JP2010036786A - Wheel angle changing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheel angle changing mechanism having a small space required, and a simple structure, and capable of transmitting the torque in a substantially longitudinally uniform manner. <P>SOLUTION: The wheel angle changing mechanism 1 for changing the angle of a pair of right and left wheel parts 7 includes an upper link member 5 for linking upper parts of the pair of right and left wheel parts 7, a lower link member 6 for linking lower parts of the pair of right and left wheel parts 7, a slide actuator body 41 supported by the lower link member 6, and a slider 45 connected to the slide actuator body 41 and the upper link member 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wheel angle changing mechanism capable of changing a wheel angle with a simple structure.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a vehicle that is configured as a single-seater two-wheeled vehicle with a downsized vehicle, in which the vehicle body is tilted by a link mechanism when the vehicle is turning, the turning performance is improved, and the vehicle can turn stably. (See Patent Document 1).
International Publication No. 2007/052676

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since a telescopic actuator is used as the link mechanism, a wide space is required, and there is a case where it interferes with other members. Further, in order to increase the tilt angle, it is necessary to enlarge the actuator body.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is also conceivable to use a rotary actuator 101 instead of the telescopic actuator. However, since the rotary actuator 101 must be disposed at the center of either of the upper and lower link members 102a and 102b, the boarding position becomes higher and the minimum ground clearance becomes lower. In addition, since only one of the front and rear link members 102a and 102c can transmit torque, the transmission of torque varies.

  Although it is possible to use a hollow rotary actuator 110 as shown in FIG. 8 so as to transmit torque to the front and rear link members 102a and 102c simultaneously, the connecting shaft 103 is passed through the actuator central axis. The actuator body becomes large.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wheel angle changing mechanism that can transmit torque substantially in the front-rear direction with a simple structure that requires a small space.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a wheel angle changing mechanism that changes the angle of the pair of left and right wheel portions, and an upper link member that connects the upper portions of the pair of left and right wheel portions and a lower portion that connects the lower portions of the pair of left and right wheel portions. The slider includes a link member, a slide actuator main body supported by the lower link member, the slide actuator main body, and the upper link member.

  In addition, the upper link member has a hole portion that is long in the vertical direction, and the wheel portion has a connecting portion that is movably connected in the hole portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the wheel angle changing mechanism that changes the angle of the pair of left and right wheel portions, the upper link member that connects the upper portion of the pair of left and right wheel portions, and the lower portion of the pair of left and right wheel portions. A lower link member for connecting the slider, a slide actuator main body supported by the lower link member, a slider connected to the slide actuator main body, and the upper link member. With a small and simple structure, torque can be transmitted approximately evenly in the front-rear direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the upper link member has a hole portion that is long in the vertical direction, and the wheel portion has a connecting portion that is movably connected in the hole portion. Can be operated to.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a wheel angle changing mechanism 1 of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the wheel angle changing mechanism 1 of the first embodiment.

  1 and 2, 1 is a wheel angle changing mechanism, 2 is a frame as an example of a vehicle body, 3 is a riding portion, 4 is a slide actuator, 5 is an upper link member, 6 is a lower link member, 7 is a wheel portion, 8 is a wheel drive motor.

  The wheel angle changing mechanism 1 of the first embodiment is a mechanism for changing the angle of the wheel portion 7 provided at a portion connecting the frame 2 and the wheel portion 7.

  The wheel angle changing mechanism 1 includes a riding section 3 supported by the frame 2, an upper link member 5 and a lower link member 6 coupled to the frame 2, and a slide actuator 4 supported by the lower link member 6. .

  The frame 2 mounts the riding section 3 on the upper side and is connected to the upper link member 5 and the lower link member 6 on the lower side. The frame 2 includes two front and rear first frames 2a to which the riding portion 3, the upper link member 5 and the lower link member 6 are connected, and a connecting protrusion 2b for connecting the first frame 2a and the upper link member 5 at the center, Have In this embodiment, a bolt and a nut are applied as the connecting protrusion 2b, the bolt is inserted from the concave portion of the first frame 2a, and the bolt is tightened from the upper link member 5 side with the nut.

  The wheel unit 7 includes a wheel 7a and a tire 7b (not shown), and has a wheel drive motor 8 as an in-wheel motor. The wheel drive motor 8 includes a first protrusion 8 a for connecting to the upper link member 5 and a second protrusion 8 b for connecting to the lower link member 6. In this embodiment, as the 1st protrusion part 8a and the 2nd protrusion part 8b, it has a structure where a volt | bolt is applied and it attaches to the internal thread provided in the case of the wheel drive motor 8, etc. In addition, in this embodiment, although the 1st protrusion part 8a and the 2nd protrusion part 8b which connect with the upper link member 5 and the lower link member 6 were formed in the wheel drive motor 8, not only this but the wheel of the wheel part 7 is formed. You may form in the wheel support member which supports 7a and the tire 7b rotatably.

  The upper link member 5 is provided on each of the front and rear sides, and both ends thereof are respectively connected to the left and right wheel portions 7, and is connected to the first frame 2a at the center by a connecting projection 2b. Further, it is connected to the slide actuator 4 via a connecting portion 44 and a slider 45 at the lower center. The upper link member 5 has a first hole portion 5 a that is long in the vertical direction at a connection portion with the connection protrusion 2 b, and a second hole portion 5 b that is long in the vertical direction at a connection portion with the wheel drive motor 8. The connecting protrusion 2b can move in the first hole 5a, and the first protrusion 8a of the wheel drive motor 8 can move in the second hole 5b.

  The lower link member 6 is provided on each of the front and rear sides, and both ends thereof are rotatably connected to the second protrusions 8b of the left and right wheel drive motors 8, respectively, and are rotatably connected to the first frame 2a at the center. Below the lower link member 6, an installation base 9 for installing the slide actuator 4 is attached across the front and rear.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing the slide actuator 4 of the present embodiment. The slide actuator 4 has a ball screw 42 installed on a rail 41 as a slide actuator body, and is held by the ball screw 42 by a nut block 43, and a slider 45 provided with a connecting portion 44 is connected to a drive actuator 46 such as a servo motor. Is moved along the rail 41. The position of the connecting portion 44 is detected by a slider position sensor 47. A battery, ECU, or the like may be used for the connecting portion 44.

  In the first embodiment, the rail 41 of the slide actuator 4 is fixed to the installation base 9, and the connecting portion 44 is connected to the upper link member 5.

  Next, the operation of the wheel angle changing mechanism 1 of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the angle of the wheel unit 7 is changed. FIG. 4 is a view of the vehicle as viewed from the front.

  To change the angle of the wheel portion 7, the slide actuator 4 is operated. When the drive actuator 46 of the slide actuator 4 is operated, the slider 45 and the connecting portion 44 move with respect to the rail 41. As the connecting portion 44 moves, the upper link member 5 moves in the same direction.

  At this time, since the first frame 2a is inclined, the distance in the vertical direction between the upper link member 5 and the lower link member 6 is shortened. Therefore, the connecting protrusion 2b moves downward in the first hole 5a, and the first protrusion 8a of the wheel drive motor 8 moves downward in the second hole 5b. In this way, the angle of the wheel portion 7 can be changed.

  Further, as the angle of the wheel portion 7 is changed, the angle of the riding portion 3 is also changed by changing the angle of the first frame 2a. Specifically, since the riding section 3 is inclined inward in the turning direction, the center of gravity is moved, and a force capable of resisting centrifugal force is generated, so that the posture during turning is stabilized.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the wheel angle changing mechanism 1 of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an operation diagram of the wheel angle changing mechanism 1 of the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the upper link member 5 is only one at the substantially center in the front-rear direction. And the upper link member 5 can be united by connecting the slider 45 of the slide actuator 4 to the upper link member 5 integrally. Note that the slider 45 of the slide actuator 4 and the upper link member 5 are not limited to the structure of being directly connected, but may be connected via the connecting portion 45.

  In addition, the connecting portion between the wheel portion 7 and the upper link member 5 is provided with a recess 8 c in the wheel drive motor 8 and a shaft 8 d in the front-rear direction in the recess 8 c. The inside is movably connected. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Next, the operation of the wheel angle changing mechanism 1 of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the angle of the wheel unit 7 is changed. In addition, FIG. 6 is the figure which looked at the vehicle from the front.

  To change the angle of the wheel portion 7, the slide actuator 4 is operated. When the drive actuator 46 of the slide actuator 4 is operated, the slider 45 moves with respect to the rail 41. As the slider 45 moves, the upper link member 5 moves in the same direction.

  At this time, since the wheel portion 7 is inclined, the distance in the vertical direction between the upper link member 5 and the lower link member 6 is shortened. Therefore, the shaft 8d of the wheel drive motor 8 moves downward in the second hole 5b. In this way, the angle of the wheel portion 7 can be changed.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, in the wheel angle changing mechanism 1 that changes the angle of the pair of left and right wheels 7, the upper link member 5 that connects the upper side of the pair of left and right wheel drive motors 8, and the pair of left and right wheels A lower link member 6 that connects the lower side of the wheel drive motor 8, a rail 41 that is supported by the lower link member 6, a slide actuator main body 41, and a slider 45 that is connected to the upper link member 5. Therefore, the required space is small, and the torque can be transmitted substantially front and rear with a simple structure.

  Further, the upper link member 5 has a hole 5b that is long in the vertical direction, and the wheel drive motor 8 has a first protrusion 8a or a shaft 8d that is movably connected in the hole 5b. Can be operated.

It is a front view of the wheel angle change mechanism of a 1st embodiment. It is a top view of the wheel angle change mechanism of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows a slide actuator. It is an action | operation figure of the wheel angle change mechanism of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the wheel angle change mechanism of a 2nd embodiment. It is an action | operation figure of the wheel angle change mechanism of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the prior art. It is a figure which shows the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Wheel angle change mechanism, 2 ... Frame (vehicle body), 2a ... 1st frame, 2b ... Connection protrusion, 3 ... Riding part, 4 ... Slide actuator, 41 ... Rail, 42 ... Ball screw, 43 ... Nut block, 44 ... connecting part, 45 ... slider, 46 ... drive actuator, 47 ... slider position sensor, 5 ... upper link member, 5a ... first hole, 5b ... second hole, 6 ... lower link member, 7 ... wheel part , 7a ... wheel, 7b ... tire, 8 ... wheel drive motor, 8a ... first projection, 8b ... second projection, 8c ... recess, 8d ... shaft

Claims (2)

In the wheel angle changing mechanism that changes the angle of the pair of left and right wheel parts,
An upper link member connecting the upper part of the pair of left and right wheel parts;
A lower link member connecting the lower part of the pair of left and right wheel parts;
A slide actuator body supported by the lower link member;
A slider coupled to the slide actuator body and the upper link member;
A wheel angle changing mechanism characterized by comprising: The upper link member has a long hole in the vertical direction,
The wheel angle changing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the wheel portion includes a connecting portion that is movably connected in the hole portion.

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