 2 provided at the front part,
The main frame is connected to a seat tube 4 provided below the saddle 3, and a pedal 5 which can be rotated by human power is attached to a portion where the main frame 1 and the seat tube 4 are connected.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a front wheel which is linked with the movement of the steering wheel 7 and determines the traveling direction by operating the steering wheel 7. The front wheel 6 comprises a spoke 8, a rim 9, and a tire 10.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a rear wheel serving as a driving wheel.
The vehicle also includes a tire 12, a rim 13, spokes 14, and a drive unit 15 for driving the rear wheel 11. The drive unit 15 has a built-in torque sensor 52, which will be described later, that detects a human-powered driving force transmitted via the chain 16.
In addition, a microcomputer 58 that inputs the value of the torque sensor 52 and outputs a drive signal to a motor 39 described later is built in.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a front sprocket which rotates with the rotation of the pedal 5. The front sprocket 17 includes a chain.
16 is engaged and the rotation of the front sprocket 17 is
After being provided on 15 axles 18, power is transmitted to sprockets 19. As described above, the rear wheel 11 is provided with an electric drive unit 20 including the drive unit 15 having a motor 39 therein.
And a human-powered drive unit 21 including the pedal 5 and the chain 16 and the like, and can travel.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a battery serving as a power supply for a motor 39 described later, which contains a 24-volt NiCd battery. The battery 22 is removable and can be charged indoors when charging. The battery 22 includes the seat tube 4
And a lock device 23 is provided so as to be locked below the saddle 3.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a front basket, and reference numeral 25 denotes a stand for supporting a bicycle during parking.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an illuminating device for illuminating the front brightly during night driving. The lighting device 26 includes a power generation dynamo and a lamp.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a brake lever for braking the rear wheel 11.

A traveling mode changeover switch (not shown) for changing an assist ratio is provided near the grip of the steering wheel 7.

Next, the drive unit 15 of the electric assist bicycle
Will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an internal transmission provided at a part of the axle 18 in the longitudinal direction. The transmission 28 is connected to the rear sprocket 19 via a one-way clutch (not shown). Therefore, power is transmitted only in one direction of the pedal 5, and when the pedal 5 is rotated in the reverse direction, power transmission from the transmission 28 is cut off.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a rotary casing which constitutes a hub of the rear wheel 11 about the axle 18;
One is a rotating casing 29A provided with a U-shaped ring 30 for attaching the spokes 14 on the outer periphery, and the other is mounted on the axle 18 via a bearing 31, and The rotating casing 29B is fixed to the ring 30 by screws at a plurality of locations so as to close the opening of the casing 29A.

The rotary casing 29B is fixed to the rotary casing 29B by welding and is concentric with the axle 18.
A rotating piece having a disk-shaped upright wall formed outward, and the inner periphery of the rotating piece 32 is slid outwardly by the operation of the brake lever 27, that is, the rotating casing 29 A brake device 33 for braking the rotation is provided. Reference numeral 34 denotes a brake cover that covers the outside of the brake device 33.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a cord for supplying power from the battery 22 to a control board 40 to be described later. The cord 35 penetrates the brake cover 34 and is inserted through a partially cut-out portion of the axle 18 to be described later. The control board 40 is connected along the outer wall of the fixed casing 36 and partially along the inner wall of the fixed casing 36.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a bowl-shaped fixed casing provided in the rotary casing 29 and fixed to the axle 18 and having an open surface. The fixed casing 36 incorporates a DC brushless motor 39 and a planetary gear reduction mechanism described later. ing. The fixed casing 36 is fixed to the axle 18 where the transmission 28 in the longitudinal direction of the axle 18 is not provided.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a stator constituting a motor 39 provided on the inner side surface of the fixed casing 36.
Is a control board provided on the outer surface of the fixed casing 36.
Powered via 40. Further, the stator 38 includes:
A winding is wound around an iron core forming 18 slots.
Has a two-pole magnet.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a rotor rotatably provided on the inner periphery of the stator 38 via two bearings 42 provided on the inner side wall of the fixed casing 36.
It is attached to a gear portion 43 forming a small diameter portion forming a partial gear. The gear portion 43 is a portion corresponding to a sun gear of planetary gear reduction mechanisms 43, 44, and 45 described below. Also,
The rotor 41 has a magnet 41a.

The motor 39 is composed of the rotor 41 and the stator 38 together. In this embodiment, the DC brushless motor is used. However, another type of motor may be used, and by using a stepping motor or the like,
It goes without saying that the configuration can be made more compact.

Reference numeral 44 denotes the gear portion 43 and the fixed casing.
The planet gear 44 meshes with a fixed gear 45 fixed to the inner periphery of the fixed casing 36 and the gear portion 43, and rotates around the axle 18 by rotation of the rotor 41. To rotate. Reference numeral 46 denotes an output panel which is rotatably provided at the center of each of the planet gears 44 and is rotatably provided via a bearing 47 provided on the axle 18.
The rotating casing 29B is provided with a one-way clutch 48 having a ratchet mechanism. The one-way clutch 48 cuts off the manual driving force and the power of the motor 39 when the rotation speed of the rear wheel 11 becomes faster than the rotation of the rotary casing 29 by human power.

Reference numeral 49 denotes a pressing piece fixed to the outer periphery of the transmission 28. The pressing piece 49 is fixed to the transmission 28 and closes an opening formed between the transmission 28 and the rotary casing 29. Disc-shaped collar provided to close the opening formed in size
50 and pressing plates formed at two positions opposite to each other with the collar 50
An elastic spring 61 is provided between the push plate 51, that is, the input portion of the rotating body, and the rotating casing 29, that is, the output portion of the rotating body. And
When the manual driving force is transmitted from the transmission 28, the spring 61 is contracted by a contraction amount corresponding to the magnitude of the manual driving force to rotate the rotary casing.
Rotate 29.

Reference numeral 62 denotes an elongated hole 71 formed on the push plate 51 side, one end 72 is movably attached, and the other end 73 is connected to the rotary casing 29.
It is a variable member rotatably mounted, that is, an arc-shaped ring. A total of two rings 62 are provided so that one end 72 comes near the portion where the spring 61 is provided. The ring 62 is made of a conductive material or a magnetic material. In this embodiment, an aluminum ring 62 is used.

Numeral 53 denotes a detection member provided on the inner periphery of the ring 62 which is displaced by the contraction of the spring 61, that is, a coil.
The coil 53 is supplied with power from the control board 40 having a control circuit, and inputs an electric signal to the control board 40 as a change in inductance due to the displacement of the ring 62 as a magnitude of human driving force.
The motor 39 is controlled based on this signal value. The above-described spring 61, ring 62, coil 53, and the like are collectively referred to as a torque detecting unit, that is, a torque sensor 52.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a position detection sensor for detecting the rotational position of the rotor 41 necessary to drive and control the motor 39. The signal of the position detection sensor 68 is input to the microcomputer 58 to generate a motor control signal. I have.

The operation of the ring 62 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

When a large human force is applied, the spring 61 is greatly contracted, whereby a force is exerted on one end 72 of the ring 62 on the pressing plate 51 side in the circumferential direction. 62 moves inward. At this time, one end 72 of the ring 62 near the pressing plate 51 moves inward because the spring 61 moves by contraction of the spring 61, but the other end 73 does not displace because the other end 73 is pivotally attached to the rotating casing 29. After all, the ring 62 is displaced inward about the other end 73 as an axis. That is, the ring
62 is displaced from the position of the solid line to the state of the two-dot chain line. When the applied large human power is lost, the push plate 51 is returned to the original position by the restoring force of the spring 61, and one end 72 of the ring 62 near the push plate 51 is moved to the other end of the ring 62 by the operation.
It is put back around 73. That is, when the human power is lost, the ring 62 is displaced in a direction to spread outward as shown by a solid line.

As described above, since the ring 62 whose displacement is changed according to the contraction of the spring 61, that is, the magnitude of the manual driving force, is used, the inductance of the coil 53 can be changed according to the magnitude of the manual driving force. The magnitude of the driving force can be output as an electric signal.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the power system diagram of FIG.

First, the transmission of the power of the manual driving force will be described.

When the manual driving force is input from the pedal 5,
The front sprocket 17 fixed to the pedal 5 rotates, and the rear sprocket 19 rotates via the chain 16. When the rear sprocket 19 rotates, power is transmitted only in one direction by a one-way clutch (not shown).

When the power in the traveling direction is transmitted, the transmission is shifted by the transmission 28 set to the gear ratio specified by the user,
The rear casing 11 can be rotated by rotating the rotary casing 29 while contracting the spring 61 constituting the torque sensor 52.

Next, transmission of the electric driving force will be described.

The change in inductance detected by the coil 53 due to the displacement of the ring 62 of the torque sensor 52 is input to the microcomputer 58 of the control board 40. Then, based on the signal value, a signal is output to the inverter circuit 59, the polarity of the stator 38 is changed by turning on and off the FET in the inverter circuit 59, and the magnet provided on the rotor 41 rotates the rotor 41, and the motor 39 Drive. The driving of the motor 39 is reduced by a planetary gear reduction mechanism, that is, a gear portion 43, a planet gear 44, and a fixed gear 45, and an output is taken out by an output panel 46 connected to the planet gear 44,
The rotary casing 29 is rotated via the ratchet 48.
Then, the rear wheel 11 comes to rotate.

As described above, the manual driving force and the electric driving force are combined by the rotary casing 29 to drive the rear wheel 11.

Next, a control circuit of the electric assist bicycle according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the operation of the torque sensor 52 will be described.

When a large force is applied to the pedal 5 at the time of starting the bicycle, accelerating the vehicle, climbing a hill, or the like, the power is transmitted by sandwiching the spring 61 between the flange portion 50 and the rotary casing 29. Shrinkage corresponding to the size occurs. At this time,
The displacement of the ring 62 changes the inductance of the coil 55.

The change in the inductance is input to the microcomputer 58 as an electric signal. Then, a drive signal for driving the motor 39 is output based on this signal.

Next, portions of the control circuit other than the torque sensor 52 will be described.

Reference numeral 58 denotes a microcomputer which receives a signal from the torque sensor 52 and outputs a drive signal to an inverter circuit 59 in accordance with the magnitude of the signal of the manual drive force.
Is connected to a constant voltage circuit 60 for stepping down the voltage of the battery 22, and operates using this as a power supply. And microcomputer 58
The driving signal output from the switching circuit switches a plurality of FETs in the inverter circuit 59 to output U, V, W signals to the stator 38 of the motor 39 to rotate the rotor 41. A signal line for detecting the position of the rotor 41 is connected to an input port of the microcomputer 58 to detect the position of the rotor 41.

Reference numeral 74 denotes a mode changeover switch provided near the grip of the steering wheel 7 for selecting a plurality of preset assist ratio patterns by switching and selecting a traveling mode by the user.

A first embodiment of the operation of the control circuit will be described with reference to FIGS.

The graph shown in FIG. 7 shows the ratio of the electric driving force to the manual driving force, that is, the change in the so-called assist ratio with respect to a predetermined value. The assist ratio is such that table data of a plurality of assist ratios corresponding to the mode set by the user are stored in the microcomputer, and the assist ratio according to a predetermined specified value is set according to the mode. Is shown in the graph. Explaining this graph, the predetermined specification on the horizontal axis is, for example, a value corresponding to the traveling speed. When the specified value is 1, the speed is also 1 km / h. The specified value is 20
In this case, the speed is also 20 km / h. In the graph shown in FIG. 7, two modes of the power ratio and the high power mode having a higher ratio than the power mode are recorded as the assist ratios recorded in the table data. There are three modes, "medium" and "high". First, the power mode “standard” will be described. This is shown by a solid line A in FIG. 7 and is 0 km / km, which is the traveling speed at the start of traveling or traveling uphill.
From h to about 4 km / h, the assist ratio during normal running is set higher, and the value of the electric driving force is increased to prevent fluctuations and the like. A constant value is set at 4 km / h or more, which is considered to be a stable running state. “Middle” is indicated by a solid line B, and is set so that only the assist ratio at the start of traveling or traveling uphill is higher than the standard time. When the vehicle speed exceeds about 4 km / h at the start of traveling or traveling uphill, the assist ratio becomes the same as the "standard". Next, as for “high”, the solid line C indicates that at the start of traveling or when traveling uphill, the assist ratio is the same as that of “medium” in the power mode. Falls,
The assist ratio at the time of "standard" is set at about 20 km / h.

Next, a description will be given of the high power mode. This high power mode is indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7 and has the same pattern as the above-mentioned power mode so that the assist ratio is higher as a whole than in the power mode. Is set to For example, “standard” in the high power mode is 0
From km / h to 4 km · h, the power mode is set to be twice as large as the power mode, and 4 km / h
In the above, the value is almost twice the value in the power mode. "Middle" is the same pattern as "Middle" in the power mode, and only 0km / h to 4km / h is "Standard".
It is higher than that. Also, “High” has the same pattern as “High” in power mode, and “High” in power mode.
It is set so that the assist ratio becomes higher than that. That is, when the traveling speed exceeds 4 km / h, the assist ratio gradually decreases.
It has the same value as "medium".

These modes are switched by a mode changeover switch 74 shown in FIG. 6, which is a slide switch. The switches are "OFF", "NORMAL", "MEDIUM", "HIGH" and "HIGH" in the power mode. Mode "Standard"
By sliding between “medium” and “high”, the assist ratio shown in FIG. 7 is switched.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this embodiment, in order to detect the start of traveling and the traveling of uphill, the judgment is made based on the detected value of the torque sensor 52. The specified value indicated by the horizontal axis in FIG. It is the value converted from.

This is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8. First, the timer for counting time is cleared (S
1), the value of the manual torque from the torque sensor 52 is read (S2). The read value of the human input torque is compared with the previous value of the human input torque to calculate how much the width of the human input torque has changed (S3). If this value is equal to or less than the predetermined value A, it is determined that the vehicle is stopped or the change in human torque during running on level ground is small (S4), and the timer starts counting (S5). The period during which the fluctuation of the torque is small is a predetermined time.
When the time for counting 0 continues, it is determined that the vehicle is stopped or traveling on level ground (S6), and the specified value is set to 0 (S6).
7) When the human torque changes next, the vehicle can run at a high assist ratio. That is, when the vehicle starts running from a stop, the assist ratio can be set high,
When going uphill from flat terrain, the assist ratio can be set higher.

Next, when the width of the manual torque in S4 is larger than the predetermined value A, it is determined that the vehicle is running and the specified value is set to 1
It is made to increase at a time (S8). According to such a flowchart, when the vehicle starts running from the stop state, the specified value increases in this portion, and the normal assist ratio can be returned to the normal assist ratio after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the vehicle running.

In this embodiment, the specified value shown in FIG. 7 is set to the running speed or the human-powered torque, but may be set to the number of revolutions of the crank or the running distance. The assist ratio may be set high until the number or distance is reached, or at the start of traveling or when the number of revolutions such as an uphill is small, to prevent wobble. Also,
The time from the start of the start may be measured, and the assist ratio may be set to be high until a predetermined time elapses to prevent the wobble at the start.

As described above, the motor is driven in accordance with the magnitude of the manual driving force detected by the torque detecting section. At this time, the assist ratio at the start of traveling or traveling uphill is smaller than that during normal traveling. Is set high, and a large electric driving force is applied when the user needs the assisting force. Further, a plurality of types of assist ratios having different ratios at the start of traveling or at the time of traveling uphill are provided, and the assisting force at the time of starting traveling or at the time of traveling uphill is changed by a user operating a changeover switch. Therefore, the vehicle can travel at a high assist ratio at the time of starting traveling or traveling uphill, and can always travel stably. When the standard assist ratio does not provide sufficient assisting power at the start of traveling or when traveling uphill, the assisting force can be increased by switching modes.

The assist ratio switched by the changeover switch is set to a high ratio for a predetermined period even after the start of traveling or after traveling on an uphill, and is switched by the changeover switch to assist with a large electric driving force in this predetermined period. Since the assist ratio is set high only in this portion, the traveling distance per charge of the battery can be extended.

Furthermore, the assist ratio is set so as to gradually decrease during a predetermined period after the start of traveling or after traveling uphill.
Since the assisting force does not suddenly decrease, the assist ratio does not suddenly decrease while the user is traveling, so that the riding comfort does not deteriorate.

The assist ratio is set to a high value only when the start of traveling or when traveling uphill is detected, and a plurality of different assist ratios are set which increase when starting traveling or traveling uphill. A power mode with a low assist ratio and a high power mode with a high assist ratio in a pattern similar to the power mode are set, and the assist ratio can be switched by operating the changeover switch by the user. When the driver feels unsatisfactory in the assist power even in the power mode, switching to the high power mode makes driving easier,
The assisting force can be changed according to the user's preference.

In each mode, the control circuit sets only the assist ratio at the start of traveling or uphill traveling to a high value. When the user operates the changeover switch, the control circuit starts the traveling or uphill traveling. The assisting force can be increased during traveling. That is, in the power mode, when the assisting force at the start of traveling or uphill traveling is insufficient, the high power mode is used to increase the assisting force at the start of traveling or uphill traveling. By setting the assist ratio in the high power mode higher than in the power mode, the user can select various ratios using the changeover switch.

Further, in each mode, the control circuit sets the assist ratio to a high value for a predetermined period after the start of traveling or the detection of traveling uphill, and thereby the predetermined ratio is maintained even after starting traveling or traveling uphill in the power mode. The electric driving force operates at a high assist ratio only during the period.

[0077]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The motor is driven in accordance with the magnitude of the manual driving force detected by the torque detection unit, and the assist ratio at this time is set to be higher at the start of traveling or uphill traveling than at the time of normal traveling. When a person needs an assisting force, a large electric driving force is applied. Further, a plurality of types of assist ratios having different ratios at the start of traveling or at the time of traveling uphill are provided, and the assisting force at the time of starting traveling or at the time of traveling uphill is changed by a user operating a changeover switch. It is possible to travel at a high assist ratio at the start of traveling or traveling uphill, and it is possible to always run stably.At the standard assist ratio, the assist force at the start of traveling or traveling uphill is limited. When it is not enough, the assisting force can be increased by switching the mode, so that there is an effect that the usability is greatly improved.

The assist ratio switched by the changeover switch is set to a high ratio for a predetermined period even after the start of traveling or traveling on an uphill. By switching with the changeover switch, the assist ratio is assisted by a large electric driving force in the predetermined period. Since the assist ratio is set to be high only in this portion, it is possible to increase the traveling distance per charge of the battery.

Further, the assist ratio is set so as to gradually decrease during a predetermined period after the start of traveling or after traveling uphill.
Since the assisting force does not suddenly decrease, there is an effect that the assist ratio does not suddenly decrease while the user is traveling and the riding comfort does not deteriorate.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the assist ratio is set to a high value only when the start of traveling or when traveling uphill is detected, and a plurality of assists having different ratios that become high at the start of traveling or traveling uphill. The ratio is set, and a power mode in which the assist ratio is low as a whole and a high power mode in which the assist ratio is high in a pattern substantially similar to the power mode are set, and the assist ratio is switched by a user's operation of the changeover switch. So that
When the user feels that the assisting power is unsatisfactory even in the power mode, by switching to the high power mode, the driving becomes easier and the assisting power can be changed according to the user's preference.

In each mode, the control circuit sets only a high assist ratio at the start of traveling or when traveling uphill is detected. The assisting force can be increased during traveling. That is, in the power mode, when the assisting force at the start of traveling or uphill traveling is insufficient, the high power mode is used to increase the assisting force at the start of traveling or uphill traveling. By setting the assist ratio in the high power mode higher than in the power mode, the user can select various ratios by using the changeover switch.

Further, in each mode, the control circuit sets the assist ratio to a high value for a predetermined period after the start of traveling or the detection of traveling on an uphill, so that the control circuit keeps a predetermined value even after starting traveling or traveling on an uphill in the power mode. The electric driving force is operated at a high assist ratio only during the period, and there is an effect that the traveling of the user becomes very easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a driving unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vicinity of a torque sensor of the drive unit as viewed from the side.

FIG. 3 is the same power system diagram.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control circuit.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the entire configuration.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the changeover switch.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a set value of an assist ratio with respect to the predetermined specified value.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Wheel (rear wheel) 52 Torque detector (torque sensor) 39 Motor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masanori Kamei 2-5-2-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Sagara 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No.5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshihiro Matsumoto 2-5-5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Moriguchi-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor Seiki Inui Seiki Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka 2-5-5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5H115 PI16 PI29 PO07 PU08 PU11 PV09 PV24 QE04 QE08 QN02 QN12 RB08 SE03 TO04 TO07 TO30 UI24

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A human-powered driving unit that drives wheels by human power, a torque detection unit that detects a human-powered driving force of the human-powered driving unit, and an electric driving unit that drives the wheels by a motor.
Detecting means for detecting the start of traveling or traveling uphill, and an assist ratio, which is a ratio of the output of the electric driving force to the detected value of the torque detecting unit, being a high value only when the detecting means detects traveling start or traveling uphill. And a control circuit that sets a different assist ratio of a plurality of ratios to be increased at the start of traveling or when traveling uphill,
A vehicle with auxiliary power, comprising a changeover switch for switching the assist ratio to a high assist ratio. 2. The auxiliary power according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit sets only a high assist ratio when a start of traveling or traveling on an uphill is detected, and switches the assist ratio by the changeover switch. With vehicle. 3. The vehicle with auxiliary power according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit sets the assist ratio to a high value for a predetermined period after the start of traveling or the detection of traveling uphill. 4. The vehicle with auxiliary power according to claim 3, wherein the assist ratio during the predetermined period is gradually reduced. 5. A human-powered driving unit for driving wheels by human power, a torque detecting unit for detecting a human-powered driving force of the human-powered driving unit, and an electric driving unit for driving the wheels by a motor.
Detecting means for detecting the start of traveling or traveling uphill, and an assist ratio, which is a ratio of the output of the electric driving force to the detected value of the torque detecting unit, being a high value only when the detecting means detects traveling start or traveling uphill. A control circuit that sets a power mode in which a plurality of different assist ratios are set when the vehicle starts traveling or traveling uphill, and the assist mode is substantially equal to the assist ratio of the power mode. A vehicle with auxiliary power, wherein a high power mode in which an assist ratio higher than the power mode is set in a similar pattern is provided, and a changeover switch for switching between the mode and the assist ratio is provided. 6. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein only the assist ratio when the start of traveling or the traveling on the uphill is detected in each mode is set to a high value, and the mode and the assist ratio are switched by the changeover switch. Item 6. The vehicle with auxiliary power according to Item 5. 7. The control circuit according to claim 5, wherein in each mode, the assist ratio is set to a high value for a predetermined period after the start of traveling or the detection of traveling uphill is completed.
A vehicle with auxiliary power as described.