JP2011037397A - Bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism properly assisting traveling of a bicycle having three or four wheels, with two wheels as rear wheels, in simple construction. <P>SOLUTION: The traveling assisting mechanism includes a motor 15, a first gear 16, a coil spring 17, a second gear 18, a stopper means 19 releasably restricting rotation of the second gear 18, and a limit switch 20. The first gear 16 is rotated only in one direction driven by the motor 15. The coil spring 17 is subjected to elastic deformation so as to change the spring diameter by rotation of the first gear 16 in such a state that rotation of the second gear 18 is restricted by the stopper 19. In a winding end state in which the spring diameter of the coil spring 17 reaches a predetermined diameter, the limit switch 20 is opened to stop driving of the motor 15, and when the rotation restriction of the second gear 18 is released from the state, an elastic restoring force of the coil spring 17 is transmitted to a main traveling mechanism as a force in the direction of moving the bicycle forward. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement of a bicycle having three or four wheels with two rear wheels.

  Three-wheeled bicycles with two rear wheels and four-wheeled bicycles with two front wheels are becoming popular as bicycles that can be easily used by elderly and non-healthy people. However, this type of bicycle has more contact points with the road surface than two-wheeled bicycles, and there are many cases where luggage is loaded on the rear wheel side, so it can assist (assist) the bicycle forward when starting or climbing the slope. It is desirable to do so. As such an auxiliary mechanism, there is a mechanism that assists the forward movement of the bicycle directly by the driving force of the motor, such as an electrically assisted bicycle. There is a limit to the simplification of the structure because it assists the bicycle forward by the motor, so it is difficult to supply at a low cost, and depending on how you ride, it may cause a sudden start of the bicycle Met.

  The main problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of appropriately realizing, with a simple structure, assisting the traveling of a bicycle having two or three rear wheels of this type and having three or four wheels. .

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a bicycle has the following configurations (1) to (6).
(1) A bicycle having three or four wheels with two rear wheels, and includes a main traveling mechanism that drives the rear wheels by depressing a pedal, and a traveling assist mechanism.
(2) The travel assist mechanism
A motor and its power supply,
The first gear,
Coil springs,
A second gear,
Stopper means for releasably preventing rotation of the second gear;
With a limit switch that forms part of the motor drive circuit,
(3) The first gear is configured to rotate only in one direction by driving the motor,
(4) The coil spring has one end fixed to the first gear side and the other end fixed to the second gear side, and the first gear in a state where rotation of the second gear is blocked by the stopper means. It is designed to undergo elastic deformation that changes the spring diameter by rotating
(5) The limit switch is opened at the end of winding when the spring diameter of the coil spring reaches the predetermined diameter, and the drive of the motor is stopped.
(6) By releasing the rotation prevention of the second gear by the stopper means from the winding end state, the elastic return force of the coil spring is transmitted to the main traveling mechanism as a force for moving the bicycle forward.

  When the rotation prevention of the second gear by the stopper means is released from the winding end state of the coil spring, the elastic return force of the coil spring is transmitted to the main traveling mechanism as a force for moving the bicycle forward. When the spring diameter of the coil spring returns to the predetermined diameter or more and the limit switch is closed, the driving of the motor is resumed and the return to the winding end state is performed again.

  According to the bicycle according to the present invention, assisting the traveling of a bicycle having three or four wheels with two rear wheels as two wheels is realized by elastically returning a coil spring elastically deformed by a motor when necessary. The structure is simple, and necessary and sufficient driving assistance can be performed only when necessary without making the behavior of the bicycle abrupt. Therefore, this kind of bicycle provided with such a mechanism can be supplied at low cost.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a bicycle. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the rear side of the bicycle frame in a plan view.

  Hereinafter, a typical embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The bicycle according to this embodiment has three wheels with the rear wheel 7 as two wheels. That is, it is a so-called tricycle. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a front wheel, reference numeral 2 is a handle, reference numeral 3 is a frame, and reference numeral 4 is a seat. A gear crank 5 and a pedal 6 are provided at the center of the frame 3 immediately below the seat 4. The rear part of the frame 3 is a frame portion 3a composed of front and rear frame structural bodies 3b and 3c and left and right frame structural bodies 3d and 3e. Rear wheels 7 are arranged on both sides of the frame portion 3a. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a loading platform provided above the frame portion 3a.

  Such a bicycle includes a main traveling mechanism that drives the rear wheel 7 by depressing the pedal 6, and a traveling assist mechanism.

  The main traveling mechanism is a mechanism that transmits the rotational force of the gear crank 5 to the rear wheel 7. In the illustrated example, such rotational force is transmitted to the rear wheel 7 disposed on the left side of FIG. 2 via the main traveling mechanism, and the rear wheel 7 disposed on the right side of FIG. Is supported. A support member 3f is provided between the front and rear frame structural bodies 3b and 3c in the approximate center of the frame portion 3a. The main shaft 9 is pivotally supported between the support member 3f and the left frame constituting body 3d. In the illustrated example, such a main traveling mechanism has a chain 11 stretched between a sprocket 10 provided at the right end of the main shaft 9 and the gear crank 5, and the main shaft 9 of the main shaft 9 on the left outer side of the frame portion 3a. The chain 14 is stretched between a sprocket 12 provided at the left end and a sprocket 13 provided integrally with the hub 7a of the left rear wheel 7.

On the other hand, in the illustrated example, the travel assist mechanism is housed in the frame portion 3a and provided at the rear portion of the bicycle.
Such a travel assist mechanism is
(1) the motor 15 and its power source;
(2) the first gear 16;
(3) coil spring 17;
(4) the second gear 18;
(5) stopper means 19 for releasably preventing rotation of the second gear 18;
(6) The limit switch 20 that forms part of the drive circuit of the motor 15 is provided.

  The entire drive circuit of the motor 15 is not shown. The handle 2 is provided with a main switch 21 that constitutes a part of the drive circuit. In addition to the brake lever 2a, a release lever 22 for releasing the blocking of the second gear 18 by the stopper means 19 is provided in the vicinity of the left side of the handle. The release lever 22 and a later-described engagement claw 19a constituting the stopper means 19 are connected by a wire (not shown). When the release lever 22 is operated, the engagement between the outer ring of the second gear 18 and the engagement claw 19a, which will be described later. The agreement is being solved. In addition, a part of the drive circuit includes a switch (not shown) that is opened by the operation of the release lever 22. Accordingly, in the illustrated example, the motor 15 is not driven unless all of the main switch 21, the limit switch 20, and such a switch (not shown) are closed.

  In the illustrated example, the motor 15 is supported by the rear frame structure 3 c behind the main shaft 9. A storage battery (not shown) is scheduled to be used as the power source, and this storage battery is also mounted on the frame 3a.

  In the illustrated example, the first gear 16 is arranged outside the main shaft 9 on the right end side, and the center of rotation coincides with the center of the main shaft 9, but is rotated independently of the main shaft 9. The first gear 16 is configured to rotate only in one direction by driving the motor 15. In the illustrated example, the motor 15 is driven via a chain 25 stretched between an output side sprocket 23 provided on the output shaft of the motor 15 and an input side sprocket 24 integrated with the first gear 16. Then, the first gear 16 is rotated. In the illustrated example, the first gear 16 is configured as a ratchet gear so as to rotate only in the one direction. Reference numeral 26 in the figure denotes a ratchet pawl for the ratchet gear.

  On the other hand, the second gear 18 is provided on the left end side of the main shaft 9 inside the frame portion 3a. The second gear 18 is a free wheel, and its inner ring (core) is fixed to the main shaft 9. In the illustrated example, an engaging claw 19a serving as the stopper means 19 is provided in the front frame structure 3b. The engaging claw 19a is always urged to a position where it engages with the outer ring (free gear) of the second gear 18, and prevents the outer ring of the second gear 18 from rotating unless the release lever 22 is operated. ing. The stopper means 19 only needs to be capable of releasably preventing the rotation of the second gear 18, and therefore the specific structure is not limited to that shown in the drawing.

  The coil spring 17 has a spring one end 17 a fixed to the first gear 16 side and a spring other end 17 b fixed to the second gear 18 side. The stopper means 19 rotates the second gear 18. In the example shown in the figure, the first gear 16 is elastically deformed in the direction of narrowing the spring diameter by the rotation of the first gear 16 in a state where this is prevented. In the illustrated example, the coil spring 17 is disposed between the first gear 16 and the second gear 18 so as to pass the main shaft 9 inward. In the illustrated example, the other spring end 17 b of the coil spring 17 is fixed to the outer ring of the second gear 18.

  The limit switch 20 is opened at the end of winding when the spring diameter of the coil spring 17 reaches a predetermined diameter, and stops driving the motor 15. In the illustrated example, the limit switch 20 includes a movable piece 20 a that is supported by the left frame structure 3 d inside the frame portion 3 a and is in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the coil spring 17. The movable piece 20a moves following the movement of the outer peripheral portion of the coil spring 17, and is configured such that the limit switch 20 is opened (OFF) when the movable piece 20a moves to a predetermined position. . The limit switch 20 may be configured to be opened in the winding end state where the spring diameter of the coil spring 17 reaches a predetermined diameter, and the specific structure is not limited to the illustrated one.

  In the bicycle according to this embodiment, the elastic spring return force of the coil spring 17 moves forward by releasing the rotation prevention of the second gear 18 by the stopper means 19 from the winding end state of the coil spring 17. It is transmitted to the main travel mechanism as the force of the direction to be made. In the illustrated example, the main shaft 9 and the inner ring of the second gear 18 are integrated, but the outer ring is connected to the inner ring only when the outer ring rotates in the direction of the arrow x in FIG. . Therefore, in a state where the rotation of the outer ring is blocked by the stopper means 19, the outer ring does not prevent the rotation of the main shaft 9. When the main switch 21 is closed (ON) and the motor 15 is driven in a state in which the rotation of the outer ring of the second gear 18 is prevented, the first gear 16 is rotated in the direction of the arrow x in FIG. 17 is squeezed. When the spring diameter of the coil spring 17 reaches a predetermined diameter, the limit switch 20 is opened and the driving of the motor 15 is stopped. (Standby state) When the release lever 22 is operated from this standby state to stop the rotation of the second gear 18 by the stopper means 19, the outer ring of the second gear 18 is moved in the direction of the arrow x in FIG. At this time, since the outer ring and the inner ring are connected, the main shaft 9 is rotated in a direction to advance the bicycle. As a result, the bicycle is assisted. When the operation of the release lever 22 is stopped and the spring diameter of the coil spring 17 returns to the predetermined diameter or more and the limit switch 20 is closed, the stopper means 19 prevents the second gear 18 from rotating. The driving of the motor 15 is resumed and the standby state is created again.

  According to the bicycle according to this embodiment, the traveling assist mechanism can assist the traveling by the main traveling mechanism of the bicycle having the rear wheel 7 as two wheels. Such a travel assist mechanism uses the elastic return force of the coil spring 17 to advance the bicycle, so that the behavior of the bicycle is not made sudden. Such a driving assistance mechanism is structurally simple, does not increase the size of a bicycle equipped with the same, does not contradict the demand for weight reduction of the bicycle, and further has such a driving assistance function. Contributes to low-cost supply of bicycles.

7 Rear wheel 15 Motor 16 First gear 17 Coil spring 18 Second gear 19 Stopper means 20 Limit switch

Claims (1)

A bicycle having three or four wheels with two rear wheels, and includes a main traveling mechanism that drives the rear wheel by depressing a pedal, and a traveling assist mechanism,
The travel assist mechanism
A motor and its power supply,
The first gear,
Coil springs,
A second gear,
Stopper means for releasably preventing rotation of the second gear;
With a limit switch that forms part of the motor drive circuit,
The first gear is configured to rotate in only one direction by driving the motor,
The coil spring has one end fixed to the first gear side and the other end fixed to the second gear side, and the rotation of the first gear in a state where the rotation of the second gear is blocked by the stopper means. It is designed to undergo elastic deformation that changes the spring diameter,
The limit switch is opened at the end of winding when the spring diameter of the coil spring reaches the predetermined diameter, and the drive of the motor is stopped.
By releasing the rotation prevention of the second gear by the stopper means from the winding end state, the elastic return force of the coil spring is transmitted to the main traveling mechanism as a force for moving the bicycle forward. Bicycle to do.

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