CARGO TWO-WHEEL

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a cargo two-wheeler for transporting a load by a rider. State of the art

[0002] It is known that loads can be transported on a luggage rack using a bicycle, for example one with two or three wheels. Such bicycles have at least one front and one rear wheel and a pedal crank, via which the rider can apply drive power, usually to the rear wheel. A rider's seat is usually arranged between the two wheels. The luggage rack is usually arranged on or behind the rear wheel. There are also bicycles that have a structure that is optimized for transporting larger or heavier loads. For example, it can be provided that a load is carried in front of the rider on the bicycle.

[0003] Two-wheeled scooters are also known, where a rider can stand with one foot and push off the road with the other foot to generate the necessary propulsion energy. Such scooters are generally not suitable for carrying larger loads.

[0004] LU 101 703 B1 describes a universal bicycle that combines components and features of unicycles and cargo bikes. The combination of crankshaft and wheel hub is adopted from the unicycle and expanded into a new hub drive for the rear wheel. This also features an integrated transmission gear and an integrated three-phase motor. This eliminates the need for separate crankshafts with chain transmission. The front wheel, loading area, and steering rods are taken from the conventional cargo bike. These design measures significantly shorten the length of the bicycle, making it a universal means of transport. Summary of the invention

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a cargo two-wheeler that enables easy transport of larger loads.

[0006] The problem is solved by a cargo two-wheeler for transporting a load by a driver, having the features according to claim 1.

[0007] The cargo two-wheeler comprises a front wheel and a rear wheel, as well as a loading area arranged between the front wheel and the rear wheel, wherein the cargo two-wheeler comprises a driver's seat, wherein the cargo two-wheeler can be driven by the driver by means of a pedal crank, wherein the axis of the pedal crank is located in the same longitudinal position as the axis of the rear wheel in the longitudinal direction of the cargo two-wheeler, or even further back, i.e. further away from the loading area.

[0008] According to the invention, a two-wheeler is used that has a loading area for accommodating loads, which is arranged in front of the rider, namely at least substantially between the two wheels. The pedal crank is not arranged between the two wheels, as is usually the case, but further back, namely preferably at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the axle of the rear wheel – or even further back. This position, positioned far back, provides a particularly long installation space for the loading area and thus for accommodating larger or longer loads.

[0009] With such a design, a significant portion of the rider's weight can be located behind the rear wheel axle and thus behind the point where the rear wheel rests on the road. However, this unfavorable weight distribution can be compensated for by placing the loading area further forward on the bike and, when loaded, by placing a load on the loading area. This arrangement can therefore be particularly advantageous for a cargo bike.

[0010] According to the invention, in addition to the front and rear wheels, the cargo two-wheeler has a cargo wheel that can be selectively moved from a non-use position to a use position, for example, when a heavy weight is carried on the loading area, by the rider or by a device. In the use position, the cargo bike is preferably in contact with the road surface. The cargo bike can preferably be arranged near the front wheel. In the use position of the cargo bike, the front wheel can then also be in contact with the road surface or not in contact with the road surface. The cargo bike is preferably an omnidirectional wheel, i.e., an all-round wheel or omni-wheel, so that the cargo two-wheeler can be moved in a variety of directions by the omnidirectional wheel.

[0011] According to the invention, the cargo two-wheeler has a control unit which is designed to travel autonomously, without a rider on the cargo two-wheeler, by means of an electric drive and by means of the cargo two-wheeler in the position of use, in particular in a following mode in which the cargo two-wheeler follows the rider, for example, and / or in an autonomous driving mode in which the cargo two-wheeler can steer autonomously, for example to follow the course of a road.

[0012] The driver's seat is preferably located longitudinally behind the rear wheel axle, i.e., further away from the loading area than the rear wheel axle. This allows the driver to sit behind the rear wheel. The weight can still be balanced by the front body and any load carried on the cargo bike.

[0013] Preferably, the crank axis is at the same vertical height as the rear wheel axis. Preferably, the crank axis coincides with the rear wheel axis, i.e., is at the same horizontal and vertical position. The crank and the rear wheel are thus preferably coaxial.

[0014] The loading area can be essentially a flat surface or, for example, form a container with an open top, i.e., comprising a bottom surface and side surfaces. The container can also have a lid, for example, for closing the container.

[0015] Preferably, the cargo two-wheeler has a scooter mode in which the rider's seat and the pedal crank are in a non-use position, for example, the rider's seat and / or the pedal crank are removed, and the cargo two-wheeler has a bicycle mode in which the rider's seat and the pedal crank are in a use position. Preferably, the cargo two-wheeler has a handlebar, which is preferably located near the rear wheel. The handlebar can preferably be used in both bicycle mode and scooter mode.

[0016] The position of the handlebar and / or the driver's seat in the vertical direction and / or in the longitudinal direction is preferably adjustable within a predetermined range.

[0017] The pedal crank is preferably designed such that it can be reconfigured into a standing aid by the rider, so that the standing aid can be used in scooter mode and the pedal crank can be used in bicycle mode. The rider can easily switch between the pedal crank and the standing aid, for example a standing board or boards, and this can be done preferably without the need for tools. In the simplest embodiment, the standing aid in scooter mode can be formed by pivoting one half of the crank downwards, towards the roadway. However, the standing aid in scooter mode is preferably designed such that both halves of the crank act as a standing aid simultaneously, in particular are fixed in position against a force acting from top to bottom.

[0018] Preferably, the stand-off feature in scooter mode is formed by both crank halves pointing in the same direction, i.e., forming an angle of 0 degrees to each other. In bicycle mode, the two crank halves of the pedal crank point in opposite directions, forming an angle of 180 degrees to each other.

[0019] The two crank halves of the stand aid in scooter mode can be secured against rotation relative to each other or can be unlocked. The two crank halves of the stand aid in scooter mode can be directed exactly downwards, toward the road, for example, due to the weight of the rider's foot, or they can be locked at a predefined or adjustable angle.

[0020] The cargo two-wheeler preferably has a drive battery for generating electrical energy for an electric drive, whereby the electric drive can be used, for example, in addition to the drive energy provided by the rider. The drive battery is preferably arranged near the front wheel, so that the center of gravity of the drive battery is located in front of the center of the loading area in the longitudinal direction of the cargo two-wheeler. As a result, the drive battery applies more weight to the front of the cargo two-wheeler than to the rear.

[0021] Preferably, the cargo bike can be moved automatically by a control unit from a non-use position to a use position, depending for example on the weight on the loading area and / or the tire pressure of the front and / or rear wheel and / or the driving speed of the cargo two-wheeler.

[0022] Preferably, the cargo two-wheeler has a control device which is designed to simplify or support a loading / unloading process of the loading area by means of an automated braking intervention and / or by balancing the cargo two-wheeler by means of the cargo bike in the position of use. Brief description of the drawings

[0023] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a cargo bicycle according to the invention, in bicycle mode, with a rider, shown from the side. Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the cargo bicycle according to the invention according to Fig. 1 , in scooter mode, with a rider, shown from the side. Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the cargo bicycle according to the invention according to Fig. 2, in scooter mode, with a rider, shown from above. Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of another cargo two-wheeler according to the invention, in bicycle mode, with a rider, shown from the side. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] In the Fig. 1-3 is a cargo two-wheeler according to the invention for transporting a load by a driver 10.

[0025] The cargo two-wheeler comprises a front wheel 1 and a rear wheel 2 and thus represents a two-wheeler. A loading area 3, which in the illustrated embodiment also includes side walls, is arranged between the front wheel 1 and the rear wheel 2.

[0026] The cargo two-wheeler comprises a driver's seat 4, which is located in the longitudinal direction of the cargo two-wheeler behind the axle of the rear wheel 2, i.e. further away from the loading area 3 than the axle of the rear wheel 2.

[0027] The cargo two-wheeler comprises a handlebar 9, which is located longitudinally near the rear wheel 2, for example above the loading area 3 and / or between the loading area 3 and the axle of the rear wheel 2, preferably approximately as in Fig. 1 shown, in the area of ​​the front end of the rear wheel 2.

[0028] The cargo two-wheeler is driven by the rider 10 via a pedal crank 5, wherein the axis of the pedal crank 5 is located in the same longitudinal position as the axis of the rear wheel 2 in the longitudinal direction of the cargo two-wheeler. The axis of the pedal crank 5 is also located in the same vertical position as the axis of the rear wheel 2, so that the axis of the pedal crank 5 coincides with the axis of the rear wheel 2.

[0029] The cargo bike is in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 shown in a bicycle mode in which the rider seat 4 and the pedal crank 5 are in a use position.

[0030] In Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 The cargo two-wheeler is depicted in a scooter mode, in which the rider's seat 4 and the pedal crank 5 are in a non-use position. The rider's seat 4 is removed here. The pedal crank 5 is reconfigured into a stand support 6, allowing the rider 10 to stand with at least one leg on the stand support 6. More precisely, both crank halves form stand supports 6, each of which can be used for one foot, so that the stand support 6 can be used on both sides of the cargo two-wheeler.

[0031] The standing aid 6 in scooter mode is formed by both crank halves of the pedal crank 5 pointing in the same direction, i.e. forming an angle of 0 degrees to each other, while in bicycle mode ( Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 ) the two crank halves point in opposite directions, i.e. they form an angle of 180 degrees to each other.

[0032] As in Fig. 4As shown, the cargo two-wheeler can have a drive battery 7 for applying electrical energy for an electric drive, wherein the drive battery 7 is arranged near the front wheel 1, so that the center of gravity of the drive battery 7 is located in the longitudinal direction of the cargo two-wheeler in front of the center of the loading area 3.

[0033] The cargo bike according to Fig. 4 In addition to the front and rear wheels 1, 2, it has a cargo wheel 8 on the left and / or right side of the front wheel 1, preferably left and right, which can be selectively moved from a non-use position to a use position, preferably an omnidirectional wheel.

[0034] The cargo bikes 8 can, for example, be moved automatically by a control unit from a non-use position to a use position, in particular extended so that it touches the roadway, depending, for example, on the weight on the loading area 3 and / or the tire pressure of the front and / or rear wheel 1, 2 and / or the driving speed of the cargo two-wheeler.

[0035] The cargo two-wheeler can have a control unit which is configured to drive autonomously, without a driver on the cargo two-wheeler, by means of an electric drive and by means of the cargo wheels 8 in the position of use, in particular in a following mode and / or in an autonomous driving mode.

[0036] The cargo two-wheeler can have a control device which is designed to simplify a loading / unloading process of the loading area 3 by means of an automated braking intervention and / or by balancing the cargo two-wheeler by means of the cargo wheel 8 in the position of use. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1 front wheel 2 rear wheel 3 loading area 4 driver's seat 5 pedal crank 6 stand aid 7 drive battery 8 cargo bike 9 handlebar 10 driver

Claims

1. Cargo bicycle for transporting a load by means of a rider, wherein the cargo bicycle comprises a front wheel (1) and a rear wheel (2), and a load bed (3), which is arranged between the front wheel (1) and the rear wheel (2), wherein the cargo bicycle comprises a rider seat (4), wherein the cargo bicycle can be driven by the rider by means of a crank (5), wherein the axis of the crank (5) is situated in the same longitudinal position as the axis of the rear wheel (2) or even further to the rear, that is, further away from the load bed (3), in the longitudinal direction of the cargo bicycle characterized in that the cargo bicycle has, in addition to the front and rear wheels (1, 2), a load wheel (8), preferably an omnidirectional wheel, which can optionally be moved from a non-use position into a use position wherein the cargo bicycle has a control unit which is configured to drive autonomously without a rider on the cargo bicycle by means of electrical drive and by means of the load wheel (8) in the use position, in particular in a following mode and / or in an autonomous driving mode.

2. Cargo bicycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rider seat (4) is situated behind the axis of the rear wheel (2), that is, further away from the load bed (3) than the axis of the rear wheel (2), in the longitudinal direction of the cargo bicycle.

3. Cargo bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of the crank (5) is situated in the same height position as the axis of the rear wheel (2) in the vertical direction, wherein the axis of the crank (5) preferably coincides with the axis of the rear wheel (2).

4. Cargo bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cargo bicycle has a scooter mode, in which the rider seat (4) and the crank (5) are in a non-use position, for example the rider seat (4) and / or the crank (5) are removed, and has a bicycle mode, in which the rider seat (4) and the crank (5) are in a use position.

5. Cargo bicycle according to Claim 4, characterized in that the crank (5) is preferably designed such that it can be reconfigured by the rider to form a standing aid (6), so that the standing aid (6) can be used in scooter mode and the crank (5) can be used in bicycle mode.

6. Cargo bicycle according to Claim 5, characterized in that the standing aid (6) in scooter mode is formed in that both crank halves of the crank (5) point in the same direction, that is, form an angle of 0 degrees with one another, and in bicycle mode the two crank halves point in opposite directions, that is, form an angle of 180 degrees with one another.

7. Cargo bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cargo bicycle has a drive battery (7) for applying an electrical energy for an electrical drive, wherein the drive battery (7) is preferably arranged close to the front wheel (1), so that the centre of gravity of the drive battery (7) is preferably situated in front of the centre point of the load bed (3) in the longitudinal direction of the cargo bicycle.

8. Cargo bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the load wheel (8) can be moved from a non-use position into a use position in an automated manner by a control unit, depending for example on the weight on the load bed (3) and / or the tyre pressure of the front and / or rear wheel (1, 2) and / or the speed of travel of the cargo bicycle.

9. Cargo bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cargo bicycle has a control unit which is configured to simplify a process of loading / unloading the load bed (3) by means of an automated braking operation and / or by balancing out the cargo bicycle by means of the load wheel (8) in the use position.