JP6206189B2 - Small mobile - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of a small mobile body such as personal mobility or micro mobility, and more particularly to a suspension structure of such a small mobile body.

  In recent years, as a means of moving alone at low speeds for single passengers in areas that are far from walking, such as shopping, commuting, and attending school in areas around the city and where public transportation such as buses is inconvenient, it is more mobile than conventional small vehicles such as bicycles.・ Development and research of a compact mobile body with a new concept, which is collectively called “ultra-compact mobility”, which has a loading capacity and is more compact than conventional cars. The performance and equipment required for such a new concept of a small mobile body is generally not limited to sidewalks and bicycle paths. It is good to use, has excellent environmental performance, and has equipment that is not spoiled by hills and rain (equipped with a power unit with sufficient output, shield and roof). Also, from the standpoint of reducing storage space and alleviating parking problems in the city, the mobile body can be folded or downsized when not riding, and can be carried around the city like a carry bag. Furthermore, the usability of the moving body is increased.

  Thus, in the structure of the small mobile body of the new concept collectively referred to as “ultra-small mobility” as described above, the structure is as compact as possible, and at the same time, sufficient mobility and traveling stability capable of traveling on the roadway, It must be structurally stable and comfortable to ride. Therefore, for example, a new configuration that is not found in various configurations found in conventional small mobile bodies such as an electric wheelchair, a senior car, a bicycle, an electric motorcycle, a moped motorcycle, an inverted control type vehicle, an electric skateboard, etc. Development is needed. As a configuration that can be used in such a small movable body, for example, in Patent Document 1, a foldable four-wheel vehicle, in which a spring-type suspension is provided between a frame constituting the vehicle body and a rear wheel shaft. Has been proposed. Patent Document 2 discloses an all-weather two-wheel commuter that includes an auxiliary wheel and a door provided with a hinge. Further, Patent Documents 3 to 6 propose various vehicle bodies that can be folded by folding a frame constituting the vehicle body.

Shokai 60-46482 JP2008-37264 JP 59-73373 A JP-A-8-322976 JP 59-163577 JP-A-8-133146

  In the above-mentioned ultra-compact mobility, as described above, it is possible to travel on a road such as a general road, and it is assumed that the traveling performance is higher than that of a small mobile body such as a conventional bicycle. It is required to have higher running stability and structural stability than a small mobile body such as the above. For example, in the case of ultra-compact mobility, it is assumed that the vehicle travels at a high speed or for a long time as compared to a conventional small mobile body, so that it is robust and comfortable to withstand the vibration load input from the unevenness of the road surface during traveling. When a structure with sufficient vibration damping action for a comfortable ride is required, energy saving and downsizing structure, or a foldable or portable structure is considered. It is necessary to consider the ease of this. In addition, shields and hoods that cover the handle and the occupants and the rear part of the vehicle body that should be used during running during rain should be compactly housed so that the entire mobile unit can be carried when the small mobile unit is folded. Is preferred.

  However, a configuration that satisfactorily satisfies the advantages required for the micro mobility as described above has not been proposed in the above-mentioned patent document. For example, regarding a structure having a sufficient vibration damping action, in the case of a structure having a spring-type suspension between a frame constituting a vehicle body and a rear wheel shaft proposed in Patent Document 1, a foldable vehicle Since the positional relationship between the frame and the rear wheel axle is different between in use (when unfolded) and when the vehicle is folded, both ends of the spring functioning as a damper are fixed to the frame and the rear wheel axle. The spring is held in a significantly extended state as compared to when the vehicle is used (see FIGS. 6A and 6B of the same publication). In such a configuration, it is difficult to select a spring that can be extended when the vehicle is folded. Usually, since the elastic modulus is low, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient vibration damping action. By repeating the folding and unfolding, the durability of the spring can be reduced. In addition, regarding the shield and the hood covering the front to the upper side of the small movable body, the configurations of Patent Documents 2 and 3 are not so compact that it is advantageous for carrying when folded, and the configuration of Patent Document 6 The shield and the hood are not folded in consideration of the chassis that is necessary for traveling.

  Thus, one object of the present invention is to create a foldable configuration of a vehicle body in a new type of small mobile body capable of traveling on a roadway collectively referred to as “ultra-small mobility” as described above. To provide a novel suspension structure capable of obtaining a sufficient vibration damping action when a moving body is used, and capable of minimizing the influence of making the moving body compact when the moving body is folded. It is.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a shield and a hood or other configuration that is advantageous for carrying when folded in the small foldable mobile body as described above.

  According to the present invention, one of the above-described problems is that a main frame having a front wheel rotatably supported at one end and a seat at the other end, a front wheel side of the main frame, and a seat A movable body having a swing arm pivotally supported at one end relative to the main frame and holding a rear wheel for rolling at the other end, A first elastic member having elastic expansion / contraction means for connecting the main frame and the swing arm at a position spaced from the pivot attachment position with the swing arm in a direction approaching the seat, wherein the elastic expansion / contraction means is fixed to the main frame. Elastic elastic element holding part, a second elastic elastic element holding part fixed to the swing arm, and an elastic extension extending between the first elastic elastic element holding part and the second elastic elastic element holding part Main frame and swinger In the expanded state, both ends of the elastic expansion / contraction element engage with the first elastic expansion / contraction element holding part and the second elastic expansion / contraction element holding part, respectively, and elastic with relative displacement between the main frame and the swing arm. The elastic element elastically expands and contracts, and one end of the elastic elastic element is detached from the first elastic elastic element holding part or the second elastic elastic element holding part in the folded state of the main frame and the swing arm. Achieved by the moving body.

  In the above configuration, the “moving body” is typically a new type of small moving body capable of traveling on a roadway collectively referred to as “ultra-small mobility” as described above. It may be a moving body equipped with a seat having a front wheel and a rear wheel, and a seat that can sit more relaxedly, a roof that prevents rain and wind, a front shield, and the like. In the “moving body” described above, more specifically, when in use, that is, in the “deployed state”, the main frame extends upward toward the rear of the moving body with respect to the position of the front wheel. The swing arm may be pivotally mounted in the middle of the main frame in the longitudinal direction, and may extend downward toward the rear of the movable body. In such a configuration, in the “folded state”, the moving body can be folded by substantially aligning the direction of the swing arm with respect to the direction of the main frame and bringing the front and rear wheels close to each other. It may be like this. (That is, the pivot position between the main frame and the swing arm is the rear and upper position of the main frame.)

  In the configuration of the main frame and the swing arm as described above, the present invention further separates the main frame and the swing arm from the pivoting position for the purpose of absorbing vibrations from the wheels during traveling of the moving body. Elastic expansion and contraction means are provided to connect the main frame and the swing arm at a position. Such an elastic expansion / contraction means is, for example, between the first elastic expansion / contraction element holding part fixed to the main frame and the second elastic expansion / contraction element holding part fixed to the swing arm in the unfolded state of the moving body. When an elastic telescopic element, which may be a spring, is sandwiched and the moving body is running, vibrations and impacts from the road surface are elastically absorbed in the same way as a normal vehicle suspension or damper.・ It functions to suppress the transmission of impact. On the other hand, when the moving body is changed from the expanded state to the folded state, as described above, the end of the elastic expansion / contraction element on at least one side of the first or second elastic expansion / contraction element holding portion is elastically expanded / contracted. It is configured to be detached from the element holding part.

  According to such a configuration, that is, a configuration in which the elastic expansion / contraction element can be detached from the one elastic expansion / contraction element holding portion, when the moving body is folded, the orientation of the swing arm with respect to the main frame greatly changes from the deployed state. However, a state in which the length of the elastic expansion / contraction element greatly changes is avoided accordingly, that is, excessive expansion or compression of the elastic expansion / contraction element can be prevented. Robustness will be improved. Further, in the folded state of the moving body, the elastic expansion and contraction element is released from the stress, and thus an unnecessary force acts between the main frame and the swing arm in the folded state of the moving body. This can be prevented, and the mobile body can be stably held in the folded state. Furthermore, since the space occupied by the elastic expansion / contraction means in the folded state of the moving body is the volume of the two elastic expansion / contraction element holding portions and the natural elastic expansion / contraction element, there is also an influence on making the moving body compact. Expected to be small.

  The elastic expansion / contraction element may be a spring, and the two elastic expansion / contraction element holding portions are members that hold one end of the spring fixedly, and the other is a member such as a tray that receives the other end of the spring. It may be. One elastic expansion / contraction means may be provided on each of the left and right sides of the moving body.

  Furthermore, in the above moving body, the seat portion may be attached to the main frame by any foldable mechanism, and may be provided with a back portion. When the movable body is folded, the movable body may be appropriately rotated so that the surface of the seat portion can be displaced along the longitudinal direction of the main frame.

  Still further, the main frame of the moving body more specifically includes a first frame member extending upward from the bottom of the moving body, and a first frame member pivotally attached to the lower end of the first frame and supporting the front wheel. It may be composed of two frame members. In this case, when the moving body is folded, the first frame member and the second frame member are rotated around the pivot point so that they are close to each other, so that the overall size of the main frame becomes smaller. It's okay.

  Furthermore, in the above moving body, a shield and a hood that can be folded from the front surface to the upper surface of the moving body may be provided when the moving body is deployed. As described in the column of the later embodiment, the shield and the hood extend above the heads of the driver and the occupant when the moving body is deployed, and the shield and the hood when the moving body is folded. May be configured so that the overall size of the moving body becomes smaller.

  Note that a handle for hand-holding may be provided on the main frame or other part so that the user can pull the movable body in the folded state by hand.

  In general, according to the present invention described above, the elastic telescopic means is provided between the main frame and the swing arm at a position separated from the pivotally attached position in a direction approaching the seat portion, so that the moving body travels. It is possible to obtain a vibration / impact suppression action. The elastic expansion / contraction means is configured such that in the folded state of the moving body, the elastic expansion / contraction element is configured to be detached from one of the holding portions, so that an unnecessary force is not applied to the elastic expansion / contraction element. (In the case of a spring, it is in a natural length state), and the durability of the elastic elastic element is improved. In addition, the force acts on the elastic expansion / contraction element only when the moving body is in an unfolded state, and in the folded state of the moving body, the elastic expansion / contraction element is in an unloaded state. In selecting the material, it is only necessary to consider only the characteristics when the moving body is in the expanded state, so it is expected that the conditions of the material that can be used for the elastic expansion and contraction element will be relatively relaxed. The Further, since the elastic expansion / contraction means according to the present invention is composed of an elastic expansion / contraction element and a holding portion that holds the elastic expansion / contraction element, the elastic expansion / contraction means is structurally simple. Since it is fixed only on one side and separated from the other side, the occupied space can be made relatively small, which is particularly advantageous when a mobile body in a folded state is intended to be carried like a carry bag. .

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic side view of a moving body to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of the moving body folded. FIG. 1C is a diagram schematically illustrating the driving of a moving body to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a part of the process of folding the mobile body 1 in the unfolded state. (A) is a developed state of the moving body 1, (B) is a state where the front shield 2 is substantially superimposed on the fairing part 2 a, and (C) is a backrest 10 on the seat surface 9. (D) is a state in which the lock mechanism for locking the main frame 5 and the front wheel support frame 4 is released. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a part of the process of folding the mobile body 1 in the unfolded state following FIG. (A) is a state in which the footrest 4a is folded to the fairing part 2a side, (B) is a state in which the main frame 5 is lifted and brought close to the fairing part 2a, (C), (D) Is a state in which the main frame 5 is further lifted and the direction of the swing arm 7 is changed so as to be aligned with the direction of the main frame 5, and (E) shows the direction of the swing arm 7 with respect to the main frame 5 until the folded state. In this state, the front wheel and the rear wheel are brought close to each other. 4A and 4B are a perspective view seen from the right front and a perspective view seen from the right rear in the folded state of the moving body according to the present invention. 5A and 5B are enlarged perspective views of the vicinity of the hand-held portion 15 for allowing the user to pull the movable body in the folded state according to the present invention by hand. FIG. 5C is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which the user pulls the mobile body in the folded state. FIG. 6 (A) is a diagram depicting a state in which a moving body equipped with a basket that can store luggage and the like and a rain cover is provided at the rear and / or lower part. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a moving body provided with a region where a child can be placed in front of the driver, and FIG. 6C shows a state where the moving body is driven with a child on it. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Moving body 2 ... Front shield 2a ... Fairing part 3f ... Front wheel 3a ... Front wheel support shaft 3r ... Rear wheel 4 ... Front wheel support frame (2nd frame member)
5 ... Main frame (first frame member)
6, 8, 11 ... Pivot 7 ... Swing arm 8a ... Swing arm pivoting part 9 ... Seat surface (seat part)
10 ... Back support (back)
12 ... Spring pan (second elastic elastic element holding part)
13 ... Spring (elastic elastic element)
14 ... Spring holding part (first elastic expansion / contraction element holding part)
15 ... Hand-held part

  The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts.

  As already mentioned, the small mobile body to which the present invention is applied is a mobile body generally called “personal mobility”, “ultra-small mobility”, etc., and a conventional small mobile body such as a bicycle and a conventional automobile. This is a small mobile body equipped with a power unit, a suspension unit, a front shield and the like having an intermediate configuration. Referring to FIG. 1A, the basic structure of such a small movable body 1 is that a front wheel support frame 4 having a front wheel 3f and a front wheel drive unit (not shown) for electrically driving the front wheel is pivoted 6 The main frame 5 that is pivotably held at one end, the rear wheel 3r is supported at one end, and the other end can be pivoted around the pivot 8 of the pivoting portion 8a provided on the main frame 5. The swing arm 7 is connected to the swing arm 7. On the upper surface of the front wheel support frame 4, a fairing portion 2 a provided with a front shield 2 slidable in the vertical direction may be provided in a state inclined slightly rearward from the vertical direction. A seat composed of a seating surface 9 and a backrest 10 may be provided above the pivot point 8 with the swing arm 7. The seat surface 9 and the backrest 10 may be pivotable relative to each other about the pivot 11. As will be understood from the drawings described later, the moving body in the illustrated example is a tricycle having one front wheel and left and right rear wheels, but may be a four-wheeled vehicle having front wheels on the left and right. Although not shown, the front wheels may be provided with a steering mechanism for turning the front wheels.

  Furthermore, in the above moving body, an elastic expansion / contraction mechanism (12 to 14) having a spring 13 is provided at a position rearward of the pivoting portion 8a of the main frame 5, and vibrations in the moving body are provided.・ Impact absorption and mitigation can be achieved. More specifically, the elastic expansion / contraction mechanism is fixed to the main frame 5 and fixedly held to one end in the expansion / contraction direction of the spring 13, and fixed to the swing arm 7 and expanded / contracted of the spring 13. And a spring tray 12 that removably receives the other end of the direction. When a vibration or impact is transmitted to the main frame 5 and the swing arm 7 from the wheels or other parts of the moving body while the moving body is traveling, the swing arm 7 is a rear-wheel trailing type independent suspension type. As the suspension arm of the elastic expansion / contraction mechanism (12 to 14) elastically expands and contracts, vibration or impact is absorbed. Thus, the above moving body can travel like an electric bicycle with a suspension while the driver is sitting on a chair.

  A feature of the structure of the moving body 1 is that it can be folded when the moving body is not used. As shown in FIG. 1 (B), when the mobile body 1 is folded, the front shield 2 is slid down and substantially superimposed on the fairing portion 2a. The seat surface 9 and the backrest 10 are pivoted by a pivot 11 and folded substantially parallel to the main frame 5, and the swing arm 7 is pivoted by a pivot 8 and folded substantially parallel to the main frame 5. Further, the main frame 5 is pivoted around the pivot 6 in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the front wheel support frame 4. Preferably, in the pivot of each member that pivots when switching from the expanded state to the folded state, a locking mechanism (in order to lock the direction of the member in either the expanded state or the folded state, respectively) A method of fixing the pivot shaft or a method of using a connecting rod).

  When the swing arm 7 is rotated with respect to the main frame 5, the spring 13 is detached from the spring tray 12 as illustrated. According to such a configuration, in the folded state of the moving body 1, the spring 13 is released from the stress, and is more durable than the case where the spring 13 is fixed to the spring tray 12 and extended and held. Or robustness will be improved. In addition, the force acts on the spring 13 only when the movable body is in the unfolded state. When the movable body is folded, the spring 13 is in an unloaded state. Therefore, it is only necessary to consider only the characteristics when the moving body is in the expanded state, and an expansion of the range of selectable materials is expected. Further, in the folded state of the moving body, the spring 13 is fixed to only one of the holding portions and separated from the other, which is advantageous in that the occupied space can be made relatively small. In the present embodiment, the spring holding portion 14 is provided on the upper side with respect to the spring 13, and the spring 13 can be detached from the lower spring tray 12. The spring tray 12 may be disposed on the lower side, and the spring tray 12 may be disposed on the upper side of the spring 13 so that the upper end of the spring 13 is detached when folded.

  2 and 3 are diagrams schematically showing an example of a process of folding the mobile body 1 in the unfolded state. More specifically, the folding of the mobile body is more specifically described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2C, the front shield 2 is lowered so as to substantially overlap the fairing portion 2a, and as shown in FIG. The locking mechanism (fixing lock bar 5a) for locking the frame 5 and the front wheel support frame 4 is released (FIG. 2D), and then the footrest 4a attached to the front wheel support frame 4 is lifted (FIG. 3). (A)), the swing arm 7 and the main frame 5 are folded so that the directions thereof substantially coincide with each other (FIGS. 3B to 3E), as shown in FIG. Thus, the spring 13 is fixed to the spring holding portion 14. Therefore, it will be detached from the spring tray 12. Then, as shown in Fig. 1 (B) or Fig. 4 (A), (B), when it is folded and downsized, It can be carried by the user pulling the rear wheel as a rotating wheel, like a carry bag, etc. Or by driving the front wheel 3 with power, the user can walk In order to make it easier for the user to tow the movable body in the folded state, the hand-held portion 15 is used as a main part as illustrated in FIG. Provided on the frame 5 or the like, the user can carry the moving body as shown in FIG. 5C by holding the handheld portion as shown in FIG. 5B.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 6A, a basket that can store luggage or the like may be provided at the rear and / or lower part of the moving body, and further from the front shield 2 to the rear of the moving body. A rain protection cover may be provided so as to cover the upper side of the driver. The rain protection cover is attached to a fixing stay extending upward from the backrest 10 and may be fixed from the side portion to the upper portion of the front shield 2 by a hook or a fixing device (not shown). Further, as schematically shown in FIGS. 6B to 6C, the seating surface 9 on which the driver is seated is extended and a folding backrest is added near the center, so that An area on which a child can be placed may be formed.

  Although the above description has been made in relation to the embodiment of the present invention, many modifications and changes can be easily made by those skilled in the art, and the present invention is limited to the embodiment exemplified above. It will be apparent that the invention is not limited and applies to various devices without departing from the inventive concept.

Claims (1)

A front wheel support frame for holding the front wheel in a rollable manner is provided at one end so as to be pivotable, and a seat including a seat surface and a backrest that can be pivoted around the pivot is provided at the other end . Between the main frame, the front frame side of the main frame and the seat, one end is pivotally attached to the main frame, and the rear wheel can roll at the other end. A swing arm that is held between the main frame and the swing arm at a position separated from a pivot position between the main frame and the swing arm in a direction approaching the seat. An elastic expansion / contraction means to be coupled; and a fairing portion having a front shield slidable in the vertical direction above the front wheel support frame on the front surface of the movable body, wherein the elastic expansion / contraction means includes the main frame. Fixed to A first elastic expansion / contraction element holding section, a second elastic expansion / contraction element holding section fixed to the swing arm, the first elastic expansion / contraction element holding section and the second elastic expansion / contraction element holding section. An elastic expansion / contraction element extending between the first elastic expansion / contraction element holding portion and the second elasticity of the elastic expansion / contraction element in the deployed state of the main frame and the swing arm, respectively. The elastic expansion / contraction element elastically expands and contracts together with the relative displacement between the main frame and the swing arm by engaging with the expansion / contraction element holding part, the front shield extends above the fairing part, In the folded state of the main frame and the swing arm, one end of the elastic elastic element is detached from the first elastic elastic element holding part or the second elastic elastic element holding part, Ron bets shield is substantially superimposed on said fairing part is slidingly falling, substantially parallel to the said main frame said seating surface of said seat portion and said back support is pivoted by the pivot A movable body that is folded, and further, the main frame is pivoted with respect to the front wheel support frame to be close to the fairing portion, and the fairing portion is superimposed on the seating surface and the backrest .