Electric balance bike

Abstract

To provide an electric balance bike which is provided with an electrical device including a battery and is improved in the waterproof performance of the electrical device.SOLUTION: A balance bike BB comprises: a front wheel 2 and a rear wheel 3; a motor 10 for rotationally driving the rear wheel 3; a main frame 11 for connecting a front fork 4 holding the front wheel 2 and a rear frame 12 holding the rear wheel 3 and having a closed cross section CS in the inside thereof; and an electrical device including a battery 20 and a controller 30. The main frame 11 includes: a main body part 15 having a bottom opening 15H; and a bottom cover 16 closing the bottom opening 15H. The battery 20 and the controller 30 are supported within the closed cross section CS of the main frame 11 in a state of being separated upward from an upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16 by a floating gap G.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric balance bike capable of electric running.

Background Art

[0002] A balance bike shown in Patent Document 1 is known. A balance bike is a type of children's bicycle, and the crank is omitted in order to run while kicking the ground. In recent years, electric balance bikes equipped with a motor, a battery, and a controller have also been commercialized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is desirable to avoid contact with moisture as much as possible for electrical equipment such as the battery and the controller. On the other hand, a balance bike must assume a situation of being exposed to moisture such as use in the rain and splashing water from the road surface. Therefore, when electrifying a balance bike, waterproof measures for the electrical equipment are desired.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to improve the waterproof performance of electrical equipment including a battery in an electric balance bike equipped with the electrical equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An electric balance bike according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a front wheel and a rear wheel, an electric drive source that rotationally drives at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a first frame that holds the front wheel and a second frame that holds the rear wheel, a main frame that connects the first frame and the second frame and has a closed cross-sectional structure formed by a bottom plate and an upper cover, and an electrical equipment including a battery that is disposed in the closed cross-section of the main frame in a state of being spaced upward from the bottom plate and supplies power to the drive source. , a drain hole for discharging water in the closed cross-section is formed in the main frame 。

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, in an electric balance bike including electrical equipment including a battery, the waterproof performance of the electrical equipment can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the electric balance bike according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. The electric balance bike (hereinafter simply referred to as the balance bike) according to the present disclosure is mainly a kids' bike for children, and can perform self-propelled running in which the rider kicks the ground with their own legs and electric running.

[0010] [Overall Configuration of Electric Balance Bike] FIG. 1 is a side view of a balance bike BB according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balance bike BB viewed from the upper diagonal rear, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the balance bike BB viewed from the lower diagonal front. The balance bike BB includes a body frame 1, a front wheel 2 and a rear wheel 3, a front fork 4 (first frame), a handle 5, a head tube 6, a seat 7, a seat tube 8, a pair of left and right steps 9, and a motor 10 (electric drive source).

[0011] The body frame 1 is a frame that forms the main part of the vehicle body of the balance bike BB, and includes a front main frame 11, a rear frame 12 (second frame) on the rear side, and a connecting member 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that connects both frames 11 and 12. The main frame 11 extends rearward while inclining downward from the head tube 6. The rear frame 12 extends rearward from the rear end of the main frame 11 at an angle closer to horizontal than the main frame 11. The main frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are joined to each other by welding via the connecting member 13. The body frame 1 has a shape bent so as to form a shallow V shape in side view. That is, a bent portion 14 is formed at the portion where the main frame 11 and the rear frame 12 are connected, and the bent portion 14 is bent so as to protrude downward. As will be described in detail later, the main frame 11 has a closed cross-sectional structure.

[0012] The front wheel 2 includes an axle 201, a wheel body 202, and a tire 203. The axle 201 is an axis that functions as the rotation center of the front wheel 2 and is fixed to the lower end portion of the front fork 4. The wheel body 202 is a rigid component that can rotate around the axle 201 and is attached to the axle 201 via a bearing. The tire 203 is a ring-shaped rubber component attached to the outer peripheral portion (rim) of the wheel body 202.

[0013] The front fork 4 is a member that holds the front wheel 2 and connects the handlebar 5 and the front wheel 2. The front fork 4 includes a stem portion 401 and a pair of left and right leg portions 402. The stem portion 401 is a pipe material that extends from the handlebar 5 toward the front wheel 2 and extends vertically in a posture inclined slightly backward. The middle portion of the stem portion 401 is coaxially inserted into the head tube 6. The pair of leg portions 402 extend downward while branching left and right from the lower end portion of the stem portion 401. A fixing portion 403 is provided at the lower end portion of each leg portion 402. Both end portions of the axle 201 of the front wheel 2 are fixed to the fixing portion 403 via a fastening member or the like.

[0014] The handlebar 5 includes a handlebar 51, an accelerator grip 52, and a brake lever 53. The handlebar 51 is a bar that extends in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) provided for steering the front wheel 2 and is fixed to the upper end portion of the stem portion 401 of the front fork 4 via a bracket 55. When the handlebar 51 is steered in the front-rear direction, the front fork 4 rotates around the axis and the direction of the front wheel 2 is changed, and the traveling direction of the balance bike BB is changed. The accelerator grip 52 is a grip that the occupant twists when the balance bike BB is driven electrically. The accelerator grip 52 is attached to the right side portion of the handlebar 51 in a rotatable state around an axis extending in the left-right direction so that a twisting operation is possible. The brake lever 53 is a lever that the occupant grips when decelerating the balance bike BB and is attached to the left side portion of the handlebar 51.

[0015] The head tube 6 is a cylindrical member capable of receiving the stem portion 401 of the front fork 4, and is fixed to the front end portion of the main frame 11. Specifically, the head tube 6 is fixed to the main frame 11 in a state of penetrating the front end portion of the main frame 11 vertically. The head tube 6 holds the stem portion 401 while allowing rotation of the stem portion 401 about its axis. In other words, the head tube 6 holds the front wheel 2 via the front fork 4 so as to be steerable.

[0016] The seat 7 includes a seat post 71 and a saddle 72. The seat post 71 is a pipe material extending in the vertical direction in a posture inclined slightly backward. At least the lower portion of the seat post 71 is coaxially inserted into the seat tube 8. The saddle 72 is a component that supports the buttocks of the occupant riding on the balance bike BB, and is detachably fixed to the upper end portion of the seat post 71.

[0017] The seat tube 8 is a cylindrical member capable of receiving the seat post 71, and is fixed to the rear end portion of the main frame 11. Specifically, the seat tube 8 is fixed to the main frame 11 in a state of penetrating the rear end portion of the main frame 11 vertically. The rear end portion of the main frame 11 is, as described above, a portion that is connected non-parallel to the front end portion of the rear frame 12, and cooperates with the front end portion of the rear frame 12 to form the bent portion 14 of the body frame 1. The seat tube 8 is fixed to this bent portion 14.

[0018] The seat tube 8 holds the seat post 71 slidably in the axial direction (vertical direction) so that the height of the seat 7 can be changed. A clamp 82 is attached to the upper end of the seat tube 8. The clamp 82 is a locking device for locking the seat 7 at a required height and can be switched between a release state and a locked state. That is, the clamp 82 allows the sliding of the seat post 71 in the release state and clamps the seat post 71 to prohibit its sliding in the locked state. By using such a clamp 82, the occupant can freely adjust the height of the saddle 72 of the seat 7.

[0019] A pair of steps 9 are parts for the occupant to place their feet. The base portions of the steps 9 are inserted into and fixed to the vehicle-width direction ends of the connecting member 13 of the body frame 1. The steps 9 project outward in the vehicle-width direction from the connecting member 13.

[0020] The rear wheel 3 includes an axle 301, a wheel body 302, and a tire 303. The axle 301 is an axle that functions as the rotation center of the rear wheel 3 and is fixed to the rear end portion of the rear frame 12. The wheel body 302 is a rigid component that can rotate about the axle 301 and is attached to the axle 301 via the motor 10. The tire 303 is a ring-shaped rubber component attached to the outer peripheral portion (rim) of the wheel body 302.

[0021] The rear frame 12 has its front end connected to the main frame 11 and holds the rear wheel 3 at its rear end. The rear frame 12 includes a pair of left and right upper pipes 121, a pair of left and right lower pipes 122, and a pair of left and right end plates 123. The pair of end plates 123 are the portions where both ends of the axle 301 of the rear wheel 3 are fixed via fastening members or the like. The pair of upper pipes 121 are pipe materials extending forward from the upper portions of the respective end plates 123. The pair of lower pipes 122 are pipe materials extending forward from the lower portions of the respective end plates 123. The front end of each upper pipe 121 is joined to the rear end of the main frame 11 by welding. Gussets 125 are attached between the front end of each upper pipe 121 and the main frame 11. The front end of each lower pipe 122 is joined to the rear end of the main frame 11 via a connecting member 13.

[0022] A brake 304 for applying a braking force to the rear wheel 3 is attached to the rear frame 12. The brake 304 is mechanically connected to the brake lever 53 via a brake cable C1 routed through the inside of the main frame 11. When the occupant operates by gripping the brake lever 53, the operating force applied to the brake lever 53 is transmitted to the brake 304 via the brake cable C1. Thereby, a braking force for restricting the rotation of the rear wheel 3 is applied from the brake 304 to the wheel body 302.

[0023] The motor 10 is an electric motor that is driven by receiving power supply. The motor 10 is a so-called in-wheel motor and is coaxially attached to the central part (hub) of the wheel body 302 so as to be able to directly rotate the rear wheel 3. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the motor 10 incorporates a stator that is non-rotatable with respect to the axle 301 and a rotor that rotates with respect to the stator when energized. The rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the wheel body 302 via an output shaft coaxial with the wheel body 302, whereby the rear wheel 3 is rotationally driven. By using an in-wheel motor as the motor 10, simplification and weight reduction of the drive system are achieved. Note that the motor 10 only needs to rotationally drive at least one of the front wheels 2 or the rear wheels 3, and may be arranged to rotationally drive the front wheels 2.

[0024] As shown by the phantom line in FIG. 1, inside the main frame 11, electrical equipment including the battery 20 and the controller 30 is housed. The battery 20 and the controller 30 are devices that generate the power for the rotational drive of the motor 10. The battery 20 is a secondary battery capable of charging and discharging, and is a power storage device that supplies power to the motor 10. The controller 30 is a control device that controls the rotational operation of the motor 10. The controller 30 is electrically connected to the motor 10 via a power supply cable C2 routed through the inside of the main frame 11, and is also electrically connected to the accelerator grip 52 via another control cable. When the occupant performs an operation of twisting the accelerator grip 52, a signal indicating the operation amount etc. of the twisting operation is input to the controller 30. The controller 30 controls the power supply from the battery 20 to the motor 10 so that the motor 10 is rotationally driven at a desired rotational speed based on the input operation signal.

[0025] [Support Structure of Electrical Equipment in Main Frame] Next, the support structure of the electrical equipment within the main frame 11 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part of the balance bike BB with a part of the main frame 11 housing the electrical equipment in a transparent state, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, the battery 20 and the controller 30 as the electrical equipment are supported in a floating state within the main frame 11 in order to improve the waterproofness against them. Hereinafter, the structure related to this floating support will be described.

[0026] <Details of the main frame> The main frame 11 is a frame that connects the front fork 4 (first frame) and the head tube 6 that hold the front wheel 2, and the rear frame 12 (second frame) that holds the rear wheel 3, and has a closed cross-sectional structure. The main frame 11 is composed of a composite of a main body portion 15 having a reverse U-shaped cross-section and a flat bottom cover 16 (cover).

[0027] The main body portion 15 has a lower surface opening 15H (opening) that is open downward. The bottom cover 16 closes the lower surface opening 15H. By closing the lower surface opening 15H with the bottom cover 16, a closed cross-section CS is formed inside the main frame 11. The battery 20 and the controller 30 are arranged within the closed cross-section CS. By removing the bottom cover 16, the operator can access the region of the closed cross-section CS through the lower surface opening 15H. That is, the lower surface opening 15H is an opening for taking out the battery 20 and the controller 30 from the closed cross-section CS or mounting them on the closed cross-section CS.

[0028] The main body part 15 is a metal frame member, including a pair of side plates 151, a top plate 152, and a plurality of brackets 153. The pair of side plates 151 are flat plates that face each other in parallel with a predetermined interval in the left-right direction and extend in the front-rear direction. The predetermined interval is set to be at least longer than the left-right width of at least the battery 20 and the controller 30. A rear bottom plate 154 and a front bottom plate 155 are respectively attached to the rear side and the front side of the main body part 15. The rear bottom plate 154 is joined to the pair of side plates 151 so as to close the lower surface opening 15H at the rear end of the main body part 15. The front bottom plate 155 is joined to the pair of side plates 151 so as to close the lower surface opening 15H at the front end of the main body part 15.

[0029] The top plate 152 connects the upper end parts of the pair of side plates 151. A through hole for passing the head tube 6 is drilled on the front side of the top plate 152. Also, a through hole for passing the seat tube 8 is drilled on the rear side of the top plate 152. A through hole for passing the head tube 6 is also drilled in the above-mentioned rear bottom plate 154, and a through hole for passing the seat tube 8 is also drilled in the front bottom plate 155. The head tube 6 is inserted into the through hole on the front side of the top plate 152 and the through hole of the front bottom plate 155, and is joined to the peripheral edges of these through holes by welding. The seat tube 8 is inserted into the through hole on the rear side of the top plate 152 and the through hole of the rear bottom plate 154, and is joined to the peripheral edges of these through holes by welding.

[0030] The bracket 153 is a member that serves as a mounting part of the bottom cover 16 to the main body part 15. The bracket 153 is a short plate piece that protrudes laterally inward from each inner wall surface of the pair of side plates 151 and has a screw hole. The bracket 153 is attached at a position close to the lower end edge of the side plate 151. The bracket 153 can be provided on the side plate 151, for example, by welding an L-shaped frame piece to the inner wall surface of the side plate 151. A plurality of brackets 153 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction. In the example of FIG. 4, four brackets 153 are arranged at substantially equal intervals.

[0031] The bottom cover 16 is a flat plate made of resin having a left - right width substantially equal to the interval between the pair of side plates 151. Near the left - and right - hand side edges of the bottom cover 16, through - holes are drilled in accordance with the positions of the brackets 153. By fastening the set screws 161 to the screw holes of the brackets 153 through these through - holes, the bottom cover 16 is attached to the main body portion 15, and the lower surface opening 15H is closed. By attaching the bottom cover 16, the space in which the battery 20 and the controller 30 in the main body portion 15 are accommodated becomes a closed cross - section CS. Also, the intrusion of rainwater from the lower surface opening 15H is suppressed by the bottom cover 16.

[0032] When an operator accesses the battery 20 or the controller 30 in the closed cross - section CS for maintenance, replacement, etc., it is only necessary to remove the fastened set screws 161 from the brackets 153, and the work is easy. Also, the bottom cover 16 is disposed on the bottom surface side of the main body portion 15 and is in a position that is difficult to see from onlookers of the balance bike BB. For this reason, there is also an advantage that it is easy to improve the aesthetic appearance of the body frame 1 without being subject to design restrictions due to the presence of the lower surface opening 15H and the bottom cover 16.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, the bottom cover 16 includes a flat plate portion 162 and an inclined portion 163. The flat plate portion 162 faces the entire bottom surface of the battery 20 and the bottom surface of the rear half of the controller 30. The inclined portion 163 is continuous with the front end of the flat plate portion 162 and is inclined upward with respect to the direction in which the flat plate portion 162 extends. The rear end portion 164 of the flat plate portion 162 abuts against the rear bottom plate 154 of the main body portion 15. The front end portion 165 of the inclined portion 163 abuts against the front bottom plate 155 of the main body portion 15. The rear end portion 164 and the front end portion 165 may be fixed to the rear bottom plate 154 and the front bottom plate 155 respectively by screwing or the like.

[0034] In this embodiment, the bottom cover 16 is disposed above the lower ends of the pair of side plates 151. Specifically, the rear end portion 164 of the bottom cover 16 is covered by the lower end portion of the side plate 151. For this reason, the bottom cover 16 is protected by the side plates 151, and damage to the bottom cover 16 caused by a collision with an obstacle can be suppressed. Further, by providing the bottom cover 16, it is possible to suppress the entry of rainwater, mud, etc. splashed from the front wheel 2 into the main frame 11.

[0035] <Support member for electrical equipment> The battery 20 and the controller 30 are disposed in the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11 in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section CS, that is, the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16 in this embodiment. Such a floating arrangement is realized by the first support portion 40A, the second support portion 40B, and the third support portion 40C arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. This point will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 in addition to FIGS. 4 and 5 mentioned above. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main body portion 15 of the main frame 11 with the bottom cover 16 removed, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view with the main body portion 15 removed. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the battery 20 and the controller 30 and the above three support portions 40A, 40B, 40C. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the connection support portion between the battery 20 and the controller 30.

[0036] The battery 20 of this embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is relatively narrow in the left-right direction and long in the front-rear direction. The controller 30 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a wider left-right width than the battery 20 and a shorter front-rear width than the battery 20. A rear end flange 31 extends rearward from the lower part of the rear end of the controller 30, and a front end flange 32 extends forward from the lower part of the front end.

[0037] The first support part 40A supports the rear end part 21 of the battery 20. The second support part 40B supports the front end part 22 of the battery 20 and the rear end flange 31 of the controller 30. The third support part 40C supports the front end flange 32 of the controller 30. The support base of the first support part 40A and the second support part 40B is a pair of side plates 151 of the main frame 11. In other words, the rear end part 21 and the front end part 22 of the battery 20 and the rear end flange 31 of the controller 30 are supported by a horizontal suspension method using the side plates 151 without relying on the bottom cover 16. This horizontal suspension method has the advantage that a support state in which the electrical equipment is suspended from the bottom cover 16 can be easily established. On the other hand, the support base of the third support part 40C is the inclined part 163 of the bottom cover 16. Of course, the support base of the third support part 40C may be a pair of side plates 151. In this case, the bottom cover 16 can be made of a simple plate material that is not equipped with supporting members, etc., and the bottom cover 16 can be easily attached and detached.

[0038] The structures of the three support parts 40A, 40B, and 40C will be described in detail. Mainly referring to Figs. 6 to 8, the first support part 40A includes a first holding member 41 and a first support member 42 (support member). The first holding member 41 includes a horizontal plate 411, a pair of left and right vertical plates 412, and a connecting plate 413. The horizontal plate 411 is a horizontal plate that supports the bottom surface 23 at the rear end 21 of the battery 20. The pair of vertical plates 412 are bent pieces that stand upright from both left and right end edges of the horizontal plate 411, and hold the left and right side surfaces 25 of the battery 20. The connecting plate 413 (Fig. 6) is a bent piece that hangs down from the rear end edge of the horizontal plate 411. The connecting plate 413 is a member for connecting the first holding member 41 to the first support member 42.

[0039] The first support member 42 is a member that supports the rear end portion 21 of the battery 20 via the first holding member 41. The first support member 42 includes a beam plate 421, a pair of left and right stopper plates 422, and a bulging portion 423. The beam plate 421 extends in the left - right direction so as to bridge between the pair of side plates 151. The pair of stopper plates 422 are bent pieces that extend forward from both the left and right ends of the beam plate 421. Through - holes for passing the fixing screws 424 are drilled in the stopper plates 422. The bulging portion 423 is a portion that extends downward from the center in the left - right direction of the beam plate 421.

[0040] The left and right stopper plates 422 are respectively fixed to the left and right side plates 151. The side plates 151 are provided with screw holes into which the fixing screws 424 can be screwed. With the screw holes and the through - holes of the stopper plates 422 aligned, the fixing screws 424 are screwed into the screw holes. By this screwing, the first support member 42 is fixed to the side plates 151. The connecting plate 413 of the first holding member 41 and the bulging portion 423 of the first support member 42 each have through - holes for passing the fastening bolts 414. By aligning these through - holes, overlapping the bulging portion 423 on the connecting plate 413, and inserting and fastening the fastening bolts 414 into the through - holes, the two are connected.

[0041] By the above connection, the first holding member 41 that supports the rear end portion 21 of the battery 20 is supported by the first support member 42 having the side plates 151 as a support base. This support form creates a support state in which the battery 20 floats from the bottom cover 16. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, there is a floating gap G between the bottom surface 23 of the battery 20 supported by the first support portion 40A and the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16. When rainwater or the like infiltrates into the closed cross - section CS of the main frame 11, or when condensation water is generated, these moisture flows on the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16 or stays on the upper surface 16A. However, since the battery 20 is supported with the floating gap G, it becomes difficult to come into contact with the moisture.

[0042] The second support portion 40B has the same configuration as the first support portion 40A in the support structure of the battery 20, but has an additional configuration because it also supports the controller 30. The second support portion 40B includes a second holding member 43, a second support member 44 (support member), and a support bracket 45. The second holding member 43 and the second support member 44 are members similar to the above-described first holding member 41 and first support member 42, and support the front end portion 22 of the battery 20. The support bracket 45 supports the rear end flange 31 of the controller 30.

[0043] The second holding member 43 includes a horizontal plate 431, a pair of vertical plates 432, and a connecting plate 433. The horizontal plate 431 supports the bottom surface 23 at the front end portion 22 of the battery 20. The vertical plates 432 hold the left and right side surfaces 25 at the front end portion 22 of the battery 20. The connecting plate 433 is formed of a bent piece hanging downward from the front edge of the horizontal plate 431.

[0044] The second support member 44 is a member that supports the front end portion 22 of the battery 20 via the second holding member 43. The second support member 44 includes a beam plate 441, a pair of left and right stop plates 442, and a bulging portion 443. The beam plate 441 extends in the left-right direction so as to bridge between the pair of side plates 151. The pair of stop plates 442 are bent pieces extending rearward from both the left and right ends of the beam plate 421. Through holes for passing the fixing screws 444 are drilled in the stop plates 442. The bulging portion 443 is a portion extending downward from the center in the left-right direction of the beam plate 441.

[0045] The left and right stop plates 442 are fixed to the left and right side plates 151 respectively by screwing the fixing screws 444. Also, the connecting plate 433 of the second holding member 43 and the bulging portion 443 of the second support member 44 are connected by a fastening bolt 434. By this connection, the second holding member 43 that supports the front end portion 22 of the battery 20 is also in a state of being supported by the second support member 44 having the side plate 151 as a support base. By such support, a floating gap G is also formed between the bottom surface 23 on the front end portion 22 side of the battery 20 and the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, the second support member 44 further includes a vertical plate 445 and a pressing plate 446. The vertical plate 445 is a plate piece extending upward from the center in the left-right direction of the beam plate 441, and holds the front end portion 22 of the battery 20. The pressing plate 446 is a plate piece extending forward from the vertical plate 445.

[0047] The support bracket 45 is an L-shaped member having a support plate 451 and a hanging plate 452 in a side view. The support plate 451 supports the back surface of the rear end flange 31 of the controller 30. The hanging plate 452 hangs downward from the rear end of the support plate 451. The hanging plate 452 is provided with a through hole through which the fastening bolt 434 can be inserted. The hanging plate 452 is aligned with the bulging portion 443 of the second support member 44 and is fastened together with the connecting plate 433 by the fastening bolt 434. The rear end flange 31 is supported in such a manner that its lower surface is supported from below by the support plate 451 while its upper surface is pressed by the pressing plate 446 of the second support member 44.

[0048] The third support portion 40C includes a third support member 46. The third support member 46 is composed of a locking portion 461 and an extending portion 462 that are integrally connected. The locking portion 461 supports the front end flange 32 of the controller 30. The locking portion 461 has a curved shape so as to be able to wrap around the upper surface from the lower surface of the front end flange 32. The extending portion 462 is a plate piece extending obliquely downward from the locking portion 461, and connects the inclined portion 163 of the bottom cover 16 and the locking portion 461. Bolt holes are respectively drilled in the extending portion 462 and the inclined portion 163, and the two are fixed by a fastening bolt 463 using the bolt holes.

[0049] The rear end flange 31 is supported by the support bracket 45, and the front end flange 32 is supported by the third support member 46, so that the bottom surface 33 of the controller 30 is also in a floating state from the bottom cover 16. That is, in the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11, the controller 30 is supported in a state of being spaced upward from the bottom cover 16 together with the battery 20. Therefore, the waterproof performance against the controller 30 can also be improved.

[0050] According to the above-described support structure, the first support member 42 and the second support member 44 extend in the left-right direction, and both ends thereof are fixed to a pair of side plates 151 of the main frame 11. Therefore, the support members 42 and 44 also function as reinforcing members that prevent deformation of the main frame 11. Therefore, even when the main body 15 of the main frame 11 is a structure having a lower surface opening 15H, deformation of the main frame 11 can be suppressed. In addition, since the function as a reinforcing member borne by the bottom cover 16 can be reduced, the degree of freedom in selecting the material and the plate thickness of the bottom cover 16 can be increased. For example, in order to reduce weight and cost, it becomes possible to use a bottom cover 16 made of a resin material.

[0051] <Support of Electrical Equipment via a Buffer Member> The battery 20 and the controller 30 are supported via a buffer member within the closed cross-section CS. Here, an example is shown in which a damper made of a flat sponge member or buffer rubber or the like is used as the buffer member. As shown in FIG. 6, a bottom damper 61 (first buffer member) is interposed between the bottom surface 23 of the battery 20 and the horizontal plates 411 of the first holding member 41 and the horizontal plates 431 of the second holding member 43. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a lateral damper 62 (first buffer member) is interposed between the side surface 25 of the battery 20 and the vertical plates 412 of the first holding member 41 and the vertical plates 432 of the second holding member 43. Further, an upper damper 63 (second buffer member) is interposed between the upper surface 24 of the battery 20 and the inner wall surface of the main body 15 of the main frame 11.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, a rear damper 64 (first buffer member) is interposed between the rear end flange 31 of the controller 30 and the pressing plate 446 and the support plate 451 that are arranged so as to sandwich the rear end flange 31. The rear damper 64 is a C-shaped damper that wraps around the rear end flange 31. Also, a front damper 65 (first buffer member) is interposed between the front end flange 32 and the locking portion 461 of the third support member 46. The front damper 65 is also a C-shaped damper that wraps around the front end flange 32. Further, a flat upper damper 66 (second buffer member) is interposed between the upper surface 34 of the controller 30 and the inner wall surface of the main body portion 15 of the main frame 11.

[0053] The dampers 61 to 66 each have a function of absorbing vibrations. Therefore, the vibrations propagated from the body frame 1 to the battery 20 and the controller 30 can be absorbed by the dampers 61 to 66. Accordingly, it is difficult for impacts and vibrations to be transmitted to the battery 20 and the controller 30.

[0054] [Structure for drawing a linear body into a closed cross-section] In the balance bike BB, it is necessary to route linear bodies such as the brake cable C1 and a control cable extending from an accelerator grip 52 (not shown) to the controller 30 from the front wheel 2 side toward the rear wheel 3 side. For example, the brake cable C1 is routed through the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11 from a brake lever 53 (FIG. 1) provided on the handle 5 to the brake 304 of the rear wheel 3. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an opening serving as an inlet for drawing the brake cable C1 into the closed cross-section CS near the front of the main frame 11. Such an opening may reduce the waterproofness of the closed cross-section CS. In view of this point, in the present embodiment, a structure for drawing a linear body having excellent waterproofness into the closed cross-section CS is provided.

[0055] FIG. 10(A) is a perspective view of the vicinity of the front end 15F of the main frame 11 (body frame 1) as viewed from below. A frame cover 11F is attached to the front end 15F. The frame cover 11F is arranged to cover the front end 15F, that is, to seal the front end opening of the main body 15 forming the closed cross-section CS. That is, the lower surface opening 15H of the inverted U-shaped main body 15 is covered by the front bottom plate 155 and the bottom cover 16, and the front end opening of the main body 15 is covered by the frame cover 11F.

[0056] The frame cover 11F includes a front cover 171 and a housing portion 172. The front cover 171 is a flat plate having a size larger than that of the main body 15 in both the vertical and horizontal widths. This front cover 171 covers the front end opening of the main body 15. The front cover 171 may also be referred to as a license plate. The housing portion 172 is continuously provided on the rear surface of the front cover 171 and has a size that can be fitted to the front end 15F of the main body 15. The housing portion 172 is fixed to the side plate 151 of the front end 15F by a fixing screw 173.

[0057] A lead-in port 174 for a wire strip is provided on the bottom wall 172B of the housing portion 172. The lead-in port 174 is formed by notching a part of the bottom wall 172B in a U-shape. The position of the lead-in port 174 in the front-rear direction is between the front cover 171 and the front end 15F of the main body 15. The lead-in port 174 has a size slightly larger than the size of the wire strip drawn into the closed cross-section CS, that is, the diameter of the brake cable C1 in this embodiment.

[0058] FIG. 10(B) is a perspective view showing the situation of drawing the brake cable C1 into the lead-in port 174. The brake cable C1 is drawn downward from the brake lever 53, passes through the lower end of the front cover 171, and is drawn into the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11 from the lead-in port 174.

[0059] According to such a retraction structure of the striatum, by using the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11, the brake cable C1 or the like can be routed from the front wheel 2 side to the rear wheel 3 side. Further, the retraction port 174 is disposed between the front end 15F of the main body portion 15 and the front cover 171 having a size larger than that of the front end 15F. That is, the retraction port 174 is disposed at a position covered by the front cover 171. Moreover, it is opened in the bottom wall 172B of the housing portion 172. Therefore, the entry of moisture from the retraction port 174 into the closed cross-section CS can be suppressed, and the waterproof property against the electrical equipment can be further enhanced.

[0060] [Function and Effect] The balance bike BB according to the present disclosure described above includes a structure in which electrical equipment including the battery 20 and the controller 30 is disposed in the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11 of the body frame 1, in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section CS. According to the balance bike BB, since the electrical equipment is disposed in the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11, the electrical equipment is prevented from directly contacting rainwater, splash water, or the like.

[0061] In addition, the electrical equipment is disposed in the closed cross-section CS in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section CS, that is, the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16 in the above embodiment. That is, the electrical equipment is disposed in a floating state from the bottom cover 16 in the closed cross-section CS. Even if moisture enters the main frame 11 or moisture is generated due to condensation in the closed cross-section CS, the moisture will drip onto the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16 by gravity. For this reason, it is possible to essentially make it difficult for contact between the moisture and the electrical equipment to occur. Further, it is possible to make it difficult for moisture to stay on the bottom surface 23 and the side surface 25 of the battery 20, the bottom surface 33 of the controller 30, and the like. In particular, the bottom cover 16 of the main frame 11 is inclined downward as it goes rearward. For this reason, since the moisture actively moves rearward along the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16 by its own weight, the above-mentioned retention is less likely to occur. Therefore, it is possible to provide a balance bike BB with improved waterproof performance for electrical equipment such as the battery 20 and the controller 30.

[0062] Furthermore, by accommodating the battery 20 inside the main frame 11, it is difficult for the battery 20 to directly collide with an object existing around the balance bike BB even when the balance bike BB topples over or the like. Therefore, the protective effect of the battery 20 can be enhanced. Also, since the battery 20 is disposed between the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3, there is an advantage that it is easy to arrange the vehicle center of gravity between the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3. In addition, since the electrical equipment is disposed in a region behind the head tube 6 and in front of the seat tube 8, interference between these tubes 6 and 8 passing through the main frame 11 and the electrical equipment can be prevented.

[0063] Also, in the above-described embodiment, since the battery 20 is disposed behind the controller 30, it is easy to arrange the battery 20, which is heavier than the controller 30, near the center between the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3. Therefore, compared with the case where the controller 30 is disposed behind the battery 20, the vehicle center of gravity can be brought closer to the center in the front-rear direction of the balance bike BB. On the other hand, the controller 30 is disposed closer to the handle 5 than the battery 20. For this reason, the length of the electric cable connecting the operator provided on the handle 5 and the controller 30 can be shortened.

[0064] [Modification Embodiment] As described above, the embodiment of the balance bike BB according to the present disclosure has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment at all. For example, the following modification embodiments can be adopted for the above-described balance bike BB.

[0065] (1) In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the main frame 11 having a closed cross-sectional structure is composed of a main body portion 15 having a bottom surface opening 15H for taking out the electrical equipment and a bottom cover 16 for closing the bottom surface opening 15H. Instead of this, a cylindrical body without an opening may be used as the main frame 11. In this case, for example, the main frame 11 can be constituted by a semi-cracked frame piece. Further, the opening provided in the main frame 11 may be provided on the side surface or the top surface instead of the bottom surface of the main frame 11. Note that the closed cross-sectional structure only needs to be roughly a closed cross-sectional structure and does not need to be a completely sealed closed cross-section CS. For example, a mode in which an opening communicating the internal and external spaces, such as an air hole, is formed in the main frame 11 may be used. Even in this case, the holes formed in the frame are preferably formed in a maze structure that prevents the intrusion of rainwater.

[0066] (2) In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the left and right end portions (stopper plates 422) of the first support member 42 of the first support portion 40A and the left and right end portions (stopper plates 442) of the second support member 44 of the second support portion 40B are each supported by a pair of side plates 151 of the main body portion 15 of the main frame 11. Instead of this, a structure in which only one of the pair of side plates 151 supports the first support member 42 and the second support member 44 may be used.

[0067] (3) A metal member having rigidity may be used as the bottom cover 16, and the bottom cover 16 may be used as a support base for the first support member 42 and the second support member 44. Conversely, for the third support portion 40C of the above-described embodiment, a pair of side plates 151 may also be used as a support base so that all the support portions 40A, 40B, and 40C are supported by the pair of side plates 151.

[0068] (4) In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the battery 20 and the controller 30 are supported via the dampers 61 to 66. The dampers 61 to 66 may be omitted. Alternatively, only the upper dampers 63 and 66 interposed between the inner wall surface of the main body portion 15 and the battery 20 and the controller 30 may be omitted.

[0069] (5) In the above embodiment, an example in which the battery 20 and the controller 30 are arranged within the closed cross-section CS of the main frame 11 as electrical equipment was shown. For example, when the controller 30 is housed in a sufficient watertight housing, the controller 30 may not be arranged within the closed cross-section CS, and only the battery 20 may be arranged within the closed cross-section CS. Conversely, only the controller 30 may be arranged within the closed cross-section CS, and the battery 20 may be arranged at a location outside the closed cross-section CS. Also, electrical equipment other than the battery 20 and the controller 30, for example, sensors such as a current sensor and a temperature sensor, and communication-related equipment such as a wireless communication device and a GPS device may be arranged within the closed cross-section CS.

[0070] When it is assumed that a plurality of electrical equipment are arranged within the closed cross-section CS, at least one electrical equipment may have a structure that is spaced upward from the bottom surface of the main frame 11. For example, only either the battery 20 or the controller 30 may be arranged to be spaced upward from the bottom surface of the main frame 11, that is, the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16. Also, the front-rear direction arrangement of the battery 20 and the controller 30 is arbitrary. Contrary to the above embodiment, the battery 20 may be arranged on the front side and the controller 30 may be arranged on the rear side.

[0071] (6) In order to actively drain water that has entered the closed cross-section CS or water generated by condensation or the like, a drain hole may be provided in the main frame 11. The drain hole can be provided by, for example, drilling a hole in the rear bottom plate 154, or by providing a slit between the left and right side edges near the lowermost part of the bottom cover 16 and the pair of side plates 151. The water that has entered the closed cross-section CS moves along the upper surface 16A of the bottom cover 16 that slopes downward as it goes rearward, and is discharged from the drain hole.

[0072] (7) In the above embodiment, an example in which the motor 10 as a drive source is an in-wheel motor was shown. The drive source may be a motor provided at a position away from the wheels instead of the in-wheel motor. In this case, a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the power of the motor to the drive wheels is provided. As the power transmission mechanism, a chain, a belt, a drive shaft, etc. may be used.

[0073] (8) The battery 20 may be connected with a charging connector that receives power supply from an external power source. For example, it may be provided with a harness connected to the battery 20 and a charging connector provided at the tip of the harness. In this case, the user can charge the battery 20 with power from the external power source via the charging connector without removing the battery 20 from the main frame 11. As described above, since the floating gap G is formed between the bottom cover 16 and the battery 20, it is easy to accommodate the harness and the charging connector in the main frame 11. Note that the harness and the charging connector may be accommodated in the space between the battery 20 and the pair of side plates 151.

[0074] However, from the viewpoint of improving waterproof performance, the terminal portions and harness connection portions provided on the battery 20 and the controller 30, including the above-mentioned harness and charging connector, are preferably provided on the upper portions of the battery 20 and the controller 30. Thereby, the contact of the terminal portions and the harness connection portions with rainwater can be further suppressed.

[0075] [Summary of the present disclosure] The specific embodiments described above include the following disclosures.

[0076] The electric balance bike according to the present disclosure includes a front wheel and a rear wheel, an electric drive source that rotationally drives at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a first frame that holds the front wheel and a second frame that holds the rear wheel, a main frame that connects the first frame and the second frame and has a closed cross-sectional structure, and an electrical device that is disposed in the closed cross-section of the main frame in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section and generates the power of the rotational drive for the drive source.

[0077] According to this electric balance bike, since the electrical equipment is arranged inside the closed cross-section of the main frame, the electrical equipment does not come into direct contact with rainwater, splashing water, etc. In addition, the electrical equipment is arranged inside the closed cross-section in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section. That is, the electrical equipment is arranged in a floating state from the bottom surface inside the closed cross-section. Even if moisture enters the main frame or moisture is generated due to condensation inside the closed cross-section, the moisture will drip onto the inner bottom surface due to gravity. Therefore, it is possible to essentially make it difficult for contact to occur between the moisture and the electrical equipment, and it is also possible to make it difficult for moisture to stay on the bottom surface and side surfaces of the electrical equipment. Therefore, according to the electric balance bike having the above aspect, the waterproof performance for the electrical equipment can be improved.

[0078] In the above electric balance bike, the electrical equipment may include a battery that supplies power to the drive source. In this case, the waterproof performance of the battery can be improved.

[0079] In the above electric balance bike, it is desirable that the main frame includes a main body portion having an opening for taking out the electrical equipment from inside the closed cross-section, and a cover that closes the opening.

[0080] According to this electric balance bike, the user can easily perform maintenance, replacement, etc. of the electrical equipment through the opening of the main body portion. In addition, since the opening is closed by a cover, the entry of rainwater from the opening can be suppressed.

[0081] In the above electric balance bike, the opening is an opening that opens downward, the cover is a bottom cover that closes the opening, and it is desirable that the electrical equipment is supported by the main body portion in a state of being spaced upward from the bottom cover.

[0082] According to this electric balance bike, the cover is arranged on the bottom surface side of the main body. That is, the cover is arranged at a position that is difficult to be seen by viewers of the electric balance bike. Therefore, it is not subject to design restrictions due to the presence of the cover, and it is easy to improve the aesthetic appearance of the main frame.

[0083] In the above electric balance bike, it is desirable that the main body includes a pair of side plates facing each other at a predetermined interval, supports the electrical equipment, and further includes a support member fixed to at least one of the pair of side plates.

[0084] According to this electric balance bike, the electrical equipment is supported in a horizontally suspended state by the side plates of the main body. Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a support state in which the electrical equipment floats from the bottom cover. In addition, the bottom cover can be composed of a simple member not equipped with the support member or the like. Therefore, the user can easily attach and detach the bottom cover to and from the opening.

[0085] In the above electric balance bike, it is desirable to further include a first buffer member interposed between the electrical equipment and the support member, and a second buffer member interposed between the electrical equipment and the inner wall surface of the main body.

[0086] According to this electric balance bike, vibrations propagated from the main frame to the electrical equipment can be absorbed by the first buffer member and the second buffer member. Therefore, the electrical equipment can be protected from vibrations.

[0087] In the above electric balance bike, it is desirable to further include a wire body arranged from the front wheel side to the rear wheel side, a front cover arranged to cover the front end side of the main frame, and a drawing-in port arranged between the front end surface of the main frame and the front cover for drawing the wire body into the closed cross-section of the main frame.

[0088] According to this electric balance bike, the wire body can be routed from the front wheel side to the rear wheel side by utilizing the closed cross-section of the main frame. Further, the inlet of the wire body is disposed between the front end face of the main frame and the front cover. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the inlet at a position covered and hidden by the front cover, and the entry of moisture into the closed cross-section through the inlet can be suppressed.

[0089] In the above electric balance bike, the electrical equipment includes a battery that supplies power to the drive source and a controller that controls the operation of the drive source. It is desirable that the controller is disposed in a state spaced upward from the inner bottom surface together with the battery within the closed cross-section of the main frame.

[0090] According to this electric balance bike, the waterproof performance for the battery and the controller can be improved.

Explanation of Signs

[0091] BB Balance Bike C1 Brake Cable (Wire Body) CS Closed Cross-Section CS G Floating Gap 1 Body Frame 2 Front Wheel 3 Rear Wheel 4 Front Fork (First Frame) 10 Motor (Electric Drive Source) 11 Main Frame 12 Rear Frame (Second Frame) 15 Main Body 15H Bottom Opening (Opening) 15F Front End 151 Side Plate 16 Bottom Cover (Cover) 16A Upper Surface (Inner Bottom Surface) 171 Front Cover 174 Inlet 20 Battery (Electrical Equipment) 30 Controller (Electrical Equipment) 40A, 40B, 40C, the first, second, and third support parts 42, the first support member (support member) 44, the second support member (support member) 61, the bottom damper (the first buffer member) 62, the side damper (the first buffer member) 63, the upper damper (the second buffer member) 64, the rear damper (the first buffer member) 65, the front damper (the first buffer member) 66, the upper damper (the second buffer member)

Claims

1. A front wheel and a rear wheel, an electric drive source that rotationally drives at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a first frame that holds the front wheel and a second frame that holds the rear wheel, a main frame that connects the first frame and the second frame and has a closed cross-section structure, electrical equipment disposed in the closed cross-section of the main frame in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section to generate the power of the rotational drive for the drive source, comprising, in an electric balance bike, a drain hole for discharging water in the closed cross-section is formed in the main frame, the main frame includes a main body portion having an opening for taking out the electrical equipment from the closed cross-section and a cover for closing the opening, the opening is an opening that opens downward, the cover is a bottom cover that closes the opening and is supported by the main body portion, the bottom cover is disposed above the lower end of the side plate forming the opening, the electric balance bike.

2. In the electric balance bike according to Claim 1, further comprising a support member for supporting the electrical equipment, the opening is an opening that opens downward, the cover is a bottom cover that closes the opening, the electrical equipment is disposed in the closed cross-section of the main frame via the support member disposed in the closed cross-section in a state of being spaced upward from the upper surface of the bottom cover that becomes the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section, the electric balance bike.

3. In the electric balance bike according to Claim 2, a first buffer member interposed between the electrical equipment and the support member, a second buffer member interposed between the electrical equipment and the inner wall surface of the main body portion, further comprising, the electric balance bike.

4. A front wheel and a rear wheel, an electric drive source that rotationally drives at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a first frame that holds the front wheel and a second frame that holds the rear wheel, a main frame that connects the first frame and the second frame and has a closed cross-section structure, in an electric balance bike comprising electrical equipment disposed in the closed cross-section of the main frame in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section to generate the power of the rotational drive for the drive source, a wire body routed from the front wheel side toward the rear wheel side, a front cover disposed so as to cover the front end side of the main frame, An intake port disposed between the front end face of the main frame and the front cover for drawing the wire body into the closed cross-section of the main frame. An electric balance bike further comprising.

5. A front wheel and a rear wheel, An electric drive source for rotationally driving at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, A first frame for holding the front wheel and a second frame for holding the rear wheel, A main frame that connects the first frame and the second frame and has a closed cross-section structure, Electrical equipment disposed in the closed cross-section of the main frame in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface of the closed cross-section for generating the power of rotational drive for the drive source, Comprising, In an electric balance bike, a drain hole for discharging water in the closed cross-section is formed in the main frame. The electrical equipment includes a battery for supplying power to the drive source and a controller for controlling the operation of the drive source. The controller is disposed in the closed cross-section of the main frame in a state of being spaced upward from the inner bottom surface together with the battery. The battery is heavier than the controller. An electric balance bike in which the battery is disposed behind the controller.

6. In the electric balance bike according to claim 5, A steering handle, An operator provided on the handle, An electric cable connecting the operator and the controller, further comprising. An electric balance bike in which the controller is disposed closer to the handle than the battery.

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