Motor vehicles – Steered by walking attendant – Handle movement controls vehicle drive
Patent
1995-03-10
1996-07-30
Hurley, Kevin T.
Motor vehicles
Steered by walking attendant
Handle movement controls vehicle drive
180 655, 180332, 180165, B62D 5104
Patent
active
055402968
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric auxiliary drive for a travelling device primarily driven, in particular drawn or pushed, by human or animal power.
2. Description of the Related Art
The field of application of the invention is, for example, that of golf caddies and industrial carts, but much more besides.
For the two-wheeled or three-wheeled golf caddies normally drawn or pushed by the user, with a golf bag or the like clipped on them, electric drives of the wheels are also known. They are generally controlled, as required, by means of an adjusting lever arranged close to the handle of the golf caddie. The battery required is thus designed to be sufficient in any case for an average round of 18 holes. Consequently, however, it is of a not inconsiderable weight, which makes handling it, or the golf caddie, more difficult, and in some cases impossible, in particular on uneven ground.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an energy-saving drive which is altogether easier to handle and is also convenient to use.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by an electric auxiliary drive for a travelling device primarily driven, in particularly drawn or pushed, by human or animal power, which has a boosting effect whenever the driving force,requirements are high and has a regenerative effect whenever the driving force, requirements are low, in particular negative, and is provided with a measuring device for the primarily exerted driving force, and with a control such that, whenever a predetermined primary driving force, is exceeded or not reached, said control resets the predetermined primary driving force, by increasing or reducing the generated torque or by reducing or increasing the regenerative braking torque.
The invention thus assumes a basic load carried by the user himself, which can be set at a comfortable level and spares the user from major exertion. Since, on the other hand, energy is saved compared to a full power drive, a lighter battery is sufficient. The battery can be all the lighter since, apart from the efficiency-determined loss, energy used when going uphill is recovered when going downhill and, moreover, even when on level ground it is always charged to a certain extent, provided that the internal losses or losses due to unevennesses of the ground do not use up the predetermined primary driving force. Furthermore, the control is automated and does not require actuation. In favorable operating conditions, the losses occurring can be fully compensated and there is no need for external charging of the battery. Consequently, there is also no need for the infrastructure otherwise always required for battery-operated vehicles.
The predetermined primary driving force which the human or animal has to apply can preferably be changed arbitrarily and/or by a control program.
Thus, for example in the case of a golf caddie, it can be set as desired to 10 to 15N and can be reduced after a certain time by a control program in order to compensate for increasing fatigue. It may be reduced when going uphill, when the user's own body weight makes him exert himself more, or else be increased in order to remain truer to natural conditions. It may also be increased when going down steeper inclines; the pull on the golf caddie then reduces the abrupt stopping of the body movement with each step. However, due to the limit of the regenerative braking effect, it may be necessary for the user himself also to perform braking. In this case, it may even be provided to switch over to power braking. If appropriate, the predetermined primary driving force may also be greatly increased considering the charging state of the battery.
Particularly suitable for the auxiliary drive according to the invention are three-phase synchronous motors. They can be controlled well and can operate in reverse as a dynamo.
According to a further advantageous refinement of the invention, two coaxial wheels are in each case provided with a motor
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Hurley Kevin T.
Kueffner Friedrich
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