VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH A STEERING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM BASED IN BOWDEN CABLES OR HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

Abstract

A vehicle includes a front wheel, a support of the front wheel, a steering handlebar, a platform and a front part joined to the platform. The support is rotatably mounted on the front part, and includes a driven rotating part, the handlebar having a driving rotating part. The driven rotating part and the driving rotating part are connected by Bowden Cables or hydraulic tubes. An impact absorber for a scooter is provided with a support of the front wheel formed by at least a leaf spring including a front end destined to bear the support of the front wheel, an opening adjacent to the front end destined to allow the passage of an upper prolongation of the scooter platform, and a rear end provided with two arms destined to support the rear wheel, such that the impact absorber constitutes the suspension of both the front wheel and the rear wheel.

Claims

1. A scooter comprising: a front wheel, a support of the front wheel, a steering handlebar, a platform and a front part joined to the platform, wherein the support is rotatably mounted on the front part, the support comprising a driven rotating part, the handlebar comprising a driving rotating part, the driven rotating part and the driving rotating part being connected by Bowden Cables or by hydraulic tubes, and wherein the front part is the extreme of an impact absorber linked to the platform, the impact absorber comprising a front end, the impact absorber being movable or deformable only in a median plane of the platform such that the support of the front wheel is rotatable with respect to the impact absorber to allow steering of the scooter, the support of the front wheel leaning on the front end of the impact absorber, such that the suspension means transmit the impacts to the platform.

2. The scooter according to claim 1, wherein the platform has an upper prolongation that extends forwards and upwards, the upper prolongation being articulated with respect to the platform, so that the prolongation is configured to be folded over the platform, the upper prolongation supporting the handlebar.

3. The scooter according to claim 1, wherein the driven rotating part is a pulley or a crown, connected to the support, the pulley or the crown being linked to the handlebar with at least two Bowden cables, the driving rotating part containing the pulley or the crown configured for pulling the Bowden cables.

4. The scooter according to claim 3, which comprises two pairs of Bowden cables, such that two of the Bowden cables are rolled up in the pulley or crown in a first direction, and the other two Bowden cables are rolled up in the pulley or the crown in a second direction opposite the first direction, such that the driving and driven pulleys or crowns are always subjected to a pair of opposite forces independently of the rotating sense.

5. The scooter according to claim 1, wherein the driven rotating part is a first volumetric actuator linked to the handlebar, with at least two hydraulic tubes, the driving rotating part being a second volumetric actuator.

6. The scooter according to claim 5, wherein the volumetric actuators comprise a volume generated by a constant section around a circular path, the handlebar being connected to a moving wall guided within the volume, such that two volumes of varying capacity are defined.

7. The scooter according to claim 6, wherein the connections of the hydraulic tubes are perpendicular to the general plane of the circular path are perpendicular to the general plane of the circular path or form an angle lower than 300 with the direction perpendicular to the general plane.

8. (canceled)

9. The scooter according to claim 1, the vehicle being an electric scooter.

10. (canceled)

11. The scooter according to claim 10, wherein the front end of the impact absorber is above the wheel such that the suspension means transmit the impacts to the platform through a region located above the front wheel that extends backwards, the support of the front wheel bearing on a lower surface of the impact absorber.

12. The scooter according to claim 9, wherein the impact absorber is: two or more plates hinged therebetween, the plates being connected by articulations and elastic elements; one or two parallel bars; a single leaf spring; two laterally adjacent leaf springs; and a stack of leaf springs; the impact absorber being provided with recesses or through openings for the passage of fixing elements and/or structural components, wherein the impact absorber is made of plastic, metal, fiber material, carbon fiber, composite or wood, or a combination thereof.

13. The scooter according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorber extends backwards by a rear end, a rear wheel bearing on the rear end of the elongated element, such that the impact absorber also constitutes the suspension of the rear wheel.

14. The scooter according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorber is attached to the platform in a central area of the platform, the central area being located in the second third of the platform.

15.-20. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] To complete the description and in order to provide fora better understanding of the disclosure, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the disclosure, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the disclosure, but just as an example of how the disclosure can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0079] FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a scooter provided with an inventive impact absorber.

[0080] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of a scooter provided with an inventive impact absorber.

[0081] FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the scooter of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0082] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a scooter provided with an inventive impact absorber.

[0083] FIGS. 5, 6a and 6b are schematic lateral views showing different positions of an impact absorber with respect to a user support platform of a scooter.

[0084] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are schematic lateral views showing different positions of an impact absorber with respect to a user support platform showing attachments between the platform and the impact absorber.

[0085] FIG. 10 shows a schematic lateral view of an impact absorber attached to a user support platform of a scooter.

[0086] FIG. 11 shows a rear portion of a user support platform of a scooter according to an embodiment, provided with a retractable handle, in an occult position.

[0087] FIG. 12 shows a rear portion of a user support platform of a scooter according to an embodiment, provided with a retractable handle, in a use position.

[0088] FIG. 13 is a schematic lateral view of the lower front portion of a scooter according to an embodiment where the steering means comprise a steering rod having a bendable portion.

[0089] FIG. 14 is a top view of a scooter according to an embodiment of the disclosure which shows the median plane.

[0090] FIG. 15 shows a section of an embodiment of the mechanical link between the front wheel support and the front end of the impact absorber.

[0091] FIG. 16 is an elevation of the front portion of the scooter in an embodiment in which the steering means are based on a cable or hydraulic transmission.

[0092] FIG. 17 shows a complete elevation of an embodiment in which the transmission of the steering between handlebars and wheel support is done by inextensible cables.

[0093] FIG. 18 shows a detail of an embodiment in which a steering crown and at least two Bowden cables are used as steering means.

[0094] FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the handlebar and driving pulleys, with the ends of the cables.

[0095] FIG. 20 is a view of the driving pulley.

[0096] FIG. 21 is a detail of FIG. 19.

[0097] FIGS. 22 and 23 schematically show the connection of the four Bowden cables according to a preferred embodiment.

[0098] FIG. 24 shows an exploded view of a further disclosure relating to a hydraulic actuator.

[0099] FIG. 25 shows the same device as in FIG. 24, but with the handlebar, and hence the moving walls, in another configuration.

[0100] FIG. 26 shows another view of the volumes having a variable capacity, thanks to the moving walls.

[0101] FIG. 27 is an elevation view with a partial cross section of the actuator volumes.

[0102] FIG. 28 is a plan view of the hydraulic device, mounted.

[0103] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the hydraulic device, mounted

[0104] FIGS. 30 and 31 are perspective views of an inventive impact absorber.

[0105] FIG. 32 is a lateral view of the impact absorber.

[0106] FIG. 33 is a plan view of the impact absorber.

[0107] FIG. 34 is a front view of the impact absorber.

[0108] FIG. 35 schematically shows the embodiment based on Bowden cables, especially the two ends, the wheel on the left and the handlebar on the right.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0109] As shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment, the scooter V comprises a user support platform 1, a front wheel W and a support 3 of the front wheel W.

[0110] The scooter is provided with suspension means which comprise an impact absorber 4 linked to the platform 1.

[0111] The impact absorber 4 is a key component of the present disclosure, which main concept is based in making it independent of the steering means by allowing it only to move in the median plane MP. That is, the impact absorber of the disclosure does not rotate with the front wheel.

[0112] This is achieved by providing an impact absorber 4 comprising a front end 41, the impact absorber 4 being movable or deformable only in a median plane of the platform 1 such that the support 3 of the front wheel W is rotatable with respect to the impact absorber 4 to allow steering of the scooter, the support 3 of the front wheel W leaning on the front end 41 of the impact absorber 4, such that the suspension means S transmit the impacts to the platform.

[0113] As can be seen in FIG. 2, an impact absorber 4 according to the disclosure can comprise two elongated elements, in this case two leaf springs 4, joined to the central part 12 of the platform 1, which meet at the bow to constitute a front end 41 on which the front wheel W support 3 leans on its lower face 42. Therefore, when the front wheel W receives an impact due to an irregularity of the terrain, the wheel support 3 will transmit the impact to the leaf spring 4, which will bend upwards, that is to say its movement will be in the plane of symmetry of the scooter V. Therefore, at the level of the region 41, the impact forces are already transmitted to the back of the leaf spring 4, to be transmitted to the platform by means of joining means U14 between platform 1 and leaf spring 4.

[0114] As shown in FIG. 1 or in FIG. 13, the front end 41 of the impact absorber 4 is above the wheel W such that the suspension means S transmit the impacts to the platform through a region located just above the front wheel W, the support 3 of the front wheel W bearing preferably on a lower surface 42 of the impact absorber 4.

[0115] In another embodiment, like the one shown in FIG. 35, the support 3 of the wheel is a rotating crown 3 that supports the wheel axis F. The crown is embedded in the front end 41 of the impact absorber 4.

[0116] The embodiments shown are all based in a leaf spring 4. This leaf spring can consist, as mentioned, in two half-bodies that join in the bow 41, or front end.

[0117] Another possibility would be to implement the impact absorber as a leaf spring 4 like a unitary platform, that is to say in one piece, although provided with the necessary openings for the passage of joining elements between the lower platform elements BAT, where the battery could be housed, and the upper platform elements B1, where the user leans.

[0118] As shown in the figures, the scooter comprises steering means 2 and a link 23 between the support 3 and the steering means 2, the steering means 2 comprising preferably a steering rod 2 that can rotate with respect to the platform 1. In this case the support 3 passes through the impact absorber 4, such that the link 23 between the support 3 and the steering rod 2 is placed over the impact absorber 4. The link 23 between the support 3 and the steering rod 2 is mechanical and is telescopic (not shown) such they are mutually linked according to a single degree of freedom. Therefore, when an impact occurs and the support 3 moves upwards, its upper end moves axially inside a steering rod 2, which is integral with the steering handlebar Ha. This is the only degree of freedom allowed, as they cannot rotate relative to each other to ensure steering ability.

[0119] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the impact absorber 4 extends backwards by means of a rear end 43, a rear wheel W2 bearing on the rear end 43 of the elongated element 4, such that the impact absorber 4 also constitutes the suspension of the rear wheel W2. Preferably, the impact absorber has a shape comprising two inflexion points.

[0120] As already disclosed, the platform 1 has an upper prolongation 11 that extends forwards and upwards, such that it encloses an upper portion 21 of the steering rod 2, the link 23 between the support 3 and the steering rod 2 being preferably inside the upper prolongation 11.

[0121] This upper prolongation 11 is a novelty in itself when applied to a scooter V. The disclosure allows the steering bar 2 to be smaller in size, which in turn allows said upper prolongation 11, which is integral with platform 1, also to be slender. Thus, it allows hiding steering elements, such as in this case the steering bar 2, or in other cases it could hide steering control cables BC (as those shown in FIGS. 17 to 19), Bowden type, electrical cables, or any auxiliary technical element. Therefore, it is not necessary that the purely technical elements have perfect finishes, since the upper prolongation 11 already performs the aesthetic function.

[0122] To allow folding the scooter V, according to a preferred embodiment, an articulation portion 31 of the support 3 located above the impact absorber 4 and below the link 23 between the support 3 and the steering rod 2 is articulated or is elastic such that it allows bending the articulation portion 31 in the plane defined by the steering rod and the longitudinal direction of the scooter V. This articulation portion 31 can comprise a cardan articulation and/or elastic portion 31 such that is bendable. FIG. 15 shows that a portion of the front wheel support 3 is bendable.

[0123] For reasons of clarity in the explanations, it has been considered that the part that can be folded 31 is part of the support 3. That has been done so, because between said part 31 and the wheel support there are no axial movements, as there are between the upper end of 31 and the steering bar 2, because to allow the absorption of the displacements caused by the impacts or by the bending of the steering column, it is necessary that there be, as it has been connected, a telescopic link.

[0124] As shown in the section of FIG. 15, the scooter comprises a rotating bearing 34 for transmitting the forces between the support 3 of the front wheel W and the impact absorber 4.

[0125] FIGS. 5, 6a and 6b illustrate one of the advantageous effects of the disclosure.

[0126] As mentioned, the disclosure allows the damping function to be carried towards the platform, including the union between impact absorber 4 and platform 1. This allows to create kinematics such as the one illustrated in the mentioned figures. In FIG. 5 a Γ2 articulation axis is highlighted. This axis Γ2 allows the relative movements illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b.

[0127] This axis illustrates roughly a kinematics sought between components 1 and 4. It can be implemented in many ways. For example with a physical axis that matches the axis Γ2. Another way of implementing it, which allows the joint area to be distributed in space, to distribute forces (and to reduce the requirements in terms of materials) is as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10, using elastic elements K.

[0128] In FIGS. 11 and 12 an embodiment is shown in which the scooter preferably comprises, in an ascending slope section, a retractable handle H.

[0129] This particular feature comprises by itself an disclosure that could be claimed independently. The rear handle H of the platform is articulated with the platform by means of the axis FH, transverse to the scooter. A housing H1 is provided to hide the handle H. Also, an actuator or HB button can be provided that allows, by push, to release the handle so that it goes out to its use position.

[0130] Therefore, it is possible to claim a scooter V comprising a user platform 1, provided with an upper part B1, a rear end of said upper part B1 being provided with a housing H1, a rotating handle H articulated with said upper part B1 by means of a FH axis, so that the handle H can be moved between a position of use in which it is outside the housing H1, and another hidden position in which its upper part is flush with the upper surface of the upper part B1 of the platform 1. Preferably, a push-type release button HB can be provided that allows the handle H to be released, which can be deployed outwardly driven by a spring (not shown).

[0131] FIG. 16 shows an embodiment in which a steering rod 2 is dispensed with. In particular, in this embodiment, the steering components consist of an electric motor or electric actuator, in turn constituted by a stator S3 and a complementary rotor R3 that can rotate moved by stator S3. An advantage of the disclosure is that the impact absorber 4 has a shape and structure that allows to accommodate such a steering element. Then it will be provided that the handle has a user interface that allows it to remotely steer the wheel, which can rotate around the FR axis. In a particular embodiment, said user interface emulates a mechanical steering rod, for example it comprises movement sensors (e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes) in a handle or a rod which can rotate but which does not mechanically transfer a steering movement to the front wheel W, instead the rotation is transferred electronically.

[0132] In another embodiment, illustrated by FIGS. 17 to 19, the steering means comprise Bowden BC cables. These are implemented, in a known manner by means of support bushes 72, a sheath 73 inside which is the traction cable. As can be seen, through an opening 74, a large part of the cable 75 can be hidden inside the upper extension 11.

[0133] The system is completed with an actuating crown 71, which acts as a lever between the ends of the two cables. It is a system known in the handling of boats, but which constitutes a novelty according to the present disclosure. And it stands out that what makes it especially easy to integrate a steering solution based on a rotary cable-operated support is the structure based on an impact absorber 4 that can only be moved in the mid-plane MP, as claimed.

[0134] The operation of a cable-based steering system is shown in simplified form in FIG. 19. The handlebar HB is shown on the right, which has two associated pulley portions PH, where the ends of the BC drive cables are anchored. At the end of the wheel W there is a crown 3, to which the other ends of the cables are attached. If the effect is to be that of a classic steering bar, the radii of PH and 3 will be identical. Obviously, it could be conceived that there was a multiplier or multiplier effect by varying the ratio of radii.

[0135] As shown in FIGS. 17 to 23, as an disclosure independent from the suspension means, herein also it is disclosed a Vehicle V comprising a front wheel W, a support 3 of the front wheel W, a steering handlebar HB, a platform 1 and a front part F1 joined to the platform 1, wherein the support 3 is rotatably mounted on the front part F1, the support 3 comprising a driven rotating part P3, the handlebar HB comprising a driving rotating part PH, the driven rotating part P3 and the driving rotating part PH being connected by Bowden Cables BC or by hydraulic tubes HT.

[0136] This solution allows to dispense with a steering rod, and specially makes easier the design of the folding of the upper prolongation 11 of the platform that extends forwards and upward and that supports the handlebar HB.

[0137] As shown, the driven rotating part P3 is a pulley or crown, connected to the support 3, the pulley or crown being linked to the handlebar HB with at least two Bowden cables BC, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, the driving rotating part PH containing a pulley or crown for pulling the cables BC, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4.

[0138] In the preferred embodiment, there are two cables for transmitting the moment between the driving part and the driven part. In this way the pulleys are well balanced. In particular, the transmission system comprises two pairs of Bowden cables BC, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, such that two of the cables BC1, BC4 are rolled up in the pulley or crown P3, PH in a direction, and the other two cables BC2, BC3 are rolled up in the pulley or crown P3, PH in the opposite direction, such that the driving PH and driven P3 pulleys or crowns are always subjected to a pair of opposite forces independently of the rotating sense.

[0139] Another possibility is to implement the transmission system with hydraulic components. The system is analogous to the system based on Bowden cables just described. In particular, as shown in FIG. 24, the driven rotating part P3 is a first volumetric actuator VP1 linked to the handlebar HB, with at least two hydraulic tubes H1, H2, the driving rotating part PH being a second volumetric actuator. In a preferred embodiment, the driving and the driven parts are twins, such that the angles coincide. However, it can be conceived, like in the system based on cables, that the raddi are different, and therefore there is no more 1 to 1 relation.

[0140] FIGS. 24 to 26 shows the working principle of the hydraulic transmission. In particular, it comprises a volume CP generated by a constant section around a circular path, the handlebar HB being connected to a moving wall MP guided within the volume CP, such that two volumes of varying capacity are defined. Obviously, as it is the case in all volumetric devices, the tightness of the joints has to be ensured.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 27, the connections CH1, CH2 of the hydraulic tubes H1, H2 are perpendicular to the general plane of the circular path are perpendicular to the general plane of the circular path or form an angle lower than 30° with the direction DP perpendicular to the general plane.

[0142] We point out that the transmission system shown in FIGS. 24 to 29 can be claimed as a separate disclosure, not necessarily in the context of a vehicle or a scooter. In the latter case, the transmission system should have small dimensions. It is a solution that fits specially when a highly accurate steering system is sought. Other fields where this hydraulic can be applied is in fluid installations, for example for remotely actuating valves.

[0143] Among the multiple possible suspension systems applied to the scooter that is object of this description, based on the concept of leaf spring—two side leaf springs, single or multiple, or a single central leaf spring—the latter has been chosen.

[0144] As shown in FIGS. 30 to 34, the impact absorber 4 for a scooter is provided with a support 3 of the front wheel W, which is formed by at least a leaf spring comprising a front end 41 destined to bear the support 3 of the front wheel W, an opening 44 adjacent to the front end 41 destined to allow the passage of an upper prolongation 11 of the scooter platform 1, and a rear end 43 provided with two arms 43A, 43B destined to support the rear wheel W2, such that the impact absorber 4 constitutes the suspension of both the front wheel W and the rear wheel W2.

[0145] It is a piece made of carbon fiber, or another elastic material, resistant to fatigue, with a high degree of resilience, including veneer wood or types of high resilience wood.

[0146] The material chosen, but not limited to it, has been carbon fiber. The whole piece is manufactured in multiple layers of this material, by means of a calculated combination of the direction of the fibers to achieve high levels of elasticity and resilience in the longitudinal plane, while controlling the torsion and elasticity by zones, using different thickness.

[0147] The intermediate zone 4 covers in width, approximately, that of the scooter, and, for it, thicknesses and direction of the fibers have been selected, such that the elastic deformation is contained in a reduced volume. This is necessary, since this intermediate zone is in which the scooter is held and supported. In it, holes are provided to securely hold the elevated structure of the scooter (steering column, handlebar, floor, electronic equipment box and rear area).

[0148] The front zone is composed of two subzones: an elastic subzone 4a, and another rigid subzone 41. The elastic subzone 4a, formed by two side bars, is calculated to withstand high deformations in the longitudinal direction of the scooter, with full and rapid recovery, with damping, against bumps and irregularities of the terrain. Subzone 41 can house, at its bottom, the steering mechanisms of the front wheel, using Bowden cables that moves a pulley, or a hydraulic actuator, controlled from the handlebar with another symmetrical actuator. The irregularities of the terrain, or impacts, are transmitted to the front wheel, where the subzone 41 is located, and, hence, the energy of the impacts is absorbed and returned with damping through the subzone 4a.

[0149] The rear zone 43 consists of two side bars, 43a and 43b, that extend backwards, at the end of which the rear wheel of the scooter is connected. These two bars, like those of subzone 4a, are highly elastic, with complete and rapid recovery, with damping. The irregularities of the terrain, or impacts, are transmitted to the rear wheel, where the two bars of zone 43 are supported, and, hence, the energy of the impacts is absorbed and returned with damping through the zone 43.

[0150] Zone 4 is not rigid, but it is calculated to transmit elastic energy from the front to the back, and vice versa. In this way, the entire piece, from back to front, actively intervenes in the suspension. Both the thicknesses of the fiber layers, as well as the fiber orientations, have been calculated to obtain the desired behavior.

[0151] In this text, the term “comprises” and its derivations (such as “comprising”, etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.

[0152] The disclosure is obviously not limited to the specific embodiment(s) described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the general scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims.