JP2008011680A - Battery assistant apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery assist apparatus in which a battery can easily be stored and managed without an increase in the number of batteries or without going to a prescribed facility even if electrical quantity of the battery is reduced and which does not need long time at the time of charging. <P>SOLUTION: When a remaining amount of the battery 200 becomes half or below by driving of an assist motor 300, for example, the remaining amount of the battery 200 in the middle of stop is detected when the battery assist apparatus stops. An engine generator 100 is automatically driven and power generation is started. Electricity generated by it is charged by the battery 200. When charging of the battery 200 is completed or a prescribed charging amount is filled, the engine generator 100 is automatically stopped and power generation is terminated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery assist device, and in particular, even when the amount of electricity of a battery is reduced, it is easy to store and manage the battery without increasing the number of batteries and going to a predetermined facility. The present invention relates to a battery assist device that does not require a long time.

  Among battery assist devices driven by a battery, a typical example is an electric assist bicycle. This electrically assisted bicycle is equipped with a drive motor and a power source battery, and electrically drives a traveling system such as wheels to perform assist traveling. As an example of such a power-assisted bicycle, there is a power source battery that is rechargeable as shown in Patent Document 1, and the cruising distance is increased by appropriately charging the battery.

However, according to the electrically assisted bicycle described in Patent Document 1, since a single power supply battery is used, there is a problem that the cruising distance by electricity cannot be extended sufficiently.
For this reason, for example, as described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of battery units for supplying motor driving power are provided, and the remaining battery level in the plurality of battery units is detected to determine the degree of battery consumption. There has been proposed a power-assisted bicycle in which a battery unit is switched by a power feeding switching unit.
According to this electrically assisted bicycle, it is possible to extend the cruising distance with a plurality of power supply batteries as compared with the case of using one power supply battery.

Further, for example, as described in Patent Document 3, when a parking device with a charging device is configured and the electric vehicle is parked and stopped on the parking member, the position where the power receiving member on the electric vehicle side just comes. A parking device with a charging device and a power receiving member for an electric vehicle have been proposed in which a power supply member is provided on the parking member side.
According to this, when the electric vehicle is parked on the parking member, the power feeding member and the power receiving member are electrically connected in a non-contact state, so the user simply parks the electric vehicle on the parking member. Therefore, no operation other than the parking operation is required, and charging is possible without impairing operability.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-035575 JP 2004-359032 A JP 2003-079006 A

However, the conventional rechargeable battery assist device described above has the following problems.
(1) When the battery runs out, it must be replaced with a spare battery that has been fully charged, or the battery assist device must be fixed in the charging position by visiting a designated facility for charging the battery. There is a problem that it takes time and time to go to a predetermined facility.
(2) A battery with no electricity is connected to a charger for charging. However, it takes several hours to complete the charging, and there is a problem that it takes a long time to charge.
(3) When a plurality of batteries are mounted on a battery assist device, there is a problem that many operations for charging the batteries are required. In addition, when a plurality of batteries are mounted on a battery assist device, there is a problem in that the load on the device itself increases and affects the operation of the device.
(4) When the number of batteries increases, there is a problem that storage and management become very complicated.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to facilitate storage and management of the battery without increasing the number of batteries even when the amount of electricity of the battery is reduced, and without going to a predetermined facility. The object is to provide a battery assist device which is not required.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery assist device in which a device equipped with a motor and a battery is electrically driven and an assist operation is performed by the battery. There is provided a battery assist device comprising: an engine for generating power; a power generator for generating electricity by the engine; and a control means for controlling operations of the fuel, the engine, and the power generator.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the control means includes a detection means for detecting a battery voltage of the battery and a drive current of the motor.

  In this case, it is desirable to control so that the battery is charged when the detected value is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the current of the motor is OFF. It is desirable to control the battery to stop charging when the current is ON, and it is preferable not to charge the battery when the detected value is greater than a predetermined value.

  As described above, in the present invention, in a battery assist device in which a device equipped with a motor and a battery is electrically driven and the assist operation is performed by the battery, a predetermined fuel, an engine driven by the fuel, Since the generator for generating power by the engine and the control means for controlling the operation of the fuel, the engine and the generator are provided, even if the amount of electricity of the battery is reduced, the number of batteries is not increased. Therefore, it is possible to provide a battery assist device that can easily store and manage a battery without going to a predetermined facility and that does not require a long time for charging.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration concept of a battery assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, the battery assist device is generally driven by an engine generator 100 that generates power by an engine, a battery 200 that charges electricity generated by the engine generator 100, and the amount of electricity of the battery 200. The assist motor 300 and the switch 400 that performs ON / OFF switching of the connection to the battery 200 by the relay circuit 500 are included.

  In the battery assist device configured as described above, the assist motor 300 is normally driven by the battery 200. In this respect, there is no difference from the conventional battery assist device. In the present invention, when the remaining amount of the battery 200 is reduced to, for example, half or less by driving the assist motor 300, when the battery assist device is stopped, the remaining amount of the stopped battery 200 is detected, and the engine When the generator 100 is automatically driven to start power generation, the battery 200 is charged with the generated electricity, and when the charging of the battery 200 is completed or a predetermined charge amount is satisfied, the engine generator 100 is automatically Power generation is stopped and power generation is terminated. When the battery assist device is operated and the assist motor 300 is driven while the battery 200 is being charged, the engine generator 100 is stopped and power generation is also stopped.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the engine generator 100 described above.
As shown in the figure, the engine generator 100 includes an engine 1, a generator 2 connected to the output shaft of the engine 1, a starter motor 3 for starting the engine 1, and natural gas or the like in the engine 1. The fuel cylinder 4 for supplying the fuel, the sound absorber 5 for reducing the exhaust sound exhausted from the engine 1 to the outside, the supplied fuel sent from the fuel cylinder 4 to the engine 1 and the required air sent to the engine 1 An air amount adjuster 6 for adjusting the amount, a control box 7 in which a control circuit for controlling each of these components is accommodated, and a small case 8 in which these are accommodated.

  As shown in the figure, the components are arranged such that the sound absorber 5 is first disposed at the bottom of the case 8 and the engine 1 is disposed at a right angle thereon. An air amount adjuster 6 is disposed on the engine 1. The output shaft of the engine 1 is connected to the generator 2 and the starter motor 3 and is disposed on the sound absorber 5. And the fuel cylinder 4 is arrange | positioned along with the sound absorber 5. FIG. A control box 7 is disposed on the sound absorber 5 in a portion surrounded by the fuel cylinder 4 and the starter motor 3.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the constituent parts of the engine generator 100 shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the fuel cylinder 4 includes a fuel supply pipe 41 that supplies the fuel in the fuel cylinder 4 to the fuel supply port 61 of the air amount regulator 6 and an electromagnetic valve that controls the supply of the fuel to the engine 1. 42 is provided. In addition to the fuel supply port 61, the air amount adjuster 6 is provided with an air intake hole 62 for taking in air. The air taken in here is mixed with the fuel supplied from the fuel cylinder 4. Then, the mixing ratio is appropriately adjusted by the lever 63 as necessary, and supplied to the engine 1. The exhaust port (not shown) of the engine 1 is connected to the exhaust connection port 51 of the sound absorber 5, and the exhaust discharged from the engine 1 passes through the exhaust connection port 51 while being exhausted by the sound absorber 5. The air is exhausted from the mouth 52 to the outside. Further, the control box 7 is provided with a power lamp 710 indicating an energized state and a power switch 711 for turning on / off the power. As will be described later, the control circuit of the control box 7 is connected to the battery 200 (not shown), the engine 1, the generator 2, the starter motor 3, and the fuel tank 4 through electrical wiring. In addition, the case 8 is provided with an opening 81 for preventing the inside of the case 8 from being sealed, and an opening 82 for an exhaust port into which the exhaust port 52 provided in the sound absorber is fitted. .

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of electrical wiring between the control circuit of the control box 7 and other components.
In the figure, reference numeral 101 is an ignition coil, 201 is a diode that rectifies the alternating current generated by the generator and converts it into direct current, 701 detects the motor drive of the assist motor 300 or the voltage of the battery 200, and gives a required changeover switch signal. A sensor to be output, 702 is an electronic switch for switching the switch 703 based on a switch signal from the sensor 701, and 704 to 706 are switches for turning on / off based on respective controls.

The operation of the battery assist device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the configuration of the engine generator 100 described in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the circuit diagram of FIG.
First, it is assumed that the assist motor 300 that assists the battery assist device is driven by the battery 200 and consumes the electricity charged in the battery 200.
Therefore, the sensor 701 first determines whether or not the assist motor 300 is driven, and repeats the same determination if it is driven, and detects the battery voltage of the battery 200 if it is not driven.
If the voltage of the battery 200 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, for example, more than half, it is determined that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery 200 still remains, and the same detection is repeated.
If the voltage of the battery 200 is less than a predetermined value, for example, less than half, it is determined that the remaining amount of electricity in the battery 200 is not sufficient, a changeover switch signal is sent to the electronic switch 702, and the switch S1 of the switch 703 is turned on. Turn it on.
When the switch S1 is turned on, the starting motor 3 is turned on and the engine 1 is started. Then, the generator 2 is rotated by driving the engine 1 to start power generation.
When power generation is started, the sensor 701 sends a switch signal to the electronic switch 702, turns off the switch S1 of the starter motor 3 and the battery 200, and turns on the switch S2 of the generator 2 and the battery 200 instead. Turn it on and start charging. When the sensor 701 monitors the voltage of the battery 200 and determines that the charging of the battery 200 has been completed, the sensor 701 sends a changeover switch signal to the electronic switch 702 to turn on the switch S3 of the switch 703 and switch S4 of the switch 704. Is turned off to stop the engine 1 and stop supplying electricity to the battery 200.
When the engine 1 is automatically stopped for some reason, the solenoid valve 42 is turned off to shut off the fuel from the fuel cylinder 4 for safety.
The power switch 711 and the ignition switch (not shown) of the control box 7 are interlocked with the fuel supply solenoid valve 42. When the switch S6 of the switch 706 is OFF, the solenoid valve 42 is also turned OFF and fuel does not leak. Like that.
When stopping the engine 1, an ignition switch (not shown) is turned off.

As described above, according to the battery assist device according to the present embodiment, the engine generator is provided in the battery assist device.
(1) Even if the battery runs out, it is not necessary to replace the battery or go to a predetermined facility for charging the battery and fix the battery assist device in the charging position, and charging is possible while the device is stopped. This makes it possible to eliminate the complexity of charging.
(2) Since it is not necessary to install a plurality of batteries in the battery assist device, the operation of the device is not affected, and the battery itself is charged while the device is stopped, so that the operation itself is simplified.
(3) Battery storage and management became easier.
(4) Moreover, since it is comprised as mentioned above, the applicable range of the battery assist apparatus applied expanded. For example, the present invention can naturally be applied to a power-assisted bicycle. In this case, the battery assist device only needs to be installed under the loading platform of the electrically assisted bicycle or in a place where there is no problem with driving.

  For this reason, for example, when the battery assist device is an electric senior car, even when an elderly person goes out in an electric senior car, charging is performed while the vehicle is stopped, so fuel can be easily replenished and the battery will not run out. , You wo n’t run out of battery. In addition, for example, when the battery assist device is an electric assist bicycle for home delivery, since the battery is charged while the vehicle is stopped, long-time work for home delivery becomes very efficient.

  In the above embodiment, the fuel filled in the fuel cylinder has been described with an example of natural gas. However, the fuel is not limited to this, and may be LPG, gasoline, hydrogen, rapeseed oil, light oil, or the like. good. The fuel cylinder may be of a cassette type so that it can be easily replaced.

  In addition, the battery assist device to be applied is not limited to an electric assist bicycle or an electric senior car as long as it is driven by a battery, but a lawn mower for garden, a mower, a watering pump, a sprayer, a security robot Etc. Of course, it can also be used as an emergency power generator during power outages, disasters, or outdoor work.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure concept of the battery assist apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an engine generator 100. FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which constituent parts of the engine generator 100 shown in FIG. 2 are taken out from a case 8. It is a circuit diagram of the electrical wiring with the control circuit of the control box 7, and each part of another structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engine 2 Generator 3 Starter motor 4 Fuel cylinder 5 Sound absorber 6 Air quantity regulator 7 Control box 8 Case 41 Fuel supply pipe 42 Solenoid valve 51 Exhaust connection port 52 Exhaust port 61 Fuel supply port 62 Air intake hole 63 Lever 81 Opening 82 Opening for exhaust port 100 Engine generator 101 Ignition coil 200 Battery 201 Diode 300 Assist motor 400 Switch 500 Relay circuit 701 Sensor 702 Electronic switch 703-706 Switch 710 Power lamp 711 Power switch

Claims (5)

In a battery assist device in which a device equipped with a motor and a battery is electrically driven to assist the device with the battery,
With the prescribed fuel,
An engine driven by the fuel;
A generator for generating electricity by the engine;
Control means for controlling the operation of the fuel, engine and generator;
A battery assist device characterized by comprising:   The battery assist device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a detection unit configured to detect a battery voltage of the battery and a driving current of the motor.   The detection means detects the battery voltage and controls the battery to be charged when the detected value is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the current of the motor is OFF. The battery assist device described in 1.   The detection means detects the battery voltage, and controls the battery to stop charging when the detected value is not more than a predetermined value and the current of the motor is ON. Item 3. The battery assist device according to Item 2. 3. The battery assist device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects the battery voltage and does not charge the battery when the detected value is greater than a predetermined value.

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