JP3449120B2 - Electric wheelchair suspension unit - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suspension unit in a rear wheel suspension device for an electric wheelchair. [0002] With regard to suspension systems for electric wheelchairs,
A rigid type in which the rear wheel axle support is fixed at a fixed position to the vehicle body, without a suspension unit, an axle type with the center in the longitudinal direction of the axle as the center of the swing,
There is a trailing arm type having a cushion unit on a swing arm. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the axle type has a longitudinal center with respect to a rear wheel shaft c that rotatably supports a rear wheel b of the electric wheelchair a at both ends. The position is supported by the vehicle body e as a rocking fulcrum d, and as shown in FIG. The trailing arm type is an electric wheelchair a vehicle body e as shown in FIGS.
The other end of the swing arm f that pivotally supports the rear wheel b at one end is swingably supported, and a suspension unit g is interposed between the swing arm f and the vehicle body e. The vertical movement of b is converted into the swing of the swing arm f, and the suspension unit g absorbs the movement. A drive unit h such as a motor and a gear is disposed in the vicinity of the rear wheel b on the swing arm f (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-57).
No. 197925). Note that symbol i is a sheet, j
Is the front wheel. Further, k is a battery and is disposed between the side frames of the vehicle body e. [0005] However, a rear wheel rigid type without the suspension unit is:
Since there is no suspension unit, cushioning is poor with only cushioning due to tire deflection. In addition, the following ability of the rear wheels to the road surface is poor, and the single wheel floats on the uneven road, which may adversely affect the running performance. In addition, the axle type having the center portion of the axle as a swing center is not effective in lateral struts on a ramp or the like when turning, and is inferior in stability in the left-right direction. . Further, since the left and right are not suspended independently, the movement of the rear wheel b on one side affects the rear wheel b on the other side. The trailing arm type in which the cushion unit g is positioned on the swing arm f occupies a large space on the side surface of the vehicle body due to the arrangement of the cushion unit g. Cannot be used effectively in space. In addition, since the swing arm f and the cushion unit g give a rugged feeling in appearance, there is a problem that it does not give a clean feeling that looks heavy. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the left and right pair of wheels are not affected by each other, so that the running stability is improved and the space use efficiency of the vehicle body is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension unit for an electric wheelchair capable of giving a clean appearance. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following configuration. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the body frame is provided with side frames positioned at the left and right ends of the vehicle body and extending in the front-rear direction.
Connected with a bridge arm to form a ladder shape in plan view
As well as, the <br/> power battery to the vehicle body central portion between the left and right side frames arranged suspended, left and right body frame front portion
While Ru attach the front wheel, rear end portions of the left and right of the vehicle body frame
The front end of the gear case that pivotally supports the rear wheel is pivotally supported so that it can be moved between the left and right side frames and the power battery.
Is a pair of left and right cushion units as viewed from the side
Place the cushion so that it overlaps the frame , and the cushion
The unit swings its front end to the body frame near the front wheels
Axial support is possible and the rear end of the gear case is
Connected to the top and near the power battery
The battery charger or main
The troller protrudes outward from the side frame.
It is a suspension unit of the electric wheelchair characterized by having arranged . DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 are explanatory views of a suspension unit of an electric wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are an overall side view and an overall half sectional view of the electric wheelchair, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the suspension unit, FIG.
Is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement example of a conventional example, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement example of the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric wheelchair according to the embodiment is located on the left and right ends of the vehicle body frame 10 and extends to the front and rear so as to cover the front wheel 12 and the rear wheel 14. Side frames 10l and 10r are provided. The front and rear ends of both side frames 10l and 10r are connected by a bridge frame 16 in a ladder shape (or in a cross beam shape as shown in FIG. 3) in plan view. Further, the power battery 18 disposed between the both side frames 10l and 10r and in the center of the vehicle body is suspended and fixed to the bridge frame 16. A seat frame 24 to which a seat 24a is attached is provided on the upper portion of the body frame 10 at a front end portion 24f.
It is mounted so that it can turn to the front with respect to the fulcrum. The pair of left and right front wheels 12, 12 are follower wheels that are rotatable by casters 12a.
1 and 10r are fixed to the front end portions of the supporting pipes 12b so as to be supported in the vertical direction. In addition, both side frames 1
A footrest 26 on which the occupant puts his / her foot is provided at the front end portions of 0l and 10r, and a backrest 24b is provided at the rear end portion of the seat frame 24 (24b1 is a hand grip). Armrests 24c are erected on the left and right of the upper part of the seat frame 24, and above the armrests 24c,
A joystick control knob switch 24j that controls the driving of the rear wheel to start, stop, and steer the electric wheelchair is disposed on one side. The suspension unit of the embodiment includes a gear case 20 and a cushion unit 22, and a front wheel 12 and a rear wheel 14 are attached to the front and rear portions of the vehicle body frame 10. The center or rear end 2 of a gear case (having the function of a swing arm) 20 that is pivotally supported by the portion 20f
The rear wheel 14 is pivotally supported at 0r. The body frame 1
Zero side frames 10l and 10r and the gear case 20
A cushion unit 22 for buffering the swinging motion of the gear case 20 is provided between the two. In this case, the left and right rear wheels 14 and 14 are drive wheels, and the drive motors 30 and 30 are respectively provided at the lower part of the rear end portion of the vehicle body frame 10 in order to drive them separately.
Is placed and fixed. The rotational force of the drive motors 30, 30 is decelerated by the gear cases 20, 20, and the rear wheels 14, 1
4 is driven to rotate. Further, the front end swing shaft 32 of the gear case 20 has both side frames 10l, 10l.
It is pivotally supported by a bracket 34 at the rear end of r. The cushion unit 22 is a rod-shaped member having the function of only an elastic member (for example, a spring) or a shock absorber (for example, a damper), and is in a state of lying along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and in plan view. Are disposed between the side frames 10 l and 10 r and the power battery 18. In addition, the cushion unit 22 is completely refreshed in appearance because all or part of the both side frames 10l and 10r overlap in a side view and cannot be seen in appearance. In addition, on the lower side of one side of both side frames 10l and 10r, both side frame 10
The battery charger 36 is fixed at a position protruding outward from l and 10r. Also, cushion unit 2
The front end portion 22f of the front wheel 12 is located in the vicinity of the front wheel 12, for example, is pivotally supported by the bracket 16a of the bridge frame 16, and is fixed to the upper portion of the rear wheel 14 gear case 20 used as a swing arm member. The arm 38a made of a rod is the cushion unit 2
2 is connected to the rear end 22r. According to the suspension unit of the electric wheelchair of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear wheel 14 moves up and down to some extent with respect to the vehicle body in response to changes in road surface unevenness and vehicle weight. Oscillates about the oscillating shaft 32, and the oscillating force is changed from the arm bracket 38 to the arm 38.
It is transmitted to the cushion unit 22 via a and it expands and contracts. The cushion unit 22 cushions the rear wheels by this expansion and contraction. Further, by connecting the cushion unit 22 and the gear case 20 with the arm 38a, the cushion performance equivalent to the conventional one can be obtained with a very compact arrangement. In addition, the cushion unit 2 described above
2. By the arrangement of the arm 38a and the gear case 20,
Since a large installation space for electrical components can be obtained, the battery charger 36 can be mounted. In this case, the battery charger 36 is mounted, and the wheelchair can be laid out in the same size as the conventional one. Further, it is possible to secure the rear space. The electric wheelchair according to the present invention will be described in comparison with a conventional electric wheelchair. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view in plan view of the conventional trailing arm type electric wheelchair of FIG. 8, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the electric wheelchair of the present invention example. As shown in FIG. 5, in the conventional electric wheelchair, the swing arm 50 and the cushion unit 52 are arranged below the side frame 54 on the side of the vehicle body, and the side of the vehicle body is occupied by the swing arm 50 and the cushion unit 52. Therefore, a large installation space for electrical components cannot be taken, and only the main controller 56 can be disposed between the batteries 18, and a battery charger cannot be disposed. Therefore, battery charging has to be installed separately, and if it is installed forcibly, it takes up the rear space of the wheelchair of the caregiver who pushes the wheelchair. On the other hand, in the electric wheelchair according to the present invention shown in FIG.
1 and 10r are placed in a sleeping state, so that both sides of the frame are vacant and a large installation space for electrical components can be obtained. Therefore, the battery charger 36 can be provided on one side and the main controller 56 can be provided on the other side. it can. As described above, according to the present invention, the left and right pair of wheels are not affected by each other and the running stability is improved.
Further, since the space use efficiency of the vehicle body is improved, even if an electrical component such as a battery charger is mounted, it does not occupy the rear space of the wheelchair of the caregiver who pushes the wheelchair, which is convenient. Furthermore, since the cushion unit is disposed inside the side frame, it is possible to give an impression that the appearance is clean.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a suspension unit of an electric wheelchair according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an overall side view of the electric wheelchair. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire electric wheelchair of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a suspension unit of the electric wheelchair of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is also an operation explanatory view of the suspension unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of a conventional electric wheelchair for comparison. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement example of the electric wheelchair according to the present embodiment. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams of a suspension unit of a conventional electric wheelchair, in which FIG. 7A is an overall view, and FIG. 7B is an operation diagram. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a suspension unit of another conventional electric wheelchair. FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 8; [Explanation of Symbols] 10 body frames 10l, 10r left right side frame 14 rear wheel 18 power source battery 20 gear case 22 cushion unit 24 seat frame 36 battery charger 38 arm bracket

──────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61G 5/04 B62B 7/04

Claims (1)

(57) provided with Patent Claims 1] located on the vehicle body left and right side end portions on the vehicle body frame and the side frame extending in a longitudinal, these side frame
Connect the front and rear ends of the vehicle with bridge arms
The left and right side frames are formed in a substantially ladder shape when viewed.
Suspended Place the power battery to the vehicle body central portion between the left and right
The body frame before section while Ru attach the front wheel, the rear end of the left and right of the vehicle <br/> body frame, a gear case for supporting the rear wheel of
The front end is pivotably supported, and the left and right side frames and power supply
Between the battery, a pair of left and right cushion units are laid so that they overlap the side frame when viewed from the side of the vehicle body.
The cushion unit has its front end near the front wheel.
It is pivotally supported on the body frame and the rear end is armed.
Connected to the top of the gear case via
Beside the battery charger below the side frames
-Or the main controller than the side frames
A suspension unit for an electric wheelchair characterized by being arranged to protrude outward from the vehicle body .