Electric mobility

Abstract

To provide an electric mobility that is able to control behavior in which the electric mobility tilts outside when pivoting or turning.SOLUTION: An electric mobility having at least a pair of wheels 20 and a vehicle body frame 121, comprises: a pair of rocking portions 2, wherein when one end of each rocking portion 2 in a vehicle width direction is defined as a base end and the other end in the vehicle width direction is defined as a tip end, a base-end side of each rocking portion 2 is supported by the vehicle body frame 121 so as to be capable of rocking in a vertical direction around a rocking axis 150a extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and wherein each wheel 20 is supported by the rocking portion 2 so as to move in the vertical direction together with a tip-end side of each rocking portion 2; an urging member 140 that applies a downward force to each rocking portion 2 when the tip-end side moves upward; a rocking control portion 3 that curbs different-direction rocking in which one of the base-end sides of the pair of rocking portions 2 rocks in a different direction in the vertical direction with respect to the other, or that regulates it within a predetermined range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to electric mobility. [Background technology]

[0002] Known examples of such electric mobility include a pair of swing bases supported on a vehicle body frame so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, a pair of rear wheels supported on the pair of swing bases, and a biasing member that applies a downward force to the pair of swing bases. For example, see Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 132533 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned electric mobility, if a biasing member with a low spring constant is used and the range of vertical swing of each sway base is increased to provide soft suspension characteristics, the ride comfort will improve, but the electric mobility will be more likely to lean to the outside during cornering or turns.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, there is a demand for electric mobility that can control the behavior of leaning to the outside of a cornering or turn. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an electric mobility having at least a pair of wheels and a body frame, and is equipped with a pair of oscillating parts, and when one end of each of the oscillating parts in the vehicle width direction is a base end and the other end in the vehicle width direction is a tip end, the base end side of each of the oscillating parts is supported on the body frame so as to be able to oscillate in the vertical direction around a swing axis extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and each of the wheels is supported on the oscillating parts so as to move in the vertical direction together with the tip side of each of the oscillating parts, and is equipped with a biasing member that applies a downward force to each of the oscillating parts when the tip side moves upward, and a swing control part that suppresses or restricts within a predetermined range the different directional swing in which one of the base end sides of the pair of oscillating parts swings in a different direction in the vertical direction relative to the other. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an electric mobility device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric mobility of the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the electric mobility of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the electric mobility of the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a rear wheel side vehicle body of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a rear wheel side vehicle body of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the rear wheel side vehicle body of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main portion of a rear wheel side vehicle body of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the swing base of the electric mobility device according to the present embodiment and the swing control unit according to the first modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a rear-wheel side vehicle body of the electric mobility device according to the present embodiment and a swing control unit according to a first modified example. [Figure 12]FIG. 11 is a rear view of the swing base of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment and the swing control unit of the second modified example. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a rear view of the swing base of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment and the swing control unit of the third modified example. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a rear view of the swing base of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment and the swing control unit of the fourth modified example. [Figure 15] 13 is a rear view of a swing base of a modified example of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment and a swing control unit of a fifth modified example. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a rear view of a swing base of another modified example of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment and a swing control unit of a sixth modified example. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a side view of the front wheel of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment. [Figure 18] 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17. [Figure 19] 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVX-XVX in FIG. 17. [Figure 20] 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX-XX in FIG. 18, showing the attachment of a nut to a hub part. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric mobility device of the present embodiment in a towing state. [Figure 23] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit for the electric mobility device of the present embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric mobility device in a stored state according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An electric mobility device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, this electric mobility 1 has a mobility body 30. The mobility body 30 has a front wheel 10, a pair of rear wheels (wheels) 20, and a body 31 supported by the front wheels 10 and the rear wheels 20. This electric mobility 1 also has a seat unit 40 detachably attached to the mobility body 30. The electric mobility 1 of this embodiment is one in which one person sits on the seat unit 40. Such a vehicle may be called a personal mobility vehicle. In the following description, the vehicle front-rear direction may be simply described as the front-rear direction, and the vehicle width direction may be simply described as the width direction. Furthermore, the vehicle front-rear direction and the mobility body 30 or the body 31 front-rear direction coincide with each other, and the vehicle width direction and the mobility body 30 or the body 31 width direction coincide with each other. Furthermore, the following description is basically given of the electric mobility 1 placed on a horizontal plane in an unloaded state or in a state in which a predetermined load is applied. An example of a state in which a predetermined load is applied is a state in which an object or person of the permissible weight of the electric mobility 1, or an object or person of ⅔ the permissible load, is placed on the seat unit 40.

[0009] 6 and 7, in this embodiment, an output shaft 51 of a motor 50 is connected to each of a pair of rear wheels 20, and each of the motors 50 can drive the two rear wheels 20. In this embodiment, the output shaft 51 of the motor 50 functions as the axle of the rear wheels 20. However, the driving force of the motor 50 may be configured to be transmitted to the front wheels 10 via a power transmission member such as a belt, a gear, a shaft, or the axle of the rear wheels 20.

[0010] The front wheel 10 is supported by a body 31. In this embodiment, the front wheel 10 has a hub 12 rotatably supported by the body 31, and an outer peripheral member 13 that is provided on the outer periphery of the hub 12 and has an outer periphery made of a material having rubber-like elasticity such as rubber or silicone. The front wheel 10 is configured to be rotatable by a bearing or other bearing (not shown).

[0011] In this embodiment, each rear wheel 20 has an axle, such as the output shaft 51 of the motor 50, a hub 22 attached to the axle, and an outer circumferential member 23 provided on the outer periphery of the hub 22, the outer circumferential surface of which is formed from a material having rubber-like elasticity, such as rubber or silicone.

[0012] In this embodiment, the front wheel 10 and the rear wheel 20 may be pneumatic tires, or may be solid tires formed from a material having rubber-like elasticity even to the inside.

[0013] The mobility body 30 has a front-wheel side body 110 and a rear-wheel side body 120 detachably connected to the front-wheel side body 110. The front-wheel side body 110 has a front-wheel side frame 111 formed so that the middle part in the fore-and-aft direction and / or the front end side extends along the ground, and the axle of the front wheel 10 is attached via a front wheel suspension 160 such as a coil spring. The rear end side of the front-wheel side frame 111 is a vertical frame 111a extending upward, and the seat unit 40 is attached to the upper end side of the vertical frame 111a. The front-wheel side body 110 also has a front-wheel side cover 110a, which is provided so as to cover at least a part of the front-wheel side frame 111 and is used for protecting the front-wheel side frame 111, as a part for resting the feet of a rider sitting in the seat unit 40, as a luggage placement part, a mudguard, etc.

[0014] The front wheel side frame 111 is made of a material suitable for obtaining strength, such as metal.

[0015] 1, 4, etc., the rear-wheel-side body 120 has a rear-wheel-side frame (body frame) 121 and a rear-wheel-side cover 120a that is provided to cover at least a portion of the rear-wheel-side frame 121 and is used to protect the rear-wheel-side frame 121 and as a mudguard (FIG. 5). The front-wheel-side frame 111 and the rear-wheel-side frame 121 form the entire body frame of the mobility main body 30.

[0016] The rear wheel side frame 121 is made of a material suitable for obtaining strength, such as metal.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 and other figures, the rear wheel side frame 121 is provided with a pair of anti-toppling members 126 in a detachable manner in the width direction to prevent the electric mobility 1 from tipping over backward.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rechargeable battery BA is detachably attached to the rear wheel side body 120.

[0019] The seat unit 40 has a seat surface portion 41 on which a passenger sits, and a backrest portion 42. A center shaft 171 is rotatably attached to the front end side of the front wheel side frame 111, and a handle shaft 181 is attached to the upper end of the center shaft 171 so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction. The handle shaft 181 can be fixed to an upper swing position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 etc. by a handle angle adjustment mechanism (not shown), and can also be swung to a lower swing position shown in Fig. 24. A handle 180 is fixed to the upper end of the handle shaft 181, and the handle includes a first operating unit 180a and a second operating unit 180b, each of which is an operating lever, a button, etc. A rider can displace the operating units 180a, 180b toward the rear of the vehicle. 1, 24, etc., a stand member 197 is attached to the rear end of the electric mobility 1. The stand member 197 has a support part 197a that is fixed to the seat unit 40 and extends rearward from the seat unit 40, and a widthwise extending part 197b that has a central part fixed to the support part 197a and extends in the vehicle width direction. Both ends of the widthwise extending part 197b are located further rearward than the central side of the vehicle, and anti-slip members 197c made of a material having rubber-like elasticity may be attached to both ends.

[0020] 24 while using the tip-over prevention members 126 as a fulcrum, and then the electric mobility 1 can stand on its own thanks to the tip-over prevention members 126 and the width-direction extending portions 197b. This state is useful for reducing the storage space required for the electric mobility 1. Furthermore, the user can store the electric mobility 1 without having to perform operations such as folding it.

[0021] When the handle shaft 181 is not in a rotation position for making a pivot turn, described below, if the operation unit 180a is operated, the control device 80, described below, rotates the pair of rear wheels 20 in the forward direction by both motors 50. Also, when the handle shaft 181 is not in a rotation position for making a pivot turn, if the operation unit 180b is operated, the control device 80 rotates the pair of rear wheels 20 in the backward direction by both motors 50. When the handle shaft 181 is in a rotation position for making a pivot turn, if the operation unit 180a or 180b is operated, the control device 80, described below, rotates the pair of rear wheels 20 in opposite directions by both motors 50. When the steering angle of the front wheels 10 is set to approximately 90° by the handlebars 180 and the pair of motors 50 are rotated in opposite directions, the electric mobility 1 turns, for example, around the midpoint or center in the width direction of the pair of rear wheels 20. In this embodiment, such a turn is called a pivot turn. It is also possible for the control device 80 to drive the electric mobility 1 in an automatic manner based on a program, without the rider operating the handlebars 180, the operation units 180a, 180b, etc.

[0022] A signal corresponding to the amount of displacement of the operating portions 180a and 180b is transmitted to a control unit 60, which will be described later, and each of the motors 50 is driven in response to the signal.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 23, the control unit 60 has a motor driver 70 that drives each motor 50, and a control device 80.

[0024] The control device 80 includes a processor 81 having, for example, a CPU, a RAM, etc., a storage device 82 having a non-volatile memory, a ROM, etc., and a transmitter / receiver 83. A program for controlling the electric mobility 1 is stored in the storage device 82, and the processor 81 operates based on the program and transmits drive signals for driving each motor 50 to the motor driver 70.

[0025] In this embodiment, the front-wheel side vehicle body 110 and the rear-wheel side vehicle body 120 are detachably connected to each other, but the front-wheel side vehicle body 110 and the rear-wheel side vehicle body 120 may be integral with each other.

[0026] Each rear wheel 20 is attached to the rear-wheel-side vehicle body 120 via a rear-wheel suspension. As shown in FIG. 7, each rear-wheel suspension has a swing base 131 and a spring 140 made of a metal such as steel. The swing base 131 is formed using a material suitable for obtaining strength, such as aluminum or other metallic materials. A part of the swing base 131 may be made of plastic. The electric mobility 1 of this embodiment has a swing unit 2 including the swing base 131 and a motor 50 fixed to the swing base 131. The swing unit 2 is a part that swings together with the swing base 131, and the swing unit 2 may further have other configurations.

[0027] The base end side of the oscillating base 131 is attached to the rear-wheel side frame 121 of the rear-wheel side body 120 so as to be able to oscillate in the vertical direction, and when the oscillating base 131 oscillates, the tip of the oscillating base 131 moves in the vertical direction. The base end side of the oscillating base 131 is disposed on the center side in the width direction of the lower surface of the rear-wheel side frame 121, and the tip portion of the oscillating base 131 is disposed outside in the width direction of the rear-wheel side frame 121. In this embodiment, the base end, base end portion, and base end side of the oscillating part 2 are the base end, base end portion, and base end side of the oscillating base 131, and the tip, tip portion, and tip side of the oscillating part 2 are the tip, tip portion, and tip side of the oscillating base 131.

[0028] More specifically, a pair of shaft support parts are provided on the lower surface of the rear wheel side frame 121, and each shaft support part is provided with a through hole extending in the front-rear direction. Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 4, a shaft 150 extending in the front-rear direction is fixed to the base end side of the swing base 131.

[0029] A bearing such as a plain bearing is provided between the shaft 150 and the shaft support portion.

[0030] With the above-mentioned configuration, the oscillating base 131 oscillates around an oscillating axis 150a (FIGS. 4, 7, etc.) which is the central axis of the shaft 150. Alternatively, a shaft support portion may be provided on the base end side of the oscillating base 131 , and the shaft 150 may be fixed to the lower surface of the rear wheel side frame 121 .

[0031] As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, a rear wheel support member 132 is provided at the tip of the oscillating base 131. The rear wheel support member 132 is a member provided at the tip of the oscillating base 131. In this embodiment, the oscillating base 131 and the rear wheel support member 132 are integrally formed by performing press processing (bending, cutting, etc.), welding, etc. on a steel plate. When the rear wheel support member 132 is fixed to the oscillating base 131, the rear wheel support member 132 is a part of the oscillating base 131. As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the rear wheel support member 132 extends upward from the tip of the oscillating base 131, and in this embodiment, a housing of the motor 50 is fixed to the rear wheel support member 132 by a plurality of bolts.

[0032] The hub 22 of the rear wheel 20 is fixed to the output shaft 51 of the motor 50. As a result, the motor 50 and the rear wheel 20 are supported at the tip of the swing base 131. In other words, the rear wheel support member 132 supports the rear wheel 20 on the oscillating base 131 via the motor 50. Other mechanical elements such as bearings, axles, other members, etc. may be fixed to the rear wheel support member 132, and the rear wheel support member 132 may support the rear wheel 20 via the other mechanical elements, axles, other members, etc. There may also be cases where the housing of the motor 50 is fixed to the tip, middle, or other portion of the oscillating base 131. In this case, even if the rear wheel support member 132 is not provided, the rear wheel 20 is supported by the oscillating base 131 via the motor 50. Also, other mechanical elements such as bearings, axles, other members, etc. may be fixed to the tip of the oscillating base 131, and the tip of the oscillating base 131 may support the rear wheel 20 via the other mechanical elements, axles, other members, etc. In either case, the rear wheel 20 is disposed on the tip side of the oscillating base 131 and is supported by the oscillating base 131 so as to move up and down together with the tip side of the oscillating base 131.

[0033] 7, the rear wheel side frame 121 and / or the swing base 131 are provided with stopper portions 128a, 128b, and when the tip end of the swing base 131 moves downward, the base end of the swing base 131 abuts against the rear wheel side frame 121 from below via the stopper portion 128a. This position is the lower limit swing position of the swing base 131. On the other hand, when the tip end of the oscillating base 131 moves upward, the base end of the oscillating base 131 abuts against the rear wheel side frame 121 from below via the stopper portion 128b.

[0034] Incidentally, even if the tip end of the oscillating base 131 swings downward, the base end of the oscillating base 131 may not come into contact with the rear wheel side frame 121 or the like, and the downward or upward swing of the oscillating base 131 may be stopped by the force of the spring 140. In this case, the position where the downward or upward swing of the oscillating base 131 stops due to the support of the spring 140 becomes the lower limit swing position or the upper limit swing position.

[0035] The rear wheel width W1 (FIG. 7), which is the widthwise distance between the outer end of one rear wheel 20 and the outer end of the other rear wheel 20, is, for example, 450 to 650 mm. In this embodiment, the rear wheel width W1 is 530 to 550 mm. In contrast, the support shaft width W2 (FIG. 7), which is the widthwise distance between one oscillation axis 150a and the other oscillation axis 150a, is, for example, 50 to 200 mm. In this embodiment, the support shaft width W2 is 120 to 130 mm or less.

[0036] In this embodiment, the distance from the swing axis 150a to the outer end of the rear wheel 20 is about 210 mm, and when the swing base 131 swings from the upper swing position to the lower swing position, the rear wheel 20 moves up and down by 25 mm or more. To improve the comfort of the passenger, it is preferable that the rear wheel 20 is configured to move up and down relative to the body frame by 15 mm or more, and more preferably by 20 mm or more, but the present invention is not limited to these numerical values ​​and may be implemented as long as the required suspension function is realized.

[0037] 6, one end of a spring 140 is attached to the tip of the oscillating base 131. In this embodiment, one end of the spring 140 is attached to the tip of the oscillating base 131 via a rear wheel support member 132. Note that one end of the spring 140 may be attached to another part of the oscillating base 131.

[0038] On the other hand, the other end of the spring 140 is attached to the rear wheel side frame 121 .

[0039] In this embodiment, the extension direction of the spring 140 forms an angle of 20° or less with the width horizontal line. In one example, the width horizontal line is parallel to a line passing through the center point of the axle of one rear wheel 20 and the center point of the axle of the other rear wheel 20. In another example, the width horizontal line is parallel to a line passing through the radial center point of the axle of one front wheel 10 and the center point of the axle of the other front wheel 10.

[0040] In one example, the extension direction of the spring 140 is a straight line passing through the radial center of one end of the spring 140 and the radial center of the other end. For example, the angle is set in the range of 5° to 20°. If the angle is 50° or less, it may have the same function as when the angle is 20°.

[0041] It is also preferred to use a known non-linear spring as spring 140. One example of a non-linear spring has a winding pitch that is different at one end of the spring than at the other, which results in a higher spring rate as the spring is compressed than as it begins to compress. Other types of non-linear springs may also be used.

[0042] In this manner, in this embodiment, the spring 140 extends in the vehicle width direction and also extends obliquely downward from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0043] When a force is applied to each rear wheel 20 from below and each rear wheel 20 moves upward relative to the rear wheel side frame 121, each spring 140 is compressed. At this time, since the springs 140 are arranged as described above, the ratio of the horizontal force component to the vertical force component in the force applied from the other end of each spring 140 to the rear wheel side frame 121 becomes large. In other words, it becomes difficult for the vertical force to be transmitted from each spring 140 to the rear wheel side frame 121. It is also possible to further provide a damper arranged in parallel with the spring 140. In one example, a known damper such as an oil damper may be arranged in the spring 140. In another example, instead of the spring (biasing member) 140, another biasing member such as an air cylinder may be provided. In this case, a biasing system can be configured having an air cylinder capable of supplying air to the base end side and the tip end side of the cylinder portion, a pump that supplies air to the cylinder portion, electronic control valves provided on the base end side and the tip end side of the cylinder portion, and a control device. By controlling the pump and the electronically controlled valve with the control device, it is possible to realize an appropriate suspension function according to the weight of the rider. The biasing member may be any member that can apply a downward force to the rocking part 2 when the tip side of the rocking part 2 moves upward.

[0044] The electric mobility 1 is required to be small, lightweight, have a simple structure, be durable, etc. For this reason, the space available for arranging the suspension, springs, dampers, etc. is relatively small, and it is often not possible to make the suspension, springs, dampers, etc. large. The above configuration is useful for effectively cushioning the downward force applied to the rear wheel 20 in a limited space. The force from below includes the force that the rear wheel 20 receives from the ground when a passenger sits on the seat unit 40, and the force that the rear wheel 20 receives from unevenness in the ground when the electric mobility 1 is traveling.

[0045] In this embodiment, the oscillating base 131 of the oscillating unit 2 extends from the oscillating axis 150a outward in the vehicle width direction, and also extends from the oscillating axis 150a in a substantially horizontal direction. In this embodiment, when the angle that the extending direction of the oscillating base 131 or the oscillating unit 2 in the vehicle width direction forms with the horizontal direction is 35° or less, it can be said that the oscillating base 131 extends from the oscillating axis 150a in a substantially horizontal direction. The angle is preferably 25° or less, more preferably 10° or less, and even more preferably 5° or less.

[0046] In one example, the extension direction of the oscillating base 131 (oscillating section 2) is a direction passing through the centroid of the cross section of the base end of the oscillating base 131 and the centroid of the cross section of the tip end of the oscillating base 131. The cross section is a cross section cut by a plane extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the vehicle. In another example, the extension direction of the oscillating base 131 is a direction in which the lower surface or the upper surface of the oscillating base 131 substantially extends.

[0047] In this embodiment, when no passenger is seated on the seat unit 40, the rocking base 131 extends slightly downward from the rocking axis 150a relative to the horizontal direction. When a passenger sits on the seat unit 40, the rocking base 131 rocks upward against the reaction force of the spring 140, and the rocking base 131 extends slightly upward from the rocking axis 150a relative to the horizontal direction. When the passenger is light, the rocking base 131 extends horizontally from the rocking axis 150a or slightly downward from the horizontal direction.

[0048] In this state, one end of the spring 140 is attached to the tip of the rocking base 131 via the rear wheel support member 132, and the spring 140 extends in the vehicle width direction as described above. Therefore, as the rocking position of the rocking base 131 approaches the upper limit rocking position, the compression amount of the spring 140 per unit rocking amount of the rocking base 131 increases. With this configuration, when a light passenger is on the vehicle, the compression amount of the spring 140 per unit rocking amount of the rocking base 131 becomes smaller than when a heavy passenger is on the vehicle.

[0049] Alternatively, spring 140 may be a non-linear spring whose spring rate increases as compression progresses. In one example, spring 140 is a non-linear spring whose spring rate after the increase is 1.3 times or more, and preferably 1.5 times or more, of the spring rate before the increase. In other words, the spring rate of the entire rear wheel suspension changes in response to the weight of the rider. Note that the effect of changing the spring rate of the entire rear wheel suspension in response to the weight of the rider can be obtained simply by using spring 140 as a non-linear spring.

[0050] In this way, the spring rate of the entire rear wheel suspension changes according to the weight of the rider, so that excessive rocking of the rocking base 131 is prevented when a heavy rider rides on the vehicle. This configuration that provides a spring rate according to the rider's weight not only reduces vibrations but also protects each frame of the mobility body 30. Furthermore, when the electric mobility 1 turns or turns, a large force is applied to one spring 140 of the pair of rear wheels 20. Here, the spring rate of the spring 140 becomes high when a large force is applied. For example, when the electric mobility 1 is stationary or moving straight with a light rider on board, the spring rate has not yet become high, but when the electric mobility 1 turns or turns, the spring rate of the outer rear wheel suspension becomes high. This suppresses the roll angle when turning or turning, stabilizing the posture of the electric mobility 1 and the rider.

[0051] In addition, in this embodiment, a swing control unit 3 is provided which suppresses or restricts the different vertical movements of the base ends of a pair of swing parts 2, thereby preventing the tip side of one of the pair of swing parts 2 from becoming higher than the tip side of the other, or restricts it to a predetermined range. 9 and other figures, the swing control unit 3 of this embodiment has a first member 310 and a second member 320 made of metal, hard plastic, or the like. More preferably, the first member 310 and the second member 320 are formed of a spring material such as stainless steel or spring steel used in the manufacture of springs such as coil springs.

[0052] The first member 310 has a main body 310a fixed to the base end of one (right side) of a pair of oscillating bases 131 by a bolt or the like, and the second member 320 has a main body 320a fixed to the base end of the other (left side) of the pair of oscillating bases 131 by a bolt or the like. The first member 310 has a plurality of upper contact portions 311 arranged at intervals from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a plurality of lower contact portions 312 arranged at intervals from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0053] In this embodiment, each of the contact portions 311, 312 extends from the main body 310a toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and each of the contact portions 311, 312 is fixed to the main body 310a. Alternatively, each of the contact portions 311, 312 is formed integrally with the main body 310a. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the multiple upper contact portions 311 and the multiple lower contact portions 312 are arranged alternately in the vehicle front-rear direction. The multiple upper contact portions 311 are disposed above the multiple lower contact portions 312.

[0054] The second member 320 also has a plurality of upper contact portions 321 arranged at intervals from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a plurality of lower contact portions 322 arranged at intervals from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, each of the contact portions 321, 322 extends from the main body 320a toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and each of the contact portions 321, 322 is fixed to the main body 320a. Alternatively, each of the contact portions 321, 322 is formed integrally with the main body 320a. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the upper contact portions 321 and the lower contact portions 322 are arranged alternately in the vehicle front-rear direction. The upper contact portions 321 are disposed above the lower contact portions 322.

[0055] The first member 310 and the second member 320 are fixed to a pair of swing bases 131 so that the upper contact parts 311 of the first member 310 and the lower contact parts 322 of the second member 320 are aligned in the vertical direction, and the lower contact parts 312 of the first member 310 and the upper contact parts 321 of the second member 320 are aligned in the vertical direction (FIG. 9). When the left and right rear wheels 20 that can move in the vertical direction are arranged at the same height position with respect to the vehicle body frame as described above, that is, when the tip sides of the pair of swing bases 131 (swinging parts 2) are arranged at the same height position with respect to the vehicle body frame, the first member 310 and the second member 320 do not come into contact with each other, or the first member 310 and the second member 320 are lightly in contact with each other without engaging with each other in the vertical direction. The tip side of the swing base 131 (swinging part 2) is, for example, a specific part at the tip of the swing base 131.

[0056] Here, the height position can be measured relative to a reference plane (reference height position) based on a reference element, a reference shape, a reference position, etc. of the rear-wheel-side body 120. The reference element is, for example, a part or all of the underside of the rear-wheel-side frame 121 in the body frame, a pair of tip-over prevention members 126, their central axes, etc. The reference shape is, for example, a single or multiple shapes that are characteristic of the rear-wheel-side frame 121. The reference position is, for example, the height position of the specific part of the rear wheel 20 or the oscillating base 131 relative to the body frame, measured with the electric mobility 1 at rest with no load.

[0057] For example, in the case of a reference element, a reference plane (reference height position) can be set based on a single or multiple grooves, protrusions, flat surfaces, etc. extending horizontally in the vehicle width direction on the underside of the rear-wheel side frame 121, or holes, grooves, protrusions, flat surfaces, etc. aligned in the vehicle width direction on the underside of the rear-wheel side frame 121. The reference shape and reference position can be set in a similar manner.

[0058] When the electric mobility 1 makes a turn, centrifugal force acts on the electric mobility 1, and a large load may be applied to the rear wheel 20 on the outside of the turn, out of the pair of rear wheels 20. In this case, the electric mobility 1 may tilt toward the outside of the turn, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3. This behavior may also be called rolling. This tilting behavior may also be caused by a passenger putting their weight on one side in the width direction of the vehicle. For example, a passenger sitting on a stopped electric mobility 1 may put their weight on one side in the width direction of the vehicle to pick up an item next to the electric mobility 1.

[0059] The tilting behavior also occurs when a passenger puts their weight on one side in the vehicle width direction while standing on the footrest. As mentioned above, when a soft rear wheel suspension is used to improve passenger comfort, this leaning behavior is more likely to occur. This tilting behavior can also be said to be a rotational behavior about an axis extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0060] In this embodiment, the tilting behavior causes the height position of one of the pair of oscillating parts 2 to be higher than the height position of the tip side of the other oscillating part 2. For example, when the difference between the two height positions becomes a predetermined difference of 10 mm, the upper contact parts 311 and the lower contact parts 322 come into contact in the vertical direction. At this time, in this embodiment, the lower contact parts 312 of the first member 310 and the upper contact parts 321 of the second member 320 also come into contact in the vertical direction. This contact restricts the vertical movement of the first member 310 and the second member 320 relative to each other. In other words, the difference between the height position of one of the pair of oscillating parts 2 and the height position of the tip side of the other oscillating part 2 is suppressed or restricted from exceeding the predetermined difference. More specifically, the difference between the height position of one of the pair of oscillating parts 2 and the height position of the tip side of the other oscillating part 2 is restricted to a predetermined range of 10 mm.

[0061] The predetermined range can be set appropriately. Specific values ​​vary depending on factors such as the size of the electric mobility 1, but for example, if the predetermined range is set to a relatively small range of 2 to 10 mm, the electric mobility 1 will be less likely to roll. If the predetermined range is set to a relatively large range exceeding 10 mm, the degree of freedom in tilting the electric mobility 1 when turning will be increased.

[0062] This configuration makes it possible to reduce the tilting behavior while realizing a soft rear wheel suspension for improving passenger comfort as described above. This leads to improved driving performance of the electric mobility 1 and further improved passenger comfort. In addition, when the first member 310 and the second member 320 are formed using a spring material as described above, a configuration can be adopted in which, when the upper contact portion 311 and the lower contact portion 322 come into contact with each other in the vertical direction, the upper contact portion 311 and / or the lower contact portion 322 can deform within a range of elastic deformation according to the force applied in the vertical direction to the contact portion. In this case, for example, a force of 500N, 1000N, etc. is applied to the contact portion in the vertical direction, and the tip of the upper contact portion 311 and / or the tip of the lower contact portion 322 can displace in the vertical direction by 0.3mm or more, 0.5mm or more, or 1mm or more. With this configuration, it is expected that the restriction of the displacement of the oscillating portion 2 becomes softer, and the members 310, 320 become less likely to wear out (become less likely to permanently deform).

[0063] Alternatively, a single upper contact portion 311 and a single lower contact portion 312 may be provided on the first member 310, and a single upper contact portion 321 and a single lower contact portion 322 may be provided on the second member 320. Even in this case, the above-described advantageous effects can be similarly achieved.

[0064] Also, for example, it is possible to omit the second member 320 and achieve the above effect using only the first member 310. In this case, a part of the base end of one oscillating base 131 is disposed below a plurality of upper contact parts 311 of the first member 310 fixed to the base end of the other oscillating base 131. Also, a part of the base end of the other oscillating base 131 is disposed above a plurality of lower contact parts 312 of the first member 310. When the part of the base end functions in the same manner as the second member 320, the above effect is achieved.

[0065] A part or the whole of the first member 310 and the second member 320 can be part of the base end of the oscillating base 131. For example, the upper contact portion 311 and the lower contact portion 312 may be integrally provided on the base end side of one oscillating base 131, and the upper contact portion 322 and the lower contact portion 322 may be integrally provided on the base end side of the other oscillating base 131.

[0066] Alternatively, a hole or a notch may be formed on the base end side of one of the oscillating bases 131, and a protrusion inserted into the hole or notch may be formed on the base end side of the other oscillating base 131. The upper end surface of the hole or notch functions as an upper contact portion that contacts the protrusion from above, and the lower end surface of the hole or notch functions as a lower contact portion that contacts the protrusion from below.

[0067] As described above, in order to regulate different directional swinging in which one of the base ends of a pair of oscillating parts 2 swings in a different vertical direction relative to the other, it is sufficient that the base end side of at least one of the oscillating parts 2 is provided with an upper contact portion that contacts the base end side of the other oscillating part 2 from above and a lower contact portion that contacts it from below.

[0068] It is also possible to use a swing control section 4 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in place of the swing control section 3 of this embodiment. The swing control unit 4 has a connection member 400 in which a first fixing part 410 is fixed to the base end side of one of the pair of swing bases 131 by a bolt or the like and a second fixing part 420 is fixed to the base end side of the other of the pair of swing bases 131 by a bolt or the like. The swing control unit 4 may have other members in addition to the connection member 400.

[0069] The connecting member 400 has a force generating portion 430 made of metal, hard plastic, or the like that connects the first fixed portion 410 and the second fixed portion 420, and the force generating portion 430 has an elastically deformable shape. One end of the force generating portion 430 is a connecting portion with the first fixed portion 410, and the other end of the force generating portion 430 is a connecting portion with the second fixed portion 420.

[0070] An example of an elastically deformable shape is a shape disposed over a range of 170° or more around an axis 431 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, as shown in Fig. 10. The axis 431 is disposed within a range surrounded by the force generating unit 430, and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. For this reason, the elastically deformable shape is usually a shape disposed over a range of 180° or more around the axis 431.

[0071] The cross-sectional shape of the force generating unit 430 may be, for example, a shape consisting of a single arc, a shape made by connecting multiple arcs, a shape made by connecting a single or multiple arcs with a single or multiple straight lines, a shape obtained by removing some sides of a polygon, or the like. The cross-sectional shape is a cross-sectional shape cut by a plane perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction. Some or all of the arcs may be arcs having a center of curvature outside the force generating unit 430. The force generating unit 430 in FIG. 10 has a cross-sectional shape made by connecting multiple arcs. Moreover, the force generating unit 440 in FIG. 12, which is a swing control unit 4' of a modified example, has a cross-sectional shape made by connecting multiple arcs having a center of curvature outside the force generating unit 440.

[0072] Since the force generating units 430, 440 have the above-mentioned configuration, when the base ends of the pair of oscillating bases 131 both oscillate upward or downward in the same direction, a first deformation occurs in which one end and the other end of the force generating units 430, 440 are displaced horizontally relative to each other. When the pair of oscillating bases 131 oscillate in the same direction in this way, the force generating units 430, 440 having the above-mentioned shape apply a relatively small reaction force to the base ends of the pair of oscillating bases 131.

[0073] On the other hand, in the case of different direction swing in which one base end side of the pair of swing bases 131 swings upward or downward relative to the other base end side, a second deformation occurs in which one end and the other end of the force generating units 430, 440 are displaced in the up-down direction relative to each other. In this way, the force generating units 430, 440 deform in a mode different from that in the case of same direction swing. In this embodiment, the ratio of the force from the force generating units 430, 440 to the deformation amount of the second deformation in the case of different direction swing (second spring constant; second ratio) is 3 times or more, more preferably 5 times or more, compared to the ratio of the force from the force generating units 430, 440 to the deformation amount of the first deformation in the case of same direction swing (first spring constant; first ratio). The ratio may be 1.5 times or more. The ratio of the second spring constant to the first spring constant is not limited to the above value, and may be any value that can reduce the tilting behavior as described above. The same applies to the following description.

[0074] Therefore, the swing control units 4, 4' suppress different-direction swinging, in which one of the base ends of the pair of swinging units 2 swings in a different vertical direction relative to the other. This configuration can suppress or restrict the difference between the height position of the tip end side of one of the pair of swinging units 2 relative to the vehicle body frame and the height position of the tip end side of the other of the pair of swinging units 2 relative to the vehicle body frame from becoming larger than the predetermined range. In the case of suppression, the force generating units 430, 440 generate a sufficiently large force before the difference exceeds the predetermined range, thereby making it difficult for the difference to exceed the predetermined range. The same applies to the other force generating units.

[0075] It is also possible to use a swing control section 4'' shown in FIG. 13, which has a modified shape of the force generating section 430 of the swing control section 4 described above in this embodiment. The swing control unit 4'' and the force generating unit 430'' have an elastically deformable shape. The force generating unit 430'' is also shaped to be disposed over a range of 170° or more around the axis 431, and has a cross-sectional shape formed by connecting multiple circular arcs.

[0076] It is also possible to use a swing control section 5 shown in FIG. 14 in place of the swing control section 3 of this embodiment. The swing control unit 5 has a connection member 500 in which a first fixing part 510 is fixed to the base end side of one of the pair of swing bases 131 by a bolt or the like and a second fixing part 520 is fixed to the base end side of the other of the pair of swing bases 131 by a bolt or the like. The swing control unit 5 may have other members in addition to the connection member 500.

[0077] The connecting member 500 has a force generating section 530 consisting of a thread-like member, a string-like member, a band-like member, or the like that connects the first fixing section 510 and the second fixing section 520. The force generating section 530 of this embodiment is formed by winding a thread consisting of polyester fiber, nylon fiber, aramid fiber, or the like multiple times around the first fixing section 510 and the second fixing section 520. The thread-like member or the string-like member can be made using chemical fibers such as polyester fiber, nylon fiber, aramid fiber, natural fiber, metal fiber, or the like. The band-like member can be made using metal, plastic, rubber, or the like. The force generating section 530 of this embodiment may be provided with a rubber-like elasticity that covers the force generating section 530.

[0078] Since the connecting member 500 has the above-mentioned configuration, during the same-direction swing, a first deformation occurs in the force generating part 530, in which the first fixed part 510 side and the second fixed part 520 side of the force generating part 530 are displaced horizontally relative to each other. The length of the force generating part 530 between the first fixed part 510 and the second fixed part 520 is set so that a strong tension is not generated during the deformation.

[0079] On the other hand, during the different direction swing, a second displacement occurs in the force generating unit 530, in which the first fixed unit 510 side and the second fixed unit 520 side of the force generating unit 530 are displaced in the up-down direction relative to each other. The ratio (second spring constant; second ratio) between the force (tension) from the force generating unit 530 during the same direction swing and the deformation amount of the first deformation is 3 times or more, more preferably 5 times or more, in this embodiment. The ratio may be 1.5 times or more. As described above, the ratio is not limited to these values. The deformation amount can also be said to be the displacement amount (change in distance) of the first fixed unit 510 relative to the second fixed unit 520.

[0080] For this reason, the swing control unit 5 suppresses or regulates different direction swinging in which one of the base ends of the pair of swinging units 2 swings in a different direction in the up-down direction relative to the other. This configuration suppresses or regulates the difference in height between the tip end side of one of the pair of swinging units 2 relative to the vehicle body frame and the tip end side of the other of the pair of swinging units 2 relative to the vehicle body frame from exceeding the predetermined difference.

[0081] It is also possible to provide the swing control unit 6 on the swing base 131' in Fig. 15. In Fig. 15, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In Fig. 15, the shaft 150 fixed to the base end side of the right swing base 131' is disposed to the left of the shaft 150 fixed to the base end side of the left swing base 131'. The swing control section 6 has a connection member 600 that connects the base end side of the right swing base 131' to the base end side of the left swing base 131'. In addition to the connection member 600, the swing control section 6 may have other members.

[0082] The connecting member 600 can also be said to be a force generating unit made of a thread-like member, string-like member, band-like member, or the like that connects the base end side of the right oscillating base 131′ and the left oscillating base 131′. The force generating unit can be made of the same material as the force generating unit 530.

[0083] Since the connecting member 600 has the above-mentioned configuration, the change in the distance between both ends of the force generating portion in the up-down direction (first deformation) is small during the same-direction swing. The length of the force generating portion is set so that a strong tension is not generated at this time.

[0084] On the other hand, during the different direction swing, the distance between both ends of the force generating unit in the up-down direction changes significantly (second deformation). Compared with the ratio (first spring constant; first ratio) between the force (tension) from the force generating unit during the same direction swing and the deformation amount of the first deformation, the ratio (second spring constant; second ratio) between the force (tension) from the force generating unit during the different direction swing and the deformation amount of the second deformation is 3 times or more, more preferably 5 times or more in this embodiment. The ratio may be 1.5 times or more. As mentioned above, the ratio is not limited to these values. The deformation amount can also be said to be the displacement amount (change in distance) of the upper end of the force generating unit relative to the lower end.

[0085] For this reason, the swing control unit 6 suppresses or restricts different directional swing in which one of the base ends of the pair of swinging units 2 swings in a different vertical direction relative to the other. This configuration suppresses or restricts the difference in height between the tip end side of one of the pair of swinging units 2 relative to the vehicle body frame and the tip end side of the other swinging unit 2 relative to the vehicle body frame from exceeding the predetermined difference.

[0086] The swing control unit 7 may be provided on the swing base 131'' in FIG. 16. In FIG. 16, the same reference numerals are used for the components equivalent to those in the above embodiment. In FIG. 16, the shaft 150 fixed to the base end of the right swing base 131'' and the shaft 150 fixed to the base end of the left swing base 131'' are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the vehicle width direction. In FIG. 16, the rear wheel support member 132 is fixed to the swing base 131'', but the lower end of the rear wheel support member 132 may be connected to the swing base 131'' so as to be swingable in the vehicle width direction, as in a double wishbone suspension. In this case, the upper end of the rear wheel support member 132 is connected to an upper swing base (not shown) so as to be swingable in the vehicle width direction, as necessary. In such a case, the motor 50 may be fixed to the rear wheel side frame 121, and the output shaft of the motor 50 and the rear wheel 20 may be connected via a shaft, a universal joint, or the like.

[0087] The swing control unit 7 has a connecting member 700 in which a first fixing portion 710 is fixed to the base end side of one of the pair of swing bases 131'' by a bolt or the like and a second fixing portion 720 is fixed to the base end side of the other of the pair of swing bases 131'' by a bolt or the like. The swing control unit 7 may have other members in addition to the connecting member 700. In one example, the fixing portions 710, 720 are each a pulley fixed to the swing base 131'' coaxially with the swing axis 150a. The connecting member 700 also functions as a force generating portion.

[0088] The connecting member 700 has force generating portions 731, 732 consisting of a thread-like member, a string-like member, a band-like member, or the like that connects the first fixing portion 710 and the second fixing portion 720. The force generating portions 731, 732 of this embodiment are band-like members that can be created in the same manner as the force generating portion 530. One end of the force generating portion 731 is fixed to the upper end portion of the fixing portion 710, and the other end of the force generating portion 731 is fixed to the lower end portion of the fixing portion 720. One end of the force generating portion 732 is fixed to the lower end portion of the fixing portion 710, and the other end of the force generating portion 732 is fixed to the upper end portion of the fixing portion 720.

[0089] Since the connecting member 700 has the above-mentioned configuration, during the same-direction swing, the first fixed portion 710 and the second fixed portion 720 rotate in different directions from each other, and a first deformation occurs in the force generating portions 731, 732 in response to the rotation. The lengths of the force generating portions 731, 732 between the first fixed portion 710 and the second fixed portion 720 are set so that a strong tension is not generated during the deformation.

[0090] On the other hand, during the different direction swing, for example, first fixed portion 710 and second fixed portion 720 rotate in the same direction, and this rotation generates a second displacement in which one of force generating portions 731, 732 is stretched more than the first deformation.

[0091] Therefore, the swing control unit 7 suppresses or restricts the rotation of the first fixed part 710 and the second fixed part 720 about the swing axis 150a with a force larger than that of the first deformation during the second deformation. This suppresses or restricts the different direction swing in which one of the base ends of the pair of swing parts 2 swings in a different direction in the up-down direction relative to the other. This configuration suppresses or restricts the difference in height between the tip end side of one of the pair of swing parts 2 relative to the vehicle body frame and the tip end side of the other of the pair of swing parts 2 from becoming larger than the predetermined difference.

[0092] In the swing control unit 7, the first fixed portion 710 and the second fixed portion 720 may be gears such as spur gears instead of pulleys, and the first fixed portion 710 and the second fixed portion 720, which are gears, may be meshed with each other. In this case, the first fixed portion 710 and the second fixed portion 720 meshing with each other allow swinging in the same direction and restrict swinging in different directions. It is also possible to provide a single or multiple gears between the first fixed part 710 and the second fixed part 720. In this case, the rotation of the first fixed part 710 can be transmitted to the second fixed part 720 via a single or multiple gears, and the single or multiple gears can be configured to allow swinging in the same direction and restrict swinging in different directions. Also, instead of the single or multiple gears, it is also possible to provide a member such as a rod or plate extending in the vertical direction, and to provide rack gears extending in the vertical direction on both the left and right ends of the member. In this case, when the member is attached to the body frame by a linear guide or the like so as to be movable only in the vertical direction, the member allows swinging in the same direction and restricts swinging in different directions.

[0093] As mentioned above, each of the rocking control units controls the tilting behavior when the user stands on the footrest while driving, and contributes to stabilizing the vehicle posture, so they can also be called stabilizers.

[0094] When the swing control section is configured to connect a pair of swing sections 2 like the connecting member 400 of the swing control section 4, the spring constants of the force generating sections 430, 430'', 440 during swing in the same direction can be adjusted to supplement or replace the spring 140. In other words, the swing control section has the function of a stabilizer as well as the function of a suspension spring.

[0095] A front wheel 10 of this embodiment is shown in Figures 17 to 20. As shown in Figures 17 to 19, the hub 12 has a pair of hub parts 12a, 12b, which are made of plastic, metal, or the like. An outer peripheral member 13 of the front wheel 10 is sandwiched between the pair of hub parts 12a, 12b in the axial direction of the front wheel 10, thereby fixing the outer peripheral member 13 to the hub 12. For this reason, the pair of hub parts 12a, 12b must be firmly fixed to each other, and in this embodiment, a plurality of bolts 14 are screwed into a plurality of nuts 15, thereby fixing the pair of hub parts 12a, 12b to each other.

[0096] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 20, which is a cross-sectional view of line XX-XX in FIG. 18, a single or multiple nut accommodating portions 12c are formed in the hub part 12a, and the nut accommodating portions are accessible from the radially outer side of the hub 12. That is, the nut accommodating portion 12c opens to the radially outer side of the hub 12, and the opening portion communicates with the space 12e in FIG. 19. If the outer peripheral member 13 is not present, the space 12e communicates with the outside of the wheel on the radially outer side. Therefore, before the outer peripheral member 13 is fixed to the hub 12, the nut 15 can be accommodated in the nut accommodating portion 12c from the radially outer side of the hub 12. It is preferable that the nut 15 is lightly fitted into the nut accommodating portion 12c in order to facilitate the assembly work.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 19, the hub component 12a is also formed with one or more nut accommodating portions 12d similar to the nut accommodating portion 12c. The nut accommodating portions 12c and 12d of the present embodiment are disposed in positions that cannot be seen from the outside of the hub 12. This configuration can firmly fix the outer peripheral member 13 to the hub 12 while giving the outer appearance a smart appearance. A wheel having a structure similar to that of the front wheel 10 may be used for the rear wheel 20, or may be used for other wheels of the electric mobility vehicle.

[0098] 21 and 22 show cases in which an electric mobility 1 tows another electric mobility 1. As shown in FIG. 21, for example, a towing member 190 is attached to a member 126a connecting a pair of anti-toppling members 126, the rear wheel side frame 121, etc. The towing member 190 may be fixed to the member 126a, the rear wheel side frame 121, etc. with a bolt, or may be removably attached using a grip bolt, a toggle structure, etc. In addition, the towing member 190 may be attached to the member 126a, the rear wheel side frame 121, etc. so as to be swingable upward from the state shown in FIG. 21. In addition, the towing member 190 may be formed to be foldable using a hinge, etc.

[0099] When towing, the user places the front wheel 10 of the other electric mobility object 1 on the towing member 190, as shown in Fig. 22. The user then gets on the front electric mobility object 1 and starts driving the front electric mobility object 1. In this way, the other electric mobility object 1 is towed. It is also possible to attach the towing member 190 to the other electric mobility object 1 and place the front wheel 10 of the other electric mobility object 1 on the towing member 190.

[0100] The central axis of the spring 140 is disposed on the vehicle front side relative to the rotation axis of the rear wheel 20. This configuration is advantageous for reducing the dimension of the electric mobility 1 in the front-rear direction.

[0101] In addition, in the rear-wheel-side cover 120a, it is preferable that the fender 120b (FIGS. 1 and 5) of the right rear wheel 20 is fixed to the right swinging portion 2. The same is true for the left fender 120b. For example, the fender 120b is fixed to the rear wheel support member 132 of the swinging portion 2, the motor 50, etc., using a plurality of bolts (not shown).

[0102] In this case, the fender 120b moves up and down together with the swinging part 2 and the rear wheel 20. For this reason, even if the rear wheel 20 moves significantly up and down around the swing axis 150a, the change in shape of the electric mobility vehicle 1 appears small when viewed from the rear, side, etc. This configuration improves the function of the rear wheel suspension while maintaining the appearance of the electric mobility vehicle 1, thereby lifting the spirits of the rider of the electric mobility vehicle 1.

[0103] Even when the front-wheel-side vehicle body 110 is provided with one or more pairs of front wheels 10, the various effects of the rear wheel suspension and the swing control section can be similarly achieved. Furthermore, even if other wheels are provided between the front wheels 10 and the rear wheels 20, or if other wheels are provided behind the rear wheels 20, the various effects of the rear wheel suspension and the sway control unit can be similarly achieved. Furthermore, the various configurations of the rear wheel suspension and the swing control section may be adopted for the pair of front wheels 10 or for another pair of wheels, and in this case too, the various effects described above can be similarly achieved. In addition, the various configurations of the rear wheel suspension and the swing control unit of this embodiment can also be applied to the electric mobility described in WO 2021 / 132533.

[0104] The above-mentioned various effects of the rear wheel suspension and the swing control unit can be achieved even if the front-wheel side body 110 and the rear-wheel side body 120 are connected in a non-detachable manner. In this case, the front-wheel side frame 111 and the rear-wheel side frame 121 are, for example, integrated, and the front-wheel side frame 111 and the rear-wheel side frame 121 form the body frame of the electric mobility 1.

[0105] Furthermore, when the rear wheel support member 132 is not provided at the tip of the oscillating base 131, one end of the spring 140 may be fixed to another member such as the housing of the motor 50, or may be fixed to another member fixed to or provided on the oscillating base 131. In this case, one end of the spring 140 is attached to the tip of the oscillating base 131 via the above-mentioned member. Alternatively, one end of the spring 140 may be directly attached to the tip of the oscillating base 131 . Even in these cases, the various effects of the rear wheel suspension described above can be achieved.

[0106] It is also possible to attach two (or more) seat units 40 aligned in the fore-and-aft direction to the electric mobility 1. In this case, two (or more) people will sit aligned in the fore-and-aft direction on the electric mobility 1. Even in such a case, the various effects of the rear wheel suspension and the swing control unit described above can be achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1. Electric Mobility 2 Swinging part 3,4,4',4'',5,6,7 Swing control section 10 Front wheel 20 Rear wheel (wheel) 30 Mobility Body 40 seating unit 50 Motor 110 Front wheel side body 111 Front wheel frame 120 Rear wheel side body 121 Rear wheel side frame (body frame) 131 Swinging Base 132 Rear wheel support member 140 Spring BA Battery

Claims

1. A pair of wheels, An electric mobility having at least a vehicle body frame, A pair of swinging parts is provided, When one end of each of the swinging parts in the vehicle width direction is defined as a base end and the other end of the swinging part in the vehicle width direction is defined as a tip end, the base end side of each of the swinging parts is supported by the vehicle body frame so as to be swingable in the up-down direction about a swing axis extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and each of the wheels is supported by the swinging parts so as to move in the up-down direction together with the tip end side of each of the swinging parts, a biasing member that applies a downward force to each of the swinging portions when the tip end side of the swinging portion moves upward; An electric mobility comprising: a swing control unit that suppresses or restricts, within a predetermined range, different directional swing in which one of the base ends of the pair of swing parts swings in a different direction in the vertical direction relative to the other.

2. the swing control section has an upper contact section and a lower contact section provided on the base end side of at least one of the pair of swing sections, The electric mobility according to claim 1 , wherein the upper contact portion and the lower contact portion contact the base end side of the other of the pair of swinging portions from above and below, thereby restricting the different directional swinging within the specified range.

3. The swing control unit has a connection member that connects the base ends of the pair of swing units to each other, the connecting member has a force generating portion in which a first deformation occurs when the base end sides of the pair of swinging parts swing together in the up-down direction in the same direction, and a second deformation having a mode different from the first deformation occurs when the base end sides of the pair of swinging parts swing together in the up-down direction in the different direction, The electric mobility described in claim 1, wherein a second ratio between the force generated in the force generating portion during the second deformation and the deformation amount of the second deformation is 1.5 times or more relative to a first ratio between the force generated in the force generating portion during the first deformation and the deformation amount of the first deformation.

Images