JP2005098478A - Automatic braking device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic braking device which can be easily mounted on a wheelchair or the like and which operates mechanically without using electricity. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic braking device comprises a speed sensing mechanism 10 which is attached to a wheel 3 of the wheelchair 1 or the like and which operates when the speed of the wheelchair 1 or the like exceeds a certain speed, and a braking mechanism 20 which is attached to a wheelchair main body 2 and which brakes the wheel 3 in cooperation with the speed sensing mechanism 10. The speed sensing mechanism 10 comprises a cylinder 11, a piston 14 reciprocating within the cylinder, a flow rate regulator 17 arranged in a ventilation passage 15 communicating with the air within a space defined by the piston within the cylinder, and a valve 12 to be opened/closed for introducing or discharging the air. The braking mechanism 20 senses the height of the piston 14 corresponding to the speed of the wheelchair 1 sensed by the speed sensing mechanism 10, and brings a brake block 24 into contact with the wheel 3a mechanically to thereby control the speed of the wheelchair 1 or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic brake device that can be easily mounted on a wheelchair, a shopping wheelbarrow, a silver car, a baby carriage, a bicycle, etc., and mechanically detects and operates speed.

In recent years, in social welfare facilities, hospitals, etc., when descending a sloped passage (including a slope) with a wheelchair, the number of accidents that fall and fall more than necessary has increased. The occurrence of similar accidents is also a problem for shopping wheelbarrows, silver cars, baby carriages, bicycles, and the like.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-24011

  In order to prevent such an accident, it is necessary to install an emergency brake that automatically operates, and in that case, it is required to install an electrical sensor for detecting the traveling speed. However, a device with an electrical sensor is difficult to adjust and requires a battery, a charging device, etc., and the brake device as a whole becomes large and expensive. Moreover, there is a problem that the brake device does not operate if charging is neglected.

  The present invention has been devised in view of these points, and provides an automatic brake device that can be easily mounted on a wheelchair or the like and mechanically operates without using electricity.

  The present invention is an automatic that includes a speed detection mechanism that is attached to a wheel such as a wheelchair and that operates when the wheel rotates beyond a certain speed, and a braking mechanism that brakes the wheel in conjunction with the speed detection mechanism. In the brake device, the speed detection mechanism includes a cylinder, a piston that reciprocates inside the cylinder, and a ventilation part that flows out the air confined in a space formed between the cylinder and the piston. A valve provided in the cylinder and opened and closed by reciprocating movement of the piston to allow air to flow into the cylinder, and when the rotation of the wheel exceeds a certain speed, the piston of the speed detection mechanism installed on the wheel Return to the cylinder due to its own weight is delayed, and the braking mechanism that detects the return delay of the piston brakes the wheel.

  Further, the present invention is determined by providing a flow rate regulator in the ventilation portion of the speed detection mechanism and adjusting an outflow amount of air confined in a space formed between the cylinder and the piston. The piston position is detected, and the constant speed is adjusted.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the valve provided in the cylinder is opened and closed by negative pressure or pressurization of the space portion by reciprocation of the piston.

  Further, according to the present invention, the braking mechanism is attached to a main body that supports a wheel, detects the position of the piston of the speed detection mechanism, and presses the tire part and the rim part by mechanical operation or uses a band brake or the like. The wheel is braked.

  Further, according to the present invention, the piston shaft of the speed detection mechanism is installed on the wheel in a range of −90 degrees to +90 degrees, preferably in a range of −60 degrees to +60 degrees with respect to the radial axis of the wheel. Features.

  Further, the present invention provides that the speed detection mechanism is installed on a specific wheel, the braking mechanism is installed on a wheelchair body in the vicinity of each wheel, the braking mechanism is connected by a coupler, and the braking mechanism is synchronized. It operates.

  Since the automatic brake device according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is composed of a speed detection mechanism and a braking mechanism that operate without using electricity, no electrical adjustment is required, so wheelchair shopping is possible. It can be easily mounted on wheelbarrows, silver cars, baby carriages, bicycles and the like. Further, since a battery, a charging device, and the like are unnecessary, the entire automatic brake device can be made highly reliable and inexpensive with a simple structure.

  Furthermore, the installation of an automatic brake device on a wheelchair or the like can give a sense of security to the person who moves the car, and does not require charging or the like, and is easy to handle. In addition, since it is small and light, there is no burden on a person who moves a vehicle such as a wheelchair, it is excellent in aesthetics, and it is easy to carry the wheelchair in a trunk of a car.

  Also, even if a wheelchair that has been left for a long time is used as it is, it does not require a battery, so it operates reliably. Furthermore, since it is used while other people are sleeping, it is required to be a mechanism that does not emit noise during normal driving, but the device of the present invention is very quiet.

  In addition, the left and right wheels can be braked simultaneously by operating the left and right braking mechanisms of the wheelchair 1 and the like in synchronization. Therefore, a wheelchair etc. can be stopped quickly and safely.

  The present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present invention includes a speed detection mechanism 10 that operates when the wheelchair 1 or the like exceeds a certain speed, and a braking mechanism 20 that is attached to the wheelchair body 2 and brakes the wheel 3 in conjunction with the speed detection mechanism 10. This is an automatic brake device.

  The speed detection mechanism 10 flows out the cylinder 11, a piston 14 that reciprocates inside the cylinder 11, and air confined in a space formed in the cylinder 11 between the piston 14. A flow rate regulator 17 provided in the ventilation passage 15, and a valve 12 provided in the cylinder 11 that opens and closes by reciprocating movement of the piston 14 of the speed detection mechanism 10 and allows air to flow into the cylinder 11.

  When the wheelchair 1 exceeds a certain speed, the rotation of the wheel 3 is accelerated, and accordingly, the time for the speed detection mechanism 10 to reach the installation position of the braking mechanism 20 is shortened. Return of the piston 14 at the installation position into the cylinder 11 due to its own weight is delayed.

  Therefore, the height of the piston 14 at this time is maintained at a higher position than when the wheelchair 1 is operating at a normal speed. The speed of the wheelchair 1 is controlled to a predetermined speed or less by mechanically detecting the protruding tip end position of the piston 14 and operating the braking mechanism 20 to apply braking to the wheel 3. .

  The automatic brake device according to the present invention will be described taking a wheelchair as an example. Fig. 1 shows a side view of an automatic brake installed on a wheelchair. The automatic brake device includes a speed detection mechanism 10 attached to the wheel 3 of the wheelchair 1 and a braking mechanism 20 attached to the wheelchair body 2. When the speed of the wheelchair 1 increases, the rotation of the wheel 3 also increases. When the speed exceeds a certain speed, the speed detection mechanism 10 detects the speed and transmits it to the braking mechanism 20, so that the braking mechanism 20 is activated and the wheelchair 1 is safe. Will stop. In addition, although the speed detection mechanism 10 in this embodiment is provided in the wheel 3 at equal intervals, the number is not limited.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the automatic brake device. The speed detection mechanism 10 includes a cylinder 11 and a piston 14. The cylinder 11 is attached to a fixed plate 19 fixed to the spoke 3b of the wheel 3. The cylinder 11 has an air passage 15 communicating with the atmosphere via a flow rate regulator 17 at the rear end of the cylinder 11, and the piston 14 penetrates. A passage 16 is provided, and a valve 12 that can be freely opened and closed at the outlet of the through passage 16, that is, the rear wall opening 14 b of the piston 14, and a pressing portion 14 a at the front end of the piston 14 are provided. The valve 12 is made of flexible rubber, plastic, or the like, and is fixed at the center of the piston 14 by a stop pin 13.

  The piston 14 reciprocates in the cylinder 11 by its own weight and centrifugal force. Note that the movement of the piston 14 is regulated by a stopper 18 inserted into the elongated hole 11 a of the cylinder 11. Moreover, the flow regulator 17 is comprised by the double cylinder structure, and is adjusting the flow volume by changing the flow-path area of the ventilation path 15 by rotating an internal cylinder.

  The braking mechanism 20 is attached to a support plate 33 fixed to the wheelchair body 2 and includes a rotating body 21 and a brake piece 24. The rotating body 21 is substantially U-shaped and is rotatably provided with a shaft pin 23 provided at a bent portion as a fulcrum. The shaft pin 23 is fixed to the support plate 33. A center portion of the rotating body 21 has a receiving spring material 22 that contacts the pressing portion 14a of the piston 14 and receives pressure.

  The operation of this automatic brake device will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a case where the piston 14 axis of the speed detection mechanism 10 is installed along the radial axis of the wheel 3. In a state where the wheelchair 1 equipped with the automatic brake device is traveling at a normal speed, the biston 14 reciprocates within the cylinder 11 within a predetermined distance range.

  When the speed detection mechanism 10 is positioned at the lowermost part of the wheel 3, the biston 14 comes out of the cylinder 11 due to the weight of the biston 14 and the like, and the biston 14 protrudes most from the cylinder 11 to the outside (FIG. 5). (See (a)). This state is continued until the wheel 3 rotates and the speed detection mechanism 10 reaches the foremost part of the wheel 3, so that the piston 14 maintains the lower limit position that protrudes most from the cylinder 11 ((b )reference).

  Thereafter, in the process in which the speed detection mechanism 10 reaches the upper part of the wheel 3, it is inserted into the cylinder 11 due to its own weight or the like, but the space formed between the piston 14 in the cylinder 11 when pushed by the piston 14. The valve 12 is closed by this internal pressure, and the air in the space passes through the air passage 15 and is discharged by the air flow controller 17 controlling the amount of air.

  Therefore, the speed of the piston 14 entering the cylinder 11 is controlled, and the speed of the piston 14 entering the cylinder 11 is determined. When the speed detection mechanism 10 reaches the upper part of the wheel 3, the piston 14 is inserted into the cylinder 11 to some extent (see (c)).

  Thereafter, the speed at which the piston 14 enters the cylinder due to its own weight is slow, and this state continues until the speed detection mechanism 10 reaches the rearmost part of the wheel 3 (see (d)). Thereafter, the piston 14 changes to move out of the cylinder 11 due to its own weight or the like.

  In order to move the piston 14 freely in the cylinder 11, there is a gap in the long hole 11b between the cylinder 11 and the piston 14, and when the piston 14 exits the cylinder 11, the space between the piston 14 and the cylinder 11 is negative. The air enters the cylinder 11 through the gap of the long hole 11b, opens the valve 12, and flows into the negative pressure space, so that the piston 14 quickly exits the cylinder 11 due to its own weight. Become. Therefore, when the speed detection mechanism 10 reaches the lowermost part of the wheel 3, the piston 14 is lowered again to the lower limit position (see (a)).

  When the pressing portion 14a of the piston 14 presses the receiving spring material 22 fixed to the rotating body 21, the rotating body 21 rotates against the elasticity of the receiving spring material 22 with the shaft pin 23 as a fulcrum. By this rotation, the brake piece 24 comes into contact with the tire portion 3a of the wheel 3, the wheel 3 is braked, and the wheelchair 1 is safely stopped.

  Between (b), (c) and (d) in FIG. 3, as the moving speed of the wheelchair 1 increases, the ratio of the piston 14 entering the cylinder 11 increases. During this time, the speed of the wheelchair 1 at each position is increased. The height of the piston 14 exiting from the cylinder 11 is determined, and the speed of the wheelchair 1 can be controlled by detecting this height and transmitting it to the braking mechanism 20.

  The force when the brake piece 24 comes into contact with the tire portion 3 a of the wheel 3 can be implemented by selecting the elasticity of the spring receiving member 22. The braking mechanism 20 of this embodiment can effectively brake the wheelchair 1 even when the wheelchair 1 or the like moves forward and backward, and further reverses the wheel 3 of the wheelchair 1 stopped to slightly reverse the wheel 3. There is a feature that the wheelchair 1 can be easily released by being shifted to the brake piece 24 in contact with the tire portion 3a.

  FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the time when the piston 14 enters the cylinder 11 and the height h of the piston 14 by using the speed detection mechanism 10 alone, as shown in FIG. Show. At the same time, the influence when the flow rate regulator 17 controls the amount of air discharged from the cylinder 11 is also shown. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the piston 14 starts from a position where the piston 14 comes out most from the cylinder 11. When the flow rate regulator 17 is fully closed, that is, when there is no air outflow from the cylinder 11, the piston 14 does not enter the cylinder 11 and the height h of the piston 14 does not change.

  After that, when the opening of the flow rate regulator 17 is increased to 1/4 and 1/2, the flow rate of air increases and the speed at which the piston 14 enters the cylinder 11 increases. When the flow regulator 17 is fully opened, the piston 14 enters the cylinder 11 at the fastest speed.

  FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the height of the piston 14 at each speed of the wheelchair 1 and the installation position on the wheel 3 of the speed detection mechanism 10. The braking mechanism 20 is the uppermost part (point c) of the wheel 3, and the braking mechanism 20 is shown to operate when the height h of the piston 14 of the speed detection mechanism 10 is 3 cm or more.

  At point a, the piston 14 comes out of the cylinder 11 by its own weight, and this state is maintained up to point b. From the point b, the piston 14 gradually enters the cylinder 11 due to the relationship between the weight of the piston 14 and the centrifugal force, and at the point c, a part of the tip of the piston 14 comes out of the cylinder 11. The movement of the piston 14 entering the cylinder 11 continues until near the point d. Thereafter, the space between the piston 14 and the cylinder 11 becomes negative pressure due to the weight of the piston 14, and the piston 14 is attached to the rear wall opening 14b of the piston 14. The opened valve 12 is opened, and the piston 14 exits the cylinder 11 rapidly.

  FIG. 6 shows how to install the speed detection mechanism 10 on the wheel 3. The speed detection mechanism 10 is a mechanism that starts normally when the piston 14 comes in and out of the cylinder 11 due to its own weight. In the present invention, the piston height corresponds to the operation speed of the wheelchair, and the height of the piston when entering the cylinder 11 is the wheel. Note that it changes depending on the position of 3.

  6 (a), the region that enters the cylinder 11 by the dead weight of the piston 14 on the wheel 3 with respect to the radial axis indicating the shortest distance from the axle 3c of the wheel 3 to the outer periphery of the wheel 3 shown in FIG. The 14 axes are in the range of -90 degrees to +90 degrees, and are installed on the wheel 3 in this range, but preferably in the range of -60 degrees to +60 degrees. FIG. 6B shows a case where the piston 14 axis of the speed detection mechanism 10 is installed so as to be on the + side with respect to the radial axis. In this case, the wheelchair 1 moves forward and backwards. Thus, the position where the piston enters the cylinder 11 is different due to its own weight. For example, when the speed detection mechanism 10 is attached to the wheel 3 of the wheelchair 1 with a wheel 3 diameter of 680 mm so that the piston 14 axis is at an angle of +30 degrees with respect to the radial axis, the wheelchair 1 moves forward when the wheelchair 1 moves forward. Is set to brake at 4 km / hour, the wheelchair 1 can be braked at 2 km / hour when moving backward. That is, since the speed detection mechanism 10 detects and brakes the wheelchair 1 at a slower speed than the braking speed set when the wheelchair 1 moves forward, the wheelchair 1 operates more safely.

  In addition, the braking mechanism 20 in the present embodiment brakes the brake piece 24 by directly contacting the tire part 3a of the wheel 3, but the braking mechanism 20 of the present invention is not limited to this, and is so-called. Rim braking or band-type braking can also be used.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment when the wheelchair 1 is installed near the axis of the wheel 3. In particular, when the set braking speed is fast and the wheel 3 has a large diameter, such as a bicycle, the movement due to the weight of the piston 14 is restricted due to the centrifugal force. However, in this embodiment, the speed detection mechanism 10 is placed at the center of the wheel 3. There is the feature that the influence of centrifugal force can be suppressed as much as possible by attaching to the part.

  FIG. 7 shows a case where the band brake 30 is attached to the axle 3c of the wheel 3, the fixing plate 19 is provided on the band brake 30, and the speed detection mechanism 10 is installed. FIG. 7 shows an example in which two speed detection mechanisms 10 are installed in reverse, but this is a method of detecting an abnormal speed in the process of rotating the wheel 3 half a revolution in order to shorten the detection time. The number of installed detection mechanisms 10 is not limited.

  The operating structure of the speed detection mechanism 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the braking mechanism 20 is operated at the uppermost part of the wheel 3. When the pressing portion 14a of the piston 14 of the speed detection mechanism 10 presses the receiving portion 31a of the first rotating body 31, the first rotating body 31 moves in the pressed direction against the elasticity of the spring 32a. The first shaft pin 34 rotates against the elasticity of the spring 32b in the direction in which the rear part rises with the fulcrum as a fulcrum.

  By this movement, the second rotating body 35 rotates with the second shaft pin 36 as a fulcrum and is detached from the receiving pin 37. When detached, the third rotating body is pulled by the spring 32c and rotates with the third shaft pin 39 as a fulcrum, so that the brake pulling portion 40 of the band brake 30 is pulled, and the wheel 3 is braked and safely stopped. .

  To release the braking state after the wheelchair 1 stops, the release lever 41 of the third rotating body is pushed down against the elasticity of the spring 32c, the brake pulling portion 40 of the band brake 30 is loosened, and the receiving pin 37 is The original state is restored by engaging with the two-rotor 35.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration in which the speed detection mechanism 10 shown in the second embodiment is combined with the braking mechanism 20 shown in the first embodiment. The operation described in the embodiment is performed for each function, and the brake piece 24 in the braking mechanism 20 in this case comes into contact with the blade ram 42, the wheel 3 is braked, and the wheelchair 1 is safely stopped.

  The speed detection mechanism 10 is installed on one wheel 3 of the wheelchair 1, only the braking mechanism 20 is attached to both the left and right sides of the wheelchair body 2, the left and right rotating bodies 21 are connected to each other by a coupler, and the left and right braking mechanisms 20 are connected. Can be operated synchronously. In this case, since the two braking mechanisms 20 provided on the left and right of the wheelchair 1 can be operated by one speed detection mechanism 10, the wheelchair 1 can be more safely and quickly operated by braking the left and right wheels 3 simultaneously. Can be stopped.

  In addition to the wheelchair 1, the automatic brake device according to the present invention can be mounted on a baby carriage, a tricycle for children, a walking aid, a bicycle, a wheelbarrow, an elderly walking assistant (silver car), and the like.

It is a side view which shows the wheelchair which attached the automatic brake device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the automatic brake device of the state before the brake piece shown in Example 1 of this invention contact | abuts a tire part. It is a side view which shows the effect | action of the speed detection mechanism of the automatic brake device of this invention. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between time when the piston of the speed detection mechanism of the automatic brake device of this invention enters a cylinder, and piston height. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the position of the wheel 3 of the speed detection mechanism in each speed of the wheelchair of the automatic brake device of this invention, and piston height. It is a side view which shows how to attach the speed detection mechanism of the automatic brake device of this invention. It is a side view of the automatic brake device shown in Example 2 of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the structure which combined the speed detection mechanism shown in Example 2 and the braking mechanism shown in Example 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wheelchair 2 Wheelchair main body 3 Wheel 3a Tire part 3b Spoke 3c Axle 10 Speed detection mechanism 11 Cylinder 11b Long hole 12 Valve 13 Stopping pin 14 Piston 14a Pressing part 14b Rear wall opening 15 Ventilation path 16 Through-path 17 Flow regulator 18 Stop Tool 19 Fixed plate 20 Braking mechanism 21 Rotating body 22 Spring receiving member 23 Shaft pin 24 Brake piece 30 Band brake 31 First rotating body 31a Receiving portion 32a, 32b, 32c Spring 33 Support plate 34 First shaft pin 35 Second rotating body 36 Second shaft pin 37 Receiving pin 38 Third rotating body 39 Third shaft pin 40 Brake pulling portion 41 Release lever 42 Brake drum

Claims (6)

It is an automatic brake device that is attached to a wheel of a wheelchair or the like and is configured by a speed detection mechanism that operates when the wheel rotates beyond a certain speed and a braking mechanism that brakes the wheel in conjunction with the speed detection mechanism. And
The speed detection mechanism is provided in the cylinder, a piston that reciprocates inside the cylinder, a ventilation part that flows out the air confined in a space formed between the cylinder and the piston, and the cylinder. A valve that opens and closes by reciprocating movement of the piston and allows air to flow into the cylinder, and when the rotation of the wheel exceeds a certain speed, the speed detection mechanism installed on the wheel moves into the cylinder by its own weight. An automatic brake device, wherein a return is delayed and the braking mechanism that detects a return delay of the piston brakes the wheel and controls the speed to be equal to or less than the constant speed.   A flow rate adjuster is provided in the ventilation portion of the speed detection mechanism to detect a piston position determined by adjusting an outflow amount of air confined in a space formed between the cylinder and the piston, The automatic brake device according to claim 1, wherein the constant speed is adjusted.   2. The automatic brake device according to claim 1, wherein the valve provided in the cylinder is opened and closed by negative pressure or pressurization of the space portion due to reciprocation of the piston.   The braking mechanism is attached to a main body that supports the wheel, detects the position of the piston of the speed detection mechanism, and presses the tire portion and the rim portion by mechanical operation or brakes the wheel using a band brake or the like. The automatic brake device according to claim 1. 2. The piston shaft of the speed detection mechanism is installed on the wheel in a range of −90 degrees to +90 degrees with respect to a radial axis of the wheel, preferably in a range of −60 degrees to +60 degrees. The automatic brake device described in 1. 5. The automatic brake device according to claim 1, wherein the speed detection mechanism is installed on a specific wheel, the braking mechanism is installed on a wheelchair body near each wheel, and the braking mechanism is connected by a coupler. The automatic braking device operates in synchronization with the braking mechanism.

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