JPH068828A - Body construction of small vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a body construction of a small vehicle in which a steering system and other functional parts which are covered by a body panel can be assembled easily, no disassembly of the steering system and parts around it is needed even when the body panel is removed, and workability in disassembly and reassembly is increased. CONSTITUTION:In a small vehicle, a steering shaft 15 extending toward the upper rear side aslant is installed at the front of a frame 1, a bar handle 16 is installed at the top end of the steering shaft 15, a body panel 22 is covered on and fixed to a frame 1 detachably, and the steering shaft 15 passes over the upper surface of the body panel 22. An opening 26 to inspect functional parts on the frame 1 is provided on the upper surface of the body panel 22, and the steering shaft 15 is inserted and positioned inside the opening 26. Also a cover plate 35 to cover the opening 26 is installed detachably on the upper surface of the body panel 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the body structure of a small vehicle such as a golf cart.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as a golf cart for carrying golf equipment, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a four-wheel standing type golf cart in which a driver rides in an upright posture, and has already proposed "Japanese Patent Application No. No. 298021 ”has been filed.

In this golf cart, the front wheels and the rear wheels, including the drive mechanism provided on the frame, are integrally covered with a body panel made of synthetic resin.
A bar handle extending in the vehicle width direction is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft that penetrates the upper surface of the body panel.

[0004]

In view of the assembling workability, it is desirable that the body panel is put on the frame after assembling the steering system parts and other functional parts on the frame side. .

However, since a wide bar handle is attached to the upper end portion of the steering shaft that penetrates the body panel, if the bar handle is attached to the steering shaft, this will be an obstacle and the body panel will be disturbed. It will be difficult to cover.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and the body panel can be covered at the end of the vehicle body assembly process, and the steering system and other functional parts covered with the body panel can be assembled. Not only can it be done easily, but when removing the body panel,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a body structure of a small vehicle that does not need to be disassembled around the steering wheel and improves workability during disassembly and assembly.

[0007]

Therefore, in the present invention, a steering shaft extending obliquely rearward and upward is attached to a front portion of a frame extending in the front-rear direction, and a steering wheel extending in the vehicle width direction is provided at an upper end portion of the steering shaft. A compact vehicle in which a steering handle is attached, a body panel is detachably covered and fixed to the frame, and the steering shaft penetrates the upper surface of the body panel,

An opening for inspecting various functional parts arranged on the frame is provided on the upper surface of the body panel, and the steering shaft is inserted and arranged inside the opening, and the upper surface of the body panel is arranged. Is characterized in that a lid plate for covering the opening is detachably attached.

[0009]

According to this structure, since the opening through which the steering shaft passes is for maintenance and inspection of the functional parts covered with the body panel, the opening area is convenient for securing a maintenance space. It will be relatively large. For this reason, even if a wide handle is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft, insert one end of the handle into the opening and tilt the body panel while watching the contact between the handle and the edge of the opening. If you rotate it while turning it, you can pass the handle through this opening.

Therefore, the body panel can be put on at the end of the assembly process of the vehicle body, and assembling and adjustment of steering system parts, which require assembling precision, including various functional parts covered by the body panel are widely opened. Since it can be performed in the state, assembly workability is improved.

When removing the body panel,
After removing the lid, the body panel may be pulled out upward while avoiding the handle in the same manner as above. For this reason, it is not necessary to disassemble the steering around, which requires precision in assembly and is also a safety component, and it is only necessary to remove the lid alone, and the body panel can be easily removed. it can.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings applied to a four-wheel golf cart.

The frame indicated by reference numeral 1 in the drawing comprises left and right main pipes 2a, 2b extending in the front-rear direction and a plurality of cross pipes 3 connecting the main pipes 2a, 2b. The frame 1 includes left and right front wheels 4a, 4b.
A front axle 5 that supports the rear axle and a rear axle 7 that also supports the left and right rear wheels 6a and 6b are supported.
It is rotationally driven by a drive mechanism 8 such as an engine or an electric motor installed in the substantially central portion of the frame 1. Further, at the rear end portion of the frame 1, a step 9 for installing the driver in an upright posture is installed, and the step 9 is located between the rear wheels 6a and 6b.

The front end of the frame 1 has front wheels 4a,
It is extended to the front of 4b.
A cage-shaped carrier 11 for receiving the caddy bag 10 is attached.

A pair of bridges 12 and 17 are welded to the frame 1 on both front and rear sides of the drive mechanism 8 and straddle between the main pipes 2a and 2b. Each of the bridges 12 and 17 is formed by bending a piece of pipe material in a downward U shape, and a steering support is mounted on a bracket 13 installed between the central portion of the bridge 12 on the front side and the front portions of the main pipes 2a and 2b. A pipe 14 is attached. The steering support pipe 14 extends obliquely rearward and upward from between the front wheels 4a and 4b. A steering shaft 15 is inserted into the steering support pipe 14 and is connected to the front wheels 4a and 4b via a steering mechanism.
A bar handle 16 extending in the vehicle width direction is attached to the upper end portion of the steering shaft 15, and the width of the bar handle 16 is wider than the width of the frame 1 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion between the steering shaft 15 and the bar handle 16 is covered with a handle cover 29 made of synthetic resin. Handle cover 2
As shown in FIG.
7, choke lever 48 and indicator lamp 49
Are arranged.

The rear bridge 17 is connected with a pair of left and right steering supports 18a, 18b extending obliquely upward and forward from the upper ends of both left and right sides thereof. The front portions of the steering supports 18a and 18b are connected to each other by a cross member 19.
2 is bolted to a bracket 20 welded to the upper end of the steering support pipe 14 as shown in FIGS. The front ends of the steering supports 18a and 18b are connected to each other in front of the upper end of the steering shaft 14, and a plate-shaped bag support 21 that supports the upper portion of the caddy bag 10 is attached to the front end connection. There is. The bag support 21 extends in the vehicle width direction, and both left and right ends of the bag support 21 project laterally beyond the front wheels 4a and 4b.

The frame 1 is covered with a body panel 22. Body panel 22
Is a synthetic resin molded product, and integrally includes a main body portion 22a that covers the frame 1, a front fender 23 that covers the left and right front wheels 4a and 4b, and a rear fender 24 that covers the left and right rear wheels 6a and 6b. It has a shaped shape. The body portion 22a of the body panel 22 includes an upper surface 25 that covers the frame 1 from above. An opening 26 for maintenance and inspection is formed at a substantially central portion of the upper surface 25 as shown in FIG. The opening 26 has a rectangular shape that opens in a space surrounded by the left and right main pipes 2 a and 2 b and the front and rear bridges 12 and 17 when seen in a plan view, and faces the drive mechanism 8 directly above. . The steering supports 18a, 1 are provided at the rear ends of the left and right edges of the opening 26.
A notch portion 27 through which 8b is inserted is formed, and a front end notch portion 28 through which the steering support pipe 14 is inserted is formed at the front edge portion of the opening 26.

As shown in FIG. 5, the left and right steering supports 18a, 18b are gradually narrowed in separation width as they move forward, and their front ends are located inside the opening 26 in plan view. It is located.

The body panel 22 is placed over the frame 1 from above and is fixed to the frame 1 at the four corners of the opening 26. If this fixed structure is added, as shown in FIG. 6, flat plate-shaped brackets 30 are welded to the upper and lower side portions of the front and rear bridges 12 and 17, respectively. The flange portion 31 formed on the inner peripheral edge portion of the opening of the portion 26 is overlapped. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, bolts 32 are inserted from above in the heavy weight portions of the bracket 30 and the flange portion 31, and the nut 3 obtained by welding the bolt 32 to the back surface of the bracket 30.
The body panel 22 is fixed by being screwed into the body 3.

On the upper surface 25 of the body panel 22, a synthetic resin lid 35 that covers the opening 26 is detachably attached. The lid 35 is in the shape of a rectangular box having an open lower surface, and is located in a space surrounded by the steering support pipe 14 and the left and right steering supports 18a and 18b. And the lid 35 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the opening peripheral portion is superposed on the flange portion 31 at the opening peripheral edge of the opening portion 26 via the sealing material 36, and the lid 35 is provided at the front and rear four positions on the body panel 22.
It is detachably fixed to.

The fixing structure of the lid 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Plates 39 having pins 38 projecting forward are riveted to two positions on the left and right of the front wall 37 of the lid 35. A rubber stopper 42 having a fitting hole 41 is attached to the support wall 40 on the body panel 22 side facing the front wall 37. Then, the pin 3 is inserted into the fitting hole 41 of the stopper 42.
8 is fitted, and by this fitting, the front end of the lid 35 is held by the body panel 22.

The rear end of the lid 35 is superposed on the flange 31 of the opening 26. This lid 35
Bolts 43 are inserted from above in two places on the left and right of the overlapping portion of the above, and the bolts 43 are screwed into nuts 44 held by the flange portion 31.

Therefore, the lid 35 is detachably fixed to the body panel 22 by fitting the pins 38 on the front surface thereof into the fitting holes 41 and then tightening the two rear ends with bolts 43. At this time, the bolt 32 for fixing the body panel 22 to the frame 1 is covered and hidden.

In this embodiment, rubber boots 45 are attached to the portions where the steering supports 18a and 18b pass through the notches 27, as shown in FIGS. An inner peripheral surface of an upper end portion of the boot 45 is closely held to outer peripheral surfaces of the steering supports 18a and 18b, and a rising portion 2 provided at an opening edge portion of the cutout portion 27 is provided in a lower end opening portion of the boot 45.
Steering support 1 while covering the outside of 7a
A skirt portion 46 is formed to cover a gap between the lids 35 and 8a, 18b.

On the other hand, the periphery of the steering support pipe 14 which extends upward through the front end cutout portion 28 of the body panel 22 is covered with a tubular steering cover 50 made of synthetic resin. The steering cover 50 is divided into a front cover 51 and a rear cover 52. The split open ends of the covers 51 and 52 are fitted to each other, and the inner surface of the lower end portion of the fitted portion is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a bolt 54 and a nut 55 are attached to the support stay 53 welded to the steering support pipe 14.
It is fastened and fixed via.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the upper ends of the fitting portions of the front cover 51 and the rear cover 52 are fastened and fixed to each other via bolts 56 and nuts 57,
As shown in FIG. 15, the upper end of the rear cover 52 is fastened and fixed to the bracket 20 via bolts 60.

According to this structure, the maintenance / inspection opening 26 opened in the body panel 22 is for inserting fingers, tools or the like around the drive mechanism 8 to perform work. The space portion surrounded by the left and right main pipes 2a and 2b and the front and rear bridges 12 and 17 is continuously opened, and the opening area is sufficiently large. Therefore, even when the wide bar handle 16 is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft 15, the body panel 22 is tilted or slanted back and forth with one end of the bar handle 16 inserted into the opening 26. If the position of the opening 26 is shifted by rotating it, etc., the bar handle 1
6 can be successively passed through the inside of the opening 26.

From this, the body panel 22 can be put on with the bar handle 16 and all the functional components necessary for traveling being assembled to the frame 1. Therefore, various functional parts covered by the body panel 22 and steering system parts such as the steering shaft 15 which require assembling accuracy can be assembled and adjusted in a wide open state.
Assembly workability is improved.

When removing the body panel 22, the bolts 54 and 60 and the nut 57 are loosened, the front cover 51 and the rear cover 52 are removed from the outer periphery of the steering support pipe 14, and the bolt 43 is loosened to remove the lid 35. The opening 26 is removed, and then the bolt 32
And pull out the body panel 22 upward so as not to interfere with the bar handle 16.

For this reason, it is not necessary to disassemble the steering system, which is a safety component, as well as the precision of assembly, and it is only necessary to remove the steering cover 50 and the lid 35. Can be done easily.

Further, since the opening 26 of this embodiment is opened only on the upper surface 25 of the body panel 22, that is, the periphery of the opening 26 is continuously connected, the body panel 22 is divided. Moreover, the rigidity of the body panel 22 can be kept high.

Therefore, even if the body panel 22 is put on the frame 1 by the above-described procedure, the body panel 22 is not distorted and deformed, and the accuracy of attachment to the frame 1 is kept good. can do. Further, since the body panel 22 is an integral structure, only one type of molding die is required, and this also has an advantage of contributing to cost reduction.

[0034]

According to the present invention described in detail above, the body panel can be put on the frame after the entire vehicle body is assembled to a state in which it can run, and this body panel requires assembly accuracy. It has the advantage that it can be removed from the frame without disassembling around the steering wheel, and the workability during disassembly and assembly is greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a golf cart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the golf cart.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a golf cart.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a body panel.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the sizes of the opening of the body panel, the bar handle, and the back support.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the frame.

7 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

8 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

9 is a cross-sectional view of a C portion of FIG.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

11 is a sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG.

12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of FIG.

13 is a sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG.

14 is a sectional view taken along the line HH of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an upper end mounting portion of a steering cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Frame, 8 ... Functional component (driving mechanism), 14 ... Steering support pipe, 15 ... Steering shaft, 16 ... Steering wheel (bar handle), 22 ... Body panel, 26
... Opening part, 35 ... Lid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A steering shaft extending obliquely rearward and upward is attached to a front portion of a frame extending in the front-rear direction, and a steering handle extending in the vehicle width direction is attached to an upper end portion of the steering shaft. , A small vehicle in which the body panel is detachably covered and fixed, and the steering shaft penetrates through the upper surface of the body panel, in order to inspect various functional parts arranged on the frame on the upper surface of the body panel. A small vehicle characterized in that an opening is provided, the steering shaft is inserted and arranged inside the opening, and a lid plate that covers the opening is detachably attached to the upper surface of the body panel. Car body structure.