MOTOR DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE

Abstract

A motor device for an electric bicycle may include an electric motor, a first connector unit, and/or a second connector unit. The electric motor may include an axis of rotation. The first connector unit may include a first motor connector and a first connecting part. The first connecting part may surround the first motor connector regionally and/or outwardly. The first connector unit may be mounted on the electric motor and may be electrically conductively connected to the electric motor via the first motor connector. The second connector unit may include a second motor connector and a second connecting part. An electrical conductive connection may be established and released directly between the first motor connector and the second motor connector.

Claims

1. A motor device for an electric bicycle, comprising: an electric motor having an axis of rotation; a first connector unit having a first motor connector and a first connecting part which surrounds the first motor connector regionally and outwardly, wherein the first connector unit is mounted on the electric motor and is electrically conductively connected to the electric motor via the first motor connector; and a second connector unit having a second motor connector and a second connecting part, wherein an electrical conductive connection can be established and released directly between the first motor connector and the second motor connector; wherein between the first connecting part and the second connecting part a form-fitted connection transversely to the axis of rotation can be established and released, and wherein, when the form-fitted connection between the connecting parts is established and released, the electrical conductive connection between the motor connectors can be established and released.

2. The motor device according to claim 1, wherein: the first connector unit is rigidly fixed to the electric motor; and/or the first motor connector and/or the first connecting part are rigidly fixed to the electric motor and/or to each other; and/or the second motor connector and/or the second connecting part are rigidly fixed to each other in the second connector unit.

3. The motor device according to claim 1, wherein the second connector unit is configured to be rigidly fixed to a dropout of the electric bicycle; and/or the electric motor is configured to be rigidly fixed to a rear wheel of the electric bicycle.

4. The motor device according to claim 1, wherein: the motor device includes a form-fitting unit having a first form-fitting element and a second form-fitting element; the first form-fitting element is formed on the first connecting part; and the second form-fitting element is formed on the second connecting part; and the first or second form-fitting element is insertable into the second or first form-fitting element transversely to the axis of rotation and thereby the form-fitting connection between the connecting parts can be established.

5. The motor device according to claim 4, wherein: the first form-fitting element is formed by two first guide rails which are spaced apart from one another and aligned transversely to the axis of rotation; the second form-fitting element is formed by two second guide rails spaced apart from each other and aligned transversely to the axis of rotation; the first guide rails and the second guide rails are formed complementary to each other; and the first guide rails and the second guide rails are displaceable into each other transversely to the axis of rotation and are fixedly connectable to each other parallel to the axis of rotation RA.

6. The motor device according to claim 5, wherein the two first guide rails and the two second guide rails are each aligned non-parallel to one another and approach one another radially inwards towards the axis of rotation.

7. The motor device according to claim 1, wherein the second connector unit includes a carrier which surrounds the second connecting part and the second motor connector at least in regions towards the electric motor.

8. The motor device according to claim 7, wherein the second connecting part is formed on the carrier or is firmly connected to the carrier in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting and/or material-bonded manner.

9. The motor device according to claim 7, wherein the second motor connector is firmly connected to the carrier in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting and/or material-bonded manner.

10. The motor device according to claim 1, wherein the motor device contains a thru axle, the thru axle defining the axis of rotation of the electric motor and extending through the electric motor and the second connector unit.

11. The motor device according to claim 1, wherein the second connector unit contains a second battery connector for connecting the second connector unit to a first battery connector of a battery of the electric bicycle; and the second battery connector is electrically conductively connected to the second motor connector via a cable.

12. A connector unit arrangement for the motor device claim 1, the connector unit comprising: the first connector unit and the second connector unit; wherein a form-fitted connection can be established and released transversely to the axis of rotation between the second connector unit and the first connector unit for the electric motor; and when the form-fitted connection is produced and released, an electrical conductive connection can be established and released between the second connector unit and the first connector unit for the electric motor.

13. An electric bicycle, comprising: the motor device of claim 1; a rear wheel; a dropout supporting the rear wheel; and a battery; wherein the electric motor with the first connector unit is fixed to the rear wheel and the second connector unit is fixed to the dropout; and wherein the electric motor is electrically conductively connected to the battery via the second connector unit.

14. The electric bicycle according to claim 13, wherein the second connector unit contains a carrier which surrounds the second connecting part and the second motor connector at least in regions towards the electric motor; and the carrier is rigidly fixed to the dropout.

15. A motor device for an electric bicycle, comprising: an electric motor including an axis of rotation; a first connector unit including a first motor connector and a first connecting part, the first connector unit is mounted on the electric motor and is electrically connected to the electric motor via the first motor connector; and a second connector unit including a second motor connector and a second connecting part; wherein between the first connecting part and the second connecting part a form-fitted connection transversely to the axis of rotation can be established and released.

16. The motor device according to claim 15, wherein: the first connector unit is rigidly fixed to the electric motor; and/or the first motor connector and/or the first connecting part are rigidly fixed to the electric motor and/or to each other; and/or the second motor connector and/or the second connecting part are rigidly fixed to each other in the second connector unit.

17. The motor device according to claim 15, wherein the second connector unit is configured to be rigidly fixed to a dropout of the electric bicycle; and/or the electric motor is configured to be rigidly fixed to a rear wheel of the electric bicycle.

18. The motor device according to claim 15, wherein: the motor device includes a form-fitting unit having a first form-fitting element and a second form-fitting element; the first form-fitting element is formed on the first connecting part and the second form-fitting element is formed on the second connecting part; and the first or second form-fitting element is insertable into the second or first form-fitting element transversely to the axis of rotation and thereby the form-fitting connection between the connecting parts can be established

19. The motor device according to claim 18, wherein: the first form-fitting element is formed by two first guide rails which are spaced apart from one another and aligned transversely to the axis of rotation; the second form-fitting element is formed by two second guide rails spaced apart from each other and aligned transversely to the axis of rotation; the first guide rails and the second guide rails are formed complementary to each other; and the first guide rails and the second guide rails are displaceable into each other transversely to the axis of rotation and are fixedly connectable to each other parallel to the axis of rotation.

20. The motor device according to claim 19, wherein the two first guide rails and the two second guide rails are each aligned non-parallel to one another and approach one another radially inwards towards the axis of rotation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference signs refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0018] It shows, in each case schematically

[0019] FIG. 1 a partial view of an electric bicycle according to the invention with a motor device according to the invention;

[0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 partial exploded views of the electric bicycle with the motor device according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 a view of a connector unit for the motor device according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 a view of a motor of the motor device according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 6 a partial view of the electric bicycle according to the invention with a dismounted motor of the motor device;

[0024] FIG. 7 a partial sectional view of the electric bicycle according to the invention with the motor device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a partial view of an electric bicycle 1 according to the invention. The electric bicycle 1 contains a motor device 2 with a motor 3 and with a first connector unit 4a and a second connector unit 4b, and further contains a battery 5, a rear wheel 6 and a dropout 7. It will be understood that the electric bicycle 1 also contains other components which are not shown here for clarity. The electric motor 3 provides an axis of rotation RA in the motor device 2. The electric motor 3 is fixedly connected i.e., rigidly fixed to the rear wheel 6 i.e., a hub 8 of the rear wheel 6 is formed by the electric motor 3. The rear wheel 6 and/or the electric motor 3 i.e., a rotor of the electric motor 3 is rotatably connected to the dropout 7, and the second connector unit 4b is attached i.e., fixedly connected i.e., rigidly fixed to a first dropout half 7a of the dropout 7. The first connector unit 4a is fixedly connected i.e., rigidly fixed to the electric motor 3. The battery 5 is arranged in the electric bicycle 1 spaced apart from the rear wheel 6 and from the motor device 2.

[0026] The battery 5 is electrically connected to the electric motor 3 via the second connector unit 4b. The battery 5 contains a first battery connector 9a and the second connector unit 4b contains a second battery connector 9b. To establish and release an electrical conductive connection between the battery 5 and the second connector unit 4b, a plug connection is established and released between the two battery connectors 9a and 9b. Further details of the structure of the motor device 2, the first connector unit 4a, and the second connector unit 4b will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0027] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show partial exploded views of the electric bicycle 1 according to the invention with the motor device 2 according to the invention. As can be seen here, the first connector unit 4a mounted on electric motor 3 comprises a first connecting part 10a and a first motor connector 11a. In this regard, the first connecting part 10a surrounds and protects the first motor connector 11a. The first connecting part 10a and the first motor connector 11a are rigidly fixed to each other and to the electric motor 3 i.e., the stator of the electric motor 3. The motor connector 11a is further electrically conductively connected i.e., electrically conductively contacted i.e., wired to a control board or a PCB (PCB: Printed Circuit Board) of the electric motor 3.

[0028] The second connector unit 4b comprises a carrier 12, a second connecting part 10b and a second motor connector 11b. In this regard, the carrier 12 is integrally formed with a first dropout half 7a of the dropout 7 i.e., is formed by the first dropout half 7a of the dropout 7. The second connecting part 10b is fixedly connected i.e., rigidly fixed to the carrier 12, and the second motor connector 11b is screwed and, in this way, rigidly fixed to the carrier 12 by means of two screws 13. In this way, the second connecting part 10b and the second motor connector 11b are fixedly connected i.e., rigidly fixed to each other and to the carrier 12. The motor connectors 11a and 11b are engageable with each other, whereby an electrical conductive connection can be established between the first connector unit 4a mounted on the electric motor 3 and the second connector unit 4b. When the second connector unit 4b is electrically conductively connected to the battery 5 via the battery connector 9b, the electric motor 3 is thereby electrically conductively connected to the battery 5.

[0029] The motor device 2 further comprises a form-fitting unit 14 having a first form-fitting element 15a and having a second form-fitting element 15b. The first form-fitting element 15a is formed by two guide rails 16a, and the second form-fitting element 15b is formed by two guide rails 16b. The two guide rails 16a and 16b are spaced apart from each other and are aligned transversely to the axis of rotation RA. Moreover, the two guide rails 16a and 16b respectively approach radially inwardly. By means of the form-fitting unit 14, the first connecting part 10a and thereby the electric motor 3 can be guided in the second connecting part 10b and thereby on the second connector unit 4b transversely to the axis of rotation RA. Thereby, the guide rails 16a and 16b axially engage with each other and a form-fitted connection can be established and released between the first connector unit 4a mounted on the electric motor 3 and the second connector unit 4 mounted on the dropout 7 of the electric bicycle 1.

[0030] The motor connectors 11a and 11b are thereby arranged on the connecting parts 10a and 10b in such a way that, when the form-fitted connection between the connecting parts 10a and 10b is established and released, the electrical conductive connection between the motor connectors 11a and 11b can also be established and released. As a result, the electric motor 3 can be mounted on the second connector unit 4b i.e., on the dropout 7 i.e., on the electric bicycle 1 via the first connector unit 4a in a simplified manner.

[0031] In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a second dropout half 7b of the dropout 7 and a left hander 17 can also be seen. Furthermore, a through opening 18 in the motor device 2 and in the dropout 7 can be seen, through which a thru axle of the rear wheel 6—not shown here—can be guided.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a view of the second connector unit 4b for the motor device 2 according to the invention. Here, the motor connector 11b is fixedly mounted on the carrier 12 via the screws 13.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a view of the electric motor 3 and the first connector unit 4a of the motor device 2 according to the invention. In FIG. 5, it can be seen well that the first connecting part 10a outwardly surrounds the motor connector 11a in regions and thereby protects it.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of the electric bicycle 1 according to the invention with the electric motor 3 dismounted from the dropout 7. Here, if the electric motor 3 i.e., the rear wheel 6 with the integrated motor 3 is pushed in the direction of the arrows, the first connecting part 10a of the first connector unit 4a is guided on the second connecting part 10b of the second connector unit 4b in the direction of the arrows and the form-fitted connection between the first connector unit 4a mounted on the electric motor 3 and the second connector unit 4b mounted on the dropout 7 is established. At the same time, the motor connectors 11a and 11b are engaged with each other, thereby establishing the electrical conductive connection between the electric motor 3 and the second connector unit 4b via the first connector unit 4a.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a partial sectional view of the electric bicycle 1 according to the invention with the motor device 2 according to the invention. Here, the electric motor 3 is mounted on the dropout 7 and the form-fitted and electrical conductive connection between the first connector unit 4a mounted on the electric motor 3 and the second connector unit 4b mounted on the dropout 7 is already established. Furthermore, in FIG. 7, the through-opening 18 for passing the thru axle of the rear wheel 6—not shown here—can be seen particularly well. The axis of rotation RA of the electric motor 3 is defined or predetermined by the thru axle of the rear wheel 6.