JPH06329071A - Auxiliary power unit for bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an auxiliary power unit easy to mount to a bicycle, used for general purposes and capable of surely transmitting power CONSTITUTION:A portal supporting part 12 is provided in relation to a load carrier shaped base part 11 fitted in such a way as to lie astride above a rear wheel, and a driven roller 23 and a driving roller 21 are held to this supporting part 12 through laterally oscillating suspension rods 14, 15. These rollers 23, 21 come in contact in such a way as to hold both lateral side faces of a rim part in the rear wheel. Different from the existing structure of pressing a driving wheel to the outer peripheral surface of the rear wheel to transmit power, there is no adverse effect on the deformation or the like of a tire.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an auxiliary power unit for a bicycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, various auxiliary power units have been developed which are equipped with a motor and a battery on a bicycle so as to reduce the effort of pedaling when climbing a slope or starting. -6695, Actual Kaihei 3-24
489, etc.). In these auxiliary power units, a drive wheel is provided on a rotating shaft of a motor through a speed reducer, and the drive wheel can switch between a state of pressing the outer peripheral surface (tread surface) of the rear wheel and a state of being separated. The motor is attached to the bicycle frame in a movable state. Therefore, in order to operate the auxiliary power unit, the motor is driven while the drive wheel is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the rear wheel to transmit the rotational power to the rear wheel.

[0003]

In the conventional auxiliary power unit, it is necessary to attach the motor to the bicycle frame or the like so that the positional relationship between the drive wheel and the rear wheel is predetermined, so that the type of bicycle (sport vehicle) , A mini-cycle vehicle, a town-cycle vehicle, etc.) and their sizes are different, the mounting structure of the motor on the bicycle frame has to be completely different structurally or dimensionally. For this reason, it was necessary to manufacture a bicycle for which each bicycle was planned to be equipped with an auxiliary power unit from the design stage. Further, since the drive wheel has a structure that presses the outer peripheral surface of the rear wheel, when the air pressure of the tire is reduced or when a heavy object is placed, the pressing force, that is, the power transmission force may vary. Furthermore, if mud, gravel, or the like adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the rear wheel, it may cause damage or malfunction of the drive wheel, which has many problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and is versatile for various bicycles, easy to install, and capable of preventing variations in power transmission force, damage to parts, and malfunction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary power unit for a bicycle.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following technical means. That is, according to the present invention, a base portion provided so as to straddle the upper side of a wheel with respect to a bicycle frame, and a support portion provided on the base portion is hung and held via a pivot shaft whose axial center is directed forward and backward. A pair of left and right suspension rods that can swing in the left and right directions on both the left and right sides of the wheels, and a horizontal position that can be horizontally rotated by a motor at a height position where one suspension rod can contact the rim portion of the wheel. Drive roller provided in a state, a driven roller horizontally rotatably provided on the other hanging rod at a height corresponding to the drive roller, and the drive roller and the driven roller are respectively left and right from the rim portion of the wheel. A spring that urges both suspension rods in opposite directions so that they are separated from each other, and one of the suspension rods reaches the periphery of the other suspension rod from above the wheel via the upper side of the wheel. The pulling work table that is projected and this pulling work table A swing lever provided on the projecting end of the workbench so as to be horizontally swingable and having a tip end capable of pressing the other hanging rod in a direction against the spring, and a flexible wire is interposed between the swing lever and the swing lever. It is characterized in that it comprises an operating lever which is connected to the bicycle at an appropriate position and a power supply unit which is provided at an appropriate position of the base and is connected to the motor through a switch.

The operating lever may be attached to one of the brake lever attaching portions of the handlebar of the bicycle in place of the brake lever.

[0007]

The auxiliary power unit of the present invention has a structure in which all but the operation lever and the flexible wire are provided on the base portion which is provided on the bicycle frame so as to straddle over the wheels. The base portion has a mounting structure that is substantially the same as that of a luggage carrier that a bicycle is generally equipped with, and the luggage carrier is selectively provided.
In other words, any bicycle to which a luggage carrier can be attached can be equipped with the auxiliary power unit of the present invention.

In the auxiliary power unit of the present invention, the rim portion of the wheel (the wheel body that holds the tire) is sandwiched by the driving roller and the driven roller from both the left and right sides thereof, and the rotational power of the driving roller is transmitted to the wheel. Therefore, even if the tire pressure changes, the power transmission force will not be adversely affected. Further, it is completely irrelevant whether or not mud adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the wheel.

Each of the separate hanging rods for holding the drive roller and the driven roller is swingable in the left-right direction, and in order to keep both rollers away from the rim portion when the auxiliary power unit is not operated, The suspension rods are urged by springs in opposite directions. In order to bring both rollers into contact with the rim when the auxiliary power unit is operating, one swing rod is pressed in the direction against the spring by the swing lever that horizontally swings in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever. . As a result, the roller (for example, a driven roller) held by the hanging rod comes into contact with the rim portion, and then the pulling work table that holds the swing lever on the basis of this roller is used for the hanging work. It will move in the direction toward the rod. Therefore, if the above-mentioned suspension rod is further pressed by the swing lever, the roller (for example, drive roller) held by the other suspension rod will also come into contact with the surface of the rim portion opposite to the above. become.

If the operating lever is replaced with the brake lever and attached, the operation for operating the auxiliary power unit can be performed quickly and easily.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a town cycle type bicycle, 2 is a bicycle frame, 3 is a front wheel, 4 is a rear wheel, and the bicycle 1 itself has an auxiliary power unit 1 of the present invention with respect to a rear wheel 4.
Except for the fact that 0 is attached, it is in almost the same state as that which is generally commercially available.

The auxiliary power unit 10 is constructed with a base 11 which is provided so as to straddle over the rear wheels 4 as a base. The base portion 11 is mainly formed by bending or welding a round bar or the like similarly to a rear loading platform (not shown) that the bicycle 1 is generally equipped with. The mounting stays 11a and 11b are fixed to the upper end of the column 2a and both ends of the axle 5 of the rear wheel 4 so as to be mounted on the bicycle 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a pair of left and right leg portions 12b and a pair of these leg portions 12 are provided in the upper center portion of the base portion 11.
A gate-shaped support portion 12 having a beam portion 12a extending between the upper end portions of b is attached by welding or the like. A pair of left and right suspension rods 14 and 15 are held on the beam portion 12a of the support portion 12 so as to be swingable in the left and right direction by a pivot shaft 13 which is attached so that its axial center is directed in the front-rear direction. There is. 18 is a color. Each hanging rod 14,1
Reference numeral 5 designates rod end tools 16 and 17 for hinges or joints fixed to the upper and lower ends of the pipe material by welding.

A gear case 20 is connected to a rod end tool 17 provided at the lower end of one of the suspension rods 15 via a mounting bracket 19. A speed reducer (not shown) is built in the gear case 20, and a drive roller provided so that the drive of a DC motor 22 provided on the upper side of the gear case can be horizontally rotated via an output shaft 20a protruding downward. It will be transmitted to 21. The mounting bracket 19 has a vertically long slot 19a at the bolt connecting portion with the rod end tool 17, so that the height of the drive roller 21 can be slightly adjusted. Reference numeral 17a in FIG. 4 is a detent pin that is fitted in the elongated hole 19a (with a margin for vertical movement left). A connecting rod 26 is connected to a front portion of the gear case 20, and a front end portion of the connecting rod 26 is connected to a front mounting stay 11a of the base portion 11 and a main support portion 2a of the bicycle frame 2.
(See FIG. 1). Therefore, the gear case 20 is prevented from swinging back and forth. Since the connecting rod 26 has a long span between both ends, it is relatively easy to swing in the left-right direction, and the hanging rod 15 (driving roller 21) swings in the left-right direction. It does not interfere with the movement.

A driven roller 23 is horizontally rotatably provided on the other suspension rod 14 at the same height as the drive roller 21. The hanging rod 14 has a long hole 14a that is long in the up-down direction in a portion where the shank portion 23a of the driven roller 23 is screwed, so that the height of the driven roller 23 can be adjusted. The drive roller 21 and the driven roller 23 are such that the suspension rods 14 and 15 are hung on the left and right sides of the rear wheel 4, respectively, and the rim portion 4b of the rear wheel 4 (the wheel body that holds the tire 4a). It is arranged to correspond to. The suspension rods 14 and 15 are tensionally urged by springs 25 toward the leg portions 12b of the support portion 12 on the outside thereof so as to move in mutually opposite directions. Therefore, when the auxiliary power unit 10 is not operated, the drive roller 21 is moved rightward from the rim portion 4b (rightward in FIG. 2), and the driven roller 23 is moved leftward from the rim portion 4b (leftward in FIG. 2). It is designed to maintain the separated state.

At the bottom of the gear case 20, the suspension rod 14 is attached.
A pulling workbench 30 that reaches up to the periphery of the pulling workbench 30 is horizontally projected. At the left end of the pulling workbench 30,
A notch 31 that is long in the left-right direction and penetrates vertically is formed for sandwiching the hanging rod 14 (see FIG. 5). On the rear side of the cutout portion 31, there is provided a cylindrical bearing portion 32 that is long in the vertical direction, and on the front side of the cutout portion 31 toward the front and left (downward in FIG. 3). A wire holding portion 33 is provided which protrudes in a crank shape and is raised so that the protruding portion to the left has a vertical standing surface. Reference numeral 34 is an opening for inserting the output shaft 20a protruding downward from the gear case 20 (reduction device), and 35 is a fixing screw (not shown) for the gear case 20.
Is a through hole. A lever shaft 37 is fitted in the bearing portion 32, and a swing lever 38 is horizontally swingably held by the lever shaft 37. This swing lever 38 is
It has a plane L-shape having a tip portion 38a extending forward from the lever shaft 37 and a base portion 38b extending leftward (downward in FIG. 3), and the tip portion 38a is on the left side of the hanging rod 14 (downward in FIG. 3). Side) so that the base portion 38b
Is a connecting portion of the flexible wire 41 (inner wire 40b). A rod 39 to be inspected is attached to the swing lever 38 obliquely rearward and rightward so that the limit switch 45 can detect the swing state of the swing lever 38. The flexible wire 4
Reference numeral 1 denotes an outer tube 40a in which an inner wire 40b is slidably inserted.
One end of the wire holding portion 3 via the length adjuster 42.
3, the one end of the inner wire 40b is fixed to the base 38b of the swing lever 38. The flexible wire 41 is guided to the handle 7 along the bicycle frame 2 of the bicycle 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and the other ends of the outer tube 40a and the inner wire 40b are gripped by the handle 7. 7a is connected to the attachment body of the operation lever 43 attached in correspondence with 7a and a lever piece (neither shown). Therefore, when the operation lever 43 is gripped together with the grip portion 7a, the inner wire 40b is pulled forward, and the swing lever 38 pushes the suspension rod 14 rightward (upward in FIG. 3). ing.

By the way, a brake device (not shown) for the rear wheel 4, which is originally attached to the handlebar 7 of the general bicycle 1 along with the attachment of the operation lever 43, is provided.
The brake lever (not shown) for operating the is removed. Along with this, when the brake lever (not shown) for operating the brake device (not shown) for the front wheels 3 is operated, the brake device for the rear wheels 4 can also be operated together. When both brake devices are operated, it is preferable to set so that the force distribution of the braking force is automatically set to the optimum state.

The base portion 11 is provided with a holding frame 46 for the power source portion 50 so as to hang down toward the left and right sides of the rear wheel 4. A rechargeable battery, a generator, or the like is used as the power supply unit 50, and is connected to the motor 22 via the switch 45. Next, the operating condition of the thus constructed auxiliary power unit of the present invention will be described. Operating lever 4
When 3 is operated, the swing lever 38 is horizontally swung via the flexible wire 41 as described above, whereby one of the suspension rods 14 resists the spring 25 and moves to the right (upward in FIG. 3). It comes to rock. Therefore, when the driven roller 23 comes into contact with the rim portion 4b and the rear wheel 4 rotates, the driven roller 23 follows the rear wheel 4 and rotates together. Further, at this time, the limit switch 45 is swung by the swing lever 38 to be in the “on” state, and the motor 22 is started. Therefore, the drive roller 21 starts rotating at a predetermined rotation speed. After the driven roller 23 comes into contact with the rim portion 4b as described above, the hanging rod 14 is fixed to the support portion 12, and thus the pulling work table 30 that holds the swing lever 38 is moved. Start moving to the left (left side in FIG. 2). Therefore, the drive roller 21 that is in a rotating state eventually comes into contact with the opposite side surface of the rim portion 4b. Therefore, the rotational power is transmitted from the drive roller 21 to the rear wheel 4.

When the operating lever 43 is released, the suspension rods 14 and 15 are separated by the springs 25 in the directions opposite to each other, so that the swing lever 38 returns to its original state and the driving roller 38 is returned. 21 and the driven roller 23 are separated from the rim portion 4b. Further, the limit switch 45 is turned off by the return movement of the swing lever 38, and the motor 22 is also stopped.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but is generally carried out so as to transmit power to the front wheels 3, or the position where the operation lever 43 is arranged with the brake lever or the bicycle frame 2 is generally used. It can be changed as appropriate, for example, by disposing it to a position where a speed change lever (not shown) is attached.

[0021]

The present invention is provided with the above-mentioned structure, and is constructed on the basis of the base portion provided so as to straddle the upper side of the wheel with respect to the bicycle frame. Any auxiliary-powered bicycle can be equipped with the auxiliary power unit of the present invention. That is, since the structure of the bicycle itself does not need to be modified and the design of the bicycle need not be changed, it has a wide range of versatility. Not only that, there is an advantage in that it is possible to easily use one bicycle depending on the application, depending on whether the auxiliary power unit is attached or detached (for example, the loading platform is attached).

Since the driving roller and the driven roller sandwich the rim portion of the wheel from both the left and right sides to transmit the rotational power of the driving roller to the wheel, the tire air pressure is reduced or the tire is heavy. The power transmission force does not fluctuate even when the vehicle is mounted. Moreover, even if mud, gravel, or the like adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the rear wheel, it does not lead to failure, damage, malfunction, or the like.

If the operation lever is replaced with the brake lever and attached, the operation for operating the auxiliary power unit can be performed quickly and easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which an auxiliary power unit according to the present invention is mounted on a bicycle.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a suspension rod holding structure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pulling work table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bicycle 2 Bicycle Frame 4 Rear Wheel 4b Rim Part 7 Handle 10 Auxiliary Power Unit 11 Base Part 12 Support Part 13 Axis 14 Suspension Rod 15 Suspension Rod 21 Drive Roller 22 Motor 23 Driven Roller 25 Spring 30 Pulling Platform 38 Swing lever 41 Flexible wire 43 Operation lever 50 Power supply unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A wheel which is suspended from a bicycle frame so as to straddle over the upper side of the wheel and a supporting portion provided on the base portion via a pivot shaft whose axial center is directed forward and backward. A pair of left and right suspension rods that can swing in the left and right directions on both the left and right sides of the wheel, and a state in which the motor can be horizontally rotated to a height position where one suspension rod can abut the rim of the wheel. Drive roller provided on the other side, a driven roller horizontally rotatably provided on the other hanging rod at a height corresponding to the drive roller, and the drive roller and the driven roller respectively from the rim portion of the wheel in the left-right direction. A spring that urges both suspension rods in opposite directions so that they are separated from each other, and a protrusion that extends from the side of one suspension rod to the circumference of the other suspension rod via the wheel above. The attracting workbench installed and this attracting work A swing lever provided at the projecting end of the work table so as to be horizontally swingable and having a tip end portion capable of pressing the other hanging rod in a direction against the spring, and a flexible wire is interposed in the swing lever. An auxiliary power unit for a bicycle, comprising: an operating lever which is connected to a bicycle at a proper position and which is attached to a proper position of the bicycle; and a power supply unit which is provided at a proper position of the base unit and connected to the motor through a switch. 2. The operation lever is attached to one brake lever attachment portion of a bicycle handlebar in place of the brake lever.
Auxiliary power unit for the described bicycle.