Bicycle with specific small-size motor

Abstract

To provide a bicycle with a specific small-size motor that satisfies a legal standard as a bicycle with a specific small-size motor because electric power generated by rotating pedals is controlled and outputted to drive the bicycle, and that can comfortably be pedaled with a bicycle ride feeling.SOLUTION: A bicycle 1 with a specific small-size motor according to the present invention includes a body 10 having a frame 11, handlebar 12, saddle 13, and pedals 14, wheel units 20 including wheels 21 disposed at front and rear parts of the frame 11, a drive unit 30 connected to the wheel units 20, and a control unit 40 electrically connected to the drive unit 30. The drive unit 30 includes a power generator 31 capable of generating electric power along with rotation of the pedals, a battery 32 capable of storing electric power generated by the power generator 31, and a motor 33 capable of rotating or driving at least one of the wheels 21 with the electric power in the battery 32. By operating the control unit 40, the motor 33 is driven so that the bicycle runs at a speed equal to or smaller than a set speed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a specific small motorized bicycle, and in particular to a specific small motorized bicycle that can be driven by controlling the output of electricity generated by the rotation of the pedals, allowing it to be ridden comfortably like a bicycle while meeting the legal standards for a specific small motorized bicycle. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, small electric vehicles have become more common due to improvements in the performance of secondary batteries accompanying the development of electric automobiles. Fully electric bicycles (fully assisted bicycles) are known as vehicles that can run without pedaling. Fully electric bicycles are electric bicycles with assist performance above a certain standard, and include electric mopeds that run without pedaling. Patent Document 1 also discloses a so-called electric kick scooter. An electric kick scooter is a vehicle equipped with an electric motor and can run electrically by operating the accelerator.

[0003] On the other hand, from July 1, 2023, a law amending part of the Road Traffic Act (Act No. 32 of 2022) came into effect, creating a new category of “specific small motor-driven bicycles” within the category of electric motor-driven bicycles (Non-Patent Document 1). Specific small motorized bicycles offer many conveniences, such as not requiring a driver's license despite being a motorized bicycle, being able to be ridden in the same places as bicycles, and the requirement to wear a helmet. As such, they are expected to become widely used as a casual means of transportation. In order to be certified as a specific small motorized bicycle, a vehicle must meet certain standards, such as body size, rated output of the motor, and maximum speed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-74183 [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] “Traffic rules for specific small motorized bicycles (so-called electric kick scooters, etc.)”, [online], National Police Agency, [Retrieved June 29, 2023], Internet<URL:https: / / www.npa.go.jp / bureau / traffic / anzen / tokuteikogata.html> [Non-Patent Document 2] "Industry group warns that 'special mopeds with pedals' may violate the Road Traffic Act when they are in operation", [online], IT media, [searched June 29, 2023], Internet<URL:https: / / www.itmedia.co.jp / news / articles / 2306 / 27 / news183.html> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The conventional technology has the following problems. <1> Fully electric bicycles are considered mopeds under the Road Traffic Act, so drivers are required to have a driver's license and wear a helmet, and they cannot be ridden on sidewalks, making them unsuitable for casual use in urban areas. <2> Electric kick scooters are classified as specific small motorized bicycles if they meet legal requirements, but because they rely entirely on charging, they require frequent charging. <3> Both fully electric bicycles and electric kick scooters are two-wheeled vehicles that are propelled by an accelerator, making them difficult to balance and less stable when riding. <4> If a motorized bicycle is equipped with pedals and designed so that the torque of the pedals can be transmitted to the wheels, it can be ridden by human power without restriction by stepping on the pedals, and since it exceeds the speed limit (20km / h), it does not meet the legal requirements for a specific small motorized bicycle (Non-Patent Document 2). For this reason, such motorized bicycles cannot be ridden on sidewalks, and cannot be driven without wearing a helmet and holding a driver's license, making them unsuitable for casual use.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a specific small motorized bicycle that solves the problems of the prior art as described above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The specific small motor-driven bicycle of the present invention comprises a body section having a frame, handlebars, a saddle, and pedals, a wheel section having a plurality of wheels provided at the front and rear of the frame, a drive section connected to the wheel section, and a control section electrically connected to the drive section, and is characterized in that the drive section has a generator capable of generating electricity by rotation of the pedals, a battery capable of storing electricity from the generator, and a motor capable of rotating and driving at least one of the plurality of wheels using power from the battery, and the motor is driven to travel at a speed below a set speed by operating the control section.

[0009] The specific small motor-driven bicycle of the present invention comprises a body section having a frame, handlebars, a saddle and pedals, a wheel section having a plurality of wheels provided at the front and rear of the frame, a drive section connected to the wheel section, and a control section electrically connected to the drive section, and is characterized in that the drive section has a generator capable of generating electricity by rotation of the pedals, a battery capable of storing electricity from the generator, and a motor capable of rotating and driving at least one of the plurality of wheels using power from the battery or the generator, and the motor is driven to travel at a speed below a set speed by operating the control section.

[0010] The specific small motor-driven bicycle of the present invention may have a body portion equipped with a sprocket that rotates in sync with the rotation of the pedals, and a chain that is stretched from the sprocket to a generator, and the rotation of the pedals may be transmitted to the generator via the sprocket and the chain. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The specific small motor-driven bicycle of the present invention has at least one of the following effects. <1> By not affecting the speed by pedaling, the upper limit of the riding speed can be controlled, and the legal requirements for a "specified small motorized bicycle" can be met. This allows riders to enjoy many conveniences, such as not needing to hold a driver's license, being able to ride in the same places as bicycles, and only making an effort to wear a helmet. <2> You can ride while enjoying the stable speed provided by the electric mechanism and the riding comfort of a bicycle by pedaling at the same time. <3> Since the battery can be charged while pedaling, it is possible to travel long distances with fewer charges. <4> Since you can pedal like a bicycle at any time you like, it is easy to maintain balance and provides high stability when riding. <5> It can be charged manually without using a household power source, making it economical and environmentally friendly. <6> The battery power can be supplied externally for purposes such as charging smartphones, making it possible to use it as an emergency power source in the event of a disaster. <7> Pedaling provides moderate exercise, which contributes to the health of users. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] An explanatory diagram of a specific small motorized bicycle according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] An explanatory diagram of a specific small motorized bicycle according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] A diagram showing the configuration of a specific small motorized bicycle according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Configuration diagram of Example 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The specific small motor-driven bicycle of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0014] [Specific small motorized bicycles] <1> Overall structure (Figs. 1-3) A specific small motorized bicycle 1 is a motorized bicycle that falls under the category stipulated by the Act amending the Road Traffic Act (Act No. 32 of 2022) effective from July 1, 2023. The specific small motor-driven bicycle 1 at least comprises a body section 10, wheel sections 20 provided at the front and rear of the body section 10, a drive section 30 connected to the wheel section 20, and a control section 40 electrically connected to the drive section 30. In this example, a lighting section 50 is further provided. Here, "electrically connected" means that the drive unit 30 and the control unit 40 are connected so as to be able to communicate electrical signals, and it does not matter whether the connection is wired or wireless. One of the features of the specific small motorized bicycle 1 of the present invention is its structure in which the drive unit 30 is controlled by operating the control unit 40, and the bicycle can travel while maintaining a speed below a set speed.

[0015] <1.1> Definition of a specific small motorized bicycle A specific small motorized bicycle is a motorized bicycle whose size and structure are not likely to impede the passage of other vehicles on bicycle paths and whose operation does not require a high level of skill and meets the standards set out in the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act. The standards set out in the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations are as follows: [Vehicle size] Length: 190cm or less Width: 60cm or less [Body structure] (1) The rated output of the engine is 0.60 kilowatts or less. (2) The inability to travel at a speed exceeding 20km / h (3) The maximum speed setting cannot be changed while driving. (4) AT mechanism is used. (5) Equipping the vehicle with a maximum speed indicator as stipulated in the road transport vehicle safety standards. Small motorized bicycles have many advantages, such as being able to ride in the same places as bicycles while still using a motor, and not needing to hold a driver's license.

[0016] <2> Body The body portion 10 is the basic structure of the specific small motor-driven bicycle 1. The vehicle body 10 includes at least a frame 11, a handlebar 12 attached to the frame 11, a saddle 13 attached to the frame 11, and pedals 14 rotatably attached to the frame 11. A legal license plate is attached to the frame 11. In this example, like an ordinary bicycle, it further comprises a sprocket 15 that rotates in sync with the rotation of the pedals 14, and a chain 16 that is stretched from the sprocket 15 to a generator 31, which will be described later. In this embodiment, a folding frame in which a magnesium alloy member is combined with a hub made of an aluminum alloy member is used as the frame 11. However, the frame 11 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a fixed frame. The rest of the structure of the body 10 is well known as the structure of a general bicycle, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0017] <3> Wheel section The wheel unit 20 is a component that enables the specific small motor-driven bicycle 1 to run. The wheel section 20 at least includes a plurality of wheels 21 provided at the front and rear of the frame 11 . In this example, the wheel section 20 includes two wheels 21, one at the front and one at the rear, and a disc brake 22 attached to each wheel 21. The disc brake 22 is connected by a brake wire to a brake lever provided on the handlebar 12. However, the brake is not limited to the disc brake 22, and may be a hub brake or a rim brake.

[0018] <4> Drive unit The drive unit 30 is a component that drives the wheel unit 20. The drive unit 30 includes at least a generator 31 capable of generating electricity by the rotation of the pedal 14, a battery 32 capable of storing the electricity generated by the generator 31, and a motor 33 capable of driving the wheels 21 to rotate using the electricity from the battery 32. The generator 31 and the battery 32 are connected via a power cable so as to be capable of transmitting power. The battery 32 and the motor 33 are connected via a power cable so as to transmit power. In this embodiment, an alternator equipped with a regulator is used as the generator 31 and is provided between the pedal 14 and the axle of the rear wheel 21. The generator 31 is connected to the pedal 14 via a sprocket 15 and a chain 16 so as to be capable of transmitting power. In this embodiment, a high-output motor with a rated output of 36V 250W is used as the motor 33 and is provided on the axle of the rear wheels 21. However, the structure of the drive unit 30 is not limited to the above, and for example, the generator 31 may be provided on the rear wheel 21 and the motor 33 may be provided on the front wheel 21. Also, the generator 31 may be provided on the crank portion of the pedal 14 or may be attached externally to the wheel 21. In short, any structure is acceptable as long as the power generated by the generator 31 can be charged into the battery 32 and the motor 33 can be driven by the power supplied from the battery 32.

[0019] <4.1> Battery In this embodiment, a lithium ion rechargeable battery is used as the battery 32 and is detachably attached within the frame 11 . The battery 32 can be charged by rotating the pedals 14, or it can be removed from the frame 11 and charged directly from a household power source. In this example, the battery 32 has an external power supply function, and by connecting a charging wire to the battery 32, it is possible to charge electronic devices such as smartphones and personal computers. Furthermore, in an emergency, the battery 32 can be charged by rotating the pedal 14, and the battery 32 can be used as an emergency power source for LED lights, a radio, etc.

[0020] <5> Control Unit The control unit 40 is a component that controls the drive unit 30 . The control unit 40 includes at least an accelerator 41 and a limiter 42 . The axle 41 is electrically connected to the motor 33 and electronically controls the amount of drive of the motor 33 . In this example, the accelerator 41 is linked to the throttle operation of the handlebars 12, and the driving amount of the motor 33 is increased or decreased according to the amount of throttle, thereby controlling the running speed. The limiter 42 is electrically connected to the motor 33, and controls the drive amount of the motor 33 according to the riding mode, thereby limiting the riding speed of the specific small motor-driven bicycle 1. There are two types of driving modes, for example, a maximum speed mode (20 km / h) and a sidewalk driving speed mode (6 km / h), and when the set speed of each mode is exceeded, the output of the motor 33 is cut off by 100%.

[0021] <6> Light section The lighting unit 50 is a component used for driving convenience. In this example, the lighting unit 50 is a combination of a light 51 provided at the front of the frame 11, a turn signal 52 provided on the handlebar 12, and a tail light 53 provided at the rear of the frame 11. In this example, the turn signal 52 also serves as a maximum speed light, flashing orange when indicating a direction, turning green in 20km / h mode, and flashing green in 6km / h mode. The structure of the lighting unit 50 is well known as the structure of a general motorized bicycle or bicycle, and therefore will not be described in detail here.

[0022] <7> Driving Instructions The specific small motorized bicycle 1 is operated, for example, in the following manner. Note that in this example, the explanation will be given from a state where the battery 32 has been charged in advance. The rider boards the vehicle body 10. Although wearing a helmet is a voluntary obligation, it is advisable to wear a helmet for safety reasons. The accelerator 41 is operated using the throttle on the handlebar 12, and the motor 33 is started to move off. The rotation speed of the motor 33 can be controlled by operating the accelerator 41 to accelerate or decelerate the driving speed, but when the driving speed reaches the speed limit for each driving mode, a limiter 42 cuts the output of the motor 33 to prevent the speed from exceeding the speed limit. The pedals 14 are depressed at an appropriate timing while riding, and rotated as if riding a bicycle. This rotates the generator 31 via the sprocket 15 and chain 16, and the generated electricity can be supplied to the battery 32. The specific small motorized bicycle 1 of the present invention allows the rider to travel stably while simultaneously enjoying a comfortable speed provided by the motor 33 and a bicycle-like riding feel provided by pedaling the pedals 14. EXAMPLES

[0023] [Example of direct power dual-use system] In the first embodiment, the drive unit includes the battery 32, and only the power stored in the battery 32 is supplied to the motor 33. In contrast, in this embodiment, the generator 31 is configured to be able to switch between direct power supply from the motor 33 and power supply from the battery 32 (FIG. 4). During direct power supply, electricity is generated by the generator 31 by the rotation of the pedal 14, and the electricity is sent directly to the motor 33 to operate it. On the other hand, when the pedal 14 is not being pedaled, the accelerator 41 transmits electric power from the battery 32 to the motor 33 to drive it. However, even during direct power supply, electric power is not endlessly supplied to the motor 33 by the rotation of the pedals 14, but rather the limiter 42 controls the maximum speed so as not to exceed the legal upper limit for specific small motor bicycles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1. Specific small motorized bicycles 10 Body 11 Frame 12 Handle 13. Saddle 14 Pedals 15 Sprockets 16 Chain 20 Wheel section 21 wheels 22 Disc brake 30 Drive unit 31 Generator 32 Battery 33 Motor 40 Control section 41 Axel 42 Limiter 50 Light section 51 Light 52 Winka 53 Taillight

Claims

1. A specific motorized bicycle, A body portion having a frame, a handlebar, a saddle, and pedals; a wheel section having a plurality of wheels provided at the front and rear of the frame; A drive unit connected to the wheel unit; A control unit electrically connected to the drive unit, the drive unit includes a generator capable of generating electricity by rotation of the pedals, a battery capable of storing electricity generated by the generator, and a motor capable of rotating and driving at least one of the plurality of wheels by electricity from the battery, The control unit is operated to drive the motor so as to travel at a speed equal to or lower than a set speed. Specific motorized bicycles.

2. A specific motorized bicycle, A body portion having a frame, a handlebar, a saddle, and pedals; a wheel section having a plurality of wheels provided at the front and rear of the frame; A drive unit connected to the wheel unit; A control unit electrically connected to the drive unit, the drive unit includes a generator capable of generating electricity by rotation of the pedals, a battery capable of storing electric power generated by the generator, and a motor capable of rotating and driving at least one of the plurality of wheels by electric power from the battery or the generator, The control unit is operated to drive the motor so as to travel at a speed equal to or lower than a set speed. Specific motorized bicycles.

3. The vehicle body includes a sprocket that rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the pedal, and a chain that is wound around the generator from the sprocket, The rotation of the pedal is transmitted to the generator via the sprocket and the chain.

3. A specific motor-driven bicycle according to claim 1 or 2.

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