JP2001287676A - Support structure of baggage storage cage for electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a support structure of a baggage storage cage for an electric vehicle which does not make the handlebars unmanageable even if a baggage placed in the baggage storage cage is heavy and the baggage can be conveyed without lowering a traveling stability. SOLUTION: A front wheel directing mechanism 64 connects a tie-rod connecting plate 82 fixed to a lower end of a steering shaft 60 and a front bracket 76 turnably and pivotally supports front wheels 10, 10 rockably in a right-left direction by a tie-rod 80 and rocks the front wheel bracket 76b through the tie-rod 80 when the tie-rod connection plate 82 is rocked by a rotation of the steering shaft 60. A front cover 66 covers a front portion of car below a handle 16 such a center portion in a car body width direction is projected to a front side as compared with the front wheels 10, 10. A baggage accommodation cage 70 provided on a front side of the car body is positioned at a front side of the steering shaft 60 and a center of the car body width and is fixed to a support member mounted to a frame.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support structure for a luggage storage basket of an electric vehicle such as an electric wheelchair having a vehicle structure of a bar handle or tiller handle type.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric wheelchair is used when a person with weak legs moves, and a golf carry is used for moving a person on a golf course. In general, these vehicles are electric vehicles powered by a battery. It is. An example of this type of electric vehicle is shown in FIG. 12 (perspective view) and FIG. 13 (plan view).

The vehicles shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 have a structure in which front and rear wheels a and b are provided two by two, and the front two wheels a are steered by a steering wheel c. c1 rotates and the front wheel a is directed in the desired steering direction.

[0004] A battery e is mounted below a seat (seat) d in the rear half of the vehicle body. The rear wheel b is driven by a motor (not shown) using the battery e as a power source. The front half of the vehicle body has a flat floor g on which the occupant can get his / her feet. The fender h that covers the upper part of the front wheel a is located at the front of the floor g.

[0005] Some of the above-mentioned electric vehicles are provided with a front cover to protect the occupants from wind. This front cover is attached to the handle c or the handle post c.
1 or to the front of the vehicle.

[0006]

However, if the front cover is fixed to the steering wheel c or the steering wheel post c1, there is a possibility that the steering wheel becomes heavy and the steering performance is deteriorated.

Further, if the front portion of the frame is simply extended upward to be provided at the front portion of the vehicle body, and the front cover is attached to the front portion, the frame becomes large and it becomes difficult to form the frame, and the occupant extends the frame. There is a problem that the frame is visible and the appearance quality is deteriorated.

In the above-described electric four-wheeled vehicle, it may be necessary to attach a front basket i for carrying luggage in order to improve the convenience by carrying luggage at the same time. Conventional front basket i
Is generally fastened and fixed to the handle c (or handle post c1) through a bracket or directly by drilling holes with screws or the like.

However, when a heavy load is placed on the front basket i in the vehicle, the load of the load is applied to the steering wheel and the handle post, and there is a risk that the steering wheel becomes heavy when steering and the steering performance is deteriorated. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the steering stability is reduced without the handle being taken off even if the load placed in the load storage basket becomes heavy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a support structure for a luggage storage basket of an electric vehicle that can carry luggage together without the need.

[0011]

The present invention has the following arrangement to solve the above-mentioned problems. The present invention is an electric vehicle having two front wheels, a steering unit that directs the front wheels to the left, right, or front of the vehicle, a steering shaft that is rotated by an occupant's steering operation on a steering wheel, and the steering shaft that is rotatable. A steering shaft supporting portion that stands upright at the front of the vehicle body, a front wheel directing mechanism that converts the turning motion of the steering shaft into a directional motion of the front wheels to the left or right, or a front direction; a steering shaft, a steering shaft supporting portion, and front wheel directing. A front structure of the electric vehicle having a front cover member that covers the mechanism,
The front wheel directing mechanism section connects a tie rod connecting plate fixed to a lower end portion of a steering shaft and a front wheel bracket that pivotally supports the front wheel so as to be rotatable to the left and right by a tie rod. When the tie rod connecting plate swings due to rotation, the front wheel bracket swings via the tie rod. The cover member covering the front portion of the vehicle body below the handle is such that the center portion in the vehicle width direction projects forward from the front wheel and the vehicle body is A luggage storage basket for an electric vehicle, wherein the luggage storage basket covering the front end and provided at the front of the vehicle body is fixed to a support member attached to a frame at a position forward of the steering shaft and at the center of the vehicle body. It is a support structure.

In the present invention, the front wheel is a two-wheel electric vehicle, and the steering unit for directing the front wheel to the left or right or forward of the vehicle includes a steering shaft, a steering shaft support, a front wheel pointing mechanism,
In the electric vehicle having a front cover member, the front wheel directing mechanism section is configured to move between a tie rod connecting plate fixed to a lower end portion of a steering shaft and a front wheel bracket that pivotally supports the front wheel so as to be rotatable left and right. The tie rods are connected to each other, and when the tie rod connecting plate swings by the rotation of the steering shaft, the front wheel bracket swings via the tie rods. Therefore, the left and right front wheels can be directed leftward or rightward in accordance with the rotation direction of the steering wheel, that is, the steering direction, and the electric vehicle can be directed in a desired direction of the occupant.

A cover member for covering the front part of the vehicle body below the steering wheel has a central part in the vehicle width direction projecting forward from the front wheels to cover the front end part of the vehicle body. In addition, since it is fixed to the support member attached to the frame at the center of the width of the vehicle body, even if the luggage to be loaded in the luggage storage basket becomes heavy, the handle is not taken off, and the luggage is not degraded in running stability Can be transported together.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of a vehicle body structure of an electric four-wheeled vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention (a basket on a front portion is omitted), FIG. 2 is a side view, FIG.
Is a side view illustrating the structure of the front part of the vehicle body, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the same,
FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a frame and a steering unit, and FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8 are side views, plan views, front views, and FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrating a steering shaft support unit. ) Is a plan view and a front view illustrating a mounting holder for a steering shaft support, FIGS. 10A and 10B are side and front views illustrating a front cover support, and FIG. 11 is an electric four-wheeled vehicle. It is a side view of other embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electric four-wheeled vehicle according to the embodiment has two front wheels 10, 10 and two rear wheels 12, 12, and the vehicle body is mainly a front body A at the front. And a rear body B at the rear. In the rear body B, the occupant drives alone while sitting on the single seat 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the electric four-wheeled vehicle has
(Steering unit) C that directs the vehicle to the left, right, or front of the vehicle. The steering unit C includes a steering shaft (steering shaft) 60 that is rotated by an occupant operating a steering wheel 16, and the steering shaft 60. A steering shaft support portion 62 that is rotatably provided at a front portion of the vehicle body, and a front wheel directing mechanism 64 that converts the turning motion of the steering shaft 60 into a directional motion of the front wheels 10, left and right or forward. A front cover (front cover) 66 that covers the steering shaft 60, the steering shaft support 62, and the front wheel directing mechanism 64, and a front cover support 68 for fixing the front cover 66 to the vehicle body.

The steering shaft support 62 is fixed to the vehicle front frame 32.

The cover support 68 is provided with the steering shaft 60.
At the front of the vehicle and at the center of the vehicle width, the steering shaft support 6
It is erected on 2 and fastened. The front cover 66 is supported and fixed to the front side of the cover support 68. Further, the vehicle has a luggage storage basket 70 at a front portion thereof, and the storage basket 70 is fastened and fixed to the cover support portion 68 with the front cover 66 interposed therebetween.

Also, a front frame (corresponding to a front frame) 32 extends substantially horizontally obliquely upward from the front end of a main frame (corresponding to a floor frame) 34 located below the floor 22 of the vehicle. The floor 2 is located behind the center of the front frame 32.
The front shaft supporting portion 62 is tilted rearward and is fixed by welding to a position forward of the center of the front front frame.

Further, the embodiment will be described in detail. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 3, the front wheels 10, 10 are located substantially at the center and above the left and right front wheels 10, 10 at the front of the vehicle body of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.
10 Steering handle (tiller handle type) 16
Is provided. The front cover 66, which covers the front body A below the handle 16, protrudes forward from the front wheels at the center in the width direction sandwiched by the front wheels 10 and covers the front end of the vehicle body. Front fender covering 10 (the lower part becomes a tire house) 20, 20
The upper part is integrally formed with a front leg shield 18 standing upright.

Front fenders 20, 20 are provided on the left and right sides of the front body A so as to cover the front wheels 10, 10 and protrude upward in a substantially arc shape, respectively. The head lamp house 21a which accommodates the head lamp 21 is formed in the lower part located between the left and right front fenders 20, and the front part.

A recess 18a is formed forward and inward at the lower left and right sides of the front leg shield 18 adjacent to the front fenders 20, 20 so that the upper part of the front fender 20 is widely released. Has become.

In the front body A, a flat floor 22, which is a footrest, is formed at the center of the vehicle body from the rear side to the rear of the front leg shield 18, and the floor 22 is located between the front fenders 20, 20. The rear lower portion of the front body A is formed to be wide (shown by reference numeral 22a). The floor 22
A side edge of the front fender 20 extends rearward from the front fenders 20 to form a portion 22b projecting upward on the mountain range. The occupant can floor 2 by the protruding portion 22b.
2 It can be prevented that the foot is shifted outward from above.

On the rear side of the front leg shield 18, the front fenders 20, 20 are stepped higher from the front edge of the recessed portion 22a.
The steering shaft cover 72, which covers the steering shaft 62 from the rear, is slightly hollowed in the center of the raised portion in the width direction of the vehicle body. It is standing up.

The rear body B is located rearward from the floor 22 and has a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and has a case structure 26 for storing a battery and a motor drive unit 24 at the front. At the front of the case structure 26, a cover body 26a of the battery storage portion is detachably provided.
A rear fender 28 that covers the rear wheels 12, 12 protrudes and is smoothly and continuously provided on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle body 6. The seat 14 on which the occupant sits is fixedly or rotatably mounted on the upper part of the case structure 26.

A frame for supporting stress on the vehicle body is provided in a front body A and a rear body B of the electric four-wheeled vehicle. In this frame, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a narrow U-shaped front frame 32 is provided at the front of the vehicle body, and a wide U-shaped main frame 34 is provided at the center. Is provided. The front frame 32 is fixed to the front end of the in frame 34 by welding. Further, a rear frame 36 extends rearward from a rear portion of the main frame 34.

The front frame 32 supports a front portion of the front body A, front wheels 10, 10, a steering shaft 60, a front suspension, and the like.

That is, as a front suspension, front-wheel supporting frame members 74f and 74r each having a U-shape in front view are connected to both arms of the front frame 32 on the lower side surfaces of the front and rear portions of the front frame 32. It is fixed by welding. At the lower ends of the support frame bodies 74f and 74r, a connecting portion 78 for swingably supporting a swing shaft 76a at the base end of the left and right suspension arm 76.
a, a support plate portion 78b formed of a bent band member bridged over each of the frame bodies 74f and 74r, and a steering shaft support portion provided at a front portion of the plate portion 78b and rotatably supporting a lower end portion of the steering shaft 60. The suspension arm bracket 78 provided with the second bracket 78c is attached and fixed by welding.

The suspension arm 76 has a bifurcated shape with two pivot shafts 76a at the right and left base ends and one tip at one end. A front wheel bracket 7 for pivotally supporting the front wheels 10, 10 so as to be rotatable and swingable to the left and right is provided at the distal end of the suspension arm 76.
6b are provided.

(Steering Shaft Support 62) The steering shaft 60 is supported via the steering shaft support 62.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, the lower side 62a1 is formed of a pipe material bent into an L-shape when viewed from the side.
Left and right support pipes 62a, 62a whose front ends are welded to the front inside portion of the front frame 32 with their ends directed forward, and whose bent portion upper side 62a2 stands substantially vertically upward on the front frame 32; This is a plate material having a substantially triangular shape, which becomes narrower toward the front, and has a front portion of the upper side 62a2 of the pipe 62a and a front frame 32.
Left and right reinforcing plates 62b, 62b connecting to the front end portion, a plate plate 62c connecting the upper end portions of the left and right support pipes 62a, 62a, and a plate member 62c which is fastened to the plate plate 62c from the rear and joined together. And a holder 62d that supports the steering shaft 60.

The lower end of the steering shaft 60 is connected to a tie rod 80 near the steering shaft support 78c of the suspension arm bracket 78.
2 is fixed.

The steering shaft 60 is formed at one end thereof with an elongated hole 60a so that it can be bent at a certain angle above the holder 62d at a central portion thereof (to be tiltable). The angle of the upper portion of the steering shaft 60 can be changed by changing the attachment position of one of the bolts 60b with one of the bolts 60b.

(Front wheel directing mechanism 64) In the front wheel directing mechanism 64, a front wheel bracket 76b at the tip end of the suspension arm 76 is connected to the tie rod connecting plate 82 by a tie rod 80. When the tie rod connecting plate 82 swings, the front wheel bracket 76b swings the front wheels 10, 10 via the tie rod 80.

Therefore, the left and right front wheels 1 are changed according to the rotation direction of the steering wheel 16 (according to the steering direction of the steering wheel 16).
0, 10 can be pointed to the left, right, or forward, and the electric vehicle can be directed in the direction desired by the occupant.

A cushion unit 7 composed of a coil spring is provided between the vicinity of the front wheel bracket 76b of the suspension arm 76 and the center of the fender support frame 38.
6c is interposed to improve ride comfort and running stability.

The reinforcing plate 62 of the steering shaft support 62
A headlamp bracket 84 for mounting and fixing the headlamp 21 is fixed to the upper part of b.

(Front cover support) FIGS. 4, 5 and 1
As shown in FIG. 0, in the front cover support portion 68, a brace column 68a made of a pipe material extending upward at the rear surface of the front leg shield 18 and a lower end of the brace column 68a are connected to the reinforcing plate. A first bracket 68b having a lower U-shape attached to the upper part of the plate 62b, and a second bracket 68 for fastening a position above the lower end of the brace pillar 68a to the front of the plate plate 62c.
c.

The upper part of the brace column 68a is connected to the front leg shield 18 of the front cover 66.
A saddle-shaped bracket 68d, 6 corresponding to the outer shape of the brace column 68a in a state of facing and contacting the upper back surface.
8d, the front leg shield 18 is supported and fixed to the front side of the cover support portion 68.

The vehicle has a luggage storage basket 7 at its front.
The storage basket 70 is fastened and fixed to the cover supporting portion 68 with the front cover 66 (the front leg seal 18) interposed therebetween.

Here, a fender support frame 38 for supporting a load on the front fender 20 is provided on the back surface of the front fender 20. The support frame 38 is fixed to the front frame 32 and the main frame 34 by welding. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support frame 38 includes a front part 38a, a center part 38b, and a rear part 38c. The front end 38a1 of the support frame 38 is
The front portion 38a is welded and fixed to the side surface of the front fender 20 and extends rearward along a lower surface portion of the front fender 20 from a position in contact with the fender 20. Central part 3
8b, the fender 2 is bent outward in the left-right direction.
0, the rear end 38c bends slightly inward from near the outer end, and the rear end 38c1 is fixed to the shoulder 34a of the main frame 34 by welding.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the fender support frame 38 has a generally C-shape with a downward opening when viewed from the side, and the upper part thereof has the fender support frame 38 when viewed from the side.
0 along the back. Further, a support portion 40 for a cushion unit of a front suspension is formed in the upper part of the front portion 38a of the support frame. In addition, from the center portion 38b of the support frame to the rear portion 38c, it bends in an L shape in plan view, and
It is formed in a shape widely corresponding to the foot rest surface portion 20f on the upper surface. Since the fender support frame 38 is provided as described above, the support rigidity of the front fender 20 is increased.

The main frame 34 has a handle 1
6, the right and left sides of the lower surface of the floor 22 extend substantially along the width of the vehicle body at the lower surface, and a rear frame 36 is fixed to the rear end and extends rearward. May frame 34
The bottom plate 34b is fixed by welding to a portion sandwiched by the U-shape and located below the floor 22.

As shown in plan view in FIG. 3, there is a floor 22 substantially at the center of the vehicle body and at the rear of the front body A. In the front body A, the central portion of the vehicle body having the floor 22 is recessed so that the side edges are recessed compared to the front and rear of the vehicle body (a concave portion 42 is formed).

That is, the side edges of the front fenders 20, 20 near the front wheels 10, 10 are the maximum width Tf of the front wheel body.
The side edges of the rear fenders 28, 28 near the rear wheels 12, 12 are the rear-wheel-side vehicle-body-maximum width Tr. The width is smaller than both Tf and the rear-wheel-side body maximum width Tr (Tc <Tf, Tc <Tr). further,
The width Tc of the narrowest portion in the center of the vehicle body substantially matches the width Ts of the seat 14 (TsＴTc). Therefore, when the occupant rides on the electric four-wheeled vehicle and aligns the feet, the feet can be placed on the floor 22.

In the electric vehicle of the embodiment, the steering shaft support 62 is fixed to the front frame 32 of the vehicle, and the cover support 68 is located in front of the steering shaft 60 and at the center of the vehicle width. The cover support 68 is attached to the frame 32 via the steering shaft support 62 because the cover support 68 is erected and fastened to the steering shaft support 62. Therefore, even if the height of the frame 32 is not so high, the front cover 66
Can be attached, so that the height of the frame 32 can be reduced. Further, since the weight and wind pressure of the front cover 66 are applied to the frame 32 and do not apply to the steering shaft 60, the steering shaft 60 does not become heavy, and the maneuverability does not deteriorate.

Further, since the cover support portion 68 is erected and fastened to the steering shaft support portion 62 at a position in front of the steering shaft 60 and at the center of the width of the vehicle body, the cover is viewed from the occupant in a rear view of the vehicle. The support portion 68 is hidden behind the steering shaft 60 and cannot be seen. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the appearance from being impaired by the attachment of the cover support portion 68.

Further, since the front cover 66 is supported and fixed to the front side of the cover support portion 68, the space behind the steering shaft 60 is widened and does not hinder the occupant from riding.

Also, by having the luggage storage basket 70 at the front of the vehicle, luggage can be transported together. Further, since the storage basket 70 is fastened and fixed to the cover support portion 68 with the front cover 66 interposed therebetween, the storage basket 70 is first fastened together with the front cover 66 so that the storage basket 70 and the front cover 66 are supported. And the fixing of both can be performed at once, so that the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Further, since the storage basket 70 is fixed to the cover support portion 68 and not to the steering shaft 60, the handle 16 is not taken even when the load in the storage basket 70 becomes heavy, and the running stability is not reduced at all. Absent.

A front frame 32 extends substantially horizontally forward from a front end of a main frame (floor frame) 34 located below the floor 22 of the vehicle, and extends rearward from the center of the front frame 32. The front portion of the floor 22 is supported, and the steering shaft support portion 62 is inclined rearward and is fixed by welding to a position forward of the center of the front frame 32.

Therefore, the floor 22 can be supported with good rigidity while the floor 22 is widened. Further, since the steering shaft support portion 62 is inclined rearward, the upper end portion of the steering shaft 62 approaches the occupant side, so that the steering shaft 62 can be easily handled while securing the area of the floor 22 surface.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the electric four-wheeled vehicle of the present invention. 1 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The electric four-wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, a golf carrier 44 for carrying luggage such as a golf bag is provided at a rear portion of a vehicle body so as to protrude rearward from an electric four-wheeled vehicle similar to that shown in FIG. The golf carrier 44 comprises a frame body 44c formed of a lower plate portion 44a and an upper holding portion 44b. In this mounting structure of the carrier 44 to the vehicle body, the lower mounting frame 48 is mounted by extending the rear frame 36 and connecting the left and right back stays 46. A carrier support 50 having a triangular shape in a side view is provided on the upper portion of the rear frame 36.
Is fixed. A pipe-shaped support 52 stands upright from the support 50 through the cover of the rear body B upward.

The lower portion of the carrier 44 is fastened to the back stay 48, and an upper mounting frame 44d protruding from the upper portion is fitted into the upper portion of the support 52, so that the carrier 44 is mounted on the vehicle body.

Other configurations and operations are the same as those shown in FIGS.
Since it is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 10, the same numbers are given and the explanation is omitted.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the front wheel directing mechanism comprises a tie rod connecting plate fixed to the lower end of the steering shaft and a front wheel bracket for pivotally supporting the front wheel so as to be able to swing left and right. Are connected by a tie rod, and when the tie rod connecting plate is swung by the rotation of the steering shaft, the front wheel bracket is swung through the tie rod. Therefore, the left and right front wheels can be directed leftward or rightward in accordance with the rotation direction of the steering wheel, that is, the steering direction, and the electric vehicle can be directed in a desired direction of the occupant. Further, even if the load placed in the luggage storage basket becomes heavy, the handle is not taken off, and the load can be carried together without lowering the running stability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of a vehicle body structure of an electric four-wheeled vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the structure of the front part of the vehicle body of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a frame and a steering unit of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a side view and a plan view illustrating a steering shaft support portion of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a steering shaft support portion of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a front view illustrating a mounting holder for a steering shaft support portion of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a side view and a front view illustrating a front cover supporting portion.

FIG. 11 is a side view of another embodiment of the electric four-wheeled vehicle.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a conventional electric four-wheeled vehicle.

13 is a plan view of the electric four-wheeled vehicle in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10,10 Front wheel 12,12 Rear wheel 14 Seat 20,20 Front fender 22 Floor 32 Front frame 34 Main frame 60 Steering shaft 62 Steering shaft support 64 Front wheel directing mechanism 66 Front cover 68 Front cover support 70 Luggage storage basket

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A front wheel is a two-wheeled electric vehicle, a steering unit for directing the front wheel to the left or right or forward of the vehicle is provided with a steering shaft that is rotated by a steering operation on a steering wheel of an occupant, and the steering shaft is rotatable. A steering shaft support portion that stands on the front of the vehicle body, a front wheel directing mechanism that converts the turning motion of the steering shaft into a left-right or frontward directing motion, a steering shaft, a steering shaft support portion, and a front wheel. An electric vehicle having a front cover member that covers a directing mechanism, wherein the front wheel directing mechanism is configured to pivotally support a tie rod connecting plate fixed to a lower end of a steering shaft and a front wheel so as to be rotatable and left and right. The tie rod is connected to the bracket by a tie rod, and when the tie rod connecting plate is rocked by the rotation of the steering shaft, the front wheel bracket is rocked via the tie rod. -The center part of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction projects forward from the front wheels to cover the front end of the vehicle body, and the luggage basket provided at the front of the vehicle body is mounted on the frame at the front of the steering shaft and at the center of the vehicle width. A support structure for a luggage storage basket of an electric vehicle, being fixed to a member.