JP3356982B2 - Electric auxiliary single wheel carrier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a motor-assisted single-wheeled vehicle equipped with a motor for assisting human power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Wheeled single-wheeled vehicles called "cats" (cats) are used in various places, such as construction sites and agricultural lands, because they are small and turn around. However, in such a single-wheeled transport vehicle having a simple configuration, a heavy burden is imposed on an operator who carries heavy objects or climbs an uphill. In order to reduce the burden on the worker, it is conceivable to make the single-wheeled transport vehicle run on its own power. As self-propelled transport vehicles, for example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-196736, "Running Control Device for Power Unicycle," and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-3997.
There is No. 0 publication "Electric Cart".

[0003] According to Fig. 1 of the publication, the above-mentioned power unicycle uses a motor 2 having an engine (the numbers are cited in the publication; the same applies hereinafter).
A single wheel 13 is driven via the centrifugal clutch 3. According to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the publication, the above-described electric cart has two left and right front wheels 2 and 2 and one caster-type rear wheel 19 mounted under the carrier board 1.
The front wheels 2 are driven by a driving reversible motor 4.

[0004]

Since the above-described powered unicycle is a self-propelled transport vehicle, the labor required for transporting heavy objects and climbing uphill can be reduced. On the other hand, it is not as mobile and easy to use as a wheeled single wheel carrier. At construction sites and greenhouses, the work space is narrow and the road surface is uneven, so it is necessary to frequently adjust the traveling speed and traveling direction of the unicycle. For such applications, the above-mentioned powered unicycle has room for improvement. Also,
The above-mentioned power unicycle is not preferable for a working environment in a greenhouse or indoors in terms of engine exhaust and noise. Moreover, controlling the engine requires some skill. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned power unicycle, since only the prime mover 2 is disposed behind the center of the wheels 13, there is a problem of weight balance in the longitudinal direction, and there is a possibility that the maneuverability as a single-wheel carrier may be reduced.

[0005] The electric wagon described above is not as good in mobility and ease of use as in a single wheeled cart. In addition, in the electric cart, it is necessary to mount, in addition to the reversible motor 4, a box 20 containing a battery, which is a heavy object, and an electric control device. Even if the electric cart is a single-wheeled transport vehicle, simply mounting a battery, which is a heavy object, has a weight balance problem, and the maneuverability of the single-wheeled transport vehicle may be reduced. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the burden on an operator, to exhibit the mobility and ease of use of a wheeled single wheeled vehicle even in a small work area, and to further improve the maneuverability. It is to provide a good unicycle.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to mount a single wheel substantially at the center of a vehicle body frame in a vehicle width direction, mount a battery and a motor on the vehicle body frame, An electric auxiliary single-wheel carrier that extends the operating handle from the rear to the back, attaches the carrier to the upper part of the body frame, generates auxiliary power with a motor according to the manual operation force, and assists the human power with this auxiliary power Then, when the body frame is viewed from the side, the front vertical part of the front end,
A horizontal portion extending horizontally rearward from the lower end of the front vertical portion, a leg bent substantially V-shaped downward from a rear end of the horizontal portion, and extending upward from a rear upper portion of the leg. The loading frame is attached to the pipe frame so that the left and right sides of the loading platform project from the horizontal portion, and the center of the wheel is located forward from the axle of the wheel and protrudes from the loading platform in plan view. The battery is mounted on a horizontal portion so as not to be disturbed.

(1) By pushing the operation handle while lifting it, the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier can be moved forward as if it were a normal cat wheel, and handling is easy. If the load is heavy, the operation handle will be pushed strongly.
A large auxiliary power is generated by the motor, reducing the burden on the operator. If the load is light or light, no auxiliary power is generated because the pushing force applied to the operation handle is small. As described above, by pressing the operation handle, the operator can cause the electric auxiliary single-wheeled vehicle to travel only by human power or to travel by applying auxiliary power.

(2) By appropriately setting the distance from the axle to the center of gravity of the battery, it is possible to set the weight balance in the longitudinal direction of the hand-held single wheeled vehicle around the axle in an optimum state. As a result, the lifting load of the operation handle for pushing becomes small, the small turning is effective, and the maneuverability is improved.

(3) The legs of the vehicle body frame play a role of a stand for making the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier independent. Also,
The space between the horizontal part of the body frame and the carrier is narrow. The battery was placed on the horizontal part by effectively utilizing this narrow space. (4) Since the battery is guarded by the body frame or the cargo bed, there is no fear that the battery directly hits an obstacle. (5) Since the upper part of the battery is covered with the carrier, the battery can be protected from a load, water, mud, dust and the like.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that "before", "after",
“Left”, “right”, “up”, and “down” follow the direction as seen from the operator, and Fr indicates the front side, Rr indicates the rear side, L indicates the left side, and R indicates the right side. Also, the drawings should be viewed in the direction of reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention. The electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 has one (single) wheel 3 and two batteries 4L, 4 on a body frame 2.
R, a motor 5 and a power transmission mechanism 6 for transmitting the output of the motor 5 to the wheels 3 are attached; left and right operation handles 7L, 7R are extended rearward from the vehicle body frame 2; This is a walking-type transport vehicle in which auxiliary power is generated by a motor 5 according to manual operation force, and this auxiliary power assists human power.

The left and right operation handles 7L, 7R are bar handles extending rearward and upward from the body frame 2, and these bar handles have grips 9L, 9R attached to their ends. The right grip 9R is a sliding grip. The right operation handle 7R includes a movement amount detection unit 11 that detects a movement amount of the grip 9R. Note that the slide grip 9R and the movement amount detection unit 11 may be attached to the left operation handle 7L. Also, batteries 4L, 4R
Is a sealed battery. In the figure, 12 is a brake lever, and 13 is a brake.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention. The power transmission mechanism 6 is a mechanism for transmitting the power of the motor 5 to the wheels 3 via the axle 18, and includes a first reduction mechanism 15, a transmission shaft 16, and a second reduction mechanism 17.
The first reduction mechanism 15 has a built-in one-way clutch (one-way clutch) (not shown) that can transmit power only from the motor 5 to the axle 18. The axle 18 is a shaft that supports the wheel 3, and the shaft can rotate with the wheel 3. The body frame 2 is controlled by a hanger 21 and a control unit 22 below the loading platform 8.
Is attached. The control unit 22 includes the movement amount detection unit 1
1 is an electric control unit that controls the motor 5 according to the output of the control unit 1. The ground height of the bed 8 is about 400 mm.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention, in which wheels 3 are disposed substantially at the center of the vehicle body frame 2 in the vehicle width direction, and two batteries 4L and 4R are provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle body frame 2. It shows that the motor 5, the first reduction mechanism 15, the transmission shaft 16, and the second reduction mechanism 17 are arranged rightward from the center in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle body frame 2 is provided with a key switch 24 and a battery level indicator 25 on a rear mounting plate 23.
Is attached. The loading platform 8 is a steel plate platform that covers the entire upper surface of the vehicle body frame 2 and is bolted to the front and rear of the vehicle body frame 2 together with the left and right loading rails 27L and 27R.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle body frame according to the present invention. The body frame 2 is in the vehicle body longitudinal direction (front-back direction)
Left and right side members 31L, 31R extending in a direction and three cross members 32A, 32B, 3
It is a pipe frame (pipe frame frame) made of 2C and having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. For details, left side member 3
1L is one upper horizontal member 3 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
3 and a lower member 34 joined to a lower portion of the upper horizontal member 33. The upper horizontal member 33 has an operation handle 7L extending from the rear end to the rear upper side. The right side member 31R is also the left side member 31.
It has the same structure as L.

[0017] Three cross members 3 at the front, middle and rear
2A, 32B, 32C are left and right upper horizontal members 33,
33 is a square pipe that connects the front end, the center, and the rear part of each other with each other.

The lower member 34 is a generally open U-shaped member in a side view. More specifically, the U-shaped member is, when viewed from the side, a front vertical portion 34a at the front end and the front vertical portion 34a.
a, a horizontal portion 34b extending horizontally rearward from the lower end portion, a leg portion 34c bent downward in a substantially V shape from a rear end portion of the horizontal portion 34b, and extending upward from a rear upper portion of the leg portion 34c. And a rear upright portion 34d.

The structure of the lower member 34 will be described in further detail. (1) The upper end of the front vertical portion 34a is slightly closer to the center than the upper horizontal member 33, and the front cross member 3
2A, (2) the horizontal portion 34b extends along the upper horizontal member 33, (3) the V-shaped leg 34c extends outward in the vehicle width direction, and (4) the upper end of the rear upright portion 34d. Is
The upper horizontal member 33 is joined to the rear part.

The leg portion 34c plays a role of a stand for making the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 (see FIG. 1) independent. In addition,
The V-shape of the leg portion 34c includes a U-shape, a L-shape, an open U-shape, and a semi-arc shape.

The relationship between the left and right horizontal portions 34b, 34b and other members is as follows. (1) The battery holders 41L, 41R are mounted and fixed on the front ends of the left and right horizontal portions 34b, 34b and on the upper surface. (2) The axle brackets 42L, 42R are fixed to the lower surfaces of the left and right horizontal portions 34b, 34b at positions overlapping the rear portions of the battery holders 41L, 41R. (3) The upper horizontal members 33, 33 are connected to the left and right horizontal portions 34b, 34b by connecting members 43L, 43R at positions overlapping the axle brackets 42L, 42R. (4) The first deceleration mechanism brackets 44L, 44R are fixed to the rear ends of the left and right horizontal portions 34b, 34b and on the upper surface. (5) The rear ends of the left and right horizontal portions 34b, 34b were joined by a plate-shaped lower cross member 45.

The battery holders 41L and 41R are steel plate members for covering and protecting most of the batteries 4L and 4R (see FIG. 1) from the outside. The members are a bottom plate 41a and left and right side plates 41b and 41c. And an open U-shaped body as viewed from the front. Further, the battery holder 41L,
41R is provided with stays 41d, 41d at the front and rear.

Returning now to FIG. 3, the body frame 2 has the loading platform 8 attached so that the left and right sides of the loading platform 8 project from the horizontal portions 34b, 34b. The batteries 4L, 4R are mounted on the horizontal portions 34b, 34b so as not to protrude from the carrier 8 in plan view.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle body frame, the battery, the wheels, the carrier, and the carrier rail according to the present invention. The battery mounting structure is such that the batteries 4L, 4R are placed on the battery holders 41L, 41R, and the L-shaped cross-sections 46, 46 are applied to the upper corners of the batteries 4L, 4R.
The batteries 4L and 4R are attached to the horizontal portions 34b and 34b by fixing the batteries 6 and 46 to the stays 41d with hook bolts 47. As described above, since the heavy batteries 4L and 4R are mounted on the horizontal portions 34b and 34b, it is not necessary to provide another member such as a cross member for mounting the batteries 4L and 4R.

To remove the left and right batteries 4L, 4R,
First, remove the bolts 48 ...
Remove L and 27R. Next, the carrier 8 is lifted and removed from the body frame 2. Then, the hook bolts 47 are removed and the body frame 2 is removed.
The batteries 4L and 4R are pulled up from above. In order to mount the batteries 4L and 4R, a procedure reverse to the above-described removal procedure is performed. In this way, the loading platform 8 detachable by bolting is removed, and the batteries 4L,
Since the replacement of the batteries 4L and 4R is easy, the replacement of the batteries 4L and 4R is easy.

In order to remove the wheel 3, first, the bolts 51 at both ends of the axle 18 and the washers 52 are removed. Next, the assembly including the wheel 3, the axle 18, the second reduction mechanism 17, and the bearing 53 is pulled out to the front lower side.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are operation diagrams of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention. When running the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 loaded with lightweight objects on level ground, the grip 9
The force F of holding and pushing L, 9R is small. For this reason, since the movement amount of the grip 9R is small, the output of the movement amount detection unit 11 is also small. Therefore, the control unit 22 does not issue a control signal to the motor 5. As a result, the electric single-wheel carrier 1 can be run only by human power. The first reduction mechanism 15
, A rotational force of the wheels 3 is not transmitted to the motor 5.

As shown in (a), when the electric auxiliary single-wheeled vehicle 1 loaded with heavy objects is run or the electric auxiliary single-wheeled vehicle 1 is driven uphill, the grips 9L and 9R are gripped and pushed. The force F is large. If the pushing force F of the operator (operator) M who operates is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the grip 9R in (b) has a movement amount corresponding to the pushing force F. Therefore, based on the output of the movement amount detector 11 at this time, Thus, the control unit 22 issues a control signal to the motor 5. The output of the moving amount detecting unit 11 changes according to the pressing force F, and the control unit 22 controls the motor 5 so as to output the corresponding auxiliary power. For this reason, since the human power is assisted by the auxiliary power, the labor is reduced.

As described above, the worker M holds the grips 9L, 9L.
By holding and pushing R, the electric auxiliary single-wheeled vehicle 1 can be driven by human power alone, or can be driven by receiving auxiliary power. That is, the worker M holds the grips 9L and 9R regardless of whether (1) the electric auxiliary single-wheeled vehicle 1 travels with only human power or (2) the auxiliary power. It is only necessary to continue a single operation of grasping and pushing. Since the auxiliary power can be adjusted only by pushing the grips 9L and 9R, no special operation for adjusting the auxiliary power is required. For this reason, the operational feeling (operation feeling) is improved, the operability is enhanced, and the operational burden is light.

In particular, since the electric auxiliary single-wheel carrier 1 is a unicycle, it is impossible to release both hands from the left and right grips 9L and 9R during transportation. Even when it is desired to receive auxiliary power while the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 is manually pushed, the worker M does not need to perform any special operation, and the conventional manual single wheel carrier (commonly known as a single wheel carrier). It is only necessary to continue the push operation similar to that of “cat car”). For this reason, the transport operation is extremely easy.

In other words, by pushing the operating handles 7L, 7R (grips 9L, 9R) while lifting them, the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 can be moved forward as if it were a normal cat car, and handling is easy. . If the load is heavy, the operating handles 7L and 7R are pushed strongly, and according to the pushing force,
A large auxiliary power is generated by the motor 5 to reduce the burden on the worker M. If empty or light, the operation handle 7L,
Since the pushing force applied to the 7R is small, no auxiliary power is generated.

As described above, the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 is
As with the conventional hand-operated single-wheeled transport vehicle, it is easy to turn and has good mobility even in a small work area. And even when carrying heavy loads or climbing uphill,
The burden on the worker M is small. Further, the operation burden of the worker M is light.

Next, the operation of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. Center C of left and right batteries 4L, 4R
Is located in a space S surrounded by the body frame 2 made of a pipe frame and ahead of the axle 18. Also, the motor 5
Is located above the axle 18 in the space S. From such a configuration and the like, the electric auxiliary single-wheel carrier 1 has the following (1) to
(5).

(1) The center of gravity G1 of _one of the left and right batteries 4L and 4R, which is one of the heavy objects, is disposed at the front, and the other of the heavy object, the motor 5 and the first reduction mechanism 15, is assembled. placing the center of gravity G ₂ in the rear. The weight balance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body (electrically assisted single wheel carrier 1) with the axle 18 as a fulcrum was set at a ratio of approximately 4: 6 between the front and the rear. Thus, the center C of the batteries 4L, 4R is
By placing in front than 8, by setting the distance from the axle 18 to the center of gravity G ₁ appropriately, the operating handle 7L, 7
The rotation moment acting on R in the lifting direction can be easily and optimally adjusted. As a result, axle 1
The weight balance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body with the fulcrum 8 as the fulcrum can be freely set.

In the meantime, in the electric auxiliary single-wheel carrier 1, the operator lifts the left and right operation handles 7L and 7R, and runs the vehicle with the front and rear balance. When the weight in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body with the axle 18 as a fulcrum is perfectly balanced, the force for lifting the operation handles 7L and 7R may be small. However, when the electric single wheel carrier 1 is stopped, a rotational moment in the lifting direction acts on the operation handles 7L and 7R. For the operator to operate, the moment of rotation in the lifting direction is slightly canceled by its own weight,
Steering is easier when the weight in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is balanced. This is why the rear part of the vehicle body is set slightly heavier.

In this manner, the weight balance in the longitudinal direction of the electric single wheel carrier 1 can be set to an optimal state. If the weight balance is optimal, the force by which the operator lifts the operation handles 7L and 7R may be small, and the handle operation force may be small. Since the lifting force and the operating force are small, the steering feeling is good and the turning performance is also good. As a result, the maneuverability of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 is improved.

(2) Horizontal portions 34b, 3 of body frame 2
The batteries 4L, 4R were placed on the horizontal portions 34b, 34b so that the left and right sides of the carrier 8 protruded from the carrier 4b so as not to protrude from the carrier 8 in plan view. For this reason, the batteries 4L, 4R
Is located behind the front end of the body frame 2, and
It is within the range of the bed 8 in plan view. Therefore, the batteries 4L and 4R are guarded (protected) by the body frame 2 and the loading platform 8, and there is no fear that the batteries 4L and 4R directly hit the obstacle.

(3) In the space S surrounded by the body frame 2 and the cargo bed 8, a space portion before the connecting members 43L and 43R is defined as a front space portion Sf, and a space after the connecting members 43L and 43R. The portion is referred to as a rear space portion Sr. The front space Sf is narrower than the rear space Sr. That is, the space between the horizontal portions 34b, 34b of the body frame 2 and the carrier 8 is narrow.
By effectively utilizing this narrow space, the horizontal portions 34b, 34
The batteries 4L and 4R were placed on the battery b. As a result, the size of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier 1 can be reduced.

(4) Horizontal portions 34b, 3 of body frame 2
The entire upper surface of the vehicle body frame 2 was covered with the carrier 8 by extending the left and right sides of the carrier 8 from 4b. The wheels 3, the batteries 4L and 4R, the motor 5, and the power transmission mechanism 6 are arranged below the loading platform 8 so as not to protrude from the loading platform 8 in plan view.
L, 4R, the motor 5 and the power transmission mechanism 6 with a load, water,
It can protect from mud and dust.

(5) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the electric auxiliary single-wheel carrier 1 uses two heavy-weight batteries 4L and 4R and the wheels 3 to balance the weight in the vehicle width direction. Are arranged at right and left target positions. Since the wheel 3 and the left battery 4L and the wheel 3 and the right battery 4R are separated by battery holders 41L and 41R each having an open U-shape in front view, the wheel 3 and the battery 4L are separated. , 4R.
The battery holders 41L and 41R hold the left and right batteries 4
It also plays the role of preventing the L and 4R from falling.

[0041]

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited by the above configuration. (1) An auxiliary power is generated by a motor according to the manual operation force, and the auxiliary power assists the human power.
By pushing while raising the operation handle, the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier can be moved forward as if it were a normal cat car, and handling is easy. In addition, the motor generates auxiliary power according to the manual operation force, and assists human power with this auxiliary power, so that the burden on the worker can be reduced and the single-wheeled transport by hand even in a small work area. It will be a one-wheeled vehicle that can demonstrate mobility and ease of use like a car.

(2) Since the battery is mounted on a horizontal portion with the center of the battery positioned forward of the axle, the distance from the axle to the center of gravity of the battery is appropriately set, and the rotational moment acting on the operating handle in the lifting direction. Can be easily and optimally optimized. Therefore, the weight balance in the longitudinal direction of the electric auxiliary single-wheeled vehicle around the axle can be set to an optimal state. If the weight balance is optimal, the force for lifting the operation handle by the operator may be small, and the handle operation force may be small. Since the lifting force and the operating force are small, the steering feeling is good and the turning performance is also good. As a result, the maneuverability of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier is improved.

(3) By mounting the carrier on the upper part of the vehicle body frame and mounting the battery on the horizontal part of the vehicle body frame, the battery can be arranged by effectively utilizing the narrow space between the carrier and the horizontal part. . As a result, the size of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier can be reduced.

(4) The left and right sides of the carrier are extended from the horizontal portion of the body frame, and the battery is mounted on the horizontal portion so as not to protrude from the carrier in plan view. You don't have to worry about the battery hitting obstacles directly.

(5) Since the battery is mounted on the horizontal portion so as not to protrude from the loading platform in plan view, the battery disposed below the loading platform can be protected from a load, water, mud, dust and the like. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle body frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a vehicle body frame, a battery, and wheels according to the present invention.
Exploded perspective view of loading platform and loading platform fence

FIG. 6 is an operation diagram of the electric auxiliary single wheel carrier according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric auxiliary single wheel carrier, 2 ... Body frame, 3 ... Wheels, 4L, 4R ... Battery, 5 ... Motor, 6 ... Power transmission mechanism, 7L, 7R ... Operating handle, 8 ... Cargo bed, 9L, 9
R: grip, 18: axle, 31L, 31R: side member, 32A, 32B, 32C: cross member, 33:
Upper horizontal member, 34 lower member, 34a front vertical portion, 34b horizontal portion, 34c leg portion, 34d rear upright portion, M worker (operator), S space surrounded by pipe frame, Sf: front space.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-7-223544 (JP, A) JP-A-9-122183 (JP, A) JP-A 7-40354 (JP, U) JP-A 3-223 100568 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 62-196736 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 51-39970 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62B 1/00 B60K 1 / 00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A single wheel is mounted substantially at a center of a vehicle body frame in a vehicle width direction, a battery and a motor are mounted on the vehicle body frame, and an operation handle is extended rearward from the vehicle body frame.
An electric auxiliary single-wheeled carrier in which a carrier is mounted on an upper part of a vehicle body frame and auxiliary power is generated by the motor in accordance with a manual operation force, and the auxiliary power assists human power. The front vertical portion of the front end, a horizontal portion extending horizontally rearward from the lower end of the front vertical portion, and a leg bent in a substantially V shape downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion. A pipe frame comprising a rear upright portion extending upward from a rear upper portion of the leg portion, and a loading platform attached to the pipe frame so that left and right sides of the loading platform project from the horizontal portion; An electric auxiliary single-wheeled transport vehicle, wherein the battery is mounted on a horizontal portion so that the center is not further protruded from the carrier in a plan view when viewed from the front.