JP2805278B2 - Racing wheelchair - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheelchair for racing used in sports competitions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a wheelchair for a race used in a race competing for time such as an athletics, for example, FIG.
There is a racing wheelchair 50 as shown in FIG. The racing wheelchair 50 includes a pair of drive wheels 52 provided on both sides of a seat frame 51, and a base frame 54 extending forward from the seat frame 51 and having a head tube 53 at a front end portion, A steering wheel 56 rotatably supported by a fork 55 is provided with a head tube 53 like a bicycle.
It is configured to be attached downward and forward. In addition,
Reference numeral 57 denotes a handle.

The angle a (caster angle) between the axis of the head tube 53 (which is also the center line of the fork 55) and the vertical line of the road surface GL is about 20 to 30 degrees, and the extension of the axis of the head tube 53 G1 between the road and the road surface GL
Is set forward of the ground contact point G2 of the steered wheels 56, so that the steerable wheels 56 can maintain the kinetic performance and operational performance such as straightness, steering force, and steering wheel return.

[0004]

In such a conventional wheelchair for racing, since the head tube is located above the steered wheels, the front end of the base frame is raised and the position of the center of gravity is raised, so that the running stability is increased. Is impaired,
There was a problem that the passenger could not take an optimal forward leaning posture for the competition.

However, in such a configuration, when the base frame is disposed horizontally, the fork angle a becomes large, and the height position of the axle of the steered wheels increases vertically due to the inclination of the steered wheels by operating the steering wheel. The problem of fluctuation occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. It is an object of the present invention to improve the running stability by lowering the center of gravity and to make the occupant easily lean forward. To provide a wheelchair for racing.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and a racing wheelchair according to the present invention has a pair of drive wheels rotatably provided on both sides of a seat frame. A base frame formed integrally with the seat frame and extending substantially horizontally toward the front and having a head tube at a front end;
A steering wheel rotatably supported by a fork provided to be steerable by the head tube and arranged in front of the head tube.

The fork extends forward from the head tube, and a longitudinal center line of the fork and an extension of an axis of the head tube are arranged non-coaxially. .

[0009] Further, the extension line of the axis of the head tube is set so as to pass through or near the ground contact point of the steering wheel.

The angle between the axis of the head tube and the vertical line of the road surface is 40 to 50 degrees, and the angle between the longitudinal center line of the fork and the vertical line of the road surface is 60 to 50 degrees. The angle is 80 degrees.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the steering wheel is arranged forward of the head tube and the height of the front end of the base frame is reduced by providing the base frame horizontally. Therefore, the position of the center of gravity is formed low.

Further, the steered wheels are steered and rotated about the axis of the head tube as an axis, and the steering is performed by reducing the vertical fluctuation of the height position of the axle of the steered wheels.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a racing wheelchair of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a head tube portion.

A wheelchair for racing (hereinafter referred to as wheelchair 1) denoted by reference numeral 1 in the figure includes a pair of drive wheels 14 provided on both sides of a seat frame 10 and a seat frame 1.
The base frame 17 is formed integrally with the base tube 0 and extends horizontally forward and has a head tube 18 at the front end. And a steering wheel 28 disposed in front of the tube 18.

The seat frame 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape by a metal pipe member, and a seat (not shown) for supporting an occupant is stretched at a predetermined position. Note that reference numeral 11 denotes a cover for the drive wheel 14.

The drive wheel 14 is composed of a large-diameter wheel having a hand rim (not shown), and an axle 15 is attached to the bottom of the seat frame 10 so as to be rotatable.

The base frame 17 is made of a rectangular tubular member, and its rear end is integrally fixed to the bottom of the seat frame 10, and has a height substantially equal to the mounting position of the axle 15 and is substantially forward. It is provided extending horizontally.

At the front end of the base frame 17, a cylindrical head frame 18 is fixedly mounted at an inclination angle A (caster angle) of 45 degrees with respect to a vertical line of the road surface GL in the embodiment. An extension of the axis of the head tube 18 passes through the ground point G of the steering wheel 28 (trail =
0). In addition, the inclination angle A is 40 degrees or more.
Preferably it is 50 degrees.

The fork 20 has a fork base 21 and an auxiliary arm 22 rotatably engaged with the head tube 18, and has a longitudinal center line having a tilt angle B (hawk angle) with respect to a vertical line of the road surface GL. Is set to 70 degrees.
The fork base 21 of the fork 20 is rotatably supported on the head tube 18 by a nut 26 via a steering shaft 24 and a bush 25.

As a result, the center line of the fork 20 and the axis of the head tube 18 are formed in an obliquely downward V-shape, and the fork 20 rotates about the steering shaft 24 (corresponding to the axis of the head tube 18). It is formed so that. The inclination angle B is 60 degrees to 80 in consideration of the inclination angle A.
Degree is preferable. Reference numeral 23 denotes a hawk 20
Is a steering handle provided on the vehicle.

The steering wheel 28 is approximately 2/1/2 of the drive wheel 14 diameter.
The axle 29 has a diameter of 3 and its axle 29 is rotatably attached to the tip of the fork 20. Thereby, the steering wheel 28
The rear end portion is formed so as to be located forward of the front end portion of the head tube 18, and the height position of the base frame 17 is located at substantially the same height as the central portion of the steering wheel 28. In addition, the fork base 21 and the base frame 17
A known steering control dambar (not shown) is attached between the steering wheel 28 and the steering wheel 28 is provided with a brake mechanism (not shown).

Next, the operation of the thus configured racing wheelchair will be described.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a state in which the wheelchair 1 goes straight.
At this time, the base frame 17 is located between the steered wheels 28 and the drive wheels 14, and connects the axles 29 and 15 substantially horizontally to lower the center of gravity of the wheelchair 1 to enhance running stability.

The steering wheel 28 is mounted on the base frame 1
7 and is rotatably supported at a caster angle A = 45 degrees, is rotatably supported at a fork angle B = 70 degrees, and is disposed at a trail = 0.

Due to the large caster angle A, the steered wheels 28
The straightness of the steering wheel and the returnability of the steering wheel are maintained, and the steering force is reduced by trail = 0. Also Hawk 2
The steering wheel 28 supported at 0 is steered and rotated about the axis of the head tube 18 as an axis, and is steered by reducing the vertical fluctuation of the height position of the axle 29.

[0027]

As described above, according to the racing wheelchair of the present invention, since the steered wheels can be disposed in front of the base frame, the base frame can be provided at a low position and horizontally. it can.

Therefore, the running stability can be improved by lowering the center of gravity of the racing wheelchair, and the optimum forward leaning posture for the rider to compete can be easily achieved.

Further, by setting the relationship between the axis of the head tube, the center line of the fork, and the grounding point of the steered wheels, the kinetic performance and operational performance such as the straightness of the steered wheels, the steering force, and the return of the steering wheel can be improved. In addition to holding the steering wheel, fluctuations in the height of the axle of the steered wheels at the time of operating the steering wheel can be reduced, and good maneuverability can be obtained.

Further, since the base frame can be provided low and horizontally, there is an effect that the appearance of the wheelchair for racing can be formed to have a sporty feeling.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a racing wheelchair according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a head tube portion.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a conventional racing wheelchair.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Racing wheelchair 10 Seat frame 14 Drive wheel 17 Base frame 18 Head tube 20 Hawk 28 Steering wheel

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of drive wheels rotatably provided on both sides of a seat frame, a head tube integrally formed with the seat frame, extending substantially horizontally forward, and a head tube at a front end. And a steering wheel rotatably supported by a fork steerably provided by the head tube and disposed in front of the head tube. Wheelchair for racing. 2. The racing wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the fork extends forward from the head tube, and a center line in a longitudinal direction of the fork and an extension of an axis of the head tube are non-coaxial. A wheelchair for racing, which is arranged in a shape. 3. The wheelchair for racing according to claim 1, wherein an extension of an axis of the head tube is set so as to pass through or near a ground contact point of the steering wheel. And racing wheelchair. 4. The race wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein an angle between an axis of the head tube and a vertical line of a road surface is 40 to 50 degrees, and a longitudinal direction of the fork. Angle between the center line of the road and the vertical line of the road surface is between 60 degrees and 8
A wheelchair for racing, which is at 0 degrees.