DRIVE ASSISTANCE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SUPPORTING TORQUE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drive aid of an electric motor vehicle and such a motor vehicle as well as a method for providing an assisting torque.

[0002] Motor vehicles, especially two-wheelers, are difficult to maneuver manually on uneven terrain or over obstacles such as curbs. Furthermore, the balance of the two-wheeler must be maintained when maneuvering manually, making manual maneuvering even more difficult. Generally, the difficulty increases with the weight of the motor vehicle being maneuvered, making manual maneuvering of electric two-wheelers particularly difficult. With electric two-wheelers, balance must be maintained, and electric two-wheelers are heavier due to the batteries.

[0003] Drive aids that assist the manual maneuvering of a two-wheeler are known from the prior art. These drive aids each have an activation element, such as a switch or a control lever, which must be pressed or activated by the operator of the two-wheeler in order for the drive aid to provide supporting torque.

[0004] JP H10 329781 A discloses a drive aid for a two-wheeler, wherein the drive aid has an electric motor and two first sensors on the handlebars which react to forces which may be caused, not exclusively, but inter alia, by manual maneuvering of the two-wheeler by an operator.

[0005] JP H11 59557 A discloses a bicycle with an assisting electric motor. Sensors are provided in the handlebars of the bicycle to detect pushing force. Based on the detected pushing force, the electric motor is controlled, providing assisting force for pushing the bicycle.

[0006] A similar device is shown in JP H10 250671 A. A sensor that detects the pushing force has a sliding mechanism that returns to a home position when the bicycle is not pushed against the sliding mechanism.

[0007] Another bicycle with an electric motor is disclosed in JP 2000 168672 A. When a switch is flipped, the electric motor provides assistive power when pushing the bicycle.

[0008] JP 2000 096178 A shows a bicycle with an assisted electric motor. A rotary lever is attached to the handlebar. Based on the deflection of the rotary lever, the electric motor provides assistive power for pushing the bicycle.

[0009] KR 2010 0110761 shows a two-wheeler with a rotatable handlebar to stabilize the two-wheeler while driving.

[0010] US 2014 / 216837 A1 shows a two-wheeler, namely a scooter, which senses forces acting on a front handlebar during movement to steer the scooter while driving. The scooter must be driven by the operator or driver themselves; an electric motor is not provided for this purpose. US 6 276 471 B1 discloses a delivery vehicle in which an electric motor can be arranged in an axle or on the wheels to assist a user of the delivery vehicle during maneuvering.

[0011] WO 2012 / 141591 A1 shows a transport trolley with four wheels. According to one variant, three wheels can be provided instead of four.

[0012] DE 696 25 630 T2 shows a two-wheeler whose engine speed can be reduced to a fraction when the rider has dismounted.

[0013] EP 2 865 364 A2 discloses a manually driven walking aid with four wheels in which an electric motor assists the user.

[0014] A disadvantage of known propulsion aids, such as those in JP H10 250671 A, has been found to be the difficulty of operation due to the simultaneous coordination of activation and manual maneuvering. Coordination is particularly difficult with activation elements that can provide different assistance speeds, such as a control lever, because the balance of the bicycle and the activation element must be maintained in a specific position simultaneously.

[0015] The object of the invention is to provide a drive aid that supports the manual maneuvering of the motor vehicle using simple means and in a user-friendly manner.

[0016] The object is achieved according to the invention by a drive aid of an electric motor vehicle according to claim 1.

[0017] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to design a drive aid in such a way that the drive aid automatically detects when a supporting torque is needed to drive the motor vehicle. The operator's pulling and pushing of the motor vehicle is automatically detected, eliminating the need for the operator to manually activate a specially designed activation element. This significantly simplifies the operation of the drive aid and supports the natural pulling and pushing movement.

[0018] The occupancy sensor creates a safety feature so that the assist torque is only provided when the force applied by the rider to the handlebars is actually a pulling or pushing action for manual maneuvering. For example, it could be conceivable that a rider pushes against the handlebars of the two-wheeler in the direction of travel while riding. The safety feature then ensures that no assist torque is provided in this case.

[0019] The invention provides for the sensor to be located in the area of ​​defined contact points where the operator grasps the motor vehicle for manual maneuvering. Depending on the design of the motor vehicle, it has specific contact points where the operator typically grasps the motor vehicle for manual maneuvering. Since the sensor is located in the area of ​​these contact points, it can directly detect the operator pulling or pushing the electric motor vehicle.

[0020] In particular, the sensor is located on a handlebar of the electric vehicle or at the transition from the handlebar to a steering column. Especially with a two-wheeler, the operator of the vehicle typically grasps the handlebar to manually maneuver the vehicle. This is immediately detected by the sensor located there.

[0021] The invention provides that the sensor is a force sensor that detects a force. The sensor thus detects the force exerted by the operator on the electric motor vehicle, thereby detecting pulling and pushing by the operator. The activation state detected by the sensor is the force exerted by the operator on the electric motor vehicle.

[0022] In particular, the speed of the electric vehicle caused by the assisting torque is proportional to the detected force. The sensor thus records the magnitude of the applied force. Depending on the detected force, the drive assistance provides an assisting torque such that the resulting speed is proportional to the force. Thus, a force-analogous pushing aid is created. This facilitates manual maneuvering, since a higher force indicates, for example, a steeper gradient. The resulting higher assisting torque means that manual maneuvering on a steep slope can require the same amount of effort as on level ground.

[0023] The invention provides that the sensor detects pulling and pushing in a direction that is essentially parallel to the direction of travel of at least one wheel, in particular the front wheel. As a result, the sensor only detects the force component exerted on the defined application points that is parallel to the direction of travel of the wheel. Pressing on the handlebars of a two-wheeler from above is thus only partially detected by the sensor as pushing or pulling, since the main component of the force is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the front wheel. The torque provided by the drive assistance thus only supports actual pushing or pulling along the intended path.

[0024] In particular, the electric motor is only activated as maneuvering assistance by a control system if the detected force for pulling / pushing is greater than 25 N, in particular greater than 50 N.

[0025] Furthermore, the occupancy sensor can detect the occupancy of the driver’s seat.

[0026] In particular, the electric motor serves as the motor vehicle's drive. This allows for a particularly simple and lightweight design of the electric vehicle, as no additional motor is required to provide propulsion assistance.

[0027] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for providing an assisting torque with a drive aid according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which a) the at least one sensor detects an activation state, b) a controller controls the electric motor depending on the detected activation state, and c) the electric motor provides an assisting drive torque, wherein the controller controls the electric motor only when the sensor detects a force applied to the motor vehicle and, at the same time, the occupancy sensor detects the unoccupancy of the correspondingly assigned seat.

[0028] The drive assist automatically provides assistive drive torque via the electric motor when needed. The sensor detects an activation state, which is identified as such by the control system. Thus, the operator does not need to activate an activation element to receive assistive torque.

[0029] A further aspect of the invention provides that the sensor detects a force whose effective direction is substantially parallel to the direction of travel of a wheel of the electric motor vehicle, in particular the front wheel. Accordingly, as previously explained, the assisting torque is only provided when a force is exerted that indicates pulling or pushing of the motor vehicle due to manual maneuvering.

[0030] Furthermore, the electric motor can generate an assisting torque proportional to the detected force, so that the speed of the electric vehicle caused by the assisting torque is proportional to the detected force. The provided assisting torque is thus proportional to the force applied by the operator.

[0031] According to the invention, an occupancy sensor is used which detects the presence of a driver of the electric motor vehicle, wherein the controller only controls the electric motor when the occupancy sensor sends a non-occupancy signal.

[0032] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings to which reference is made.

[0033] The drawings show: Figure 1 a front view of a motor vehicle according to the invention, Figure 2 a schematic representation of the drive aid used, Figure 3 a plan view of a driver of a motor vehicle according to Figure 1 , Figure 4 a schematic representation of a pushed motor vehicle on a slope, and Figure 5 a graph showing the assisted speed produced by the drive aid as a function of the pressure exerted by the operator.

[0034] In Figure 1 a motor vehicle 10 in the form of a two-wheeler is shown in a front view.

[0035] The motor vehicle 10 has a front wheel 12 which is coupled via a fork 14 and a steering column 16 to a handlebar 18 which has a first handle 20 and a second handle 22 at its axial ends.

[0036] The motor vehicle 10 further comprises a drive aid 24, which in Figure 2 is shown schematically.

[0037] The drive aid 24 has a sensor 26 that detects pulling and / or pushing of the motor vehicle 10. The sensor 26 can be designed as a force sensor that detects a force exerted by the operator of the motor vehicle 10 on the motor vehicle 10 and transmits it to a controller 28, which evaluates the data detected by the sensor 26. The controller 28 can then detect the data detected by the sensor 26 as an activation state for the drive aid 24.

[0038] The activation state detected by sensor 26 is processed in the controller 28. The controller 28 not only detects the activation state but also determines the magnitude of the force applied by the operator. Furthermore, it evaluates whether the force is pushing or pulling, i.e., the direction of the force applied.

[0039] Depending on the applied and detected force, the controller 28 controls an electric motor 30 accordingly, so that the electric motor 30 drives a drive wheel 32 with a torque such that the speed of the motor vehicle 10 generated by the drive wheel 32 is linearly proportional to the detected force. Therefore, the drive aid 24 represents a force-analog drive aid.

[0040] In order for the drive aid 24 to detect the pulling and / or pushing of the motor vehicle 10, the sensor 26 is in an area of ​​defined points of action 34 (see Figure 1). The engagement points 34 are defined as locations at which an operator typically grasps the motor vehicle in order to move it manually.

[0041] In the Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the sensor 26 is provided, for example, at the transition from the handlebar 18 to the steering column 16. The operator of the motor vehicle typically engages in the area of ​​the handlebar 18 or the steering column 16 to manually pull or push the motor vehicle. This area therefore also represents the area of ​​defined points of action 34, because the pulling / pushing force is transmitted to the chassis in this area.

[0042] In Figure 3 A top view of a handlebar 18 of the motor vehicle 10 according to another embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, two sensors 26 are arranged in the handlebar 18 itself, particularly in the grips 20, 22, which accordingly form the defined points of engagement 34.

[0043] Generally, the at least one sensor 26 is arranged in or on the motor vehicle 10 in such a way that it only detects pulling and / or pushing in a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the drive wheel 32 or the front wheel 12. This ensures that the pulling or pushing detected by the at least one sensor 26 is actually due to manual maneuvering of the motor vehicle 10.

[0044] The drive wheel 32 can in particular be the front wheel 12.

[0045] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is also provided that the drive aid 24 can additionally have an occupancy sensor 36, which in Figure 2 is shown in dashed lines.

[0046] The occupancy sensor 36 detects the occupancy of a vehicle seat, in particular the driver's seat, and is also coupled to the controller 28. The controller 28 only activates the electric motor 30 when the sensor 26 detects a force applied to the motor vehicle 10 and, at the same time, the occupancy sensor 36 detects that the corresponding seat is unoccupied. This ensures that the drive assistance system 24 does not provide additional torque when the driver is sitting on the seat and pushes against the handlebar 18 while driving or at a traffic light.

[0047] From the Figures 4 and 5 It is further apparent that the drive aid 24 is designed to be force-analogous, since it provides a torque which is proportional to the force detected by the sensor 26.

[0048] This results in, for example, depending on the gradient along which an operator of the motor vehicle 10 pushes it ( Figure 4), a speed is provided via the drive aid 24 which is proportional to the applied force or pressure ( Figure 5 ).

[0049] This makes pushing even on very steep inclines via the drive assistance 24 easier, so that for the operator of the motor vehicle 10, for example, due to the assisting torque provided, it feels like manual maneuvering on level ground.

[0050] The electric motor 30, which provides the assisting torque, is in particular the drive motor of the electric motor vehicle 10. This allows the weight of the motor vehicle 10 to be kept low despite the additional drive aid 24. The control unit 28 of the drive aid 24 can be designed as part of the existing control unit of the motor vehicle 10. Therefore, the only significant additional components are the sensors 26 and the cabling from the sensors 26 to the control unit 28.

[0051] With the drive aid 24 according to the invention, it is therefore possible to manually maneuver a motor vehicle 10 in a simple and user-friendly manner, since the natural pushing or pulling movement is supported by the drive aid 24. Manual activation via an activation element is not necessary for this assistance, thus increasing operating comfort accordingly.

Claims

1. Drive aid (24) for assisting an operator when manual manoeuvring an electric motor vehicle (10), specifically a two-wheeled electric vehicle, - comprising an electric motor (30) moving the motor vehicle (10), - comprising at least one first sensor (26), wherein the first sensor (26) a) is arranged in the region of at least one defined engagement point (34) of the motor vehicle (10), at which an operator holds the motor vehicle (10) for manual manoeuvring; b) is designed to detect manual manoeuvring, i.e. the operator pulling and / or pushing the electric motor vehicle (10), and c) is also designed to distinguish pushing from pulling, and d) pulling and / or pushing in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of at least one wheel (12, 32) is sensed, and - comprising a second sensor, specifically an occupancy sensor (36), which detects occupancy or non-occupancy of a vehicle seat, - wherein a controller (28) is designed to actuate the electric motor (30) depending on an activation state sensed by the first sensor (26), so that the electric motor (30) generates an assisting torque driving the motor vehicle (10) in order to assist with pulling and / or pushing the electric motor vehicle (10), - wherein the controller (28) is designed to actuate the electric motor (30) only when a force applied to the motor vehicle (10) is detected by the first sensor (26) and at the same time the occupancy sensor (36) identifies non-occupancy of the vehicle seat, - so that the electric motor (30) generates the assisting torque only when the occupancy sensor (36) determines non-occupancy of the vehicle seat and at the same time a force applied to the motor vehicle (10) is detected by the first sensor (26).

2. Drive aid (24) according to Claim 1, characterized in that two first sensors (26) are present in the region of two defined engagement points (34), at which the operator holds the motor vehicle (10) for manual manoeuvring.

3. Drive aid (24) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one first sensor (26) is arranged - on a handlebar (18) of the electric motor vehicle (10) or - at a transition point from the handlebar (18) to a steering column (16).

4. Drive aid (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sensor (26) is a force sensor, which detects the force applied to the motor vehicle (10).

5. Drive aid (24) according to Claim 4, characterized in that a speed of the electric motor vehicle (10) induced by the assisting torque is proportional to the detected force.

6. Drive aid (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sensor (26) senses pulling and / or pushing in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of a drive wheel (32) and / or front wheel (12).

7. Drive aid (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the occupancy sensor (36) detects occupancy or non-occupancy of the rider's seat.

8. Drive aid (24) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric motor (30) is the drive motor of the motor vehicle (10).

9. Electric motor vehicle (10), which is designed as a two-wheeled electric vehicle and comprises a drive aid (24) according to any of the preceding claims.

10. Method for providing an assisting torque using a drive aid (24) according to any of Claims 1 to 8, in which a) the at least one first sensor (26) detects an activation state, b) a controller (28) actuates the electric motor (30) depending on the activation state sensed and c) the electric motor (30) provides an assisting drive torque, wherein the controller (28) actuates the electric motor (30) only when - a force applied to the motor vehicle (10) is detected by the first sensor (26) and at the same time - the occupancy sensor (36) identifies non-occupancy of the vehicle seat.