阅读说明：本技术 滑板车和用于操作滑板车的方法 (Scooter and method for operating a scooter ) 是由 I·维拉格 F·赖因瓦尔德 C·珀佩尔 M·纽曼 M·卡曼 S·奥德内尔 于 2019-04-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种滑板车(10),该滑板车具有：踏板(22),由该踏板为滑板车(10)的用户提供站立面；包括第一前轮(14)和第二前轮(16)的前桥(12)；包括第一后轮(26)和第二后轮(28)的后桥(24)；用于至少使前轮(14、16)转向的转向柱。通过使踏板(22)围绕踏板(22)的摆动轴(32)倾斜能引起两个前轮(14、16)沿第一方向(70)的转向偏转并且同时能引起两个后轮(26、28)沿与第一方向(70)相反的第二方向(72)的转向偏转。本发明还涉及一种用于操作这种滑板车(10)的方法。(The present invention relates to a scooter (10) having: a pedal (22) that provides a standing surface for a user of the scooter (10); a front axle (12) comprising a first front wheel (14) and a second front wheel (16); a rear axle (24) including a first rear wheel (26) and a second rear wheel (28); a steering column for steering at least the front wheels (14, 16). By tilting the pedal (22) about a pivot axis (32) of the pedal (22), a steering deflection of the two front wheels (14, 16) in a first direction (70) and simultaneously a steering deflection of the two rear wheels (26, 28) in a second direction (72) opposite to the first direction (70) can be brought about. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a scooter (10).)

1. A scooter, the scooter having: a pedal (22) that provides a standing surface for a user of the scooter (10); a front axle (12) comprising a first front wheel (14) and a second front wheel (16); a rear axle (24) including a first rear wheel (26) and a second rear wheel (28); steering column (20) for steering at least the front wheels (14, 16), characterized in that a steering deflection of the two front wheels (14, 16) in a first direction (70) and simultaneously a steering deflection of the two rear wheels (26, 28) in a second direction (72) opposite to the first direction (70) can be brought about by tilting the pedal (22) about a pivot axis (32) of the pedal (22).

2. Scooter according to claim 1, characterized in that the front axle (12) and the rear axle (24) have a respective cross beam (30), in which cross beam (30) a first pin (34) is arranged, which extends in the direction of the swing axis (32) of the pedals (32) and can be turned in the cross beam (30) due to the tilting of the pedals (22).

3. Scooter according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one further pin (36) is provided in a receptacle (38) formed in the crossbar (30) spaced apart from the first pin (34) in the radial direction of the latter, an elastic element (40) being provided between a wall of the crossbar (30) delimiting the receptacle (38) and the further pin (36).

4. Scooter according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic element (40) is designed as a sleeve made of an elastic material surrounding the at least one further pin (36).

5. Scooter according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a steering manipulator (42) is held on the crossbar (30), which steering manipulator is movable about an axis (44) extending in the height direction (z) of the crossbar (30), which steering manipulator is connected in a region (46) spaced apart from the axis (44) by a first steering link (48, 56) with a first steering knuckle (52, 58) and by a second steering link (50, 60) with a second steering knuckle (54, 62).

6. Scooter according to claim 5, characterized in that a first front wheel (14) is arranged on a first steering knuckle (52) of the front axle (12), a second front wheel (16) is arranged on a second steering knuckle (54) of the front axle (12), a first rear wheel (26) is arranged on a first steering knuckle (58) of the rear axle (24), and a second rear wheel (28) is arranged on a second steering knuckle (62) of the rear axle (24), the steering knuckles (52, 54, 58, 62) being rotatable about respective rotation axes (80) formed in the cross beam (30), in particular being inclined with respect to the height direction (z) of the cross beam (30).

7. Scooter according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the steering column (42) can be moved about the axle (44) by means of a transmission element (64) acting at a distance from the axle (44), the position of which transmission element (64) can be changed by tilting the pedal (22).

8. Scooter according to claim 7, characterized in that the attitude of the transmission (64) acting on the steering manipulator (42) of the front axle (12) can be changed by changing the attitude of the steering column (20) of the scooter (10).

9. Scooter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the scooter (10) has a braking device for braking the rotational movement of at least one of the rear wheels (26, 28) and/or is capable of driving at least one of the front wheels (14, 16) with at least one electric motor, an accumulator (18) for supplying the electric motor is arranged on the steering column (20).

10. A method for operating a scooter (10), the scooter having: a pedal (22) that provides a standing surface for a user of the scooter (10); a front axle (12) comprising a first front wheel (14) and a second front wheel (16); a rear axle (24) including a first rear wheel (26) and a second rear wheel (28); steering column (20) for steering at least the front wheels (14, 16), characterized in that a steering deflection of the two front wheels (14, 16) in a first direction (70) and simultaneously a steering deflection of the two rear wheels (26, 28) in a second direction (72) opposite to the first direction (70) are brought about by tilting the pedal (22) about a pivot axis (32) of the pedal (22).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a scooter/scooter having a footboard by which a standing/supporting surface is provided for a user of the scooter. The front axle of the scooter comprises a first front wheel and a second front wheel; the rear axle of the scooter includes a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel. A steering column is provided for steering at least the front wheels. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a scooter.

Background

Pedal scooters are commercially available having a front axle comprising two front wheels and a rear axle comprising two rear wheels, wherein a steering column having a steering manipulator/steering rod is provided for steering the scooter. A disadvantage of such scooters is that only relatively large turning radii can be achieved during steering.

Furthermore, DE 102016117382 a1 describes a scooter which can be steered by pivoting of the steering handle or by shifting the center of gravity.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a scooter of the type mentioned at the outset that can be steered better, and a correspondingly better method for operating such a scooter.

This object is achieved by a scooter with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments and suitable developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The scooter according to the present invention has a footboard that provides a standing surface for a user of the scooter. The front axle of the scooter has a first front wheel and a second front wheel. The rear axle of the scooter has a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel. The scooter has a steering column for steering at least the front wheels. By tilting the pedals about their pivot axes, it is possible to induce a steering deflection of the two front wheels in a first direction and simultaneously a steering deflection of the two rear wheels in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A particularly small turning radius can be achieved by this counter-steering deflection of the front and rear wheels when the scooter is turning. Furthermore, a particularly fast-acting steering can be provided. Thus realizing a scooter with better steering.

The opposite steering deflections of the front and rear wheels can be achieved by shifting the center of gravity of a scooter user standing on the pedals. This shift in the center of gravity tilts the pedals about their pivot or longitudinal axes. If both the front and rear wheels are deflected during steering, the center plane of each wheel is inclined at a steering angle with respect to the direction directly in front of the respective wheel, which steering angle defines the steering deflection.

Preferably, the front axle and the rear axle each have a cross member in which a first pin is arranged, which first pin extends in the direction of the pivot axis of the pedal. The first pin can be rotated in the cross member by tilting the pedal. By providing the first pin, a displacement of the center of gravity of the user (which leads to a tilting of the pedal about the pivot axis) by the scooter standing on the pedal can be ensured particularly simply, which can lead to a steering deflection of the front wheels and a counter-steering deflection of the rear wheels.

Preferably, at least one further pin is provided in the receptacle spaced apart from the first pin in the radial direction of the latter. The receiving portion is formed in the cross member. In this case, a spring element is provided between the wall of the transverse beam delimiting the receiving space and the further pin. The elastic element prevents the pedal from tilting or tilting easily about the pivot axis, so that a cushioned steering is achieved. Furthermore, the spring element ensures that the pedal can return again to the non-inclined initial state or position when the user no longer tilts the pedal about the pivot axis by displacing its center of gravity. Thus, automatic resetting of the pedal to its initial state of no tilt can be achieved.

It has also proven to be advantageous if the spring element is designed as a sleeve made of an elastic material which surrounds the at least one further pin. On the one hand, the at least one further pin can thus be received particularly securely in the receptacle. On the other hand, it is also possible to move the at least one further pin in a plurality of different directions by tilting or tilting the pedal. In each direction, the elastic element enables the return of the further pin and thus of the pedal to its initial state. In the initial state of the at least one further pin, the elastic element is not compressed or at least hardly compressed.

In particular, a first additional pin and a second additional pin can be provided on both sides of the first pin in a respective receptacle formed in the transverse beam. In this way, the pedal can be returned in a particularly identical manner to its untilted initial state, in which the pedal is in a substantially horizontal position relative to the ground.

Preferably, a steering handle is held on the crossmember, which steering handle is movable about an axis extending in the height direction of the crossmember. The steering control is connected to the first steering knuckle via a first steering link and to the second steering knuckle via a second steering link in a region spaced apart from the axle. Such a steering control, which is movable about an axis extending in the height direction of the crossmember, makes it possible to transmit the steering torque caused by the tilting of the pedals to the steering knuckle particularly directly and robustly. The steering deflection of the front wheels and the counter-steering deflection of the rear wheels can thus be realized by the tilting of the pedals in a functionally particularly reliable manner.

Preferably, a first front wheel is arranged on a first knuckle of the front axle and a second front wheel is arranged on a second knuckle of the front axle. A first rear wheel is arranged on the first steering knuckle of the rear axle, and a second rear wheel is arranged on the second steering knuckle of the rear axle. The steering knuckles can be pivoted about respective pivot axes formed in the crossmember. Such a pivot may be provided, for example, by a pin or post that passes through or is inserted into a through-hole or aperture formed in the cross-beam, the pin or post being connected to a respective knuckle. Thereby improving the robustness and functional reliability of the steering.

The rotating shaft of the knuckle formed in the cross member can be in an inclined posture particularly with reference to the height direction of the cross member. When the scooter is positioned on the ground, the distance between the rotating shafts is larger at the position contacting with the ground than at the position above the ground. By means of this inclined position of the shafts relative to one another, particularly good road adhesion of the scooter can be achieved when driving with the scooter.

The steering control can be moved about the shaft preferably by means of a transmission which acts at a distance from the shaft. The position of the transmission element can be changed by tilting the pedal. The transmission can be designed, for example, as a column or the like that acts on the steering actuator at a distance from the axle and is able to cause a movement of the steering actuator about the axle when the pedal is tilted due to a shift in the center of gravity of a user standing on the pedal. This also facilitates a particularly direct and fast-reacting steering of the scooter. The post is in particular fixed to the pedal.

Preferably, the attitude of the transmission member acting on the steering manipulator of the front axle can be changed by changing the attitude of the steering column of the scooter. The user then merely has to tilt the steering column about the pivot axis or longitudinal axis of the pedal in order to be able to cause a tilting of the pedal and thus a deflection of the front wheels and at the same time of the rear wheels of the scooter. This makes steering of the scooter particularly easy.

The scooter may have a brake device for braking rotational movement of at least one of the rear wheels. For example, a user can brake the rear wheel of the scooter by manipulating a brake pedal. Pressing the brake pedal can cause a pulling of a pull cord or the like, which in turn pulls the brake pads of the brake system against the brake disk of the brake system. A more reliable and comfortable braking of the scooter can thus be achieved in a particularly simple manner.

It has also proven to be advantageous if at least one of the front wheels of the scooter can be driven by at least one electric motor. The user then does not need to rely solely on muscular strength to propel the scooter. The at least one electric machine may be designed, for example, as a hub motor.

Finally, it has proven to be advantageous if an electrical energy accumulator is arranged on the steering column of the scooter in order to supply the electric motor. In this way, a better steering is also achieved when the scooter is electrically driven. The accumulator can be designed as a rechargeable battery.

In a method according to the invention for operating a scooter with a pedal providing a standing surface for a user of the scooter, a front axle comprising a first front wheel and a second front wheel, a rear axle comprising a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel and a steering column for steering at least one front wheel, both front wheels are steered in a first direction by tilting the pedal around a swing axis. While the two rear wheels are steered in a second direction opposite to the first direction by tilting the pedals about the swivel axis. Hereby is obtained an improved method for operating a scooter with respect to steering.

The invention also comprises combinations of the above embodiments.

The invention also comprises a development of the method according to the invention, which has the features as described in connection with the scooter according to the invention. The corresponding modifications of the method according to the invention are therefore not described in detail here.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are described below. To this end, it is shown that:

fig. 1 shows a scooter with two electrically driven front wheels and two non-driven, preferably brakable, rear wheels in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the underside of a pedal of the scooter, a front axle of the scooter, a rear axle of the scooter, from a perspective view from the front below;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a front axle and a rear axle of the scooter from a bottom perspective, wherein the scooter is traveling in a right turn;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the front axle of the scooter from a bottom perspective, with the underside of the pedals also visible;

fig. 5 shows a further perspective view according to fig. 4, wherein the transverse beam of the front axle is not shown;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a front axle of the scooter from a top view, with the cross beam not shown and with the upper side of the pedals also visible;

fig. 7 shows a horizontal section through the cross member in the region in which the pins are arranged;

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of the front axle and a front view of the front axle when the scooter is turning right;

FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom view of the front axle and a front view of the front axle when the scooter is coasting in a straight line;

fig. 10 shows a bottom view of the front axle and a front view of the front axle when the scooter is turning left.

Detailed Description

The examples described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the individual features of the embodiments which are to be regarded as independent of one another each form an individual feature of the invention which also improves the invention independently of one another and which is therefore also regarded as an integral part of the invention, either individually or in a different manner than the combination shown. The embodiments described above can also be supplemented by other features described above.

In the figures, elements having the same function have corresponding reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a scooter 10, which is designed, for example, as an electrically driven scooter 10. The scooter 10 can also be configured as a foot-scooter that travels forward using only the muscular power of the user of the scooter 10. The scooter 10 has a front axle 12 that includes a first front wheel 14 and a second front wheel 16. In embodiments where the scooter 10 is configured as an electrically drivable scooter, the front wheels 14, 16 can be driven with respective (not shown) electric machines, which may be designed as hub motors, for example. In this case, a rechargeable battery 18 is used to supply the electric motor with electric power, the battery preferably being disposed at a steering column 20 of the scooter 10.

The scooter 10 has a pedal 22 on which a user of the scooter 10 can stand. The rear axle 24 of the scooter 10 includes a first rear wheel 26 and a second rear wheel 28. With respect to the brake 82 of the scooter 10 for braking rotational movement of the rear wheels 26, 28, only a brake pedal 84 is shown in fig. 1. As can be seen in the illustration of fig. 2, front axle 12 and rear axle 24 have respective cross members 30.

The transverse member 30 of the front axle 12 is shown in a perspective view in fig. 4, wherein the underside of the tread plate 22 can also be seen. Furthermore, fig. 3 shows the respective transverse member 30 in a bottom view of front axle 12 and of rear axle 24. In fig. 3, only the pedals 22 of the scooter 10 are schematically shown for clarity.

Also shown in fig. 3 is a swing axis 32 of the pedal 22 about which the pedal 22 can tilt to steer the scooter 10. This pivot axis 32, which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the pedal 22, is also shown in fig. 4 and 5. As can be seen in fig. 5, the pivot axis 32 extends in the direction of a first pin 34, which is arranged in the transverse beam 30. The first pin 34 in the cross beam 30 rotates when the pedal 22 tilts about the swing axis 32 due to a shift in the center of gravity of the user standing on the pedal 22.

As can be seen from fig. 5 and 6, in particular from fig. 7, two further pins 36 are arranged in respective receptacles 38 formed in the transverse beam 30, spaced apart from the first pin 34 in the radial direction of the first pin 34. In fig. 5 and 6, the first pin 34 and the further pin 36 are shown without the cross beam 30 being shown. In a corresponding receptacle 38 formed in the transverse member 30, a spring element in the form of a sleeve 40 is provided, which is composed of a spring material or of an elastomer (see fig. 7).

When the pedal 22 is tilted about its pivot axis 32, the further pin 36, which also extends parallel to the pivot axis 32, causes the sleeve 40, which consists of an elastic material, to be compressed. This enables, on the one hand, vibration damping of the chassis of the scooter 10 when the scooter 10 is steered and, on the other hand, automatic repositioning of the pedals 22 to their non-steered or non-tilted initial position, in which the scooter 22 is in a substantially horizontal attitude relative to the ground on which the scooter 10 is standing or driving.

Turning the scooter 10 by shifting the center of gravity of a user standing on the pedals 22 is explained with reference to fig. 3. A plate-shaped steering control 42 is fastened to the transverse member 30, preferably on the underside of the transverse member 30. The steering column 42 is movable about an axis 44 which extends in the height direction z of the transverse member 30. This height direction z is indicated by an arrow in fig. 2. In a region 46 of steering control 42 spaced apart from shaft 44, a first steering linkage 48 and a second steering linkage 50 are connected to steering control 42 of front axle 12. According to fig. 3, the steering control 42 of the front axle 12 is connected via a first steering linkage 48 to a first steering knuckle 52, at which the first front wheel 14 is arranged. Furthermore, the second steering linkage 50 of the front axle 12 is connected to a second steering knuckle 54, at which the second front wheel 16 is arranged.

Similarly, a first steering linkage 56 is fastened to the steering actuator 42 of the rear axle 24 at the region 46 spaced apart from the shaft 44, by means of which first steering linkage the steering actuator 42 of the rear axle 24 is connected to a first steering knuckle 58 of the rear axle 24. At this first steering knuckle 58 a first rear wheel 26 is arranged. Furthermore, the steering control 42 is connected via a further steering linkage 60 to a second steering knuckle 62 of the rear axle 24. A second rear wheel 28 is arranged at this second steering knuckle 62 of the rear axle 24.

If pedal 22 is tilted about its pivot axis 32, transmission 64 causes steering control 42 of front axle 12 to move about axis 44, in particular to pivot. In fig. 3 and 4, the transmission 64, whose position is only shown at the front axle 12, can be designed, for example, as a column coupled to the pedal 22, which acts on the steering control 42 of the front axle 12 at a distance from the shaft 44. The attitude of the transmission 64 at the front axle 12 can also be changed by changing the attitude of the steering column 20 of the scooter 10. For this purpose, the steering column 20 is coupled to a control carrier 66 arranged in the region of the front axle 12 (see in particular fig. 4 and 6). The column or such transmission 64 coupled to the pedal 22 is preferably aligned with the longitudinal axis of the steering column 20.

In the region of rear axle 24, a transmission 68 is provided, which is coupled to pedal 22, similarly to transmission 64 of front axle 12. In fig. 3, this transmission 68 is also only shown in its position at rear axle 24 and can be designed, for example, as a column coupled to pedal 22, which column acts on steering control 42 of rear axle 24 at a distance from shaft 44.

Movement of the steering control 42 of the front axle 12 about the axis 44 causes a steering deflection of the two front wheels 14, 16 in a first direction 70, which is illustrated in fig. 3 by a curved arrow. Similarly, operation of the steering operator 42 of the rear axle 24 about the axle 44 causes steering deflection of the two rear wheels 26, 28 in a second direction 72, which is opposite the first direction 70. The second direction 72 is illustrated in fig. 3 by a further curved arrow. By deflecting the front wheels 14, 16 in the opposite direction as the rear wheels 26, 28, the scooter 10 can travel with a particularly small turning radius.

Steering with steering yaw of the front wheels 14, 16 and the rear wheels 26, 28 can be achieved on the scooter 10 by shifting the center of gravity of a user standing on the upper side of the pedals 22. The user thus causes the pedal 22 to tilt about the pivot axis 32 by shifting its center of gravity. The steering torque is transmitted to the steering knuckles 52, 54, 58, 62 via the steering links 48, 50, 56, 60. This steering can be accomplished with all four wheels of the scooter 10. Steering of all four wheels, i.e. the two front wheels 14, 16 and the two rear wheels 26, 28, takes place in particular by shifting the center of gravity of a user standing on the pedals 22.

It can also be seen in fig. 3 that the regions 46 of the steering actuators 42 of the front axle 12 and of the rear axle 24 to which the steering links 48, 50, 56, 60 are fastened face one another. The regions 46 of the two steering actuators 42 are thus closer to one another than the two shafts 44 of the two steering actuators 42.

As can be seen particularly well in fig. 5, the steering knuckles 52, 54 of the front axle 12 can be pivoted about respective pivot axes 80, which are designed into the transverse member 30 (see fig. 9). These preferably inclined spindles 80 can be provided, as shown by way of example, by posts 74 which pass through the steering knuckles 52, 54 and are inserted into corresponding through openings or holes 76 formed in the cross member 30 (see fig. 7).

As can be seen well in fig. 6, steering control element 42 may have a through opening in the region of shaft 44 in order to fix steering control element 42 in a rotatable manner in the region of shaft 44 to transverse beam 30.

The through opening 76, through which the column 74 (see fig. 5) passes in order to fix the steering knuckles 52, 54 at the crossmember 30 in a manner such that they can be swiveled about the swivel axis 80, can be seen particularly well in the horizontal section of the crossmember 30 in fig. 7. Furthermore, as can be seen well from fig. 7, the pins 34, 36 can be connected to the pedal 22 by means of profile elements 78 or the like, so that a tilting or tilting movement of the pedal 22 about the pivot axis 32 can particularly easily bring about a movement of the further pin 36 in the respective receptacle 38 and a rotation of the first pin 34 about the pivot axis 32.

As can be seen well in fig. 8, the steering deflection of the front wheels 14, 16 during right-hand cornering is caused by the tilting of the steering column 20 coupled to the control frame 66.

According to fig. 9, the pedals 22 are not inclined when the scooter 10 is traveling straight ahead or coasting straight. Thus, the steering column 20 and the control frame 66 are also in a substantially vertical attitude. Fig. 9 also shows particularly well the inclined position of the pivot 80 provided by the post 74 (see fig. 5) inserted into the through opening 76 (see fig. 7) of the cross member 30.

As can be seen from fig. 10, a left-hand turn of the scooter 10 can be achieved by tilting the pedals 22 about the pivot axis 32 in the opposite direction to the direction according to fig. 8. The tilting of the pedal 22 about the pivot axis 32, which is caused by the displacement of the center of gravity by the user, can be supported by a corresponding tilting of the steering column 20, for which purpose the user can grip the handle of the steering column 20.

The examples described above show that, overall, steering with automatic resetting is possible by means of a center of gravity shift even in an electrically driven scooter 10 or scooter, by means of corresponding axle systems at the front and rear of the scooter 10.