JP2006192182A - Electric golf cart - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric golf cart capable of preventing the risk of deteriorating a battery or disenabling running even in a generator driving stop area. <P>SOLUTION: The electric golf cart includes a running motor to be driven with the battery as a power source; and a generator to be driven by an engine for charging the battery. Then the driving of the generator is stopped when the cart enters the predetermined generator driving stop area. The cart comprises a voltage detecting means for detecting the voltage of the battery; and a control means for stopping the driving of the generator when the cart enters the generator driving stop area and forcibly driving the generator when a battery voltage to be detected by the voltage detecting means becomes less than prescribed potential. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric golf cart for carrying a player, a golf bag and the like on a golf course.

  Conventionally, various types of golf carts for golf courses have been provided. For example, hand-held type to electric type or non-riding type and riding type using an engine as driving force are frequently used. Among these, the electric golf cart according to the present invention differs from other electric vehicles in that it travels along the course, but it starts in a wide area where the road surface condition is unstable near the tee ground or green of each hole. It travels with frequent stops and is sometimes driven unattended by remote control operation.

  By the way, the conventional electric golf cart has only a battery as a power source and does not have a self-charging device. In addition, the golf cart battery is naturally limited in terms of size and weight, so that it can afford some margin in the power capacity required for the end of an average round. There may be a shortage of power capacity when driving, but it is normal that there is no place to charge the battery that is the power source during play, and there was a possibility of getting stuck due to insufficient power capacity . Therefore, in order to continuously supply power from a battery power source and run, it is necessary to charge the golf course during the night, for example, at the cart house during the night after the end of one round. Disappear.

  In addition, even when charging at a cart house, it is usually necessary to provide a station for each car to charge a golf cart, and there are stations for all golf carts owned by the golf course. Installation requires a large space. In addition, when the total number of carts cannot be stored in the station, the charging cord must be pulled to the cart in the cart house for golf carts outside the station, which is troublesome because other carts are in the way.

  Furthermore, since a large-capacity power supply is required to charge all carts at once, equipment investment is required, which is an impediment to promoting the rationalization of golf courses.

In order to solve such a problem, a configuration in which an engine-driven generator for charging a battery power source of an electric golf cart is provided in a main body of the golf cart has been proposed. There has been proposed an electric golf cart in which a generator drive stop section is installed at a place where quietness is required, such as a tee ground, a green area, or a cart house, and the generator drive is forcibly stopped in the section.
JP 2001-149516 A

  However, in such a conventional electric golf cart, even if the battery capacity is reduced during traveling in the generator drive stop section, the generator drive is forcibly stopped, so it is caused by excessive discharge. There is a risk of battery deterioration and inability to run.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such problems, and provides an electric golf cart capable of preventing the risk of battery deterioration and the inability to run even within a generator drive stop section. It is for the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a travel motor driven by a battery as a power source and an engine-driven generator for charging the battery, and the generator drive stop section is set in advance. In the electric golf cart adapted to stop driving the generator when entering, voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the battery, and when entering the generator driving stop section, the driving of the generator is stopped. Control means is provided for controlling the generator to be forcibly driven when the battery voltage detected by the voltage detection means falls below a predetermined potential.

  Furthermore, the threshold value of the predetermined potential is set lower than the threshold value of the predetermined potential when the generator is driven or the number of rotations is increased outside the generator drive stop section.

  According to the present invention, even in the generator drive stop period, if the battery voltage becomes lower than the predetermined potential, the generator is forcibly driven to start charging the battery. Can be prevented, and inability to run the cart due to battery deterioration can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to prevent the player from having an accident due to the sudden stop of the cart due to battery deterioration.

  Further, since the predetermined potential is set lower than the threshold value of the predetermined potential when the generator is driven or the number of revolutions is increased outside the generator drive stop section, the generator drive time within the generator drive stop section is set. Can be suppressed, and quietness and fuel consumption can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an electric golf cart according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system configuration thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf cart of this embodiment has bumpers 4 and 5 at the front lower part and the rear lower part of a body frame 3 supported by a pair of left and right front wheels 1 and rear wheels 2, respectively. The front and rear of the vehicle body frame 3 are covered with a front cowl 6 and a rear cowl 7, and a front seat 10 and a rear seat 11 are installed on a floor 8 laid between them, and a steering shaft 12 protruding inside the front cowl 6 A steering wheel (handle) 13 that can be operated in a sitting posture on the front seat 10 is attached. Although not shown, a pair of left and right induction sensors for detecting the induction current of the induction wire embedded in the traveling road, the stop of traveling, the speed control, the generator drive stop, etc. A magnet sensor for detecting a magnet embedded for the purpose is attached.

  Seats 14 and 15, elbow pads 16 and 17, and backrests 18 and 19 are attached to the front seat 10 and the rear seat 11, respectively.

  Further, between the front cowl 6 and the rear cowl 7, a roof plate 22 that covers the front seat 10 and the rear seat 11 is supported by a window frame 20 and a roof pillar 21 erected upward from each of them. . Further, on the rear part of the rear cowl 7, a bag receiver 23 that is inclined obliquely rearward and upward for mounting a golf bag is attached to be foldable by a hinge 24 and a link mechanism 25.

  Under the seat 15 of the rear seat 11, a power generator 26 including an engine generator main body in which the fuel tank is separated from a normal fuel tank integrated engine generator, a cell motor for starting the generator engine, and the like is mounted. A fuel tank 27 separated from the generator is installed at the upper rear part. Below the seat 14 of the front seat 10 is installed a motor controller 28 that houses a number of power transistors for driving motor drive control, with its lower surface exposed below the floor 8 surface, and a battery on the upper side. 29 is mounted.

  In such a golf cart, the rear wheel 2 is driven by a travel motor (not shown) mounted on the lower side of the rear cowl 7, and the front wheel 1 is steered by the operation of a steering mechanism (not shown) mounted on the lower side of the front cowl 6. To be run. The steering wheel 13 is used as steering means for the front wheel 1 during manual driving, and the steering of the front wheel 1 is embedded in the driving path during automatic driving along a predetermined driving path in the course. Since the steering mechanism is operated according to the detected result of the guide line, operation of the steering wheel 13 is unnecessary.

  The control system configuration of the electric golf cart will be described with reference to FIG. The motor unit, which is a power unit, includes a travel motor 30, a main brake (MB) motor 31, a parking brake (PB) motor 32, an automatic / manual switching (HM) motor 33, and a steering control (SM) motor 34. .

  The control unit 35 of the travel motor 30 is provided with a travel motor control circuit and a current detection circuit corresponding to the motor controller 28 described above. The control unit 36 of the main brake motor 31 is provided with a main brake motor control circuit, a current detection circuit, and a brake position (position) sensor. The control unit 37 of the parking brake motor 32 is provided with a parking brake motor control circuit and a current detection circuit. The control unit 38 of the automatic / manual switching motor 33 is provided with an automatic / manual switching motor control circuit and an automatic / manual detection switch. The control unit 39 of the steering control motor 34 is provided with a steering control motor control circuit. Each motor is controlled by a main CPU (microcomputer) 40.

  On the other hand, the battery 29 serving as a power source is connected to the power system via the voltage detection circuit 41. The voltage of the battery 29 is detected by the voltage detection circuit 41, and the generator 26 is controlled via the generator control circuit 43 in accordance with a command from the generator control CPU 42 provided independently of the main CPU 40 in the present embodiment. ing.

  The power generator 26 includes an engine-driven generator 26a, a cell motor 26b that starts the generator engine, a choke control unit 26c, and a position sensor 26d. The position sensor 26d is a sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the generator engine, and outputs a pulse signal having a different cycle according to the rotational speed. The power generation output from the generator 26 a is connected to the terminal of the battery charger 44.

  Also, a key switch 45, a start / stop switch 46, a front / rear detection switch 47, a magnet sensor circuit 48 to which the above-described magnet sensor is attached, an encoder 49, a remote control receiver 50, a transmission antenna 51a and a reception antenna 51b are attached. A cart guard 51, which is an anti-collision device, and a brake switch 52 that is turned on when the brake pedal is depressed and turned off when the brake pedal is released are connected to the main CPU 40. In this embodiment, the key switch 45, start / stop switch 46, front / rear detection switch 47, magnet sensor circuit 48, encoder 49, remote control receiver 50, signals from the brake switch 52, and the voltage detection described above. A voltage detection signal from the circuit 41, a parking brake signal for ON / OFF control of the PB motor 32 from the main CPU 40 via the parking brake (PB) control unit 37, and control of the automatic / manual switching (HM) motor 33 An automatic / manual detection signal output from the unit 38 to the main CPU 40 is also input to the generator control CPU 42.

  The steering unit control system includes a steering circuit 53 to which the above-described guidance sensor is attached, a torque sensor 54 linked to the above-described steering wheel (handle) 13, a steering control motor 34, a control unit 39 thereof, and the like. The torque sensor 54 is arranged as means for detecting the steering operation amount.

  In the case of manually driving the electric golf cart having such a configuration, when an automatic / manual switching lever (not shown) is set to “manual”, a manual travel mode is set, and the handle 13 is operated in the same manner as a normal riding golf cart. As a result, the means for detecting the steering operation amount of the torque sensor 54 that responds to the rotation of the handle 13 in the left direction or the right direction is activated, and the steering control motor 34 is moved in the left direction or the right direction via the main CPU 40. Rotate. Then, the forward and backward driving can be performed by the operation of the player himself / herself by the operation amount of the handle 13 and the operation of the accelerator and the brake pedal.

  On the other hand, in the case of automatic traveling, the automatic traveling mode is set when the automatic / manual switching lever is set to “automatic”. At that time, the induction current flowing in the induction wire embedded along the road is detected by the left and right induction sensors as an induction signal, amplified and detected by the steering circuit 53, and then the differential output is obtained and input to the main CPU 40. Is done. In addition, stop, speed control information, and the like due to the magnet arrangement embedded in the travel path are input from the magnet sensor to the main CPU 40 via the magnet sensor circuit 48.

  Then, the vehicle travels along the traveling path while performing automatic steering, automatic acceleration / deceleration, and automatic stop according to a command of the main CPU 40. Furthermore, it is also possible to start and stop at an arbitrary place by operating the start / stop switch 46 on the remote controller or the golf cart body. In addition, if the output from the transmitting antenna 51a of the cart guard 51 in an obstacle in the forward direction or other golf cart that is stopped or running is detected by the receiving antenna 51b of the cart guard 51 of the own vehicle, automatic detection is performed to prevent a collision. When a danger such as a collision is detected by various safety devices, such as when the parking brake (PB) is stopped, the vehicle stops urgently.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the generator activation control and the rotational speed UP control in the automatic and manual travel modes are performed by the generator control CPU 42 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Note that the flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the control during the cart traveling by driving the generator 26a on the traveling path in which the generator driving stop section by the magnet arrangement is set.

  That is, in the control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, it is first checked whether or not the generator drive stop period is based on a signal from the magnet sensor circuit 48 (step S1). If it is outside the generator drive stop section, it is next checked whether or not the battery voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 41 has become lower than a predetermined potential A (N in step S1 → step S2).

  If the battery voltage is not less than the predetermined potential A, the generator 26a runs with the rotation speed as it is (for example, 2600 rotations) (N in step S2 → loop in step S1). Since the amount of charge is not sufficient at the number of rotations, the number of rotations of the generator 26a is increased (UP) by a predetermined number, for example, between 2600 and 3000 rotations (Y in step S2 → step S3). When the generator rotational speed UP process ends (Y in step S4), the process returns to step S1 again to repeat the above-described process.

  On the other hand, if it is detected in step S1 that the generator drive stop section has been entered, a predetermined stop process of the generator 26a is performed (Y in step S1 → step S5). This generator stop process is predetermined for protection of the generator and the like. For example, the generator engine driven and controlled at 2600 to 3000 revolutions during normal operation is temporarily reduced to 2400 revolutions and the battery 29 is charged. The operation is performed by stopping the power supply to the spark plug of the generator engine after performing a no-load operation in which the electrical connection with the generator 44 is disconnected for about 1 second.

  When the generator stop process is completed, it is next checked whether or not the battery voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 41 has become lower than a predetermined potential B (Y in step S6 → step S7). The threshold value B of the predetermined potential is set to a value lower than the threshold value A of the predetermined potential at the time when the rotation speed is UP (B <A).

  While the generator 26a is stopped until the battery voltage becomes lower than the predetermined potential B (N loop in step S7), the battery 29 is discharged and the battery voltage gradually increases when the generator 26a is stopped. To drop.

  When the battery voltage becomes lower than the predetermined potential B, a predetermined activation process of the generator 26a is performed (Y in step S7 → step S8). When this generator activation process is completed (Y in step S9), the generator activation is completed.

  By performing the control as described above, even in the generator drive stop period, if the battery voltage becomes lower than the predetermined potential B, the generator 26 is forcibly driven to start charging the battery 29. Further, it is possible to prevent the battery 29 from being deteriorated due to excessive discharge, and it is possible to prevent the cart from being disabled due to the battery deterioration. In addition, it is possible to prevent the player from having an accident due to the sudden stop of the cart due to battery deterioration.

  Further, a predetermined potential B that is a threshold value when driving the generator 26a within the generator drive stop section is a predetermined potential A that is a threshold value when the generator speed is increased outside the generator drive stop section. Since it is set lower, the drive time of the generator 26a in the generator drive stop section can be suppressed as much as possible, and quietness and fuel consumption can be improved.

  In the case of control for driving and stopping the generator 26a according to the battery voltage during normal travel, the predetermined potential B when driving the generator 26a within the generator drive stop section is outside the generator drive stop section. Therefore, it may be set lower than the predetermined potential A when the generator 26a is driven.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the generator stop control in the automatic and manual travel modes is performed by the generator control CPU 42 as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, in the generator stop control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, it is first checked whether or not a travel stop signal has been detected (step S11). As for the travel stop signal, in the case of automatic travel, signals from the start / stop switch 46, the magnet sensor circuit 48, the remote control receiver 50, and the brake switch 52 at the time of normal stop are signals from the key switch 45 at the time of an alarm stop such as an erroneous operation. Since the PB signal output from the rear detection switch 47 to the parking brake (PB) motor 32 during the emergency stop described above is also input to the generator control CPU 42, these signals can be used. Further, in the case of manual travel, it is difficult to determine stoppage of travel, but it can be determined, for example, when an ON signal from the brake switch 52 is detected at a travel speed of less than 4 km / h or by a PB signal (during emergency stop).

  When the travel stop signal is detected in step S11, a predetermined stop process of the generator 26a is performed (Y in step S11 → step S12). This generator stop process is predetermined for protecting the generator as described above. For example, the generator engine that is driven and controlled at 2600 to 3000 revolutions during normal operation is temporarily reduced to 2400 revolutions, This is performed by stopping the power supply to the spark plug of the generator engine after performing a no-load operation in which the electrical connection with the charger 44 of the battery 29 is disconnected for about 1 second.

  Until the generator stop process is completed, whether or not the golf cart has stopped due to an emergency stop or the like is checked based on the PB signal or the like (N in step S13 → N in step S14 → loop in step S12). When the cart is stopped normally, the cart travels at a reduced speed, so the time from the start of the cart stop to the stop is sufficiently longer than the generator stop processing time (approximately 1 second + α). Can reliably terminate the generator stop process. When this generator stop process is completed (Y in step S13), the generator stop is ended.

  By performing the generator stop control as described above, the generator 26a that is driven while the cart is running is stopped until the cart stops, and the generator 26a is not driven while the cart is stopped. Silentness is maintained from time to time, and noise problems do not occur when the cart is stopped. Since the battery 29 is hardly discharged while the cart is stopped, there is no problem even if the generator 26a is not driven.

  Similarly, since neither conventional engine-type golf carts nor battery-type golf carts generate noise during stoppage, no sense of discomfort is given to the player or the like.

  Further, there is no problem of exhausting the generator engine that is stopped, and there is no discomfort to the player.

  On the other hand, if the time from the start of the cart travel stop to the stop such as an emergency stop is short and the generator stop process of step S12 cannot be completed by the stop of the cart, if the stop of the cart is detected by the PB signal or the like in step S14, Regardless of the generator stop process, the generator 26a is forcibly stopped (N in step S13 → N in step S14 → step S15). Specifically, the above-described no-load operation is not performed, or power supply to the spark plug of the generator engine is stopped during the operation.

  By controlling in this way, even if the time from the start of the cart travel stop to the stop such as an emergency stop is short and the generator stop process cannot be completed before the cart stops, the generator 26a is forcibly stopped when the cart stop is detected. Therefore, the generator 26a stops almost simultaneously with the stop of the cart even during an emergency stop, and the same effect as that during the normal stop can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the generator stop control as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other generator stop control may be used.

1 is an external perspective view of an electric golf cart according to an embodiment of the present invention. The side view. The block diagram which shows the control system structure. The flowchart which shows the generator starting and the rotation speed UP control example of the said embodiment. The flowchart which shows the generator stop control example of the said embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Front wheel 2 Rear wheel 3 Body frame 6 Front cowl 7 Rear cowl 8 Floor 10 Front seat 11 Rear seat 13 Steering wheel (handle)
20 window frame 21 roof pillar 22 roof plate 23 bag receiver 26 power generator 26a generator 26b cell motor 26c choke control unit 26d position sensor 27 fuel tank 28 motor controller 29 battery 30 travel motor 40 main CPU
41 Voltage detection circuit 42 Generator control CPU
43 Generator control circuit 44 Charger

Claims (2)

Electric golf that includes a travel motor driven by a battery and an engine-driven generator that charges the battery, and stops driving the generator when entering a preset generator drive stop section. In the cart,
Voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the battery;
Control means for controlling the generator to be forcibly driven when the battery voltage detected by the voltage detection means falls below a predetermined potential, while the generator driving is stopped when entering the generator drive stop section. An electric golf cart comprising: 2. The electric golf cart according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value of the predetermined potential is set lower than a threshold value of the predetermined potential when the generator is driven or the number of revolutions is increased outside the generator drive stop section. .

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