JPH07232686A - Bicycle with auxiliary power - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce consumption of a power during a stop by a method wherein a controller is provided with a feed stop means to stop the feed of a power to a motor when a car speed is below a given value. CONSTITUTION:When a rider steps on a pedal, a power responding to a pedaling force and a car speed is fed from a battery 17 to a motor 16 by a controller 18 to generate an auxiliary drive power. In a usual running (running at a car speed lower than a given value) state, since an auxiliary drive force approximately equal to a pedaling force is generated by the motor 16, a pedaling force is relieved by an amount equivalent to the auxiliary drive force and as a result, a rider can run the bicycle by approximately a half force. When a car speed attains a given value, the excessive speeding is prevented from occurring by stopping the feed of a power to the motor 16. During a stop, a detecting car speed from a car speed sensor 20 is reduced to 0km/h and since the feed stop means 18a of the controller 18 stops the feed of a power to the motor 16 in spite of a pedaling force, consumption of a wasteful power during a stop can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an auxiliary power-assisted bicycle in which an auxiliary driving force is generated by a motor in response to pedaling force so that the bicycle can be driven with a smaller pedaling force than an ordinary bicycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an auxiliary power-assisted bicycle in which an auxiliary drive force is generated by a motor according to a pedaling force so that the bicycle can be driven with a force smaller than usual. This type of bicycle with auxiliary power is similar to a normal bicycle in that it has a torque sensor that detects the pedal effort, a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed, a motor that generates auxiliary driving force, a power supply that supplies electric power to the motor, and a torque. It has a structure in which a controller that controls the electric power supplied to the motor based on the detection of the sensor and the vehicle speed sensor is added.

Then, the controller calculates the required electric power according to the pedal effort and the vehicle speed, controls the electric power supplied from the power source to the motor to generate the auxiliary drive force, and adds the auxiliary drive force to the pedal effort. , It is designed to run with less force than a normal bicycle.

[0004] In a conventional bicycle with auxiliary power, during normal running, it is possible to run with about half the force by generating an auxiliary drive force in accordance with the pedal effort, and when the vehicle speed exceeds a set value, the auxiliary power is gradually assisted. By reducing the driving force, excessive speed is prevented.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional bicycle with auxiliary power is always assisted when the pedaling force acts on the pedal even when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value (close to 0), such as when the vehicle is stopped or is about to stop. Since power is generated, for example, when the driver puts his / her foot on the pedal while the vehicle is stopped waiting for a signal, the torque sensor detects the pedaling force and the electric power is supplied to the motor. In this way, there is a problem that the power is likely to be consumed due to useless power consumption while the vehicle is stopped.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary power-assisted bicycle that reduces power consumption while the vehicle is stopped.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention detects a motor for generating an auxiliary drive force, a pedal effort detection means, a vehicle speed detection means, and the pedal effort detection means. A bicycle with auxiliary power, comprising: a controller that controls electric power supplied to the motor according to a vehicle speed detected by the pedal effort and the vehicle speed detection means,
The controller is characterized in that it has power supply stopping means for stopping the supply of electric power to the motor when the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

[0008]

With this configuration, when the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the electric power is not supplied to the motor even if the pedal effort detecting means detects the pedal effort.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 1, a bicycle 1 with auxiliary power
Is a combination of the auxiliary power unit 2 and a structure similar to a normal bicycle. In the figure, 3 is a frame, 4 and 5 are wheels,
6 is a steering wheel, 7 is a saddle, 8 is a front hawk, 9,
10 is a sprocket, 11 is a crank, 12 is a pedal, 13 is a chain, and 14 and 15 are mudguards. The rotational force of the pedal 12 is transmitted from the sprocket 9 to the sprocket 10 via the chain to drive the wheels 5.
A free wheel (not shown) is built in one of the sprockets 10 so that the wheels 5 can freely rotate in the forward direction even when the sprockets 9 are stopped. The auxiliary power unit 2 is fixed to the frame 3,
It is drivingly connected to the sprocket 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary power unit 2 includes a motor 16 for generating an auxiliary driving force, a battery 17 as a power source for supplying electric power to the motor 16, and a controller for controlling the electric power supplied to the motor 16. 18, a torque sensor 19 as a pedal effort detection means, and a vehicle speed sensor 20 as a vehicle speed detection means for detecting the vehicle speed of the bicycle 1 with auxiliary power.

The motor 16 is drivingly connected to the sprocket 9 directly or with an appropriate reduction ratio, and drives the sprocket 9 with a driving force corresponding to the electric power supplied from the battery 17.

The torque sensor 19 includes a pedal 19 and a crank.
A signal proportional to the pedal effort of the driver is output to the controller 18 by detecting the rotational force acting on the sprocket 9 via 11. Vehicle speed sensor 20
Outputs a signal corresponding to the vehicle speed to the controller 18 by detecting the rotation speed of the wheels 4 or 5.

The controller 18 is a control device having a microcomputer built therein, and calculates an auxiliary driving force according to signals from the torque sensor 19 and the vehicle speed sensor 20 based on preset conditions, and from the battery 17 to the motor 16 The auxiliary driving force generated by the motor 16 is controlled by adjusting the power supplied to the motor. Then, in a normal traveling state (a traveling state in which the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a set value (about 24 km / h)), when the torque sensor 19 detects a torque equal to or more than a predetermined value, that is, a state in which the driver pedals the pedal. Then, the motor 16 provides an auxiliary driving force that is almost equal to the pedaling force of the driver so that the ratio of the auxiliary driving force by the motor 16 (hereinafter referred to as the assist ratio) is approximately 50% of the driving force required for traveling. The power supplied from the battery 17 is adjusted so as to be generated. Then, when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 exceeds a set value, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped. When the vehicle speed is 0 (below a predetermined value), that is, when the vehicle is stopped, the torque sensor
Power supply stopping means 18a for stopping the supply of electric power to the motor 16 regardless of the detected value of 19 is provided.

The control flow by the controller 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG.
In the step, signals from the torque sensor 19 and the vehicle speed sensor 20 are read. In step, torque sensor 19
It is determined whether the detected torque is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. If the torque is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step. If the torque is not greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the power supply to the motor 16 is stopped in step. In step, it is determined whether the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the process proceeds to step. Stop the supply.
In step, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is not 0, and if the vehicle speed is not 0, the process proceeds to step. If the vehicle speed is 0, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped in step. In the step, electric power is supplied to the motor 16 according to the torque detected by the torque sensor 19 to generate an auxiliary driving force that is substantially equal to the pedal effort.

The operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

When the driver pedals the pedal 12, the controller
Electric power according to the pedal effort and the vehicle speed is supplied from the battery 17 to the motor 16 by the 18, and an auxiliary driving force is generated.
In normal traveling (vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined value), the motor 16 generates an auxiliary driving force that is almost equal to the pedaling force, so the pedaling force is reduced by that amount, and as a result, the driver travels with about half the force. can do. Then, when the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined value, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped to prevent the speed from becoming too high.

While the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is 0 km.
/ h, and the power supply stopping means 18a of the controller 18 stops the supply of electric power to the motor 16 regardless of the pedal effort, so that it is possible to reduce unnecessary electric power consumption while the vehicle is stopped.
Therefore, since the motor 16 is not supplied with electric power when the driver puts his / her foot on the pedal while the vehicle is stopped due to waiting for a signal or the like,
The consumption of the battery 17 can be reduced. Further, since the auxiliary driving force is not generated while the bicycle is stopped, the bicycle 1 does not attempt to start against the driver's will. At this time, if a slight vehicle speed is generated, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is started and an auxiliary driving force is generated, so that the burden on the driver at the time of starting is not increased.

In this embodiment, the electric power supply to the motor 16 is stopped when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is 0. However, when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value close to 0, The supply of electric power to the motor 16 may be stopped by judging that the vehicle is stopped or is about to stop.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the control by the controller 18 during normal traveling, and therefore only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described in detail below.

In the second embodiment, the controller 18 changes the assist rate according to the vehicle speed during normal traveling. That is, as shown in the graph in FIG. 4, in a normal traveling state (when the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value), the assist ratio increases as the vehicle speed increases from 0 km / h to 6 km / h. Reduced from 100% to 50% at a fixed rate, 50% assist rate from 6km / h to 16km / h
(Constant) and the assist rate is 50 from 16km / h to 24km / h
The electric power supplied to the motor 16 is controlled according to the detections of the vehicle speed sensor 20 and the torque sensor 19 so that the electric power is reduced from 0% to 0% at a constant rate.

A control flow by the controller 18 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, in the step, signals from the torque sensor 19 and the vehicle speed sensor 20 are read. In the step, it is determined whether the detected torque of the torque sensor 19 is a predetermined value or more, and if the torque is a predetermined value or more, the process proceeds to the step. Stop the supply. In step, it is determined whether the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and if the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the process proceeds to step. Stop the supply. In step, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is not 0, and if the vehicle speed is not 0, the process proceeds to step. If the vehicle speed is 0, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped in step. In the step, the assist rate is calculated from the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20, the electric power supplied to the motor 16 is determined according to the detected torque of the torque sensor 19 based on the assist rate, and the process proceeds to step. In the step, the electric power determined in the step is supplied to the motor 16 to generate the auxiliary driving force having a predetermined assist rate.

With this configuration, in addition to the above-described first embodiment, the following actions and effects are exhibited. That is, when the vehicle normally starts with a large pedal effort, the assist rate is 100%.
Since it is close to%, it is possible to start with almost no pedal effort. During low-speed running from start to 6 km / h, the pedaling force is significantly reduced by gradually decreasing the assist ratio from 100% to 50% as the vehicle speed increases. It is possible to prevent wobbling. During normal driving from 6 km / h to 16 km / h, the assist rate is 50 as in the first embodiment.
By generating an auxiliary driving force of%, it is possible to travel with half the pedal effort. In addition, the vehicle speed is 16km / h to 24
When driving at high speeds up to km / h, by gradually reducing the assist rate from 50% to 0%, it is possible to prevent the driver from feeling excessively fast without feeling uncomfortable.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a brake sensor is provided and control is added to the controller 18 depending on the presence or absence of braking, the same members as those of the first embodiment will be described below. Are assigned the same numbers, and only different portions will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary power unit 2 of the third embodiment is provided with a brake sensor 21. The brake sensor 21 detects the operation of a braking device (not shown) mounted on the bicycle 1 with auxiliary power and outputs the operation signal to the controller 18. The operation of the braking device can be detected by detecting the brake lever opening, detecting the deceleration by the acceleration sensor or the vehicle speed sensor, detecting the hydraulic pressure by operating the hydraulic brake, and the like.

In addition to the control of the first embodiment, the controller 18 of the third embodiment receives a signal from the brake sensor 21 to detect the presence or absence of braking, and allows the supply of electric power to the motor 16 when not braking. However, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped during braking.

The control flow by the controller 18 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, in the step, signals from the torque sensor 19 and the vehicle speed sensor 20 are read. In the step, it is determined whether or not the torque detected by the torque sensor 19 is a predetermined value or more. If the torque is the predetermined value or more, the process proceeds to the step. If the torque is not the predetermined value or more, the motor is operated in the step.
Stop supplying power to 16. In the step, it is determined whether the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 20 is less than or equal to a predetermined value,
If the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step. If the vehicle speed is not equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the power supply to the motor 16 is stopped in step. In step, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is not 0, and if the vehicle speed is not 0, the process proceeds to step. If the vehicle speed is 0, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped in step. In step, the presence or absence of braking is determined based on the signal from the brake sensor 21, and if the vehicle is not being braked, the process proceeds to step. If the vehicle is braking, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped in step. Torque sensor in step
Electric power is supplied to the motor 16 in accordance with the detected torque of 19 to generate an auxiliary driving force that is substantially equal to the pedal effort.

With this configuration, the following actions and effects are obtained in addition to the first embodiment. That is, if the auxiliary driving force is applied during braking, the load on the braking device may increase, deceleration may be insufficient, the braking distance may be extended, and the wear of the brake shoes may be accelerated. According to the embodiment, at the time of braking, the supply of electric power to the motor 16 is stopped regardless of the pedal effort, so that it is possible to prevent the above-mentioned problems due to the auxiliary driving force. In addition, power consumption can be reduced by eliminating generation of useless auxiliary driving force during braking.

In the third embodiment, the electric power supply to the motor 16 is completely stopped at the time of braking. However, the controller 18 detects the magnitude of the braking force by the brake sensor. The assist rate may be reduced according to the size of the.

[0030]

As described above in detail, the auxiliary power-assisted bicycle of the present invention is provided with the power supply stopping means for stopping the supply of electric power to the motor when the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined value. No electric power is supplied to the motor even when the pedaling force is detected. As a result, when the driver puts his / her foot on the pedal while the vehicle is stopped due to waiting for a signal or the like, electric power is not supplied to the motor, so that it is possible to reduce power consumption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an auxiliary power unit of the device of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control flow by a controller of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another control flow by the controller of the apparatus of FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing another example of a configuration of an auxiliary power unit of the device of FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing a control flow by a controller of the apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bicycle with auxiliary power 16 Motor 18 Controller 18a Power supply stopping means 19 Torque sensor (pedal pedal force detecting means) 20 Vehicle speed sensor (vehicle speed detecting means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A motor for generating an auxiliary driving force, a pedal effort detection means, a vehicle speed detection means, a pedal depression force detected by the pedal depression force detection means and a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means. In the auxiliary power-assisted bicycle including a controller for controlling the electric power supplied to the motor, the controller has a power supply stopping means for stopping the supply of electric power to the motor when the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. A bicycle with auxiliary power.