WO1996000162A1

WO1996000162A1 - Roller-wheel vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO1996000162A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/001782
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uwe Barthel
Original assignee: Uwe Barthel
Priority date: 1994-06-24
Filing date: 1995-05-11
Publication date: 1996-01-04
Also published as: DE4422119A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a roller-wheel vehicle (10) whose wheels (14) are mounted in line in a chassis (12) such that they lie under a platform (18) designed as a footboard for the rider. To provide control of the vehicle (10), a steering device (20) on the front end (58) of the chassis (12) is used to bend the chassis, which consists essentially of a flexible strip (24), to either side, together with the wheels (14), out of the linear position for straight-ahead travel into a curved position for negotiating bends.

Description

Scooter-like vehicle

description

The invention relates to a scooter-like vehicle, in which the force for forward movement is applied by the driver through a one-leg pushing movement directed against the road.

Such vehicles have long been known as so-called children's scooters. These generally have two wheels provided with air-filled tires which are arranged one behind the other on a frame, the front part of the frame carrying the front wheel being rotatably mounted as a fork in a control head in such a way that it is arranged upright on one between the wheels The driver standing on the footboard is able to change the direction of travel by turning in a steering rod which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the fork. The steering angle of the front wheel is adjusted relative to the non-rotatable main part of the frame and the non-steerable rear wheel suspended thereon, ie rotated about its own vertical axis. In the case of such scooters, the diameter of the wheels on the one hand is sufficiently large to support the driver load and to deal with unevenness in the roadway. On the other hand, in order to ergonomically adapt the height of the running board to the repelling movement of the driver, the running board is arranged between the comparatively high wheels. This results in an elongated, overall bulky structure, especially in the case of so-called adult scooters that are adapted to the proportions of adult drivers. With such scooters, the range of action of a driver is increased significantly compared to a pedestrian, particularly on sidewalks in inner city areas. A disadvantage, however, is the portability of the vehicle by the driver, which is severely restricted by the bulky construction, which largely makes it impossible to take it, for example, in public transport. In addition, such scooters, because of their driving properties, especially for young drivers, have no particular sporting incentive and, because of their typical design, are regarded as children's toys.

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object of developing a scooter-like vehicle which, with its compact design as a transport and sports device, can be used by young and adult drivers in particular and, if appropriate, can be carried in a simple manner, and which also has the possibility of being visually appealing ¬ appropriate design opened.

To achieve this object, the combination of features specified in claim 1 is proposed. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of distributing the driver's load to several - 3 -

borrow two-wheel scooters known frame suspension with a small distance from each other below a base for the driver arranged wheels. Accordingly, according to the invention, a scooter-type vehicle is proposed which has a chassis, a plurality of wheels, which are suspended along the chassis at a distance from one another about their running axis and are arranged one behind the other in a row, a step platform arranged or designed on the chassis essentially above the wheels has a driver and a steering device operable by the driver.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the steering device engages at the front end of the chassis, and that the chassis can be bent laterally from the elongated form in the straight-ahead position into a curved form in the curved running position while taking the wheels when the load is transverse is. This indirect steering means that a complex steering mechanism can be dispensed with and a change of direction can be achieved in a simple manner even with more than two wheels arranged one behind the other.

The chassis is advantageously designed to be flexible and bendable to both sides against the effect of a restoring moment. For this purpose, the undercarriage can have a guerastic bending rail designed as a spiral spring, preferably as a layered rectangular leaf spring or rod spring, where appropriate, which can consist of a spring steel or flexible plastic.

In order to support larger driver loads with an overall compact design, three to seven, preferably four suitably identical wheels can be arranged one behind the other on the chassis at a distance which does not substantially exceed their diameter.

The bend of the wheels is ensured in a simple manner in the bog running position of the chassis if the wheels are suspended on a chassis-fixed axle in the manner of fixed castors.

Wheels with sufficiently good rolling properties advantageously have a diameter of 5 to 15 cm, preferably 7 to 9 cm and have a hub provided with a roller bearing and a solid rubber material tire made of rubber or elastomeric plastic.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the step platform is formed from a plurality of platform elements which are fastened one behind the other on the bending rail and are supported on the carriageway side by one of the wheels in each case and can be pivoted relative to one another when the bending rail is curved. With the modular construction of the vehicle, this creates a "footboard" for the driver that can be adapted to the sheet running position. In a design that is easy to manufacture, the platform elements are advantageously designed as T-shaped or L-shaped profile pieces, which are fixed to a mounting side of the bending rail with a thigh to keep clear spaces and each cover a wheel with a transverse leg. Alternatively, the platform elements can also be designed as die-cast or injection molded parts. In an advantageous design, such platform elements have a support piece provided with a mounting surface for the bending rail and a bearing bore for mounting one of the wheels, and a tread plate which extends at right angles to the support piece and covers the wheel.

It is particularly advantageous if the wheel planes of the wheels are arranged in the plane of the mounting surfaces of the carrier pieces, which preferably extend in the region of the longitudinal center of the vehicle. As a result, a directionally neutral steering behavior can be achieved, and the tipping stability of the vehicle is increased. A particularly compact and repair-friendly construction is achieved in that the bending rail can be fastened separately from the wheels to the mounting surfaces of the carrier pieces and has cutouts for the wheels.

In order to create a step platform that is as free from gaps as possible in the sheet running position, the individual step plates can be designed with an arcuate, alternately convex and the concave rounded end sections lie against each other.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the steering device has a preferably height-adjustable, appropriately collapsible, collapsible or telescopically telescopic handlebar tube, which is detachably fastened at its lower end to a head piece of the chassis. As a result, the steering device can be adapted to the size of the driver and its storage or taking away can be made easier when the vehicle is not in use. Safe handling and convenient transportation of the vehicle can also be made possible by a steering device which has a triangular or V-shaped steering bracket, the inclination of which can be connected to the upper end of the handlebar tube in an adjustable manner.

A simple braking device can be realized in that a rubber block at the rear end of the undercarriage is arranged to protrude to the rear, which comes into engagement with the roadway when the rear undercarriage section is tilted.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing in a schematic manner. Show it:

Figure 1 is a scooter-like vehicle in perspective. - 7 -

Fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section along the section line II-II of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the vehicle of Fig. 1;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged illustration of FIG. 4;

6 shows a plan view of a scooter-like vehicle in the straight ahead and curved running position to explain the steering principle;

7a and b are side views of an alternative construction of a scooter-like vehicle;

8a and b show a carrier piece of the vehicle according to FIG. 7 in a side view and from below;

FIG. 9 shows a step plate of the vehicle according to FIG. 7 in a top view.

The scooter-like vehicle 10 shown in the drawing essentially consists of a chassis 12, five wheels 14 which are suspended along the chassis 12 at the same distance from one another around their running axis 32 and are arranged one behind the other in a lane manner, and one made up of individual platform elements 16 covering the wheels 14 formed step platform 18 for a rer, and a driver-operated steering device 20 and a braking device 22nd

The chassis 12 has a bending rail 24 which is designed as an elongated leaf spring made of spring steel which is rectangular in cross-section and narrow at its ends and semicircularly rounded. As shown in FIG. 2, the five equally large wheels 14, which have a diameter of approximately 8 cm, with their running axes 32 are at the same height and at a distance from one another of approximately 1.3 times their diameter the bending rail 24 arranged one behind the other. Corresponding to the number of wheels 14, five platform elements 16 made of unbreakable, lightweight plastic and designed as T-shaped profile pieces are provided, which have a rectangular or square transverse leg 26 and a vertically offset vertically offset leg 28 have. The profile pieces 16 are fastened with the high legs 28 between the bending rail 24 and an associated wheel 14 in such a way that the transverse legs 26 are arranged at the same height one behind the other while keeping narrow mutual spaces 30 free and thus have a flat standing or Make a step for the driver.

As shown in FIG. 3, a profile piece 16 and an associated wheel 14 are each connected to the bending rail 24 in a push-through screw connection by means of an axle bolt 32 provided as a running axle. In order to prevent rotation, the high leg 28 of the profile piece 16 has a fitting groove 34, which lies with its groove base against a broad side surface 36 and with its groove flanks in a form-fitting manner against the narrow side surfaces of the bending rail 24. The axle bolt 32 passes through transverse bores 38, 40 of the bending rail 24 and the upper leg 28 and the hub bore 42 of the wheel 14. The axle bolt 32 with its screw-end on the screw head side is interposed between a washer 44 on the broad side surface 46 facing away from the groove base of the fitting groove 34 Bending rail 24 is supported and clamps the wheel 14 against the facing broad side surface 50 of the upper leg 28 by means of a lock nut 48 which can be screwed onto its thread-side end. In a simply interchangeable design, the wheel 14 has two hub sleeves 52 abutting one another on the end face, which are slipped onto the axle bolt 32, and a plastic tire 56 which is rotatably mounted on the hub sleeves 52 via double grooved ball bearings 54. In the suspension, which is free of longitudinal play and transverse play in the manner of fixed castors, the wheel 14 has an upright point approximately centrally below the transverse leg 26 of the profile piece 16, which is arranged transversely above it and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bending rail 24, and thus supports the contact point The surface of the cross leg 26 acting driver load largely tilting towards the road.

The steering device 20 which can be actuated by the driver has a handlebar tube 60 and which can be telescopically pushed together and which engages at the front end 58 of the chassis 12 a triangularly curved steering bracket 62 that can be rigidly connected to the handlebar tube 60 (FIG. 4). The handlebar tube 60 is non-rotatably in its obliquely forward-facing position at its lower end, but is detachably connected to the front end 58 of the chassis 12. For this purpose, a head plate 66 is provided, which is fastened to the transverse leg 26 of the front platform element 16 by means of screw connections 64, on the upper side of which a support pin 70, which is inclined towards the front and provided with a guide lug 68, is formed, which when the handlebar tube is attached 60 engages in a slot recess 72 which is open at the edge, wherein the steering tube 60 can be clamped to the plug pin 70 in a simple manner by means of the tensioning lever 74 and clamping clamp 76. At its upper end, the handlebar tube 60 is releasably connected to a short leg 80 of the steering bracket 62 via a clamping piece 78, the steering bracket 62 with its two further legs 82, which are provided as handle bars for the driver, pointing pointedly upward in a V-shape. The steering device 20 not only serves to control the vehicle 10 described below, but also has a support function in that it enables the driver who is holding onto it and stands upright on the step platform 18 to maintain an equilibrium position. In addition, the vehicle 10 can be carried on the steering bracket 62 by the "driver".

To explain the steering or control principle of the vehicle 10, the plates in the top view according to FIG. form elements 16 shown transparently. By turning the steering device 20 (not shown), ie turning the handlebar tube 60 about its axis by means of the steering bracket 62, a bending moment acting according to the steering angle direction to one of the sides of the bending rail 24 is applied via the support pin 70 on the front platform element 16 ( Arrow 84) initiated. At the same time, the driver essentially loads the rear platform elements 16 with his weight and thereby defines a type of "bending axis" for the bending rail 24. This can be bent laterally from a straight, elongated form (shown in FIG. 6 with dashed lines) into a form in a curved running position (in FIG. 6, the leftward curved running position is shown with solid lines) while driving the wheels 14. The transverse legs 26 of the rigid platform elements 16 twist against one another in one plane using the interstices 30. The arc running of the wheels 14 is determined by the magnitude of the bending moment exerted and the stiffness of the spiral spring 24. When the bending rail 24 is subjected to exclusive bending stresses, the running axes of the wheels 14 are arranged approximately arc radially in a common plane. With additional exertion of a torsional moment, it is possible to twist the bending rail 24 by tilting the wheels 14 in relation to one another and thus to additionally support or initiate cornering. The sheet running position shown in FIG. 6 is shown in an extreme curvature to illustrate it. In practice it has shown that a small steering angle or a slight curvature are sufficient to bring about a significant change in the direction of travel of the vehicle 10.

To brake the vehicle, it is possible for the driver to tilt the vehicle 10 about the rear wheel 14 to the rear by shifting the weight and thereby bring the brake pad 22 attached to the rear end of the chassis 12 into frictional connection with the road.

In the alternative embodiment of the scooter-like vehicle 10 shown in FIGS. 7-9, components that correspond to components in FIGS. 1-6 are provided with the same reference numerals. As can be seen from FIG. 7b, the wheels 14 are fastened to the individual platform elements 16 separately from one another by means of axle bolts 32 and the bending rail 24 designed as a leaf spring by means of screws 100. The wheel planes of the wheels 14 and the bending rail 24 are arranged in the same plane in the area of the longitudinal center of the vehicle. In order to keep the overall height low, the bending rail 24 has cutouts 102 for the wheels 14 which are adapted to the wheel shape.

For connection to the bending rail 24, the platform elements have vertical support pieces 104 (FIGS. 8a, b). The elongated carrier pieces 104 form a flat assembly with spacers 106, 108 which are arranged essentially in a U-shape and protrude to one side. Surface 110 for the bending rail 24. In the space surrounded by the wall area 112 and the spacers 106, 108 of the support pieces 104, the wheel 14 projects with one of its wheel halves separated by the wheel plane. Corresponding to the shape of the wheel, the horizontal spacer 108 is provided with a cutout 114.

The step platform 18 for the driver is formed by the step plates 116 of the individual platform elements 16. The tread plate 116 shown in FIG. 9 extends horizontally above the carrier piece shown in FIG. 8 and at right angles to it. The tread plate 116 is curved convexly at its front end section 118, while it is concavely cut out at its rear end section 120. In the case of platform elements 16 arranged one behind the other, the abutting end sections 118, 120 interlock so that only small gaps remain and at the same time a sufficient curvature is possible in the sheet running position.

The platform elements 16 can be formed in one piece and consist of aluminum or plastic as pressure or injection molded parts.

In summary, the following can be stated: The invention relates to a scooter-like vehicle 10, the track-like wheels 14 of which are suspended on a chassis 12 and covered by a track platform 18 which is intended as a step surface for a driver are. To control the vehicle 10, a steering device 20 is provided, which engages at the front end 58 of the chassis 12, by means of which the chassis 12, which is essentially formed from a bending rail 24, moves from an elongated shape in a straight-ahead position to a curved shape in a curved running position, taking the Wheels 14 can be bent laterally on both sides.

Claims

1. Scooter-like vehicle (10) with the following features:

- a chassis (12),

a plurality of wheels (14) arranged one behind the other along the chassis (12) and rotatable at a distance from one another about their running axis,

- a step platform (18) arranged or formed on the chassis (12) substantially above the wheels (14) for a driver, and

- A steering device (20) which can be actuated by the driver.

2. Scooter-like vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the steering device (20) engages at the front end (58) of the chassis (12), and that the chassis (12) with transverse stress by means of the steering device (20) from one in Gera¬ The elongated shape can be bent laterally into a shape curved in the curved running position with the entrainment of the wheels (14).

3. Scooter-like vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, da¬ characterized in that the chassis (12) is flexurally elastic and bendable against the effect of a restoring torque on both sides.

4. Roller-like vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the chassis (12) has a transverse elastic bending rail (24) formed as a spiral spring, preferably as a leaf spring or bar spring, where appropriate layered.

5. Roller-like vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the bending rail (24) consists of a spring steel or flexible plastic.

6. Roller-like vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that three to seven, preferably four appropriately sized wheels (14) along the bending rail (24) are arranged one behind the other.

7. Scooter-like vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the wheels (14) are each suspended on a chassis-fixed axis (32) in the manner of fixed castors.

8. Scooter-like vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the wheels (14) having a diameter of 5 to 15 cm, preferably 7 to 9 cm, have a hub (52) provided with an outer roller bearing (54) and a hub made of rubber or elastomeric plastic Have elastic full material tires (56).

9. Scooter-like vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the step platform (18) of several on the bending rail (24) fastened one behind the other, supported on the carriageway side by one of the wheels (14) in each case and with curvature of the bending rail ( 24) platform elements (16) which can be pivoted relative to one another.

10. Scooter-like vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the platform elements (16) consist of aluminum or a rigid plastic.

11. Scooter-like vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the platform elements (16) are designed as T- or L-shaped profile pieces, and that the profile pieces with clearances (30) with a high leg (28) on a mounting side (36) of the bending rail (24) are fastened and each cover a wheel (14) with a cross leg (26).

12. Roller-like vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the preferably designed as die-cast or injection molded parts Platt¬ form elements (16) with a mounting surface (110) for the bending rail (24) and a bearing (32) for one of the Carrier piece (104) provided with wheels (14) and a step plate (116) extending at right angles to the carrier piece (104) and covering the wheel (14).

13. Scooter-like vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the wheel planes of the wheels (14) are arranged in the plane of the mounting surfaces (110) of the carrier pieces (104) preferably formed in the region of the longitudinal center of the vehicle.

14. Roller-like vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the preferably by means of screw connections (100) separately from the wheels (14) on the mounting surfaces (110) of the carrier pieces (104) attachable bending rail (24) recesses (102) for the Has wheels (14).

15. Scooter-like vehicle according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the step plates (116) bear against one another in pairs with arcuate, alternately convex and concave rounded end sections (118, 120).

16. Scooter-like vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the steering device (20) is a preferably height-adjustable, suitably collapsible, collapsible or telescopically collapsible, detachably attachable at its lower end to a head piece (70) of the chassis (12) and a triangular or V-shaped steering bracket (62) connectable to the upper end of the handlebar tube (60).

17. Scooter-like vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by a preferably formed as at the rear end of the chassis (12) protruding rear rubber block brake device (22) which comes into engagement with the roadway when the rear chassis section is tilted.