Vehicle with two-armed rear swingarm

Abstract

Vehicle (10), in particular a single-track vehicle, comprising: - at least one front wheel (13) and one rear wheel (14), - a frame (12) with a rear swingarm (25) pivotably mounted on a front frame part (15) of the frame (12) by means of a pivot bearing (26) having two arms (28), wherein the rear wheel (14) is mounted between the arms (28), and wherein an installation space (35) is closed off in a transverse direction (Q) perpendicular to the direction of travel (F) on one side by one arm (28) and on the other side by the other arm (28), wherein the installation space (35) is arranged in front of the rear wheel (14) and behind the pivot bearing (26) with respect to the direction of travel (F), - an electric motor (42) which is drive-coupled to the rear wheel (14) and a motor control unit (43) for controlling the electric motor (42), wherein both the electric motor (42) and the motor control unit (43) are arranged opposite each other in the transverse direction (Q) and in the installation space (35) of the rear wheel swingarm (25).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle with a rear wheel and at least one front wheel. It is preferably a two-wheeled vehicle with exactly one front wheel. The vehicle can be, for example, a bicycle, motorcycle, or scooter. The vehicle is powered by an electric motor, which either acts as an auxiliary drive, supporting the rider's muscle power, or drives the vehicle as the sole main drive without the rider's muscle power.

[0002] Bayerische Motorenwerke AG offers an electric scooter under the model designation "C Evolution" or "C Evolution LR." The rear swing arm is designed as a drivetrain swing arm, on which the electric motor is mounted.

[0003] US 2010 / 0 078 248 A1 discloses an electric scooter with a single-sided swing arm. An air duct is integrated into the single-sided swing arm, into which air is supplied via a fan. The air duct cools a control system and an electric motor.

[0004] US 2012 / 0 160 579 A1, US 2012 / 0 000 724 A1 and US 2013 / 0 175 102 A1 each describe an electric scooter in which a motor is arranged laterally next to the rear wheel.

[0005] DE 690 15 031 T2 and US Pat. No. 5,222,572 A disclose an electric scooter in which the electric motor is located in a space between a pivot bearing of a rear swing arm and the rear wheel. The control unit for controlling the electric motor is located in a front cover. In the regenerative braking system according to US Pat. No. 5,552,988 A, the control unit is also installed in a front cover of a scooter.

[0006] US 2006 / 0 027 192 A1 discloses a hybrid vehicle with an electric motor and a starter generator. The electric motor is arranged in front of the rear wheel. The installation location of an engine control device is not described.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to create a vehicle, in particular a single-track vehicle, with an electric motor drive or auxiliary drive, wherein a structurally simple design with optimized cooling of the electric motor is to be achieved.

[0008] This object is achieved by a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1.

[0009] The vehicle has a drivable rear wheel and at least one front wheel. Preferably, a single front wheel is present. The vehicle is a vehicle that can tilt when cornering, in particular a single-track vehicle. In particular, it has exactly one front wheel.

[0010] The vehicle also has a frame on which the rear wheel and at least one front wheel are mounted. The frame has a rear swing arm. The rear swing arm has two arms. The rear wheel is mounted on the rear swing arm. In a transverse direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle, there is an installation space next to one arm or between the two arms.

[0011] The vehicle also has an electric motor that is drive-coupled to the rear wheel, for example by means of a chain, belt, or other flexible coupling element. The electric motor is located in the installation space. Also located in the installation space is an engine control unit designed to control the electric motor. The spatial proximity between the engine control unit and the electric motor reduces the amount of cabling required between the engine control unit and the electric motor. Cable routing is simplified. Electrical losses are reduced by short electrical lines or cables, which can have a positive effect on the range. Furthermore, the engine control unit, the electric motor, and the electrical connections are easily accessible in the installation space for maintenance and repair purposes.

[0012] The electric motor and the motor control unit are thus immobile relative to the arms of the rear swing arm and are each connected to a respective arm of the rear swing arm. Therefore, the path between the electric motor and the rear wheel hub is very short, simplifying the drive coupling. Furthermore, clamping devices for clamping a flexible coupling element are eliminated. The electric motor can be well cooled in the installation space, with at least one arm of the rear swing arm preferably serving as a heat sink.

[0013] The installation space is enclosed or covered transversely by the two arms. The electric motor can be better protected from external influences and damage. Cooling is primarily achieved via one or both arms.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the arms form a cover that is designed to be perforated at least adjacent to the installation space. In one embodiment, the arms are provided with one hole each only in the area of ​​a front pivot bearing and a rear wheel bearing and are otherwise perforated.

[0015] The vehicle can be designed without a pedal crank. In this version, the electric motor serves as the sole power source. In a modified version, a pedal crank can also be installed on the frame.

[0016] The rear swing arm is pivotally mounted on a front frame section by means of a pivot bearing, and in particular a single pivot bearing. The pivot bearing precisely defines a transversely extending pivot axis between the rear swing arm and the front frame section. The pivoting connection between the rear swing arm and the front frame section is thus very simple. Complex pivot arrangements with multiple levers or links are eliminated.

[0017] The installation space is located in front of the rear wheel and behind the pivot bearing, relative to the direction of travel. With this design, the electric motor can be positioned close to the pivot axis defined by the pivot bearing, which has a beneficial effect on the suspension and / or damping of the rear swing arm.

[0018] Preferably, the electric motor is connected to one or both arms of the rear swing arm via a heat-conducting connection.

[0019] The engine control unit can be connected to at least one arm or both arms of the rear swing arm via a heat-conducting connection.

[0020] The engine control unit is positioned transversely opposite the electric motor in the installation space. This allows for optimal use of the transverse installation space and keeps the length of the rear swing arm in the direction of travel as short as possible.

[0021] Preferably, the installation space is delimited or at least partially enclosed at a rear side relative to the direction of travel by a rear wall. The rear wall separates the installation space from a space between the arms for accommodating a section of the rear wheel.

[0022] It is preferred if the installation space is covered on an upper side by a cover. The cover is, for example, attached to the at least one arm and, in an advantageous embodiment, can have a bearing for attaching a spring-damper unit for the rear wheel swing arm.

[0023] One or both arms of the rear swing arm are preferably made of a metal-containing material and can be made of metal or a metallic alloy. One or both arms of the rear swing arm can be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, for example.

[0024] In one embodiment, a belt drive serves to couple the drive between the electric motor and the rear wheel, with a pulley being arranged in a rotationally fixed manner with the rear wheel. A belt support surface of the pulley can have a receiving space for a brake disc or a rear wheel brake. The heat generated at the brake disc during braking can be quickly dissipated to the environment via the larger pulley.

[0025] Advantageous embodiments of the vehicle are disclosed in the dependent patent claims, the description, and the drawings. Preferred embodiments of the vehicle are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle in the form of a two-wheeler, Fig. 2 a perspective view from the front top of the rear swing arm of the vehicle Fig. 1 without installed rear wheel, Fig. 3 a perspective view of the rear swing arm from Fig. 2 from the front bottom, Fig. 4 a perspective view of the rear swing arm according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in a view obliquely from above and behind, with a cover of the rear swing arm removed, Fig. 5 the rear swing arm according to the Fig. 2-4 in a side view from the left with the rear wheel installed, Fig. 6 the rear swing arm according to the Fig. 2-5 in a side view from the right without the rear wheel installed and Fig. 7 an embodiment of the rear swing arm with a single arm in perspective view.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle 10 configured as a two-wheeled vehicle 11. The vehicle 10 has a frame 12 on which a front wheel 13 and a rear wheel 14 are mounted. The vehicle 10 or the two-wheeled vehicle 11 is, for example, a single-track vehicle in which the rear wheel 14 is arranged in alignment behind the front wheel 13 in a direction of travel F.

[0027] In a modification of the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle 10 could also have two front wheels 13 arranged side by side in a transverse direction Q at right angles to the direction of travel F. The rear wheel 14 can then be arranged centrally between the front wheels 13, viewed in the transverse direction Q.

[0028] Preferably, all embodiments of the vehicle 10 are vehicles in which the frame 12 tilts towards the center of the curve when cornering.

[0029] The frame 12 has a front frame part 15. The front frame part 15 has a head tube 16 for a handlebar 17 at its front end. The handlebar 17 has a handlebar part extending through the head tube 16 of the front frame part 15, which is connected to a suspension fork 18 below the head tube 16. The handlebar part can be a tube. The front wheel 13 is mounted on the suspension fork 18.

[0030] The front frame part 15 extends from the head tube 16 diagonally downwards to a rear end, opposite to the direction of travel F.

[0031] A seat 19 is also arranged on the front frame part 15. The seat 19 can be arranged on the front frame part 15 in a height-adjustable manner. A support 20 supports the seat 19 on a frame element 21. The frame element 21 projects diagonally away from the front frame part 15, opposite to the direction of travel F.

[0032] The frame 12 also has a rear swing arm 25. The rear swing arm 25 extends, opposite to the direction of travel F, from the front frame part 15 to a rear end with a mount for the rear wheel 14. The rear swing arm 25 is pivotally mounted on the front frame part 15 with its front end in the direction of travel F by means of a pivot bearing 26 about a pivot axis S extending in the transverse direction Q. In the exemplary embodiment, only a single pivot bearing 26 is present. The pivot bearing 26 has, for example, a pivot pin 27 extending in the transverse direction Q. The pivot pin 27 defines the pivot axis S. Exemplary embodiments of the rear swing arm are particularly shown in the Fig. 2 to 4 can be recognized.

[0033] The rear wheel swing arm 25 has in an embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 6 have two arms 28 extending parallel to one another. The arms 28 have the same outer contour when viewed in the transverse direction Q. The arms 28 each have a hole at the front end in the direction of travel F for attaching the pivot bearing 26. In the exemplary embodiment, the pivot pin 27 can be guided through the holes in the arms 28 and fastened. A roller bearing arrangement with at least one and, for example, two roller bearings 29 is arranged on the pivot pin 27. By means of the roller bearings 29, the front frame part 15 can be pivotally mounted on the rear wheel swing arm 25. A rotatable outer sleeve of the roller bearings 29 can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the front frame part 15. In this case, the pivot pin 27 is rotationally fixedly connected to the rear wheel swing arm 25. Alternatively, the pivot pin 27 can also be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the front frame part 15 and the outer sleeve of the rolling bearings 29 can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the arms 28 of the rear wheel swing arm 25.

[0034] At the rear end opposite the pivot bearing 26, the arms 28 each have a hole to support the wheel hub 30 of the rear wheel 14.

[0035] The arms 28 are essentially designed without any openings. They can be plate-shaped. For example, the arms 28 have only two holes for receiving the pivot bearing 27 and the wheel hub 30. Further openings are preferably not present.

[0036] In the exemplary embodiment, the arms 28 have a flat shape. They can be polygonal. Starting from the pivot bearing 26, the arms 28 initially extend counter to the direction of travel F into the area of ​​an installation space 35 defined between the two arms 28 of the rear wheel swing arm 25. The arms 28 taper further from the area of ​​the installation space 35 counter to the direction of travel F to the hub 30 of the rear wheel 14.

[0037] In the transverse direction Q, the width of the installation space 35 is defined by the distance between the two arms 28. Opposite the direction of travel F, the installation space 35 extends to a rear wall 36. The rear wall 36 extends in the transverse direction Q between the two arms 28 and covers the installation space 35 to the rear wheel 14. With respect to the direction of travel F, the installation space 35 is located behind the pivot bearing 26.

[0038] As it is in Fig. 2, the installation space 35 is covered at the top by a cover 37. The cover 37 is connected to the two arms 28 and extends in the transverse direction Q completely over the installation space 35 and opposite the direction of travel F up to or beyond the rear wall 36. A bearing part 38 for a spring-damper unit 39 is arranged on the cover 37, for example. In the exemplary embodiment, the bearing part 38 is fork-shaped, so that a lower end of the spring-damper unit 39 can engage in the interior of the fork-shaped bearing part 38 and be pivotably arranged there. In the exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 10 has only a single spring-damper unit 39 and is thus designed as a mono-spring system. The spring-damper unit 39 is arranged centrally with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the vehicle 10 and is located in front of the rear wheel 14 in the direction of travel F.In the exemplary embodiment, the spring-damper unit 39 extends between the frame element 21 and the bearing part 38 on the cover 37 of the rear wheel swing arm 25 (. Fig. 1).

[0039] An electric motor 42 and a motor control unit 43 are arranged in the installation space 35. The motor control unit 43 is designed to control or regulate the electric motor 42 based on control signals received from a driver. The driver can issue a command to increase or decrease the speed of the electric motor 42 via one or more control elements. In the exemplary embodiment, the motor control unit 43 and the electric motor 42 are arranged opposite one another in the transverse direction Q in the installation space 35, which is particularly advantageous in Fig. 4. The electric motor 42 is mechanically and thermally connected to one arm 28, and the motor control unit 43 is mechanically and thermally connected to the other arm 28 of the rear wheel swing arm 25. In the exemplary embodiment, the arms 28 serve not only to cover the side of the installation space 35, but also as a support for the electric motor 42 and, in the exemplary embodiment, also for the motor control unit 43.

[0040] In the embodiment described here, the arms 28 are made of a metallic alloy, preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy. They form heat sinks for dissipating heat from the electric motor 42 and the motor control unit 43. The arms 28 have a large surface area, so that heat dissipation is very good, particularly due to cooling during driving.

[0041] The electric motor 42 is preferably arranged approximately centrally to the longitudinal center plane through the vehicle 10. Between the electric motor and the arm 28 of the rear wheel swing arm 25, to which the stator of the electric motor 42 is attached, a drive pinion is arranged, which is rotationally fixedly connected to the rotor of the electric motor 42.

[0042] A driven wheel in the form of a pulley 45 is arranged on the rear wheel 14 in a rotationally fixed manner. The pulley 45 and the drive pinion 44 are connected to each other by means of a drive belt 46. The drive belt 46 is in Fig. 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the drive belt 46 is designed as a toothed belt, ensuring a substantially slip-free drive of the rear wheel 14. Accordingly, the drive pinion 44 and the pulley 45 are designed with toothed belt support surfaces 47. The drive pinion 44 and the pulley 45, which are coupled via the drive belt 46, form a belt transmission 48 for the drive coupling between the electric motor 42 and the rear wheel 14. Instead of the belt transmission 48, other transmissions could also be used, for example with gears and a chain, as is known in two-wheelers 11.

[0043] In particular from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shows that the pulley 45 is designed like a rim and has a ring 49 arranged coaxially with the hub 30 of the rear wheel 14. On the outer circumferential surface facing away from the hub 30 of the rear wheel 14, the ring 49 has the belt support surface 47. The ring 49 is connected to the hub 30 or the axle of the rear wheel 14 via spokes 50. The spokes 50 are bent or angled and extend towards the axis of rotation of the rear wheel 14, offset from the ring 49, so that a receiving space 51 is formed between the axis of rotation of the rear wheel 14 and the ring 49, adjacent to the spokes 50. The ring 49 encloses the receiving space 51. A brake disc 52 of a rear wheel brake 53 is arranged in this receiving space 51. The brake disc 52 can be connected to the spokes 50 of the pulley 45 in a heat-conducting manner so that good heat dissipation can be achieved.In addition, the arrangement of pulley 45 and rear wheel brake 53 requires only a small installation space in the transverse direction Q. Arranging the pulley 45 and the rear wheel brake 53 on the same side of the hub 30 has the advantage that the connection of the hub 30 to the rear wheel swing arm 25 on the side opposite the rear wheel brake 53 does not have to be changed in order to enable the arrangement of the pulley 45.

[0044] As it is in the Fig. As can be seen in Figures 2-4, the arms 28 of the rear swing arm 25 can have recesses on the inner sides facing each other, which are defined by webs. This allows weight to be saved while simultaneously achieving high rigidity of the arms 28, in particular high flexural rigidity and / or torsional rigidity.

[0045] In Fig. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the rear wheel swing arm 25, which in the vehicle 10 according to Fig. 1 alternative to the rear swing arm according to the Fig. 2-6 can be used. The difference of the embodiment of the rear wheel swing arm 25 according Fig. 7 is that instead of two arms 28, only a single arm 28 is provided, on which the rear wheel 14 is mounted. Instead of the second arm 28, in the exemplary embodiment only a lateral cover 54 is arranged laterally adjacent to the installation space 35. The lateral cover 54 closes off the installation space 35 analogously to the arm 28, which is arranged on the opposite side in the transverse direction Q. The pivot bearing 26 is arranged analogously to the previous exemplary embodiments at the front ends of the arm 28 and the lateral cover 54. The lateral cover 54 can, so to speak, be formed by a shortened arm 28.

[0046] Apart from the design as a single-arm swing arm, the embodiment of the rear wheel swing arm 25 corresponds to Fig. 7 the embodiment of the two-armed rear wheel swing arm 25 according to the Fig. 2-6, so that reference can be made to the above description.

[0047] The invention relates to a vehicle 10 with a rear wheel 14 and at least one front wheel 13, which are mounted on a frame 12. The frame 12 has a rear wheel swing arm 25 with one arm 28 or two arms 28. The at least one arm 28 laterally delimits (in a transverse direction Q perpendicular to the direction of travel F) an installation space 35. An electric motor 42 for driving the rear wheel 14 is arranged in the installation space 35. In addition, the motor control unit 43 for the electric motor 42 is arranged in the installation space 35. The at least one arm 28 serves as a support for the electric motor 42 and the motor control unit 43. It can also be configured as a heat sink for heat dissipation. List of reference symbols: 10 vehicles 11 Two-wheeler 12 frames 13 Front wheel 14 Rear wheel 15 front frame part 16 Head tube 17 handlebars 18 suspension fork 19 seats 20 support 21 frame element 25 rear swing arm 26 swivel bearings 27 pivot pins 28 arms 29 rolling bearings 30 Wheel hub 35 installation space 36 Rear wall 37 lids 38 bearing part 39 Spring-damper unit 42 electric motor 43 Engine control unit 44 drive pinions 45 pulley 46 drive belts 47 Belt support surface 48 belt drives 49 rings 50 spokes 51 Recording Room 52 brake disc 53 Rear brake 54 side cover F Direction of travel Q transverse direction S swivel axis

Claims

[1] Vehicle (10), in particular a single-track vehicle, comprising: - at least one front wheel (13) and one rear wheel (14), - a frame (12) with a rear wheel swing arm (25) which is pivotally mounted on a front frame part (15) of the frame (12) by means of a pivot bearing (26) and which has two arms (28), wherein the rear wheel (14) is mounted between the arms (28), and wherein an installation space (35) is closed off in a transverse direction (Q) at right angles to the direction of travel (F) on one side by one arm (28) and on the other side by the other arm (28), wherein the installation space (35) is arranged in front of the rear wheel (14) and behind the pivot bearing (26) with respect to the direction of travel (F), - an electric motor (42) which is drive-coupled to the rear wheel (14), and a motor control unit (43) for controlling the electric motor (42), wherein both the electric motor (42) and the motor control unit (43) are arranged opposite one another in the transverse direction (Q) and in the installation space (35) of the rear wheel swing arm (25). [2] Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein preferably at least one arm (28) of the rear wheel swing arm (25) serves as a heat sink. [3] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the arms (28) form a cover which is without openings at least adjacent to the installation space (35). [4] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric motor (42) is connected to at least one arm (28) of the rear wheel swing arm (25) via a heat-conducting connection. [5] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the engine control unit (43) is connected to at least one arm (28) of the rear wheel swing arm (25) via a heat-conducting connection. [6] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the installation space (35) is at least partially closed at a rear side towards the rear wheel (14) by a rear wall (36). [7] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the installation space (35) is covered on an upper side by a cover (37). [8] Vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the cover (37) has a bearing part (38) for a spring-damper unit (39). [9] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one arm (28) of the rear wheel swing arm (25) is made of metal or a metallic alloy. [10] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric motor (42) and the rear wheel (14) are drive-coupled via a belt transmission (48). [11] Vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the belt transmission (48) has a pulley (45) on the rear wheel (14), the belt support surface (47) of which encloses a receiving space (51) for a brake disc (52). [12] Vehicle according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the belt transmission (48) is designed without tensioning means for tensioning a flexible belt used for drive coupling. [13] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear wheel (14) has a smaller diameter than the at least one front wheel (13).

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