JPH09142370A - Power synthesizing device for bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform assembly work. SOLUTION: A housing 24 receiving a differential mechanism 27 is divided into the first/second housing 25, 26. A differential gear case 31 supporting each differential side gear 32, 33 and a differential pinion 38 is supported on the first housing 25, on the other hand a pedal crankshaft 41 is supported on the second housing 26. When the first/second housings 25, 26 are made adjacent to each other to be secured, the pedal crankshaft 41 is fitted to both the differential side gears 32, 33, also the pedal crankshaft 41 is disengageably engaged with the differential side gear 32 so as to be mounted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power synthesizing device for a bicycle which can be driven to travel by a synthetic power of a power from an occupant and a power from driving means such as an electric motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the power synthesizing device for a bicycle is
As shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-113733 of the applicant's application, the following is proposed.

That is, the differential mechanism is housed in the housing supported by the body frame of the bicycle. This differential mechanism includes a differential case rotatably supported by the housing around a first axis extending in the vehicle width direction and interlockingly connected with a rear wheel, and a differential case around the same axis as the first axis. It is composed of a pair of rotatably supported diff side gears, and a diff pinion rotatably supported by the diff case around the second axis orthogonal to the first axis and meshed with the respective diff side gears. .

A pedal crankshaft is rotatably supported by the housing around the first axis and is rotated by inputting power by human power. On the other hand, a pedal crankshaft is provided on the first axis, and power by the driving means is provided. An input gear for inputting is provided, and the pedal crankshaft is attached to one of the left and right differential side gears so that the pedal crankshaft rotates integrally, and the input gear is provided to the other differential side gear. It is supposed that they are attached and rotate integrally.

The housing is divided into a first housing and a second housing in the axial direction of the first axis.

When the bicycle is run, the occupant depresses the pedal to give the power to one of the differential side gears via the pedal crankshaft. At the same time, the driving force is applied to the other differential side gear by driving the driving means.

Then, both of these motive powers are combined by the differential pinion of the differential mechanism and transmitted to the rear wheels through the differential case. At this time, since the power of the drive means is added to the power of the occupant, the burden on the occupant is reduced, and the traveling drive of the bicycle is facilitated.

[0008]

By the way, when assembling the above-mentioned conventional power combiner, first, the differential case of the differential mechanism is assembled to the first housing,
Next, the pedal crankshaft is assembled, and further, the differential side gear and the differential pinion of the differential mechanism are assembled, and finally, the second housing is attached to the first housing to accommodate the differential mechanism in the housing. There is.

However, in this case, even though the differential mechanism is one unitized component, each component of the differential mechanism and the pedal crankshaft etc. are supposed to be assembled alternately. Therefore, the above assembling work is complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a power synthesizing device for a bicycle that facilitates the assembly work.

[0011]

The present invention for achieving the above object is as follows.

[0012] The "means for solving the problem"
In the section, the terms in parentheses below correspond to the terms in the claims.

In the power combiner for a bicycle of the present invention, the differential mechanism 27 is housed in the housing 24, and the differential mechanism 2
7, a differential case 31 rotatably supported by the housing 24 about a first axis 11 extending in the vehicle width direction and linked to the rear wheel 9, and a differential case about the same axis as the first axis 11. A pair of differential side gears 32, 33 rotatably supported by 31 and a pair of differential side gears 32, 33 rotatably supported by the differential case 31 around a second axis 37 orthogonal to the first axis 11. And a differential pinion 38 that meshes with each other.
A pedal crankshaft 41, which is rotatably supported around the housing 24 and rotates by inputting power by human power, is provided around the housing 24, and power by the second driving means (driving means) 22 located on the first shaft center 11 is similarly provided. An input gear 48 for inputting is input, the pedal crankshaft 41 is attached to the differential side gear (one differential side gear) 32 of the left and right differential side gears 32, 33, and the input gear is attached to the differential side gear (the other differential side gear) 33. When the housing 48 is attached and the housing 24 is divided into a first housing 25 and a second housing 26 in the axial direction of the first shaft center 11, the first housing 25 has the differential side gears 32 and 33 and the differential pinion 38. While supporting the differential case 31 which supports the pedal clamp and the second housing 26, The shaft 41 is supported, said first axis 1
When the first housing 25 and the second housing 26 are brought close to each other and fixed in the axial direction of 1, the pedal crankshaft 41 is fitted into both the differential side gears 32 and 33, and the differential side gear (one differential side gear).
A pedal crankshaft 41 is detachably engaged with and attached to the same 32.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a composite power drive type bicycle which is an example of a saddle riding type vehicle, and an arrow Fr in the drawings indicates the front thereof. The left and right described below means the vehicle width direction toward the front.

The bicycle 1 has a body frame 2 on the fixed side of the vehicle, and a front fork 3 is rotatably supported on the front portion of the body frame 2. A front wheel 5 is rotatably supported by an axle 4 on the lower end of the front fork 3, and a bar-type handle 6 is attached to the upper end of the front fork 3 above.

A rear wheel 9 is rotatably supported by an axle 8 on the rear portion of the vehicle body frame 2.

The same as above, a front chain wheel 10 is supported at a lower part of a middle portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body frame 2, and the front chain wheel 10 is rotatable about a first axis 11 extending in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the rear chain wheel 1 is mounted on the axis of the axle 8 for the rear wheel 9.
3 is provided, and the rear chain wheel 13 rotates together with the rear wheel 9 via a known free wheel. A transmission chain 14 is wound around both wheels 10 and 13. A seat 15 for seating an occupant is attached to the upper part of the midway portion of the vehicle body frame 2 in the front-rear direction.

The body frame 2 has a head pipe 2a at its front portion, and the front fork 3 is supported by the head pipe 2a as described above. A down pipe 2b extends rearward and downward from the head pipe 2a. The seat tube 2c extends rearward and upward from the rear end of the down pipe 2b, and the seat 15 is attached to the upper end of the seat tube 2c as described above.

A pair of left and right seat stays 2d, 2d extend from the upper part of the seat tube 2c toward the lower rear. A pair of left and right chain stays 2e, 2e extends rearward from the lower portion of the down pipe 2b. Then, the seat stay 2d and the chain stay 2
Corresponding extending ends of e are connected to each other, and the rear wheel 9 is supported by the axle 8 on the connecting portion as described above.

A power combiner 17 for rotating the front chain wheel 10 is provided. When the power chain 17 is driven to rotate the front chain wheel 10, the rear wheel 9 is rotated via the transmission chain 14 and the rear chain wheel 13,
The bicycle 1 can travel forward on the traveling surface 18. In this case, the wheels 10 and 13 and the transmission chain 14 constitute a power transmission device 19, and the power output from the power synthesis device 17 is transmitted to the rear wheel 9 via the power transmission device 19. When the occupant seated on the seat 15 operates the steering wheel 6, the bicycle 1 is driven in a desired direction.

The power synthesizing device 17 has a first driving means 21 by human power and a second driving means 22 not by human power, which are provided separately from each other. Then, the power output from each of the first drive means 21 and the second drive means 22 is combined, and the combined power causes the rear wheel 9 to rotate via the power transmission device 19 as described above.

The power synthesizing device 17 has a metal housing 24. The housing 24 is a first housing 25 that is a housing body that is detachably attached to the vehicle body frame 2 by a fastener, and a cover that opens and closes an opening formed on one side in the left-right direction of the first housing 25. And the second housing 26, which is divided into two parts in the axial direction of the first shaft center 11.

A differential mechanism 27 is provided in the housing 24.
Is housed. The differential mechanism 27 will be described. Bearing holes 28 and 29 are formed in the first housing 25 and the second housing 26, respectively, on the first axis 11.

A differential case 31 is rotatably supported on the first housing 25 by the bearing 30 fitted in the bearing hole 28 of the first housing 25, and the front of the differential case 31 is supported by the differential case 31. The chain wheel 10 is detachably fastened, and the rear wheel 9 is interlockingly connected to the differential case 31 via the power transmission device 19 including the front chain wheel 10.

The bearing 30 is positioned at a predetermined axial position with respect to the first housing 25 by a fastener 36. In the front chain wheel 10, the bearing 30 is fastened at a predetermined axial position of the differential case 31. As a result, the differential case 31 is positioned at a predetermined axial position with respect to the first housing 25 via the bearing 30 and is rotatably supported around the first axis 11.

A pair of left and right differential side gears 32 and 33 are supported by bearings 34 and 35 on the differential case 31 so as to be rotatable about the same axis as the first axis 11. A diff pinion 38 is provided on a second shaft center 37 that is orthogonal to the first shaft center 11. The diff pinion 38 is supported by the diff case 31 by a pivot shaft 39 provided on the second shaft center 37.
The diff pinion 38 is freely rotatable around the axis 37.
Engages with the respective diff side gears 32 and 33. The diff pinion 38 rotates around the first axis 11 together with the diff case 31, and at this time, the diff pinion 38 revolves around the first axis 11.

The first drive means 21 has a pedal crankshaft 41, which is located on the first shaft center 11 and is provided in the bearing hole 2 of the second housing 26.
9 is supported by a bearing 42, and this pedal crankshaft 4
A crank arm 44 is removably fastened to each end of the No. 1 by a fastener 43. These crank arms 44, 44 project in mutually opposite directions in the radial direction of the pedal crank shaft 41, and a pedal 45 is supported at the end of each crank arm 44. The bearing 42 is positioned at a predetermined axial position with respect to the pedal crankshaft 41 by a pair of snap rings 46, 46, and the bearing 42 is fitted into the bearing hole 29 so that the bearing 42 is attached to the second housing 26. The fastener 47 is positioned in the axial direction of the one-axis center 11.

That is, the pedal crank shaft 41 and the bearing 42 are integrally formed with the second housing 26 by the snap rings 46, 46 and the fastener 47 so as to form the first shaft center 1.
1 is positioned at a predetermined position in the axial direction, and the same as above
It is rotatably supported around one turn.

The differential side gears 32 and 33 and the pedal crank shaft 41 are both located on the first axis 11. Then, both the differential side gears 32, 3
The right side diff side gear 32, which is one of the three diff side gears, and the pedal crank shaft 41 are engaged with the pedal crank shaft 41 so as to be engageable and disengageable in the axial direction by spline fitting, and the pedal crank shaft 41 is attached to the diff side gear 32. It is supposed that these rotate integrally.

The left diff side gear 33, which is the other diff side gear, and the pedal crank shaft 41 are slidably engaged with each other around the first shaft center 11, and the diff side gear 33 and the pedal crank shaft 41 are fitted together. And can be inserted and removed in the axial direction. The differential side gear 33 has a bevel gear type input gear 4 provided coaxially therewith.
8 is attached by spline fitting so as to rotate integrally.

When an occupant alternately depresses the pedals 45, 45 to rotate the pedal crankshaft 41 (arrow A in FIG. 1), the right diff side gear 32, which rotates together with the pedal crank shaft 41, moves the diff pinion 38 to the first position. An attempt is made to rotate around the biaxial center 37 (arrow B in FIG. 1). In addition, as described above, the differential side gear 32 is driven to rotate the differential pinion 38, so that the differential case 31 moves the first axial center 11
It is supposed to be rotatable (arrow A in FIG. 1).

The power source of the second driving means 22 is the electric motor 4
The electric motor 49 includes a casing 50 and a rotating shaft 52 rotatably supported by the casing 50 about a third axis 53. The casing 50 of the electric motor 49 is detachably supported by a casing 55 integrally formed with the first housing 25.

On the other hand, in the casing 55, an output gear 57 meshing with the input gear 48 is rotatably supported by a bearing 58 about its axis, and this axis is the third axis.
It is located on the axis 53. The output gear 57 and the bearing 5
8 integrally with the casing 55 by a fastener 59.
It is detachably supported by.

The output gear 57 is interlocked with the rotary shaft 52 of the electric motor 49 by a planetary roller type speed reduction mechanism 54, and the output gear 57 and the speed reduction mechanism 54 are spline-fitted in the axial direction of the third shaft center 53. It is engaged so that it can be engaged and disengaged.

Reference numeral 61 is a reverse rotation preventing mechanism, and this reverse rotation preventing mechanism 61 prevents the electric motor 49 from rotating in reverse due to the power from the rear wheel 9 side.

When the rotary shaft 52 is rotated in one direction (normal rotation) by driving the electric motor 49, the power of the electric motor 49 is transmitted through the speed reduction mechanism 54 to the output gear 57.
Is rotated (arrow C in FIG. 1), and this power is transmitted to the differential side gear 33 on the left side of the differential mechanism 27 via the input gear 48, and the differential side gear 33 causes the differential pinion 38 to move the second axial center. Try to rotate around 37 (arrow D in FIG. 1). Also, in this way, the input gear 4
8 is a force for rotationally driving the differential pinion 38, and the differential case 31 is rotatable about the first axis 11 (arrow A in FIG. 1).

A pair of upper and lower batteries 66, 66 for supplying electric power for driving the electric motor 49 to the electric motor 49 are provided. These batteries 66 are housed in a cover body 67 supported by the seat tube 2c and the down pipe 2b. Further, there is provided a control means 69 for electronically controlling the first drive means 21 and the second drive means 22 to interlock with each other, and the controller of the control means 69 is supported by the down pipe 2b. The casing 50 and the controller are integrally covered with a cover body 71 from the outside so as to be openable and closable.

In FIG. 1, when the control means 69 drives both the first drive means 21 and the second drive means 22,
The speed or displacement of the second drive means 22 is drive-controlled based on the detection signal of the speed or displacement of the first drive means 21.

A gear-shaped object 73 to be detected is attached to the pedal crankshaft 41 via a one-way clutch 72, and one detecting means 75 corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the object 73 is provided. The detection means 75 is detachably attached to the housing 24 and electrically connected to the control means 69. In addition, the detected object 7
A spring 74, which is slidably pressed and frictionally joined to the side surface of the third housing 3 in the circumferential direction, is fastened and fixed to the second housing 26 by a fastener 47.

When human power is input to the pedal 45 to rotate the pedal crankshaft 41 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, the detected body 73 is moved in the same direction as above via the one-way clutch 72. Is rotated. Then, the rotation state of the pedal crankshaft 41 is detected by the detection means 75 via the detected body 73 that rotates in this manner. By the control of the control means 69 by this detection signal, the respective powers of the first drive means 21 and the second drive means 22 are combined at a desired ratio, and the combined power is transmitted to the diff pinion 38.
Given to.

When the pedal crankshaft 41 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow A by operating each pedal 45, the rotation of the pedal crankshaft 41 is caused by the action of the one-way clutch 72. I can't tell 73. Further, the detection object 73 is prevented from rotating along with the reverse rotation of the pedal crankshaft 41 by frictional joining with the spring 74. In this way, since the rotation of the detected body 73 is determined in only one direction, no detecting means for detecting the rotation direction of the detected body 73 is required, and accordingly, the rotation state of the pedal crankshaft 41 can be determined. It suffices that the single detection means 75 is sufficient for detection.

Particularly in FIG. 3, as described above, the first
A differential case 31 of the differential mechanism 27 is rotatably supported on the housing 25 about the first axis 11. Also, particularly in FIG. 4, as described above, the second housing 26
A pedal crankshaft 41 is rotatably supported by the shaft crankshaft 41 about the first axis 11. When the first housing 25 and the second housing 26 are brought close to each other in the axial direction of the first shaft center 11 and fixed by bolts, the pedal crank without the crank arm 44 is attached to both the differential side gears 32 and 33. The shaft 41 is fitted, and the same pedal crank shaft 41 is detachably engaged with and attached to the right diff side gear 32 at its spline portion.

Further, in FIG. 5, as described above, the output gear 57 and the bearing 58 are integrated, and the output gear 57 and the bearing 58 are detachably attached to the casing 55 by the fastener 59. ing.

When assembling the power synthesizer 17, first, as shown in FIG. 3, the differential mechanism 27 is supported by the first housing 25 by the front chain wheel 10, the bearing 30, and the fastener 36. At the same time, the input gear 48 is attached to the differential side gear 33 on the left side of the differential mechanism 27.

In FIG. 4, the pedal crankshaft 41 to which the crank arm 44 is not attached is supported by the bearing 42, the snap ring 46, and the fastener 47 with respect to the second housing 26.
The object to be detected 73 is attached to 1.

In FIG. 5, the output gear 57 and the bearing 58, which are integrated with each other, are attached to the casing 55 by a fastener 59. Next, the electric motor 49 and the speed reduction mechanism 54, which are integrated with each other, are attached to the casing 55. With this attachment, the reduction mechanism 54 and the output gear 57 are automatically engaged.

In the above state, the first housing 25 and the second housing 26 are brought closer to each other in the axial direction of the first shaft center 11 while the pedal crank shaft 41 is fitted into both the differential side gears 32 and 33. The housing 25 and the second housing 26 are fixed to each other by bolts.

Then, the pedal crankshaft 4 is attached to both the differential side gears 32 and 33 supported by the differential case 31.
1, the right diff side gear 32 and the same pedal crankshaft 41 are automatically engaged and disengaged at the spline portion thereof. Next, the pedal crankshaft 41
When each crank arm 44 is attached to, the assembling of the power synthesizing device 17 is completed, and it becomes as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment.

According to this, the rotary shaft 52 of the electric motor 49 is arranged in parallel with the pedal crank shaft 41, and the reduction mechanism 54 is constituted by a belt winding mechanism. The reduction mechanism 54 includes a small-diameter pulley 76 supported by the rotary shaft 52 of the electric motor 49, a large-diameter pulley 77 provided in place of the input gear 48 in the above embodiment, the small-diameter pulley 76 and the large-diameter pulley 77. Belt 78 wrapped around
It is composed of

When assembling the power synthesizer 17,
The differential mechanism 27, the electric motor 49, and the speed reduction mechanism 54 are assembled in the first housing 25, while the second housing 26
The pedal crank shaft 41 may be assembled to the first housing, and the first and second housings 25 and 26 may be fixed to each other in the assembled state.

Since other structures and operations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, common reference numerals are given to the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0054]

According to the present invention, the differential mechanism is housed in the housing, and the differential mechanism is rotatably supported by the housing about the first axis extending in the vehicle width direction and interlocked with the rear wheel. A differential case to be connected, a pair of differential side gears rotatably supported by the differential case around the same axis as the first axis, and a second differential case that rotates around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. It is composed of a differential pinion that is freely supported and meshes with the differential side gears.
An input gear that is rotatably supported by the housing around the first axis and provided with a pedal crankshaft that rotates by inputting power by human power is provided, while inputting power by driving means located on the first axis. The pedal crankshaft is attached to one of the left and right differential side gears, the input gear is attached to the other differential side gear, and the housing is connected to the first housing in the axial direction of the first shaft center. In a bicycle power combination device divided into two housings, the first housing is made to support a differential case in which the respective differential side gears and differential pinions are supported, and the second housing is made to support the pedal crankshaft, and 1st in the axial direction of the 1st axis
When the housing and the second housing are brought close to each other and fixed to each other, the pedal crankshafts are fitted into both the differential side gears and the pedal crankshafts are detachably engaged with the one differential side gears. I am doing it.

That is, a differential case is supported on the first housing, and a pair of differential side gears and differential pinions are supported on the differential case. These differential case, differential side gear, and differential pinion integrally constitute a differential mechanism. There is.

Therefore, when assembling the power combiner, first, a cohesive differential mechanism is preassembled and supported by the first housing, while the pedal crankshaft is supported by the second housing. And the pedal crankshaft is fitted into both the differential side gears, the first housing and the second housing are brought close to each other in the axial direction of the first axis, and the first housing and the second housing are supported. And stick to each other.

Then, the pedal crankshaft is fitted into both the differential side gears supported by the differential case due to the fixation, and at this time, one of the differential side gears is
The pedal crank shaft engages with the pedal crank shaft in a disengageable manner, whereby the assembly of the power synthesizing device is completed.

Therefore, in the assembling work of the power combiner, it is possible to avoid the conventional complicated work of alternately assembling the respective components of the differential mechanism and the pedal crankshaft and the like. It will be easy to assemble.

Moreover, since the work of assembling the differential mechanism and supporting it in the first housing and the work of supporting the pedal crankshaft in the second housing can be done in parallel, each component of the differential mechanism and The assembly work period can be shortened as compared with the case where the pedal crankshaft and the pedal crankshaft are assembled alternately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of a power synthesis device.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the bicycle.

FIG. 3 is a partial development view of the power synthesizing device.

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the power synthesizer.

FIG. 5 is a partial development view of the power synthesizing device.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Bicycle 2 Body Frame 9 Rear Wheel 11 First Shaft Center 17 Power Synthesizer 21 First Drive Means 22 Second Drive Means (Drive Means) 24 Housing 25 First Housing 26 Second Housing 27 Differential Mechanism 31 Differential Case 32 Differential Side Gear (One differential side gear) 33 Differential side gear (other differential side gear) 38 Differential pinion 41 Pedal crankshaft 44 Crank arm 48 Input gear

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A differential case in which a differential mechanism is housed in a housing, and the differential mechanism is rotatably supported by the housing around a first axis extending in the vehicle width direction and is interlocked with a rear wheel. A pair of differential side gears rotatably supported by the differential case around the same axis as the first axis;
The same includes a diff pinion that is rotatably supported by a diff case around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and meshes with the diff side gears. The diff pinion is rotatable around the first axis about the housing. A pedal crankshaft that is supported and rotates by inputting power by human power is provided, while an input gear that is located on the first axis and receives power by driving means is provided, and one of the left and right diff side gears is differential. Attach the pedal crankshaft above to the side gear,
A bicycle power synthesizer in which the input gear is attached to the other diff side gear, and the housing is divided into a first housing and a second housing in the axial direction of the first axis, wherein each diff side gear is attached to the first housing. And a diff pinion are supported, while the pedal crankshaft is supported on the second housing, and the first housing and the second housing are fixed close to each other in the axial direction of the first axis. In this case, the power combining device for a bicycle is configured such that the pedal crank shafts are fitted into both the differential side gears and the pedal crank shafts are detachably engaged with the one differential side gears.