JP2002127967A - Motor-assisted bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispose a battery without hindering getting on/off and without imparting operability of a handle bar. SOLUTION: A front wheel 11 to be a steering wheel is operated by a rotation operating of the handle bar 7. A rear wheel 14 (drive wheel) is driven by driving a motor 19 by power feeding from the battery 26. The handle bar 7 is constituted of a bent part 8 formed into a U-shape and a grip 9 extended to both end parts of the bent part 8. The battery 26 is disposed on the bent part 8. The center of gravity of the battery 26 is made to substantially coincide with a rotation center of the handle bar 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric bicycle that can run using a motor as a drive source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional electric bicycle is disclosed in
No. 4957 (B62M23 / 02),
The battery case cover that houses the battery case with the built-in battery can be detachably attached to the seat tube that supports the saddle, the main frame that connects this seat tube to the head pipe, and the lower part of the rear loading platform. In addition, there is a known thing in which a battery case cover is provided below a basket in front of a handle, and a battery case is attached and detached from the front.

When the seat tube or the main frame connecting the seat tube and the head pipe is mounted on the seat tube, a space surrounded by the main frame, the head pipe, and the seat tube becomes narrower, and the rider gets on the foot when riding the foot. It was difficult.

[0004] When the battery case is provided at the lower part of the carrier, it is necessary to attach and detach the battery case in a narrow space, and it is difficult to perform the work at this time.

[0005] When the battery case is provided below the car, the mounting opening for mounting the battery case is difficult to see, making it difficult to mount the battery case. Further, when operating the handle, the battery case located at a position distant from the rotation axis of the handle is rotated together, so that the inertia torque by the battery case is large, and it is difficult to operate the handle.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electric bicycle in which a battery can be easily arranged without obstructing getting on and off the vehicle and without impairing the operability of a steering wheel.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a steering wheel is operated by a turning operation of a steering wheel, and a driving wheel is driven by driving a motor by power supply from a battery. In the electric bicycle, the handle includes a U-shaped bent portion and grips extending at both ends of the bent portion, and the battery is disposed at the bent portion.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the center of gravity of the battery substantially coincides with the center of rotation of the handle.

Preferably, the battery is housed in a battery case, and the battery case is detachably mounted through an upper opening of a battery case cover attached to the bent portion.

[0010] It is preferable that the battery case cover is installed so as to extend between opposed portions of the bent portion.

A recess is formed on the side surface of the battery case, and a locking claw is formed on the battery case cover and is urged toward the recess by an urging means and is locked in the recess. It is desirable that the locking claw be released by operating an operation key provided on the battery case cover against the urging means.

Preferably, the locking claw is formed with an inclined surface which is inclined upward and away from the side surface of the battery case.

It is desirable that a handle is formed on the battery case so as to protrude from the upper surface.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and description will be made with reference to these drawings.

It is needless to say that the electric bicycle according to the present invention is not limited to the electric assist bicycle, but includes all electric bicycles provided with a motor.

The structure of the entire electric bicycle will be described with reference to FIGS.

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 that can be rotated by human power is attached to a portion where the main frame 1 and the seat tube 4 are connected. The main frame 1 is called an electric bicycle main body.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a front fork rotatably mounted on the head pipe 2, and a handle 7 is mounted on an upper part thereof. The handle 7 has a bent portion 8 bent in a U-shape.
And grips 9 provided at both ends of the bent portion 8. As shown in FIG. 2, a mounting piece 10 to which a battery case cover 33 described later is mounted is provided on an opposing surface 8 a of the bent portion 8. Each is formed.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a front wheel which is pivotally supported by a lower portion of the front fork 6 and which determines a traveling direction by operating the handle 7. The front wheel 11 includes spokes (not shown), a rim 12, and tires 13.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a rear wheel serving as a driving wheel. The rear wheel 14 also includes a tire 15, a rim 16, spokes (not shown), and a driving unit 17 for driving the rear wheel 14. ing.

The driving section 17 has a built-in torque sensor (not shown) for detecting a manual driving force transmitted through a chain 18. A microcomputer (not shown) for outputting a drive signal is built in the microcomputer.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a front sprocket which rotates with the rotation of the pedal 5. A chain 18 is mounted on the front sprocket 20, and the rotation of the front sprocket 20 is provided on the axle of the drive unit 17 to supply power to the rear sprocket. It is designed to communicate. As described above, the rear wheel 14 is driven by two driving units: an electric driving unit 21 including the driving unit 17 including a motor 19 and a manual driving unit 22 including the pedal 5, the chain 18, and the like. Then, the vehicle can travel by the driving force of these two driving units.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a basket which can carry a luggage or the like thereon and which rotates with the rotation of the handle 7.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a stand for supporting a bicycle during parking.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a brake lever for braking the rear wheel 14.

Next, a configuration around a battery for supplying power to the motor 19 will be described with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a chargeable / dischargeable battery serving as a power supply for the motor 19, one cell having 1.2 volts,
It is composed of a series connection of books.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a battery case comprising a front battery case 28 and a rear battery case 29, which are combined by screws. The battery case 27 is formed with a handle 30 at an upper portion to be removed from a battery case cover 33 described later. The battery 26 is housed in an intermediate portion inside the battery case 27. A discharge terminal 31 for supplying power to 19 and the like is provided. A recess 32 is formed in one side wall (side surface) of the battery case 27 to lock a stopper shaft 39 described later.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a box-shaped battery case cover having an opening 34 as a mounting port formed on the upper surface thereof, which is attached to the mounting piece 10 of the handle 7 and spans between the facing portions 8a, 8a of the bent portion 8 of the handle 7. Is done. The battery case cover 33 communicates with the opening 34 so that the battery case 27
Is formed, and the battery case 27 can be attached to and detached from above the handle 7. The center of the storage section 35 is provided so as to substantially coincide with the center of rotation of the handle, and
The center of gravity of the battery case 27 in which the battery 6 is stored substantially coincides with the center of rotation CC of the handle 7.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a key for allowing the user to remove the battery case 27 when the battery case 27 is removed. The key 36 is inserted into a key cylinder 37 so that the key 36 can rotate.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a cam which rotates together with the operation of rotating the key 36. The cam 38 contacts a stopper shaft 39 provided so as to enter and exit from the storage portion 35 of the battery case cover 33 from the side. In contact with the cam 38
The stopper shaft 39 moves in and out by the rotation of. Further, the stopper shaft 39 is
The key 36 is always urged in a direction to protrude into the storage portion 35 by a spring 40 as an urging means. Then do
When it protrudes, it automatically returns by the urging force of the spring 40, and automatically rotates and returns without operating the key 36.

The tip end of the stopper shaft 39 is formed with an inclined surface 41 which is inclined upward and away from the side surface of the battery case 27. When the battery case 27 is inserted and the tip of the battery case 27 comes into contact with the inclined surface 41, the stopper shaft 39 is pushed by the battery case 27 and retracts in the direction of immersion.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a power supply terminal provided on an attachment stay 43 attached to a lower portion of the battery case cover 33. The power supply terminal protrudes from the bottom of the storage section 35 into the storage section 35 and discharges when the battery case 27 is mounted. Terminal 31 for
Is electrically connected to

In the electric bicycle having the above-described structure, the battery case 27 for housing the battery 26 is provided by utilizing the space of the bent portion 8 of the handle 7 as described above. The space between the main frame 4 and the main frame 1 installed between them is not narrowed, and there is no hindrance to getting on and off.

Further, since the center of gravity of the battery case 27 is substantially aligned with the center of rotation of the handle 7, the battery case 27 rotates about the center of gravity of the handle 7 when the handle 7 is rotated. Rotates with movement. Therefore, the inertia torque by the battery case 27 at this time can be reduced, and the operability of the handle 7 can be improved.

Further, since the battery case 27 for housing the battery 26 is mounted from the upper opening 34 of the battery case cover 33 attached to the handle 7, the mounting can be performed in a state where the opening 34 serving as the mounting opening can be confirmed. In this case, the work can be easily performed.

At the time of this mounting, the stopper shaft 39
Is pushed by the tip of the battery case 27 and retracts once. When the battery case 27 is mounted to the lower end of the storage portion 35, the battery case 27 is automatically locked in the concave portion 32 of the battery case 27 by the spring 40. Thus, the stopper shaft 3
9 can be mounted without performing an operation of retreating separately, the workability at this time can be improved, and the usability can be improved.

Further, the battery case 2 is used for charging.
7, the key 36 is inserted into the key cylinder 37, and the key 36 is rotated against the spring 40 so that the stopper shaft 39 is immersed.
Since the locked state of the 9 in the recess 32 is released, it is possible to prevent the locked state from being released by mistake.

The battery case cover 33 is provided between the facing portions 8a, 8a of the bent portion 8 of the handle 7 so that
The strength of the handle 7 can be improved, and the battery case cover 33 can be stably attached.

Further, the battery case 27 can be easily attached and detached by forming the handle 30 so as to protrude from one surface (upper surface) from which the battery case 27 is pulled out.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by arranging the battery using the space at the bent portion of the handle, the usability can be improved without hindering getting on and off.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the battery is substantially aligned with the center of rotation of the handle, it is possible to prevent the handle from becoming difficult to operate, thereby improving the usability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the battery case can be easily mounted in a state where the mounting opening above the handle can be confirmed, so that the workability can be improved and the usability can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the strength of the handle can be improved and the battery case cover can be stably mounted.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the locking claw is constantly urged toward the concave side of the battery case by the urging means to be locked, so that the possibility that the locked state is suddenly released is reduced. can do.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the battery case is inserted, when the tip of the battery hits the inclined surface, the locking claw is temporarily retracted against the inclined surface against the biasing means,
When it is inserted to a predetermined position, it is locked in the concave portion, so that the battery case can be mounted without having to retract the locking claw, workability is improved, and usability is improved.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily pull out upward, and the usability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an electric bicycle showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the vicinity of a handle of the electric bicycle.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the vicinity of a key in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 7 handle 8 bent portion 8a facing portion 9 grip 11 front wheel (steering wheel) 26 battery 27 battery case 30 handle 32 concave portion 33 battery case cover 34 opening 36 key 39 stopper shaft (locking claw) 40 spring (biasing means) 41 inclined surface

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electric bicycle in which a steered wheel is operated by a turning operation of a steering wheel, and a driving wheel is driven by driving a motor by power supply from a battery.
An electric bicycle comprising: a bent portion formed in a character shape; and grips extending at both ends of the bent portion, wherein the battery is disposed at the bent portion. 2. The electric bicycle according to claim 1, wherein a center of gravity of the battery substantially coincides with a center of rotation of the handle. 3. The battery case according to claim 1, wherein the battery is housed in a battery case, and the battery case is detachably mounted through an upper opening of a battery case cover attached to the bent portion. The electric bicycle according to 2. 4. The electric bicycle according to claim 3, wherein the battery case cover is mounted so as to extend between opposed portions of the bent portion. 5. A concave portion is formed on a side surface of the battery case, and a locking claw which is urged toward the concave side by an urging means and is locked in the concave portion is formed on the battery case cover, 5. The electric bicycle according to claim 3, wherein the locking claw is released by operating an operation key provided on the battery case cover against a biasing unit. 6. . 6. The electric bicycle according to claim 5, wherein the locking claw has an inclined surface that is inclined upward and away from a side surface of the battery case. 7. The electric bicycle according to claim 3, wherein a handle is formed on the battery case so as to protrude from an upper surface.