Automotive driving assistance devices

Abstract

The objective is to provide an automobile driving assistance device that can safely and quickly move a vehicle that is unable to move. [Solution] The automobile driving assist device 1 comprises a base 2 having a wheel mounting section 23 on which the wheels of a vehicle that has become immobile are placed, and a driving wheel 3 for driving the base 3. The driving wheel 3 has a plurality of cylindrical free rollers 33 arranged in an annular manner around an axle 31. The free rollers 33 are capable of rotating on their own and are pivotally supported so as to be able to revolve around the axle 31, and even with heavy vehicles, vibrations during driving can be reduced and stable movement can be achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a driving assistance device for automobiles. More specifically, it relates to a driving assistance device for automobiles that can safely and quickly move a vehicle that cannot move.

Background Art

[0002] When pulling up a vehicle that has become inoperable from the site, generally, the vehicle is lifted by a crane or the like, and the lifted vehicle is placed on the loading platform of a wrecker truck and moved.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle lifting device that includes a rectangular support frame, connects the support frame and the wheels of the vehicle with suspension ropes and hooks, and connects the support frame and the shackle of the crane with a wire to lift the vehicle.

[0004] In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle lifting device that includes a main body portion disposed laterally at a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the wheel of an automobile, a contact arm portion that protrudes from the main body portion and contacts the outer surface of the wheel, a support arm portion that protrudes from the main body portion at a position below the contact arm portion and supports the wheel from below, and a guiding means for a suspension rope.

[0005] On the other hand, large vehicles such as freight trucks are heavy, so the vehicle lifting devices disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 cannot be used to lift the vehicle. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 3, a method is adopted in which the inoperable vehicle is lifted with a floor jack or the like, a cart with casters is installed on each wheel, and the vehicle is moved with the cart.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0007] However, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, when moving a large vehicle using a cart equipped with casters, the casters may get caught when going over steps, preventing smooth movement, or the casters may be damaged when going over steps, which can hinder the movement operation.

[0008] This invention was conceived in view of the above points, and aims to provide a driving assistance device for automobiles that can safely and quickly move a vehicle that is unable to move. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the automobile driving assist device of the present invention comprises a base platform having a wheel mounting portion on which the wheels of an automobile are mounted, and a driving wheel that drives the base platform in a horizontal position, wherein the driving wheel has an axle, an axle support portion that pivotally supports the axle so that it can rotate, a plurality of cylindrical free rollers that extend in the width direction of the base platform and are arranged annularly around the axle, and a free roller support portion that pivotally supports the free rollers so that they can rotate and is pivotally supported on the axle so that the free rollers can revolve around the axle.

[0010] Here, by providing a base platform having a wheel mounting section for placing automobile wheels, for example, damaged wheels from a broken-down vehicle that has become inoperable can be placed on the wheel mounting section.

[0011] Furthermore, by providing a running wheel that allows the base platform to move in a horizontal position, the disabled vehicle can be moved with its wheels resting on the wheel mounting section.

[0012] Furthermore, the running wheels have an axle and an axle support that pivotally supports the axle so that it can rotate. This allows them to withstand the load when the wheels of a broken-down vehicle are placed on the wheel mounting section and the vehicle is driven, and to allow the free rollers, described later, to rotate smoothly.

[0013] Furthermore, by having multiple cylindrical free rollers that extend in the width direction of the base and are arranged in a ring around the axle, the contact area between the free rollers and the ground is increased, so that even when a heavy broken-down vehicle is placed on the wheel support section, it can be driven stably.

[0014] Furthermore, by providing a free roller support that allows the free roller to rotate freely and is also supported on the axle so that the free roller can revolve around the axle, each of the multiple free rollers rotates on its own and revolves around the axle, thus distributing the load on the malfunctioning vehicle and enabling smooth operation.

[0015] Furthermore, if the running wheels are installed in pairs, one in the front and one in the rear relative to the direction of travel of the base platform, the contact area of ​​the running wheels with the ground is increased, which can distribute the load of the broken-down vehicle and achieve more stable driving.

[0016] Furthermore, if there are three or more free rollers around the axle, the free rollers make smooth contact with the ground as they revolve around the axle, thereby reducing vibrations during travel and achieving more stable travel.

[0017] Furthermore, if the wheel mounting section has an upwardly opening recess and is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable with respect to a vertical axis, the wheels of the disabled vehicle can be stably fixed to the wheel mounting section, thereby preventing the wheels from coming off the wheel mounting section while the vehicle is in motion.

[0018] Furthermore, even if the wheels to be placed on the wheel mounting section are fixed in a position offset from the direction of travel, the wheel mounting section can be rotated to align with the orientation of the wheels of the disabled vehicle, making it easy to place the wheels of the disabled vehicle onto the wheel mounting section.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] The vehicle driving assistance device according to the present invention can safely and quickly move a vehicle that cannot drive.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a side view of the vehicle driving assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a front view of the vehicle driving assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a plan view of the vehicle driving assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a view showing a state in which a vehicle is moved using the vehicle driving assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, the vehicle driving assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. For convenience of explanation in each figure, in a state where the vehicle driving assistance device is installed on a horizontal plane, the upward direction is defined as the upper direction, the opposite direction of the upper direction is defined as the lower direction, the axial direction represented by the upper and lower directions is defined as the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is defined as the horizontal direction.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vehicle driving assistance device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device that assists the driving of a vehicle V that has become difficult to drive on its own due to damage to a part of its wheels, and includes a base 2 on which the damaged wheel W of the vehicle V is placed, and traveling wheels 3 that cause the base 2 to travel in a horizontal posture.

[0023] [Base] The base 2 is composed of a rectangular frame body 21 with a hollow interior, a frame member 22 installed on the upper surface side of the frame body 21 in the width direction, and a wheel placement portion 23 installed on the frame member 22 at a substantially central position of the base 2.

[0024] Three frame members 22 are evenly spaced, and a wheel mounting section 23 is pivotally supported on the middle frame member 22 so as to be rotatable relative to the vertical axis. The wheel mounting section 23 also has a recess 24 that is open at the top, and the wheels W of the vehicle V are installed in this recess 24.

[0025] Here, it is not necessarily required to have a frame member 22; instead of the frame member 22, a top plate capable of covering the entire upper surface of the frame 21 may be installed.

[0026] Furthermore, the wheel mounting section 23 does not need to be rotatably supported on the frame member 22. However, if the wheel mounting section 23 is rotatably supported on the frame member 22, for example, even if the wheel W of the vehicle V is unable to move while maintaining a predetermined steering angle in either the left or right direction, the wheel mounting section 23 can be rotated to match the steering angle of the wheel W and the wheel W can be placed on the wheel mounting section 23.

[0027] Furthermore, the wheel mounting section 23 does not necessarily need to have a recessed area 24 with an open top. However, the presence of the recessed area 24 prevents the wheel W from shifting in the left-right, front-rear, or rearward direction by placing the wheel W in this recessed area 24. Therefore, there is no risk of the wheel W coming off the wheel mounting section 23 due to vibrations when the vehicle V is running, thus increasing safety when the vehicle V is running.

[0028] Multiple hooks 25 (three at the front and three at the rear in Figure 2) are installed along the front-rear direction of the frame 21. A towing wire is attached to these hooks 25 and connected to a towing vehicle (not shown) that pulls the vehicle V. In addition, a fixing wire can be connected to the hooks 25 to fix the wheels W of the vehicle V placed on the wheel mounting section 23.

[0029] [Driving wheels] The running wheels 3 have the function of maintaining a horizontal position while in contact with the ground and allowing the base platform 2 to move, and consist of an axle 31, an axle support 32, a free roller 33, and a free roller support 34. In this embodiment of the present invention, two running wheels 3 are installed front and rear with respect to the direction of travel of the base platform 2.

[0030] Furthermore, it is not necessary for two running wheels 3 to be installed in the front-to-back direction relative to the base 2; one or more running wheels 3 may be installed. Even if multiple running wheels 3 are installed, the structure of each running wheel is the same; therefore, in the following explanation, the structure of a single running wheel 3 will be described as a representative example.

[0031] A pair of axle support parts 32 are fixed to the frame member 22 by bolts and nuts at both ends in the width direction on the underside of the base 2. Axle mounting holes (not shown) are formed in the axle support parts 32, and both ends of the axle 31 are fitted into these axle mounting holes and rotatably supported.

[0032] The free rollers 33 that make contact with the ground are cylindrical bodies with a length approximately the same as the width of the base and are arranged in a ring shape around the axle 31.

[0033] In this embodiment of the present invention, five free rollers 33 are arranged evenly in an annular pattern around the axle 31. However, the number of free rollers 33 is not necessarily limited, and the number of rollers can be changed as appropriate depending on the diameter and length of the free rollers 33 used. In order to reduce vibrations when the free rollers 33 make contact with the ground and to achieve stable running, the contact between the free rollers and the ground must be continuous. In this case, it is preferable to arrange at least three or more free rollers 33.

[0034] The free roller 33 is pivotally supported at both ends by a pair of free roller support parts 34 installed on both ends of the free roller 33, allowing it to rotate freely. The free roller support parts 34 are pivotally supported on the axle 31, allowing them to rotate freely.

[0035] With the above configuration, when the free roller support section 34 rotates, the free rollers 33, which are arranged in an annular shape around the axle 31, can revolve around the axle 31, and the free rollers 33 themselves can also rotate on their own axis.

[0036] In this way, the free roller 33 rotates and revolves on its own axis while making contact with the ground during travel, which reduces vibrations during travel and effectively distributes the load even when large vehicles with heavy weights are installed. Therefore, there is no risk of damage to the base 2 or the running wheels 3 when the vehicle V is driven, and stable travel can be achieved even on rough roads.

[0037] Next, the method of using the vehicle driving assistance device 1 will be explained based on Figure 4. When installing the vehicle driving assistance device 1 on the wheel W of the vehicle V, first, the wheel W that is unable to move is jacked up using a jig such as a jack.

[0038] With the wheel W jacked up, the vehicle driving assist device 1 is installed below the wheel W. At this time, if the wheel W has a steering angle to the left and right, the wheel mounting section 23 is rotated by a predetermined angle to match the steering angle of the wheel W.

[0039] Once the positions of the wheel W and the wheel mounting section 23 have been adjusted, the jack is lowered and the wheel W is placed on the wheel mounting section 23. At this time, if necessary, the base 2 and the wheel W may be secured using the fixing wire R1.

[0040] Then, one end of the towing wire R2 is connected to the hook 25, and the other end of the towing wire R2 is connected to a towing vehicle (not shown), completing the preliminary preparations for towing vehicle V. Alternatively, the towing wire R2 may be connected to a vehicle-side hook (not shown) installed on vehicle V.

[0041] Once the above preparations are complete, the towed vehicle V, which is unable to move, is driven to the designated destination. During driving, the free rollers 33 that are in contact with the ground repeatedly rotate and revolve, effectively distributing the load on the towed vehicle V and reducing vibrations. As a result, stable driving can be achieved without damage to the vehicle driving aid 1 or the wheels W coming off due to vibrations.

[0042] In summary, the automobile driving assistance device according to the present invention is capable of safely and quickly moving a vehicle that is unable to move. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 1. Automotive driving assistance devices 2 Base 21 Frame 22 Frame members 23 Wheel mounting section 24 recesses 25 hooks 3 wheels 31 axles 32 Axle support part 33 Free Roller 34 Free roller support section V Vehicle W wheels R1 Fixing wire R2 Towing Wire

Claims

1. A base platform having a wheel mounting section for placing the wheels of an automobile, The base platform is equipped with wheels for moving it in a horizontal position, The running wheel is, axle and, an axle support that pivotally supports the axle so that it can rotate, A plurality of cylindrical free rollers extend in the width direction of the base and are arranged in an annular manner around the axle, The free roller is pivotally supported so as to be able to rotate on its own, and the free roller support is pivotally supported on the axle so as to be able to revolve around the axle. Automotive driving assistance devices.

2. The aforementioned running wheels are installed in pairs, one in front and one behind the base in the direction of travel. The automobile driving assist device according to claim 1.

3. The free rollers have three or more around the axle. The automobile driving assist device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The wheel mounting section has an upwardly opening recess and is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable with respect to a vertical axis. The automobile driving assist device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

Images