WO2017206971A1

WO2017206971A1 - Generator arrangement for a vehicle and vehicle having the generator arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2017206971A1
Application number: PCT/DE2017/100200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tobias Vogler; Ralf Wagner; Raphael Fischer
Original assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Priority date: 2016-06-02
Filing date: 2017-03-14
Publication date: 2017-12-07
Also published as: DE102016209692A1

Abstract

Bicycles are vehicles which are traditionally operated with muscle power. With the development of efficient batteries, the auxiliary motors have been realized in an environmentally protective manner as electric motors. Electric bicycles of this type, for example in the form of pedelecs, have in the meanwhile become a permanent part of the street scene. The problem addressed by the present invention is to propose a generator arrangement for a vehicle having an electric motor and pedals, and a corresponding vehicle, which generator arrangement can be operated particularly effectively. For this purpose, a generator arrangement 2 is proposed for a vehicle 1 having at least one pedal unit 3a for introducing a pedal force, wherein the pedal unit 3a has a pedal 4a for muscle-operated actuation, with a generator unit 5 for converting the pedal force into electrical energy, and with a transmission 6, wherein the at least one pedal unit 3a is connected and/or is connectable in terms of drive and/or transmission to the generator unit 5 via the transmission 6, wherein the pedal 4a is guided linearly.

Description

Generator arrangement for a vehicle and vehicle with the

generator arrangement

The invention relates to a generator assembly for a vehicle having at least one pedal unit for initiating a pedal force, wherein the pedal unit comprises a pedal for a muscle-operated operation, with a generator unit for converting the pedal force into electrical energy, and with a transmission, wherein the at least one pedal unit via the transmission with the generator unit driving and / or transmission technology connected and / or connectable. The invention further relates to a vehicle with this generator arrangement.

Bicycles are vehicles that have traditionally been and will be powered by muscle power. In addition to the muscle-powered bicycles and bicycles were developed with auxiliary engines. With the development of powerful batteries, the auxiliary motors were realized environmentally friendly as electric motors. Such electric bicycles have now become an integral part of the street scene, for example as pedelecs.

The document DE 10 201 1 082 082 A1, which probably forms the closest prior art proposes a bicycle with at least one hub auxiliary motor and at least one drive wheel, which has a generator for the pedals, wherein the generator with the auxiliary motor so electrically is connected, that it is operable with the electrical energy converted by the generator.

It is an object of the present invention to propose a generator arrangement for a vehicle with an electric drive and pedals and a corresponding vehicle, which can be operated particularly effectively. This object is achieved by a generator arrangement with the features of claim 1 and by a vehicle with the generator arrangement having the features of claim 7. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description and the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to a generator arrangement for a vehicle. The vehicle is designed in particular for road traffic. The vehicle may be single lane, such as a bicycle with two in-flight wheels. It is also possible for the vehicle to have at least one two-lane axle or even two two-lane axles and thus to have e.g. like a trike or a quad.

The generator arrangement has at least one pedal unit for initiating a pedal force. The pedal unit includes a pedal for a muscle-operated operation. It is possible in principle that the pedal is arranged and / or designed so that it can be operated with one hand. However, it is preferred that the pedal is configured for one foot operation to initiate the pedaling force.

The generator arrangement has a generator unit which is designed to convert the pedal force into electrical energy. In particular, the generator unit is driven by the pedal force, wherein the generator unit generates or converts electrical energy from the kinetic energy. The pedal force is especially designed as a translated or squat pedal force.

The generator assembly further comprises a transmission, wherein the at least one pedal unit is connected via the transmission with the generator unit and / or connectable. It is particularly provided that the pedal force is introduced into the transmission and is discharged to drive the generator unit from the transmission, wherein the pedal force can optionally be translated or stunted. The transmission can be designed so that the force or torque path between the Pedal unit and the generator unit is always closed. However, it is also possible that the transmission is designed so that this force or torque path can be opened and closed selectively or controlled.

In the context of the invention it is proposed that the pedal, in particular in the pedal unit, is linearly guided. Preferably, the pedal can be reciprocated on a straight line oscillating. In particular, the generator arrangement according to the invention differs from the prior art in that in the prior art, the pedal is guided in rotation about a pedal axis.

It is a consideration of the invention that a linearly directed pedal movement relative to a rotating pedal movement brings significant benefits for the design of muscle hybrid vehicles operated with it. Both the space required for the actual pedal movement, as well as the Hüftbeugewinkel maximally adjusting the driver are smaller in a linear pedal movement than in a rotating pedal movement.

In a preferred structural realization of the invention, the pedal unit on a pedal frame, wherein the pedal in the pedal frame about a pedal axis is rotatable, in particular pivotally mounted. The pedal frame may be formed as a circumferentially closed frame or as a U-shaped frame, wherein the pedal is mounted between the legs of the U. Furthermore, the pedal unit on a pedal guide, wherein the pedal frame is guided linearly in the pedal guide. Thus, as a result, the pedal is guided linearly, but can be rotated about its own pedal axis, which preferably passes through the pedal, or at least pivoted. In this simple design implementation, the pedal can be performed linearly reliable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission is designed as a traction mechanism, wherein the pedal force is transmitted from the pedal unit to the generator unit at least in sections via a traction device. The traction means are in particular a pull rope, a pull strap or around a drawstring. Through the implementation of the transmission as a traction mechanism this can be made particularly inexpensive and also be easily adjusted to different sizes. Furthermore, the linear movement of the pedal can be particularly easily coupled to the transmission through the implementation of a traction mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a driven portion of the traction means is wound on a driven pulley and coupled to a drive portion of the traction means with the pedal unit. The connection is designed so that when an oscillating movement of the pedal in a linear direction, the traction means oscillates the driven pulley.

In the winding of the traction means may be provided in a first alternative that this is wound or wound up by more than 360 degrees. In this alternative, it is preferred that in an oscillating movement of the traction means this is wound on the driven pulley by a larger angular amount and unwound in a countermovement of the traction means of the driven pulley. It is possible that the output disk and in particular a winding portion for the traction means has a constant radius with respect to the axis of the driven pulley. In an alternative embodiment, the driven pulley and in particular the winding portion is formed spirally, so that a different effective radius is used on the driven pulley as a function of Abwickelzustands. With the last-mentioned embodiment, it is possible to adapt a required pedal force for the operation of the driven pulley. The winding of the traction means on the driven pulley can be implemented by a second traction means, which is arranged with an opposite winding direction on the same driven pulley or coupled to the driven pulley another driven pulley. The assignment of the second traction means can be designed both to the first pedal unit and to the second pedal unit: In the first case, a pedal or independent pedals is present. The pedal or pedals are then designed retractable, eg as a hand pedal or click pedal. In the second case, a coupling of the pedal movement of two pedal units, so that upon actuation of the first pedal unit in the direction of travel, the second pedal unit is withdrawn against the direction of travel. In a further embodiment, in each case two traction means assigned to a first pedal unit act on two different output disks and in each case two traction means assigned to a second pedal unit on the same two drive disks. The connection of the traction means to the driven pulleys is done so that when pedaling an opposite rotational movement of the two drive pulleys arises.

In a further alternative, the traction means is wound on the driven pulley preferably over an angular range of greater than 100 degrees, but in an oscillating motion, the same amount of traction means is wound up as unwound, so that the length of the winding portion always remains constant.

When coupling the traction means with the pedal unit as well, different variants can be implemented. In a first variant, the traction means is directly connected to the pedal, optionally with the interposition of the pedal frame. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the traction means is fixed to the frame with one end, wherein the pedal unit engages over a loose role in the traction means.

In a preferred development of the invention, the generator arrangement has a further pedal unit. The further pedal unit includes another pedal. In a preferred embodiment, the generator arrangement comprises a pedal coupling unit, which is functionally designed such that it forces an alternating and / or always opposite, oscillating movement of the two pedals. In a very simple embodiment, the pedal coupling unit may be formed as a traction means, wherein the pedals or the associated pedal frame are each attached to the traction means and the traction means is guided over a fixed roller. However, it is also possible that the same traction means is used for the transmission of the pedal forces to the generator unit and for the pedal coupling unit. In this embodiment, for example, be provided that ends of the traction means are arranged fixed to the frame and the driven pulley is designed as a fixed roller. The pedals or pedal frames, however, are coupled via loose rollers to the traction means. The driven pulley is arranged between the loose pulleys of the pedal units, so that a linear movement of the one pedal in a direction of travel leads to a linear movement of the other pedal in the opposite direction, at the same time the revolving driven pulley is rotated.

In an advantageous development, the generator arrangement has at least one freewheel device, wherein the freewheel device is arranged to be driven or geared between the driven pulley and the generator unit. For example, it can be provided that a rotational movement of the driven pulley is transmitted in a first direction to the generator unit and a counter-rotation in the opposite direction is not transmitted or the driven pulley relative to the generator unit free running.

In particular, with the use of two pedal units and the use of two output disks, the generator assembly may comprise two of the freewheel devices, which are designed so that the oscillating rotating driven pulley movements is converted into a swelling rotating transmission or generator input shaft movement.

Another object of the invention relates to the vehicle which has an electric drive for driving the vehicle by means of electrical energy. According to the invention, it is proposed that the vehicle has the generator arrangement, as described above, which is adapted to generate the electrical energy or a part of the electrical energy for the electric drive. The vehicle may have an electric motor as an electric drive or a plurality of electric motors, such as wheel hub motors, as an electric drive. Optionally, the vehicle has storage means for storing the electrical energy generated by the generator assembly. Thus, it is possible to forward the electrical energy of the generator assembly directly to the electric drive to the drive. Alternatively, it is possible to temporarily store this electrical energy in the memory device and to lead time-shifted to the electric drive to drive the vehicle by means of the electric drive.

It is preferred that the pedal force is always and exclusively routed to the generator unit and the electrical energy is passed to the electric drive to drive the vehicle. This embodiment has the advantage that the actual power of the electric motor is independent of the current performance of the driver, so that the vehicle is driven evenly.

It is particularly preferred that the vehicle has at least a two-lane axis, since in such an embodiment, the linearly driven pedal unit can be integrated in a particularly space-saving and comfortable.

Further features, advantages and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. Showing:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a vehicle having a generator assembly as a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a pedal unit of the vehicle in Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a first possible embodiment of a pedal coupling unit for the vehicle in FIG. 1; Figure 4 shows a possible embodiment of the pedal unit of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a second possible embodiment of the pedal unit of Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a possible arrangement of pedal units for driving a generator unit.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a vehicle 1 as an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 1 preferably has at least one two-lane axis and is designed, for example, as a trike or as a quad. The vehicle 1 is designed as a muscle-operated, in particular serial, bio-hybrid with an electric motor 18. In a first possible embodiment, the vehicle 1 can be driven by a muscle as well as by an electric motor. In another embodiment, the vehicle 1 is operated exclusively by an electric motor, but electrical energy is generated by muscle operation and supplies the electric drive 18 for driving the vehicle 1.

The vehicle 1 comprises a generator arrangement 2, which makes it possible to generate electrical energy for the vehicle 1 via an introduction of a pedal force. The generator assembly 2 has two pedal units 3a and 3b. The pedal units 3a, b each have a pedal 4a, b (FIG. 2) for a muscle-operated actuation. In particular, the pedals 4a, b are respectively actuated by a foot or by a hand of a driver of the vehicle 1. The generator assembly 2 has a generator unit 5, which is designed to convert the pedal force into electrical energy. For coupling the pedal units 3a, b with the generator unit 5, the generator assembly 2 comprises a gear 6, wherein the pedal units 3a, b are connected via the gear 6 with the generator unit 5 so driving or transmission technology that the pedal force introduced into the pedals 4a, b is passed to the generator unit 5 and drives them to generate the electrical energy. The electrical energy from the generator unit 5 can on the one hand directly be transmitted to the electric drive 18 for driving the vehicle 1. Alternatively, the electrical energy in a storage device 19, such as a battery, cached and transferred to the electric motor 18 with a time delay.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows in a block diagram the pedal unit 3a, b. The pedal unit 3a, b respectively has a pedal 4a, b. This pedal 4a, b is arranged in each case in a pedal frame 7a, b. In particular, the pedal 4a, b in the respective pedal frame 7a, b arranged pivotably or even rotatably, so that the pedal 4a, b can adjust freely to an angle of a foot of the driver. The pedal frame 7a, b is linearly guided in each case in a pedal guide 8a, b, so that the pedal frame 7a, b and thus the pedal 4a, b can be moved back and forth and / or oscillating only linearly and / or in a straight line. The pedal guide 8a, b is arranged fixed to the frame in the vehicle 1 and preferably comprises a linear guide with a Wälzkörperlagerung or with a plain bearing. This particular kinematics for the pedal 4a, b brings significant advantages for the design of the two- or multi-lane muscle hybrid vehicle 1, since both the space required for the actual pedal movement space, and the driver's maximum adjusting Hüftbeugewinkel smaller in the linear pedal movement as with the rotating pedal movement.

A pedal block unit 9 is shown in a schematic block diagram in FIG. 3, wherein the two pedal frames 7a and 7b are connected to one another via a traction means 10. The traction means 10 is deflected twice over 90 degrees by two fixed, in particular frame-fixed rollers 1 1 a, b, in particular deflection rollers. The pedal coupling unit 9 ensures that the pedal frames 7a, b can only be operated alternately and / or in opposite directions with the pedals 4a, b. Optionally, a further traction means arranged on the opposite side, which is deflected by a further two rollers, so that the traction means form a closed circuit for the pedal frame. Instead of the deflection over 2 x 90 ° can also be a deflection by 180 ° (eg via a large pulley). Theoretically n pulleys are also conceivable if the total deflection complements 180 °. FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of a part of the transmission 6 for transmitting the pedal force from the pedal 7a, b to the generator unit 5. The pedal 4a, b is arranged in the pedal frame 7a, b, which can be linearly moved back and forth according to the arrow T in the pedal guide 8a, b, not shown in FIG. A traction means 1 1 is fixed at one end, in particular fixed to the frame, arranged in the vehicle 1. On the pedal frame 7a, b are two loose rollers 12a, b, in particular pulleys, arranged, which are moved together with the pedal frame 7a, b and which deflect the traction means 1 1 twice by 90 degrees. The free end of the traction means 1 1 is wound on a driven pulley 13, so that the driven pulley 13 is placed in an oscillating, rotating movement in an oscillating, linear movement of the pedal frame 7a, b. The driven pulley 13 can be coupled to the generator unit 5 via a freewheel device, not shown, wherein the oscillating or then rectified rotating or swelling rotating movement is introduced into the generator unit 5 in order to drive it and to generate the electrical energy.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment for a part of the transmission 6 for transmitting the pedal force from the pedal 7a, b to the generator unit 5, the pedal frame 7a, b being fastened directly to the traction means 11. However, this is deflected via a fixed guide roller 14, which is arranged fixed to the frame, to the driven pulley 13. In an oscillatory, linear movement of the pedal frame 7a, b, the driven pulley 13 is placed in a rotating oscillating motion.

6 shows an embodiment of the transmission 6 is shown for the generator assembly 2, wherein in the figure 6, the two pedal frame 7a, b with the pedals 4 a, b are shown side by side. The transmission 6 has two traction means 1 1, 15, which are performed in sections in parallel. Thus, the two traction means 1 1, 15 at the beginning and at the end fixed to the frame fixed to the vehicle 1. The pedal frame 7a, b each have two rollers 12 a, b and 12 c, d, which as loose rollers are formed, wherein the rollers 12 a, b are attached as deflection rollers on the pedal frame 7 a and the rollers 12 c, d as deflection rollers on the pedal frame 7 b.

In a region between the pedal frame 7a, b, a first and a second driven pulley 17a, b are arranged coaxially, which are aligned in the illustration in FIG. Further, in the gear 6, a guide roller is arranged, whose axis of rotation is arranged offset parallel to the axis of rotation of the driven pulleys 17a, b.

Starting from the left end, the traction means 1 1, 15 extend over the rollers 12 a, b of the pedal frame 7 a. Subsequently, the traction means 1 1, 15 share. The traction means 1 1 rotates the driven pulley 17 a counterclockwise. The traction means 15, however, rotates the driven pulley 17b in the clockwise direction and / or in opposite directions to that of the pulling means 1 1. To improve the guidance of the traction means, the guide roller 16 is provided. After the driven pulleys 17 a, b, the traction means again run parallel over the rollers 12 c, d of the pedal frame 7b. Alternatively, two traction means are provided, which are each fixed to the frame and attached to the discs 17a / 17b. Depending traction means each side 1 1 a / 1 1 b is guided over the guide roller 16.

Upon actuation of the pedals 4a, b, the driven pulleys 17a, b are always rotated in opposite directions. The transmission 6 has two non-illustrated freewheel devices, which converts the rotating movements of the driven pulleys 17 a, b into a swelling, rotating movement, which is subsequently transmitted to the generator unit 5. The swelling, rotating transmission or generator input shaft movement is advantageous because, on the one hand, there is no change in the direction of rotation and, on the other hand, the rotational speed between the reciprocating movements does not have to drop to a standstill. The generator unit 5 may be preceded by another transmission, for example a planetary gear for adjusting the speed. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

vehicle

generator arrangement

a, b pedal units

a, b pedal

generator unit

transmission

a, b pedal frame

a, b pedal guide

Pedal coupling unit

0 traction means

1 traction device

2a-c loose rollers / pulleys

3 driven pulley

4 pulley

5 traction means

6 leadership role

7 a, b output disk

8 electric drive

9 storage device

Claims

changed patent claims (as of March 13, 2017)

1 . Generator arrangement (2) for a vehicle (1) with at least one pedal unit (3a) for introducing a pedal force, the pedal unit (3a) having a pedal (4a) for muscle-powered operation, with a generator unit (5) for converting the pedal force into electrical energy, with a transmission (6), the at least one pedal unit (3a) being connected to the generator unit (5) via the transmission (6) in terms of drive and/or transmission technology in such a way that the pedal force is directed exclusively to the generator unit, characterized that the pedal (4a) is guided linearly.

2. Generator arrangement (2) according to claim 1, characterized by a pedal frame (7a), wherein the pedal (4a) is rotatably mounted in the pedal frame (7a) about a pedal axis, and a pedal guide (8a), wherein the pedal frame (7a) is guided linearly with the pedal (4a) in the pedal guide (8a).

3. Generator arrangement (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transmission (6) is designed as a traction mechanism, the pedal force being transmitted from the pedal unit (3a) to the generator unit (5) via a traction mechanism (1 1, 15 ) is transferred.

4. Generator arrangement (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that an output section of the traction means (1 1) is wound on an output pulley (13) and a drive section is connected to the pedal unit (3a, b), so that at a oscillating movement of the pedal (4a), the traction means (1 1) moves the driven pulley (13) in an oscillating manner.

5. Generator arrangement (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a further pedal unit (3b), wherein the further pedal unit (3b) has a further pedal (4b), and a pedal coupling unit (9), wherein the pedal coupling unit (9) an alternating and/or always opposite, oscillating movement of the two pedals (4a, b).

6. Generator arrangement (2) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized by a freewheel device, wherein the freewheel device is arranged between the output pulley (13, 17 a, b) and the generator unit (5), so that a rotational movement of the output pulley (13 , 17a, b) is transmitted to the generator unit (5) and that a counter-rotational movement of the driven pulley (13, 17 a, b) runs freely.

7. Vehicle (1) with an electric motor (18) for driving the vehicle by electrical energy, characterized by the generator arrangement (2) according to one of the preceding claims for generating the electrical energy for the electric motor (18).

8. Vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized by a storage device (19) for storing the electrical energy.

9. Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pedal force is directed exclusively to the generator unit (5).

10. Vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle has at least one two-track axle.