JP2020130189A - Electric wheelchair - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it easy for a user to get on/off a wheelchair by making a neat space around the feet of the user seated on a seat part, and to make it easy for the user to perform steering by stabilizing a gravity center balance while traveling.SOLUTION: An electric wheelchair includes a wheelchair body 50, and a drive mechanism 1 moving the wheelchair body 50 with a motor 10. The drive mechanism 1 freely rotatably connects an exterior case 2 extending in the vertical direction and having a handlebar 8 connected to an upper part and a driving wheel 9 connected to a lower part, to the wheelchair body 50 by a connection mechanism 3 in the direction in which the direction of the driving wheel 9 can be changed. The connection mechanism 3 comprises: a fixed frame 4 which connects its both ends to a lower frame 63 of a pair of vertical frames 51 of the wheelchair body 50; a connection frame 5 whose rear end is connected to the fixed frame 4 and which is arranged in a horizontal position extending forward; and a rotation mechanism 7 which freely rotatably connects an end part of the connection frame 5 to the exterior case 2. The connection frame 5 is arranged on a vertical surface including a gap 75 between a pair of footrests 55.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an electric wheelchair that can be driven by a motor.

Motorized wheelchairs are already on the market. A conventional electric wheelchair is equipped with a battery and a motor, and has a structure in which the rear wheels arranged on the left and right sides of the frame are driven by the motor to travel. This electric wheelchair controls driving by operating a joystick placed at hand. An electric wheelchair with this structure can be conveniently used because a physically weak person can move to where he / she wants to go without the assistance of a caregiver.

However, since the electric wheelchair is specially designed so that it can be driven by a motor, there is a drawback that the overall manufacturing cost is high. Furthermore, the structure in which the joystick is operated with one hand has a problem that it is difficult to operate as desired. Furthermore, an electric wheelchair equipped with a battery or a motor cannot be conveniently used in a building because the total weight is considerably heavy and large. For this reason, it is necessary to use a non-electric wheelchair having a simple structure that has been conventionally used for indoor use and to use an electric wheelchair for outdoor use. Therefore, it is necessary to use a dedicated wheelchair for indoor use and for outdoor use, and it is necessary to use as many as two wheelchairs to move, which has an extremely uneconomical drawback.

In order to solve such a problem, the present inventor has developed an electric drive device for a wheelchair that is detachably attached to a commercially available wheelchair to drive the wheelchair by power. (See Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-7341

This electric drive device has a main body connected between the left and right lower frames of the wheelchair, a handle shaft inserted vertically through the main body and connected so as to rotate in a horizontal plane, and a handle shaft. It is provided with a handle connected to the upper end of the handle, a drive wheel arranged at the lower end of the handle shaft, and a drive motor for driving the drive wheel. This electric drive device is configured so that the drive wheels are rotated by a drive motor rotated by a battery and the wheelchair body can be freely steered by a steering wheel to move the wheelchair body.

The above electric wheelchair drive device has a feature that it can be conveniently used as an electric wheelchair that can be mounted on a commercially available wheelchair and electrically driven. However, although not shown, the above electric drive device has a drive wheel and a handle for operating the direction of the drive wheel between the vertical frames provided on the left and right sides of the seat in front of the seat where the user sits. Since it is arranged, there is a problem that when the user gets on and off the wheelchair, the drive wheels, the drive mechanism, and the handle get in the way and it is not easy to get on and off. Since this electric drive device has a structure that allows the handle shaft to be bent, it is possible to get on and off a little easier by folding it, but in reality, the user needs to get on and off while straddling the folded handle. Therefore, it was not easy for users with disabilities to get on and off.

In addition, in the above electric drive device for wheelchairs, the drive mechanism and drive wheels are arranged in front of the footrest on which the user sitting in the wheelchair rests, so that the foot placed on the footrest during running can be used. If the position shifts, the foot may come into contact with the rotating drive wheels, which is dangerous. In addition, for users with disabilities, the existence of power-driven drive wheels and their drive mechanisms under their feet is mentally uneasy, and in some cases they cannot be used with peace of mind. Furthermore, since the distance between the drive wheels and the user becomes short, the impact and vibration received by the drive wheels during traveling are easily transmitted directly, which has the disadvantage of deteriorating the riding comfort.

In addition, when the above electric drive device is used as an electric wheelchair, the handle shaft is located between the feet of the user sitting on the seat (to be exact, between the knees), so that the skirt is worn. There was a problem that it was difficult for women to use. In addition, not only women but also men may come into contact with the steering wheel shaft between the legs, which causes a problem that the vehicle cannot run comfortably. Furthermore, since this handle shaft is arranged in a vertical position between both feet, when operating the handle, it is necessary to move the hands holding both ends of the handle in the horizontal direction in the front-back direction. There was a problem that the operation was difficult and the hands were tired.

The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such a drawback. An important object of the present invention is to provide an electric wheelchair that makes it easy to get on and off by keeping the feet of a user sitting on the seat clean and can run comfortably.

Means for Solving Problems and Effects of Invention

The electric wheelchair of the present invention includes a wheelchair body 50 and a drive mechanism 1 connected to the wheelchair body 50 to move the wheelchair body 50 by a motor 10. The wheelchair body 50 includes a seat 52 on which the user sits, a pair of vertical frames 51 connecting both sides of the seat 52, a connecting member 61 formed by connecting a pair of vertical frames 51 in a vertical posture, and a vertical frame. It includes a pair of traveling wheels 53 rotatably connected to the outside of the 51, and a pair of footrests 55 connected to the vertical frame 51 on which the user sitting on the seat 52 rests his / her left and right feet. The vertical frame 51 includes a lower frame 63 that is below the rotation shaft 53A of the traveling wheel 53 and extends forward toward the footrest 55. The pair of footrests 55 are connected to the vertical frame 51 with a gap 75 between them. The drive mechanism 1 includes an outer case 2 extending in the vertical direction, a handle 8 connected to the upper part of the outer case 2, a drive wheel 9 connected to the lower part of the outer case 2, and a drive wheel 9 connecting the outer case 2. A connecting mechanism 3 connected to a vertical frame 51 of a wheelchair body 50 so as to be rotatable in a direction in which the direction of the motor 10 can be changed, a motor 10 for rotating drive wheels 9, a battery 11 for supplying power to the motor 10, and a motor 10. A control circuit 20 for controlling the rotation of the motor 10 and an operation unit 12 connected to the control circuit 20 for controlling the rotation of the motor 10 are provided. The connecting mechanism 3 includes a fixed frame 4 having both ends connected to a pair of lower frames 63, a connecting frame 5 whose rear end is connected to the fixed frame 4 and arranged in a horizontal posture extending forward, and a connecting frame. A rotation mechanism 7 for rotatably connecting the tip portion of the portion 5 to the exterior case 2 is provided, and the connecting frame 5 is arranged in a vertical plane including a gap 75 between the pair of footrests 55.

The above electric wheelchair has the features that the user sitting on the seat can easily get on and off the wheelchair and can drive comfortably. The above electric wheelchair is provided with a drive mechanism for moving the wheelchair body by a motor, and this drive mechanism rotatably connects an outer case having a handle at the upper part and a drive wheel at the lower part via a connecting mechanism. It is connected to a vertical frame, and the connecting mechanism is arranged in a fixed frame in which both ends are connected to a lower frame of a pair of vertical frames, and a horizontal posture in which the rear end is connected to the fixed frame and extends forward. The connecting frame is provided with a rotating mechanism that rotatably connects the tip of the connecting frame to the outer case, and the connecting frame is arranged in a vertical plane including a gap between a pair of footrests. Because.

In the above electric wheelchair, a horizontal connecting frame extending forward from a fixed frame placed between the left and right lower frames is arranged in a vertical plane including a gap between a pair of footrests, and the tip of the connecting frame is provided. Since the exterior case is connected to the part and the drive wheels are arranged in the front, the feet of the user sitting on the seat can be neat and easy to get on and off. In addition, since there is no obstacle between both feet on the front side of the footrest, even a handicapped person or an elderly person or a woman wearing a skirt can easily get on and off and use it comfortably.

Further, in the above electric wheelchair, since the drive wheels are arranged in the front via the connecting frame connected to the fixed frame, the drive wheels are arranged at a position away from the user, and the impact and vibration received by the drive wheels during traveling. The structure can be transmitted to the frame of the wheelchair body while being absorbed by the connecting frame and the fixed frame, and it is possible to realize the feature that the riding comfort during running can be improved.

Further, in the electric wheelchair of the present invention, the vertical difference between the connecting frame 5 and the footrest 55 can be 5 cm or less.

The above electric wheelchair can be comfortably used by the user by reducing the step due to the height difference between the connecting frame and the footrest arranged in the vertical plane including the gap between the pair of footrests.

Further, the electric wheelchair of the present invention further includes a wheelchair body 50 connected to the front portion of the lower frame 63 so as to be freely rotatable in a horizontal plane, and the drive mechanism 1 is detachably attached. The universal wheel 54 can be arranged at a position away from the traveling surface 80 while being connected to the wheelchair body 50 and the drive mechanism 1 being connected to the wheelchair body 50.

Since the drive mechanism of the above electric wheelchair can be detachably connected to the wheelchair body, it can be stored compactly and easily transported by disassembling the wheelchair body and the drive mechanism. Further, in this electric wheelchair, when the drive mechanism is removed from the wheelchair body, the free wheelchair is brought into contact with the ground, and the wheelchair body can be conveniently used as a manual wheelchair. Furthermore, in a state where the drive mechanism is attached to the wheelchair body, by arranging the free wheels at a position away from the traveling surface, the wheelchair can travel stably by the drive wheels driven by the motor.

Further, in the electric wheelchair of the present invention, the connecting frame 5 can have an expansion / contraction mechanism.
In the above electric wheelchair, the connecting frame can be expanded and contracted by the expansion and contraction mechanism, and the position of the outer case with respect to the wheelchair body can be adjusted in the front-rear direction. As a result, the exterior case can be arranged at the optimum position for the user, and the positions of the traveling wheels and the steering wheel can be finely adjusted.

Further, the electric wheelchair of the present invention further includes a free wheel 54 in which the wheelchair body 50 is connected to the front portion of the lower frame 63 so as to be freely rotatable in a horizontal plane, and the connecting frame 5 is fixed to the fixed frame 4. Can be connected to the wheelchair via a detachable mechanism.

According to the above configuration, since the connecting frame can be removed from the fixed frame, it can be stored compactly and easily transported by disassembling the wheelchair body to which the fixed frame is fixed and the outer case to which the connecting frame is connected. .. Further, in this electric wheelchair, the connecting frame to which the outer case is connected can be removed from the fixed frame with the fixed frame attached to the wheelchair body. Therefore, in the state where the connecting frame is removed, the wheelchair body is provided on both sides. It can be conveniently used as a self-propelled manual wheelchair with running wheels and small free wheels.

Further, in the electric wheelchair of the present invention, the rotating mechanism 7 can connect the outer case 2 to the connecting frame 5 so as to be rotatable 360 degrees.

According to the above configuration, since the outer case is connected to the connecting frame so that it can rotate 360 degrees, in the forward posture of the outer case, the wheelchair body is advanced by the driving wheels that rotate in the forward direction, and the outer case is rotated 180 degrees. The wheelchair body can be retracted by the driving wheels that rotate in the normal direction. Therefore, the wheelchair can be retracted by the function of rotating the outer case 360 degrees without providing the function of rotating the drive wheels in the reverse direction. Therefore, the drive mechanism can retract the wheelchair while having a simple structure in which the motor is controlled so as to allow only forward rotation of the drive wheels.

Furthermore, in the electric wheelchair of the present invention, the rotating mechanism 7 can rotatably support the outer case 2 in a posture in which the upper end is inclined backward.

In the above electric wheelchair, the exterior case is arranged in an inclined posture so that the handle is arranged behind the drive wheels. Therefore, while the drive wheels are arranged in the front, the handle provided at the upper end sits on the seat. It can be placed in a position that is easy for the user to operate. In addition, by arranging the exterior case in an inclined posture and providing a caster angle on the drive wheels, there is also a feature that stable running can be realized while facilitating steering wheel operation.

It is a perspective view of the electric wheelchair which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a side view of the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. It is a top view of the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the drive mechanism of the electric wheelchair shown in FIG. It is a side view of the drive mechanism shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the drive mechanism shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the detachable connection part of a fixed frame. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the attachment / detachment mechanism of a fixed frame and a connecting frame. It is an exploded sectional view which shows the attachment / detachment mechanism of a fixed frame and a connecting frame. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the connection structure of a connection frame and a rotation mechanism. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the outer case of the drive mechanism shown in FIG. 5 is inverted.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, terms indicating a specific direction or position (for example, "upper", "lower", and other terms including those terms) are used as necessary, but the use of these terms is used. This is for facilitating the understanding of the invention with reference to the drawings, and the meaning of these terms does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Further, the parts having the same reference numerals appearing in a plurality of drawings indicate the same or equivalent parts or members.
Further, the embodiments shown below exemplify a method for manufacturing an aggregated column and an assembled column for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention to the following. Further, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described below are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to that alone, but are exemplified. It was intended. Further, the contents described in one embodiment and the embodiment can be applied to other embodiments and the embodiments. In addition, the size and positional relationship of the members shown in the drawings may be exaggerated in order to clarify the explanation.

The electric wheelchair 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a wheelchair body 50 and a drive mechanism 1 connected to the wheelchair body 50 to move the wheelchair body 50 by a motor. The wheelchair body 50 shown in the figure has the same structure as a conventional wheelchair. That is, the electric wheelchair of the present invention can be configured by mounting the drive mechanism 1 on a wheelchair body 50 having the same structure as a conventional wheelchair. Therefore, as the wheelchair body 50, anything that has already been used as a wheelchair or will be developed in the future can be used. As described above, the electric wheelchair using a commercially available wheelchair as the wheelchair body can reduce the manufacturing cost.

(Wheelchair body 50)
The wheelchair body 50 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a seat 52 on which the user sits, a pair of vertical frames 51 connecting both sides of the seat 52, and a pair of vertical frames 51 connected in a vertical posture. A connecting member 61, a pair of traveling wheels 53 rotatably connected to the outside of the vertical frame 51, and a pair of footrests 55 connected to the vertical frame 51 and on which the user sitting on the seat 52 rests his / her left and right feet. It has. The vertical frame 51 includes a lower frame 63 that is below the rotation shaft 53A of the traveling wheel 53 and extends forward toward the footrest 55. Further, the wheelchair body 50 is provided with a universal wheel 54 connected to the front portion of the lower frame 63 so as to be freely rotatable in a horizontal plane. The wheelchair body 50 is a manual wheelchair, and can be moved by left and right traveling wheels 53 and left and right free small wheels 54 provided on vertical frames 51 arranged on both sides of the seat 52.

(Seat 52)
The wheelchair body 50 includes a seat portion 52 for a user to sit between a pair of vertical frames 51 arranged on the left and right in a vertical posture. The seat portion 52 shown in the figure is formed by a seat portion seat 71 stretched between the seat portion frames 68 in a horizontal posture arranged on the left and right.

(Vertical frame 51)
The vertical frame 51 includes an upper frame 64 having an elbow rest 57 on the upper surface, an upper and lower frame 65 connected to the rear end portion of the upper frame 64, and a lower frame 63 connected to the lower end portion of the upper and lower frames. An intermediate frame 66 arranged between the upper frame 64 and the lower frame 63, and a front frame 67 connecting the front end of the intermediate frame 66 to the front end portion of the lower frame 63 are provided. The upper frame 64 has an elbow rest 57 fixed to the upper surface thereof, and the front end portion is bent downward to be connected to the front end portion of the intermediate frame 66. In the upper and lower frames 65, a seat is stretched on the back side of the seat portion 52 to form a backrest 56, and the upper end portion is bent rearward to provide a caregiver grip 58. The lower frame 63 is located below the rotation shaft 53A of the traveling wheel 53 and is arranged so as to extend forward toward the footrest 55. The lower frame 63 has a main body portion 63A to which the lower ends of the upper and lower frames 65 are connected, and a front end portion 63B to which the lower ends of the front frame 67 are connected, and the front end portion 63B is one step with respect to the main body portion 63A. It is bent so that it is in a high position. With this structure, the vertical frame 51 is provided with a movable region of the flexible small wheel 54 below the front end portion 63B. Each frame constituting the vertical frame 51 is a metal pipe, and these metal pipes are connected by a method such as welding.

(Connecting member 61)
The pair of vertical frames 51 are connected in a vertical posture via a connecting member 61. The wheelchair body 50 shown in the figure has a structure in which the left and right vertical frames 51 arranged on both sides of the seat 52 can be folded in a vertical posture in a direction approaching each other. The connecting member 61 includes a folding frame 62, and the pair of vertical frames 51 are connected via the folding frame 62 so that they can be folded in a vertical posture. The folding frame 62 connects the centers of the two rods in an X shape so that they can rotate via pins. The folding frame 62 is connected to the lower frame 63 of the vertical frame 51 so that the lower ends of these rods can be rotated, and the left and right vertical frames 51 are connected so as to be able to be folded close to each other. In the folding frame 62, the lower end is connected to the lower frame 63 of the left and right vertical frames 51, the seat frame 68 is connected to the upper end, and the seat seat 71 is connected between the left and right seat frames 68. It is stretched.

Although not shown, the wheelchair body 50 has a folding frame 62 that is folded so that the left and right vertical frames 51 are close to each other so that the left and right vertical frames 51 are brought close to each other and the width can be narrowed. Further, in a state where the left and right vertical frames 51 are deployed apart from each other, the seat seat 71 connected to the seat frame 68 provided at the upper end of the folding frame 62 is stretched in the horizontal direction, and the left and right vertical frames are stretched horizontally. The seat portion 52 is formed between the 51. Since the wheelchair body 50 described above has a foldable structure, it has a feature that it can be folded compactly and conveniently transported. However, the wheelchair body does not necessarily have to have a foldable structure.

(Running wheel 53)
The traveling wheel 53 is connected to the outside of the vertical frame 51 so as to be rotatable via a bearing. The traveling wheel 53 includes a rim on which the tire is fixed on the outer peripheral side, and a hub fixed to the center of the rim via spokes. As such a traveling wheel 53, for example, a wheel for a bicycle can be used. Further, the traveling wheel 53 shown in the figure has a manual ring 59 fixed to the outside so that the traveling wheel 53 can be rotated by hand while sitting on the seat portion 52. The manual ring 59 shown in the figure has a circular ring shape along the outer circumference of the traveling wheel 53, and has an outer shape having wavy irregularities so that the user can easily grasp the ring 59. Further, the wheelchair body 50 shown in the figure is provided with a parking brake 72 on the outer surface of the vertical frame 51 to stop and lock the rotation of the traveling wheel 53.

(Foot stand 55)
The footrest 55 is a base on which the user sitting on the seat portion 52 rests his / her left and right feet, and is connected to the front portions of the left and right vertical frames 51. In the wheelchair body 50 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a footrest 55 is arranged in front of the left and right free small wheels 54. The footrest 55 in the figure is composed of a plate connected to the tip of the footrest frame 69 fixed to the front end of the lower frame 63 via a connecting shaft 70. The footrest 55 is vertically erected and folded by rotating the connecting shaft 70 as a rotation shaft. The pair of footrests 55 allow the user sitting on the seat 52 to rest his / her left and right feet in a horizontally deployed state. The pair of footrests 55 are arranged so that a gap 75 is formed between them in a state of being deployed in a horizontal posture.

(Small free wheel 54)
The free small wheel 54 is a wheel that can swing freely, is located in front of the traveling wheel 53, and is fixed to the front end portions 63B of the left and right lower frames 63. The free wheel 54 wants to swing in the moving direction to go to the wheelchair body 50 when the user sits on the seat 52 to drive the manual ring 59 or the caregiver changes the moving direction with the grip 58. It is possible to drive in the direction.

(Drive mechanism 1)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the drive mechanism 1 is mounted on the front portion of a pair of vertical frames 51 of the wheelchair body 50 so that the wheelchair body 50 can be moved by a motor. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the drive mechanism 1 includes an outer case 2 extending in the vertical direction, a handle 8 connected to the upper part of the outer case 2, and a drive wheel connected to the lower part of the outer case 2. 9 and a connecting mechanism 3 that rotatably connects the outer case 2 to the vertical frame 51 of the wheelchair body 50 in a direction in which the direction of the drive wheels 9 can be changed, the motor 10 that rotates the drive wheels 9, and the motor 10. It includes a battery 11 for supplying electric power, a control circuit 20 for controlling the rotation of the motor 10, and an operation unit 12 connected to the control circuit 20 for controlling the rotation of the motor 10.

(Exterior case 2)
The outer case 2 is located at the front end of the connecting mechanism 3 connected to the wheelchair body 50, and is arranged in a posture extending in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the exterior case 2 extended in the vertical direction is arranged in an inclined posture in which the upper end side is inclined rearward. In the exterior case 2 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a handle 8 is connected to the upper end and a drive wheel 10 is connected to the lower end, and the lower end is rotatably connected to the connecting mechanism 3. The drive mechanism 3 shown in FIG. 6 includes a handle shaft 6 that vertically penetrates the inside of the outer case 2, and the handle 8 is provided on the upper portion of the outer case 2 and the drive wheel 10 is provided on the lower portion via the handle shaft 6. Are connected. The exterior case 2 is operated by the handle 8 to rotate, and the direction of the drive wheels 9 is changed to the left-right direction to move the electric wheelchair 100 in the traveling direction. Therefore, the connecting mechanism 3 connects the outer case 2 to the connecting mechanism 3 so as to be rotatable in a direction in which the direction of the drive wheels 10 can be changed. The exterior case 2 in the figure is connected to the connecting mechanism 3 via the handle shaft 6. The outer case 2 is made of metal or hard plastic to cover and protect the periphery of the handle shaft 6, and as will be described in detail later, the heavy battery 11 that is detachably attached can be stably mounted. Achieves the strength that can be held.

The handle shaft 6 is a metal pipe. The handle shaft 6 of FIG. 6 has a double-cylinder structure that can be expanded and contracted so that the vertical position of the handle 8 provided at the upper end can be adjusted. The extendable handle shaft 6 can be stopped at an arbitrary position via the stopper 21. The handle shaft 6 having this structure can be stopped by the stopper 21 and arranged at a desired position with the handle 8 raised to the optimum position for the user.

(Handle 8)
The handle 8 is an upper portion of the outer case 2 and is provided at the upper end of the handle shaft 6. The handles 8 of FIGS. 4 and 6 are linearly extended to the left and right to form a horizontal posture, and grips 8A and 8B are provided at both left and right ends. The steering wheel 8 grips the left and right grips 8A and 8B by hand to control the direction of the drive wheels 9. Although not shown, the handle can also be curved in the vertical or front-back direction for ease of operation by the user sitting on the seat. The handle may be curved toward you, for example, so that the tip of the grip approaches the seat.

(Driving wheel 9)
As shown in FIG. 6, the drive wheel 9 is the lower part of the outer case 2 and is connected to the lower end of the handle shaft 6. The handle shaft 6 is provided with a U-shaped support member 16 at its lower end that supports the drive wheels 9 so that they can rotate. The axle 17 of the drive wheel 9 is fixed to the support arm 16 to connect the drive wheel 9. The drive wheels 9 are connected to the central drum 18 so that they can rotate on the axle 17. The drive wheels 9 have tires 19 fixed to the outer periphery of the drum 18. The drive wheels 9 are rotated by a motor 10 controlled by a control circuit 20.

(Connecting mechanism 3)
As shown in FIG. 4, the exterior case 2 having the drive wheels 9 at the bottom and the handle 8 at the top is connected to the left and right vertical frames 51 of the wheelchair body 50 via the connecting mechanism 3. The connecting mechanism 3 rotatably arranges the outer case 2 in front of the wheelchair body 50 so that the direction of the drive wheels 9 can be changed. The connecting mechanism 3 is connected to a fixed frame 4 having both ends connected to a pair of lower frames 63 and a connecting frame 5 having a rear end connected to the fixed frame 4 and arranged in a horizontal posture extending forward. It is provided with a rotating mechanism 7 in which the tip end portion of the frame 5 is rotatably connected to the outer case 2.

(Fixed frame 4)
The fixed frame 4 extends in the left-right direction of the wheelchair body 50 and is arranged so as to bridge the lower frames 63 of the left and right vertical frames 51, and both ends thereof are fixed to the left and right lower frames 63. The drive mechanism 1 is attached to the wheelchair body 50 in a state where both ends of the fixed frame 4 are fixed to the lower frames 63 of the left and right vertical frames 51. Therefore, the fixed frame 4 is made of a metal cylinder or shaped steel so as to have a strength capable of stably supporting the entire drive mechanism. The fixed frame 4 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 is a metal square cylinder having a substantially square cross-sectional shape. In the metal fixing frame 4, the bending strength in the axial direction can be further increased by fixing the reinforcing rods and reinforcing ribs along the longitudinal direction by welding or the like.

The fixed frames 4 of FIGS. 4 and 7 are provided with detachable connecting portions 31 at both ends, and can be detachably connected to the left and right lower frames 63 via the detachable connecting portions 31. The detachable connecting portion 31 shown in FIG. 7 includes a first sandwiching portion 31A and a second sandwiching portion 31B for sandwiching the lower frame 63, which is a metal pipe, from both the upper and lower sides, and the first sandwiching portion 31A. In a state where the lower frame 63 is sandwiched between the second sandwiching portion 31B and the second sandwiching portion 31B, these are tightened by the connecting tool 32, and both ends of the fixed frame 4 are fixed to the lower frame 63.

In the fixed frame 4 shown in FIG. 7, both ends of a metal square cylinder are cut along the axial direction on a surface parallel to the upper and lower surfaces, and the metal pieces are removed by cutting to a predetermined length. The cutout portion from which the metal piece has been removed is designated as the first sandwiching portion 31A, and the cut metal piece is designated as the second sandwiching portion 31B. The first sandwiching portion 31A and the second sandwiching portion 31B in the figure each have a groove shape having a U-shaped cross section, and are connected to each other in a posture in which the side walls face each other. Further, in the first sandwiching portion 31A and the second sandwiching portion 31B shown in FIG. 7, the central portions of the side walls on both sides are recessed in order to sandwich the lower frame 63 from above and below and fix it in a fixed position. The fitting groove 33 is provided. The first sandwiching portion 31A and the second sandwiching portion 31B in the figure are provided with fitting grooves 33 at opposite positions so that the lower frame 63 can be guided in a posture intersecting the axial direction of the fixed frame 4.

In the above fixed frame 4, as shown in FIG. 7, first sandwiching portions 31A, which are notches formed at both ends, are arranged on the lower surface side of the lower frame 63, and the lower frame 63 is placed in the fitting groove 33. The lower side is guided, and the second sandwiching portion 31B, which is a cut metal piece, is arranged on the upper surface side of the lower frame 63, and the upper side of the lower frame 63 is guided to the fitting groove 33. Further, in a state where the lower frame 63 is sandwiched between the first sandwiching portion 31A and the second sandwiching portion 31B, the first sandwiching portion 31A and the second sandwiching portion 31B are tightened by the connector 32 to tighten the lower frame. It is fixed at 63. The connector 32 shown in FIG. 7 is a bolt 32A and a nut 32B, and the bolt 32A that vertically penetrates the first sandwiching portion 31A and the second sandwiching portion 31B is screwed into the nut 32B and fixed. The detachable connecting portion 31 shown in the figure is fastened and fixed by a connecting tool 32 at one location on each side of the lower frame 63. However, the detachable connecting portions can be fixed more firmly on both sides of the lower frame by separating them in the width direction of the fixed frame and tightening them with a plurality of connecting tools.

Here, the fixed frame 4 fixed in a state of bridging the left and right lower frames 63 is fixed to the lower frame 63 so as not to rotate in the vertical plane about the axis in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the detachable connecting portion 31 of the fixed frame 4 shown in FIG. 7 has a structure in which the lateral width (W) is widened and the lower frame 63 is sandwiched and fixed from above and below at a position separated in the length direction. In this way, the structure in which the detachable connecting portions 31 having a wide width (W) are provided at both ends of the fixed frame 4 and connected to the lower frame 63 rotates in the vertical plane where the fixed frame 4 intersects the axial direction. It has the feature that it can be fixed securely by preventing. Further, a structure in which a fitting groove 33 is provided in the detachable connecting portion 31 and the lower frame 63 is positioned and fixed to the fixed frame 4 has a feature that it can be reliably fixed in a fixed position while preventing misalignment in the left-right direction.

Since the above-mentioned fixed frame 4 is provided with detachable connecting portions 31 at both ends, the drive mechanism 1 can be easily connected to the wheelchair body 50 by detachably connecting the fixed frame 4 to the left and right lower frames 63. It can be attached and detached. However, the detachable connection part of the fixed frame is not limited to the above structure, and all other structures that can be integrally connected to the lower frame so that the fixed frame does not rotate in the vertical plane can be used. it can.

Further, the fixed frame is not necessarily limited to a structure in which both ends are detachably connected to the lower frame. For example, in a wheelchair body in which the left and right vertical frames cannot be folded, both ends of the fixed frame can be welded to the lower frame for fixing.

(Connecting frame 5)
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, the connecting frame 5 is arranged in a horizontal posture in which the rear end is connected to the fixed frame 4 and extends forward. The connecting frame 5 shown in the figure is a metal square cylinder having a quadrangular cross-sectional shape. The connecting frame 5 is arranged between the fixed frame 4 and the outer case 2 in a substantially horizontal posture, and the rear end is connected to the middle portion of the fixed frame 4 and the front end is extended forward to rotate the mechanism. The outer case 2 is connected via 7.

The connecting frame 5 shown in FIG. 8 has a structure that can be detachably connected to the fixed frame 4 via the detachable mechanism 35. The fixing frame 4 shown in FIG. 8 is provided with a fixing portion 40 for fixing the connecting frame 5 in the central portion. The fixing portion 40 shown in the figure has a metal square tube shape, is arranged in a posture of intersecting the fixed frame 4 (orthogonally in a plan view), and is fixed to the lower surface of the fixed frame 4. The fixing portion 40 in the figure is detachably fixed to the fixing frame 4 via a connecting tool 41. The fixing portion 40 shown in FIG. 8 fixes a pair of connecting pieces 42 made of an L-shaped metal plate on both sides of the end portion on the fixing frame 4 side. Each connecting piece 42 is arranged so that one bent piece is welded and fixed to the side surface of the fixing portion 40, and the other bent piece is in close contact with the lower surface of the fixed frame 4. The connecting tool 41 includes a bolt 41A and a nut 41B, and connects a bolt 41A that vertically penetrates a through hole 43 provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the fixing frame 4 and a through hole 42a of the connecting piece 42 of the fixing portion 40. The fixing frame 4 and the fixing portion 40 are firmly fixed by screwing into the nut 41B fixed to 42. However, the fixed portion can also be fixed by welding to the fixed frame.

Further, the fixing portion 40 can be fixed at an optimum angle with respect to the fixing frame 4 in order to arrange the connecting frame 5 connected to the fixing frame 5 in a horizontal posture. The fixing portion 40 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has a spacer 44 arranged between the fixed portion 40 and the lower surface of the fixed frame 4 so as to be connected to the fixed frame 4 in an optimum posture. The spacer 44 shown in the figure is a thin metal plate, which is the upper surface of the fixing portion 40 and is fixed at a position facing the front region of the lower surface of the fixing frame 4. By adjusting the thickness of the spacer 44, the depression angle of the fixing portion 40 with respect to the lower surface of the fixing frame 4 can be adjusted. The thickness of the spacer 44 of the fixing portion 40 is preferably adjusted so that the connecting frame 5 connected to the fixing portion 40 is in a substantially horizontal posture. However, the fixed portion can be connected to the fixed frame without arranging the spacer.

The attachment / detachment mechanism 35 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is provided at the connecting portion between the connecting frame 5 and the fixing portion 40, and is connected to the first connecting end portion 35A and the second connecting end portion 35B in a fitted state. It is provided with a fixed connecting tool 35C that penetrates and connects the first connecting end portion 35A and the second connecting end portion 35B that have been fitted. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, one of the first connecting end portions 35A is an insertion cylinder formed by projecting from the outer peripheral cylinder portion 35a and the outer peripheral cylinder portion b along the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral cylinder portion b. The second connecting end portion 35B provided with the portion 35b is an inner cylinder that is arranged inside the outer cylinder portion 35e into which the outer peripheral cylinder portion 35a is fitted and the outer cylinder portion 35e into which the insertion cylinder portion 35b is fitted. It is provided with a unit 35d. That is, the fixing portion 40 in the figure has a double cylinder structure in which the inner cylinder portion 35d is provided inside the outer cylinder portion 35e. The fixing portion 40 having this structure can be connected while reliably positioning the connecting end portion of the connecting arm 5, and the overall strength can be increased by forming a double cylinder structure. The attachment / detachment mechanism 35 shown in FIG. 8 shows an example in which the connecting end portion of the connecting frame 5 is the first connecting end portion 35A and the connecting end portion of the fixing portion 40 is the second connecting end portion 35B. However, the connecting frame may be provided with the second connecting end portion, and the fixing portion may be provided with the first connecting end portion.

Further, the fixing connector 35C includes a fixing screw 35g that penetrates and connects the outer peripheral cylinder portion 35a and the outer cylinder portion 35e that are connected to each other in a fitted state, and a nut member 35h into which the fixing screw 35g is screwed. ing. The attachment / detachment mechanism 35 shown in the figure is the lower surface of the outer cylinder portion 35e, and is located in the through hole 35f provided in the outer cylinder portion 35e to fix the nut member 35h. In the above attachment / detachment mechanism 35, the insertion cylinder portion 35b provided at the first connection end portion 35A of the connection frame 5 is inserted into the inner cylinder portion 35d of the second connection end portion 35B of the fixing portion 40, and the second connection end is inserted. The outer tubular portion 35a of the first connecting end portion 35A is fitted into the outer tubular portion 35e of the portion 35B to connect the first connecting end portion 35A and the second connecting end portion 35B. Further, in this state, the fixing screw 35g is passed through the through hole 35f provided in the outer cylinder portion 35e and the through hole 35c provided in the outer cylinder portion 35a, and the fixing screw 35g is screwed into the nut member 35h for fixing. In the first connecting end 35A shown in FIG. 9, the inner cylinder 38 through which the through holes 35c opened in the upper and lower surfaces of the outer peripheral cylinder 35a are connected to each other and the fixing screw 35g is inserted is inserted into the upper surface of the outer cylinder 35a. It is placed between the bottom surfaces. The inner cylinder 38 is inserted and fixed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the outer peripheral cylinder portion 35a to maintain the distance between the upper surface and the lower surface of the outer peripheral cylinder portion 35a at a constant interval. As a result, the connecting portion of the outer tubular portion 35a and the outer tubular portion 35e is reinforced. The above attachment / detachment mechanism can extremely firmly connect the connecting portion between the connecting frame 5 and the fixing portion 40. However, the attachment / detachment mechanism is not limited to the above mechanism, and any other mechanism capable of detachably connecting the connecting frame 5 and the fixed frame 4 can be adopted.

The above attachment / detachment mechanism 35 has a structure in which the connection frame 5 can be detachably connected to the fixing portion 40 fixed to the fixing frame 4. However, the drive mechanism may extend the rear end of the connecting frame to the fixed frame without providing a fixed portion on the fixed frame, and connect the rear end of the connecting frame directly to the fixed frame so that it can be attached and detached. it can.

In this way, the structure in which the connecting frame 5 can be detachably connected to the fixed frame 4 via the detachable mechanism 35 is such that the connecting frame 5 can be removed from the fixed frame 4, so that the wheelchair body 50 to which the fixed frame 4 is fixed and the wheelchair body 50 are It has a feature that it can be efficiently stored and transported by being disassembled into an outer case 2 to which the connecting frame 5 is connected. Further, by separating the connecting frame 5 from the fixed frame 4 from the state where the drive mechanism 1 is attached to the wheelchair body 50, the main body portion of the drive mechanism 1 can be easily and easily removed from the wheelchair body 50. In this way, in the state where the drive mechanism 1 is removed, the free small wheels 54 of the wheelchair body 50 can be brought into contact with the traveling surface 80 to be used as a manual wheelchair.

Further, the connecting frame can have a telescopic mechanism. As such an expansion / contraction mechanism, for example, in the above-mentioned attachment / detachment mechanism, the connection position of the first connection end portion and the second connection end portion is fixed in a state of being shifted in the axial direction of the connection frame, whereby the connection frame is substantially substantially. It is possible to realize a structure that expands and contracts a long length. For example, by providing a plurality of through holes provided at the first connecting end or the second connecting end by shifting them in the axial direction, these connecting positions are changed to change the actual length of the connecting frame. be able to. Further, the expansion / contraction mechanism may have another structure capable of changing the total length of the connecting frame.

The connecting frame 5 fixed to the fixed frame 4 as described above is arranged so that, for example, the drive wheels 9 provided at the lower ends of the exterior case 2 connected to the front end are arranged at a predetermined height. In particular, the connecting frame 5 is arranged in a vertical plane including a gap 75 between the pair of footrests 55, and the outer case 2 is arranged in the area between the left and right footrests 55. Further, the connecting frame 5 is arranged so that the vertical difference between the connecting frame 5 and the footrest 55 is 5 cm or less. As a result, it is possible to realize a feature that the foot of the user sitting on the seat 52 can get on and off safely by reducing the step between the footrest 55 and the connecting frame 5.

In the connecting frame 5, the exterior case 2 is placed in a fixed position so that the drive wheels 9 arranged at the lower ends of the exterior case 2 connected to the front end come into contact with the ground while the fixed frame 4 is connected to the wheelchair body 50. connect. If the connecting position of the exterior case 2 connected to the connecting frame 5 is too high and the lower surface position of the drive wheels 9 is higher than the lower surface position of the free small wheels 54, the drive wheels 9 cannot contact the traveling surface 80 and are driven. This is because it becomes impossible to drive on the wheel 9. Therefore, in the connecting frame 5, the outer case 2 is connected to the front end so that the lower surface position of the drive wheels 9 is lower than the lower surface position of the free small wheels 54, and the lower surface of the free small wheels 54 is the traveling surface 80. Try to stay away from. That is, the exterior case 2 is connected to the front end of the connecting frame 5 so that the lower surface position of the drive wheels 9 is lower than the lower surface position of the free small wheels 54. The drive mechanism 1 adjusts the distance (h) at which the free small wheels 54 float from the ground while mounted on the wheelchair body 50 so as to be, for example, 1 to 5 cm.

The connecting frame 5 shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 10 is provided with an adjusting table 36 at its front end for arranging the rotating mechanism 7 in a fixed position in order to arrange the exterior case 2 in an accurate posture. There is. The connecting frame 5 shown in the figure is fixed to the fixed frame 4 and arranged in a substantially horizontal posture, and the adjusting table 36 that holds the rotating mechanism 7 that rotatably holds the outer case 2 in the tilted posture is fixed. There is. The adjusting table 36 shown in FIG. 10 includes an inclined connecting portion 36A fixed to the connecting frame 5 in an inclined posture, and a fitting connecting portion 36B holding the rotation mechanism 7 in a fitting structure.

The inclined connecting portion 36A sets a connecting angle with respect to the connecting frame 5 so that the outer case 2 of the drive mechanism 1 has a predetermined inclined posture, that is, the inclined angle (α) of the outer case 2 has a predetermined angle. I'm adjusting. Further, the inclined connecting portion 36A is downward from the connecting frame 5 so that the position of the drive wheels 9 arranged at a predetermined position via the rotation mechanism 7 fixed to the fitting connecting portion 36B is at a predetermined height. The amount of protrusion is adjusted.

The fitting connecting portion 36B arranges the protruding connecting portion 7B of the rotation mechanism 7 at a fixed position in the fitted state, and fixes the protruding connecting portion 7B via the fixture 37. The fitting connecting portion 36B shown in the figure includes a bottom plate portion 36a that supports the lower surface of the protruding connecting portion 7B, and a pair of side wall portions 36b that are vertically connected to both sides of the bottom plate portion 36a. The distance between the pair of side wall portions 36b is substantially equal to the width of the protruding connecting portion 7B, and the width of the side wall portion 36b is substantially equal to the amount of protrusion of the protruding connecting portion 7B from the tubular portion 7A. As a result, the protruding connecting portion 7B protruding from the tubular portion 7A is fitted between the pair of side wall portions 36b so that it can be arranged at a fixed position. The protruding connecting portion 7B arranged between the pair of side wall portions 36b is fixed by screwing a plurality of fixing screws penetrating the side wall portions 36b as a fixture 37.

The above adjusting table 36 is an exterior case 2 fixed by a rotating mechanism 7 fixed to the fitting connecting portion 36B by adjusting the connecting angle and the protrusion amount of the inclined connecting portion 36A fixed to the connecting frame 5. The rotation mechanism 7 can be securely fixed to the fitting connection portion 36B while adjusting the inclination angle (α) and the height of the drive wheels 9 to be optimum. That is, the drive mechanism 1 is ideally arranged by the adjusting base 36 in which the connected state of the outer case 2 and the drive wheel 9 is adjusted by the inclined connecting portion 36A and the rotating mechanism 7 is securely fixed by the fitting connecting portion 36B. be able to. Therefore, the connecting frame 5 that connects the rotating mechanism 7 to the fixed position via the adjusting table 36 can easily and surely arrange the outer case 2 and the drive wheel 9 at the fixed position in a predetermined posture.

(Rotating mechanism 7)
The rotation mechanism 7 rotatably connects the tip of the connecting frame 5 to the outer case 2. The rotation mechanism 7 shown in the figure rotatably supports the exterior case 2 in an inclined posture in which the upper end is inclined rearward. The rotation mechanism 7 shown in the figure is supported in a posture in which the vertically extended exterior case 2 is tilted rearward from the vertical direction, that is, a tilted posture in which the upper end side of the exterior case 2 is tilted rearward.

The inclination angle (α) of the outer case 2 is the caster angle of the drive wheels 9. As described above, the structure in which the outer case 2 is arranged at a predetermined caster angle has a feature that the straight running performance of the drive wheels 9 can be improved while facilitating the steering wheel operation. The inclination angle (α) of the outer case 2 is determined so that the user sitting on the seat 52 can operate the handle 8 provided at the upper end of the outer case 2 in a stable and comfortable posture. The inclination angle (α) of the outer case 2 is 5 to 40 degrees, preferably 10 to 30 degrees, and more preferably 15 to 25 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inclination angle (α) of the exterior case 2 is also adjusted by the distance (D) between the contacts where the traveling wheels 53 and the driving wheels 9 come into contact with the traveling surface 80. For example, when the distance (D) from the traveling wheel 53 to the drive wheel 9 is small, the inclination angle (α) of the exterior case 2 is reduced so that the user sitting on the seat 52 can operate the steering wheel 8. On the contrary, when the distance (D) from the traveling wheel 53 to the driving wheel 9 is large, the steering angle (α) of the outer case 2 is increased so that the handle 8 can be used for the user sitting on the seat 52. The handle 8 can be easily operated by bringing it closer. Therefore, in consideration of these matters, the drive mechanism 1 sets the distance (D) from the traveling wheel 53 to the drive wheel 9 to 60 to 120 cm, preferably 75 to 100 cm, and more preferably 80 to 95 cm for the exterior. The inclination angle (α) of the case 2 is within the above range.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the rotating mechanism 7 has a tubular portion 7A that rotatably supports a handle shaft 6 that vertically penetrates the inside of the outer case 2 via a bearing 7C, and an outer side from the tubular portion 7A. It is provided with a protruding connecting portion 7B which is projected and connected to the above. A bearing 7C is fixed to the inner surface of the tubular portion 7A, and the handle shaft 6 penetrating the tubular portion 7A is supported so as to be able to rotate while being held in a predetermined inclined posture. The protruding connecting portion 7B is integrally formed with the tubular portion 7A and is connected to the front end of the connecting frame 5 so that the outer case 2 is arranged at a fixed position in front of the wheelchair body 50. In the above rotation mechanism 7, the inner ring of the bearing 7C is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the handle shaft 6, and the outer ring of the bearing 7C is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 7A. With the above configuration, the handle shaft 6 in an inclined posture is supported so that it can rotate at a fixed position without moving in the axial direction.

Further, in the drive mechanism 1 shown in the figure, since the outer case 2 is rotatably connected to the rotation mechanism 7, the outer case 2 can be rotated 360 degrees. As shown in FIG. 5, the drive mechanism 1 rotates the drive wheels 9 in the forward direction (rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure) by operating the accelerator lever 13 with the handle 8 facing the forward posture. It can be moved forward (moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure). Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the electric wheelchair 100 can be retracted by rotating the direction of the handle 8 by 180 degrees from the forward posture. That is, by operating the accelerator lever 13 in a state where the direction of the handle 8 is rotated 180 degrees from the forward position (see arrow C in the figure) and the accelerator lever 13 is operated, the handle 8 rotates in the forward direction (in the direction indicated by arrow D in the figure). ), The electric wheelchair 100 can be retracted (moved in the direction indicated by the arrow E in the figure). In this structure, the direction of the drive wheels 9 can be reversed and the electric wheelchair 100 can be retracted by a mechanical structure that rotates the outer case 2 without providing a mechanism or a circuit configuration for reversing the motor 10. Therefore, it is possible to realize a structure that can move forward and backward while reducing the manufacturing cost with a simple structure.

However, the drive mechanism may include a mechanism for switching gears in the drum to reverse the drive wheels, and an operation switch thereof may be provided on the steering wheel. In this drive mechanism, the drive wheel can be rotated in the reverse direction and the electric wheelchair can be retracted by operating the accelerator lever with the operation switch turned on. When the operation switch is released, the drive mechanism stops the reverse rotation of the drive wheels and rotates in the forward direction to advance the electric wheelchair.

(Motor 10)
The motor 10 that rotates the drive wheels 9 is an in-wheel motor built inside the drum 18 of the drive wheels 9. The motor 10 rotates the drum 18 to rotate the drive wheels 9. The motor 10 built in the drum 18 of the drive wheel 9 is supplied with electric power through a lead wire (not shown) inserted into a central hole opened in the center of the axle 17. As shown in FIG. 6, the motor 10 connects a lead wire (not shown) to the control circuit 20, and is connected to the battery 11 via the control circuit 20.

(Battery 11)
The battery 11 is a rechargeable and dischargeable secondary battery that supplies electric power to the motor to drive the motor. As such a secondary battery, a lithium ion secondary battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a lead battery and the like can be used. The drive mechanism 1 shown in the figure is a battery 11 in which one or a plurality of secondary batteries are housed in a casing 24 that is detachably connected to the outer case 2. The casing 24 shown in the figure has an elongated shape along the outer case 2, and can be detachably attached along the side surface of the outer case 2 extended up and down.

The exterior case 2 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a mounting portion 23 to which the casing 24 is detachably mounted. The exterior case 2 shown in the figure is formed in a tubular shape extending vertically along the handle shaft 6. The side surface of the tubular outer case 2 is a mounting surface 2A on which the casing 24 containing the battery 11 is mounted. Further, the exterior case 2 shown in the figure is provided with a support base 22 protruding outward connected to the lower end portion. The support base 22 projects toward the mounting portion 23 of the outer case 2, and the upper surface thereof is a support surface 22A that supports the lower surface of the battery 11. In the exterior case 2, the space formed by the mounting surface 2A and the supporting surface 22A is used as the mounting portion 23 of the battery 11.

The casing 24 of the battery 11 is provided with a plurality of locking hooks 25 protruding from the connecting surface facing the mounting surface 2A of the outer case 2. These locking hooks 25 are fitted into the locking holes 26 provided on the mounting surface 2A to fix the battery 11 at a fixed position on the mounting surface 2A. Further, the battery 11 is provided with positive and negative output terminals exposed on the bottom surface of the casing 24. The support base 22 is provided with connection terminals to which these positive and negative output terminals are connected so as to be exposed on the support surface 22A, and the output terminals of the battery 11 are mounted in a state where the battery 11 is mounted at a fixed position of the mounting portion 23. It is designed to be connected to the connection terminal of the support base 22. In this way, the removable battery 11 can be charged by removing it from the drive mechanism 1. However, the battery does not necessarily have to be detachably connected to the outer case, and can be built into the outer case. This battery is charged with power supplied from the outside by connecting a charging line.

As described above, the drive mechanism 1 equipped with the battery 11 can increase the load applied to the drive wheels 9 by the weight of the battery 11. Therefore, the drive mechanism 1 having this structure has a feature that the drive wheels 9 rotated by the motor 10 can travel stably with less slip. In particular, in the structure in which the casing 24 of the battery 11 is arranged along the outer case 2 in an elongated shape, even a heavy battery can be arranged close to the outer case 2, so that the moment of inertia is reduced and the outer case 2 is arranged. Has the feature that it can be easily rotated. Further, since the drive mechanism 1 shown in the figure is fixed by mounting a heavy battery 11 on one side surface of the exterior case 2 arranged in an inclined posture, the exterior case 2 is an exterior case so that the battery 11 side is always downward. The orientation of 2 is specified. Therefore, the exterior case 2 adjusts the direction of the drive wheels 9 fixed to the lower ends so that the drive wheels 9 travel straight at the position where the battery 11 is downward. As a result, the handle 8 can be stably directed in the straight direction, and the user can use it safely.

However, the position where the battery is installed is not specified at the position shown in the figure. Batteries can also be installed under the seat of the wheelchair body. In the electric wheelchair equipped with the battery in the wheelchair body, the control circuit built in the outer case and the battery may be connected via, for example, a detachable connector and a lead wire.

(Control circuit 20)
The control circuit 20 uses a signal from the operation unit 12 to control the electric power supplied from the battery 11 to the motor 10 to rotate the drive wheels 9. The control circuit 20 can be built in the outer case 2 or the drive wheels 9. The control circuit 20 is realized, for example, by mounting the electronic components constituting the control circuit 20 on a substrate (not shown) built in the outer case 2. The control circuit 20 supplies electric power from the battery 11 to the motor 10 while operating the operation unit 12 to turn it on, and rotates the drive wheels 9 with the motor 10 turned on.

(Operation unit 12)
The handle 8 shown in FIG. 6 includes an operation unit 12 that controls the rotation of the motor 10. The handle 8 shown in the figure is provided with an accelerator lever 13 on the front side of the grip 8A provided on the right side as an operation unit 12. The accelerator lever 13 is connected to a control circuit 20 that controls the motor 10 via a lead wire (not shown) wired inside the outer case 2. Further, the handle 8 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a brake lever 14 for braking the rotation of the drive wheels 9 on the front side of the grip 8B connected to the left side. The drive mechanism 1 in the figure stops the supply of electric power to the motor 10 while operating the brake lever 14, and operates the brake mechanism (not shown) built in the drive wheels 9 to operate the drive wheels 9 It has a structure to stop the rotation of. Since this brake mechanism electrically operates the brake by turning the brake lever 14 on and off, it is not necessary to pull the brake lever with a strong force unlike a brake equipped with a conventional wire, and the brake lever is operated with a small force. The drive wheels can be braked. Therefore, even a weak elderly person or a handicapped person can easily operate the brake and can ensure safety during running. However, the brake may have the same structure as the conventional brake, for example, a brake having a structure in which a wire is connected to the brake lever and the wire is pulled to press the brake pad against the rim of the drive wheel. Further, the handle 8 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a power switch 15 at the center thereof. The power switch 15 is connected to the control circuit 20, and the on / off of the control circuit 20 is controlled by operating the power switch 15.

As described above, the structure in which the accelerator lever 13 controls the on / off of the motor 10 to control the rotation of the drive wheels 9 can simplify the circuit for controlling the motor 10. In this case, instead of the accelerator lever 13, a push button switch for controlling the motor 10 on and off may be provided. However, the drive mechanism can also control the rotation torque of the motor by the amount of rotation of the grip as an accelerator. A mechanism that adjusts the rotation torque of the motor by the rotation amount of the accelerator detects the rotation amount of the accelerator by the resistance value of the variable resistor built in the accelerator, and between the motor and the battery according to this rotation amount. This can be achieved by adjusting the duty ratio that turns on and off the switching elements (not shown) to be connected. As the amount of rotation of the accelerator increases, the on-time of the switching element can be lengthened to increase the rotation torque of the motor.

In the above electric wheelchair 100, both ends of the fixed frame 2 are fixed to the left and right lower frames 63 of the wheelchair body 50, and the drive mechanism 1 is attached to the wheelchair body 50. Further, in the electric wheelchair 100 in which the drive mechanism 1 is attached to the wheelchair body 50, the drive wheels 9 are located in front of the footrest 55 and are in contact with the ground, so that the two free small wheels 54 float from the ground. It is configured. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electric wheelchair 100 is held in a state where the left and right traveling wheels 53 and the front driving wheels 9 support the entire wheelchair so that the electric wheelchair 100 can travel with three wheels.

Further, in the above electric wheelchair, by arranging the position of the drive wheel 9 in front of the conventional one, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, the drive wheel is from the central axis m connecting the axles of the left and right traveling wheels 53. The distance (D) to the central axis n of 9 can be increased. Therefore, when traveling with three wheels using the drive wheels, the region indicated by the triangle PQR formed on the left and right traveling wheels 53 and the lower end surfaces of the drive wheels 9 is used as a region where the balance of the center of gravity is stable, and is conventional electric. This area can be made wider than that of a wheelchair, and the balance of the center of gravity during driving can be stabilized.

Further, in the above electric wheelchair 100, the left and right small free wheels 54 floating from the ground can function as auxiliary wheels in a state of traveling with three wheels of two traveling wheels 53 and a driving wheel 9. That is, when the electric wheelchair 100 is driven by three wheels, if the left-right balance is lost and the wheelchair 100 is tilted to the left or right, the free small wheels 54 can be brought into contact with the ground to suppress the tilt. Therefore, the electric wheelchair 100 can further realize the feature that the safety can be guaranteed by the five wheels including three wheels as running wheels and two wheels as auxiliary wheels.

The electric wheelchair of the present invention can be conveniently used by many users as an electric wheelchair that allows a user sitting on a seat to easily get on and off.

100 ... Electric wheelchair 1 ... Drive mechanism 2 ... Exterior case 2A ... Mounting surface 3 ... Connecting mechanism 4 ... Fixed frame 5 ... Connecting frame 6 ... Handle shaft 7 ... Rotating mechanism 7A ... Cylinder 7B ... Protruding connecting part 7C ... Bearing 8 ... Handle 8A ... Grip 8B ... Grip 9 ... Drive wheel 10 ... Motor 11 ... Battery 12 ... Operation unit 13 ... Accelerator lever 14 ... Brake lever 15 ... Power switch 16 ... Support arm 17 ... Axle 18 ... Drum 19 ... Tire 20 ... Control circuit 21 ... Stopper 22 ... Support base 22A ... Support surface 23 ... Mounting part 24 ... Casing 31 ... Detachable connecting part 31A ... First sandwiching part 31B ... Second sandwiching part 32 ... Connecting tool 32A ... Bolt 32B ... Nut 33 ... Fitting Bearing groove 35 ... Detachment mechanism 35A ... First connection end 35a ... Outer cylinder 35b ... Insertion cylinder 35c ... Through hole 35B ... Second connection end 35d ... Inner cylinder 35e ... Outer cylinder 35f ... Through hole 35C ... Fixing tool 35g ... Fixing screw 35h ... Nut member 36 ... Adjusting table 36A ... Inclined connecting part 36B ... Fitting connecting part 36a ... Bottom plate part 36b ... Side wall part 37 ... Fixing tool 38 ... Inner cylinder 40 ... Fixing part 41 ... Connecting tool 41A ... Bolt 41B ... Nut 42 ... Connecting piece 42a ... Through hole 43 ... Through hole 44 ... Spacer 50 ... Wheelchair body 51 ... Vertical frame 52 ... Seat 53 ... Driving wheel 53A ... Rotating shaft 54 ... Flexible small wheel 55 ... Footrest 56 ... Backrest 57 ... Armrest 58 ... Grip 59 ... Manual ring 61 ... Connecting member 62 ... Folding frame 63 ... Lower frame 63A ... Main body 63B ... Front end 64 ... Upper frame 65 ... Upper and lower frame 66 ... Intermediate frame 67 ... Front frame 68 ... Seat frame 69 ... Footrest frame 70 ... Connecting shaft 71 ... Seat seat 72 ... Parking brake 75 ... Gap 80 ... Running surface m ... Central axis n ... Central shaft

Claims (7)

A wheelchair body and a drive mechanism connected to the wheelchair body to move the wheelchair body by a motor are provided.
The wheelchair body
The seat where the user sits and
A pair of vertical frames that connect both sides of the seat and
A connecting member formed by connecting the pair of vertical frames in a vertical posture,
A pair of traveling wheels rotatably connected to the outside of the vertical frame,
It is connected to the vertical frame and includes a pair of footrests on which the user sitting on the seat rests his / her left and right feet.
The vertical frame comprises a lower frame that is below the axis of rotation of the traveling wheel and extends forward toward the footrest.
The pair of footrests are connected to the vertical frame with a gap between them.
The drive mechanism
An exterior case that extends in the vertical direction and
A handle connected to the upper part of the outer case and
A drive wheel connected to the lower part of the outer case and
A connecting mechanism formed by connecting the outer case to the vertical frame of the wheelchair body so as to be rotatable in a direction in which the direction of the drive wheels can be changed.
A motor that rotates the drive wheels and
A battery that supplies power to the motor and
A control circuit that controls the rotation of the motor and
It is connected to the control circuit and includes an operation unit that controls the rotation of the motor.
The connecting mechanism
A fixed frame formed by connecting both ends to the pair of lower frames,
A connecting frame in which the rear end is connected to the fixed frame and arranged in a horizontal posture extending forward,
A rotating mechanism for rotatably connecting the tip of the connecting frame to the outer case is provided.
An electric wheelchair characterized in that the connecting frame is arranged in a vertical plane including a gap between the pair of footrests. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1.
An electric wheelchair characterized in that the vertical difference between the connecting frame and the footrest is 5 cm or less. The electric wheelchair according to claim 1 or 2, further
The wheelchair body is provided with a universal wheel connected to the front portion of the lower frame so as to be freely rotatable in a horizontal plane.
The drive mechanism is detachably connected to the wheelchair body,
An electric wheelchair characterized in that the universal wheels are arranged at a position away from a traveling surface in a state where the drive mechanism is connected to the wheelchair body. The electric wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
An electric wheelchair characterized in that the connecting frame has a telescopic mechanism. The electric wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further
The wheelchair body is provided with a universal wheel connected to the front portion of the lower frame so as to be freely rotatable in a horizontal plane.
An electric wheelchair characterized in that the connecting frame is connected to the fixed frame via a detachable mechanism. The electric wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
An electric wheelchair characterized in that the rotating mechanism connects the exterior case to the connecting frame so as to be rotatable 360 degrees. The electric wheelchair according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An electric wheelchair characterized in that the rotating mechanism rotatably supports the exterior case in an inclined posture in which the upper end is inclined rearward.

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