Wheel-in motors and electric vehicles

Abstract

This invention provides a wheel-in motor that allows for easy manual pushing even when the electromagnetic brake is engaged. [Solution] A wheel-in motor 100 comprising a motor rotor 2 that rotates around a first rotating cylinder 2a provided on a fixed shaft 4 as a pivot point, a sun gear 18 which is part of a reduction gear 3 arranged on a second rotating cylinder 18a that rotates due to the rotation of the motor rotor 2, and a wheel 7 to which rotational force is transmitted via the reduction gear 3 having the sun gear 18, wherein the first rotating cylinder 2a is provided with an electromagnetic brake 11 that hinders the rotation of the motor rotor 2, a clutch mechanism is provided between the first rotating cylinder 2a and the second rotating cylinder 18a, and an operating means for the clutch mechanism is arranged outside the wheel 7.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric vehicle, and particularly to an electric vehicle using an in-wheel motor that can smoothly move the vehicle even in the event of an abnormality.

Background Art

[0002] In general, electric vehicles such as electric wheelchairs that are motorized wheelchairs employ electromagnetic brakes that activate when some abnormal situation occurs in the motor, battery, controller, or the like. For example, an electric wheelchair employing an electromagnetic brake as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As disclosed in the above patent document, when the electromagnetic brake of the electric wheelchair is activated, it is necessary to release the electromagnetic brake in order to move the electric wheelchair manually (in short, by pushing). The electromagnetic brakes generally used in electric vehicles adopt a so-called fail-safe structure in which a friction material is pressed against a brake rotor by a spring when not energized, and the friction material is separated from the rotor by the action of an electromagnet when energized. For this reason, releasing the brake rotor requires electric power sufficient to operate the electromagnet.

[0005] The electric wheelchair disclosed in Patent Document 1 adopts a configuration that uses an external battery or a spare battery when the power supply from the main battery is cut off. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare a power supply means in addition to the main battery in preparation for an abnormality.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for an electric vehicle that can be easily pushed by hand even when the electromagnetic brake is engaged, that is, when there is no power supply. The objective of the present invention is to provide a wheel-in motor that can be easily pushed by hand even when the electromagnetic brake is engaged, and an electric vehicle using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the wheel-in motor according to the present invention comprises a motor rotor that rotates with respect to a first rotating cylinder provided on the fixed shaft as a pivot point, and a sun gear which is part of a reduction gear that transmits power to the output rotor, between a wheelbase fixed to a fixed shaft and an output rotor that rotates around the fixed shaft, wherein the first rotating cylinder is provided with a braking means to hinder the rotation of the motor rotor, a clutch mechanism is provided between the first rotating cylinder and the second rotating cylinder, and an operating means for the clutch mechanism is provided outside the wheelbase.

[0008] Furthermore, in a wheel-in motor having the above-described characteristics, it is desirable that the clutch mechanism be a dog clutch. Having these characteristics makes it possible to reliably transmit power.

[0009] Furthermore, in a wheel-in motor having the above-described features, the operating means is a lever provided on an operating shaft that is arranged along the fixed shaft and protrudes outside the wheelbase, enabling rotational operation around the operating shaft, and it is preferable that a lift-up mechanism is provided inside the wheelbase that converts the force resulting from the rotational operation into a force in the direction of the fixed shaft's orientation. With these features, it becomes possible to engage or disengage the clutch from outside the wheel.

[0010] Furthermore, a wheel-in motor having the above-described features may have a cylindrical stator coil, and the rotor may be configured as a yoke having magnets positioned opposite the stator coil. Having these features makes it possible to make the wheel-in motor thinner and reduce the amount it protrudes from the driving wheel. Furthermore, the electric mobile body for achieving the above objective is characterized by having one of the above-mentioned wheel-in motors positioned on the drive wheel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, there is an effect that makes it possible to manually push an electric vehicle without releasing the electromagnetic brake. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual diagram of a driving wheel employing a wheel-in motor according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the transition between electromagnetic brake and clutch operation in the driving wheel shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the operation of the release lever and the conversion of force in a wheel-in motor according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a wheel-in motor applied to an electric vehicle according to the embodiment, where (a) shows the wheel with the cover removed, (b) shows the driving wheel with the tire attached viewed from the back, and (c) shows (b) viewed from the front. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the electromagnetic brake, the lift-up mechanism, and the release lever. [Figure 6] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the electromagnetic brake and the rotor key, etc. [Figure 7] This is an exploded perspective view showing the arrangement of the fixed shaft, receiving dog clutch, sun gear, dog clutch, electromagnetic brake, and motor rotor according to the embodiment. [Figure 8]This is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation transition in the disengaged state between the receiving-side dog clutch that transmits power to the sun gear and the dog clutch that receives power from the rotor. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing the external appearance configuration in Figure 8. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing the positional relationship among the lift-up mechanism, the fixed shaft, the clutch, and other components. [Figure 11] This is a conceptual diagram of a case where the in-wheel motor according to the embodiment is applied to an electric wheelchair. [Figure 12] This is a conceptual diagram of the driving wheel portion in Figure 11. [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0013] The concept of the driving wheel applied to the electric vehicle of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Note that the dimensions of each part are exaggerated for convenience of description, and thus are not proportional to the actual dimensions. In addition, to simplify the drawings, part of the structures of the gears and the motor are omitted, and their configurations are also simplified.

[0014] First, reference numeral 1 denotes the overall concept of a driving wheel with a built-in in-wheel motor. For example, it is applied to a plurality of driving wheels of an electric vehicle, such as being applied to each of the two rear wheels in an electric wheelchair.

[0015] On the fixed shaft 4 constituting the driving wheel 1, the motor rotor 2 and the sun gear 18 which is a part of the reduction gear 3 are arranged in series and coaxially with the fixed shaft 4. The motor rotor 2 and the sun gear 18 are respectively provided with a first rotating cylinder 2a and a second rotating cylinder 18a, and the motor rotor 2 and the sun gear 18 rotate around the fixed shaft 4 with these rotating cylinders as the base points. The opposing surfaces of the first rotating cylinder 2a and the second rotating cylinder 18a are respectively provided with a dog clutch 25 and a receiving-side dog clutch 20. When the receiving-side dog clutch 20 and the dog clutch 25 are engaged, the motor rotor 2 and the reduction gear 3 (sun gear 18) rotate together. Note that the first rotating cylinder 2a and the dog clutch 25, as well as the second rotating cylinder 18a and the receiving-side dog clutch 20, do not need to be integrated components, and any configuration capable of transmitting power is acceptable.

[0016] The motor of this example adopts a coreless motor, a yoke 2c is arranged such that the magnet 2b faces the cylindrical coil 6 with a gap therebetween, and the motor rotor 2 is constituted by the yoke 2c and the magnet 2b. As described above, between the first rotary cylinder 2a and the second rotary cylinder 18a that transmit the rotation of the motor rotor 2, there is provided a clutch mechanism constituted by a dog clutch 25 and a receiving-side dog clutch 20, and an engagement portion 15 is provided on the opposing surfaces thereof. By adopting the coreless motor using the cylindrical coil 6, the motor rotor 2 is substantially accommodated within the cylindrical coil 6, and further, a part of the gears constituting the reduction gear 3 (specifically, the sun gear 18) can be inserted into the motor rotor 2, so that the drive wheel 1 with built-in motor and gears can be configured without increasing the width of the drive wheel 1.

[0017] The reduction gear 3 is constituted by a plurality of gears in addition to the sun gear 18. Further, the reduction gear 3 is configured to interlock with the wheel 7 located on the outer peripheral side of the motor. The motor rotor 2 and the reduction gear 3 having such a configuration are arranged so as to be enclosed by the wheel base 7a and the wheel 7.

[0018] In the present embodiment, an electromagnetic brake 11 having a fixing member and a sliding member 14 (brake rotor) is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the first rotary cylinder 2a and on the inner peripheral side of the motor rotor 2.

[0019] A specific example of such a configuration is shown in Figure 7. The first rotating cylinder 2a can be composed of a bearing holder 21, a bearing 22, a rotor key 23, a slide guide 24, a dog clutch 25, a spring 26, a rotor key 27, and a plain bearing 28. The electromagnetic brake 11 has fixed members 12 and 13 supported on a base plate 10 that does not rotate with the first rotating cylinder 2a, and a sliding member 14 is supported by the rotor key 23. With this configuration, the sliding member 14 rotates together with the motor rotor 2 and the sun gear 18, while the fixed members 12 and 13 remain stationary. In the electromagnetic brake 11, the sliding member 14 is positioned with a gap between the fixed members 12 and 13, and the sliding member 14 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor key 23 that constitutes the first rotating cylinder 2.

[0020] In the electromagnetic brake 11 according to this embodiment, when no power is supplied to the coil (non-energized state), the fixed member 12 is pressed against the sliding member 14 by the force of a spring (not shown), and the sliding member 14 is held between the fixed members 12 and 13, thereby restricting its rotation (electromagnetic brake ON state: Figure 2(b)). On the other hand, when power is supplied to the coil (energized state), the fixed member 12 that is pressed against the sliding member 14 is separated, and the restriction on rotation is released (electromagnetic brake OFF state: Figure 2(a)).

[0021] Therefore, if the power supply to the coil is stopped due to some abnormality, the rotation of the sliding member 14 is restricted, the rotation of each component constituting the first rotating cylinder 2a is also hindered, and the rotation of the second rotating cylinder 18a, which was rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the first rotating cylinder 2a, is also hindered.

[0022] If the sliding member 14 stops rotating due to such an abnormality, operating the release lever 9 will activate the lift-up mechanism 8, which separates the first rotating cylinder 2a that supports the sliding member 14 of the electromagnetic brake 11 from the second rotating cylinder 18a that transmits power to the reduction gear 3, thereby releasing the engagement between the dog clutch 25 and the receiving dog clutch 20 (Figure 2(c)).

[0023] The lift-up mechanism 8 is an element that moves the bearing holder 21 and other components in the direction of the fixed shaft 4. For convenience, it is shown in a simplified form in Figures 1 and 2, but in reality it is composed of multiple components, and in the example shown in Figure 7, the bearing holder 21, bearing 22, rotor key 23, and dog clutch 25 are lifted in sequence. In this way the dog clutch 25 on the motor rotor 2 side is lifted, leading to the release of the engagement state described above. The lift-up mechanism 8 is linked to the release lever 9. The release lever 9 is located on the outside of the side of the driving wheel, that is, outside the wheelbase 7a, and is rotatable in a direction along the plate surface of the wheelbase 7a. By transmitting the rotational movement of this release lever 9 to the lift-up mechanism 8, it becomes possible to release the engagement of the clutch (dog clutch 25 and receiving dog clutch 20) from outside the wheel 7.

[0024] Figure 2 illustrates the operation transition shown in Figure 1. Figure 2(a) shows the state in which power is supplied to the cylindrical coil 6 and the electromagnetic brake 11, that is, the state in which the electromagnetic brake 11 is OFF and rotational force is applied to the motor rotor 2. In this state, the dog clutch 25 and the receiving dog clutch 20 are engaged with each other, so as the motor rotor 2 rotates, the reduction gear 3 rotates and the wheel 7 (i.e., the wheel) also rotates.

[0025] Figure 2(b) shows a state in which the power supply to the cylindrical coil 6 and electromagnetic brake 11 is stopped due to an abnormality, i.e., the electromagnetic brake 11 is turned ON and the rotation of the motor rotor 2 is stopped. In this state, if the dog clutch 25 and the receiving dog clutch 20 are engaged, the rotation of the reduction gear 3 is also restricted, and therefore the wheel 7 (i.e., the wheel) cannot move.

[0026] In this way, when the system enters a so-called malfunction state, operating the lift-up mechanism 8 as shown in Figure 2(c) releases the engagement between the dog clutch 25 and the receiving dog clutch 20. This allows the reduction gear 3 to rotate, even if the electromagnetic brake 11 remains ON, and thus the wheel 7 (i.e., the wheel) can be rotated.

[0027] Figure 3 is an illustrative diagram of the mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the release lever 9 into a linear movement along the axial direction by the lift-up mechanism 8. Various forms of the lift-up mechanism 8 are conceivable, but one example is a mechanism that uses the action of a lever.

[0028] The above is a general explanation of the present invention, and specific examples will be described below. Figure 4 shows the external appearance of a driving wheel to which the present invention is applied. Figure 4(a) shows the wheel with the cover, i.e., the cover constituting the wheel 7 of the driving wheel 1, removed. Figure 4(b) is a perspective view from the rear side, i.e., from the wheelbase 7a side equipped with the clutch release lever 9. Figure 4(c) is a perspective view from the front side, from the rotating wheel 7 side. Figures 4(b) and 4(c) show the wheel with the tire 43 attached to its outer circumference.

[0029] Figure 5 shows an example of a concrete implementation of the release lever 9 and the lift-up mechanism 8. The rotational motion of the release lever 9 is converted into an action that moves the bearing holder 21 in the direction of the fixed shaft 4 via the lever 17. The lever 17, which has a fulcrum, a point of force application, and a point of application, in this embodiment has a rotating shaft 17a at the fulcrum, a projection 17b at the point of force application, and a fork-shaped part 17c at the point of application. Furthermore, the lift cam 30 is connected to the projection 17b, and the bearing holder 21 is connected to the fork-shaped part 17c. In addition, an inner lever 29 is provided at the tip of the rotating shaft 9a, which rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the release lever 9, and the rotational motion of this inner lever 29 is converted into axial motion by the lift cam 30. The power transmission between the inner lever 29 and the lift cam 30 may be carried out by a ball link or the like.

[0030] Specifically, when the release lever 9 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the inner lever 29 also rotates in the direction of arrow A. As a result of this rotation, the lift cam 30 rotates in the direction of arrow B, using the projection 17b as its pivot point, and presses the cam ball against the lower surface of the electromagnetic brake 11. Since the electromagnetic brake 11 is a fixed object, a force in the direction of arrow C is applied to the point of force application where the projection 17b, which is the rotation axis of the lift cam 30, is located, due to a reaction force. Since the rotation axis 17a of the lever 17 is fixed, the force applied in the direction of arrow C to the spearhead portion 17c, which is the point of force application, causes the spearhead portion 17c, which is the point of application, to rotate in the direction of arrow D. Since the bearing holder 21 is pivotally supported at the tip of the spearhead portion 17c, it moves axially, i.e., in the direction of arrow E, as the spearhead portion 17c rotates. As explained in the description of Figures 1 and 2, including Figure 7, the bearing holder 21 pushes up the rotor key 23, which in turn pushes up the dog clutch 25. As a result, the engagement between the receiving dog clutch 20 and the dog clutch 25 is released. This releases the rotational connection between the motor rotor 2 and the reduction gear 3.

[0031] In addition to the power transmission function described above, the inner lever 29 according to this embodiment can also be equipped with microswitching and rotational positioning functions. Therefore, if a microswitch and a position fixing spring (not shown) are attached, it can perform the following functions. Firstly, by providing a microswitch, it becomes possible to control the ON / OFF of the power supply in conjunction with the rotational movement of the inner lever 29. This is for a fail-safe function that prevents the motor from rotating when the release lever 9 is rotated (clutch released).

[0032] If the power supply to the cylindrical coil 6 and the electromagnetic brake 11 is restored due to battery replacement or other reasons, the motor rotor 2 will be able to rotate even if the clutch is released. However, since power is not transmitted to the sun gear 18, the motor rotor 2 will spin freely. If the release lever 9 is returned in this state, the clutch may suddenly engage, causing a large shock or mechanical damage. Therefore, by using a microswitch to create a simulated disconnected state, the motor rotor 2 will not rotate when the release lever 9 is released, thus avoiding the above-mentioned dangers. In addition, the fact that the release lever 9 is in the released state can be notified to the user, such as a caregiver, by a disconnection detection function, for example.

[0033] Secondly, by providing a position-fixing spring, it becomes possible to maintain the rotational position of the release lever 9. Specifically, a mountain-shaped projection should be provided at the tip of the inner lever 29, and the tip of the position-fixing spring should be pressed against this projection. With this configuration, as the release lever 9 rotates, the projection of the inner lever 29 pushes away the position-fixing spring, and the position-fixing spring presses against the side of the projection, thereby maintaining the rotational position (similar to the mechanism of a light switch).

[0034] As an example, it is preferable to apply a fitting mechanism with an anti-rotation effect, such as a D-cut, to the joint between the inner lever 29 and the rotating shaft 9a that connects the release lever 9. This configuration ensures that the rotational movement of the release lever 9 and the rotational movement of the inner lever 29 coincide, even when a large force is applied to the thin shaft (rotating shaft 9a). Furthermore, the amount of rotation, i.e., the rotation angle, of the inner lever 29 is restricted by contact with an anti-rotation element (not shown). The rotation angle of the inner lever 29 determines the rotation angle of the lift cam 30, the amount of movement of the lever 17, and ultimately the stroke of the bearing holder 21, i.e., the amount of clutch lift. Therefore, by restricting the rotation angle of the inner lever 29, it is possible to ensure a sufficient amount of clutch lift and prevent each link from operating beyond its effective range of motion.

[0035] In short, the present invention only requires that the connection between the motor rotor 2 and the reduction gear 3 be disconnected while the electromagnetic brake 11 is still operating. Therefore, the lift-up mechanism 8 is not limited to one that uses a lever 17 as described above.

[0036] Figure 6 shows the specific arrangement of the electromagnetic brake 11. The electromagnetic brake 11 has a sliding member 14 positioned between the fixed member 12 and the fixed member 13, and is loosely fitted to the outer circumference of the first rotating cylinder 2a (specifically the rotor key 23). The loose fitting is explained in Figure 7.

[0037] Figure 7 is an exploded view illustrating the structure of the connection between the sun gear 18 and the motor rotor 2. The components of the reduction gear 3 other than the sun gear 18, the internal workings of the motor, and the lift-up mechanism 8 are omitted. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the motor rotor 2 and all components except the electromagnetic brake 11 shown in Figure 7 assembled. In Figure 8, (a) shows the state without lift-up (clutch engaged), and (b) shows the state with lift-up (clutch disengaged).

[0038] The fixed shaft 4 is arranged in sequence with a plain bearing 19, sun gear 18, receiving dog clutch 20, bearing holder 21, bearing 22, rotor key 23, slide guide 24, dog clutch 25, spring 26, rotor key 27, electromagnetic brake 11, plain bearing 28, and motor rotor 2.

[0039] The fixed shaft 4 is a motor shaft that penetrates to the motor rotor 2, and it does not rotate or move in the axial direction itself. The plain bearing 19 is a sliding bearing located on the outer circumference of the fixed shaft 4 and inside the receiving dog clutch 20, functioning as a rotational bearing for the receiving dog clutch 20. The sun gear 18 is fitted to the lower end of the receiving dog clutch 20 with a small gap between it and the fixed shaft 4, and is configured to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the receiving dog clutch 20. Above the sun gear 18, on the outer circumference side of the receiving dog clutch 20, is a bearing holder 21 with a bearing 22 inside. The bearing 22 allows axial sliding relative to the receiving dog clutch 20 and functions as a rotational bearing between the receiving dog clutch 20 and the bearing holder 21. Therefore, even when the receiving dog clutch 20 rotates, the bearing holder 21 can remain stationary, and even if the bearing holder 21 is lifted up, it does not affect the receiving dog clutch 20.

[0040] The rotor key 23 has a polygonal outer circumference (hexagonal in the example shown in the figure), and a keyway 23a is provided on the end face located on the tip side of the fixed shaft 4. A through hole (hexagonal in shape) provided in the center of the sliding member 14 of the electromagnetic brake 11 is loosely fitted into the outer circumference of the rotor key 23. A key 25a provided on the outer circumference of the dog clutch 25 is fitted into the keyway 23a. With this assembly configuration, the rotor key 23 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the dog clutch 25, and the sliding member 14 also rotates with the rotation of the rotor key 23. Therefore, if the rotation of the sliding member 14 is restricted (restrained), the movement of the rotor key 23 and the dog clutch 25 is also restricted. The sliding member 14 is also capable of sliding axially relative to the rotor key 23.

[0041] The slide guide 24 is positioned between the rotor key 23 and the receiving dog clutch 20, and its role is to guide the rotor key 23 to prevent misalignment of its center position during lift-up. The dog clutch 25 has a cylindrical body with a clutch engagement portion, and on its outer circumference, it is equipped with a key 25a that fits into the keyway 23a of the rotor key 23. In addition, the inner surface is equipped with a spring seat 25b that receives the pressing force of a spring 26, which will be described later. The dog clutch 25 with this configuration is assembled to engage with the receiving dog clutch 20.

[0042] The spring 26 plays the role of pushing the dog clutch 25 and engaging it with the receiving dog clutch 20 when the lift-up is released. The spring 26 is positioned inside the rotor key 27 and is held in place by a spring seat 27a provided on the inner circumference of the rotor key 27. The rotor key 27 has a cylindrical part and a polygonal part (hexagon), and the cylindrical part is provided with a keyway 27b for loosely fitting the key 25a of the dog clutch 25. In addition, the end face of the polygonal part is provided with a screw hole 27c (see Figure 9) for fixing the motor rotor 2. The polygonal part is hexagonal in order to secure a surface for fixing the motor rotor 2 while allowing the sliding member 14 of the electromagnetic brake 11 to pass through. With this configuration, it is possible to assemble the electromagnetic brake 11 even after various parts have been assembled to the fixed shaft 4. The rotor key 27 is positioned while being able to rotate around its axis by a plain bearing 28 that fits onto the fixed shaft 4.

[0043] The transition of the connection state between the sun gear 18 assembled according to exploded view 7 and the rotor key 27 that rotates the motor rotor 2 will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8(a) shows the dog clutch 25 and the receiving dog clutch 20 engaged before the connection state is released. When the rotor key 23 is pushed up by the lift-up mechanism 8 via the bearing 22 supported by the bearing holder 21, the dog clutch 25 disengages from the receiving dog clutch 20, resulting in the state shown in Figure 8(b).

[0044] Here, Figure 8 is shown as a cross-sectional view, but the external appearance is as shown in Figure 9. In Figure 9, Figure 9(a) shows the state without the lift-up, and Figure 9(b) shows the state with the lift-up and the clutch disengaged.

[0045] Figure 10 shows an example of installing the lift-up mechanism 8. Reference numeral 17 denotes a lever 17 that is operated by a lift cam 30 which constitutes the lift-up mechanism 8. The fork portion 17c (point of application) of the lever 17 supports the bearing holder 21. As described above, when the lift cam 30 contacts the lower surface of an electromagnetic brake 11 (not shown), the projection 17b, which is the point of force application of the lever 17, lowers. As a result, the lever 17 rotates with the pivot point, the rotation axis 17a, as the pivot point, and the fork portion 17c, which is the point of application, rises, lifting the bearing holder 21. The rotor key 23 and dog clutch 25, which are located above the bearing 22, are then lifted.

[0046] Figure 11 shows an example of an electric wheelchair to which the present invention is applied, in which the wheel-in motors 100 that constitute the driving wheels 1 of the embodiment described above are applied to the two rear wheels. In an electric wheelchair with such a configuration, if an abnormality such as power loss occurs, the clutch release operation is performed on each of the left and right driving wheels 1.

[0047] [Application Forms] The wheel-in motor 100, which is built into the driving wheel 1 with the above configuration, will be applied to vehicles such as wheelchairs and carts in pairs of at least two. For example, when the driving wheel 1 according to the above embodiment is applied to a wheelchair 40, it will take the form shown in Figure 11. Figure 12 shows the driving wheel 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow D shown in Figure 11, with both the left and right views shown.

[0048] The wheelchair 40 shown in Figure 11 has a main shaft (fixed shaft 4) fixed to the body of the wheelchair 40, and the driving wheels 1 are formed by arranging spokes 41 and rims 42 on the outer circumference of the wheel 7 and then attaching a tire 43. In addition, the wheelchair 40 shown in Figure 11 is equipped with an operating means 46 for operating the wheel-in motor 100 near the arm support 45 located at the user's (passenger's) hands. Furthermore, it would be preferable to also provide an operating means for the wheel-in motor 100 (details not shown) near the handle 47 operated by the caregiver. This is to improve the operability when the caregiver operates the wheelchair 40.

[0049] The clutch release after the rotation operation of the release lever 9 in the wheel-in motor 100 is as previously described. Note that, when using the direction of travel as a reference, the operating direction of the lever 9 is opposite for the right wheel and the left wheel. To make them the same, the assembly direction of the lift cam 30 can be adjusted (to the opposite direction).

[0050] [effect] According to the present invention, a highly marketable and user-friendly electric vehicle is provided that can be easily switched to manual pushing when the electromagnetic brake is activated and the electric vehicle becomes unable to move. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1………Driving wheel, 2………Motor rotor, 2a………First rotating cylinder, 2b………Magnet, 2c………Yoke, 3………Reduction gear, 4………Fixed shaft, 5………Annular section, 6………Cylindrical coil, 7………Wheel, 7a………Wheelbase, 8………Lift-up mechanism, 9………Release lever, 9a………Rotating shaft, 10………Base plate, 11………Electromagnetic brake, 12,13………Fixed member, 14………Sliding member, 15………Meshing part, 17………Lever, 17a………Rotating shaft, 17b………Projection, 17c………Fork section, 18………Sun gear, 18a………Second rotating cylinder, 19………Plain bearing, 20 ………Receiving dog clutch, 21………Bearing holder, 22………Bearing, 23………Rotor key, 23a………Keyway, 24………Slide guide, 25………Dog clutch, 25a………Key, 25b………Spring seat, 26………Spring, 27………Rotor key, 27a………Spring seat, 27b………Keyway, 27c………Screw hole, 28………Plain bearing, 29………Inner lever, 30………Lift cam, 40………Wheelchair, 41………Spoke, 42………Rim, 43………Tire, 45………Arm support, 46…Operating means, 47…Handle, 100…Wheel-in motor.

Claims

1. A wheel-in motor having, between a wheelbase fixed to a fixed shaft and an output rotor that rotates around the fixed shaft, a motor rotor that rotates with respect to a first rotating cylinder provided on the fixed shaft, and a sun gear which is part of a reduction gear that is arranged in a second rotating cylinder provided on the fixed shaft and rotates due to the rotation of the motor rotor, and transmits power to the output rotor, The first rotating cylinder is equipped with a braking means to prevent the rotation of the motor rotor. A clutch mechanism is provided between the first rotating cylinder and the second rotating cylinder. A wheel-in motor characterized in that the operating means for the clutch mechanism is located outside the wheelbase.

2. The wheel-in motor according to claim 1, characterized in that the clutch mechanism is a dog clutch.

3. The operating means is a lever that is positioned along the fixed shaft, mounted on an operating shaft that protrudes outside the wheelbase, and allows rotational operation around the operating shaft. The wheel-in motor according to claim 2, characterized in that the wheelbase is provided with a lift-up mechanism that converts the force resulting from the rotational movement into a force in the direction of the fixed shaft's orientation.

4. The wheel-in motor has a cylindrical stator coil, The wheel-in motor according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotor is a yoke having magnets arranged opposite to the stator coil.

5. An electric mobile body characterized by having a wheel-in motor according to any one of claims 1 to 4 arranged on the drive wheel.

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