JP2009083651A - Light vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate seating when a care receiver is seated. <P>SOLUTION: Front-rear wheels 5, 7 and 9 are supported by an under carriage frame 3. The rear wheel 9 being at least one of the front-rear wheels 5, 7 and 9 is used as a driving wheel, and the front wheels 5 and 7 being at least one of the front-rear wheels 5, 7 and 9 are used as a steering wheel. The under carriage frame 3 is provided with a main seat 11 and a sub-seat 13 of a front position more than the main seat 11. A sub-occupant such as the care receiver is easily and stably seated on the sub-seat 13. This vehicle can be steered by steering of the front wheels 5 and 7 by traveling by driving of the rear wheel 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light vehicle provided as a nursing care vehicle or the like in which a caregiver rides on a main seat and travels with the care receiver placed on a sub seat.

  Conventionally, there exists a thing as described in patent document 1 in a light vehicle.

  This light vehicle has a rear wheel as a driving wheel by a foot, a front wheel supported as a steering wheel that can be steered by a steering wheel, a seat frame, a seat, and a carrier at the front.

  Therefore, an occupant seated on the seat can travel by putting an object or the like on the carrier, driving the rear wheel by a foot pad, and steering the front wheel by the steering handle.

  However, although the carrier is suitable for carrying an object, it is merely provided at the front part of the chassis frame for the cargo bed.

  For this reason, there is a difficulty in terms of ease of sitting when a care recipient is seated.

WO99 / 61304

  The problem to be solved is that there is a problem in terms of ease of sitting when a care recipient is seated.

  The present invention supports the front and rear wheels on a chassis frame, makes at least one of the front and rear wheels a drive wheel, and steers at least one of the front and rear wheels to make it easier to sit when a cared person or the like is seated. The main feature is that the main frame and the sub-seat in front of the main seat are provided on the chassis frame.

  The present invention supports front and rear wheels on a chassis frame, at least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel, at least one of the front and rear wheels is a steering wheel, and the chassis frame has a main seat and the main seat. A secondary seat in the front position was provided.

  For this reason, it is possible to easily and stably seat a sub-occupant such as a cared person on the auxiliary seat, travel by driving at least one of the front and rear wheels, and steer by at least one steering of the front and rear wheels.

  The purpose of facilitating the sitting of a cared person or the like is realized by providing a main seat and a sub-seat at a position ahead of the main seat.

[Frame structure]
1 is a side view of a light vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the light vehicle 1 is configured as a three-wheeled vehicle by supporting two left and right front wheels 5 and 7 and one right and left rear wheel 9 on the chassis frame 3. Yes. The light vehicle 1 is provided with a main seat 11 and a sub-seat 13 positioned in front of the main seat 11.

  The chassis frame 3 includes a main frame 15 and a side support frame 17 and supports the front and rear wheels 5 and 7.

  The main frame 15 extends in the front-rear direction, is curved in a rearward convex shape, and is inclined from the axle side of the front wheels 5, 7 toward the rear upper side. The main seat 11 is supported on the upper end of the main frame 15. The main seat 11 is disposed above the axle of the rear wheel 9 and includes a seat portion 18 and a backrest portion 19.

  A frame support rod 20 is erected on the front side of the middle portion of the main frame 15, and the front wheels 5, 7 are supported to be steerable as steered wheels. It is supported via a mechanism and can be tilted left and right. The front end portion 16 of the main frame 15 passes through the left and right center lower sides of the sub seat 13 and protrudes forward from the front wheels 5 and 7, and a footrest portion 21 is rotatably attached to the front end portion 16 via a hinge 22. . Therefore, the footrest portion 21 is configured to be movable between a use position shown by a solid line in front of the lower portion of the sub seat 13 and a storage position below the sub seat 13 shown by a chain line.

  The front ends of the drive unit support frames 23 and 25 are coupled to the rear side of the intermediate portion of the main frame 15. The drive unit support frames 23 and 25 extend rearward, and the rear wheel 9 is supported as a drive wheel at the rear end. A rear wheel cover 26 that covers the rear wheel 9 is attached to the drive unit support frames 23 and 25.

  The rear wheel 9 can be driven by a footing mechanism 27 having an electric assist unit. The foot mechanism 27 includes left and right pedals 29 and 31. The left and right pedals 29, 31 are supported so that the rear ends of the pedal arms 19 a, 31 a can be rotated concentrically with the axle of the rear wheel 9 on the drive unit support frames 23, 25 side. The rear ends of the pedal arms 19a and 31a are coupled to a drive unit (not shown) of a foot mechanism 27 provided in the drive unit support frames 23 and 25 via a gear or the like, It is linked to the axle of the rear wheel 9. An assist electric motor (not shown) is linked to the axle of the rear wheel 9, and the assist electric motor can assist the rear wheel 9 with the battery 32 as a power source.

  The side support frame 17 includes a base portion 33, support portions 35 and 37, and a handle support portion 39, and is formed in an oval frame shape that is vertically long when viewed from the front as shown in FIG. The lower portions of the support portions 35 and 37 converge and continue to the base portion 33, and the base portion 33 is coupled to the frame support rod 20 of the main frame 15. The support portions 35 and 37 are formed so as to bend and bend in a backward concave shape from the axle side of the front wheels 5 and 7 to the rear upper side when viewed from the side.

  The battery 32 is detachably supported at an intermediate portion of the main frame 15 and is covered with a detachable battery cover 40.

  The auxiliary seat 13 is supported between the lower portions of the support portions 35 and 37. The sub-seat 13 is configured by a bucket-shaped seat and includes a seat portion 41 and a backrest portion 43.

  The seat portion 41 is supported on the rear portion 41 a side by the base portion 33 and the upper end of the frame support rod 20, and the front end portion 41 b side projects forward from the left and right support portions 35 and 37. As for the backrest part 43, the upper part 43a and the up-and-down intermediate part 43b are supported by the support parts 35 and 37, and protrude back from the support parts 35 and 37.

  Therefore, the support portions 35 and 37 of the side support frame 17 are configured to support the side portions of the cared person who is the vice occupant who stands on both sides of the sub seat 13 and sits on the sub seat 13.

  The auxiliary seat 13 is disposed at a lower position than the main seat 11 on the upper axle side of the front wheels 5 and 7. The ground height of the seat surface of the seat portion 41 of the sub-seat 13 is set in correspondence with the knee position of the person. The height of the seat surface above the ground is based on the height of the front end 41b of the seat 41. The ground height can also be based on the seating surface at the center of the seat 41 or the like.

  A front support 45 is attached to the support portions 35 and 37 of the side support frame 17. The front support 45 has a shape that surrounds the front side of the auxiliary passenger seated on the auxiliary seat 13. The front support 45 is provided such that a front portion 45a is rotatable in the left-right direction with respect to the base portion 45b as shown by a chain line in FIG. The base portion 45 b is provided integrally with the support portions 35 and 37.

  Therefore, when sitting on the sub-seat 13, the front portion 45a of the front support 45 can be retreated by rotating as shown by the chain line in FIG. 2 with respect to one of the base portions 45b.

  The handle support portion 39 is provided on the top side of the side support frame 17 and supports the steering handle 51 as a steering portion so that it can be rotated left and right. By operating the steering handle 51 by the main occupant of the main seat 11, the front wheels 5 and 7, which are steered wheels, can be interlocked and steered. The steering handle 51 is provided with brake levers 52 and 54, one of which is linked to the brakes of the front wheels 5 and 7 via a wire (not shown), and the other is linked to the brakes of the rear wheel 9.

  A rotation angle sensor 53 is attached to the handle support portion 39. The rotation angle sensor 53 is configured to detect the left / right rotation angle of the steering handle 51 and input it to the controller 52.

  The controller 52 is configured to steer the front wheels 5 and 7 which are steered wheels by driving and controlling a steered electric motor which will be described later according to the left and right rotational angles detected by the rotation angle sensor 53.

[Steering mechanism and left / right tilt mechanism]
FIG. 4 is a main part schematic perspective view showing a front wheel steering mechanism and a right / left tilt mechanism.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the front wheels 5 and 7 can be steered via the steering link 56 of the steering mechanism 55, and can be tilted left and right with respect to the main frame 15 by the left and right tilt mechanism 57. ing. The steering mechanism 55 and the left / right tilt mechanism 57 are accommodated in a mechanism cover 63 that is detachably mounted on the main frame 15.

  The steering mechanism 55 includes a steering electric motor 59 controlled by the controller 52. The steering electric motor 59 is fixed to the rear surface of the intermediate portion of the frame support rod 20.

  The front wheels 5, 7 are rotatably supported by spindles 67, 69 attached to both ends of the front wheel axle 65, and are the same as the knuckle arms 71, 73 of the steering link 56 fixed to the spindles 67, 69. Both ends of the tie rod 75 are connected so as to be relatively rotatable.

  At the center of the tie rod 75, an interlocking plate 77 is attached, and a crank 79 attached to the output shaft of the steering electric motor 59 is loosely coupled. This coupling allows the tie rod 75 to move left and right and slightly back and forth with respect to the left and right swing of the crank 79.

  Accordingly, when the steering electric motor 59 is driven to rotate in either the left or right direction, the tie rod 75 moves in either the left or right direction via the crank 79 and the interlocking plate 77, and the knuckle arms 71 and 73 are moved from the tie rod 75. Receives rotational force.

  The rotational force applied to the knuckle arms 71 and 73 is transmitted to the spindles 67 and 69, the spindles 67 and 69 rotate together, and the front wheels 5 and 7 are steered in either the left or right direction.

  The left / right tilt mechanism 57 is configured to rotate the axle 65 of the front wheels 5, 7 to the left or right with respect to the chassis frame 3 in accordance with the left / right inclination of the road surface, thereby maintaining the horizontal travel of the chassis frame 3.

  The axle 65 includes a boss portion 81 at the center of the left and right, the boss portion 81 is disposed on the main frame 15, and is rotatably supported between the bracket 61 fixed to the main frame 15 and the frame support rod 20. An arc-shaped rack 89 is fixed to the boss portion 81.

  A tilt electric motor 85 is supported on the front side (left side in FIG. 1) of the frame support rod 20, and this tilt electric motor 85 is controlled by a controller 52 that also functions as a tilt control unit. A pinion 87 attached to the drive shaft of the inclined electric motor 85 meshes with an arc-shaped rack 89 fixed to the boss portion 81.

  An inclination sensor 91 is attached to the frame support rod 20. The tilt sensor 91 detects the left / right tilt of the chassis frame 3 and inputs the signal to the controller 52.

  Therefore, when the light vehicle 1 travels on an inclined road surface or the like at the end of the road, when the tilt sensor 91 detects the left and right tilt angles of the chassis frame 3 and inputs them to the controller 52, the controller 52 moves the tilt electric motor 85. A drive signal is output to the tilt electric motor 85 according to the tilt.

  By driving the tilt electric motor 85, the arc-shaped rack 89 is driven through the pinion 87, and the boss portion 81 is driven to rotate left and right.

  When the boss 81 is rotationally driven, the axle 65 swings and rotates to the left or right at the boss 81, and the front wheels 5 and 7 are tilted together with the axle 65 in the road surface inclination direction with respect to the chassis frame 3.

  Due to the inclination of the front wheels 5, 7 and the axle 65, the chassis frame 3 can maintain a substantially horizontal state and can travel accurately even on a road surface inclined left or right.

[Sitting]
The caregiver who is the main occupant seats the cared person who is the sub occupant on the sub-seat 13 before boarding.

  At this time, the front portion 45a of the front support 45 is rotated to the retracted position as shown by a chain line in FIG. 2, and the footrest portion 21 is rotated around the hinge 22 to obtain the storage position shown by the chain line in FIG.

  The cared person is caused to stand rearward with respect to the seat part 41 of the sub-seat 13, and the waist is dropped on the seat part 41 as if the cared person's knee is folded.

  Next, the foot rest portion 21 is rotated and set to the use position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and both feet of the cared person are lifted and placed on the foot rest portion 21.

  Next, the upper half of the cared person is securely held by the backrest 43 of the sub-seat 13, and the front portion 45a of the front support 45 is returned to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

  In the sitting state of the care recipient, the upper body is securely held by the backrest portion 43, and the side portions are supported by the support portions 35 and 37 of the side support frame 17. The front side of the cared person is reliably supported by the front support 45.

  The caregiver who is the main occupant sits on the main seat 11, holds the traveling handle 51, and puts the left and right pedals 29 and 31 on the left and right feet.

  When the pedals 29 and 31 are alternately depressed, the rear wheel 9 is driven by the operation of the electric assist footing mechanism 27 and the vehicle can travel on the three front and rear wheels 5, 7 and 9.

  When the steering handle 51 is steered in the turning direction, the rotation angle sensor 53 detects the rotation angle of the steering handle 51 by steering and inputs it to the controller 52.

  The controller 52 can drive the steering electric motor 59 according to the rotation angle, and can steer the left and right front wheels 5 and 7 in the turning direction as described above.

  When the light vehicle 1 travels on an inclined road surface or the like at the end of the road, the controller 52 drives the tilt electric motor 85 as described above by detecting the tilt angle of the tilt sensor 91, and the axle 65 and the front wheels 5, 7. It is possible to maintain the substantially horizontal posture of the chassis frame 3 by tilting the frame. Therefore, the main seat 11 and the sub-seat 13 can travel smoothly in a stable posture without being inclined.

[Effect of Example]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the front and rear wheels 5, 7, 9 are supported on the chassis frame 3, and the rear wheel 9, which is at least one of the front / rear wheels 5, 7, 9, is used as a drive wheel. , 9 as steering wheels, and the chassis frame 3 is provided with a main seat 11 and a sub-seat 13 in front of the main seat 11.

  For this reason, a secondary passenger such as a cared person can be easily and stably seated on the secondary seat 13, travel by driving the rear wheels 9, and steer by steering the front wheels 5 and 7.

  The front wheels 5 and 7 are provided with two right and left wheels, and the rear wheel 9 is a three-wheeled vehicle provided with one wheel at the center of the left and right.

  For this reason, it is possible to travel while stably supporting the auxiliary seat 13 with the left and right front wheels 5, 7.

  The main seat 11 is disposed on the upper side of the axle of the rear wheel 9, and the auxiliary seat 13 is disposed on the upper side of the axle 65 of the front wheels 5, 7.

  For this reason, the weight of the caregiver is hung on the rear wheel 9, and the weight of the cared person is hung on the front wheels 5 and 7, the front-rear weight balance is good and the vehicle can travel stably.

  The sub-seat 13 is disposed at a lower position than the main seat 11.

  For this reason, the care worker's front view can be easily secured, and the caregiver can easily visually care the care recipient.

  A side support frame 17 that is fixed to the chassis frame 3 and rises on both sides of the auxiliary seat 13 to support a side of a cared person who sits on the auxiliary seat 13 is provided, and the side support frame 17 includes: A steering wheel 51 that links the front wheels 5 and 7 is supported by a caregiver operating the main seat 11.

  Therefore, a special frame for supporting the steering handle 51 is not required, and a simple and lightweight frame structure can be obtained.

  The support portions 35 and 37 of the side support frame 17 are formed so as to be bent forward and to be inclined from the axle 65 side to the rear upper side of the front wheels 5 and 7.

  Therefore, the steering handle 51 can be reasonably brought closer to the main seat 1 side while the support portions 35 and 37 are arranged on the side of the care recipient, and a rational frame structure can be achieved.

  The side support frame 17 is provided with a front support 45 that can be disposed so as to surround the front side of a cared person seated on the auxiliary seat 13.

  Therefore, the front part of the cared person can be reliably supported.

  A footrest portion 21 located in front of the lower portion of the auxiliary seat 13 is attached to the chassis frame 3.

  Therefore, while being able to support a care receiver's both legs, the footrest part 21 becomes a protector and can protect a care receiver against an obstacle ahead.

  The main seat 11 is supported on the upper end of a main frame 15 that is curved so as to protrude rearward and is inclined from the axle 65 side to the rear upper side of the front wheels 5, 7.

  Therefore, when the caregiver is seated on the main seat 11, the space between the front and rear sides of the side support frame 17 and the main frame 15 can be widened, and the degree of freedom of the caregiver can be expanded.

  The drive wheel 9 can be driven by a footing mechanism 27 having an electric assist unit.

Therefore, the caregiver can travel lightly even with the cared person on board.
[Others]
The front wheels 5 and 7 can also be drive wheels.

  The rear wheel 9 or the front and rear wheels 5, 7, 9 can also be steered wheels.

  The steering unit can be configured with a steering button, lever, or the like instead of the steering handle 51.

  Both the front and rear wheels can be configured as a two-wheeled four-wheel vehicle or the like.

It is a side view of a light vehicle. Example 1 It is a front view of a light vehicle. Example 1 It is a top view of a light vehicle. Example 1 It is a principal part schematic perspective view which shows the steering mechanism and left-right inclination mechanism of a front wheel. Example 1

Explanation of symbols

1 Light vehicle 3 Chassis frame 5, 7 Front wheel (steering wheel)
9 Rear wheel (drive wheel)
11 Main seat 13 Secondary seat 17 Side support frame 21 Foot rest part 27 Foot mechanism 36 Controller (steering control part)
45 Front support 51 Steering handle (steering part)
65 axles

Claims (10)

Support the front and rear wheels on the chassis frame,
At least one of the front and rear wheels is a drive wheel,
At least one of the front and rear wheels is a steering wheel,
The chassis frame is provided with a main seat and a sub-seat located in front of the main seat.
A light vehicle characterized by that. The light vehicle according to claim 1,
The front wheel is provided with two left and right wheels, and the rear wheel is a three-wheeled vehicle provided with one wheel at the center of the left and right.
A light vehicle characterized by that. A light vehicle according to claim 1 or 2,
The main seat is disposed on the axle upper side of the rear wheel,
The auxiliary seat is disposed on the axle upper side of the front wheel,
A light vehicle characterized by that. The light vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The sub-seat is disposed at a lower position than the main seat;
A light vehicle characterized by that. A light vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A side support frame that is fixed to the chassis frame and that supports the side of the occupant standing on both sides of the auxiliary seat and sitting on the auxiliary seat;
The side support frame is supported by a steering unit that interlocks the steered wheels by being operated by a main occupant of the main seat.
A light vehicle characterized by that. A light vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The steering unit is a steering handle supported on the top of the side support frame so as to be capable of rotating left and right.
A steering electric motor for steering the steering wheel is provided,
A rotation angle sensor for detecting a left and right rotation angle of the steering handle;
A steering control unit that drives the steering electric motor and steers the steering wheel according to a right and left rotation angle detected by the rotation angle sensor is provided.
A light vehicle characterized by that. A light vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The side support frame is formed so as to be bent forward and to be inclined from the front wheel axle side to the rear upper side.
A light vehicle characterized by that. A light vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The side support frame is provided with a front support that can be arranged so as to surround the front side of the vice occupant seated in the sub seat.
A light vehicle characterized by that. A light vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
To the chassis frame, a footrest portion located in front of the lower part of the auxiliary seat is attached.
A light vehicle characterized by that. A light vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The drive wheel can be driven by a foot mechanism provided with an electric assist unit.
A light vehicle characterized by that.

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