JPH10147282A - Bicycle with auxiliary power unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain reduction of vibration or the like caused by rotation of an electric motor with auxiliary power unit. SOLUTION: In a bicycle with assist power device, an insert port 235b is formed in one end side of an electric motor storage chamber 235 provided in a storage case 20, also in the other end side, a mounting surface 235f having a plurality of fitting holes 235c is formed. A fitting protrusion 44 corresponding to the fitting hole 235c is formed, also in a side of an output shaft 41 of an electric motor 40, a fixed plate 42 is mounted, which integrally fixes one end side of a gear shaft 53a mounting a gear 52 meshed with an output gear 51 provided in the output shaft 41 of the electric motor 40. By fitting the fitting protrusion 44 to the fitting hole 235c through a buffer unit 45a, the electric motor 40, positioning its output shaft side, is mounted in the electric motor storage chamber 235, so as to reduce transmission of the case' 20 of vibration caused by rotation of the electric motor 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bicycle with an auxiliary power device for assisting power according to the pedaling force during manual driving, and more particularly to mounting an electric motor of the auxiliary power device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when the pedaling force of a pedal increases during traveling, the pedaling force is detected, and the torque of the electric motor is transmitted to a rear wheel via a hollow shaft, a sprocket, and a chain via a speed reduction mechanism, and the pedaling force is transmitted. Bicycles with an auxiliary power unit that reduce the power consumption are widely known.

[0003] These bicycles with an auxiliary power unit are equipped with an electric motor mounted on a storage case, a reduction mechanism including a plurality of gears including a gear meshing with an output gear provided on an output shaft of the electric motor, and It is composed of a hollow shaft to which the rotational force of the electric motor is transmitted, a crankshaft which is inserted through the hollow shaft through a one-way clutch and transmits the pedaling force of the pedal to the hollow shaft. The auxiliary power unit is configured to reduce the speed of the output gear provided on the output shaft of the motor rotating at a high speed by meshing with the gear constituting the speed reduction mechanism and transmit the reduced gear to the hollow shaft. If the gears that make up the reduction mechanism are not meshed accurately, very loud noise will be generated, and the vibration will be large, causing the body to vibrate. If not, the gears will be worn. In some cases, the gear may be damaged. And such noise,
Vibration or gear breakage is particularly likely to occur between a high-speed rotating output gear and a gear that meshes with the output gear.

[0004]

As described above, in a conventional bicycle with an auxiliary power unit, a configuration in which a rotational force is transmitted from a motor to a rear wheel to assist the power is achieved by rotating the motor rotating at a high speed. Because it is a configuration that assists through a hollow shaft by reducing the speed by a reduction mechanism using multiple gears,
If the output gears of the electric motor and the respective gears constituting the reduction mechanism are not accurately engaged with each other, a very loud noise will be generated, and the vibration will be large, and the vehicle body will vibrate. There is a problem that the gear may be worn or, in some cases, the gear may be damaged, and various measures have been taken to solve this problem, but it has not always been satisfactory.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the invention according to claim 1 has a vehicle body having front wheels and rear wheels, a motor housing and a reduction gear housing. A storage case, a motor having an output shaft mounted in the motor storage chamber and having an output gear mounted thereon, a reduction mechanism disposed in the reduction mechanism storage chamber and meshing with the output gear of the motor to transmit rotational force; A hollow shaft provided in a case and transmitting the torque of the electric motor through the speed reduction mechanism, and a crankshaft inserted through the hollow shaft and transmitting pedaling force of a pedal to the hollow shaft, the hollow shaft of the vehicle body An auxiliary power unit rotatably inserted into the hanger lug and attached to the vehicle body; a torque sensor for detecting a rotational force corresponding to a pedaling force of the pedal; and an output from the torque sensor. A bicycle with an auxiliary power device for controlling the electric motor to transmit the rotational force of the electric motor to the rear wheel through a chain mounted on a sprocket mounted on the hollow shaft through the hollow shaft to assist the power. ,
An insertion port is formed at one end of the motor storage chamber, and a mounting surface having a plurality of fitting holes is formed at the other end, and one end of a gear shaft for mounting a gear meshing with the output gear is integrally fixed. At the same time, a fixing plate formed with a fitting projection corresponding to the fitting hole is attached to the output shaft side of the electric motor, and the fitting projection is fitted to the fitting hole via a buffer body fitted to the fitting projection. An output shaft side is positioned by fitting, and the electric motor is housed in the electric motor housing chamber to provide a bicycle with an auxiliary power device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of fittings are provided on a mounting surface formed on the other end of the motor housing, and a gear meshing with the output gear is provided on an output side of the motor. The one end side of the gear shaft to which is attached is integrally fixed, and a fixing plate having a fitting projection corresponding to the fitting hole is attached, and the buffer having the fitting projection fitted to the fitting projection is provided. The motor is positioned at the output side by being fitted into the fitting hole through the fitting hole, and is housed in the motor housing. Therefore, since the motor is supported by the buffer, vibration of the housing to the housing case is reduced. Propagation is prevented, and the gears that constitute the reduction mechanism that mesh with the output gear are supported by a gear shaft that is integrally fixed to the fixed plate, so that this gear and the output gear are accurately meshed. And out Even if the electric motor vibrates the gear and the gear meshing with the gear, the vibration does not affect the meshing relationship between the two gears, so that an accurate meshing relationship is always maintained. This has the effect of preventing the occurrence of vibration or noise because the meshing relationship can be maintained with high accuracy.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
A gear shaft fitting hole is formed on the other end side of the storage chamber according to the invention described above so as to correspond to the tip of the gear shaft, and the tip of the gear shaft is inserted through a buffer body fitted to the tip. A bicycle with an auxiliary power unit fitted into the gear shaft fitting hole.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the front end of the gear shaft is fitted into the gear shaft fitting hole provided at the other end of the storage chamber via the buffer. Since the other end of the gear shaft is positioned, the output gear and the gear meshing with the output gear can be maintained in a more accurate meshing relationship in addition to the function of claim 1, so that both gears are worn. In addition, it has the effect that the generation of vibration or noise can be more reliably prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the output shaft side of the motor is positioned via a buffer, and the side opposite to the output shaft is positioned via a buffer. The bicycle is provided with an auxiliary power unit that stores the electric motor in an electric motor storage room by positioning the electric motor with a lid that closes the insertion opening.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lid for positioning the output shaft side of the electric motor via a buffer and closing the insertion port on the side opposite to the output shaft via the buffer. Since the motor is positioned and stored, the motor can be stored by a simple operation of inserting the motor with a fixed plate with gears attached through the insertion slot and attaching the lid via the buffer. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2, it has an effect that the work of storing the electric motor in the electric motor storage chamber becomes easy.

[0011]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in the figure,
A bicycle with an auxiliary power unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a bicycle) A is
The vehicle body B includes an auxiliary power unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a power unit) C attached to the vehicle body B. The vehicle body B is composed of a general bicycle, that is, a general-purpose bicycle that is generally commercially available, and includes a standing pipe 2 and a lower pipe 3 having one end fixed to a hanger lug 1, and fixed to the other end of the lower pipe 3. A frame 6 comprising an upper pipe 5 having one end fixed to the head pipe 4 and the other end fixed to a lower portion of the standing pipe 2; a chain stay 7 having one end fixed to the hanger lug 1; A front fork 8 attached to the head pipe 4, a handle 9 attached to the upper end of the front fork 8, a front wheel 10 attached to a lower end of the front fork 8, and one end fixed to the upper part of the standing pipe 2. The other end of the chain stay 7 is fixed to the other end of the chain stay 7 via a rear pawl (not shown), a back fork 11, the rear wheel 12 attached to the other end of the chain stay 7, Saddle 13 mounted above the seat tube 2, and a receiving platform 14 or the like provided in the upper portion of the rear wheel 12. The front wheel 10 and a part of the rear wheel 12 are covered by covers 10a and 12a, respectively. The hanger lug 1 is provided with a crankshaft 80 to be described later rotatably, and a left crank 81 and a right crank 82 provided with pedals 81a and 82a are attached to both ends of the crankshaft 80, respectively. . Further, a battery case 14a for accommodating a battery (not shown) is attached to a lower portion of the loading tray 14. The battery (not shown) is connected to the electric motor 40 and the control means 170 by a lead 16 as shown in FIG. A chain 18 is mounted on a sprocket 17 for transmitting the rotational force during traveling and a sprocket (not shown) of the rear wheel 12.

Next, the configuration of the power unit C will be described.

First, FIG. 2 to FIG.
It will be described based on. As shown in the figure, the power unit C includes a case 20 as a storage case, an electric motor 40 attached to the case 20, and a speed reduction mechanism 50. Hollow shaft 70 to which rotational force is transmitted from mechanism 50
And a crankshaft 80 is provided through the hollow shaft 70. Further, in the case 20, control means 170 including a microcomputer and the like to be described later are housed.

Next, the above components will be described. First, the case 20 includes a bottom wall 231, a case body 230 formed in a substantially bottomed box shape having a peripheral wall 232 formed around the bottom wall 231, and having one end opened.
30 and a lid case 250 for closing the opening. The case body 230 and the lid case 250 are formed of a material having good thermal conductivity, for example, a metal such as aluminum.

In the case body 230, an installation chamber 233 in which a part of the speed reduction mechanism 50 is installed is formed on one end side, that is, on the side where the hollow shaft 70 is mounted, and on the other end side. A storage room 234 in which the control means 170 and the like are stored is provided adjacent to the installation room 233. The side of the storage chamber 234, that is, the hollow shaft 7
On the side from which the motor 40 protrudes, the motor housing 2 is formed side by side with the housing 234 and the motor 40 is mounted.
A part of the speed reduction mechanism 50 is disposed between the electric motor storage room 235 and the installation room 233, and constitutes a part of the electric motor storage room 235. An arrangement room 236 is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the storage chamber 234 forms a gap G between the storage chamber 235 and the motor storage chamber 235 so as to form a U-shape with the motor storage chamber 235. The lower pipe 3 is located.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting chamber 233 has a concave first bearing mounting portion 233a formed on the bottom wall 231 and a second bearing mounting portion formed through the bottom wall 231. 233b are respectively formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, a printed circuit board 171 in which various electronic components 172 including a microcomputer as the control means are mounted on a mounting boss 234a by mounting screws 234b. I have.

A battery level indicator 173 for displaying the battery level is provided on the outer wall of the U-shaped portion of the storage chamber 234 as shown in FIG. The indicator 173 is provided with LEDs 173a to 173c corresponding to the remaining amount display numerical values (in FIG. 4, numerals 80 to 20 indicating the remaining amount of 80% to 20%), and these LEDs 173a to 173c are turned on. To display the remaining amount.

The first bearing mounting portion 2 formed on the case main body 230 is attached to the lid case 250 mounted on the opening of the case main body 230 configured as described above.
A plurality of screw holes (only one is shown in FIG. 2) for mounting a screw 255 on the peripheral edge portion are formed with a bearing mounting portion 251 and a through hole 252 corresponding to the second bearing mounting portion 233b and the second bearing mounting portion 233b, respectively. 255a are formed. Further, an annular seal member storage portion 253a for storing the seal member 253 is formed around the through hole 252. The case body 230 and the lid case 250 are connected to the screw 255 through a packing (not shown) in a state where the speed reduction mechanism 50, various electronic components 172, and the like are stored.
By being fastened to 55a, they are integrally connected and attached.

The motor housing 235 is surrounded by an annular wall 235a as shown in FIG.
An insertion port 235b is formed by opening one end side, and a mounting surface 235f is formed on the other end side, that is, a side opposed to the insertion port 235b.
Are formed. Further, the mounting chamber 235f is formed so as to be recessed from the mounting surface 235f, and is provided with a part of the gears of the reduction mechanism 50 described later in detail.
6 are formed. The mounting surface 235f has a plurality of (three in this embodiment, and only one in FIG. 2).
A gear shaft fitting hole 235d is formed in the bottom wall 235g of the disposition chamber 236. A lid 47 is attached to the case main body 230 by screws 46 at the insertion opening 235b. The electric motor storage chamber 235 is provided such that the axis of the annular wall 235a is parallel to the lower pipe 3 of the frame 6 of the vehicle body B.

The motor 40 includes a cylindrical frame 40a having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the annular wall 235a of the motor housing 235, and a stator, a rotor, and the like (not shown) provided in the frame 40a. And the front end side of the frame 40a (the mounting surface 235f).
Annular bulging portions 40b and 40c are formed on the side opposite to the rear end) and the rear end side.
0c, bearings such as ball bearings (not shown) are housed therein, and these bearings are mounted on the output shaft 41 of the rotor.
The output gear 41 is integrally formed on the output end side of the output shaft 41, and the output gear 51 is provided to protrude outward from the annular bulging portion 40b. The motor 40 has two mounting holes 40d penetrating from the front end to the rear end.

Next, the fixing plate 42 attached to the electric motor 40 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the fixing plate 42 is formed in a disk shape, and has a through hole 42a formed in the center thereof so as to be fitted and positioned in an annular bulging portion 40b provided in the frame 40a. An annular wall 42b is formed around the periphery of the through hole 42a, and one end of a gear shaft 53a is integrally fixed to the annular wall 42b. Further, the annular wall 42b of the fixing plate 42
The fitting hole 23 formed in the mounting surface 235f
5c are formed in such a manner that three fitting projections 44 are formed in the circumferential direction, and three through-holes 42 are formed corresponding to the mounting holes 40d provided in the electric motor 40.
Two c are provided.

The fixing plate 42 is connected to the through hole 42
After fitting the through hole 42a into the annular bulging portion 40b while making c correspond to the mounting hole 40d of the electric motor 40,
The electric motor 40 is attached to a front end side of the electric motor 40 by inserting a screw 43 and tightening a nut 34a to the screw 43 via a washer 43b. Also,
As shown in FIG. 2, a gear 52 and a gear 53 constituting a part of the speed reduction mechanism 50 are attached to the gear shaft 53a via two bearings 53b, and these gears 52 and 53 are attached to the gear shaft 53a. In the attached state, the gear 52 meshes with the output gear 51 of the output shaft 41.

The fitting projection 44 and the gear shaft 53
A cap-shaped body buffers 45a and 53c made of rubber or the like are fitted and attached to the respective distal ends of the buffer members 45a and 5a.
The fitting projection 44 and the gear shaft 53a are fitted to and fitted to the fitting hole 235c and the gear shaft fitting hole 235d via the 3c, respectively.

Here, the motor storage chamber 23 of the motor 40
How to attach to 5, ie, storage, will be described. First, the fixed plate 42 in which the gears 52, 53 are attached to the gear shaft 53a via the bearing 53 is attached to the electric motor 40 as described above.
Is attached to the front end side of the device by screws 43 and nuts 43a. Next, cushioning bodies 45a and 5a are provided on the fitting projections 44 provided on the fixing plate 42 and the distal end of the gear shaft 53a, respectively.
3c, and then the electric motor 40 is connected to the electric motor housing 2
35, the fitting projection 44 and the gear shaft 53a are fitted and positioned in the fitting holes 235c and 235d together with the buffers 45a and 53c.
Next, the buffer 45b is fitted to the annular bulge 40c on the rear end side of the electric motor 40. Then, the cover 47 is attached to the case main body 230 with the screws 46 so that the motor 40
Is attached together with the gears 52 and 53.

When the motor 40 is housed together with the gears 52 and 53 in the motor housing 235 and the installation chamber 236 which is a part of the motor housing, the motor 40 has shock absorbers 45a and 53c at its distal end. The cover 47 is positioned by a fitting projection 44 formed on the fixing plate 42 via a gear and a gear shaft 53a fixed to the fixing plate 42, and a rear end side of the cover 47 via a buffer 45b fitted to the annular bulging portion 40c. And the annular wall 235
a is stored in a non-contact state, and the vibration caused by the rotation of the
0 is prevented from being transmitted. Further, the other end of the gear shaft 53a having one end fixed to the fixing plate 42 is positioned in the gear shaft fitting hole 235d formed in the bottom wall 235g of the installation chamber 236.
Is reliably maintained in a parallel state with the output shaft 41, so that the output gear 51 and the gear 52 formed on the output shaft can be accurately meshed with each other, so that wear of both gears rotating at high speed can be prevented, Further, since the meshing relationship is maintained with high accuracy, generation of vibration or noise can be prevented.

Next, the speed reduction mechanism 50 will be described. The speed reduction mechanism 50 is connected to the output shaft 41 of the electric motor 40.
The large-diameter gear 52 meshed with an output gear 51 attached to the tip of the gear, a small-diameter gear 53 provided integrally with the gear 52, and rotatably attached to a fixed shaft 54a and meshed with the gear 53. Large diameter gear 54b and this gear 54
b, a bevel gear 54c integrated with the bevel gear 54c, a bevel gear 55 meshed with the bevel gear 54c, a gear 55b mounted on the same shaft 55a as the shaft on which the bevel gear 55 is mounted, and meshed with the gear 55b. And a driving gear 56 that is driven.

Both ends of a shaft 55a to which the bevel gear 55 and the gear 55b are mounted are connected to the case main body 23 through bearings 55c and 55d formed of ball bearings.
0 and the first bearing mounting portion 233a and the bearing mounting portion 251 provided on the lid case 250, respectively. The gear 55b is mounted on the shaft 55a via a one-way clutch 55f. The one-way clutch 55f rotates the gear 55b so as to transmit the torque of the electric motor 40 to the drive gear 56 so that the bicycle normally travels, that is, travels in the forward direction. It works to do so.
In other words, the one-way clutch 55f functions so as to idle when the cranks 81, 82 to which the pedals 81a, 82a are attached rotate in the traveling direction during manual driving described below.

A shaft hole 56a is formed in the center of the drive gear 56, and an uneven groove 56c is formed in the shaft hole 56a. Further, on the side surface of the drive gear 56 on the side of the lid case 250, a plurality (three in the embodiment) concentrically arranged around the shaft hole 56a as shown in FIGS.
(Only one is shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). The projection 57 is formed along the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5, that is, along the direction in which the drive gear 56 rotates during traveling. As shown, the inclined surface 57a gradually rises upward.
Are formed.

The cover case 250 of the drive gear 56
As shown in FIG.
7, one end of a plurality of compression springs 60 (three are provided in the embodiment and only one is shown in FIG. 3), which will be described later, and which is arranged concentrically with the shaft hole 56a. L
A letter-shaped regulating member 58 is formed.

Next, the power, that is, the rotational force of the electric motor 40, which is transmitted through the reduction mechanism 50, is fitted into the shaft hole 56a formed in the drive gear 56, and the sprocket 17
Will be described. This hollow shaft 7
Reference numeral 0 denotes an uneven ridge 7 having a through hole 71 therein and engaging with an uneven ridge 56c formed in the shaft hole 56a at one end.
2, the hollow shaft 70 is prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction by the engagement of the two concave and convex strips 56c and 72 when fitted in the shaft hole 56a, and the hollow shaft 70 rotates integrally with the drive gear 56. . A mounting member 17a to which the sprocket 17 is mounted is attached to the other end of the hollow shaft 70. The hollow shaft 70 is supported by a bearing 77 in the vicinity of the uneven shaft 72 formed on the one end.

Next, a description will be given of the crankshaft 80 which is mounted so as to penetrate through the through hole 71 of the hollow shaft 70. At one end of the crankshaft 80, a mounting portion 83 provided with a fitting portion 83a whose outer periphery is formed in a prismatic shape,
On the other end side, a fitting portion 84a whose outer periphery is similarly formed in a prismatic shape
Are formed, respectively. The attachment portions 83 and 84 are fitted to the fitting portions 81 of the left crank 81 and the right crank 82 of the general bicycle described above.
b, 82b.

A one-way clutch 85 is attached to the crankshaft 80 at a position close to the drive gear 56 attached to the hollow shaft 70, and is connected to the crankshaft 80 via the one-way clutch 85. Is mounted with a drive plate 90 made of metal. And this drive plate 9
Reference numeral 0 denotes a cylindrical wall 90a and a disc-shaped flange portion 91 provided at one end of the cylindrical wall 90a.
A blade portion 90c with which the one-way clutch 85 engages and disengages is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the cylindrical wall 90a, and is formed along the axial direction, that is, the axial direction of the crankshaft 80 on the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall 90a. A plurality (three in the embodiment, and only one in FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed.

The one-way clutch 85 rotates the drive plate 90 when the crankshaft 80 is rotated in the traveling direction by the cranks 81, 82 having the pedals 81a, 82a attached thereto during manual driving, Conversely, when the crankshaft 80 rotates, it idles and functions to prevent the drive plate 90 from rotating. Also, the flange portion 91 of the drive plate 90 and the drive gear 5
6 are formed at a predetermined distance from each other, and a compression portion which abuts against the other end of the compression spring 60 and compresses the surface of the flange portion 91 on the drive gear 56 side as shown in FIG. 92 are formed. The compression spring 60 is disposed between the L-shaped regulating member 58 and the compression section 92.

The magnitude of the urging force of the compression spring 60 is adjusted so that the compression spring 60 is compressed in accordance with the rotational force applied to the drive plate 90 via the crankshaft 80 and the one-way clutch 85 during manual driving. Is set. That is, at the time of manual driving, the drive plate 90 and the drive gear 56 are set to move relative to each other according to the rotational force of the drive plate 90 that rotates together with the one-way clutch 85 with the rotation of the crankshaft 80. Is what is being done.

Further, the flange portion 91 of the driving plate 90
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, three through holes 93 (only one is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5) are formed at portions corresponding to the protrusions 57 formed on the side surface of the drive gear 56.

An operating member 95 is formed between the flange portion 91 and the driving gear 56, is formed in a substantially disk shape, and is made of a synthetic resin having a small friction coefficient such as polyacetal. And this operating member 95
At the position corresponding to each of the through holes 93, there is provided a through shaft 96 which has an outer diameter and which is integrally formed and penetrates without contacting the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 93. As shown in FIG. 3, the operating member 95 has a fitting groove 95a which slides on a ridge 90b formed on the cylindrical wall 90a of the driving plate 90.
Both side surfaces 95b of 5a are formed in an arc shape which is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 90a. Accordingly, the operating member 95 does not tilt with respect to the axial direction when moving along the circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 90a along the axial direction, that is, the cylindrical wall 9a.
The state orthogonal to the axis 0a is maintained.

The protrusion 57 formed on the drive gear 56 is provided on the surface of the operating member 95 facing the drive gear 56.
And a projection 95d provided with an inclined surface 95c that slides on the inclined surface 57a. An operating surface 95f for operating the operating rod 140 of the torque sensor 100 for detecting the rotational force of the crankshaft 80 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the operating member 95 on the side facing the drive gear 56.
Are formed.

The operating member 95 and the driving plate 90
A coil spring 97 is arranged between the flange portion 91 and the through shaft 96 inside the coil, and the coil spring 97 connects the operating member 95 to the drive gear 56.
To bias the side.

The protrusion 57 formed on the drive gear 56, the drive plate 90, the compression spring 60 and the operating member 95
Converts the movement of the crankshaft 80 in the rotation direction into the movement in the axial direction. That is, when the pedals 81a and 82a are strongly depressed in a state where a large load is applied to the hollow shaft 70 as when traveling on an uphill, the driving plate 9
0 and the drive gear 56 are compressed, and the drive plate 90 rotates prior to the drive gear 56 to cause relative movement. As a result, the protrusion 95 d The inclined surface 95c is provided with a projection 57 provided on the drive gear 56 against the urging force of the coming spring 97.
Move upward along the inclined surface 57a, the coil spring 97 is compressed with this movement, and the operating member 95 moves in a direction away from the drive gear 56, that is, is converted into an axial movement. is there.

When the operating member 95 moves in the axial direction from the driving gear 56, the operating rod 140 of the torque sensor 100 is operated by the operating surface 95f of the operating member 95, and an electric output is output from the torque sensor 100. The target output is converted into a digital value by a well-known A / D (analog / digital value) converter and sent to the control means 170.

When the vehicle changes from traveling on an uphill to traveling on a flat surface, the compression spring 60 returns by a restoring force in accordance with the rotational force at this time, and the relative movement between the driving plate 90 and the driving gear 56 is reduced. The protrusion 95d is moved downward from the inclined surface 57a of the protrusion 57, and the operating member 95 returns to the original state. As a result, the operating rod 1 of the torque sensor 100
Reference numeral 40 returns to the original state, and the electrical output at this time is similarly converted into a digital value and sent to the control means 170. The distal end of the operating rod 140 is the large diameter part 1.
The large diameter portion 142 is provided with the operating member 9.
5 to reduce friction with the working surface 95f of the steel ball 142.
a is rotatably fitted.

A speed sensor 1 for detecting the speed of the bicycle A is provided inside the case 20 as shown in FIG.
60, a well-known magnetic sensor is used as the speed sensor 160, and a detection unit (not shown) of the speed sensor 160 is disposed close to the teeth of the drive gear 56, and the drive gear 56 rotates. By doing so, each time each tooth of the drive gear 56 approaches the detection unit, a pulse signal is generated from the speed sensor 160 and sent to the control means 170 via a signal line (not shown). The control means 170 calculates the number of pulses per unit time of the pulse signal sent from the speed sensor 160, and determines the vehicle speed based on this value.

The control means 170 outputs the output result detected by the torque sensor 100, that is, the pedal 81.
a, based on the rotational force corresponding to the pedaling force of 82a and the result detected by the speed sensor 160, that is, the vehicle speed,
The output of the electric motor 40 is controlled. In other words, according to the vehicle speed at each instant during traveling and the rotational force of the crankshaft 80 applied by the pedaling force of the pedals 81a and 82a at that time,
The motor 40 is controlled so as to assist the rotational force, that is, the power, according to the vehicle speed and the rotational force at the instant.

Next, the rear wheel 1 of the driving force of the electric motor 40 will be described.
2 will be described.

When the vehicle travels on an uphill or the like by manual driving, the depression force of the pedals 81a and 82a increases as described above, and a large relative movement occurs between the drive gear 56 and the drive plate 90. The inclined surface 95c of the formed projection 95d moves upward on the inclined surface 57a of the projection 57 provided on the drive gear 56, and the operating member 95
Move in the direction away from As a result, the operating rod 14
0 operates to output an electrical output according to the pedaling force of the pedal to the control means 170. The control means 170 controls the electric motor 40 based on this output and the vehicle speed calculated according to the output from the speed sensor 160. When the electric motor 40 rotates, the torque of the electric motor 40 is transmitted to the hollow shaft 70 via the power transmission means 50, and the hollow shaft 7
Sprocket 17, chain 1 attached to 0
8 to the rear wheel 12. That is, the pedal 81
By stepping on a and 82a, the rotational force of the electric motor 40, that is, the power, is assisted by the rotational force of human power transmitted to the crankshaft 80, and the bicycle A runs.

Next, how to assemble the power unit C will be described. First, the drive plate 90 and the one-way clutch 85 are prepared in a state of being attached to the crankshaft 80.

Then, the electric motor 40 having the fixed plate 42 to which the gears 52 and 53 are attached as described above is attached to the electric motor storage chamber 235 of the case main body 230, and the power transmission means is attached to the case main body 230. The other gears 54 to bevel gears 55 constituting the part 50 are arranged at predetermined positions, and the hollow shaft 70 is inserted and attached to the bearing 77 attached to the second bearing attachment part 233b. Further, a printed circuit board 171 to which the torque sensor 100, the speed sensor 160, and various electronic components 172 are attached is attached to the case body 230.

Then, the concave and convex ridges 56c of the driving gear 56 are fitted to the concave and convex ridges 72 formed on the hollow shaft 70, and the crankshaft 80 is inserted into the through-hole 71 of the hollow shaft 70 via bearings 73a and 73b. insert. At the time of this insertion, the compression spring 60 is disposed between the regulating member 58 formed on the drive gear 56 and the compression portion 92 formed on the drive plate 90. Then, the lid case 250 is attached to the case body 230 in this state.
The power unit C is assembled by inserting the crankshaft 80 into the through hole 252 so as to close the opening of the case main body 230, and then attaching it with the screw 255.

Next, in order to attach the power unit C assembled as described above to the body B of a general-purpose bicycle, first,
Cranks attached to the crankshaft of the vehicle body B (the left crank 81 and the right crank 8 in the embodiment)
Remove 2) from the crankshaft and then hangar lug 1
The left and right doughs attached to the right and left of the hanger lug 1 are removed from the hanger lug 1 to remove all other parts attached to the hanger lug 1.

Next, a mounting member 270 containing a bearing 270a is mounted on a female screw 1b formed on the inner peripheral wall at one end of the through hole 1a of the hanger lug 1. At this time, the flange 270 provided on one end surface of the hanger lug 1 and the mounting member 270
b and the mounting plate 280. Next, after the regulating member 273 is inserted into the through hole 1a from the other end, the attachment member 271 containing the bearing 271a is attached to the female screw 1c formed on the inner peripheral wall at the other end. Then, after a locking member 75 made of a C-ring is attached to the hollow shaft 70 that is built into the power plant C and protrudes outward, the locking member 75 is inserted from the left side in FIG.
And is attached to the hollow shaft 70 via a locking member 76 made of a C-ring. In this state, the movement of the hollow shaft 70 in the axial direction is restricted by the locking members 76 and 75 and the hollow shaft 70 is attached to the hanger lug 1. Next, the sprocket 17 is attached to the other end of the hollow shaft 70 via the attachment member 17a.

The auxiliary power unit C is attached to the vehicle body B by attaching the case main body 230 to the attachment plate 280 with screws (not shown). After attaching the power unit C to the vehicle body B, the crankshaft 80
The assembly is completed by attaching the left crank 81 and the right crank 82 with the pedals 81a and 82a attached to the attachment portions 83 and 84 by nuts 83b and 84b.

Next, the bicycle A constructed as described above
The operation when driving is described. First, a start switch (not shown) is closed to supply electric power to the electric motor 40 from the battery (not shown), and the bicycle is driven. When the vehicle is traveling on a flat ground or a downhill, as described above, the driver's pedals 81a and 82a have a small pedaling force and a small rotational force applied to the drive gear 56 via the crankshaft 80. The compression spring 60 disposed between the driving plate 90 and the driving plate 90 has a small amount of compression. Therefore, the relative movement between the driving gear 56 and the driving plate 90 is small, and the moving amount of the operating member 95 is also small. The operating rod 1 of the torque sensor 100 is moved with the movement of the operating member 95.
40 operates, an electric signal corresponding to the pedaling force at this time is output from the torque sensor 100 to the control means 170, and
The speed at this time is output from the speed sensor 160 to the control means 170. The control means 170 controls the electric motor 40 based on the outputs from the torque sensor 100 and the speed sensor 160 so as to output the torque to be assisted at this time. The driving force is transmitted to the rear wheel 12 via the drive gear 56, the hollow shaft 70, the sprocket 17, and the chain 18 to assist the rotational force, that is, the power. The assisting torque at this time is small.

Next, when traveling on an uphill or the like, a large rotational force is required, and as a result, the pedals 81a, 82
As a result, the rotational force applied to the crankshaft 80 and the driving plate 90 increases. That is, the load applied to the hollow shaft 70 that transmits the rotational force to the sprocket 17 that transmits to the rear wheel 12 via the chain 18 becomes large, so that the drive plate 90 and the drive gear 56
Is relatively large, and as a result, the moving amount of the actuating member 95 is also large. The large moving amount also causes the operating rod 140 of the torque sensor 100 to operate greatly, and the electric output accompanying this operation, that is, the driver's pedaling force Is output from the torque sensor 100 to the control means 170, and the speed sensor 160 outputs the vehicle speed at this time to the control means 170.

The control means 170 controls the torque sensor 100 and the speed sensor 160 as described above.
The electric motor 40 is controlled so as to output the rotational force to be assisted at this time based on the output of the motor, and the rotational force of the electric motor 40 transmits the power transmission means 50, the drive gear 56, the hollow shaft 70, the sprocket 17, and the chain 18 The rotation force is transmitted to the rear wheel 12 via the rear wheel 12 and assisted. At this time, the assisting torque is large, so that the driver can easily travel even when a large torque such as an uphill is required.

In the bicycle A constructed as described above, when the motor 40 is housed and mounted in the motor housing 235 together with the gears 52 and 53, the front end of the motor 40 is connected via the shock absorbers 45a and 53c. The positioning is performed by a fitting projection 44 formed on the fixing plate 42 and a gear shaft 53a fixed to the fixing plate 42, and the rear end side is positioned by a lid 47 via a buffer 45b fitted to the annular bulging portion 40c. And the annular wall 235
a is stored in a non-contact state, and the vibration caused by the rotation of the
0 is prevented from being transmitted. The other end of the gear shaft 53a having one end fixed to the fixing plate 42 is positioned in a gear shaft fitting hole 235d formed in the bottom wall 235g of the installation chamber 236. And the output shaft 41 of the electric motor 40 are reliably maintained in a parallel state, so that the output gear 51 formed on the output shaft 41 is
The gear 52 and the gear 52 can be accurately engaged with each other, thereby preventing wear of the two gears rotating at high speed, and maintaining the accurate engagement relationship, thereby preventing generation of vibration or noise. The output gear 5
The gear 1 and the gear 52 of the reduction mechanism 50 meshing with the gear 1 are integrated by the fixed plate 42 even when the motor 40 vibrates, so that the vibration does not affect the meshing relationship between the two. Therefore, it is possible to always maintain an accurate meshing relationship, which also prevents wear, and prevents generation of vibration and noise. Further, the electric motor 40 which is to be rotated in the circumferential direction by the rotation drive by the fitting protrusion 44.
Is to be stopped.

Since the front end of the gear shaft 53a is positioned in the gear shaft fitting hole 235d via the buffer 53c, the gear shaft 53a can be maintained parallel to the output shaft 41. 52 and the output gear 51 can be maintained in an accurate meshing relationship, and wear can be prevented, and vibration and noise can be prevented more reliably.

The mounting of the motor 40 in the motor housing 235, that is, housing, is performed by fitting the buffers 45a and 53c to the fitting projections 44 and the gear shaft 53a of the fixed plate 42 attached to the distal end of the motor 40. At insertion slot 23
5b, the fitting projection 44 and the tip end of the gear shaft 53a are inserted into the fitting hole 23 via the buffer bodies 45a and 53c.
5c and the gear shaft fitting hole 235d to position the front end side, and fit the buffer end 45b to the annular bulging portion 40c at the rear end side and attach the lid 47 to the case body 230. In this case, the electric motor 40 and the gear 52 can be simultaneously stored in the electric motor storage chamber 235, so that the storing operation can be facilitated.

In the above-described embodiment, the rear end of the motor 40 is positioned by the lid 47 via the buffer 45b. However, this is not the case with other structures, such as the opening peripheral wall of the insertion port and the motor. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which an annular elastic body is fixed between the outer periphery of the elastic member 40 and the positioning by the elastic body.

In the above embodiment, the tip end of the gear shaft 53a is inserted into the gear shaft fitting hole 235d by the buffer 53c.
The positioning was performed by fitting through
It is good also as a structure which does not fit as shown in FIG. In this case, one end of the gear shaft 53a is firmly fixed to the fixing plate 4
2 may be attached, and in such a case, there is an advantage that transmission of vibration due to rotation of the electric motor 40 to the case 20 can be further reduced. Note that the reference numerals used in FIG. 6 are the same as the reference numerals attached to the drawings in the case of the above embodiment.

[0061]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of fitting holes are provided on a mounting surface formed on the other end of the motor housing, and the fitting is formed on the output side of the motor. A fixing plate is integrally fixed to one end of a gear shaft on which a gear that meshes with the output gear is formed while forming a fitting protrusion corresponding to the hole, and the fitting protrusion is fitted to the fitting protrusion. The motor is positioned in the motor housing by positioning the output side by fitting into the fitting hole via the buffer, so that the motor is supported by the buffer, so that the storage case is provided. The transmission of vibration to the output gear is prevented, and the gears that constitute the reduction mechanism that mesh with the output gear are supported by a gear shaft that is integrally fixed to the fixed plate. Can be engaged accurately In both cases, even if the motor vibrates, the output gear and the gear meshing therewith do not affect the meshing relationship between the two gears, so that both can always be maintained in an accurate meshing relationship. This has the effect of preventing abrasion of the gears and preventing the occurrence of vibration or noise by maintaining a precise meshing relationship.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a gear shaft fitting hole is formed at the other end of the storage chamber according to the first aspect of the present invention so as to correspond to a tip end of the gear shaft. The other end of the gear shaft is positioned since the tip of the gear shaft is fitted into the gear shaft fitting hole via the buffer body fitted to the tip, so that the effect of the invention according to claim 1 can be obtained. In addition, the output gear and the gear meshing with the output gear can be maintained in a more accurate meshing relationship, so that the generation of wear on both gears and the generation of vibration or noise can be more reliably prevented. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the output shaft side of the electric motor is positioned via a buffer, and the opposite side of the output shaft via the buffer. Is positioned and housed by the lid that closes the insertion opening, so that an electric motor with a fixed plate to which gears are attached is inserted through the insertion opening, and the lid is attached via a buffer. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is possible to easily store the electric motor in the electric motor storage room.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire bicycle with an auxiliary power device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the auxiliary power unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a part of the embodiment, viewed from the left crank side of the auxiliary power unit.

FIG. 4 is a view of the auxiliary power unit according to the embodiment as viewed from the front of a vehicle body.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a relationship among a driving gear, an operating member, and a driving plate according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the electric motor and the fixing plate according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the gear shaft attached to the fixing plate of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A bicycle with auxiliary power device B body C auxiliary power device 1 hanger lug 17 sprocket 18 chain 20 case (storage case) 40 motor 41 output shaft 42 fixing plate 44 fitting projection 45a buffer 50 reduction gear 51 output gear 52 constitutes reduction gear Gear 53a Gear shaft 53c Buffer 70 Hollow shaft 80 Crankshaft 100 Torque sensor 235 Motor storage room 236 Installation room (part of motor storage room) 235c Fitting hole 235d Gear shaft fitting hole 235f Mounting surface

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yusuke Kinoshita 43 Horiyamashita, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture Tec Hatano Plant

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A motor vehicle having a vehicle body having front and rear wheels, a storage case having a motor storage chamber and a reduction gear storage chamber, an electric motor having an output shaft mounted in the motor storage chamber and having an output gear mounted thereon, and the reduction mechanism. A reduction mechanism that is disposed in a storage chamber and meshes with an output gear of the electric motor to transmit a rotational force; a hollow shaft that is provided in the storage case and transmits the rotational force of the electric motor through the reduction mechanism; An auxiliary power unit that is inserted and rotatably inserted into the hanger lug of the vehicle body and attached to the vehicle body, the crankshaft being configured to include a crankshaft that transmits the pedal force of the pedal to the hollow shaft, A torque sensor for detecting the rotational force of the motor, and controlling the electric motor based on the output of the torque sensor to attach the rotational force of the electric motor to the hollow shaft via the hollow shaft. In a bicycle with an auxiliary power device, which transmits power to the rear wheel through a chain mounted on a proket to assist power, an insertion port is formed at one end of the electric motor storage chamber, and a plurality of fitting holes are formed at the other end. A fixing plate having a mounting surface having the same, and integrally fixing one end side of a gear shaft for mounting a gear meshing with the output gear, and forming a fitting projection corresponding to the fitting hole to the output shaft of the electric motor. Side, and the motor is housed in the motor housing by positioning the output shaft side by fitting the fitting protrusion into the fitting hole via a buffer fitted to the fitting protrusion. A bicycle equipped with an auxiliary power unit. 2. A buffer body in which a gear shaft fitting hole is formed at the other end of the storage chamber so as to correspond to the tip of the gear shaft, and the tip of the gear shaft is fitted to the tip. 2. The gear shaft fitting hole is fitted through the gear shaft fitting hole.
A bicycle with an auxiliary power unit as described. 3. The motor is housed in a motor housing room by positioning an output shaft side of the motor and positioning a side opposite to the output shaft with a cover closing the insertion port via a buffer. The bicycle with an auxiliary power unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: