TWI854458B - Electric tricycle - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric three-wheeled vehicle includes a frame unit, a power unit connected to the frame unit, and an actuating unit connected to the power unit. The power unit includes a motor, a gear box connected to the motor, and an output shaft connected to the gear box. The actuating unit includes a swing arm connected to the frame unit, a rear axle assembly connected to the swing arm, two rear wheels connected to opposite ends of the rear axle assembly, a differential mounted on the rear axle assembly, and a linkage mechanism connected between the output shaft and the differential. The rear axle assembly has two drive shafts connected to the rear wheels and the differential, and the differential has an input shaft connected to the linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism has at least one universal joint disposed between the output shaft and the input shaft.

Description

Electric tricycle

The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular to an electric three-wheeled vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a conventional electric vehicle 1 includes a frame 11, a swing arm 12 connected to the frame 11, a motor 13 fixed to the swing arm 12 and used to provide power, a rear axle assembly 14 connected to the swing arm 12, two rear wheels 15 respectively connected to opposite ends of the rear axle assembly 14, two shock absorbers 16 connected between the frame 11 and the rear axle assembly 14 and respectively corresponding to the rear wheels 15, and a controller 17 fixed to the frame 11 and connected to the motor 13 through a plurality of wires 171. Since the motor 13 has a certain weight, the weight under the shock absorber 16 will be greatly increased, thereby affecting the mobility of the rear axle assembly 14 and the rear wheels 15 connected to the motor 13.

In addition, when the conventional electric vehicle 1 is running, the motor 13, the rear axle assembly 14, and the rear wheel 15 will swing relative to each other as the swing arm 12 moves relative to the frame 11, as the shock absorber 16 operates to absorb shock. At this time, since the controller 17 is fixed to the frame 11, if the motor 13 fixed to the swing arm 12 swings relative to the frame 11, the wire 171 connected between the controller 17 and the motor 13 will be pulled due to the relative positional movement of the two ends. Therefore, if the wire 171 may be pulled, in addition to reserving a sufficient length for the wire 171, it is also necessary to consider whether the wire 171 will be entangled with each other due to the reserved length, and the available configuration space is therefore limited, which is not conducive to wiring.

[Problems to be solved by the present invention]

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an electric three-wheeled vehicle with an optimized configuration of a motor for providing power.

[Technical means to solve the problem]

Therefore, the electric three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention comprises a frame unit, a power unit connected to the frame unit, and an actuating unit connected to the power unit. The power unit comprises a motor fixed to the frame unit, a gear box connected to the motor, and an output shaft connected to the gear box for outputting power to the outside. The actuating unit comprises a swing arm connected to the frame unit, a rear axle assembly connected to the swing arm, two rear wheels respectively connected to opposite ends of the rear axle assembly, a differential mounted on the rear axle assembly, and a linkage mechanism connected between the output shaft and the differential. The rear axle assembly has two drive shafts respectively connected between the rear wheels and the differential. The differential has an input shaft connected to the linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism has at least one universal joint disposed between the output shaft and the input shaft of the differential.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the power unit further includes a controller fixed to the frame unit and having at least one wire connected to the motor.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the linkage mechanism of the actuating unit has a connecting rod and two universal joints respectively disposed at opposite ends of the connecting rod.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the linkage mechanism of the actuating unit has a universal joint adjacent to the input shaft of the differential, and a telescopic rod connected to the universal joint and to the output shaft.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the telescopic rod and the output shaft of the linkage mechanism are connected to each other through axially extending and annularly arranged splines.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the frame unit includes a rear frame, a front frame connected to the front of the rear frame, and a tiltable mechanism disposed between the rear frame and the front frame and used to enable the front frame to tilt left and right relative to the rear frame.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the rear frame of the frame unit has a rising portion extending upwardly and obliquely from front to rear, and a platform portion connected to the rising portion and extending rearward. The motor of the power unit is fixed to the rising portion of the rear frame.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the rear frame of the frame unit has a rising portion extending upwardly and obliquely from front to back, and a platform portion connected to the rising portion and extending backward. The electric three-wheeled vehicle also includes a storage box arranged on the platform portion.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the electric tricycle further comprises a seat cushion disposed on the front frame of the frame unit. The power unit further comprises a battery disposed below the seat cushion.

[Effects that can be achieved by the present invention]

When the electric tricycle of the present invention is driving, since the motor of the power unit is fixed to the frame unit, it will not swing along with the actuating unit, thereby reducing the weight that swings during driving, thereby optimizing the controllability.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the controller is fixed to the frame unit together with the motor, so that no relative movement occurs during driving, and the wires are therefore not pulled during driving. Without the need to reserve excess length, this is very beneficial to the freedom of wiring and can more flexibly arrange the space for the wires and surrounding equipment.

In some embodiments of the present invention, due to the multi-directional movement margin of the universal joint, the differential can stably receive the kinetic energy transmitted through the linkage mechanism even if it encounters shaking relative to the motor during driving.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the tiltable mechanism between the rear frame and the front frame enables the front frame to tilt and swing relative to the rear frame, thereby improving the controllability and turning performance of the electric three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the motor is fixed to the rising portion of the rear frame located relatively forward, so when the heavier motor is moved forward, the overall center of gravity of the electric three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention can be concentrated more toward the center in the front-rear direction, thereby avoiding the dispersion of the center of gravity and optimizing the controllability.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the storage box is installed on the platform portion of the rear frame. When the rear frame is supported by the two rear wheels, the carrying capacity of the storage box can be increased and the driving stability of the storage box when loading items can be optimized.

In some embodiments of the present invention, in terms of the front-to-back direction, the battery is arranged closer to the center and further forward of the motor and the controller. In addition to centralizing the main weight components to optimize the handling, it also achieves a better front-to-back balance with the weight of the motor and the controller.

Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar components are represented by the same reference numerals in the following description.

Referring to FIG. 2 , a first embodiment of the electric three-wheeled vehicle of the present invention is shown. The first embodiment comprises a frame unit 2, a power unit 3 connected to the frame unit 2, an actuating unit 4 connected to the power unit 3, a storage box 5 disposed on the frame unit 2, and a seat cushion 6 disposed on the frame unit 2.

The frame unit 2 is mainly made of metal material to form the main supporting structure of the first embodiment, and includes a rear frame 21, a front frame 22 connected to the front of the rear frame 21, and a tilting mechanism 23 disposed between the rear frame 21 and the front frame 22 and used to allow the front frame 22 to tilt left and right relative to the rear frame 21. The rear frame 21 has a rising portion 211 extending upwardly from front to rear, and a platform portion 212 connected to the rising portion 211 and extending rearward. The storage box 5 is disposed on the platform portion 212 of the rear frame 21, so that the storage box 5 can be stably supported, and the seat 6 is disposed on the front frame 22, so that when the rider sits on the seat 6, the weight of the rider and the weight of the goods that may be carried in the storage box 5 are distributed front and back. In addition, the tilting mechanism 23 mainly allows the front frame 22 to tilt and swing relative to the rear frame 21, thereby improving the controllability and steering performance of the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 simultaneously, the power unit 3 includes a motor 31 fixed to the rear frame 21 of the frame unit 2, a gear box 32 connected to the motor 31 and fixed to the rear frame 21 together with the motor 31, an output shaft 33 connected to the gear box 32 for outputting power to the outside, a controller 34 fixed to the rear frame 21 and having a plurality of wires 341 connected to the motor 31 for controlling the operation of the motor 31, and a battery 35 disposed under the seat cushion 6. It should be particularly noted that the motor 31 is fixed to the rising portion 211 of the rear frame 21, that is, fixed to a relatively forward position of the rear frame 21, so that the heavier motor 31 can be moved forward, thereby allowing the overall center of gravity of the first embodiment to be more centrally located in the front-rear direction. In addition, the gear box 32 is specifically a transmission gear set configured to transmit kinetic energy, thereby transmitting the kinetic energy generated by the motor 31 operated by the battery 35 to the outside. In addition, since the battery 35 is fixed to the front frame 22 and is located near the motor 31, the wires 341 for transmitting electrical energy do not need to be too long. The battery 35 and the motor 31 are arranged together at a position close to the center in the front-rear direction, which helps to concentrate the center of gravity, thereby optimizing the controllability of the first embodiment during routine driving.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the actuating unit 4 includes a swing arm 41 connected to the frame unit 2, a rear axle assembly 42 connected to the swing arm 41, two rear wheels 43 connected to opposite ends of the rear axle assembly 42, a differential 44 mounted on the rear axle assembly 42, and a linkage mechanism 45 connected between the output shaft 33 and the differential 44. The rear axle assembly 42 has two drive shafts 422 connected to the rear wheels 43 and the differential 44. The differential 44 has an input shaft 441 connected to the linkage mechanism 45. The linkage mechanism 45 has a connecting rod 451 and two universal joints 459 respectively disposed at opposite ends of the connecting rod 451.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , when the motor 31 is operated by the battery 35 providing power, the kinetic energy generated by the operation of the motor 31 is transmitted to the linkage 45 via the output shaft 33, and then transmitted to the input shaft 441 of the differential 44 via the linkage 45, thereby transmitting the kinetic energy to the differential 44. Then, by means of the gear configuration in the differential 44, when the kinetic energy is transmitted to the two rear wheels 43 via the two drive shafts 422 respectively, the two rear wheels 43 can operate at different speeds, thereby achieving a better steering performance. It is worth mentioning that, when the first embodiment is driving, since the motor 31 is fixed to the rear frame 21, it will not swing with the actuating unit 4, which can reduce the weight that swings during driving, thereby optimizing the maneuverability. In addition, when the kinetic energy is transmitted through the linkage mechanism 45 during driving, since the first embodiment sets the universal joint 459 between the output shaft 33 and the input shaft 441 of the differential 44, the multi-directional activity margin of the universal joint 459 allows the differential 44 to stably receive the kinetic energy transmitted through the linkage mechanism 45 even if it encounters shaking relative to the motor 31 during driving, so that the kinetic energy transmission during driving is maintained stable.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , a second embodiment of the electric tricycle of the present invention is shown. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the linkage mechanism 45 of the actuating unit 4 has a universal joint 459 adjacent to the input shaft 441 of the differential 44, and a telescopic rod 452 connected to the universal joint 459 and connected to the output shaft 33. The telescopic rod 452 and the output shaft 33 are connected to each other through axially extending and annularly arranged splines as shown in FIG. 6 . Although the second embodiment is only equipped with one universal joint 459, the side close to the motor 31 can still achieve the same effect of maintaining stable transmission of kinetic energy as the first embodiment through the extension margin of the telescopic rod 452.

In summary, the electric tricycle of the present invention fixes the motor 31 and the controller 34 together to the rear frame 21, so as to prevent the rear axle assembly 42 and the differential 44 connected to the swing arm 41 from swinging together during driving. This not only moves the center of gravity forward and centralizes it, effectively optimizing the controllability during driving, but also simplifies the wiring problem of the wire 341 connecting the motor 31 and the controller 34. Furthermore, through the configuration of the universal joint 459 of the linkage mechanism 45, the kinetic energy transmission when the motor 31 and the differential 44 move relative to each other is overcome. Therefore, the purpose of the present invention can be achieved.

However, the above is only an example of the implementation of the present invention, and it cannot be used to limit the scope of the implementation of the present invention. All simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention and the content of the patent specification are still within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

2··············· Frame unit 21············· Rear frame 211············ Rising part 212············ Platform part 22·············· Front frame 23·············· Tilt mechanism 3··············· Power unit 31·············· Motor 32·············· Gearbox 33············· Output shaft 34·············· Controller 341············ Lead wire 35············· Battery 4··············· Actuator unit 41·············· Rocker arm 42·············· Rear axle assembly 422············ Drive shaft 43············· Rear wheel 44·············· Differential 441············ Input shaft 45············· Linkage mechanism 451············ Connecting rod 452··········· Telescopic rod 459··········· Universal joint 5··············· Storage box 6··············· Seat cushion

Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a partial three-dimensional view illustrating an existing electric vehicle; FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a first embodiment of the electric tricycle of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating a frame unit of the first embodiment and the configuration of an actuating unit relative to the frame unit; FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged side view illustrating a connecting rod and two universal joints of a linkage mechanism of the actuating unit; FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged side view illustrating a second embodiment of the electric tricycle of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the detailed structure of the linkage mechanism of the second embodiment.

2··············· Frame unit 21············· Rear frame 211············ Rising part 212············ Platform part 22·············· Front frame 23·············· Tilt mechanism 3··············· Power unit 31·············· Motor 32·············· Gearbox 33············· Output shaft 34·············· Controller 341············ Lead wire 35············· Battery 4··············· Actuator unit 41·············· Rocker arm 43·············· Rear wheel 44·············· Differential 441············ Input shaft 45············· Linkage mechanism 5··············· Storage box 6················ Seat cushion

Claims (8)

An electric three-wheeled vehicle comprises: a frame unit; a power unit connected to the frame unit and including a motor fixed to the frame unit, a gear box connected to the motor, an output shaft connected to the gear box for outputting power to the outside, and a controller fixed to the frame unit and having at least one wire connected to the motor; and an actuating unit connected to the power unit and including a swing arm connected to the frame unit, a gear box connected to the motor, and a gear box connected to the motor. A rear axle assembly of a swing arm, two rear wheels respectively connected to opposite ends of the rear axle assembly, a differential mounted on the rear axle assembly, and a linkage mechanism connected between the output shaft and the differential, wherein the rear axle assembly has two drive shafts respectively connected between the rear wheels and the differential, the differential has an input shaft connected to the linkage mechanism, and the linkage mechanism has at least one universal joint disposed between the output shaft and the input shaft of the differential. The electric three-wheeled vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism of the actuating unit has a connecting rod and two universal joints respectively disposed at opposite ends of the connecting rod. The electric three-wheeled vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism of the actuating unit has a universal joint adjacent to the input shaft of the differential, and a telescopic rod connected to the universal joint and connected to the output shaft. As described in claim 3, the telescopic rod of the linkage mechanism and the output shaft are connected to each other through axially extending and annularly arranged splines. The electric three-wheeled vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the frame unit includes a rear frame, a front frame connected to the front of the rear frame, and a tiltable mechanism disposed between the rear frame and the front frame and used to allow the front frame to tilt left and right relative to the rear frame. The electric three-wheeled vehicle as described in claim 5, wherein the rear frame of the frame unit has a rising portion extending upwardly from front to back, and a platform portion connected to the rising portion and extending backward, and the motor of the power unit is fixed to the rising portion of the rear frame. The electric three-wheeled vehicle as described in claim 5, wherein the rear frame of the frame unit has a rising portion extending upwardly from front to rear, and a platform portion connected to the rising portion and extending rearward, and the electric three-wheeled vehicle also includes a storage box arranged on the platform portion. The electric three-wheeled vehicle as described in claim 5 further comprises a seat cushion disposed on the front frame of the frame unit, wherein the power unit further comprises a battery disposed under the seat cushion.

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