An electric vehicle fork structure

Abstract

This utility model proposes a front fork structure for electric vehicles, relating to the field of electric vehicle technology. It includes a fork shoulder, with a fork stem rotatably mounted on the upper end of the fork shoulder. Two fork legs are connected to the bottom end of the fork shoulder. It also includes an oil replenishment component, comprising a protective shell and an oil replenishment part. The protective shell is located around the connection between the fork stem and the fork shoulder. The oil replenishment part includes an annular tube and a piston-type oil replenishment component. The annular tube is fitted around the lower end of the fork stem. The annular tube of this utility model fits snugly against the connection between the fork stem and the fork shoulder. Multiple oil outlets can directly deliver lubricating oil to the vicinity of the bearing balls, avoiding the problems of oil waste or insufficient lubrication in traditional lubrication methods. Combined with the piston-type oil replenishment component, lubricating oil can be replenished by pushing the piston rod without disassembling the fork. This convenient operation effectively solves the problems of increased steering resistance and accelerated wear caused by insufficient bearing lubrication, extending the bearing's service life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electric vehicle technology, and in particular to an electric vehicle front fork structure. Background Technology

[0002] In the core component system of electric vehicles, the front fork structure plays a crucial role in connecting the frame and the front wheel, enabling steering, and cushioning road bumps. Its performance directly affects the stability and safety of riding an electric vehicle. Specifically, the rotating connection between the fork seat tube and the fork shoulder relies on bearings for flexible steering, and the lubrication status of this part is critical to the lifespan of the front fork structure.

[0003] Traditional electric bicycle forks lack convenient lubrication replenishment mechanisms. Over time, the lubricating grease inside the bearings gradually deteriorates due to wear, high temperatures, and dust intrusion, leading to insufficient lubrication. Repair personnel often need to gradually disassemble the connection between the fork stem and the frame before finally removing the assembly of the fork shoulder and stem to expose the bearings for lubrication. This process requires specialized tools and skilled operation, is time-consuming, and significantly increases maintenance costs for users. More importantly, repeated disassembly and assembly can easily damage the fit between the fork stem and fork shoulder, resulting in excessive gaps or overly tight assembly. This can cause fork wobbling and steering drift during riding, exacerbating safety hazards. Furthermore, traditional lubrication methods struggle to accurately deliver lubricating oil to the critical contact areas of the bearing balls, leading to oil waste or inadequate lubrication. This increases steering resistance, accelerates wear, and shortens the overall lifespan of the fork. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the shortcomings of the existing technology, this utility model proposes a front fork structure for electric vehicles.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows: an electric vehicle front fork structure, including a fork shoulder, a fork stem rotatably provided at the upper end of the fork shoulder, and two fork leg members connected to the bottom end of the fork shoulder, and further including:

[0006] The oil replenishment assembly includes a protective shell and an oil replenishment part. The protective shell is located around the connection between the fork stem and the fork shoulder. The oil replenishment part includes an annular tube and a piston-type oil replenishment component. The annular tube is sleeved on the lower end of the fork stem and has multiple oil outlets. Lubricating oil is replenished to the annular tube through the piston-type oil replenishment component.

[0007] Preferably, the piston-type oil replenishing component includes a piston cylinder, a piston is provided inside the piston cylinder, a piston rod is connected to the piston, and a connecting pipe is connected between the lower end of the piston cylinder and the annular tube.

[0008] Preferably, the piston cylinder is further provided with a sponge column inside.

[0009] Preferably, the fork member includes an inner tube and an outer tube, the upper end of the inner tube is connected to the fork shoulder, and the lower end of the inner tube is retractably connected to the outer tube.

[0010] Preferably, the outer tube is provided with a damping element, the upper end of which is connected to the inner tube, and a sealing ring is provided at the connection between the inner tube and the outer tube.

[0011] Preferably, a reflector box is installed on the outer wall of the outer tube, and a mudguard is provided between the two outer tubes.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0013] 1. In use, this utility model features an oil replenishment component with an annular tube that fits snugly against the connection between the fork stem and the fork shoulder. Multiple oil outlets allow lubricating oil to be directly delivered to the vicinity of the bearing balls, avoiding the problems of oil waste or inadequate lubrication in traditional lubrication methods. Combined with a piston-type oil replenishment component, the piston rod can be pushed to replenish lubricating oil without disassembling the fork, making operation convenient. This effectively solves the problems of increased steering resistance and accelerated wear caused by insufficient lubrication of the bearing, significantly extending the bearing's service life. At the same time, the protective shell can prevent impurities from entering, further ensuring the lubrication effect and component reliability.

[0014] 2. When in use, this utility model utilizes an annular tube to tightly fit the connection between the fork stem and the fork shoulder, with multiple oil outlets aligned with the bearing ball area, and the distance between the oil outlet and the ball is controlled at 0.5-2mm, ensuring precise dripping of lubricating oil. This solves the problem of oil not being able to reach key areas evenly and being prone to insufficient lubrication in traditional oiling methods. At the same time, the directional oil supply design avoids oil flowing randomly and causing waste, thus improving the utilization rate of lubricating oil. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a front view of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the fork leg component of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the oil replenishment component of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 This is an external view of the oil replenishment component of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the piston-type oil replenishing component of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention installed on an electric vehicle;

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Fork shoulder; 2. Inner tube; 3. Fork riser; 4. Oil replenishment assembly; 41. Protective shell; 42. Annular tube; 43. Piston-type oil replenishment component; 431. Piston cylinder; 432. Sponge column; 433. Piston; 434. Piston rod; 435. Connecting tube; 44. Oil outlet; 5. Mudguard; 6. Outer tube; 7. Reflector box; 8. Damping component; 9. Sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0024] Please see Figures 1-6As shown, an electric vehicle front fork structure mainly consists of a fork shoulder 1, a fork stem 3, fork legs, and an oil replenishment component 4. The fork shoulder 1 connects the fork stem 3 and the fork legs. The fork stem 3 is a key component for realizing the vehicle's steering function. Its upper end is connected to the electric vehicle frame, and its lower end is rotatably connected to the fork shoulder 1 via a bearing. The fork stem 3 is made of seamless steel pipe, with a length of 200-300mm, specifically 258mm. The fork stem 3 is connected to the fork shoulder 1 via the bearing. There are two fork legs, symmetrically distributed on both sides of the bottom end of the fork shoulder 1. They are mainly used to support the front wheel and cooperate with the shock absorption component to achieve the shock absorption function. The lower end of the fork legs has a front wheel axle mounting hole with an internal thread for connecting with the external thread of the front wheel axle. The structure also includes an oil replenishment component 4, which ensures the lubrication of the bearings, reduces wear, and extends the service life of the bearings. The oil replenishment component 4 consists of a protective shell 41 and an oil replenishment part. 1. Located on the periphery of the connection between the fork riser tube 3 and the fork shoulder 1, the protective shell 41 can be injection molded from ABS engineering plastic material, which has good strength, toughness and impact resistance. The protective shell 41 has a frustum-shaped structure and can be connected by bolts. The oil replenishment part includes an annular tube 42 and a piston-type oil replenishment component 43. The annular tube 42 is sleeved on the lower end of the outside of the fork riser tube 3, and multiple oil outlets 44 are provided on the annular tube 42. The oil outlets 44 extend to the ball bearing near the bearing component. The distance between the end of the outlet and the ball bearing is controlled within the range of 0.5-2mm to ensure that the lubricating oil can be accurately dripped onto the ball bearing without obstructing the normal rotation of the bearing component and affecting the steering function of the fork. In addition, a filter layer is provided inside the annular tube 42. The filter layer is made of multiple layers of gauze or filter cotton, which can filter the replenished lubricating oil, remove impurities and prevent impurities from entering the bearing component and causing wear. The piston-type oil replenishment component 43 replenishes the annular tube 42 with lubricating oil.

[0025] Among them, see Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the piston-type oil replenishing component 43 includes a piston cylinder 431, a piston 433 inside the piston cylinder 431, a piston rod 434 connected to the piston 433, and a connecting pipe 435 connecting the lower end of the piston cylinder 431 and the annular tube 42. A sponge column 432 is also provided inside the piston cylinder 431, which stores lubricating oil. When lubricating oil needs to be replenished for the bearing component, simply push the piston rod 434, causing the piston 433 to move closer to the connection end of the connecting pipe 435, which can compress the sponge column 432. The lubricating oil in the piston cylinder 431 is forced into the annular tube 42 through the connecting pipe 435. Under pressure, the lubricating oil drips onto the bearing balls through the oil outlet 44 on the annular tube 42, thus lubricating the bearing components. Oil replenishment is convenient and does not require disassembly. The sponge column 432 has the ability to absorb and store oil, which can play a certain role in buffering and evenly distributing the lubricating oil in the piston cylinder 431. It can also help to fully squeeze out the lubricating oil during the subsequent extrusion process, avoiding the presence of lubricating oil residue in the cylinder.

[0026] When it is necessary to add oil to the piston cylinder 431, the piston 433 can be pulled out directly, an appropriate amount of lubricating oil can be added, and then the piston 433 can be installed.

[0027] See Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the fork leg assembly includes an inner tube 2 and an outer tube 6. The inner tube 2 is made of high-strength alloy material to ensure sufficient load-bearing capacity and deformation resistance. Even when the vehicle is fully loaded or encounters severe bumps, it can effectively resist the risks of bending, twisting, and other deformations, ensuring the structural stability of the suspension system and providing reliable support for the vehicle body. The upper end of the inner tube 2 is fixedly connected to the fork shoulder 1 by welding or bolting, and the lower end of the inner tube 2 is retractably connected to the outer tube 6. A damping element 8 is installed inside the outer tube 6. The damping element 8 is a spring-damped structure, mainly composed of a main spring and a hydraulic damper. The spring uses high-strength alloy material. The high-strength cylindrical helical spring possesses significant stiffness and elastic deformation capacity, capable of bearing most of the vehicle's weight and providing primary elastic support when the vehicle encounters bumps. The hydraulic damper is filled with specialized damping oil, and the damping force is adjusted via a throttle orifice on the piston. When the inner tube 2 moves up and down, the damper generates a damping force opposite to the direction of movement, slowing down the movement of the inner tube 2 and preventing excessive compression and rebound of the spring, thus achieving a smooth buffering effect and effectively reducing the impact of road bumps on the vehicle body. A reflector box 7 is installed on the outer wall of the outer tube 6; the reflector box 7 uses high light transmittance... Made of polycarbonate, it features an internally embedded high-brightness reflector. The reflector utilizes a microprism structure design, providing excellent retroreflective properties. Regardless of the angle of light, it reflects most of the light back towards the source. In low-light conditions or at night, when the headlights of a vehicle behind shine onto the reflector box 7, the reflector produces a significant reflective effect, making the position of the fork leg clearly visible. This effectively improves nighttime driving safety and reduces the risk of rear-end collisions. Furthermore, a mudguard 5 is installed between the two outer tubes 6, secured by coil welding or bolts. The mudguard 5 can... It effectively blocks mud, rainwater and other debris kicked up by the wheels during driving, preventing debris from splashing onto the vehicle or rider. It also reduces the corrosion of the internal components of the fork legs by debris, extending the service life of the fork legs. The inner tube 2 and the outer tube 6 are connected by a sealing ring 9, which not only ensures the normal expansion and contraction of the inner tube 2, but also effectively prevents external dust, mud, rainwater and other impurities from entering the interior of the outer tube 6. The shape and size of the mudguard 5 are set according to the specifications of the wheel and the driving trajectory. Its upper end is fixed to the fork shoulder 1 or the outer tube 6 by a bracket, and its lower end extends to the top of the wheel, forming an effective shielding area.

[0028] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A front fork structure for an electric vehicle, comprising a fork shoulder (1), wherein a fork stem (3) is rotatably provided on the upper end of the fork shoulder (1), and two fork legs are connected to the bottom end of the fork shoulder (1), characterized in that, Also includes: The oil replenishment component (4) includes a protective shell (41) and an oil replenishment part. The protective shell (41) is located on the periphery of the connection between the fork riser (3) and the fork shoulder (1). The oil replenishment part includes an annular tube (42) and a piston-type oil replenishment component (43). The annular tube (42) is sleeved on the lower end of the fork riser (3), and the annular tube (42) is provided with multiple oil outlets (44). The piston-type oil replenishment component (43) replenishes lubricating oil to the annular tube (42).

2. The electric vehicle front fork structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The piston-type oil replenishment component (43) includes a piston cylinder (431), a piston (433) is provided inside the piston cylinder (431), a piston rod (434) is connected to the piston (433), and a connecting pipe (435) is connected between the lower end of the piston cylinder (431) and the annular pipe (42).

3. The electric vehicle front fork structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The piston cylinder (431) is also provided with a sponge column (432).

4. The electric vehicle front fork structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fork leg includes an inner tube (2) and an outer tube (6). The upper end of the inner tube (2) is connected to the fork shoulder (1), and the lower end of the inner tube (2) is telescopically connected to the outer tube (6).

5. The electric vehicle front fork structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The outer tube (6) is provided with a damping element (8), the upper end of which is connected to the inner tube (2), and a sealing ring (9) is provided at the connection between the inner tube (2) and the outer tube (6).

6. The electric vehicle front fork structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: A reflector box (7) is installed on the outer wall of the outer tube (6), and a mudguard (5) is provided between the two outer tubes (6).

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