JP2001121937A - Running vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a running vehicle having a suspension device with small number of parts to reduce a fabrication cost. SOLUTION: On a front frame part 12b of a frame 12 that supports a vehicle body of a golf cart 11, a pair of supporting plates 30 is spacingly arranged in front and rear. On a connecting member of both side lower parts of the supporting plate 30 in front, lower arms 32 are rotatably supported. On each of the lower arm 32, one end of a torsion bar 33 is fixed respectively. A pair of the lower arms 32 is connected by a shock absorber 35 to constitute a shock damping means thereby. On a connecting member 31a between both side upper parts of both the supporting plates 30, a base end part of an upper arm 36 is rotatably supported. Between each of the lower arms 32 and the upper arm 36, steering knuckles 37 are intervened to have tip end parts of both the steering knuckles 37 fixed on a wheel of front wheels 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traveling vehicle such as a golf cart.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A golf cart as a traveling vehicle has its body supported by a substantially rectangular frame.
A pair of left and right rear wheels is suspended on both sides below the rear of the frame, and a pair of left and right front wheels are suspended on both sides below the front.

Each of the front wheels is an independent suspension type that can move up and down independently on the left and right sides. The front wheels are connected to a frame via a wishbone type suspension device having an upper arm and a lower arm rotatably supported on the frame. Suspended on both sides of the front. In addition, the front both sides of the frame are bent upward at the position of the front wheel, and furthermore,
It is bent inward in a horizontal plane so as to be parallel to the direction in which the frame extends.

[0004] A pair of support plates are provided at a portion of the front portion of the frame which is bent inward in the horizontal plane, and the frame is supported on both sides of the support plate so as to be spaced apart from each other. In both side portions of the pair of support plates, connecting members are respectively provided at upper and lower opposing positions thereof. The base end of the upper arm is rotatably supported by both upper connecting members, and the base end of the lower arm is rotatably supported by both lower connecting members, and vertically opposes both sides of the support plate. The upper arm and the lower arm are arranged at the positions. Each upper arm and each lower arm are rotatably supported by the frame via a connecting member and a support plate.

[0005] The distal ends of the upper arm and the lower arm opposing each other vertically are rotatably connected to a steering knuckle via a ball joint. The steering knuckle is supported so as to be rotatable left and right around a ball joint. Further, both steering knuckles are fixed to respective wheels to which tires are attached, respectively, to form front wheels. Each of the two connecting members located on the upper side is formed with an upright body extending upward, and a girder is erected at the upper end thereof, and both ends of the girder extend outwardly from each of the upright bodies.

[0006] One end of a shock absorber is fixed to the lower surface of both ends of the spar, and the other end is fixed to the lower arm. A coil spring is mounted on the outer periphery of each shock absorber. One end of each coil spring is fixed to the lower surface of the beam, and the other end is fixed to the outer peripheral surface on the other end side of the shock absorber. For each front wheel, a coil spring is installed extending in the vertical direction via a wishbone type suspension device, and the coil spring constitutes a shock absorbing means. In addition, damping means for suppressing the vibration generated when the coil spring absorbs the shock is configured by the shock absorber.

When an impact comes from the road surface while the golf cart is running, the lower arm and the upper arm support the vertical movement of each front wheel, and the coil spring and the shock absorber absorb the impact. As a result, the golf cart can run in a stable state while absorbing the impact from the road surface.

[0008]

However, in the suspension system for the front wheels of the golf cart, there are problems that the shock absorbers are required on both left and right sides, the number of parts is increased, and the production cost of the golf cart is increased.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a traveling vehicle that can reduce the number of parts in a suspension device and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a traveling vehicle, comprising: a suspension device having an arm rotatably supported by a frame; In a traveling vehicle in which a pair of wheels arranged side by side are respectively suspended, the arms of the left and right suspension devices are connected by damper means.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, showing a golf cart 11 of a multi-seater type (five-seater type in this embodiment) having front and rear seats. A pair of left and right rear wheels 13 (only the left rear wheel 13 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is suspended below a rear portion of a frame 12 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 2) that supports a lower body of the golf cart 11. Yes,
A rear cowl 14 is provided so as to cover the suspension portion. On the front upper side of the rear cowl 14, a rear seat 15 capable of seating three persons in the left-right direction via a rear seat base 16 is placed.

Below the rear seat 15, a frame 12 is provided.
A step 17 fixed on a plate 17a (see FIG. 3) provided on the front side is formed, and a pair of left and right front seats 19 is provided in front of the step 17 via a front seat base 18. A pair of left and right front wheels 20 (only the left front wheel 20 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is suspended from the frame 12 located below the front seat base 18. Each front seat 1
A step 17 is formed in front of the foot of the vehicle 9 and a front cowl 21 extends upward in front of the step, that is, at the front end of the vehicle body. A handle 22 is provided in front of the front seat 19, and a brake pedal 23 and an accelerator pedal 24 are provided below the front seat 19.

The roof frame 2 extends upward from the upper end of the front cowl 21 and further backward.
5 is extended, and a roof 26 is attached to a portion facing the rear of the roof frame 25. A rear frame 25 a spans the rear end of the roof frame 25 and the backrest 27 of the rear seat 15. Behind the rear seat 15, a bag carrier 28 extends obliquely upward, and a golf bag can be placed thereon. A pair of storage cases 29 that can store umbrellas, putters, and the like are provided on both left and right sides of the bag carrier 28.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame 12 is formed of a round pipe, and a middle portion thereof and a front portion thereof extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and a pair of intermediate frames formed along a predetermined plane. It comprises a portion 12a and a pair of front frame portions 12b integrally connected to the intermediate frame portion 12a and formed along a common plane with the intermediate frame portion 12a. Each front frame portion 12b is formed to be bent inward so as to be narrower than the separation distance between the intermediate frame portions 12a.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of substantially plate-shaped support plates 30 are provided on the pair of front frame portions 12b.
Are separated from each other in the front and rear directions, and the frame 12 penetrates lower portions on both sides of both support plates 30. A connecting member 31a having a columnar shape is mounted at an opposing position on both upper sides of the both supporting plates 30 through the both supporting plates 30, and connects the pair of supporting plates 30 by the front frame portion 12b and the connecting member 31a. ing.

At the lower portion on both sides of the front support plate 30, connecting members 31b are also formed to protrude below the frame 12, respectively. The connecting members 31b are provided with lower arms 32 substantially in a V-shape constituting a wishbone type suspension device. Are rotatably supported at one side thereof. The other side of the base end of each lower arm 32 is disposed on the back side of the rear support plate 30, and one end of a torsion bar 33 as a shock absorbing means made of a soft metal material is fixed to them. .

The other end of each torsion bar 33 is fixedly supported by a pair of fixing members 34 provided on the back surface of the plate 17a on the rear seat 15 side. Each torsion bar 33 is twistably connected between each lower arm 32 and the fixing member 34. Then, the frame 12 is connected via the front support plate 30, the connecting member 31 b and the lower arm 32.
And the torsion bar 33 are connected to each other, and each lower arm 32 is rotatably supported by the frame 12.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tip of a rod 35a of a shock absorber 35 as a damper means is fixed to the upper surface of one lower arm 32, and the rod 35a is fixed to the upper surface of the other lower arm 32. The distal end of the tubular portion 35b that can enter and exit is fixed. Then, the pair of lower arms 32 are connected by a shock absorber 35, and an impact damping means is configured.

A base end portion of a substantially planar V-shaped upper arm 36 constituting a wishbone type suspension device is rotatably supported on both connecting members 31a on the upper side of the support plate 30. It is arranged substantially above the lower arm 32. Also, both upper arms 3
6 is connected to the frame 12 via the upper connecting member 31a and the support plate 30, and is rotatably supported by the frame 12.

Each lower arm 32 and upper arm 36
Is rotatably connected to a steering knuckle 37 via a ball joint 38. The steering knuckle 37 is connected to the ball joint 3
8 is supported so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction. The two steering knuckles 37 are fixed to wheels 39 to which the tires 20a are attached, and each wheel 39 is suspended from the frame 12 via a wishbone-type suspension device including an upper arm 36 and a lower arm 32. The front wheel 20 is composed of the steering knuckle 37, the wheel 39, and the tire 20a.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, knuckle arms 40 extend from rear ends of both steering knuckles 37, and the knuckle arms 40 are connected to each other by a tie rod 41 of a steering link device 44. . The steering link device 44 includes the tie rod 4
1 and a pinion 43 meshed with the rack member 42 and a rack and pinion type. The pinion 43 of the steering link device 44 is operated by the handle 22 via a steering shaft (not shown) to enable steering.

The steering link device 44
Can be automatically steered by an automatic steering motor (not shown). Switching between automatic steering and manual steering is performed by engaging and disengaging a dog clutch attached to the automatic steering motor by a switching operation of an automatic / manual switch (not shown) provided in the driver's seat. Will be

That is, by rotating the pinion 43 via the handle 22 and the steering shaft, the rack member 42 slides left and right to move the tie rod 41 left and right, and the steering knuckle 37 connected to the tie rod 41, That is, both front wheels 20 are rotated left and right. And a pair of front wheels 2
0 is a steering wheel separated from each other. Further, since each front frame portion 12b is formed to be bent inward so as to be narrower than the separation distance between the intermediate frame portions 12a, the front frame portion 12b
Does not interfere with each front wheel 20.

A left / right rotating rod 45 is disposed near the middle point of the line connecting the centers of the front wheels 20, and the left / right rotating rod 45 is
As shown in FIG. 3, the pivot member 46 supports the bridge member 50, which is bridged between the lower connecting members 31 b, so as to be able to turn left and right. One end of a connecting rod 47 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the left and right rotating rod 45, and the other end of the connecting rod 47 is interposed member 48 fixed to the rear end of the other knuckle arm 40. Are rotatably connected to the

When the front wheel 20 is in the straight traveling direction, the left and right rotating rod 45 is oriented in the front-rear direction.
The right and left turning rod 45 also turns right and left following the turning of 0, that is, right and left turning. A sensor mounting rod 49 is fixed to the front end of the left and right rotating rod 45 in a direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, and an inductive sensor (not shown) is fixed to the lower surface of the left and right ends of the sensor mounting rod 49.

The guidance sensor senses the lateral deviation from the guidance loop buried in the traveling lane, and transmits the deviation detection result to a controller (not shown) for controlling the automatic steering motor (not shown). I do. The automatic steering motor is controlled by the controller to rotate the front wheel 20 by rotating the pinion 43 of the steering link device 44 so that the position of the guidance sensor becomes a normal position from the guidance loop line. Following this turning, the right and left turning rod 45 is turned via the connecting rod 47.

The operation of the golf cart 11 as the traveling vehicle will be described below. During traveling of the golf cart 11, for example, when one of the front wheels 20 rides on a stone and receives an impact from a road surface, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
One front wheel 20 is pushed upward. Then, since the front wheel 20 is rotatably supported by the frame 12 by the upper arm 36 and the lower arm 32, the upper arm 36 and the lower arm 32 rotate upward about their base ends. At the same time, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, one lower arm 32 rotates against the torsional elastic force of the torsion bar 33 fixed to it. Then, the torsion bar 33 absorbs a shock from the road surface (shock absorbing action) to return to the original state by the torsional elastic force, and one of the lower arms 32 attempts to return to the original state.

Further, as the lower arm 32 rotates upward, the rod 35a of the shock absorber 35 enters the cylindrical portion 35b. As a result, the vibration of the lower arm 32 is suppressed by the shock absorber 35 (shock damping action), and the front wheel 20 immediately returns to a stable state by the shock absorbing action and the shock damping action. As a result, the golf cart 11 travels in a stable state while absorbing the impact from the road surface.

The effects exerted by the first embodiment will be described below. -In the wishbone type suspension of the front wheel 20,
One shock absorber 35 is provided between both lower arms 32.
To form an impact damping means for both front wheels 20. Therefore, compared to the case where the shock absorbers 35 are provided for both the front wheels 20, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost of the golf cart 11 can be reduced. Further, the configuration of the wishbone type suspension device can be simplified, and the assembling work can be easily performed.

Further, since the shock absorber 35 is disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction as in the prior art, it is not necessary to form a member for fixing the upper end of the shock absorber 35. Therefore, in the front frame portion 12b, the installation space for the wishbone type suspension device can be reduced, the height thereof can be reduced, and the front portion of the golf cart 11 can be lowered.

The pair of lower arms 32 are connected by a shock absorber 35. Therefore, unlike the case where the pair of upper arms 36 are connected by the shock absorber 35, there is no need to secure a space above the upper arm 36 that allows the shock absorber 35 to move up and down with the up and down movement of the front wheel 20. . As a result, the height of the golf cart 11 can be reduced.

A torsion bar 33 is fixed to the lower arm 32 as a shock absorbing means of the golf cart 11. Therefore, it is not necessary to form a member for fixing the upper end of the coil spring as in the case where the coil spring is provided as the shock absorbing means. as a result,
The manufacturing cost of the golf cart 11 can be reduced by reducing the number of members.

The frame 12 can be formed two-dimensionally by forming the front frame portion 12b and the intermediate frame portion 12a along a common plane. Therefore,
The molding operation can be performed easily, and the golf cart 11 can be easily manufactured, as compared with the conventional case where the frame 12 is bent upward and formed three-dimensionally. Further, at the time of turning of the front wheels 20, the front frame portion 12b is prevented from interfering with the front wheels 20, and the front wheels 20 can be steered stably.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the first
The differences from the embodiment will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 6, upstanding members 51 extending upward are respectively formed on the upper portions of the connecting members 31 a on both sides of the upper portions of the support plates 30, and a spar 52 is provided at the upper end of the both standing members 51. . Both ends of the spar 52 extend outward from each standing body 51.
One end of a support member 54 for supporting a coil spring 53 as a shock absorbing means on the lower surface of both ends of the girder 52 and for preventing the coil spring 53 from bending laterally in response to an impact from a road surface. Are fixed to each other, and the other ends thereof are fixed to the respective lower arms 32.

The support member 54 has one end fixed to the lower surface of the spar 52, one end inserted into the outer cylinder from the other end of the outer cylinder, and the other end fixed to the lower arm 32. And an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is configured to be vertically slidable in the outer cylinder as the lower arm 32 rotates in the vertical direction.

A coil spring 53 is mounted on the outer periphery of both support members 54, one end of the coil spring 53 is fixed to one end of the support member 54, and the other end is supported by the support member 5.
4 is fixed to the other end side. Further, the pair of torsion bars 33 is omitted.

Now, while the golf cart 11 is running, for example, when one of the front wheels 20 rides on a stone and receives an impact from the road surface, it is pushed upward. Then, the upper arm 36 and the lower arm 32 also pivot upward about their base ends. At the same time, the inner cylinder of one support member 54 slides up and down in the outer cylinder, and the impact from the road surface is absorbed by the coil spring 53 supported by the support member 54. Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the lower arm 3 is provided by the shock absorber 35.
The shock absorber 35 attenuates the second vibration, and the front wheel 20 immediately returns to a stable state.

Each embodiment can be embodied with the following modifications. In each embodiment, the present invention is embodied in a wishbone type suspension device, but may be embodied in a swing axle type suspension device.

In the first embodiment, one end of the torsion bar 33 may be fixed to each of the pair of upper arms 36, and the other end may be supported by the fixing member 34 formed on the plate 17a on the rear seat 15 side. Even in the case of such a configuration, the impact can be absorbed by the torsion bar 33. Further, as compared with the case where the coil spring 53 is provided, it is not necessary to form a member for fixing the upper end of the coil spring 53. As a result, the number of members can be reduced and the manufacturing cost of the golf cart 11 can be reduced.

In each embodiment, the tip of the rod 35 a of the shock absorber 35 as a damper means is fixed to the upper surface of one upper arm 36, and the rod 35 a can enter and exit the upper surface of the other upper arm 36. The tip of the portion 35b may be fixed, and the pair of upper arms 36 may be connected by the shock absorber 35. Also in the case of such a configuration, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost of the golf cart 11 can be reduced as compared with the case where the shock absorbers 35 are provided for both front wheels 20 respectively.

In each embodiment, the rear wheel 13 is provided on both sides of the rear portion of the frame 12 via the wishbone type suspension device of the first or second embodiment or the swing axle type suspension device embodying the present invention. May be suspended.

In each embodiment, the golf cart 1
The vehicle 1 may be configured to be able to ride one of four to four or six or more. -In the first embodiment, the torsion bar 33 may be omitted.

In each of the embodiments, the shock absorber 35 is used as the damper means, but a leaf spring may be used. In the first embodiment, one end of the torsion bar 33 is fixed to each of the upper arm 36 and the lower arm 32, and the other end is connected to the plate 1 on the rear seat 15 side.
7a may be fixed to the fixing members 34 formed on the front and back surfaces. In the case of such a configuration, the impact from the road surface can be further absorbed by each torsion bar 33.

Traveling vehicles such as passenger cars, railway cars,
A wishbone-type suspension device according to the first or second embodiment or a swing axle-type suspension device embodying the present invention may be provided for wheels such as a bogie.

In each embodiment, the frame 12 is formed from a round pipe, but may be formed into a square pipe, a cross-sectional channel, or the like. Further, technical ideas that can be grasped from the embodiment will be described below.

(1) In a traveling vehicle in which a pair of wheels arranged side by side are respectively suspended via a wishbone type suspension device having an upper arm and a lower arm rotatably supported with respect to a frame, A traveling vehicle in which any one of the corresponding arms of the suspension device is connected by damper means.

With this configuration, the number of components in the wishbone type suspension device can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. (2) In a traveling vehicle in which a pair of wheels arranged side by side on the left and right are respectively suspended via a wishbone type suspension device having an upper arm and a lower arm rotatably supported on a frame, both lower arms are damped. Traveling vehicles connected to each other by means.

In such a configuration, a space is provided above the upper arm that allows the damper to move up and down with the up and down movement of the wheels, as in the case where a pair of upper arms are connected to each other by the damper. Eliminates the need. As a result, the height of the traveling vehicle can be reduced.

(3) The wheels are a pair of steering wheels separated from each other, and the frame extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and has a pair of intermediate frame portions formed along a predetermined plane, and the intermediate frame portion. And a pair of front frame portions formed along a common plane with the intermediate frame portion.Each front frame portion does not interfere with turning of the steered wheels. The above (1), (2), and 1 which are formed by bending so as to be smaller than the separation distance between the intermediate frame portions.
The traveling vehicle according to any one of the above.

With this configuration, the frame can be formed two-dimensionally by forming the front frame portion and the intermediate frame portion along a common plane. Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where the frame is bent upward and formed three-dimensionally, the forming operation can be easily performed, and the production of the traveling vehicle can be easily performed.

(4) The traveling vehicle according to any one of (1) to (3) and (1), wherein the damper means is a shock absorber. With this configuration, the impact from the road surface can be efficiently attenuated.

[0052]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the number of parts in the suspension can be reduced, and the production cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a golf cart.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a golf cart.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a bottom surface of the golf cart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing a front wheel peripheral portion of the golf cart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a peripheral portion of a front wheel of the golf cart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a front wheel peripheral portion of a golf cart according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: Golf cart as a traveling vehicle, 12: Frame, 20: Front wheels as wheels, 32: Lower arm, 35
... Shock absorber as damper means, 36 ...
Upper arm.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A traveling vehicle in which a pair of wheels arranged side by side on the left and right is respectively suspended via a suspension having an arm rotatably supported on a frame, wherein the arms of the left and right suspensions are connected to each other. A traveling vehicle connected by damper means.