Suspension system of electric wheelchair

Abstract

The invention provides a suspension system of an electric wheelchair, which comprises a frame body, a driving motor and wheels, the two sides of the frame body are connected with the wheels through a suspension assembly, the suspension assembly comprises an L-shaped swing arm and a shock absorber, the mounting part of the L-shaped swing arm is connected with the frame body through a first hinge piece and can swing up and down, and the mounting part of the L-shaped swing arm is connected with the frame body through a second hinge piece; the connecting part and the frame body form a containing space, a driving motor and a shock absorber are arranged in the containing space, the axis longitudinal sections of the driving motor and the shock absorber are parallel, and an output shaft of the driving motor is perpendicular to the plane of the mounting part and connected with wheels through flanges. Through the integrated design of the L-shaped swing arm and the frame, the driving motor and the shock absorber are arranged in the containing space, the space layout is obviously optimized, and the requirement for compactness of the electric wheelchair is met; a modular structure is matched with a standardized connecting piece, maintenance and replacement are convenient, the cost is reduced, and the composite damping effect is enhanced through inclined arrangement of the dampers; the connecting part is provided with a buffer limiting block to improve the impact resistance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electric wheelchair vehicles, and particularly relates to a suspension system for an electric wheelchair vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The electric drive wheel suspension system is a structural system connecting the vehicle frame and the drive wheels, composed of a swing arm, a shock absorber, and a buffer limit block, which transmits the forces and torques between the wheels and the vehicle frame, including driving force, braking force, steering force, etc., and improves the handling and stability.

[0003] Currently, most of the electric wheelchair drive wheels on the market are directly installed on the vehicle frame without a suspension system. When driving on bumpy roads, the handling and riding comfort are very poor. For the few electric wheelchair vehicles with a suspension system, most of the suspension systems are longitudinally arranged, the overall layout is not compact enough, occupying a large space, and the structure is complex, with a large number of components, a large amount of assembly work, and mostly made of steel materials, with a large weight and high cost. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Aiming at the problems of complex structure, poor shock absorption effect, and large occupied space of the suspension system, the present invention provides a suspension system for an electric wheelchair vehicle with good shock absorption effect and simple structure.

[0005] The present invention provides the following technical solution: A suspension system for an electric wheelchair vehicle, including a vehicle frame body, a drive motor, and wheels. The two sides of the vehicle frame body are respectively connected to the wheels through suspension components. The suspension components include an L-shaped swing arm and a shock absorber: The L-shaped swing arm is composed of a connecting portion arranged along the transverse axis of the vehicle frame body and an installation portion perpendicular to the upper side wall surface of the connecting portion. The inner end of the installation portion is connected to the vehicle frame body through a first hinge, and the L-shaped swing arm is arranged to swing up and down around the axis of the first hinge; One end of the shock absorber is hinged to the upper side wall surface of the connecting portion, and the other end is hinged to the vehicle frame body. The axis of the first hinge is perpendicular to the longitudinal section of the axis of the shock absorber; The drive motor is installed on the installation portion, and the axis of its output shaft is perpendicular to the plane of the installation portion. The drive motor is connected to the wheel through an output flange; The L-shaped swing arm and the vehicle frame body surround to form an accommodation space for accommodating the drive motor and the drive motor. The shock absorber and the drive motor are arranged in the accommodation space, and the longitudinal section of the axis of the drive motor is parallel to the longitudinal section of the axis of the shock absorber.

[0006] In some embodiments, the shock absorber is arranged to gradually incline outward from top to bottom.

[0007] In some embodiments, a buffer limit block is installed on the connecting portion. When the L-shaped swing arm swings upward, the buffer limit block abuts against the lower wall surface of the vehicle frame body.

[0008] In some embodiments, a reinforcing rib is provided at the bottom of the connecting portion, and the reinforcing rib is in a cross shape.

[0009] In some embodiments, the connecting portion is provided with a hinge hole for mating with the first hinge member. The first hinge member includes a hinge bolt and a locking nut. The frame body includes two oppositely arranged ear plates, and the ear plates are provided with through holes for the hinge bolt to pass through. The hinge bolt is inserted into the through hole and the hinge hole, and the other end of the hinge bolt is locked to the outer end face of the ear plate by the locking nut.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first hinge member includes two copper alloy bushings, and the two copper alloy bushings are respectively sleeved at the connection between the ear plate and the hinge bolt.

[0011] In some embodiments, a connection hole is provided at the connection between the frame body and the shock absorber. A steel bushing is press-fitted in the connection hole, and the shock absorber is connected to the frame body by a shoulder bolt in cooperation with the steel bushing.

[0012] In some embodiments, the shock absorber is provided with an external elastic member, and the elastic member internally houses a telescopic rod.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: Compared with the prior art, the design of the suspension system of this electric wheelchair has the following innovative and technical advantages:

[0014] Optimized structural layout: The accommodating space formed by the L-shaped swing arm and the frame body integrates the shock absorber and the drive motor, significantly reducing the lateral occupied space. The axis of the drive motor is arranged parallel to the axis of the shock absorber, avoiding the problem of loose layout caused by the traditional external placement of the motor, effectively utilizing the three-dimensional space on the side of the frame, and meeting the requirements of lightweight and compactness of the electric wheelchair.

[0015] Modular suspension components: The drive motor and the shock absorber are both integrated in the accommodating space, and each component is connected by standardized bolts, such as hinge bolts and shoulder bolts, which are convenient for disassembly and assembly and facilitate later maintenance or replacement. Generalized design: Universal specification parts are used for hinge members, bushings, etc., such as copper alloy bushings and steel bushings, reducing the customization cost, improving the maintenance convenience, and at the same time meeting the modular production requirements of different models of wheelchairs.

[0016] Improved shock absorption performance: The shock absorber adopts a combination of an external elastic member and an internal telescopic rod, and in combination with the inclined installation design, it can absorb vertical, lateral and longitudinal vibrations, covering a more comprehensive shock absorption direction. Compared with the traditional spring that only dampens in the height direction, the comfort is significantly improved.

[0017] Dynamic limit protection: The buffer limit block contacts the frame when the swing arm swings upward, preventing the shock absorber from being overloaded, playing a role in limiting the upward jump stroke of the wheel and absorbing the impact of the wheel; at the same time, the cross-shaped reinforcing ribs improve the torsional strength of the connecting portion, avoiding the deformation of the suspension.

[0018] Drive and Durability Optimization: The drive motor is directly mounted on the mounting part of the L-shaped swing arm, and the output shaft is connected to the wheel flange. The power transmission path is short and stable. Compared with the traditional rigid connection between the motor and the frame, this layout can reduce the direct transmission of road surface impacts to the motor. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] The drawings are only for the purpose of showing specific embodiments and are not considered as limitations of the present invention. Throughout the drawings, the same reference signs denote the same components. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments described in the embodiments of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic structural view of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic structural view of another angle of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic bottom view structural view of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic structural view of the frame body of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic bottom view structural view of the suspension assembly of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic top view structural view of the suspension assembly of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 is a schematic structural view of the cooperation between the suspension assembly and the drive motor of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 of the present invention Figure 7 A-A sectional structural view;

[0028] Figure 9 of the present invention Figure 7 B-B sectional structural view;

[0029] Figure 10 is a schematic structural view of the L-shaped swing arm of the present invention.

[0030] Reference Signs: 1, vehicle frame body; 11, ear plate; 111, through hole; 12, connecting hole; 13, steel bushing; 2, drive motor; 21, output flange; 3, wheel; 4, suspension assembly; 41, L-shaped swing arm; 411, connecting part; 412, mounting part; 413, hinge hole; 414, reinforcing rib; 42, shock absorber; 421, elastic member; 422, telescopic rod; 43, buffer limit block; 5, first hinge member; 51, hinge bolt; 52, locking nut; 53, copper alloy bushing; 6, accommodation space; 7, shoulder bolt. Detailed Implementation Manner

[0031] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. It should be understood that these descriptions are only exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] In addition, in the following description, the descriptions of well-known structures and technologies are omitted to avoid unnecessarily confusing the concepts disclosed in the present invention.

[0033] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. The terms "installation", "connection", "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0034] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, and examples thereof are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. On the contrary, they are merely examples of methods and systems consistent with some aspects of the present invention as detailed in the appended claims.

[0035] It should also be noted that the diagrams provided in the following embodiments only illustrate the basic concept of the present application in a schematic manner. The diagrams only show the components related to the present application, rather than being drawn according to the number, shape, and size of the components in actual implementation. The type, quantity, and ratio of each component in actual implementation can be arbitrarily changed, and the component layout type may also be more complex.

[0036] In addition, in the following description, specific details are provided to facilitate a thorough understanding of the examples. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the practice can be carried out without these specific details.

[0037] The following describes the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Please refer to Figures 1-5 As shown, in this embodiment: A suspension system for an electric wheelchair includes a frame body 1, a drive motor 2, and wheels 3. Both sides of the frame body 1 are respectively connected to the wheels 3 through suspension components 4. The suspension components 4 include an L-shaped swing arm 41 and a shock absorber 42: The L-shaped swing arm 41 is composed of a connecting portion 411 arranged along the transverse axis of the frame body 1 and a mounting portion 412 perpendicular to the upper side wall surface of the connecting portion 411. The inner end of the mounting portion 412 is connected to the frame body 1 through a first hinge 5. The L-shaped swing arm 41 is arranged to swing up and down around the axis of the first hinge 5; One end of the shock absorber 42 is hinged to the upper side wall surface of the connecting portion 411, and the other end is hinged to the frame body 1. The axis of the first hinge 5 is perpendicular to the longitudinal section of the axis of the shock absorber 42; The drive motor 2 is installed on the mounting portion 412, and the axis of its output shaft is perpendicular to the plane of the mounting portion 412. The drive motor 2 is connected to the wheel 3 through an output flange 21; The L-shaped swing arm 41 and the frame body 1 surround and form an accommodation space 6 for accommodating the drive motor 2 and the drive motor 2. The shock absorber 42 and the drive motor 2 are arranged in the accommodation space 6, and the longitudinal section of the axis of the drive motor 2 is parallel to the longitudinal section of the axis of the shock absorber 42.

[0039] The accommodation space 6 formed by the L-shaped swing arm 41 and the frame body 1 integrates the shock absorber 42 and the drive motor 2, significantly reducing the lateral occupied space. The axes of the drive motor 2 and the shock absorber 42 are arranged in parallel, avoiding the problem of loose layout caused by the traditional external placement of the motor, effectively utilizing the three-dimensional space on the side of the frame, and meeting the requirements of lightweight and compactness of the electric wheelchair.

[0040] In some embodiments, as Figures 2-7 shown, the shock absorber 42 is arranged to gradually incline outward from top to bottom. It should be noted that the inclined layout of the shock absorber 42 changes the direction of force transmission, enabling the shock absorber 42 to partially offset the lateral load generated when the wheel 3 steers or rolls while absorbing the vertical impact force of the road surface, forming a "compound shock absorption effect". This design expands the effective working range of the shock absorber 42. Especially when the wheelchair passes through ramps, curves, or uneven road surfaces, it can more evenly disperse the stress on the suspension system, reduce the body roll amplitude, and improve driving stability. At the same time, the inclination angle matches the swing trajectory of the L-shaped swing arm, keeping the shock absorber 42 always within a reasonable stretching and compressing stroke, avoiding problems such as "stress dead spots" or stroke waste that may occur in the traditional vertically arranged shock absorber 42.

[0041] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 shown, a buffer limit block 43 is installed on the connecting portion 411. When the L-shaped swing arm 41 swings upward, the buffer limit block 43 abuts against the lower wall surface of the frame body 1. The buffer limit block 43 is made of an elastic material. It should be noted that the buffer limit block 43, as a mechanical limit device of the suspension system, when the swing arm swings upward, such as when encountering a raised road surface or severe bumps, limits the maximum upward swing stroke of the swing arm by contacting the lower wall surface of the frame, preventing the shock absorber 42 from being over-compressed and causing damage to the internal structure. At the same time, it avoids the rigid collision between the wheel 3 and the frame body 1 due to excessive upward swing, protecting core components such as the drive motor 2 and the wheel 3. In addition, the limit block is usually made of an elastic material: rubber or polyurethane, which can absorb part of the impact energy during contact, reduce the noise and vibration generated by rigid collision, and further optimize the riding comfort.

[0042] In some embodiments, as Figure 5 shown, a reinforcing rib 414 is provided at the bottom of the connecting portion 411. The reinforcing rib 414 has a cross-shaped structure. It should be noted that the cross-shaped reinforcing rib 414 forms a multi-directional cross-support structure on the bottom surface of the connecting portion 411, significantly enhancing the torsional stiffness and bending strength of the L-shaped swing arm. Especially when the drive motor 2 operates at high speed or the wheel 3 encounters a lateral impact force, it can effectively suppress the deformation or resonance of the swing arm, avoiding problems such as suspension response lag or power transmission efficiency loss caused by excessive structural flexibility. This design enhances the structural reliability while being lightweight, adapting to the working conditions of frequent start-stop and steering of the electric wheelchair, and extending the service life of the suspension assembly 4.

[0043] In some embodiments, as Figures 4-10As shown, the connecting part 411 is provided with a hinge hole 413 that mates with the first hinge member 5. The first hinge member 5 includes a hinge bolt 51 and a lock nut 52. The vehicle frame body 1 includes two oppositely arranged ear plates 11. The ear plates 11 are provided with through holes 111 for the hinge bolt 51 to pass through. The hinge bolt 51 is inserted into the through hole 111 and the hinge hole 413. The other end of the hinge bolt 51 is locked to the outer end face of the ear plate 11 by the lock nut 52. It should be noted that the cooperation between the hinge bolt 51 and the ear plate 11 forms the rotation connection pivot of the swing arm and the vehicle frame body 1. Its structural design takes into account both installation convenience and connection reliability: the two ear plates 11 of the vehicle frame body 1 are symmetrically arranged. The hinge bolt 51 passes through the through hole 111 of the ear plate 11 and the hinge hole 413 of the swing arm to form a stable hinge fulcrum, ensuring that the swing arm swings flexibly around the axis; the lock nut 52 is fixed on the outer end face of the ear plate 11 to prevent the bolt from loosening. At the same time, the friction damping at the hinge can be controlled by adjusting the tightness of the nut to meet the requirements of the suspension system sensitivity in different usage scenarios.

[0044] In some embodiments, as Figures 4-8 shown, the first hinge member 5 includes two copper alloy bushings 53. The two copper alloy bushings 53 are respectively sleeved at the connection between the ear plate 11 and the hinge bolt 51. It should be noted that the copper alloy bushings 53 are sleeved at the connection between the ear plate 11 and the hinge bolt 51. As wear-resistant and friction-reducing components, they can effectively reduce the direct metal friction at the hinge point when the swing arm swings, avoiding problems such as increased clearance, abnormal noise or swinging jamming caused by long-term wear of the traditional hinge structure; the good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance of copper alloy can also maintain stable performance in high-load or humid environments, improve the long-term reliability of the hinge structure, and reduce the maintenance frequency.

[0045] In some embodiments, as Figure 9 shown, a connection hole 12 is provided at the connection between the vehicle frame body 1 and the shock absorber 42. A steel bushing 13 is press-fitted into the connection hole 12. The shock absorber 42 is connected to the vehicle frame body 1 through the shoulder bolt 7. It should be noted that the cooperation between the steel bushing 13 and the shoulder bolt 7 strengthens the connection strength between the shock absorber 42 and the vehicle frame body 1: the steel bushing 13 is press-fitted into the vehicle frame connection hole 12 with an interference fit, which can withstand the shear force during the reciprocating movement of the shock absorber 42, avoiding the wear or deformation of the hole wall of lightweight vehicle frame materials such as aluminum alloy due to long-term stress; the stepped structure of the shoulder bolt 7 precisely mates with the inner wall of the steel bushing 13 to form a rigid connection, ensuring that the load of the shock absorber 42 is evenly transmitted to the vehicle frame, avoiding the risk of eccentric force or loosening that may occur in traditional bolt connections, and improving the overall rigidity of the suspension system.

[0046] In some embodiments, as Figure 9As shown, the shock absorber 42 is provided with an external elastic member 421, and the elastic member 421 has a built-in telescopic rod 422. It should be noted that the elastic member 421 mainly bears the buffering of static loads (such as the weight of the occupants) and low-frequency vibrations, and provides basic support stiffness; the telescopic rod 422 has a built-in damping fluid or damping structure, which is responsible for the attenuation of high-frequency vibrations and suppressing the reciprocating bounce of the suspension system; the two work together to enable the shock absorber 42 to adapt to the stable driving of the wheelchair on flat roads, and to quickly absorb impact energy under complex road conditions, thereby achieving a "hard and soft" shock absorption effect and significantly improving ride comfort and handling stability.

[0047] The same and similar parts between the various embodiments in this specification can be referenced to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments.

[0048] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the above embodiments, or replace some of the technical features therein by equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. Any changes or replacements that can be easily thought of by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A suspension system for an electric wheelchair, comprising: A frame body, a driving motor and wheels, wherein both sides of the frame body are connected to the wheels via suspension components, and the characteristics are: The suspension assembly includes an L-shaped swing arm and a shock absorber; The L-shaped swing arm is composed of a connecting portion arranged along the transverse axis of the frame body and a mounting portion perpendicular to the upper side wall of the connecting portion, the inner end of the mounting portion is connected to the frame body through a first hinge, and the L-shaped swing arm is arranged to swing up and down around the axis of the first hinge; One end of the shock absorber is hinged to the upper side wall of the connecting portion, and the other end is hinged to the frame body, and the axis of the first hinge is perpendicular to the longitudinal section of the axis of the shock absorber; The drive motor is installed on the mounting portion, and the axis of its output shaft is perpendicular to the plane of the mounting portion. The drive motor is connected to the wheel via an output flange. The L-shaped swing arm and the frame body are surrounded to form a accommodating space for accommodating the drive motor and the drive motor. The shock absorber and the drive motor are arranged in the accommodating space, and the longitudinal section of the drive motor axis is parallel to the longitudinal section of the shock absorber axis.

2. The suspension system of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shock absorber is arranged to be gradually inclined outward from top to bottom.

3. The suspension system of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that: A buffer limit block is installed on the connecting portion, and when the L-shaped swing arm swings upward, the buffer limit block abuts against the lower wall surface of the frame body.

4. The suspension system of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that: A reinforcing rib is provided at the bottom of the connecting portion, and the reinforcing rib is in a cross-shaped structure.

5. The suspension system of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting portion is provided with an articulation hole cooperating with the first articulation member, the first articulation member includes an articulation bolt and a locking nut, the frame body includes two oppositely arranged ear plates, the ear plates are provided with through holes for the articulation bolt to pass through, the articulation bolt is inserted into the through hole and the articulation hole, and the other end of the articulation bolt is locked to the outer end surface of the ear plate through the locking nut.

6. The suspension system of an electric wheelchair according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first hinged member comprises two copper alloy sleeves, and the two copper alloy sleeves are respectively sleeved at the connection between the ear plate and the hinge bolt.

7. The suspension system of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting hole is provided at the frame body and the shock absorber, a steel sleeve is press-fitted into the connecting hole, and the shock absorber cooperates with the steel sleeve via a shoulder bolt to achieve connection between the shock absorber and the frame body.

8. The suspension system of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shock absorber is provided with an external elastic member, and the elastic member has a built-in telescopic rod.

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