Electric scooter

Abstract

The present invention group relates to personal transport vehicles, and more particularly to electric scooters. The gist of the present invention group includes a rotatable platform composed of an annular base having a central opening movably fixed to the opening of the deck and having wheels disposed therein fixed to the base, and a steering system for an electric scooter in which an electric motor is attached to the rotatable platform. The technical result of a group of inventions is to enhance the repairability of the electric drive device and reduce the risk of malfunction of the steering system of the electric scooter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention group relates to personal transport vehicles, and more particularly to electric scooters.

Background Art

[0002] As a prototype, an electric scooter including a deck having a steering system including an electric drive device and a steering column connected to a wheel is selected. The electric drive device is designed as an electric wheel connected to the column by a fork, and the fork is movably fixed to the deck by an inclined cylindrical element fixed to the deck opening by a bearing assembly, whereby the fork can be inclined laterally with respect to the scooter [CN109292032A, published on January 2, 2019, IPC: B62K 15 / 006].

[0003] The disadvantages of the prototype are the low repairability of the electric drive device and the high risk of malfunction of the steering system. The low repairability of the electric drive device is because it is necessary to replace the electric wheel when the electric drive device malfunctions, and the high risk of the steering system malfunctioning is because a large load is applied to the cylindrical element, the bearing assembly, and the deck at the junction of the steering system and the deck. These disadvantages complicate the use and maintenance of electric scooters, so in order to solve these two existing problems and improve the running performance of electric scooters, a new structural design of the steering system is required.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem addressed by the present invention group is the need to improve the running performance and reliability of electric scooters.

[0005] The technical result of a group of inventions is the improvement of the repairability of the electric drive device and the reduction of the risk of malfunction of the steering system of the electric scooter.

[0006] An additional technical achievement of the present invention group is the improvement of the repairability of the steering system of an electric scooter.

[0007] An additional technical achievement of the present invention group is the possibility of variably changing the dynamic characteristics of an electric scooter.

[0008] Among the present invention group, the gist of the first invention is as follows.

[0009] The electric scooter includes a deck having an opening for installing a steering system including an electric drive device and a steering column connected to a wheel axle. In contrast to the prototype, the electric drive device is designed as an electric motor with a driven device, the driven device is fixed to the wheel, and torque can be transmitted from the electric motor to the wheel. The steering column is connected to the wheel by a rotatable platform movably fixed to the deck opening by an annular base and a bearing assembly. The annular base has an opening adjusted to the deck opening. The wheel with the driven device is disposed in the base opening and fixed to the base. The electric motor is attached to the rotatable platform.

[0010] Among the present invention group, the gist of the second invention is as follows.

[0011] The steering system of an electric scooter includes a wheel, a steering column connected to the wheel axle, and an electric drive device capable of transmitting torque to the wheel. In contrast to the prototype, the steering system is designed to fix the steering column and includes a rotatable platform with an annular base movably fixed to the deck opening by a bearing assembly. The electric drive device is designed as an electric motor attached to the rotatable platform and has a drive device, a driven device, and an actuating member. The driven device is fixed to the wheel and can transmit torque from the electric motor to the wheel. The annular base has a central opening in which the wheel fixed to the base is disposed, and the electric motor is attached to the rotatable platform.

[0012] The steering system includes an electric drive device that ensures dynamic stability in the longitudinal plane of the scooter. The electric drive device is designed as an electric motor with a driven device, and the driven device is fixed to the wheel and can transmit torque from the electric motor to the wheel. This improves the maintainability of the electric drive device, and in case of malfunction, only the electric drive device can be replaced, thus reducing the risk of malfunction of the steering system of an electric scooter including such an electric drive device. Furthermore, since electric motors with different output characteristics can be installed, it becomes possible to variably change the dynamic characteristics of the electric scooter.

[0013] The drive device, the driven device, and the actuating member are replaceable in case of malfunction, thus improving the repairability of the electric drive device. As the drive device and the driven device, pulleys, chain sprockets, cone disks, toothed gears, and other similar elements can be used. The actuating member transmits torque from the drive device to the driven device, and depending on its type, it can be a V-belt or a toothed belt, a chain, an additional toothed gear, or a driven device designed as a drive device or a toothed gear. Furthermore, due to the structural design including the drive device, the driven device, and the actuating member, a transmission function is provided, so that it is possible to change the torque characteristics or the maximum speed characteristics of the scooter, and the dynamic characteristics of the electric scooter can be variably changed.

[0014] The driven device is fixed to the wheel and can transmit torque from the electric motor to the wheel. To achieve this, it can be firmly fixed by a detachable or fixed connection, or it can be connected to the wheel by a sleeve-type or elastic clutch, a freewheel, or other types of clutches.

[0015] The rotatable platform enables the steering system to rotate relative to the deck and includes an annular base for this purpose. The annular base has a central opening in which the wheel is disposed, fixed to the base, and the driven device is attached to the wheel, whereby the wheel receives torque from the electric motor and rolls.

[0016] The central opening of the base can be of any shape and size suitable for attaching a wheel with a follower device inside the opening to the required depth. The wheel axle can cross the axis of the central opening. The wheel can be fixed to the annular base by fixing the wheel axle to a hole, groove, or slot in the annular base. However, to improve the repairability of the steering system of the electric scooter and simplify the manufacture of the annular base, the wheel can be fixed using a removable wheel axle retainer such as a side bar or a clamp.

[0017] Since the rotatable platform is a place to attach the electric motor, the annular base can have holes or elements for removably or fixedly attaching the electric motor. Further, to reduce the risk of the annular base failing, the rotatable platform can have an electric motor mounting bracket for connecting the annular base and the steering column. Further, to reduce the risk of malfunction of the electric drive device, the electric motor mounting bracket can be designed as a protective frame having a cavity for arranging the electric motor.

[0018] The annular base may be monolithic, but to improve repairability and simplify manufacture, it can be composed of detachable parts that fix the wheel to one part and the electric motor and / or the steering column to another part. To improve load distribution and further reduce the risk of malfunction of the steering system of the electric scooter, it is preferable to provide an insert between these two parts.

[0019] The annular base is fixed to move within the deck opening, whereby the steering column can rotate the wheels. This movable fixation is provided by a bearing assembly that provides an interface between the outer peripheral side of the annular base and the surface and edges of the deck opening. The bearing assembly can be composed of one or more sliding friction pairs and / or rolling friction pairs. The annular base can have a rectangular, square, or other simple or formed cross-section. To reduce the risk of malfunction of the steering system, the annular base side preferably has a U-shaped cross-section. In this case, the bearing assembly can be composed of two friction pairs that can be attached at the position where the side surface of the annular base having a U-shaped cross-section joins the deck.

[0020] The steering column can be composed of a pole with a handle equipped with means for controlling and monitoring the characteristics of the electric scooter. To fix the steering column, the rotatable platform can have detachable or fixed connection means, which can be arranged on the annular base or the electric motor mounting bracket (if available). The deck is a seating surface for accommodating the rider.

[0021] The present invention group can be manufactured from known materials using known means, which indicates that it meets the patentability criterion of industrial applicability.

[0022] One group of the present invention is characterized by a series of substantial features unknown in the art. In particular, the electric drive device is designed as an electric motor with a driven device, the driven device is fixed to the wheel and can transmit torque from the electric motor to the wheel. The steering column is connected to the wheel by a rotatable platform fixed so as to be movable within the deck opening by an annular base having an opening adjusted and aligned with the deck opening. The wheel with the driven device is disposed in the base opening and fixed to the base, and the electric motor is attached to the rotatable platform. Due to the presented structural design of the electric scooter and its steering system, it becomes possible to quickly replace the electric drive device and / or electric drive device elements that transmit torque from the electric motor to the wheel when they fail. By using the annular base and arranging the wheel with the driven device in the central opening of the base, the load distribution at the joint between the steering system and the deck is improved.

[0023] As a result, the repairability of the electric drive device is improved, and a technical result of reducing the risk of malfunction of the steering system of the electric scooter is obtained, and the running performance and reliability of the electric scooter are improved.

[0024] One group of inventions has a series of substantial features unknown in the art, indicating that it meets the novelty criteria for patentability.

[0025] A steering system designed as a rotatable platform having an annular base that provides a turning function and houses all elements of an electric drive device including the drive wheels of an electric scooter and an electric motor mounted on a similarly rotatable platform is unknown in the art. The presented structural design not only simplifies the use and maintenance of the electric scooter but also, as a result of using a set of electric drive device elements instead of the electric wheels, enables the dynamic characteristics of the electric scooter to be changed over a wide range. Furthermore, the presented structural design ensures more efficient load distribution on the deck. Generally, this structural design allows the individual elements of the deck and the electric drive device to be manufactured from lightweight structural materials, thereby significantly reducing the weight of the electric scooter, which is particularly important for a personal transport vehicle used in an urban environment.

[0026] Therefore, this group of inventions meets the patentability novelty standard.

[0027] The inventions in this group of inventions are interrelated and form a single inventive concept including a steering system that is part of an electric scooter, indicating that this group of inventions meets the criteria for the unity of invention for patentability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] The following figures are for explaining this group of inventions:

[0029] Figure 1 - An overall isometric projection view of an electric scooter.

[0030] Figure 2 - A longitudinal sectional view and a side view of the steering system of an electric scooter with the electric motor and the steering column disassembled.

[0031] Figure 3 - A cross-sectional view and a rear view along the wheel axis of the steering system of an electric scooter with an electric motor mounted.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a top view of a steering system of an electric scooter with an electric motor attached. **DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION**

[0033] Embodiments will be described below to ensure a more complete understanding of the essence of the present invention group. However, these embodiments can be modified or supplemented in any way, and the present invention group is not limited to the provided embodiments in any way.

[0034] The electric scooter includes a deck 1 with a steering system including a rotatable platform and an electric drive device.

[0035] The rotatable platform includes an annular base composed of a flange 2 and a flange 3 with an annular insert 4 sandwiched therebetween. It is designed as a protective frame, and a bracket 5 to which a steering column is attached is fixed to the flange 2, and an axle 7 to which a wheel 8 is attached is fixed to the flange 3 by a side bar 6. The bracket 5, flanges 2 and 3, and side bar 6 are fastened with common bolts and nuts.

[0036] The electric drive device includes a transmission system composed of an electric motor 9 fixed to the bracket 5 with bolts and nuts, a pulley 10 fixed to the motor shaft 9, and a pulley 11 fixed to the disk of the wheel 8 and connected to the pulley 10 by a toothed belt. The wheel with the pulley 11 crosses the plane of the holes of the flanges 2 and 3 and the annular insert 4.

[0037] The rotatable platform is movably fixed within the opening of the deck 1 by a bearing assembly 12 composed of two friction pairs attached to the portion where the side surface of the annular base having a U-shaped cross-section joins the deck 1 between the flanges 2 and 3 and the deck 1.

[0038] The inventive group operates as follows.

[0039] This electric scooter is operated by the user. By fixing the wheels to the flange 3 with the side bar 6, fixing the steering column to the flange 2, and further connecting the two flanges to each other with the annular insert 4, the shock absorption characteristics of the structural design of the rotatable platform are improved. By distributing the load to the edge of the opening of the deck 1, the risk of defects occurring in both the deck 1 and the annular base is reduced, and thus the risk of malfunction of the steering system is reduced. If any of the elements 2, 3, 4, 6 is broken, it is possible to replace only one element without replacing the entire annular base or the rotatable platform.

[0040] Even if the electric motor 9 breaks down, there is no need to disassemble or replace the wheels. By simply removing and tightening the bolts and nuts used to fix the motor to the bracket 5, a new electric motor 9 can be installed. Also, by using pulleys 10, 11 of other diameters or replacing them with other elements, it is possible to install an electric motor 9 with different output characteristics or change the torque characteristics and maximum speed characteristics of the electric scooter.

[0041] As a result, the technical effect of improving the repairability of the electric drive device and reducing the risk of malfunction of the steering system of the electric scooter is obtained, and the running performance and reliability of the electric scooter are improved.

Claims

1. An electric scooter comprising a deck having an opening for installing a steering system including an electric drive device and a steering column connected to a wheel axle, wherein the electric drive device is designed as an electric motor having a driven device, the driven device being fixed to a wheel and capable of transmitting torque from the electric motor to the wheel, the steering column being connected to the wheel by a rotatable platform which is movably fixed to the deck opening by an annular base and a bearing assembly, the annular base having an opening adapted to the deck opening, the wheel with the driven device being disposed in and fixed to the base opening, and the electric motor being attached to the rotatable platform.

2. The electric scooter according to claim 1, characterized in that the wheel is fixed to the annular base by a detachable wheel axle fastener.

3. The electric scooter according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable platform comprises an electric motor mounting bracket for connecting the annular base and the steering column.

4. The electric scooter according to claim 3, characterized in that the bracket is designed as a protective frame having a cavity for disposing the electric motor.

5. The electric scooter according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular base is configured such that one part to which the wheel is fixed and another part to which the electric motor and / or the steering column are fixed are detachable from each other.

6. The electric scooter according to claim 5, characterized in that the two detachable parts of the annular base have an insert therebetween.

7. A steering system for an electric scooter comprising a wheel, a steering column connected to the wheel axle, and an electric drive device capable of transmitting torque to the wheel, the steering system including a rotatable platform designed to fix the steering column and having an annular base movably fixed to the deck opening by a bearing assembly, the electric drive device being mounted on the rotatable platform and designed as an electric motor having a drive device, a driven device, and an actuating member, the driven device being fixed to the wheel and the actuating member being capable of transmitting torque from the electric motor to the wheel, the annular base having a central opening in which a wheel fixed to the base is disposed. **Claim 8** The steering system according to claim 7, characterized in that the cross-section on the annular base side is U-shaped. **Claim 9** The steering system according to claim 8, characterized in that the bearing assembly is composed of two friction pairs attached to the joint between the side surface of the annular base and the deck.

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