Electric vehicle

An electric vehicle wherein a seat post is provided as one of the components of a body frame for housing a battery. The body frame includes a main frame, a seat frame, a roof frame, and a shield support part. The main frame includes a battery case which is continuously integral with a rear portion of a head pipe wherein the battery is housed. The seat post is continuously integral with a rear portion of the battery case. The seat frame is configured to be connected to the upper end of the seat post for positioning a seat. The roof frame rises from the rear end of the seat frame and supports the rear end of a roof. The shield support part is provided on to project from a head pipe and, together with the windshield, supports a head lamp disposed on the front surface side of the windshield.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-211122 filed Sep. 27, 2011 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improvement in an electric vehicle wherein a seat for a driver and a rear wheel or wheels disposed rearwardly of the seat are mounted to a rear portion of a body frame. A steering device for a front wheel is supported on a front portion of the body frame. Further, a windshield for covering the front side of the rider together with the steering device and a roof which extends rearwardly from an upper end portion of the windshield to cover the upper side of the driver are mounted on the body frame. An electric motor is provided for driving the rear wheel or wheels together with a battery for supplying the electric motor with electric power.

2. Description of Background Art

Such an electric vehicle as described above is known. See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-45080.

In a conventional electric vehicle as above-mentioned, a lower frame that is disposed in the longitudinal vehicle direction along a floor and a roof frame rise upwardly from the rear end of the lower frame so as to support the rear end of the roof are provided as components of the body frame. In addition, a seat is supported by a seat post rising upwardly from the lower frame forwardly of the roof frame. A battery chamber for housing a battery is formed beneath the seat. In such a configuration, in view of the formation of the battery chamber beneath the seat, the seat post is provided for exclusive use for supporting the seat. Thus, the seat post is not one of the components of the body frame. This complicates the structure of the vehicle, and hampers a reduction in the weight.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances. Accordingly, it is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an electric vehicle that is simple in structure and light in weight, wherein a seat post is provided as one of the components of the body frame and the body frame can be utilized for housing a battery.

In order to attain the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electric vehicle includes a body frame wherein a steering device is supported on a front portion thereof a steering device for a front wheel. A seat for a driver is provided. A rear wheel or wheels are disposed rearwardly of the seat with the seat and the rear wheel or wheels being mounted to rear portions of the body frame. A windshield is provided for covering a front side of the driver together with the steering device. A roof extends rearwardly from an upper end portion of the windshield to cover an upper side of the driver. The windshield and the roof are also mounted to the body frame. An electric motor is provided for driving the rear wheel with a battery for supplying the electric motor with electric power. The body frame includes a main frame, a seat frame, a roof frame, and a shield support part. The main frame includes a head pipe supporting the steering device thereon, a battery case is integrally continuous with a rear portion of the head pipe for housing the battery. A seat post is integrally continuous with a rear portion of the battery case and rises upwardly. The seat frame is integrally connected to an upper end of the seat post and holds the seat. The roof frame rises upwardly from a rear end of the seat frame to support a rear end of the roof. The shield support part is provided on the head pipe to project forward and, together with the windshield, to support a head lamp disposed on a front surface side of the windshield. Footrests, protruding to the left and right outer sides of the battery case, are firmly attached to the battery case.

In addition, the electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the windshield that is integrally continuously provided with a leg shield that is connected at lower end portions thereof to the footrests to cover a front side of leg parts of the driver.

Further, the electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a backrest disposed on an upper side of the seat that is mounted to the roof frame.

Furthermore, the electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention has a roof frame that includes two members composed of a roof post formed of a single pipe material which is connected to the seat frame and a roof support member composed of a casting which is connected to an upper end of the roof post. In this case, the roof support member is composed, in a loop form, of a lower edge portion which has an arcuate shape with both left and right ends thereof warped upwardly and to a central portion of which an upper end of the seat post is connected. An upper edge portion is provided which has an arcuate shape protuberant to the opposite side from the lower edge portion while interconnecting the left and right ends of the lower edge portion and to which a rear end portion of the roof is joined.

Furthermore, the electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention has the shield support part that includes a stay projectingly provided on a front surface of the head pipe, a bracket integrally connected to a front end of the stay, and a cover member which clampingly supports the windshield between itself and the bracket. The head lamp and front turn signal lamps, disposed respectively on left and right sides of the head lamp, are mounted to the cover member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the body frame including the main frame, the seat frame, the roof frame and the shield support part constitutes a closed loop-formed firm structure in cooperation with the windshield and the roof, so that a firm and lightweight electric vehicle can be realized. More particularly, since the battery case in which the battery is housed and the seat post on which the seat frame is supported are provided at components of the main frame, this configuration contributes to simplification of structure and to reduce the weight of the electric vehicle. In addition, the structure in which the footrests protruding to the left and right outer sides of the battery case are secured to the battery case ensures that the footrests can be firmly supported by the highly rigid battery case.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the leg shield is supported by the shield support part and the footrests, so that the support structure is made simple and firm.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the backrest disposed on the upper side of the seat is mounted to the roof frame that supports the roof. Therefore, a support member for exclusive use for supporting the backrest is unnecessitated. This contributes to realization of an electric vehicle with a simplified structure and a reduced weight.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the roof frame can be a simply configuration by use of two members, namely, the roof post which is formed of a single pipe material and connected to the seat frame and the roof support member which is composed of a casting and connected to the upper end of the roof post. Moreover, the roof support member is composed, in a loop form, of the lower edge portion which has an arcuate shape with both left and right ends thereof warped upwardly and to a central portion of which the upper end of the seat post is connected, and the upper edge portion which has an arcuate shape protuberant to the opposite side from the lower edge portion while interconnecting the left and right ends of the lower edge portion and to which a rear end portion of the roof is joined. Therefore, the loop-formed roof support member is very rigid. In addition, the roof joined to the upper edge portion has a centrally raised arcuate shape in cross section, in conformity with the shape of the upper edge portion, whereby enhanced rigidity and improved draining properties are ensured.

According an embodiment of the present invention, the cover member provided as a component of the shield support part serves also as a support member for the head lamp and the front turn signal lamps. This contributes to simplification of structure and enhancement of external appearance of the electric vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, an embodiment of an electric three-wheeled vehicle based on the present invention will be described below, based on the accompanying drawings.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, an electric three-wheeled vehicle V includes a steering device1supporting a single front wheel Wf with a body frame F supporting the steering device1. A seat2is provided for a driver which is supported on the body frame F. A windshield3is provided for covering the front side of the driver together with the steering device1. A roof4is provided continuously integrally with an upper end portion of the windshield3that extends rearwardly and covers the upper side of the driver. A leg shield5is provided continuously integrally with a lower end portion of the windshield3that extends downwardly and covers the front side of the leg parts of the driver. A power unit P supports a pair of left and right rear wheels Wr, Wr, and drives the wheels by an electric motor6. The windshield3, the roof4and the leg shield5are integrally formed of a single sheet of acrylic resin plate.

The steering device1includes a front fork10on which the front wheel Wf is rotatably supported, a steering stem11protruding upwardly beyond the upper end of the front fork10and a bar-shaped steering handle12attached to the upper end of the steering stem11.

As shown inFIG. 6, the body frame F includes a main frame14, a seat frame15, a roof frame16, and a shield support part17. The main frame14includes a head pipe18steerably supporting the steering stem11, a down tube19extending rearwardly downwardly from the head pipe18, an upwardly opening type battery case20integrally connected to the lower end of the down tube19, and a seat post21integrally continuous with a rear portion of the battery case20and rising upwardly. A battery23for supplying the electric motor6with electric power is housed in the battery case20.

In addition, a pair of left and right footrests22,22protruding to the outer sides than left and right side surfaces of the battery case20are firmly attached to the battery case20.

InFIGS. 1,2and6, the seat frame15includes a bottom plate portion15aintegrally connected to the upper end of the seat post21, and a rising wall portion15brising upwardly from the rear end of the bottom plate portion15a; by these portions, the seat2having a hip rest2ais supported.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, the roof frame16is composed of two members, namely, a roof post16aformed of a single rectangular (polygonal) or circular pipe material, connected to the rising wall portion15bof the seat frame15and extending upward, and a roof support member16bthat is composed of an aluminum die casting and connected to the upper end of the roof post16a. The roof support member16bis composed, in a vertically flattened loop-like general form, of a lower edge portion24which has an arcuate shape with both left and right ends thereof warped upward, and an upper edge portion25that has an arcuate shape protuberant to the opposite side from the lower edge portion24and interconnects the left and right ends of the lower edge portion24. To a central portion of the lower edge portion24, the upper end of the seat post21is connected by welding, caulking or the like. Onto a central portion of the upper edge portion25, a rear end portion of the roof4is lapped and screwed. A stop lamp26functioning also as a tail lamp is mounted to the lower edge portion24.

In addition, a back plate28supporting a backrest27immediately over the hip rest2ais attached to the roof post16a.

The shield support part17includes a plurality of stays29,29provided to project on a front surface of the head pipe18with a bracket30integrally connected to the front ends of the stays29,29and spreading leftward and rightward. A cover member31supports, in a clamping manner, the windshield3between itself and the bracket30.

As shown inFIG. 4, a lamp case33for holding a head lamp32is formed integrally with a central portion of the cover member31. Thus, the shield support part17supports the head lamp32together with the windshield3. A wiper34for wiping the front surface of the windshield3is mounted to an upper portion of the lamp case33.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the leg shield5is provided continuously integrally with the windshield3for covering the front side of the driver's leg parts. The leg shield5is connected at its lower end portion to front end portions of the left and right footrests22,22. In this case, the leg shield5is provided, in a lower-end central portion thereof, with an arcuate cutout35for receiving a front fender45.

On the other hand, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the cover member31is formed with a pair of turn signal lamp mounting recesses37,37that extend long to outer sides from left and right side surfaces of the lamp case33and into which front turn signal lamps36,36are mounted. The bracket30and the cover member31are coupled to each other by screws (not shown) penetrating the turn signal lamp mounting recesses37,37and the windshield3. After the coupling, therefore, the front turn signal lamps36,36mounted into the turn signal lamp mounting recesses37,37hide the screws, thereby giving a better external appearance. Furthermore, a horn42is mounted to the cover member31at a position immediately under the lamp case33.

As shown inFIG. 2, the bracket30is integrally formed, at its central portion, with a meter housing39in which to house a meter38incorporating a speedometer and the like. In addition, the bracket30is integrally formed, at its left and right end portions, with a pair of mirror holders41,41for holding rearview mirrors40,40so that the angles of the rearview mirrors40,40can be adjusted. The mirror holders41,41are so formed as to protrude beyond left and right side edges of the windshield3.

To the steering handle12, a handle cover43is mounted which covers the steering handle12, exclusively of left and right grips. At a central portion of the handle cover43, a small thing container44with a lid is formed.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a body cover46for covering the battery case20is mounted to the body frame F, in integral continuity with the front fender45which covers the upper side and both lateral sides of the front wheel Wf.

InFIG. 6, the power unit P is so configured that the left and right rear wheels Wr, Wr are supported on a unit case49connected to a rear end portion of the main frame14through a pivot joint47and a rolling joint48, and that the electric motor6for driving the rear wheels Wr, Wr and a driving device (including a PDU, a charging circuit, etc.)7for controlling the energization of the electric motor6are housed and held in the unit case49. The driving device7is connected to the battery23through a flexible high-voltage cable8.

The rolling joint48includes a joint shaft50secured to the front end of the unit case49and extending forward, and a joint case51fitted and connected to the joint shaft50in a relatively rotatable manner. On the other hand, the pivot joint47includes a joint arm52provided to project on a rear end surface of the battery case20, and a pivot shaft53that is disposed to be horizontal in the left-right direction and by which a front end portion of the joint case51is connected to the joint arm52in a vertically swingable fashion. A shock absorber54is interposed between the battery case20and the joint case51.

A rear cover58for covering the upper surface of the unit case49is mounted to the unit case49. Rear fenders57,57covering the upper side of the left and right rear wheels Wr, Wr are provided to be continuously integral with left and right end portions of the rear cover58. To the left and right rear fenders57,57, rear turn signal lamps55,55are mounted that are each elongated over the range from an upper surface to a rear surface of the rear fender57. In addition, a stop lamp56that functions also as a tail lamp is mounted to a central portion of the rear cover58.

In this electric three-wheeled vehicle V, the portion forwardly of the rolling joint48will be referred to as a vehicle main body Va.

When the electric three-wheeled vehicle V is traveling on a curved road, rolling (namely, leftward and rightward tilting) of the vehicle main body Va relative to the power unit P is enabled through relative rotation of the joint shaft50and the joint case51of the rolling joint48. In addition, at the time of traveling on a rough road, vertical oscillations are generated in the vehicle main body Va or the power unit P, with the pivot shaft53as a fulcrum, and the oscillations are damped by the shock absorber54.

In addition, as above-mentioned, the body frame F of the vehicle main body Va is composed of the main frame14including the head pipe18, the down tube19, the battery case20and the seat post21and the seat frame15integrally connected to the upper end of the seat post21. Further, the roof frame16rises upwardly from the rear end of the seat frame15with the shield support part17forwardly projectingly formed on the head pipe18. In addition, the windshield3and the roof4are continuously integral to each other and are supported by the shield support part17and the roof frame16. Therefore, the body frame F constitutes a closed loop-formed rigid structure in cooperation with the windshield3and the roof4. Accordingly, a rigid and lightweight vehicle main body Va can be realized.

More specifically, the battery case20housing the battery23therein and the seat post21supporting the seat frame15thereon are components of the main frame14, which greatly contributes to simplification of structure and lightening of the weight of the vehicle main body Va. In addition, the structure in which the footrests22,22protruding to the left and right outer sides of the battery case20are firmly attached to the battery case20to ensure that the footrests22,22can be firmly supported by the highly rigid battery case20.

In addition, since the leg shield5, connected to the footrests22,22at its lower end portions, is continuously integral with the windshield3, the leg shield5is supported by the shield support part17and the footrests22,22. Consequently, the support structure is made simple and firm.

Further, since the backrest27, disposed on the upper side of the seat2, is mounted to the roof frame16supporting the roof4, a support member for exclusive use for supporting the backrest27is not necessary. This contributes to a simplification of structure and lightening of the weight of the vehicle main body Va.

Furthermore, since the roof frame16is composed of two members, namely, the roof post16athat is formed of a single pipe material and connected to the seat frame15and the die-cast roof support member16bthat is connected to the upper end of the roof post16a, the roof frame16can be simply configured by use of the two members. Moreover, the roof support member16bis composed, in a loop form, of the lower edge portion24that has an arcuate shape with both left and right ends thereof warped upwardly and the upper edge portion25that has an arcuate shape protuberant to the opposite side from the lower edge portion24and interconnects the left and right ends of the lower edge portion25. Therefore, the loop-formed roof support member16bis high in rigidity. In addition, the roof4joined to the upper edge portion25has a centrally raised arcuate shape in cross section, in conformity with the shape of the upper edge portion16b. Consequently, enhanced rigidity and improved draining properties are secured.

Furthermore, the shield support part17includes the stays29,29provided to project on the front surface of the head pipe18, the bracket30integrally connected to the front ends of the stays29,29, and the cover member31that supports in a clamping manner the windshield3between itself and the bracket30. In addition, the head lamp32and the front turn signal lamps36,36, disposed on the left and right sides of the head lamp32, are mounted to the cover member31. Therefore, the cover member31, provided as one of the components of the shield support part17, serves also as a support member for the head lamp32and the front turn signal lamps36,36, that can contribute to a simplification of the structure and an improvement in the external appearance of the vehicle main body Va.

While an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. For instance, the steering handle12may be configured to have a looped shape. In addition, the present invention is applicable also to a roofed electric two-wheeled vehicle. Further, the loop-formed roof support member16bmay be injection molded from synthetic resin. Furthermore, the electric motor6may be a single electric motor of which the driving force is distributed to the left and right rear wheels Wr, Wr, or may be two electric motors by which the left and right rear wheels Wr, Wr are driven individually.