WO2005066015A1

WO2005066015A1 - Bicycle and differential device for bicycle

Info

Publication number: WO2005066015A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kinya Kanou
Original assignee: Land Walker, Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-01-06
Filing date: 2005-01-05
Publication date: 2005-07-21
Also published as: JP2005219728A

Abstract

A bicycle having a main frame, drive means with pivoting shaft for driving a wheel, steering means, and a front and a rear wheel with at least either of the wheels being two wheeled, where the two-wheeled wheel are the driving wheels. The main frame has a differential device for driving, through a transmission mechanism, each of the two-wheeled wheel in a cooperating manner. The differential device is constituted of an umbrella-like first gear that is supported by a supporting shaft radially extending from the pivoting shaft and of umbrella-like second gears that mesh, on both sides of the first gear, with the first gear and are supported by the pivoting shaft. Each of the second gears is made to cooperate with each of the driving wheels of the two-wheeled wheel. Also provided is a differential device for a bicycle, constituted of an umbrella-like first gear that is supported by a supporting shaft radially extending from a boss capable of being installed on a pivoting shaft for driving and of umbrella-like second gears that mesh, on both sides of the first gear, with the first gear, face to each other, and are supported by the pivoting shaft. The second gears can cooperate with driving wheels through transmission mechanisms.

Description

Specification

Bicycle and bicycle differential

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle that can be reduced in size and weight while improving running stability particularly in a corner, can be easily maintained, and cost can be reduced, and a differential for a bicycle used therefor .

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, two-wheeled or two-wheeled three-wheeled bicycles are often used in order to increase the running stability of the bicycle or to carry luggage. As shown in Fig. 15, this three-wheeled bicycle is operated by a handle a and is supported by a front wheel b supported by a front fork and two rear chains supported by a pair of chain stays d and d extending from the frame c to the rear. A chain j is provided between a chain ring g that is supported by the lower part of the frame and rotates by stroking the pedal f, and a sprocket gear i provided on the hub axle h of one rear wheel e. It is bridged. The one rear wheel e can be driven to rotate by driving force applied by pedaling the pedal f (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] However, in the above three-wheeled bicycle, only one rear wheel e arranged away from the center line X in the front-rear direction is driven to move forward, so that the left-right balance of the propulsive force is lost. This creates a force that the rear part can swing sideways. As a result, the bicycle loses straight travel and tends to meander, and the steering function by the handle a becomes unstable.In particular, when the speed is increased, the steering wheel operation becomes difficult, and there is a risk of collision, falling, etc. Accompany.

[0004] In addition, if the rear wheels that are not driven collide with convex parts of the road surface such as pebbles and steps and there is insufficient propulsive force to overcome them, only the rear wheels e that are driven will move forward, resulting in a sudden increase in the vehicle body. There is a high risk that it will lead to a fall.

[0005] In order to solve these problems, as shown in FIG. 16, an axle m having wheels k and k at both ends is divided into left and right parts and rotated by a driving force transmitted from the drive unit by the propeller shaft n. A plurality of umbrella-shaped input gears P and a pair of side gears q and q facing each other and rotating the two axles ml and m2, respectively. Therefore, it is conceivable to adopt a drive transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force to the wheels k, k on both sides. This drive transmission mechanism is widely used in automobiles, and can transmit the driving force of the wheels k, k on both sides. In addition, when driving straight, both side gears q, q rotate together. However, during the turn, there is a difference in the rotational speeds of the side gears q and q, and the outer tire turns faster than the inner tire. As a result, when turning a curve, it is possible to prevent tire slip caused by absorbing the difference in travel distance due to the trajectory of the left and right tires, and to obtain smooth running during turning.

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-335468

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, the drive transmission mechanism is provided with a differential device!: Between the axles ml and m2, which are divided into left and right wheels with wheels k and k at both ends. Since the driving force is transmitted to the device r by the propeller shaft n, there is a limit to the size and weight of the device, and it is necessary to configure the bicycle frame to be considerably large for mounting on the bicycle. As a result, there was a problem that the bicycle itself was large and heavy and lacked practicality.

[0008] The present invention solves the problems of the bicycle described above, and drives the two wheels by being driven by a rotating shaft and linked to two driving wheels via a transmission mechanism. The objective is to provide a bicycle that can be made compact and lightweight, can be easily maintained, and can reduce costs, and a differential device for a bicycle used therefor.

Means for solving the problem

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the main frame has a driving means having a rotating shaft for driving wheels, a steering means, and at least one of two wheels. A bicycle having a front wheel and a rear wheel, the two wheels being driving wheels, wherein the main frame is driven by the rotating shaft and is connected to each of the two driving wheels and a transmission mechanism. And a differential device capable of driving the two wheels by being linked to each other, and the differential device is an umbrella-shaped first pivotally supported by a support shaft that is integral with the rotating shaft and extends radially. 1 gear and the first gear on both sides of the gear are opposed to each other and rotate concentrically with the rotating shaft. Each of the second gears is linked to each one of the two driving wheels via the transmission mechanism. It is characterized by that.

[0010] Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the transmission mechanism includes a driving rotator that is mounted concentrically with the second gear, and a driven rotator that is attached to each of the two wheels. The bicycle according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting means that connects between the two.

[0011] Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the bicycle according to claim 2, characterized in that it is the rotating body force procket and the connecting means is a chain.

[0012] Further, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the two wheels are supported to be swingable up and down independently of each other with respect to the main frame. It is a bicycle described in any one of items 3.

[0013] The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the rotating shaft includes at least one of a crankarm having a pedal and an electric or internal combustion engine type auxiliary power unit. A bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

[0014] Further, the invention of claim 6 is characterized in that the drive means includes a transmission that can increase or decrease the rotational speed of the rotating shaft. A bicycle according to any one of the above.

[0015] Further, the bicycle differential of the present invention is a bicycle differential having at least one of two wheels, including a front wheel and a rear wheel, and using the two wheels as drive wheels, An umbrella-shaped first gear that is integral with a boss that can be attached to a drive rotation shaft and is pivotally supported by a support shaft that extends radially, and is opposed to the first gear on both sides of the first gear. It consists of an umbrella-shaped second gear that is rotatably supported concentrically with the shaft, and the second gear can be linked to the two driving wheels via a transmission mechanism. It is characterized by.

The invention's effect

[0016] The bicycle of the present invention includes a differential device that is driven by a rotating shaft and that can drive the two wheels by being linked to the two driving wheels via a transmission mechanism. The driving force is transmitted to each of the two driving wheels, and the differential force absorbs the difference in the rotational speed of the inner and outer wheels that occurs when the differential turns, so that stable running performance including corners can be obtained. The The differential device includes an umbrella-shaped first gear that is pivotally supported on a support shaft that is integral with the rotation shaft, and an umbrella-shape that is meshed with the first gear and pivotally concentric with the rotation shaft. The second gear. Since each 1 of the second gear is linked to each 1 of the two driving wheels via a transmission mechanism, the basic driving mechanism of the bicycle itself and the above-mentioned differential device are combined to minimize the driving force. It can be composed of as many parts as necessary, and the structure becomes simple. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size and weight, and it is easy to design a compact as a bicycle. Therefore, mechanical troubles can be reduced, maintenance can be achieved, and cost can be reduced.

[0017] Main parts such as the driving means and the differential are arranged around the rotation axis of the main frame.

For this reason, it is possible to easily perform dustproofing, dripproofing, and internal lubricant sealing that covers and protects these main movable parts, and the reliability of these is maintained for a long time.

[0018] As in the invention described in claim 2, the transmission mechanism includes a driving rotator that is concentrically attached to the second gear, and a driven rotator that is attached to each of the two wheels. And a connecting means that connects between them, the conduction mechanism can be easily configured. Further, as in the invention described in claim 3 of the claim, when the rotating force is a procket and the connecting means is a chain, the drive conduction to the two wheels is more reliable.

[0019] As in the invention described in claim 4, when the two wheels are supported so as to be able to swing up and down independently of each other with respect to the main frame, an impact is caused at the time of collision with the runway convex portion. It is possible to prevent the vehicle from tipping over, and the rider can easily take the optimum lean posture according to the radius and speed of the curve, so that the vehicle can safely and comfortably pass the curve. Further, when configured as described in claim 5, the burden on the rider can be reduced and comfortable driving can be achieved.

[0020] Further, as in the invention described in claim 6, if the drive means is provided with a transmission that can increase or decrease the rotational speed of the rotating shaft, it is possible to reduce a rider's load that increases during climbing and the like. Enables comfortable high-speed driving on the road.

In addition, the bicycle differential of the present invention includes an umbrella-shaped first gear that is pivotally supported by a support shaft that is integral with a boss that can be attached to a rotating shaft, and the first gear that meshes with the first gear. It consists of an umbrella-shaped second gear that is pivotally supported on the same axis as the dynamic shaft, and the second gear can be linked via two drive wheels and a transmission mechanism. By combining with a simple drive mechanism, it can be configured with the minimum necessary parts. Furthermore, since the structure is simple, it can be made smaller and lighter. As a result, mechanical troubles are reduced and costs are reduced.

Brief Description of Drawings

圆 1] A perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.圆 2] An enlarged perspective view of the main part.

圆 3] This is a schematic diagram explaining the operation state.

[Fig. 4] A-A cross-sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the front frame.

[6] It is an enlarged perspective view of the main part.

7] FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining the traveling state of the bicycle 1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view illustrating another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view illustrating still another embodiment.

FIG. 10] A perspective view illustrating still another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating still another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating still another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the main part.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating another conventional example.

Explanation of symbols

1 bicycle

2 Bicycle differential

3 Rotating axis

4 Drive means

5 Steering means

6F front wheel

6R rear wheel

7 Conduction mechanism

8 Differential 9 Spindle

10 First gear

11 Second gear

12 Rotating body for driving

13 Rotating body for driven

14 Connection means

15 sprocket

16 chain

17 pedals

18 Crank arm

19 Auxiliary power

20 Boss

S transmission

F Main frame

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A bicycle 1 according to the present invention includes a main frame F, front wheels 6F, rear wheels 6R, steering means 5, driving means 4, and differential 8.

[0025] In the present embodiment, the main frame F includes a top tube 21 extending in the front-rear direction, a saddle pipe 22 provided integrally with a rear end portion of the top tube 21 and a saddle 39 attached to an upper end portion thereof, and the saddle pipe 22 For example, a structure including a pair of left and right bottom frames 23 and 23 depending from the lower end of the frame is illustrated.

[0026] The bicycle 1 of the present embodiment is an example in which the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R are both composed of two wheels, and the rear wheel 6R is used as a driving wheel. However, either the front wheel 6F or the rear wheel 6R may be configured as one wheel, and at that time, the other two wheels are configured as driving wheels. Each wheel is configured by connecting a hub and a rim with a plurality of spokes (not shown) radially attached to one end of the wheel, and a tire is attached to the rim.

[0027] The front wheel 6F is supported by the steering means 5 as shown in FIG. Steering hand of this form The stage 5 is illustrated as including a handle 24 and a front frame 25. The handle 24 has a substantially horizontal hook shape and has grips at both ends.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the front frame 25 includes a steering shaft 26, and a front fork member 27 provided at the lower portion of the steering shaft 26 so as to be rotatable integrally with the steering shaft 26. It is comprised including.

[0029] In the present embodiment, the front fork member 27 is attached to the lower end of the steering shaft 26 and extends downward, and the front wheel that is guided by the guide portion 28 and moves up and down to pivotally support the front wheel 6F. An example is shown that includes a support portion 29 and an elastic member 30 that biases the front wheel support portion 29 downward.

As shown in FIG. 6, the guide portion 28 of the present embodiment includes a guide shaft 28a parallel to the front and rear between an upper support plate 31A and a lower lower holding plate 31B formed at the lower end of the steering shaft 26. 28b is configured as a frame that is fixed in two rows.

[0031] The front wheel support portion 29 includes left and right slide bodies 29A provided with vertical guide holes through which the guide shafts 28a, 28b are inserted. The slide body 29A includes a cantilevered front wheel support shaft 33 that rotatably supports the front wheel 6F and the disk 32a integrally formed with the front wheel 6F, and an operating lever (not shown) provided on the handle. And a braking tool 32b that brakes the disk 32a by being actuated. The disc 32a and the brake 32b constitute a braking means 32.

[0032] The elastic member 30 also has a coil panel force, is externally inserted into the left and right guide shafts 28b, 28b, and is disposed between the upper support plate 31A and the slide body 29A. The left and right slide bodies 29A are separately urged downward to form an independent suspension. As a result, the left and right front wheels 6F, 6F can be lifted individually by staking the panel force in the event of a collision with a running road convex portion, a shoulder shoulder step portion, etc., so that the impact can be mitigated and falling can be prevented. Furthermore, in cornering, it is possible to easily take a lean attitude corresponding to the radius and passing speed of the curve, which is preferable in that the curve can be smoothly and smoothly passed without excessive deceleration.

[0033] The steering shaft 26 has a central portion of the handle 24 fixed to an upper end portion thereof, and rotates to a head pipe 34 formed integrally with a front end portion of the top tube 21 of the main frame F. Inserted as possible. Accordingly, the front frame 25 can steer the bicycle 1 by rotating the handle 24 to operate the front wheel 6F.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the left and right rear wheels 6R, 6R have a hub 6h in the center extending rearward from the lower ends of the left and right bottom frames 23, 23. It is pivoted at the end. The chain stay 35 is pivotally supported at a pivot point 36a by a receiving portion 36 integrally provided on the rear side of the lower end portion of the bottom frame 23. As a result, the left and right rear wheels 6R, 6R are supported on the rear side of the main frame F so as to be independently swingable up and down, as shown in FIG. The upper and lower ends of the elastic body 37 with a built-in coil panel are pivotally attached to the upper part of the bottom frame 23 and the rear part of the chain stay 35, respectively, so that the rear side of the chain stay 35 is attached downward by the elastic body 37. An independent suspension suspension is constructed. As a result, the left and right rear wheels 6R and 6R supported by this independent suspension can be lifted by piled up on the panel force of the elastic body 37 according to the upward reaction force that each receives also the roadway force. Individual lifts corresponding to can reduce the impact and reduce the tilt of the vehicle when driving on rough roads and maintain stable driving. And even during cornering, the rider can easily take the optimum lean posture according to the radius and passing speed of the curve, so it can safely pass the curve without slowing down much.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, all four wheels of the front wheels 6F and 6F, the rear wheels 6R and 6R are supported by the independent suspension type suspension, so that the cushioning performance is further improved and the safety is improved. This is preferable in that a specified smooth running can be obtained.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the drive means 4 includes a rotary shaft 3 supported by a ball bearing between the lower ends of the bottom frames 23 and 23, and the rotary shaft. The left and right crank arms 18 and 18 extend from both ends of the shaft 3 at right angles to the rotating shaft 3 and in opposite directions, and a pedal 17 attached to the tip of the crank arm 18 is configured. This is an example. The driving force generated in the rotating shaft 3 when the rider pedals the pedal 17 is transmitted to the rear wheel 6R which is a driving wheel via the differential device 8 and the transmission mechanism 7.

[0037] The differential device 8 is meshed with an umbrella-shaped first gear 10 and the first gear 10 on both sides thereof. And an umbrella-shaped second gear 11 facing each other. The first gear 10 is pivotally supported by three support shafts 9 extending radially from bosses 20 provided on the rotation shaft 3. The boss 20 is attached to the rotary shaft 3 so as not to rotate relative to the rotary shaft 3 by a key (not shown) fitted in the key groove 40.

[0038] The support shaft 9 of the present embodiment is exemplified by a bolt 9a having threaded portions at both ends, and is screwed into the boss 20 in a screw hole spaced on the peripheral surface. The first gear 10 is made of an oil-impregnated material such as sintered metal, oil-impregnated resin (polyacetal resin, polyamide resin, polyester resin), and is pivotally supported by the bolt 9a through the bearing bush 41. Te! A washer 9b and a nut 9c are screwed onto the tip of the bolt 9a.

[0039] In this embodiment, three first gears 10 pivotally supported by three support shafts 9 that are radially spaced from the rotation shaft 3 at equal intervals are provided between the second gears 11, 11. To constitute the differential 8. However, it is possible to provide two support shafts 9 extending in the opposite direction from the rotating shaft 3 and arrange a pair of first gears 10 or arrange four or more first gears 10 radially. But you can.

It is also possible to form the support shaft 9 integrally in the radial direction directly from the rotating shaft 3 without using the boss 20, and to support the first gear 10 on the support shaft 9.

[0041] The first gear 10 has a number of teeth of, for example, about 12-25, preferably 15-20, 18 in this embodiment, and a pitch circle diameter of about 15-60mm, preferably about 20-50mm. Then we use a 4 Omm force gear.

[0042] A pair of the second gears 11 are arranged concentrically with the rotating shaft 3, and a boss portion thereof is rotatably supported on the rotating shaft 3 via a ball bearing bearing 42, and The first gear 10 faces the both sides of the first gear 10 and faces the first gear 10. Thus, when the rotation shaft 3 is rotated by the drive means 4, the first gear 10 pivotally supported by the support shaft 9 provided on the rotation shaft 3 is rotated integrally with the rotation shaft 3. Rotate around axis 3 Therefore, the left and right second gears 11 and 11 that mesh with the first gear 10 rotate about the rotation shaft 3 at the same speed when the load is the same. However, if there is a difference in load with respect to the rotation of the left and right second gears 11, 11, the first gear 10 rotates about the support shaft 9, thereby causing the second gear 11 on the larger load side to be rotated. The rotational speed of the motor is reduced, and a difference occurs between the rotational speeds of the two.

[0043] The second gear 11 has a number of teeth of, for example, about 24-60, preferably 30-50. Is a force gear with a pitch circle diameter of about 40-160 mm, preferably about 80-125 mm, and 100 mm in this embodiment.

[0044] The transmission mechanism 7 includes a driving rotator 12 attached concentrically with the second gear 11, a driven rotator 13 attached to the rear wheel 6R, and both rotators 12, 13. Powered with 14 connecting steps. In this embodiment, the driving rotating bodies 12 and 12 respectively attached to both the second gears 11 and 11 and the driven rotating bodies 13 respectively attached to the left and right rear wheels 6R and 6R, The driving force of the second gears 11 and 11 is individually transmitted to the left and right rear wheels 6R and 6R via 13 and connecting means 14 and 14 respectively bridged between them.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the drive rotator 12 of the present embodiment is formed by using a drive sprocket 15A to constitute a chain ring. The drive sprocket 15A is fixed to the outer surfaces of the left and right second gears 11 and 11 with bolts 44. On the other hand, the driven rotating body 13 of the present embodiment is similarly formed using the driven sprocket 15B, and is fixed to the hub 6h inside the rear wheel 6R and rotates integrally with the rear wheel 6R. The coupling means 14 of this embodiment is formed by an annular chain 16 that meshes with both the sprockets 15A and 15B. As described above, the transmission mechanism 7 of the present embodiment connects the driving and driven rotating bodies 12 and 13 using the sprocket 15 with the connecting means 14 including the chain 16 matching the driving rotating bodies 12 and 13. This is preferable in that the driving force can be reliably transmitted to the wheel.

[0046] In the bicycle 1 according to the present embodiment, when the pedal 17 of the driving means 4 is stepped on, the rotating shaft 3 rotates, and the driving force of the rotating shaft 3 is used as the differential device 8, the transmission mechanism. 7 is transmitted to each of the rear wheels 6R and 6R, which are driving wheels, and the rotational speed transmitted to the left and right driving wheels by the differential device 8 depends on the load. Can change. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, the difference in rotational speed between the left and right drive wheels caused by the difference in turning radius (R1-R2) during cornering is absorbed, and both wheels can run without slipping. To maintain. In addition, since energy loss due to slip is reduced, comfortable driving is possible.

The differential device 8 is engaged with the first gear 10 pivotally supported by a support shaft 9 formed integrally with the rotating shaft 3 of the drive means 4 and the first gear 10 is engaged with the first gear 10. The second gear 11 is pivotally supported on the rotating shaft 3. In this way, the differential 8 has the driving means 4 that is the basic mechanism of the bicycle itself. Since they are configured in combination, the number of parts can be kept to the minimum necessary and the structure becomes simple. Therefore, the overall size can be reduced and the weight can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to design a bicycle 1 that is compact and excellent in operability. In addition, the frequency of failures will be reduced, maintenance efforts will be saved and costs will be reduced.

[0048] Further, as in the prior art, the mechanism in which the differential device r is provided on the axle m between the wheels k is connected by a universal joint shaft or the like between the differential device r and the wheels k and k. In the case of providing an independent suspension device that allows the wheels k and k to move independently up and down, it is necessary to provide an appropriate distance between the wheels k. However, the bicycle 1 according to this embodiment is configured so that the right and left rear wheels supported by the differential mechanism 8 configured in combination with the driving means 4 through the transmission mechanism 7 including the sprocket 15 and the chain 16 are movable up and down. Since the driving force is transmitted to 6R and 6R, the rear wheels 6R and 6R can be arranged narrowly, and the vertical movement of the rear wheels 6R and 6R can be sufficiently secured.

[0049] In the left and right rear wheels 6R, 6R of this embodiment, the front end of the chain stay 35 is pivotally supported at the pivot point 36a near the bottom end of the bottom frame 23 as described above. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, even if the rear end of the chain stage 35 moves up and down and the rear wheels 6R and 6R swing up and down, the chain 16 is used for driving and driven. Since the distance between the rotating bodies 12 and 13 hardly changes, the chain tension is kept constant. As a result, a tension adjusting device for preventing the chain 16 from loosening is unnecessary, the structure is simplified, and the weight and cost can be reduced. If the pivot point 36a at the front end of the chain stay 35 is provided at the center of the rotating shaft 3 of the driving means 4, the rotating body 12 for driving and driven can be driven even if the rear wheel 6R swings up and down. The distance between 13 can be made unchanged.

[0050] The transmission mechanism 7 can also connect the driving and driven rotators 12 and 13 formed of a belt wheel with a connecting means 14 made of a belt. Furthermore, a conduction mechanism 7 formed by combining a universal joint mechanism and a propeller shaft can also be used.

[0051] In addition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the bicycle 1 of the present embodiment is formed with a protective cover 43 that covers the differential device 8. The protective cover 43 has a horizontal cylindrical shape, is sandwiched between the washer 9b and the nut 9c of the bolt 9a, covers the center portion of the rotating shaft 3 of the differential device 8 and the driving means 4, and rotates these. Prevents intrusion of dust, rainwater, etc. into the part and is filled with lubricating oil etc. The lubricant is sealed. In this way, the rotating part constituting the main part is arranged around the rotating shaft of the main frame. For this reason, it is possible to easily and reliably perform dustproofing, dripproofing and sealing of the internal lubricant to protect them, and the reliability can be maintained for a long time.

[0052] Further, as described above, since the four-wheeled bicycle in which the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R are both configured by two wheels is excellent in stability, as shown in FIG. 8, the saddle 39, the handle 24, and the driving means 4 Can be set high to set the center of gravity high. In this case, the pedal 17 of the driving means 4 has a high height H due to the road surface force at the lowest point of rotational movement. Driving can be secured, and it can be suitably used especially for mountain biking.

[0053] The embodiment exemplifies a four-wheel bicycle 1 in which the front wheel 6F and the rear wheel 6R are both composed of two wheels. As shown in FIG. 9, it can also be configured as a three-wheeled bicycle having one front wheel 6F supported by the steering means 5 and two rear wheels 6R formed as driving wheels. .

[0054] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment. Hereinafter, only different contents will be described, and otherwise, the same reference numerals are given to the same components shown in the figure, and the description will be omitted. In this type of bicycle, the front wheel 6F is formed by two driving wheels, and the rear wheel 6R is formed by one wheel having a steering function. The front wheel 6F is pivotally supported by a front fork member 27 fixed to the front end portion of the main frame F. Then, the driving force applied by the driving means 4 having the pedal 17 is transmitted to the front wheel 6F via the differential device 8 and the transmission mechanism 7, and the left and right front wheels 6F, 6F are driven.

[0055] The rear wheel 6R is pivotally supported by a rear fork 45 that is rotatably supported at a rear end portion of the main frame F. After this, the fork 45 rotates in conjunction with the operation of the needle 24 via an interlocking means 46 such as a chain installed inside the main frame, whereby the rear wheel 6R is steered. In this embodiment, a steering means 5 is formed by the handle 24, the interlocking means 46, and the rear fork 45.

[0056] As described above, the bicycle of this embodiment allows the front wheel 6F to be driven to pull the entire vehicle body and perform smooth running with little slip, and is steered by the rear wheel 6R of one wheel.ヽ Driving is possible, making it easier to drive on narrow roads.

[0057] FIG. 11 illustrates yet another embodiment. The driving means 4 of this embodiment includes a crank arm 18 having pedals 17 fixed to both ends of the rotating shaft 3, an electric auxiliary power unit 19 having a motor M force driven by a storage battery (not shown), and It is comprised including. The motor M is fixed to the main frame F by a bracket (not shown), and the rotational force is transmitted to the rotating shaft 3 by the interlocking mechanism 47.

[0058] The interlocking mechanism 47 is bridged between a motor gear 47a fixed to the rotation shaft of the motor M, a shaft gear 47b fixed concentrically to the rotating shaft 3, and the motor gear 47a and the shaft gear 47b. And an annular interlocking chain 47c. In order to increase the allowable conducting force, the motor gear 47a and the shaft gear 47b are each formed integrally with a pair of gears, and the pair of interlocking chains 47c are bridged between the gears. The shaft gear 47b is fixed to the tip end portion of the support shaft 9 that pivotally supports the first gear 10 of the differential gear 8, and rotates together with the first gear 10.

[0059] As described above, in this embodiment, when the auxiliary power unit 19 is operated when the load is large, such as an uphill or a headwind, the driving force of the rowing by the pedal 17 can be supplemented, and the vehicle can run without a decrease in speed. It is possible to maintain the line and at the same time reduce the burden on the rider and realize a comfortable and comfortable driving.

[0060] The auxiliary power unit 19 may be an electric power unit such as a motor M, or an internal combustion engine type auxiliary power unit 19 such as a gasoline engine. Furthermore, the bicycle of the present invention includes a configuration in which the rotation shaft 3 is driven only by the auxiliary power unit 19 without providing the crank arm 18 having the pedal 17 on the rotation shaft 3.

[0061] Figures 12 and 13 illustrate yet another embodiment. The present embodiment is exemplified by a recumbent type bicycle in which the pedal is lined up in a supine posture. Therefore, the saddle 39 of this embodiment is attached to the rear end portion of the top tube 21 constituting the main frame F via the saddle bracket 48 and is disposed at a relatively low level. A backrest 49 is attached to the saddle bracket 48 in order to support the upper body of the rider who is tilted backward on the saddle 39.

[0062] The drive means 4 of the present embodiment includes a crankshaft 54 pivotally supported on the lower side of the top tube 21, a front chainring 50 that rotates integrally with the crankshaft 54, and the top tube 21. The rotating shaft 3 supported at the rear end of the rotating shaft 3 and one end of the rotating shaft 3 A cassette sprocket 51 that is fixed and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 3, an annular front chain 52 that meshes with both the cassette sprocket 51 and the front chain ring 50, and a cassette sprocket 51 of the front chain 52. A configuration including a derailleur 53 capable of adjusting the rotational speed of the rotary shaft 3 by changing the position of the shaft 3 is illustrated. The cassette sprocket 51 is formed by concentrating a plurality of sprockets having different numbers of teeth.

[0063] The crankshaft 54 has a pair of crank arms 56, 56 each having a pedal 55 provided at the tip thereof. The rotational force of the front chain ring 50 generated by the rider stroking the pedal 55 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 3 via the front chain 52 and the cassette sprocket 51. At this time, when the derailleur 53 is operated by a speed change lever (not shown), the number of stages (sprocket type) of the cassette sprocket 51 with which the front chain 52 is engaged is switched. As a result, the rotation ratio between the crankshaft 54 and the rotating shaft 3 can be changed. Therefore, for example, when the driving load increases, such as uphill roads and headwinds, the gear ratio is reduced to reduce the load on the pedal 55, and conversely the gear ratio is increased to increase the speed. This makes it possible to drive comfortably.

[0064] A transmission S is formed by the cassette sprocket 51, the derailleur 53, and the transmission lever. The transmission S can also be equipped with an internal transmission instead of the exterior type. As shown in FIG. 14, the driving force of the rotating shaft 3 whose torque is adjusted by the transmission S is applied to the rear wheels 6R and 6R via the differential device 8 and the transmission mechanism 7 as in the above embodiment. Rotate. In this configuration, driving according to the balance of the left and right loads, such as turning and road surface unevenness, is transmitted to the left and right rear wheels 6R, 6R to reduce energy loss, increase / decrease load, or rider fatigue The pedal weight can be increased or decreased according to the degree, so it is preferable in that it can continue a light run.

[0065] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the bicycle differential of the present invention includes a front wheel 6F and a rear wheel 6R, at least one of which is a two-wheel drive, and the two-wheel drive is also driven. Used for bicycles configured as industrial wheels. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the umbrella-shaped first gear 10 pivotally supported by the support shaft 9 provided on the boss 20 and the left and right ones which are engaged with the first gear 10 on both sides and face each other. And a pair of umbrella-shaped second gears 11. The boss 20 is rotated for driving. It is attached to shaft 3 so that it cannot rotate relative to it.

[0066] The first gear 10 is pivotally supported by three support shafts 9 extending radially from a boss 20 provided on the rotation shaft 3. The support shaft 9 is formed by a bolt 9 a having screw portions at both ends, and is screwed into a screw hole provided around the boss 20. The first gear 10 is pivotally supported by a bolt 9a through a sliding bearing 41 using an oil-impregnated material such as sintered metal or oil-impregnated grease, and the tip of the bolt 9a is screwed with a washer 9b and a nut 9c. Is done. The first gear 10 may be supported by the bolt 9a through a rotary bearing such as a needle bearing.

The differential device 8 of the present embodiment includes three first gears 10 pivotally supported by three support shafts 9 that are radially spaced from the rotation shaft 3. A pair of first gears 10 can be arranged by providing two supporting shafts 9 extending in the opposite direction from the rotating shaft 3, or four or more first gears 10 are arranged radially. That ’s it.

A pair of second gears 11 face each other on both sides of the first gear 10 and mesh with the first gear 10. The second gear 11 is formed such that its boss portion can be pivotally supported on the rotating shaft 3 via a ball bearing 42, and each of the two gears 11 is connected to the two driving wheels. It is formed so that it can be linked via the conduction mechanism 7. Note that the second gear 11 may be pivotally supported via a needle bearing or a sliding bearing.

[0069] When the boss 20 is attached to the rotating shaft 3 and the second gear 11 is pivotally supported on the rotating shaft 3 in the bicycle differential device, the left and right second gears are loaded when the load is the same. The gear 11 rotates at the same speed, but when there is a difference in load, the rotation speed on the side with the larger load decreases, and a difference occurs in both speeds. As a result, the difference in rotational speed between the left and right drive wheels caused by the difference in the radius of rotation when the bicycle is turning is absorbed to maintain stability during cornering, and it is possible to reduce the energy loss caused by slipping and drive comfortably. To do.

[0070] When the boss 20 is attached to the bicycle, the boss 20 is fixed to the rotating shaft 3 of the driving means 4 of the bicycle, and the second gear 11 is pivotally supported by the rotating shaft 3. Thus, since the differential mechanism is configured in combination with the driving means 4 which is the basic mechanism of the bicycle itself, the number of parts can be kept to the minimum necessary and the structure becomes simple. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and weight, and as a result, it is possible to design a bicycle that is compact and excellent in operability. In addition, the frequency of failures is reduced, maintenance work is saved, and costs are reduced. In addition, the bicycle differential device can be configured as a compact differential device with a shift function by integrally incorporating an internal bicycle transmission.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] The main frame includes a driving means having a rotating shaft for driving wheels, a steering means, and at least one of two wheels, a front wheel and a rear wheel, and the two wheels are driving wheels. Bicycle

The main frame includes a differential device that is driven by the rotating shaft and that can drive the two wheels by being linked to the two driving wheels via a transmission mechanism.

The differential device includes an umbrella-shaped first gear that is pivotally supported by a support shaft that is integral with the rotating shaft and radially extends, and is opposed to the first gear on both sides of the first gear. It consists of an umbrella-shaped second gear that is pivotally supported coaxially with the shaft,

A bicycle characterized in that each 1 of the second gear is linked to the 1 of each of the two driving wheels via the transmission mechanism.

[2] The transmission mechanism is composed of a driving rotator that is concentrically attached to the second gear, a driven rotator that is attached to each of the two wheels, and a connecting means that connects between them. The bicycle according to claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

[3] The bicycle according to claim 2, wherein the rotating force S sprocket is used, and the connecting means is a chain.

[4] The bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two wheels are supported so as to be able to swing up and down independently of each other with respect to the main frame.

5. The rotating shaft according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft includes at least one of a crank arm having a pedal and an electric or internal combustion engine type auxiliary power unit. Bicycle described in one of them.

[6] The bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the driving means includes a transmission that can adjust the rotational speed of the rotating shaft.

[7] A differential device for a bicycle having at least one of two wheels, including a front wheel and a rear wheel, wherein the two wheels are driving wheels,

An umbrella-shaped first gear that is pivotally supported by a support shaft that extends integrally and radially with a boss that can be attached to a drive rotation shaft, and is opposed to the first gear on both sides of the first gear. Axis and It is composed of an umbrella-shaped second gear rotatably supported on the same core, and the second gear can be linked to the two driving wheels via a transmission mechanism. A differential for bicycles.