Warning device for an electric vehicle

• US 5,313,191 A
• Filed: 10/10/1991
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Honda, Satoshi, Tamaki, Kenji, Nakazawa, Yoshihiro, Yamashita, Shoji, Motodate, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tong, Nina
• Application Number:
  US07/774,595
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/457, 340/457.1, 340/461, 340/427, 180/65.1, 180/220, 318/139, 307/9.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/00 Motorcycles characterised by position of motor or engine rider propulsion with addition source of power, e.g. auxiliary combustion engine or electric motor B62M6/00; frames characterised by position of engine B62K11/00

Abstract

A warning device is provided for use in an electric vehicle which includes a frame member and ground engaging wheels operative mounted relative to the frame member. An electric motor is operatively connected to the frame member and the ground engaging wheels for supplying rotational motion to the ground engaging wheels. A switch member is provided for selectively energizing the electric motor. An indicator member is provided for indicating to an operator that the electric vehicle has completed a preparing to start operation. The switch member may be a switch for operatively connecting the electric motor to a source of power. The indicator member may provide a visual display or an audible sound for warning the operator.

Claims

1. A warning device for use in an electric vehicle comprising:

a frame member;

ground engaging wheels operatively mounted relative to said frame member;

an electric motor operatively connected to said frame member and said ground engaging wheels for supplying rotational motion to said ground engaging wheels;

a first switch means for selectively energizing the electric motor; and

an indicator means for indicating to an operator that the preparation for starting the electric vehicle has been completed for avoiding a discomfort to the operator during initial movement of the electric vehicle, said indicating means being responsive to a rotational speed of said motor and being deactuated during a running condition.

2. The warning device according to claim 1, wherein said first switch means is a switch for operatively connecting said electric motor to a source of power.

3. The warning device according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means provides an audible sound for warning the operator.

4. The warning device according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means provides a visual display for warning the operator.

5. The warning device according to claim 1, and further including a centrifugal clutch operatively connected relative to said electric motor and said ground engaging wheels for supplying rotational power from said electric motor to said ground engaging wheels.

6. The warning device according to claim 5, and further including a grip means for selectively increasing and decreasing an operational speed of said electric motor, said grip means being operational after said electric motor has reached a predetermined rotational speed for actuating said centrifugal clutch.

7. The warning device according to claim 1, and further including a speedometer housing, said indicator means being mounted adjacent to said speedometer housing for supplying a visual display of the completion of the starting operation.

8. The warning device according to claim 1, and further including a plurality of indicator means being sequentially operated for indicating to the operator that the electric vehicle is in the preparation for starting the electric vehicle and being deactuated after said electric vehicle has completed the preparation for starting operation.

9. The warning device according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of indicator means are visual displays which are sequentially illuminated.

10. The warning device according to claim 1, and further including an audible indicator, a communication switch and a control means operatively connected to said first switch means for actuating said audible indicator for a predetermined period of time after said first switch means and said communication switch are actuated.

11. The warning device according to claim 10, wherein said audible indicator is a horn.

12. A warning device for use in an electric vehicle comprising:

a frame member;

ground engaging wheels operatively mounted relative to said frame member;

an electric motor operatively connected to said frame member and said ground engaging wheels for supplying rotational motion to said ground engaging wheels;

a first switch means for selectively energizing the electric motor;

an indicator means for indicating to an operator that the preparation for starting the electric vehicle has been completed; and

a movable stand operatively connected to said frame member for supporting said vehicle during periods of non-use and a second switch means connected to said movable stand to be deactuated during use of the movable stand for supporting the vehicle and being actuated when said movable stand is positioned in a stored position during normal use of the vehicle, said second switch means being operatively connected to said indicator means for actuating said indicator means when both said first switch means and said second switch means are actuated.

13. The warning device according to claim 12, wherein said first switch means is a switch for operatively connecting said electric motor to a source of power.

14. The warning device according to claim 12, wherein said indicator means provides an audible sound for warning the operator.

15. The warning device according to claim 12, wherein said indicator means provides a visual display for warning the operator.

16. The warning device according to claim 12, and further including a centrifugal clutch operatively connected relative to said electric motor and said ground engaging wheels for supplying rotational power from said electric motor to said ground engaging wheels.

17. The warning device according to claim 16, and further including a grip means for selectively increasing and decreasing an operational speed of said electric motor, said grip means being operational after said electric motor has reached a predetermined rotational speed for actuating said centrifugal clutch.

18. The warning device according to claim 12, and further including a speedometer housing, said indicator means being mounted adjacent to said speedometer housing for supplying a visual display of the completion of the starting operation.

19. The warning device according to claim 12, and further including a plurality of indicator means being sequentially operated for indicating to the operator that the electric vehicle is in the preparation for starting the electric vehicle and being deactuated after said electric vehicle has completed the preparation for starting operation.

20. The warning device according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of indicator means are visual displays which are sequentially illuminated.

21. The warning device according to claim 12, and further including an audible indicator, a communication switch and a control means operatively connected to said first switch means for actuating said audible indicator for a predetermined period of time after said first switch means and said communication switch are actuated.

22. The warning device according to claim 21, wherein said audible indicator is a horn.

23. A warning device for use in an electric vehicle comprising:

a frame member;

ground engaging wheels operatively mounted relative to said frame member;

an electric motor operatively connected to said frame member and said ground engaging wheels for supplying rotational motion to said ground engaging wheels;

a first switch means for selectively energizing the electric motor;

an indicator means for indicating to an operator that the preparation for starting the electric vehicle has been completed for avoiding a discomfort to the operator during initial movement of the electric vehicle, said indicating means being deactuated during a running condition;

a movable stand operatively connected to said frame member for supporting said vehicle during periods of non-use; and

a second switch means connected to said movable stand to be deactuated during use of the movable stand for supporting the vehicle and being actuated when said movable stand is positioned in a stored position during normal use of the vehicle, said second switch means being operatively connected to said indicator means for actuating said indicator means when both said first switch means and said second switch means are actuated.