motorvehicle

Abstract: A motorcar having a man power driving system in which a driving force by man power is applied through a change gear (25) to a wheel to rotate, and a motor driving system in which the wheel is directly rotated by a driving force of a motor (49). The man power driving system is equipped with a torque detector (44) for detecting a man power driving force so as to drive the motor according to a magnitude of the man power driving force detected by the turque detector. A particularly durable change gear is not required to use, and thus a common change gear for bicycle can be used, thereby exhibiting an effect such that construction is made simplified.

Description: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle which is equipped with a man power driving part and a motor driving part, and can run by assisting of a man power driving force with a motor driving force. Heretofore, as such a motor vehicle, there has been known a motor vehicle in which a man power driving part and a motor driving part are provided in parallel with each other, and which controls an output of the motor driving part in response to a change in the driving force by a man power, as shown in JP-A-07033070, published on February 3, 1995. This motor vehicle is equipped with a change speed gear, whose high speed stage is adapted to make small a ratio of the output of the motor to the man power, and whose low speed stage is adapted to make larger the ratio of the output of the motor to the man power than that at the high speed stage. However, with the above-mentioned construction, a resultant force of the man power driving system force and the motor driving system force is applied through a driving shaft, a one-way clutch and the change speed gear to a wheel, so that a load thereon is larger than for a common bicycle, that is, a vehicle equipped with only the man power driving system, and thus these parts must be strengthened and improved in durability. Further, it is necessary to provide the change speed gear to an axle of the rear wheel and a motor on the crank shaft, so that the construction of the driving part becomes complex, and in addition, assembly work becomes cumbersome, and the provision of a braking mechanism causes the construction to become large in size. Also, a problem has existed that a change stage of the change speed gear must be detected to correct the output of the motor driving system to the man power driving force from a controller, thereby making the control complex. EP 0 590 674 A1 shows a hybrid bicycle which uses a torque sensor arranged near the crank bearing for sensing the torque of the human power, and a suitable control is provided for controlling the electromotive power with a predetermined assist rate, which assist rate may be varied with the riding speed of the bicycle. The electromotive power is applied to the crankshaft from which the overall power of the crankshaft is transmitted to the rear wheel of the bicycle. Furthermore, EP 0 561 268 A1 shows a hybrid bicycle in which a motor for supporting the man power is arranged close to the rear wheel of the bicycle and the electromotive assist power is applied to a single speed hub on which the rear sprocket of the bicycle acts. The present invention is made in view of the above-mentioned disadvantages and it is the object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle which is simple and compact in construction and good in assembly work, and a simple control can be performed. This object is solved with a motor vehicle having the features of any of the independent claims 1, 4 and 15. Advantageous modifications are depicted in dependent claims. According to the present invention, a motor vehicle has a man power driving system in which a driving force by man power is applied through a change speed gear to a wheel to rotate, and a motor driving system in which the wheel is directly rotated by a driving force of a motor, and the man power driving system is equipped with a torque detector for detecting a man power driving force so as to drive the motor according to a magnitude of the man power driving force detected by the torque detector, so that a particularly durable change speed gear is not required, and thus a common change speed gear for bicycles can be used, whereby the construction is simplified. The torque detector may be interposed between the change speed gear and the wheel, and detects a torque having been changed in speed by the change speed gear as the torque of the man power driving force, whereby the motor driving force according to the value thus detected is given, so that the ratio of the motor driving force to the man power driving force is not required to be changed by a speed change stage, and the speed change stage is also not required to be detected, whereby the assist to man power can be accurately performed by a simple control. Further, a speed sensor for detecting a revolution speed of the wheel may be provided, and an output from the torque detector to the motor is changed according to a signal from the speed sensor, so that the motor driving force is not required to be calculated considering the relationship between the speed change stage and the speed, and the motor driving force can be calculated by the input of both the man power driving force and the running speed, whereby a very simple control can be performed. In an alternative solution according to the invention, the man power driving system and the motor driving system are provided in parallel with each other; the hub comprises a rotational casing provided on the wheel and a fixed casing on the body; the rotational casing is incorporated with the man power system input, the change speed gear, and the elastic member expanding/contracting according to the man power torque; and the fixed casing is incorporated with the detector for detecting the expansion/contraction of the elastic member, and the motor for rotating the rotational casing, so as to drive the motor according to the output of the detector, whereby the output of the motor is transmitted not through the change speed gear, and thus a change speed gear more durable than a general-purpose change speed gear is not required, that is, a general change speed gear for bicycles can be used. Further, the detector and the motor are incorporated in the hub comprising the fixed and the rotational casings, whereby the whole appearance becomes good. The elastic member may be interposed between the change speed gear and the wheel, so that a man power torque after speed change is detected, and according to the value thus detected, the output of the motor is controlled, whereby a correct assist can be performed regardless of the number of speed change stages used. That is, the assist ratio is not required to change depending on speed change stages, whereby the control becomes simple. Further, the speed sensor for detecting the revolution speed of the wheel may be provided in the hub comprising the fixed and the rotational casings, so that the speed sensor cannot be easily modified from the outside. Also, the change speed gear may be disposed in a cylindrical container taking the axle as a center; the elastic member may be interposed between the container and the rotational casing; and the elastic member expands/contracts by the man power torque along the outer wall of the container in the substantially rotational direction, so that the elastic member can be expanded/contracted with the container as a guide, thereby allowing a correct man power torque to be detected. Further, it is sufficient to mount an elastic expanding/extracting member to the container of the change speed gear, whereby assembly work and construction are simple. The rotational casing may be mounted through the sleeve to the outer periphery of the change speed gear, so that any general-purpose hub incorporated change speed gear for bicycle regardless of its diameter size can be applied to any model by changing the sleeve diameter. Further, there may be provided the rotating plate rotating integrally with the outer wall of the container of the change speed gear; and the elastic member may be interposed between the rotating plate is required only to be mounted to the container of the change speed gear, whereby the workability is improved. Also, according to a further modified construction, there are provided the converting member for converting the expansion/contraction of the elastic member to a movement in the axle direction, and the magnetic material or an electrically-conductive material is moved by the converting member; and the detector comprises the coil provided near the magnetic material or the electrically-conductive material, so that the man power torque can be detected by the fixed casing and thus the detection of the man power torque can be easily performed. The change speed gear and the speed reducing mechanism may be arranged in this order from the axle of the wheel toward the outside, that is, the speed reducing mechanism is arranged on the periphery of the change speed gear, thereby allowing a compact driving part to be constructed. Arrangement of the speed reducing mechanism on the periphery of the change speed gear allows that many speed reducing mechanisms can be used, and in addition, the brake mechanism may be arranged on the axle in parallel with the change speed gear, thereby exhibiting an effect such that even when the brake mechanism is arranged in the compact driving part in which speed reducing mechanism is arranged around the change speed gear, the construction becomes not large and can be arranged in a compact manner. Further, the brake mechanism may be covered with the casing composing the driving part, so that mud or small stones flying near the wheel due to the rotation of the wheel do not enter the inside of the brake mechanism. That is, an effect is exhibited such that the damping by the brake is securely performed, thereby improving safety. Also, the brake mechanism may be arranged near the casing composing the driving part, so that the heat generated when the brake mechanism is operated is dissipated through the casing. That is, the braking force is not lowered by heat generation, thereby improving safety. The hub shaft of the wheel may be equipped with the driving part; built in the driving part may be the motor for drive, the transmitting mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the wheel, and the change speed gear; and the change speed gear and the transmitting mechanism may be arranged in this order from the axle of the wheel toward the outer periphery. Accordingly, a compact driving part can be constructed by providing the change speed gear on the axle and by arranging the transmitting mechanism therearound. Also, an effect is exhibited such that the transmitting mechanism is arranged around the change speed gear, so that many gears can be used. In a further alternative solution according to the invention, the man power driving system and the motor driving system are provided in parallel with each other; the driving part is provided on the hub shaft of the wheel; built in the driving part are the torque detector for detecting the man power torque, the motor for drive by the driving force according to the magnitude of a torque of the torque detector, and the change speed gear; and the change speed gear, the torque detector and the transmitting mechanism are arranged in this order from the axle toward the outer periphery, thereby exhibiting an effect such that the torque detector is arranged on the outer periphery away from the change speed gear provided on the axle to make easy the detection of the torque occurring after the change speed gear, and thus to allow a correct assist running even without detecting the speed changing stage, and that the transmitting mechanism is arranged on the outer periphery of the torque detector to make the driving part more compact. Further, the change speed gear may be coaxial with the axle and built in the driving part; and the transmitting mechanism and the motor may be built in a position eccentric from the axle, whereby the motor and the transmitting mechanism utilize the space on the outer periphery of the change speed gear of driving part to allow a compact construction. The change speed gear and the torque detector may be concentric with the axle and built in the driving part; and the transmitting mechanism and the motor may be provided at a position eccentric from the axle, whereby the motor and the transmitting mechanism utilize the space on the outer periphery of the change speed gear of driving part and torque detector to allow a compact construction. Finally, a control board for controlling the drive of the motor may be provided; and the control board may be located at a position away substantially the same distance from the axle as for the speed reducing mechanism, so that the control board other than the transmitting mechanism can be also built in by utilizing the space of the driving part to become more compact and to make wiring and the like unnecessary, thereby exhibiting an effect such that the assembly work becomes good and a simple construction can be made. Fig. 1 is a diagram of a power system of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of a driving part of the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a plan construction view of the driving part; Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the operation of a torque detector of the embodiment; Fig. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between a ratio of a motor driving force to a man power driving force and a running speed in the embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a whole construction view of the embodiment. With reference to Figs. 1 to 6, a first embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter. First, with reference to Fig. 6, the whole construction of an electric bicycle will be explained. Reference numeral 1 designates a main frame for connecting a head pipe 2 provided on the front portion with a seat tube 4 provided on the lower side of a saddle 3, the main frame 1 being mounted at a portion connected to the seat tube 4 with pedals 5 capable of being rotated by man power. Reference numeral 6 designates a front wheel which interlocks with the movement of handlebars 7 and whose running direction is specified by the operation of the handlebars 7, the front wheel 6 comprising spokes 8, a rim 9 and a tire 10. Reference numeral 11 designates a rear wheel as a driving wheel, the rear wheel 11 also comprising a tire 12, a rime 13, spokes 14 and a driving part 15 for driving the rear wheel 11. Reference numeral 16 designates a front sprocket rotating together with the rotation of the pedals 5, a chain 17 being wound around the front sprocket 16 so as to transmit the rotation of the front sprocket 16 to a rear sprocket 27 (refer to Fig. 2) provided on an axle of the driving part 15 as a power. Reference numeral 18 designates a battery as a power source for a motor 49 described later, in which a 24-volt nickelcadmium battery is contained. The battery 18 is removable and can be charged indoors. Reference numeral 19 designates a front basket; and 20, a stand for supporting the bicycle when stopped. A specific construction of the driving part 15 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Reference numeral 21 designates a disk-shaped fixed casing mounted fixedly to the main frame 1; and 22, a rotational casing rotating outside the fixed casing 21 coaxial with the fixed casing 21. The fixed casing 21 and the rotational casing 22 are combined to form a hub. Formed on the outer periphery of the rotational casing 22 are two annular ribs 24, and the spokes 14 are stretched from the annular ribs 24 toward the rim 13 (refer to Fig. 6) on which the tire 12 is mounted. Reference numeral 25 designates a hub shaft incorporated-type change speed gear (such as SG-3531 produced by Kabushiki Kaisha Shimano), the change speed gear 25 being connected through a ratchet 26 to the rear sprocket 27. That is, a man power from the chain 17 is applied only in one direction by the ratchet 26, and when a force in the reverse rotational direction is applied, the driving force is shut off. The change speed gear 25 is contained in a cylindrical container 33, and a collar 28 is formed on the full circumference at one end of the container 33. In the change speed gear 25, a change bar 30 is inserted slidably in an outwardly urged state into the hollow portion of an axle 29, and the right and left movement of the change bar 30 causes gears (not shown) in the change speed gear 25 to be changed over. A pressing device 31 for pressing the change bar 30 is provided in a manner to be pressed against the change bar 30, and an operating handle (not shown) for operating the holder 31 is provided near the handlebars 7 in a manner to be connected with a wire 32. In short, pulling the wire 32 by the local operating handle causes the holder 31 to be moved and thus the change bar 30 to be moved, thereby changing a speed changing stage. Reference numeral 34 designates a tubular sleeve which is press fitted to the container 33 of the change speed gear 25 to surround the outer periphery of the container 33, the sleeve 34 being set by a screw to the collar 28. Reference numeral 35 designates a rotating plate which is arranged on the outer periphery of the change speed gear 25, and rotates integrally with the sleeve 34 and the collar 28. The rotating plate 35 will be explained with reference to the schematic view of the operation shown in Fig. 4. The rotating plate 35 is larger in outer peripheral diameter than the container 33 of the change speed gear 25, and has a circular shape concentric with the change speed gear 25, in which plate an urging bar 36 and a converting bar 37 are integrally formed in the axial direction on two opposite places. The urging bar 36 is formed in a pillar shape with a temple bell-shaped surface, thereby pressing an elastic member, that is, a spring 38 with the temple bell-shaped curved surface. Then, the rotating plate 35 rotates on the outer periphery of the change speed gear 25 while expanding/contracting the spring 38, and at the same time, it rotates concentrically with the change speed gear 25 with using, as a guide, the outer periphery of the container 33. Also, the converting bar 37 is a rectangular member extending toward the axle 29, and formed diagonally in such a manner that the head portion becomes shorter toward the rotational direction. The spring 38 urged at one end by the urging bar 36 has the other end allowed to be in contact with part of the rotational casing 22, whereby the man power driving force is transmitted to the rotating plate 35, followed by the urging bar 36, and then the spring 38 is expanded/contracted to rotate the rotational casing 22. Then, the rotating plate 35 rotates while developing a little strain with the rotational casing 22 according to a magnitude in expansion/contraction of the spring 38 thus expanded/contracted. Thus, the rotating plate 35 rotates on the periphery of the change speed gear 25 according to a strain due to man power. Then, the converting bar 37 also rotates simultaneously by a little rotation of the rotating plate 35, whereby a mountain shaped portion 40 in contact with an inclined portion 39 formed on the head of the converting bar 37 is pushed to move toward the axle 29. The mountain shaped portion 40 is provided with a magnetic member, that is, a ring of ferrite 41, so that as the mountain shaped portion 40 moves, the ferrite 41 also moves. Provided on the head of the ferrite 41 are a C-ring 42 and a spring 43 for urging the ferrite 41 against the rotating plate 35 side. Accordingly, the ferrite 41 is designed to move toward the axle 29 by a strained amount of the rotational casing 22 and the rotating plate 35. Reference numeral 44 designates a magnetic detecting member, that is, a coil which is provided near the ferrite 41 at the fixed casing 21, the coil 44 being capable of converting a change in inductance - due to the approach of the ferrite 41 - into an electric signal. The utilization of the output allows a man power torque to be detected. The members shown in Fig. 4 are collectively called a torque detector 45. Also, the converting bar 37, the mountain shaped portion 40, the magnetic member 41, and the magnetic detecting member 44 here are collectively called a detector, by which a degree of expansion/contraction of the elastic member can be detected. Also, the converting bar 37 and the mountain shaped portion 40 are collectively called a converting member, by which the expansion/contraction of the elastic member 38 in the rotational direction is converted to a movement in the axle 29 direction. Although in the above-mentioned construction, the ferrite is used for the magnetic member, the ring might be formed of an electrically-conductive material such as aluminum. Also, although the spring is used as the elastic member, rubber and the like might be used as the elastic member, and the detector may be constructed using a scale capable of detecting the expansion/contraction of the rubber. Further, with a pressure-sensitive rubber used as an elastic member, an expanded/contracted pressure might be picked up as an electric signal. Reference numeral 46 designates an inner gear screwed by bolts to the rotational casing 22, the inner gear 46 being formed of a reinforced plastic such as polyacetal resin for the internally-formed gear portion. A metallic casing is used for the outer portion to cover the outer periphery so as to strengthen the inner gear 46. Reference numeral 47 designates a shaft tube molded integrally with the inner gear 46, the shaft tube 47 having bearings 48 interposed between itself and the sleeve 34 to as to rotate smoothly when the rotating plate 35 rotates. Reference numeral 49 designates a motor built in the fixed casing 21, an output shaft 50 of the motor 49 being provided with a belt 51, and the belt 51 being connected to a first pulley 52. The first pulley 52 is rotatably mounted through bearings 53 to the fixed casing 21. Also, a second pulley 56 coaxial with the first pulley 52 is provided through a one-way clutch 54 and bearings 55, thereby transmitting the power from the first pulley 52 only in one way direction. The second pulley 56 is formed with a gear 57, so that the gear 57 engages with the inner gear 46 to rotate the rotational casing 22 by the driving power of the motor 49. The one-way clutch 54 is provided in order to make independent the driving power from the motor 49 and that of man power, that is, in order that, for example, when a bicycle is pushed by hands, the motor 49 together with the rear wheel 11 are not allowed to rotate so that an extra load is not applied to the user by a dynamic braking. These speed reducing mechanisms are arranged and contained archedly in a wide space between the outer periphery of the rotating plate 34 and that of the fixed casing 21. Reference numeral 58 designates a brake piece which is arranged coaxial and in parallel with the change speed gear 25 and rotates together with the container 33, the brake piece 58 being rotated together with the rear wheel 11 in a brake case 59 molded integrally with the fixed casing 21, so that a brake shoe 60 provided in the brake case 59 is allowed to expand by a brake lever (not shown) provided with the handlebars 7 to be pressed against the brake piece 58, thereby applying a brake to the rotation of the rear wheel 11. This construction of a brake is called a brake mechanism. The rotational casing 22 is provided with a magnet (not shown) rotating together with the rotation of the casing 22, while the fixed casing 21 is provided with a reed switch (not shown) for detecting the magnet. The number of inputs of the reed switch allows the number of revolution of the rear wheel 11, that is, a running speed to be detected. Reference numeral 61 designates a tension pulley capable of adjusting the tightening of the belt 51 connecting the motor 49 with the first pulley 52 by urging the belt, the tension pulley 61 comprising a roller 62 and a base bed 63, and being adapted to adjust a force pressed against the belt 51 by a slot 64 for fixing the one end of the base bed 63. Reference numeral 68 designates a control board mounted to the fixed casing 21 for controlling the rotation at a position away substantially the same distance from the axle 29 as a speed reducing mechanism 67, and being built in a space where the speed reducing mechanism 67 is absent. The control board 68 is equipped with a driving circuit for PWM controlling the motor 49, a constant-voltage circuit for inputting a starting voltage to a microcomputer, and a torque detecting circuit as well as a microcomputer for controlling the rotation of the motor 49 according to the output results from the torque detector 45. With reference to Fig. 1, a diagram of a power system with the above construction will be explained hereinafter. First, describing the man power driving system, a man power given by the pedals 5 is transmitted by the chain 17 to the rear sprocket 27, changed in speed by the change speed gear 25, and then used to rotate the rear wheel 11 through the rotating plate 35 and the spring 38. Then, describing the motor driving system, the magnitude of the expansion/contraction of the spring 38, that is, a travel of the rotating plate 35 is converted by the converting member 37 to a movement in the axle 29 direction, thereby causing the ferrite 41 to be moved together with the movement. The movement of the ferrite 41 is converted to a change in inductance of the coil 44, which change is inputted as an electric signal into a controller 65. The controller 65 is built in the fixed casing 21. In the controller 65, a signal from the coil 44 and a running speed signal from the speed sensor are inputted into the controller 65, and then the controller outputs a drive signal on the basis thereof to the motor 49 to rotate. Then, the output of the motor 49 is reduced in speed by the speed reducing mechanism 67 such as the first pulley 52 and the second pulley 56 to rotate the rear wheel 11. The rear sprocket 27, the speed reducing mechanism 69, the rear wheel 11, the converting member 37 and the ferrite 41 are built in the rotational casing 22, while the controller 65, the coil 44, the speed sensor 66, the motor 49 and the speed reducing mechanism 67 are built in the fixed casing 21. With reference to Fig. 5, the operation of the controller 65 will be explained hereinafter. Fig. 5 is a graph showing a running speed on the axis of abscissa and an assist ratio, that is, a ratio of the motor driving force to the man power driving force on the axis of ordinate. As seen from the graph, the same driving force as the man power driving force is output from the motor 49 until a predetermined speed H is reached, so that the assist is performed at a ratio one to one at all times. The control is performed such that, when the speed H is exceeded, the assist ratio is gradually lowered so that the running speed becomes not too fast. Eventually, the electric driving force becomes zero, and at a speed beyond that point, the running is performed only by man power.

Claims: A motor vehicle having a man power driving system in which a driving force by man power is applied to a wheel (11) to rotate, and a motor driving system in which the wheel (11) is rotated by a driving force of a motor (49), wherein the man power driving system is equipped with a torque detector (45) for detecting a man power driving force so as to drive the motor (49) according to a magnitude of the man power driving force detected by the torque detector (45), characterized in that the driving force by man power is applied to the wheel (11) via a change speed gear (25), whereas the driving force of the motor (49) is directly applied to the wheel (10). The motor vehicle of Claim 1, wherein the torque detector (45) is interposed between the change speed gear (25) and the wheel (11). The motor vehicle of Claim 1, wherein a speed sensor for detecting a revolution speed of the wheel (11) is provided, and an output from the torque detector (45) to the motor (49) is changed according to a signal from the speed sensor. A motor vehicle having a man power driving system in which a driving force by man power is applied to a wheel (11) to rotate, and a motor driving system in which the wheel (11) is rotated by a driving force of a motor (49), wherein the man power driving system is equipped with a torque detector (45) for detecting a man power driving force so as to drive the motor (49) according to a magnitude of the man power driving force detected by the torque detector (45), characterized by a hub comprising a rotational casing (22) provided on the wheel (11) and a fixed casing (21) mounted fixedly to a body (1) of the motor vehicle, the rotational casing (22) being incorporated with a man power system input with a change speed gear (25), and an elastic member (38) expanding/contracting according to a man power torque, and the fixed casing (21) being incorporated with a detector (45) for detecting the expansion/ contraction of the elastic member (38) and the motor (49) for directly rotating the rotational casing (22). The motor vehicle of Claim 4, wherein the elastic member (38) is interposed between the change speed gear (25) and the wheel (11). The motor vehicle of Claim 4, wherein the speed sensor for detecting revolution speed of the wheel (11) is provided in the hub comprising the fixed (21) and the rotational (22) casings. The motor vehicle of Claim 4, wherein the change speed gear (25) is disposed in a cylindrical container (33) taking an axle (29) of the wheel (11) as a center; the elastic member (38) is interposed between the container (33) and the rotational casing (22); and the elastic member expands/contracts by the man power torque along the outer wall of the container (33) in a substantially rotational direction. The motor vehicle of Claim 4, wherein the rotational casing (22) is mounted through a sleeve (34) to an outer periphery of the change speed gear (25). The motor vehicle of Claim 7, wherein a rotating plate (35) rotating integrally with an outer wall of the container (33) of the change speed gear (25) is provided, and the elastic member (38) is interposed between the rotating plate (35) and the rotational casing (22). The motor vehicle of Claim 4, wherein a converting member (37) for converting expansion/contraction of the elastic member (38) to a movement in an axle direction, and a magnetic material (41) or an electrically-conductive material moved by the converting member (37) are provided, and the detector (45) comprises a coil (44) provided near the magnetic material or the electrically-conductive material. A motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, having a driving part at a hub shaft of the wheel (11), the driving part housing therein the motor (49) for drive, a speed reducing mechanism (67) for reducing number of revolution of the motor (49), and the change speed gear (25), wherein the change speed gear (25) and the speed reducing mechanism (67) are arranged in this order from an axle (29) of the wheel (11) and a brake mechanism is arranged to the axle (29) in parallel with the change speed gear (25). The motor vehicle of Claim 11, wherein the brake mechanism is covered with a casing (21) composing the driving part. The motor vehicle of Claim 11, wherein the brake mechanism is arranged near a casing (21) composing the driving part. A motor vehicle according to Claim 11, having the driving part at the hub shaft of the wheel (11), the driving part housing therein the motor (49) for drive, a transmitting mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor (49) to the wheel (11), and the change speed gear (25), wherein the change speed gear (25) and the transmitting mechanism are arranged in this order from the axle (29) of the wheel (11) toward an outer periphery. A motor vehicle having a man power driving system in which a driving force by man power is applied to a wheel (11) to rotate, and a motor driving system in which the wheel (11) is rotated by a driving force of a motor (49), wherein the man power driving system is equipped with a torque detector (45) for detecting a man power driving force so as to drive the motor (49) according to a magnitude of the man power driving force detected by the torque detector (45), characterized by a driving part provided on a hub shaft of the wheel (11), the driving part housing therein the torque detector (45) for detecting a man power torque, the motor (49), and a change speed gear (25) connected to the man power driving system, wherein the change speed gear (25), the torque detector (45), and the transmitting mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor (49) to the wheel (11) are arranged in this order from the axle (29) of the wheel (11) toward the outer periphery. The motor vehicle of Claim 14, wherein the change speed gear (25) is build in the axle (29) coaxial herewith, and the transmitting mechanism and the motor (49) are built in a position eccentric from the axle (29). The motor vehicle of Claim 15, wherein the change speed gear (25) and the torque detector (45) are built in the driving part to be concentric with the axle (29). The motor vehicle according to claim 14 or 15, wherein a control board (68) for controlling the drive of the motor (49) is provided, and the control board (68) is located at a position away substantially the same distance from the axle (29) as for the speed reducing mechanism.

Inventors: FUJIWARA MASAKATSU, ISHIHARA HIROYASU, MATSUMOTO KAZUHISA, SUHARA TOSHIHIRO, TANAKA MASARU, TANAKA TATSUAKI, FUJIWARA, MASAKATSU, ISHIHARA, HIROYASU, MATSUMOTO, KAZUHISA, SUHARA, TOSHIHIRO, TANAKA, MASARU, TANAKA, TATSUAKI
Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO, SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B62M23
IPC codes: B62M6