JP2007082940A - Structure of attaching operation box for electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of attaching an operation box for an electric vehicle, by which the operation box can be stably held on a handle by improving the precision of attachment for improved merchantability. <P>SOLUTION: The structure of attaching the operation box for the electric vehicle has a loop handle 17 steering front wheels and is constructed for the electric vehicle equipped with an operation box 37 at the center part thereof. The handle 17 is fixed on an attachment base provided on the top of a steering shaft, and the operation box 37 is held by the handle 17 fixed on the attachment base. The operation box 37 is not fixed on the attachment base fixed on the top of the steering shaft but is supported by the attachment base while floating. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric vehicle including a low floor type footrest floor, and more particularly to an operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle in which an operation box is provided at the center of a front wheel steering handle.

  This type of electric vehicle is classified as a self-operating handle type wheelchair, and is mainly used by elderly people or people with reduced mobility, and a seating seat on which a user sits is installed at the rear of the vehicle body. A low floor type floor on which a user puts his feet together is provided between the seating seat and the front wheel steering handle, and an operation box is provided at the center of the steering handle.

  As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-46106 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-237245 (Patent Document 2), a conventional electric vehicle has a loop-shaped steering handle at the upper part of a steering shaft and the handle. An operation box is provided at the center of the.

  The operation box is composed of an upper case and a lower case in an upper two-part structure, and a mounting plate that also serves as a handle plate as a structural material is accommodated therein. The mounting plate is detachably screwed to a mounting flange fixed to the top of the steering shaft, while a loop handle lever is fixed via front and rear mounting brackets.

  In addition, the lower case of the operation box is fixed to the mounting plate at a plurality of locations, and the upper case is detachably coupled to the lower case. The operation box has a mounting structure that is integrally fixed together with a steering handle to a mounting plate fixed to the top of the steering shaft.

  In this operation box mounting structure, traveling vibration is directly transmitted to the operation box via the steering shaft as the electric vehicle travels. For this reason, rattling due to running vibration is likely to occur in the operation box.

  In addition, because the operation box is a mounting structure that is directly fixed together with the handle to the mounting plate fixed to the top of the steering shaft, if there is manufacturing distortion or welding distortion in the mounting plate or mounting bracket, the operation box The box is deformed under the influence of distortion or the like, the box mating surfaces are not uniform, the assembly accuracy between the operation box and the steering handle is poor, and appearance defects or intrusion of rainwater or the like is likely to occur.

Furthermore, due to the accumulation of dimensional errors from the fixed position of the top of the steering shaft to the handle and from the fixed position to the end of the operation box, the boundary between the handle and the end of the operation box tends to be uneven, and the boundary is unbalanced due to the unevenness. A balanced gap is likely to occur. The operation box that is exposed to the outside and easily noticeable causes a reduction in product value due to poor appearance, and causes deterioration of quality and damage due to intrusion of rainwater and the like through a gap with the handle.
JP-A-2-46106 JP 2000-237245 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and improves the assembling accuracy of the operation box, can be stably and accurately held on the steering wheel, and operates the electric vehicle with improved merchantability. An object is to provide a box mounting structure.

  Another object of the present invention is to floatingly support the operation box on the mounting base at the top of the steering shaft, to reduce vibration transmission to the operation box when the vehicle is running, to prevent the operation box from rattling, and to improve appearance and waterproofness. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention has a handle for steering the front wheels, and an operation box is provided at the center of the handle. In the electric vehicle, the handle is fixed to a mounting base provided on the top of the steering shaft, and the operation box is held by the handle fixed to the mounting base.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention is configured in a vertically divided structure with an upper case and a lower case, as described in claim 2, A plurality of engaging portions for holding the handle are provided at the upper and lower opposing positions of the upper case and the lower case, and the handle is held between the engaging portion of the upper case and the engaging portion of the lower case. The operation box is held by the handle.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention includes a loop-like handle bar, and the handle is provided on both sides of the operation box. A grip portion is formed on the exposed portion of the protruding handle bar, and the engaging portions of the upper case and the lower case are brought into contact with the end portions of the grip portion from the inside.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention includes a handlebar having a loop shape and is provided on both sides of the operation box. A grip portion is formed on the exposed portion of the protruding handle bar, a peripheral groove is provided on the end portion side of the grip portion, and the engaging portions of the upper case and the lower case are fitted in the peripheral groove, respectively. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of fastening bosses vertically opposed to the upper case and the lower case as described in claim 5. Each fastening boss is provided at least in the vicinity of the engaging portion, and a pair of upper and lower fastening bosses are abutted and fastened with screws or the like, and the upper case and the lower case are joined. It is.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention accommodates a mounting base fixed to the top of a steering shaft in the operation box. The front and rear portions of the base are fixed to mounting brackets fixed to the front and rear portions of the loop-shaped handle.

  In the operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention, the operation box is stably held by the handle fixed in the mounting space without being fixed to the mounting base fixed to the top of the steering shaft. The handle can be stably assembled without being affected by mounting distortion, can be held with high accuracy, and can improve the appearance and waterproofness.

  In addition, since the operation box is floatingly supported on the mounting base fixed to the top of the steering shaft, vibration transmission to the operation box can be reduced, and backlash can be prevented. Since it can be effectively prevented, deformation of the operation box can be prevented beforehand and effectively.

  An embodiment of an operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a right side view showing an electric vehicle 10 to which an embodiment of an operation box mounting structure according to the present invention is applied.

  The electric vehicle 10 is suitably used for a small electric wheelchair that drives the rear two wheels by an electric motor, and can be operated by a user such as an elderly person or a person with a physical disability sitting on a seating seat 11. Yes. Although the electric vehicle 10 can be applied to, for example, an electric wheelchair having 3 to 4 wheels, FIG. 1 shows an example of an electric wheelchair for a four wheel vehicle.

  In the electric vehicle 10, a pair of left and right front wheels 13 and rear wheels 14 are arranged at four corners of a vehicle body 12. The vehicle body 12 includes a vehicle body frame 15 having a frame structure. A steering shaft 16 is erected on the front portion of the vehicle body 12, and a steering handle 17 for the front wheels 13 is provided on the top of the steering shaft 16. The handle 17 is formed in a loop shape, and by rotating the handle 17, the front wheel 13 is rotated left and right via the steering shaft 16 and steered.

  A rear body 18 is provided substantially above or in front of the rear wheel 14, and a seating seat 11 is provided above the rear body 18 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 19 in a substantially vertical direction. The seating seat 11 is provided on the rear body 18 so as to be rotatable, so that the boarding / exiting performance can be improved.

  Further, a backrest 20 is erected at the rear portion of the seating seat 11, and an armrest 21 is supported in a cantilever shape from the left and right sides in the middle of the backrest 20 to the front. The armrest 21 may be rotatably provided between a substantially horizontal support position that supports the user's arm portion and a substantially vertical non-support position.

  The vehicle body 12 of the electric vehicle 10 is assembled into a frame structure, and is reinforced by a front frame 25 and a rear frame 26 provided so as to bridge at least the front and rear end portions of the left and right vehicle body frames 15. A bridge plate 27 is also straddled across the rear body 18 on the rear side of the main body frame 23, and the support portion of the seating seat 11 is reinforced by the bridge plate 27, so that the mechanical and physical strength is maintained.

  The rear body 18 is provided with a tail lamp (not shown) at the rear part, and devices such as an electric motor (not shown), a battery, a controller, and a charger (not shown) for driving the rear wheel 14 are built in the rear body 18.

  A low floor type footrest floor 30 is provided between the seating seat 11 and the steering shaft 16 so that a user seated on the seating seat 11 can drive with the foot resting on the footrest floor 30.

  On the other hand, a headlamp 31 and a basket 32 are provided at the front portion of the vehicle body 12. The steering shaft 16 is made of a steel pipe and is covered with resin-made front and rear shaft covers 33 and 34. The front cover 35 is configured by aligning the shaft covers 33 and 34 in the front-rear direction. The front cover 35 may constitute a leg shield.

  A steering wheel 17 for steering the front wheels is provided on the upper portion of the steering shaft 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 17 is formed in a loop shape, and an operation box 37 is provided at the center thereof. The operation box 37 is composed of an upper case 38 and a lower case 39 in a vertically divided structure.

  The operation box 37 is provided with an operation control unit (not shown) inside, while the front panel of the upper case 38 has a battery remaining amount display means 40 such as a battery remaining amount display LED and a speed from the front to the rear. An adjustment dial 41, a forward / reverse switching switch 42 and a horn switch 43 are sequentially provided, and blinker switches 44 are provided on both the left and right sides of the horn switch 43.

  In addition, an accelerator lever 45 is rotatably provided around the horizontal support shaft from the side of the operation box 37, and the travel speed of the electric vehicle 10 is adjusted in multiple steps or continuously by operating the accelerator lever 45. .

  By the way, the operation box 37 houses a mounting plate 47 constituting a mounting base. The mounting plate 47 constitutes a structural material, and also serves as a handle mounting plate as shown in FIG. 3, and is fixed to the top of the steering shaft 16 with a fixing flange 48 (see FIG. 1) with screws or the like. It is detachably fixed with. The attachment flange 48 has a disk shape or a plate shape and is fixed to the top of the steering shaft 16 by welding or the like.

  The mounting plate 47 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape or trapezoidal shape, and the left and right sides of the plate are cut and raised to reinforce the mechanical and physical strength. A mounting bracket 50 fixed (welded) to the loop-shaped handle bar 49 is detachably fixed to the front and rear portions of the mounting plate 47 with screws or the like. The mounting bracket 50 is composed of a substantially U-shaped plate, the base 51 constituting the mounting seat is detachably fixed to the mounting plate 47, and the leg portions 52 on both sides of the base are fixed to the handle bar 49 by welding or the like. Is done.

  In this way, the front wheel steering handle 17 is fixed to the top of the steering shaft 16 via the pair of front and rear mounting brackets 50 and the mounting plate 47. By operating the steering wheel 17, the operating force is transmitted to the steering shaft 16 via the mounting bracket 50 and the mounting plate (mounting base) 47, and the front wheel 13 is steered via the steering shaft 16.

  The operation box 37 has a box shape in which an upper case 38 and a lower case 39 are vertically stacked, and the lower case 39 has a front lower case 39a and a rear lower case 39b that are divided into two parts in the front and rear. .

  On the other hand, the front wheel steering handle 17 includes a loop-shaped handle bar 49 and a grip portion (molded portion) 55 in which an externally exposed portion of the handle bar 49 is resin-molded with urethane or the like. The grip portion 55 of the handle 17 is provided in a mold portion that protrudes from the operation box 37 on both sides.

  As shown in FIG. 3, spacer ribs 57 of the lower case 39 abut each other on the end of the grip portion 55 of the handle 17, and the spacer ribs 57 constitute engaging portions of the lower case 39 so as to lower the handlebar 49. From the contact (engagement). Similarly, spacer ribs 56 are also provided in the upper case 37 as shown in FIG. 4, and the spacer ribs 56 also constitute an engaging portion and abut against the end of the grip portion 55 of the handle 17, and the handle bar 49. Are engaged from above.

  When the operation box 37 is superimposed on the upper case 38 and the lower case 39, the spacer ribs 56, 57 of the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 abut against the end of the grip portion 55, and the spacer ribs 56, 57 are It is abutted so as to sandwich the handle bar 49.

  The spacer ribs 56 and 57 are provided to face the front, rear, left and right of the upper case 38 and the lower case 39, respectively. The upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are joined together as shown in FIG. The upper case 38 and the lower case 39 have a plurality of fastening bosses 58, 59 projecting vertically opposite to each other, and the lower fastening boss 59 is inserted (through) a fastening means such as a screw or a through bolt from below. Thus, the operation box 37 is constructed by being integrally assembled by tightening the screw holes of the upper fastening bosses 58. At that time, the axial screw hole formed in the fastening boss 58 of the upper case 38 is formed in a blind hole, and the boss hole of the fastening boss 59 in the lower case 39 is formed in a through hole. Intrusion into the operation box 37 is prevented beforehand.

  In this manner, the operation box 37 is attached to the handle bar 49 of the steering handle 17 by being sandwiched by the spacer ribs 56 and 57 that are paired up and down at four positions on the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 in the front, rear, left, and right. The upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are fastened by screws or insertion bolts 60 with a pair of upper and lower fastening bosses 58, 59 provided inside the vicinity of the spacer ribs 56, 57. The operation box 37 is indirectly supported in a floating state by a mounting plate 47 as a mounting base fixed to the top of the steering shaft 16.

  The operation box 37 is not fixed directly to a mounting plate 47 as a structural material fixed to the top of the steering shaft 16, but is attached by sandwiching the handle shaft 49 of the steering handle at four locations, front, rear, left and right. For this reason, the operation box 37 is not directly fixed to the mounting plate 47 fixed to the top of the steering shaft 16 but is supported in a floating state.

  Therefore, without the mounting distortion of the mounting plate 47 or the welding distortion of the mounting bracket 50 acting on the operation box 37, the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are aligned vertically and the fastening bosses 58 and 59 are butted downward. By tightening with screws or the like, the case mating surfaces are stably and accurately coupled without being affected by mounting distortion or welding distortion, and the assembling accuracy can be improved. Although the operation box 37 is exposed to the outside and easily visible, the operation box 37 can engage the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 with good appearance, and can improve the commercial value.

  Further, since the operation box 37 is floatingly supported by a mounting plate 47 as a mounting base fixed to the top portion of the steering shaft 16, it is possible to reduce the transmission of traveling vibration from the steering shaft 16 during vehicle traveling, and to reduce vibration. The effect can be demonstrated.

  In addition, the operation box 37 can be stably and accurately held without being loosely attached to the steering handle 17 without being fixed to the mounting plate 47 fixed to the top of the steering shaft 16. Spacer ribs 56 and 57 that are integrally formed with the lower case 39 come into contact with the end portion of the grip portion 55 of the handle 17 so that rainwater and the like can be prevented from entering the operation box 37 and is waterproof. Can be demonstrated.

  Further, the operation box 37 is assembled with the assembly accuracy at the time of forming the case by butting the fastening bosses 58 and 59 that form the upper and lower pairs of the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 and fastening them with screws or insertion bolts. Can do. When the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are overlapped and fastened, the front end engaging portions of the pair of upper and lower spacer ribs 56 and 57 projecting from the front, rear, left and right of the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are fixed to the handlebar 49. Since the handle bar 49 is clamped by engaging the control box 37, the operation box 37 is stably held by the steering handle 17. 3 and 4 show an example in which the operation box 37 is sandwiched and held by the steering handle 17 at four positions, front, rear, left, and right, but the operation box 37 is held at least at a plurality of front and rear positions, for example, at three or more positions. Anything is possible.

  Further, the operation box 37 can hold the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 on the steering handle 17 without being affected by mounting distortion or the like. For this reason, the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 can be assembled with dimensional accuracy at the time of resin molding, and the assembly accuracy can be improved.

  Moreover, since the operation box 37 attached to the steering handle 17 is stably held without being affected by attachment distortion or welding distortion after assembly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper case 38, the mating surfaces of the lower case 39 and the mating surfaces of the front lower case 39a and the rear lower case 39b can be neatly aligned. Furthermore, the clearance between the steering handle 17 and the handle insertion port 53 formed in the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 is not varied in the circumferential direction, and can be maintained at a constant clearance over the entire circumference. And the aesthetic appearance is improved. Spacer ribs 56 and 57 as engaging portions formed in the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are provided in the vicinity of the inside of the operation box 37 from the handle insertion port 53.

  FIG. 8 shows a modification of the operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle of the present invention.

  The operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle shown in this modified example is such that spacer ribs 66 and 67 projecting from front, rear, left and right of the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are on the end side of the grip portion 55 of the steering handle 17. An example of engagement with the circumferential groove 65 is shown, and other configurations or functions are not different from the operation box mounting structure of the electric vehicle 10 shown in FIGS. Reference numerals are attached and illustration and description are omitted.

  In the electric vehicle 10 shown in this modification, a circumferential groove 65 is formed on the end side of the grip portion 55 that is a mold portion of the steering handle 17, and the spacer rib 66 and the lower case 38 of the upper case 38 are formed in the circumferential groove 65. The spacer ribs 67 of the case 39 are fitted from above and below to be fitted. As a result of this fitting, the grip portion 55 of the steering handle 17 is sandwiched between the upper and lower spacer ribs 66 and 67, and the operation box 37 is stably and accurately held by the steering handle 17.

  The upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are provided with fastening bosses 58 and 59 on the inner side in the vicinity of the spacer ribs 66 and 67. The upper boss 59 of the lower case 39 is passed through a fastening means such as a screw or an insertion bolt 60 from below, and is screwed into the screw hole of the fastening boss 58 of the upper case 38 to be fastened. 38 and the lower case 39 are positioned with the fastening bosses 58 and 59 being butted together. The screw hole of the fastening boss 58 of the upper case 38 is formed as a blind hole, so that intrusion of rainwater or the like is prevented. Both the cases 38 and 39 are positioned by engaging the spacer ribs 66 and 67 with the peripheral groove 65 on the end portion side of the grip portion 55 of the steering handle 17, so that the operation box can be stably and accurately attached to the steering handle 17. Can be installed.

  Also in the operation box mounting structure shown in this modified example, the operation box 37 is stably held by the grip part (mold part) 55 of the steering handle 17, and the upper case 38 and the lower case 39 are connected to each other by the fastening bosses. By assembling and screwing from below, it is assembled with high assembling accuracy, and a box-shaped operation box 37 is constructed, which has the same effects as the operation box mounting structure shown in the embodiment.

The right view which shows the electric vehicle provided with the operation box attachment structure which concerns on this invention. The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the operation box attachment structure of the electric vehicle which concerns on this invention. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the upper case from the operation box shown by FIG. The partial view which looked up the assembly | attachment relationship of the upper case of an operation box, and the steering wheel from diagonally downward. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the assembly | attachment relationship of an operation box and a steering wheel. The perspective view which shows the assembly of the operation box assembled | attached to the center part of the steering handle. The partial perspective view which expands and shows the joint state of the upper case and lower case of an operation box, and the assembly state of an operation box and a steering handle. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the modification of the operation box attachment structure of the electric vehicle which concerns on this invention, and shows the assembly | attachment relationship of an operation box and a steering wheel.

Explanation of symbols

10 Electric vehicle (electric wheelchair)
11 Seat Seat 12 Car Body 13 Front Wheel 14 Rear Wheel 15 Car Body Frame 16 Steering Shaft 17 Steering Wheel 18 Rear Body 20 Back 21 Armrest 25 Front Frame 26 Rear Frame 27 Bridge Plate 30 Footrest Floor 31 Headlight 32 Basket 33, 34 Shaft Cover 35 Front Cover 37 Operation box 38 Upper case 39 Lower case 40 Battery remaining amount display means 41 Speed adjustment dial 42 Forward / reverse selector switch 43 Horn switch 44 Winker switch 45 Accelerator lever 47 Mounting plate (mounting base)
48 Mounting flange 49 Handlebar 50 Mounting bracket 51 Base (mounting seat)
52 Leg part 53 Handle insertion port 55 Grip part 56, 57, 66, 67 Spacer rib (engagement part)
58,59 Fastening boss 60 Fastening means (screw, insertion bolt)

Claims (6)

In an electric vehicle having a handle for steering a front wheel and having an operation box provided at the center of the handle,
Fixing the handle to a mounting base provided on the top of the steering shaft;
An operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle, wherein the operation box is held by a handle fixed to the mounting base. The operation box is composed of an upper case and a lower case in a vertically divided structure,
A plurality of engaging portions that sandwich the handle at the upper and lower facing positions of the upper case and the lower case are respectively projected.
2. The operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation box is held by the handle by sandwiching the handle between the engagement portion of the upper case and the engagement portion of the lower case facing each other. The handle includes a loop-shaped handlebar,
A grip portion is formed on the exposed portion of the handle bar protruding from the operation box on both sides,
The operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each of the engaging portions of the upper case and the lower case is brought into contact with an end portion of the grip portion from the inside. The handle includes a loop-shaped handlebar,
A grip portion is formed on the exposed portion of the handle bar protruding from the operation box on both sides,
The operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a circumferential groove is provided on an end side of the grip portion, and an engaging portion of the upper case and the lower case is fitted in the circumferential groove. A plurality of fastening bosses are provided on the upper case and the lower case so as to face each other vertically,
Providing each fastening boss at least in the vicinity of the engaging portion;
The operation box mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a pair of upper and lower fastening bosses are abutted and fastened with screws or the like, and the upper case and the lower case are coupled. 6. The operation box according to claim 1, wherein a fixed mounting base is accommodated in the top portion of the steering shaft, and the front and rear portions of the mounting base are fixed to mounting brackets fixed to the front and rear portions of the loop-shaped handle. Operation box mounting structure for electric vehicles.

Images