Vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle (100) including: a front wheel (1) disposed on a center line extending in the front-rear direction; two rear wheels (2) disposed on the left and right sides of the center line; a steering portion (14) disposed above the front wheel (1); a placement portion (25) for placing the feet of an occupant; a first member (10) that supports the front wheel (1) in a rotatable manner and is steerable by the steering portion (14); a second member (20) disposed behind the first member (10) and supporting the two left and right rear wheels (2) in a rotatable manner; and a connecting portion (7) that connects the first member (10) and the second member (20) in a manner that allows the first member (10) and the second member (20) to swing in the left-right direction about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. The placement portion (25) is provided to be supported by the second member (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel. Background Art

[0002] There has been known an electric three-wheeled vehicle having a single front wheel and a pair of left and right rear wheels (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the vehicle described in Patent Document 1, a pair of left and right pedals for placing the feet of a standing passenger are provided inside the left and right rear wheels, and a handlebar for steering the front wheel is provided above the front wheel, and the rear wheels are driven by an electric motor to make the vehicle travel.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-310254. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in the vehicle described in Patent Document 1 above, since a pair of pedals are arranged inside the left and right rear wheels, the width of the vehicle increases, and there is room for improvement in the turning performance of the vehicle.

[0008] Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] A vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a front wheel disposed on a center line extending in the front-rear direction; two rear wheels disposed on the left and right sides of the center line; a steering portion disposed above the front wheel; a mounting portion for mounting the feet of a passenger; a first member that supports the front wheel in a rotatable manner and in a manner capable of being steered by the steering portion; a second member disposed behind the first member that supports the left and right rear wheels in a rotatable manner; and a connecting portion that connects the first member and the second member in a manner capable of swinging in the left-right direction about an axis extending in the front-rear direction of the first member and the second member. The mounting portion is provided to be supported by the second member.

[0010] Advantages of the Invention

[0011] By adopting the present invention, the turning performance of the vehicle can be improved. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] Figure 1 It is a side view showing the overall configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 It is a top view showing the overall configuration of the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 It shows asFigure 1 A cross-sectional view of the interior of a pipe that is part of a vehicle.

[0015] Figure 4A It is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV.

[0016] Figure 4B It is a diagram showing an example of the movement when the front frame swings from Figure 4A its state.

[0017] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a pipe that forms a connecting part and incorporates a Neidhart damper.

[0018] Figure 6 A side view of a vehicle showing the positional relationship between the axis of the connecting part and the pedal.

[0019] Figure 7 A top view of a vehicle showing the position of the load point.

[0020] Figure 8 It is showing Figure 1 a side view of a vehicle with a modified example.

[0021] Figure 9 It is along Figure 8 line IX-IX.

[0022] Figure 10A It is a diagram showing the state where torque is applied to the Figure 9 connecting part.

[0023] Figure 10B It is a diagram showing the state where torque greater than Figure 9 is applied to the Figure 10A connecting part. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] The following describes Figures 1 to 10B the embodiments of the present invention. The vehicle according to the embodiments of the present invention is a three-wheeled vehicle having a single front wheel and a pair of left and right rear wheels, and is configured such that a user can ride in a standing position.

[0025] Figure 1 A side view showing the overall configuration of the vehicle 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention, Figure 2 and a top view. It should be noted that the usage state (dashed double-dotted line) of the user PS is shown together in Figure 1 . Hereinafter, the front-rear direction (length direction), left-right direction (width direction), and up-down direction (height direction) of the vehicle 100 are defined as shown in the figure, and the configuration of each part will be described according to this definition.

[0026] AsFigure 1 , Figure 2 As shown in Figure 2 , the vehicle 100 has front wheels 1 and rear wheels 2, and a vehicle frame FL that forms the frame of the vehicle 100. The vehicle frame FL is configured to be bilaterally symmetric as a whole with respect to a center line CL1 ( Figure 2 ) passing through the center of the vehicle 100 in the left - right direction. More specifically, the front wheels 1 are arranged along the center line CL1, and the left and right rear wheels 2 are arranged at bilaterally symmetric positions with the center line CL1 in between. The diameter of the front wheels 1 is larger than that of the rear wheels 2. It should be noted that the diameter of the front wheels 1 may also be the same as that of the rear wheels 2, or the diameter of the rear wheels 2 may be larger than that of the front wheels 1. The vehicle frame FL has a front vehicle frame 10 and a rear vehicle frame 20.

[0027] The front vehicle frame 10 has a main frame 11 whose cross - section is substantially rectangular and extends in the front - rear direction along the center line CL1, and a vertical pipe 12 whose cross - section is substantially cylindrical and extends in the up - down direction. The main frame 11 is inclined upward (higher at the front and lower at the rear) toward the front, and its front end is joined to the rear surface of the vertical pipe 12. The vertical pipe 12 extends obliquely in such a way that its upper end is located more rearward than its lower end, and a handlebar shaft 13 with a substantially circular cross - section is rotatably inserted into the interior of the vertical pipe 12. The left - right center portion of the handlebar 14 is fixed to the upper end of the handlebar shaft 13, and a front fork 15 is fixed to the lower end.

[0028] The rotation axis 1a of the front wheel 1 is supported by the front fork 15 so as to be rotatable. The front wheel 1 steers according to the turning operation of the handlebar 14 centered on the handlebar shaft 13. The handlebar 14 extends in the left - right direction, and grips 14a held by the user PS are provided at its left - right ends. A substantially arc - shaped front fender 16 is mounted on the front fork 15 so as to cover the periphery of the front wheel 1 from above the front wheel 1 to the rear.

[0029] A traveling motor 4 (hub motor) and a braking unit 5 are housed inside the front wheel 1, and detailed illustrations are omitted. For example, the traveling motor 4 is arranged on the left side and the braking unit 5 is arranged on the right side respectively. The vehicle 100 is configured as an electric vehicle that travels by driving the traveling motor 4. The braking unit 5 is configured as a drum - type braking unit that constitutes a drum brake, for example. It should be noted that a braking unit is also provided for the rear wheels 2, and the illustration is omitted. These braking units operate according to the operation of a brake lever 14b provided in front of the grips 14a of the handlebar 14, and apply braking force to the front wheels 1 and the rear wheels 2. It should be noted that the traveling motor 4 may also be provided inside the rear wheels 2 or both inside the front wheels 1 and the rear wheels 2 instead of being provided inside the front wheels 1. Thereby, the traction ability and the climbing ability can be improved.

[0030] A bracket 17 is installed on the rear surface of the vertical pipe 12, and the battery 6 is supported by the bracket 17. The battery 6 is a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery that stores the electric power supplied to the traveling motor 4 serving as an electric motor, and the electric power supplied from the battery 6 to the traveling motor 4 is controlled by a power control unit (not shown). It should be noted that a display unit for displaying vehicle information such as the remaining battery capacity and the set vehicle speed is provided on the handlebar 14, and a start switch for indicating the main power supply and an accelerator lever for inputting a traveling command are provided in a manner that can be operated by the user PS, and the illustration thereof is omitted. It should be noted that the battery 6 can also be arranged inside the vertical pipe 12, or inside or around other structural members such as inside the main frame 11. For example, it can also be arranged on the inclined portion 28 in front of the pedal 25.

[0031] The rear frame 20 has a main frame 21 whose cross-section extends in the front-rear direction along the center line CL1 and is substantially rectangular in shape, a pair of front and rear cross frames 22 whose cross-sections extend in the left-right direction and intersect with the main frame 21 and are substantially rectangular in shape, and a pair of left and right side frames 23 whose cross-sections extend in the front-rear direction on the left and right sides of the main frame 21 and are substantially rectangular in shape. The main frame 21 extends obliquely forward with an upward slope (higher in the front and lower in the rear) and is substantially parallel to the axis CL2 at a position lower than the front main frame 11. The angle between the rear main frame 21 and the horizontal line (road surface 3) is smaller than the angle between the front main frame 11 and the horizontal line. It should be noted that the vehicle frame members such as the main frame 11 may not be linear. For example, it can also be formed by bending a pipe or by injection molding. Therefore, the relationship between the angles of the main frames 11 and 21 is not limited to the above.

[0032] A pair of front and rear cross frames 22 are respectively joined to the main frame 21 at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction. The front and rear cross frames 22 are installed on the main frame 21 in a manner that their heights from the road surface 3 are the same, for example, by cutting a part of the bottom surface of the main frame 21. A pair of substantially "U" - shaped notches are respectively provided on the bottom surfaces of the front and rear cross frames 22, and the left and right side frames 23 are fitted into the notches and extend in the front-rear direction respectively. Rear wheel support portions 24 are respectively provided at the rear end portions of the left and right side frames 23, and the rotating shaft 2a of the rear wheel 2 is supported by the rear wheel support portions 24 so as to be rotatable.

[0033] Pedals (footrests) 25 which are substantially rectangular in plan view and extend in the front-rear direction are respectively installed on the upper surfaces of the front and rear cross frames 22 on the left and right sides of the main frame 21. The left and right pedals 25 form a placement portion for the user PS standing on both feet, and the length in the front-rear direction and the width in the left-right direction of the pedals 25 are defined in a manner that can place the entire sole of the user PS, and the upper surface (placement surface) of the pedals 25 is formed as a horizontal plane parallel to the road surface 3.

[0034] The left and right pedals 25 are respectively arranged in front of the left and right rear wheels 2. The upper surface of the pedal 25 is located at a position lower than the upper end portion of the rear wheel 2. It should be noted that the upper surface of the pedal 25 can also be located at a position higher than the upper end portion of the rear wheel 2 or at the same height as the upper end portion of the rear wheel 2. A bulging portion 26 that bulges upward from the upper surface of the pedal 25 is provided at the rear end portion of the pedal 25. The bulging portion 26 protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the outer end surface of the pedal 25 in the left-right direction, and a rear fender 27 is installed at the rear end portion of the bulging portion 26 so as to cover the periphery of the rear wheel 2 from the front to the upper side and the rear. The maximum width of the vehicle 100 is defined by the handlebar 14 or the rear fender 27.

[0035] Inclined portions 28 that incline forward with an upward slope are respectively provided in front of the left and right pedals 25. The inclined portions 28 extend in the left-right direction so as to cover the front end portions of the pedals 25. Thus, by providing the inclined portions 28 and the bulging portions 26 at the front and rear end portions of the pedal 25, the movement of the user PS's feet in the front-rear direction can be restricted. In particular, for example, when the front end portion of the pedal 25 collides with an obstacle on the road surface during driving, the inclined portion 28 functions as a protection member for protecting the feet of the occupant.

[0036] The front frame 10 and the rear frame 20 are swingably connected by a connecting portion 7. The configuration of the connecting portion 7 will be described below. As Figure 1 shown, a substantially cylindrical tube 71 centered on an axis CL2 is integrally installed at the rear end portion of the front main frame 11. The axis CL2 extends in the front-rear direction in parallel with the rear main frame 21, that is, with an upward slope (higher in the front and lower in the rear) toward the front. Therefore, the tube 71 is arranged above the main frame 21 and substantially parallel to the main frame 21.

[0037] A shaft 72 having a substantially circular cross section extends along the axis CL2 inside the tube 71. A pair of front and rear brackets 73 are provided to protrude upward from the rear main frame 21 so as to sandwich the tube 71 in the front-rear direction. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the tube 71. As Figure 3 shown, a pair of front and rear bearings 71a, 71b are press-fitted inside the tube 71, and the shaft 72 is supported by the inner peripheral surface of the tube 71 through the bearings 71a, 71b so that the supporting shaft 72 can rotate.

[0038] One end portion (front end portion) of the shaft 72 is formed in the shape of a bolt head, and a threaded portion is provided at the other end portion (rear end portion). The shaft 72 passes through the pair of front and rear brackets 73, and a nut 74 is threadedly engaged with the rear end portion of the shaft 72. Thereby, the position of the shaft 72 in the front-rear direction with respect to the tube 71 and the brackets 73 is restricted, and the shaft 72 is fixed to the front and rear brackets 73 by the axial force of the thread of the shaft 72. As a result, the shaft 72 and the main frame 21 can rotate integrally through the brackets 73.

[0039] With the structure of the connecting portion 7 described above, the pipe 71 is supported so as to be rotatable about the axis CL2 relative to the main frame 21. In other words, the entire front frame 10 integrally having the pipe 71 is supported so as to be swingable in the left - right direction about the axis CL2 relative to the entire rear frame 20 integrally having the main frame 21.

[0040] Figure 4A It is along Figure 1 a cross - sectional view taken along the line IV - IV, that is, a cross - sectional view of the central portion of the pipe 71 in the front - rear direction. As Figure 4A shown, substantially plate - like upper spring seats 75 are protrusively provided on the left and right end portions of the pipe 71 toward the outside in the left - right direction. On the other hand, protrusion portions 76 are provided at the lower end portion of the main frame 21, and substantially plate - like lower spring seats 77 are protrusively provided on the left and right end portions of the protrusion portions 76 toward the outside in the left - right direction. The length of the lower spring seat 77 in the left - right direction is shorter than the length of the upper spring seat 75 in the left - right direction.

[0041] The upper end portions of a pair of left and right coil springs 8 are respectively connected to the left and right end portions of the upper spring seat 75, and the lower end portions of the left and right coil springs 8 are respectively connected to the left and right end portions of the lower spring seat 77. Figure 4A A reference posture is shown in which the vertical axis CL3 passing through the center (axis CL2) of the pipe 71, that is, the perpendicular line CL3 perpendicular to the road surface 3 and the angle (swing angle θ) between the axis CL4 of the vertical pipe 12 of the front frame 10 is 0°. In the reference posture, the inclination angle of the front wheel 1 with respect to the road surface 3 is 0°, and the rotation axis 1a of the front wheel 1 faces the horizontal direction. If the user PS does not tilt the front frame 10 in the left - right direction and does not apply a torque in the left - right direction about the axis CL2 to the pipe 71, the acting forces of the left and right coil springs 8 are balanced with each other, and the vehicle 100 is maintained in the reference posture as a balanced state.

[0042] On the other hand, as Figure 4B shown, when the user PS tilts the front frame 10 to one side (for example, the right side) in the left - right direction, the swing angle θ increases, and a torque about the axis CL2 is applied to the pipe 71. At this time, compared with the Figure 4A state, the right - hand coil spring 8 contracts and the left - hand coil spring 8 extends. As a result, a force in the direction of arrow A as shown in Figure 4B is applied to the front frame 10 to return the front frame 10 to the reference posture. The greater the swing angle θ, the greater the acting force. Therefore, the swing of the front frame 10 is resisted by the coil springs 8 as a pair of left - right biasing members, and the swing amount can be well restricted. When the torque applied to the pipe 71 becomes 0, the front frame 10 returns to the initial position (reference posture) by the elastic force of the coil springs 8.

[0043] Note that other force - applying members may be separated from or added to the helical spring 8. For example, a substantially annular rubber member whose outer peripheral surface is joined to the inner peripheral surface of the tube 71 and whose inner peripheral surface is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 72 may be interposed between the tube 71 and the shaft 72. Thus, when the front frame 10 swings relative to the rear frame 20, a force that returns the front frame 10 to the reference posture is exerted by the shear strain action of the rubber member. Alternatively, a Neidhart damper may be interposed inside the tube 71.

[0044] Figure 5 is a cross - sectional view of the tube 71 incorporating the Neidhart damper 80. Note that, in Figure 5 the tube 71 is configured to have a substantially rectangular - frame - shaped cross - section. As Figure 5 shown, the Neidhart damper 80 has a substantially rhombic cam block 81 splined to the shaft 72 so as to be rotatable integrally with the shaft 72, and rubber rollers 82 disposed opposite to the respective surfaces of the cam block 81 formed in a concave shape. When a torque is applied to the tube 71 from the Figure 5 initial state and the tube 71 rotates about the axis CL2, the rubber rollers 82 are pressed between the tube 71 and the cam block 81 and elastically deformed, and the rubber rollers 82 become elliptical. At this time, as the rotation angle of the tube 71 increases, the rotational resistance to the tube 71 increases. When the torque applied to the tube 71 becomes 0, the rubber rollers 82 return to their original shape by the elastic force, and the front frame 10 returns to the reference posture.

[0045] Figure 6 is a side view of the vehicle 100 showing the positional relationship between the axis CL2 of the connecting portion 7 and the pedal 25. Note that hereinafter, the point of application of the force acting on the pedal 25 due to the self - weight of the occupant is defined as the load point Pa, and the central points of the regions where the front wheels 1 and the rear wheels 2 contact the road surface 3 are defined as the ground contact points P1, P2. The ground contact points P1, P2 are points vertically below the rotation centers of the rotation shafts 1a, 2a, respectively.

[0046] As Figure 6 shown, the load point Pa is located below the axis CL2 on the virtual plane PL1 orthogonal to the axis CL2. The load point Pa is also located below the axis CL2 on the vertical plane PL2 perpendicular to the road surface 3. When the user PS turns the vehicle 100 in the left - right direction, the user slightly bends the knees and ankles and tilts the upper body left - and - right. As a result, the front frame 10 can be swung and the front wheels 1 can be tilted left - and - right in a stable posture with both feet on the pedal 25. As a result, the vehicle 100 can turn smoothly, and the turning performance is improved.

[0047] The axis CL2 extends with the front end higher and the rear end lower. Therefore, when the vehicle 100 turns, the steering angle of the front wheels 1 can be increased relative to the rear wheels 2. As a result, the turning radius can be reduced, and the turning performance can be further improved. It should be noted that in Figure 6 , the axis CL2 passes above the ground contact point P2 in the vertical plane passing through the ground contact point P2 of the rear wheel 2. More specifically, it passes above the rotation axis 2a of the rear wheel 2, but the axis CL2 can also pass below the rotation axis 2a.

[0048] The axis CL2 is preferably located between a virtual line L1 that is at a distance D1 (e.g., 20 cm) above the load point Pa and a virtual line L2 that is at a distance D2 (e.g., 10 cm) below the load point Pa. The connecting portion 7 is arranged such that the axis CL2 is within such a range. When the vehicle 100 turns, the user PS can tilt the front wheels 1 left and right in a stable posture, and the turning performance of the vehicle 100 is improved.

[0049] In this case, the distance D3 from the rear end portion of the pedal 25 to the load point Pa is preferably within a specified range (e.g., 5 cm to 15 cm). Figure 7 is a plan view showing the position of the load point Pa on the right pedal 25. As Figure 7 shown, when the distance D3 from the rear end portion of the pedal 25 to the load point Pa is within the above-specified range, the load point Pa is located within the triangular region AR obtained by connecting the ground contact point P1 of the front wheel 1 and the ground contact points P2 of the left and right rear wheels 2.

[0050] Thereby, the user PS can board the vehicle 100 in a state where the posture of the vehicle 100 is stable, and it is easier to board. That is, when the user PS places a foot on one side (e.g., the right side) of the pedal 25 and applies their own weight, and then places a foot on the other side (e.g., the left side) of the pedal 25 to perform the boarding action on the vehicle 100, since the load point Pa is within the region AR, it is possible to prevent the other rear wheel 2 from lifting up during the boarding action, and the vehicle posture is stable. Also, when the vehicle 100 is tilted forward to perform a turning drive, it is possible to prevent the inner rear wheel from lifting up in the turning direction. When parking, the user PS can place both feet on the pedal 25 to maintain a stable posture.

[0051] The following operational effects can be achieved by adopting this embodiment.

[0052] (1) The vehicle 100 includes: a single front wheel 1 disposed on a center line CL1 extending in the front-rear direction; a pair of left and right rear wheels 2 disposed on the left and right sides of the center line CL1; a handlebar 14 disposed above the front wheel 1; a pedal 25 on which the feet of the user PS are placed; a front frame 10 that supports the front wheel 1 in a rotatable manner and such that the front wheel 1 can be steered in accordance with the operation of the handlebar 14; a rear frame 20 disposed behind the front frame 10, that supports the rear wheels 2 in a rotatable manner, and integrally provided with the pedal 25; and a connecting portion 7 that supports the front frame 10 such that the front frame 10 can swing in the left-right direction relative to the rear frame 20 about an axis CL2 extending in the front-rear direction. Figure 1 ) The pedal 25 is arranged such that the load point Pa acting on the pedal 25 due to the self-weight of the user PS is located within a region AR that connects the ground contact point P1 of the front wheel 1 and the ground contact points P2 of the pair of left and right rear wheels 2 in a plan view. Figure 7 )

[0053] In this way, by supporting the front frame 10 such that the front frame 10 supporting the single front wheel 1 can swing relative to the rear frame 20 supporting the pair of left and right rear wheels 2 via the connecting portion 7, the front wheel 1 tilts during turning, improving the turning performance of the vehicle 100. Further, since the pedal 25 is arranged such that the load point Pa acting on the pedal 25 is located within the region AR of the ground contact points P1, P2, there is no need to arrange the pedal 25 on the left and right inner sides of the pair of left and right rear wheels 2, the vehicle 100 can be prevented from expanding in the vehicle width direction, and the user PS can ride in a stable posture even when the vehicle 100 is turning.

[0054] (2) The pedal 25 is a pair of left and right pedals 25 respectively provided on the left and right sides of the center line CL1, and the pair of left and right pedals 25 are arranged such that the load point Pa is located within a triangular region AR in a plan view respectively. Figure 7 ) Thus, during driving or parking, even when the self-weight of the user PS acts greatly on either the left or right pedal 25, the user PS can ride in a stable posture.

[0055] (3) The connecting portion 7 is arranged such that the axis CL2 slopes downward rearward. Figure 1 ) Thus, the steering angle during turning of the front wheel 1 increases, improving the turning performance of the vehicle 100.

[0056] (4) The diameter of the front wheel 1 is larger than the diameter of the rear wheel 2. Figure 1 ) Thus, the pedal 25 can be arranged at a low position by means of the side frame 23 supporting the rear wheels 2, improving the boarding and alighting performance of the user PS when boarding and alighting the vehicle 100.

[0057] (5) The pedal 25 is arranged such that, on a virtual plane PL1 orthogonal to the axis CL2, the load point Pa is located below the axis CL2 ( Figure 6 ). Thereby, the load point Pa can be made closer to the road surface 3, and the stability of the user PS is further improved.

[0058] (6) The vehicle 100 further includes a coil spring 8 which, when the posture of the front wheel 1 with its rotation axis 1a of the front wheel 1 facing the horizontal direction is taken as the reference posture, applies a rotational force centered on the axis CL2 to the front frame 10 (pipe 71) so that the front wheel 1 becomes the reference posture ( Figure 4A ). Thereby, the front frame 10 can automatically return from the tilted posture to the reference posture by the spring force, and the vehicle can be parked in a stable posture.

[0059] (7) The coil spring 8 is configured as an elastic connection part so as to elastically connect the front frame 10 (pipe 71) and the rear frame 20 (main frame 21) ( Figure 4A ). Thereby, a force can be applied to the front frame 10 with a simple configuration.

[0060] (8) The coil spring 8 is arranged on both the left and right sides of the axis CL2 ( Figure 4A ). Thereby, the force-applying member is configured to be symmetric left and right, and a force can be applied in the same manner even when the front frame is tilted in either the left or right direction.

[0061] (9) The pedal 25 is arranged in front of the rear wheel 2 ( Figure 1 ). Thereby, an increase in vehicle width can be suppressed, and the vehicle 100 can be configured to have good mobility and portability.

[0062] (10) The vehicle 100 further includes a traveling motor 4 for driving the front wheel 1 and a battery 6 for supplying power to the traveling motor 4 ( Figure 1 ). Thereby, a driving part such as a footrest is not required, and the vehicle 100 can be simply configured.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment ( Figure 3 ), brackets 73 are arranged on the front and rear sides of the pipe 71, and the front frame 10 and the rear frame 20 are connected in a swingable manner by a shaft 72 passing through the pipe 71 and the brackets 73 along the axis CL2, but the configuration of the connecting part is not limited to this. Figure 8 is a side view showing the overall structure of the vehicle 100 having another connecting part, Figure 9 is showing Figure 8 of the main part configuration of the connecting part (a cross-sectional view along the Figure 8 IX-IX line).

[0064] As Figure 8 ,Figure 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , the connection part 70 provided between the main frame 11 at the front side and the main frame 21 at the rear side is composed of a trapezoidal link having a substantially trapezoidal shape in a rear view. In more detail, the connection part 70 includes a substantially plate-shaped horizontal link 701 fixed to the lower end of the main frame 11, extending in the left-right direction with the main frame 11 as the center and extending parallel to the axis CL2, a substantially plate-shaped horizontal link 702 fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the main frame 21, extending in the left-right direction with the main frame 21 as the center and extending parallel to the axis CL2, a substantially plate-shaped front and rear pair of connecting links 703 connecting the left end of the horizontal link 701 and the left end of the horizontal link 702, and a substantially plate-shaped front and rear pair of connecting links 704 connecting the right end of the horizontal link 701 and the right end of the horizontal link 702, and the overall structure is bilaterally symmetrical. The lower horizontal link 702 is configured to be longer than the upper horizontal link 701. It should be noted that the lower horizontal link 702 may be formed shorter than the upper horizontal link 701, and the structure of the link mechanism is not limited to that shown in the figure. The front and rear connecting links 703 and 704 are integrally connected via a substantially plate-shaped connecting plate 705 extending parallel to the axis CL2.

[0065] The connecting links 703 and 704 are rotatably supported by the horizontal links 701 and 702 via shafts 706 extending parallel to the axis CL2. Figure 9 As shown, a rubber block 710 of a block-shaped rubber material is arranged on the inner side of the trapezoidal connecting rod as an elastic body. The rubber block 710 is respectively fixed to the upper and lower horizontal connecting rods 701, 702 and the left and right connecting connecting rods 703, 704 or the connecting plate 705. It should be noted that the composition of the elastic body is not limited to this. For example, the elastic body can also be composed of polyurethane, and an elastic body other than rubber material and polyurethane can also be used. The intersection of the straight line La passing through the center of the upper and lower pair of shaft portions 706 on the left and the straight line Lb passing through the center of the upper and lower pair of shaft portions 706 on the right is equivalent to the center line of the swing, that is, the axis CL2.

[0066] Figure 9 and Figure 4A Similarly, the reference posture with a swing angle of 0° is shown. In the reference posture, the rubber block 710 maintains a balanced state, and the axis CL2 is located along the axis CL4 of the vertical tube 12 above the horizontal link 701 (see Figure 4A ). In this state, when the user PS tilts the front frame 10 to one side (for example, the left side) in the left-right direction, a torque to the left is applied to the connecting portion 70 (horizontal link 701) through the main frame 11. As the torque increases, Figure 10A , Figure 10B As shown, the swing angle (the angle θ between the rocking angle and the vertical line of the axis CL4) increases, and the rubber block 710 is pressed and elastically deformed.

[0067] At this time, as the swing angle increases, the force (restoring force) generated by the rubber block 710 to return to the reference posture with a swing angle of 0° increases, compared to Figure 10A , Figure 10B the restoring force of. Also, as the swing angle becomes larger, the amount of displacement of the axis CL2 in the left - right direction from the axis CL4, in other words, the amount of displacement of the axis CL2 in the left - right direction relative to the rear main frame 21 increases. When the torque applied via the main frame 11 becomes 0, the rubber block 710 returns to its original shape by its elastic force, and the front frame 10 returns to the reference posture of the upright state ( Figure 9 ).

[0068] By configuring the connecting portion 70 as a trapezoidal link in this way, that is, by configuring it to have a horizontal link 701 (first link) fixed to the front main frame 11, a horizontal link 702 (second link) fixed to the rear main frame 21, a connecting link 703 (third link) rotatably connected to the left end portion of the horizontal link 701 and the left end portion of the horizontal link 702, and a connecting link 704 (fourth link) rotatably connected to the right end portion of the horizontal link 701 and the right end portion of the horizontal link 702 and having the same length as the connecting link 703, it is possible to shift the position of the axis CL2, which is the center of swing, in the left - right direction opposite to the swing direction. Thereby, the controllability of the vehicle 100 can be changed. Therefore, the vehicle 100 can be configured in such a way that the best controllability can be obtained by appropriately adjusting the lengths of the respective links 701 - 704 constituting the trapezoidal link. It should be noted that the front frame 10 (first member) having the front main frame 11 and the rear frame 20 (second member) having the rear main frame 21 can also be swing - connected via a link mechanism other than the trapezoidal link. That is, other link mechanisms can also be used. Similar to the above, as the first member swings, the amount of displacement of the swing axis CL2 in the left - right direction from the left - right direction center position of the second member increases.

[0069] The above - described embodiment can be changed into various forms other than the above. Several modification examples will be described below. In the above - described embodiment, the vehicle 100 is configured to have a single front wheel 1 and a pair of left - right rear wheels 2, but as long as it has one front wheel arranged on the center line of the vehicle and two rear wheels arranged on the left and right sides of the center line, the configuration of the wheels is not limited to the above. It should be noted that one front wheel includes not only a single front wheel but also, for example, a pair of front wheels provided at one place, that is, a set of front wheels.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle 100 is configured such that the occupant (user PS) rides in a standing position, but a seat for the occupant may be provided, and the vehicle may be configured to be ridden in a sitting position. In this case, the mounting portion (footrest) may be provided such that the load point acting on the mounting portion due to the weight of the occupant is located within the region connecting the ground contact points of the front wheel and the ground contact points of the pair of left and right rear wheels in a plan view.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the front frame 10 (first member) is configured to support the front wheel 1 such that the front wheel 1 can rotate and the front wheel 1 can be steered in accordance with the operation of the handlebar (steering portion), and the rear frame 20 (second member) is configured to support the rear wheel 2 such that the rear wheel 2 can rotate, and the footrest 25 is integrally provided. However, the configurations of the first member and the second member are not limited to those described above.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment, the footrest 25 (mounting portion) is provided above the cross frame 22. However, as long as it is supported by the second member, the supporting method of the mounting portion can be any method. That is, the mounting portion may be directly supported by the second member or indirectly supported by an intermediate member.

[0073] The above description is ultimately an example, and the above-described embodiment and modification examples do not limit the present invention as long as the features of the present invention are not destroyed. One or more of the above-described embodiment and modification examples can be arbitrarily combined, and the modification examples can also be combined with each other.

[0074] Explanation of reference numerals

[0075] 1: Front wheel;

[0076] 2: Rear wheel;

[0077] 4: Travel motor;

[0078] 6: Battery;

[0079] 7: Connecting portion;

[0080] 8: Coil spring;

[0081] 10: Front frame;

[0082] 14: Handlebar;

[0083] 20: Rear frame;

[0084] 25: Footrest;

[0085] 70: Connecting portion;

[0086] 100: Vehicle;

[0087] 701, 702: Horizontal link;

[0088] 703, 704: Connecting link;

[0089] Pa: Load point;

[0090] P1, P2: Grounding points

[0091] CL2: Axis;

[0092] AR: Area.

Claims

1. A vehicle, characterized in that, Comprising: A front wheel configured on a center line extending in the front-rear direction; A pair of left and right rear wheels configured on the left and right sides of the center line; A steering part configured above the front wheel; A first member that supports the front wheel in a manner such that the front wheel can rotate and can be steered by the steering part; A second member configured behind the first member and supporting the rear wheels in a manner such that the pair of left and right rear wheels can rotate; A mounting part supported by the second member for mounting the feet of an occupant; A connecting part that connects the first member and the second member in a manner such that the first member and the second member can swing in the left-right direction about an axis extending in the front-rear direction, and A biasing part that, when the posture of the front wheel with its rotation axis facing the horizontal direction is taken as a reference posture, applies a turning force about the axis to the first member to make the front wheel assume the reference posture, The biasing part includes a damper having a shaft member, a block member coupled to the shaft member, a plurality of elastic members arranged opposite to a plurality of surfaces of the block member formed in a concave shape, and a housing member arranged around the plurality of elastic members to restrict the movement of the plurality of elastic members, The second member has a main frame extending in the front-rear direction along the center line, The mounting part is a pair of left and right mounting parts respectively provided on the left and right sides of the center line.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The mounting part is arranged such that the load point acting on the mounting part due to the self-weight of the occupant is located within a region connecting the grounding points of the front wheel and the grounding points of the pair of left and right rear wheels in a top view.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: The load points on the pair of left and right mounting parts are arranged to be respectively located within the region in a top view.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The connecting part is arranged such that the axis slopes downward at a downward gradient toward the rear.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein: The diameter of the front wheel is larger than the diameter of the rear wheel.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The mounting part is arranged such that on a virtual plane orthogonal to the axis, the load point is located at a position lower than the axis.

7. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5, wherein: The biasing part has an elastic connecting part that elastically connects the first member and the second member.

8. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5, wherein: The biasing part is a pair of left and right biasing parts arranged on the left and right sides of the axis.

9. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5, wherein: The mounting part is arranged in front of the rear wheels.

10. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5, characterized in that, Further comprising: An electric motor that drives the front wheel; and A battery that supplies power to the electric motor.

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