JP2005231544A - Small electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and inexpensive small electric car by simplifying the configuration of a suspension device capable of elevating/lowering and rolling right and left rear wheels. <P>SOLUTION: In the compact electric vehicle supporting a power unit 9 having an electric motor 15 and a reduction gear 23 and supporting and driving right and left rear wheels 6r and 6r by a vehicle body frame 2 via a suspension device 8, the suspension device 8 consists of leaf springs 40 fixed to the vehicle body frame 2 and extending in the longitudinal direction, and a casing 10 of the power unit 9 is mounted on the leaf springs 40 via a shock-absorbing material 46 so that the driving reaction force of the power unit 9 is supported by the leaf springs 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a small electric vehicle in which a power unit that has an electric motor and a speed reducer on a body frame and supports left and right rear wheels and is driven via a suspension device.

In such a conventional small electric vehicle, a support frame for supporting the power unit and the left and right rear wheels is connected to the body frame so as to be rotatable around two axes perpendicular to each other of the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis. As disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, a cushioning / rolling return spring is interposed between the vehicle body frame and the rear wheel support frame so that the left and right rear wheels can move up and down and roll. , Already known.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-8782

  By the way, in the conventional small electric vehicle described above, the suspension device that supports the power unit and the rear wheel includes a support frame, a front and rear axis and a left and right axis that rotatably support this, and a buffering and rolling return spring. Therefore, the structure is complicated, and it is difficult to reduce the cost and make the vehicle compact.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and compact small electric vehicle by simplifying the structure of a suspension device that can raise and lower left and right rear wheels. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a compact electric vehicle in which a body unit frame has an electric motor and a speed reducer and supports a power unit that supports and drives left and right rear wheels via a suspension device. The suspension device is constituted by a leaf spring fixed to the vehicle body frame and extending in the front-rear direction. The casing of the power unit is supported on the leaf spring, and a buffer member so that the driving reaction force of the power unit is supported by the leaf spring. The first feature is that it is attached via the.

  According to the present invention, in addition to the first feature, the leaf springs are a pair of cantilevered with a front end fixed to the vehicle body frame and arranged side by side at a distance from each other. A second feature is that the casing is attached to the rear end.

  Furthermore, in addition to the first or second feature, the third feature of the present invention is that the pair of leaf springs are arranged so that the distance between them is widened toward the rear.

  According to the first feature of the present invention, the left and right rear wheels can be raised and lowered by the bending of the leaf springs supported by the vehicle body frame, and the impact force received by the rear wheels from the uneven road surface can be absorbed. Since the left and right rear wheels can be rolled by twisting the spring, the ground contact state of both rear wheels can be maintained even when the vehicle body is rolling. At the same time, the high-frequency vibration that the rear wheel receives from the road surface is absorbed by the buffer member interposed between the leaf spring and the casing, so that a good riding comfort can be obtained.

  In addition, the leaf spring also serves as a support member and a drive reaction force support member for the power unit, which can contribute to simplification of the configuration of the suspension device, and in turn to reduce weight and cost.

  According to the second feature of the present invention, since the support structure of the leaf spring to the vehicle body frame is a simple cantilever structure, the suspension device can be further simplified. In addition, a pair of leaf springs are arranged side by side at a distance from each other, and the casing of the power unit is attached to the rear end of the leaf springs, so that the power unit functions effectively as a stabilizer, and excessive vertical vibration of each rear wheel alone It is possible to suppress and improve the ground contact of both rear wheels even during running on uneven road surfaces. In addition, this makes it possible to use a leaf spring having a relatively thin plate thickness, which can contribute to weight reduction of the suspension device.

  Furthermore, according to the third feature of the present invention, the pair of leaf springs arranged so that the distance between them is widened toward the rear is high with respect to a lateral load in cooperation with the vehicle body frame and the power unit. Since it forms a closed trapezoidal structure that exhibits rigidity, it can exhibit a great resistance against lateral loads acting on the rear wheels.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings.

  1 is a side view of a small electric vehicle according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. FIG.

  First, in FIG. 1, a body frame 2 of a small electric vehicle 1 includes a handle column 3 and a pair of left and right sides that extend rearward from the lower end portion of the handle column 3 and are bent so that the rear end portion is obliquely upward. A main pipe 4 and a cross member 5 for connecting the main pipes 4 to each other before the upper bent portion are provided. A pair of left and right front wheels 6f and 6f are attached to the front portion of the main pipe 4 so as to be able to turn. A steering handle 7 for operating the turning of the front wheels 6f, 6f is rotatably supported by the handle column 3. A power unit 9 is supported on the cross member 5 via a suspension device 8, and a pair of left and right rear wheels 6 r and 6 r are supported on the power unit 9. The left and right rear wheels 6r, 6r are arranged at substantially the same interval as the left and right intervals of the left and right main pipes 4. A seat 13 on which a driver sits is attached to a bent rear end portion of the main pipe 4, and a battery 14 that can be charged by a commercial power source is disposed immediately below the seat 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the casing 10 of the power unit 9 includes a reduction case 11 and a pair of left and right axle cases 12 and 12 that are integrally projected on the left and right side walls at the bottom of the reduction case 11. The electric motor 15 using the battery 14 as a power source is attached to the left and right sides of the upper part of the reduction case 11, and the output shaft 15a of the electric motor 15 has a pinion gear 16 formed at the tip thereof. It arrange | positions so that it may rush in the reduction case 11. FIG.

  In the reduction case 11, the differential case 17 of the differential device 29 is arranged coaxially with the left and right axle cases 12, 12, and both left and right ends thereof are rotatably supported by the reduction case 11 via ball bearings 18, 18. Is done. A large-diameter final gear 20 is splined to the differential case 17. In the reduction case 11, an intermediate transmission shaft 21 is disposed at an intermediate portion between the output shaft 15 a and the axle cases 12, 12, and left and right end portions thereof are rotatably supported by the reduction case 11 via ball bearings 22, 22. The A large-diameter gear 19 a that meshes with the pinion gear 16 and a small-diameter gear 19 b that meshes with the final gear 20 are fixed to the intermediate transmission shaft 21. Thus, the pinion gear 16, the large-diameter gear 19a, the small-diameter gear 19b, and the final gear 20 constitute a reduction device 23 that transmits the rotation of the output shaft 15a of the electric motor 15 to the differential device 29 with a constant reduction ratio. .

  The left and right rear axles 25, 25 penetrating the left and right axle cases 12, 12 are supported by the inner peripheral surfaces of both ends of the differential case 17 so as to be relatively rotatable, and the rear axles 25, 25 enter the differential case 17. Side gears 26 and 26 are splined to the inner end portions. A pinion shaft 27 orthogonal to the rotational axis of the differential case 17 is attached to the differential case 17, and a pair of pinion gears 28, 28 meshing with the side gears 26, 26 are rotatably supported by the pinion shaft 27. Thus, the differential case 17, the pinion gears 28, 28 and the side gears 26, 26 constitute a differential device 29 that distributes the rotation of the final gear 20 to the left and right rear axles 25, 25.

  In the above, the casing 10, the electric motor 15, the speed reducer 23, and the differential device 29 constituting the power unit 9 have a substantially symmetrical structure in the front-rear direction with respect to the vertical plane V including the rotation axes of the axle cases 12, 12. (See FIG. 3).

  The left and right rear axles 25, 25 are supported on the outer ends of the left and right axle cases 12, 12 via ball bearings 30, 30, and between these ball bearings 30, 30 and the ball bearings 18, 18. Oil seals 31, 31 are interposed between the rear axles 25, 25 and the axle cases 12, 12. The left and right rear wheels 6r, 6r are splined to the front ends of the left and right rear axles 25, 25 projecting from the outer ends of the left and right axle cases 12, 12, and fixed by nuts 32. Thus, the left and right rear wheels 6r, 6r are supported by the axle cases 12, 12. A known drum brake 33 for braking the rear wheel 6r is provided between each rear wheel 6r and the corresponding axle case 12.

  2, 3 and 5, a pair of stays 35, 35 projecting rearwardly are provided at portions of the cross member 5 adjacent to the left and right main pipes 4, and the bottom surfaces of these stays 35, 35 are projected. The left and right ends of the support plate 36 are overlapped with the collar 37 therebetween, and are fixed by bolts 38.

  The suspension device 8 includes a pair of left and right leaf springs 40, 40 that are cantilevered with their front ends fixed to the support plate 36 by bolts 39. These leaf springs 40, 40 are arranged at intervals, and are arranged in a letter C shape in plan view so that the interval widens backward.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 8, a pair of left and right brackets 41, 41 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the rear end portions of the leaf springs 40, 40 by bolts 42. Each bracket 41 has an overhanging portion 41a (see FIG. 4) that protrudes from the corresponding leaf spring 40 to the left and right outer sides. The overhanging portion 41a stands upward and is opposed to each other in the left-right direction. Two sets of attachment walls 43, 43, 43, 43 are formed, and a connection wall 43a that integrally connects the outer ends of the attachment walls 43, 43 of each set is formed. And the support block 44 for supporting the corresponding axle case 12 is attached between the attachment walls 43 and 43 of each group as follows.

  That is, a cylindrical buffer member 46 made of an elastic material such as rubber is fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the support hole 45 provided in each support block 44. A collar 47 is baked on the inner peripheral surface of the buffer member 46. The outer peripheral surface of the buffer member 46 that fits into the support hole 45 is formed as a serrated uneven surface to enhance the buffer effect. The support block 44 is inserted between a pair of corresponding mounting walls 43 and 43. The collar 47 is supported by bolts 48 supported at both ends by the mounting walls 43, 43, and the bolts 48 are fixed to the mounting walls 43, 43 by nuts 49 screwed to the bolts 48.

  Each support block 44 is integrally provided with a pair of front and rear flange portions 44 a and 44 a that are overlapped with a pair of front and rear flat surfaces 12 a and 12 a on the outer surface of the corresponding axle case 12, and these flange portions 44 a and 44 a are attached to the axle case 12. It is fixed with bolts 50.

  Thus, the power unit 9 is mounted and supported on the rear end portions of the pair of left and right leaf springs 40, 40 that are cantilevered on the vehicle body frame 2, that is, the upper surfaces of the free end portions.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  If the electric motor 15 is operated by power supply from the battery 14, the power is transmitted from the output shaft 15a to the differential device 29 via the speed reducer 23, and is distributed to the left and right rear axles 25, 25 from there. Since the wheels 6r and 6r are driven, the small electric vehicle 1 can be driven.

  By the way, the weight of the vehicle body and the driver, and the reaction force received by the rear wheels 6r, 6r from the road surface are supported by the left and right leaf springs 40, 40 connecting the vehicle body frame 2 and the rear wheels 6r, 6r. When the rear wheels 6r, 6r are driven by the power of the power, the driving reaction force is also received by the left and right leaf springs 40, 40 that support the power unit 9, so that the leaf springs 40, 40 receive the driving member and the driving reaction force receiving force. This also serves as a member, which can contribute to the simplification of the configuration of the suspension device 8 and, consequently, the weight reduction and cost reduction of the small electric vehicle 1.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the leaf spring is caused by the weight of the vehicle body and the driver, the bending moment M1 received by the leaf springs 40 and 40 by the reaction force received by the rear wheels 6 r and 6 r from the road surface, and the drive reaction force of the power unit 9. Since the directions of the bending moment M2 received by 40, 40 are opposite to each other, the total bending moment received by the leaf springs 40, 40 is reduced to (M1-M2), and the load of the leaf springs 40, 40 is reduced. be able to.

  Further, the large impact force that the rear wheels 6r, 6r receive from the uneven road surface during traveling is absorbed by the vertical deflection of the leaf springs 40, 40. Further, the high-frequency vibration received by the rear wheels 6r, 6r from the road surface is between the bolts 48 fixed to the leaf springs 40, 40 via brackets 41, 41 and the support block 44 fixed to the casing 10 of the power unit 9. It is absorbed by the compression deformation in the radial direction of the cylindrical buffer member 46 to be interposed, and particularly the serration-like outer peripheral surface of the buffer member 46 has flexibility, so that the high-frequency vibration is effectively absorbed, and therefore the operation is performed. Can give a good ride comfort.

  Further, when rolling the vehicle body, the axle cases 12 and 12 supporting the rear axles 25 and 25, that is, the casing 10 of the power unit 9 swings up and down, and torsionally deforms the leaf springs 40 and 40, thereby The grounding state of the wheels 6r, 6r can be maintained.

  Moreover, the rear end portions of the left and right leaf springs 40, 40 are connected to the left and right axle cases 12, 12 sandwiching the differential device 29, so that a sufficient span between these connection points can be secured. The casing 10 of the power unit 9 including the left and right axle cases 12 and 12 effectively functions as a stabilizer to suppress excessive vertical vibration of each rear wheel 6r alone, so that both the rear wheels 6r and 6r The grounding property can be improved. For this reason, the leaf springs 40 and 40 having a relatively small plate thickness can be used, and the weight of the suspension device 8 can be reduced.

  Further, since the power unit 9 is mounted on the upper surface of the free ends of the leaf springs 40, 40 of the suspension device 8 that are cantilevered by the body frame 2, the leaf springs 40, 40 are used to drive the plate springs 40, 40 on the upper side. The power unit 9 can be protected from stepping stones and muddy water from the road surface.

  Furthermore, since the power unit 9 is configured substantially symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane V including the rotation axis of the differential case 17, the weight of the power unit 9 is borne in a balanced manner in the support portion of the leaf springs 40, 40 with respect to the power unit 9. The power unit 9 can be supported stably.

  In addition, the left and right leaf springs 40, 40, whose front end portions are fixed to the support plate 36, are arranged in a square shape in plan view so that the distance between the left and right leaf springs increases toward the rear. Since the casing 10 of the power unit 9 is connected, the support plate 36, the left and right leaf springs 40, 40, and the casing 10 cooperate to form a closed trapezoidal structure, and this trapezoidal structure is subjected to a lateral load. On the other hand, since high rigidity can be exhibited, it is possible to exert a great resistance against a lateral load acting on the rear wheels 6r, 6r.

  The support plate 36 for fixing the front end portions of the left and right leaf springs 40, 40 is fixed to the cross member 5 connecting the rear portions of the left and right main pipes 4, 4. By selecting the interval between the front end portions of the 40 within the range of the lateral width of the left and right main pipes 4, 4, the total torsional characteristics of the two leaf springs 40, 40, that is, the rolling characteristics of the two rear wheels 6r, 6r can be obtained. It can be set freely and has a high degree of design freedom.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the front wheel 6f can be a single wheel.

The side view of the small electric vehicle which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Small electric vehicle 2 ... Body frame 6r ... Rear wheel 8 ... Suspension device 9 ... Power unit 10 ... Casing 15 ... Electric motor 23... Reduction device 40... Leaf spring 46.

Claims (3)

A power unit (9) having an electric motor (15) and a speed reducer (23) on the vehicle body frame (2) and supporting the left and right rear wheels (6r, 6r) is driven via the suspension device (8). A small electric vehicle supported by
The suspension device (8) is constituted by a leaf spring (40) fixed to the vehicle body frame (2) and extending in the front-rear direction, and the casing (10) of the power unit (9) is attached to the leaf spring (40), A small electric vehicle characterized by being attached via a buffer member (46) so that the driving reaction force of the power unit (9) is supported by the leaf spring (40). The small electric vehicle according to claim 1,
The leaf springs (40) are cantilevered with their front ends fixed to the vehicle body frame (2) and are arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of the pair of leaf springs (40). A small electric vehicle having the casing (10) attached thereto. The small electric vehicle according to claim 1 or 2,
A small electric vehicle characterized in that the pair of leaf springs (40) are arranged so that the distance between them is widened toward the rear.

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