Electrically operated vehicle

• US 5,501,292 A
• Filed: 01/10/1994
• Issued: 03/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1990
• 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: Hojo, Atsuo, Kawashima, Yoshinori, Ryu, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/180,768
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 180/219, 180/220, 180/229, 180/230, 180/68.1, 180/68.5, 180/205, 180/207, 180/65.6, 180/65.1, 180/277, 165/44
• US Class Current: 180/220
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/16 on motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/20 characterised by the mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/18 in a dummy fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/283 for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/02 with engine between front and rear wheels

Abstract

An electrically operated saddle type vehicle includes a vehicle frame having at least one front wheel supported on a front wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a front portion of the vehicle frame and at least one rear wheel supported on a rear wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a rear portion of the vehicle frame. An electric motor is supported on the vehicle frame between the front wheel and the rear wheel and includes a front portion positioned adjacent to the front wheel. A transmission member is operatively connected to the electric motor and at least one of the front and rear wheels for providing propulsion for the vehicle. Wherein air is directed to contact the electric motor while the vehicle is in motion for cooling the electric motor during use.

Claims

1. An electrically operated saddle vehicle comprising:

a twin-tube vehicle frame;

at least one front wheel supported on a front wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a front portion of said vehicle frame;

at least one rear wheel supported on a rear wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a rear portion of said vehicle frame;

an electric motor supported on said vehicle frame between said front wheel and said rear wheel and including a front portion positioned adjacent to said front wheel;

transmission means operatively connected to said electric motor and at least one of said front and rear wheels for providing propulsion for said vehicle, the electric motor and transmission means being in linear alignment in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with the electric motor being in front of the transmission means, the transmission means being mounted to the vehicle frame;

wherein air is directed to contact said electric motor while said vehicle is in motion for cooling said electric motor during use; and

at least one battery connected to said electric motor and being disposed in a frame mounted beneath said electric motor for lowering the center of gravity of said vehicle.

2. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle frame includes a pair of left and right main frame members extending rearwardly from said at least one front wheel, said transmission means being substantially aligned with said pair of left and right main frame members for providing a space between the transmission means and the pair of left and right main frame members.

3. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a pivot shaft positioned on said vehicle frame and a swing arm being secured to said pivot shaft and said rear wheel.

4. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 3, wherein both said pivot shaft and said transmission means have longitudinal axes, said pivot shaft is in a coaxial relationship relative to said transmission means.

5. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said electric motor and said transmission means are disposed directly adjacent to said front wheel for effectively cooling said electric motor and said transmission means by means of ambient air flowing thereover.

6. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a cover for said electric motor, a plurality of air vent holes being formed in said cover for permitting air to be in communication with said electric motor for cooling said electric motor.

7. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a fan means connected to said electric motor for cooling said electric motor as said electric motor is utilized.

8. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a radiator for said electric motor for supplying liquid coolant for cooling said electric motor and said transmission means.

9. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 8, and further including pump means for pumping liquid through said radiator and a jacket disposed adjacent to said electric motor for cooling said electric motor.

10. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a chain connected between said transmission means and said rear wheel for imparting rotation thereto.

11. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a chain connected between said electric motor and said rear wheel for imparting rotation thereto.

12. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said transmission is a non-stage transmission wherein the power changed in speed by said non-stage transmission is transmitted to the rear wheel by means of a wrapping connector for driving said rear wheel.

13. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 12, and further including a swing arm mounted for a rocking motion around a pivot shaft on said vehicle frame, wherein an output power shaft of said non-stage transmission and said pivot shaft are disposed in a coaxial relationship relative to each other.

14. An electrically operated saddle vehicle comprising:

a twin-tube vehicle frame;

at least one front wheel supported on a front wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a front portion of said vehicle frame;

at least one rear wheel supported on a rear wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a rear portion of said vehicle frame;

an electric motor supported on said vehicle frame between said front wheel and said rear wheel and including a front portion positioned adjacent to said front wheel;

transmission means operatively connected to said electric motor and at least one of said front and rear wheels for providing propulsion for said vehicle, the electric motor and transmission means being in linear alignment in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with the electric motor being in front of the transmission means, the transmission means being mounted to the vehicle frame;

wherein air is directed to contact said electric motor while said vehicle is in motion for cooling said electric motor during use; and

a box supported at a front portion of said vehicle frame, said box including a cover mounted for opening and at least one battery being disposed within said box and connected to the electric motor.

15. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the at least one battery is located in the box below the electric motor and transmission means with the electric motor and transmission means being between the at least one battery and the twin-tube vehicle frame.

16. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the at least one battery in the box is between the twin tube vehicle frame and above the electric motor.

17. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the twin-tube vehicle frame includes a right main frame, a left main frame and a head tube mounting portion, the front wheel supporting member extending through the head tube mounting portion, the right and left main frames engaging the head tube mounting portion and extending rearwardly to the rear wheel supporting member, a space being defined between the right and left main frames between the head tube mounting portion and the rear wheel supporting member, the box with the at least one battery being located in the space between the right and left main frames.

18. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the box with the at least one battery is located above and forwardly of the electric motor.

19. An electrically operated saddle vehicle comprising:

a twin-tube vehicle frame;

at least one front wheel supported on a front wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a front portion of said vehicle frame;

at least one rear wheel supported on a rear wheel supporting member mounted adjacent to a rear portion of said vehicle frame;

an electric motor supported on said vehicle frame between said front wheel and said rear wheel and including a front portion positioned adjacent to said front wheel;

transmission means operatively connected to said electric motor and at least one of said front and rear wheels for providing propulsion for said vehicle, the electric motor and transmission means being in alignment along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with the electric motor being in front of the transmission means, the transmission means being mounted to the vehicle frame;

wherein air is directed to contact said electric motor while said vehicle is in motion for cooling said electric motor during use;

said transmission being a non-stage transmission wherein the power change in speed by said non-stage transmission is transmitted to the rear wheel by means of a wrapping connector for driving said rear wheel; and

a pivot shaft being positioned on said vehicle frame and the swing arm being secured to said pivot shaft and said rear wheel, the swing arm being mounted for a rocking motion around a pivot shaft on said vehicle frame, wherein an output power from said non-stage transmission and said pivot shaft are disposed in a coaxial relationship relative to each other.

20. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising a cover member and box, the box being mounted in the cover member beneath the electric motor, the cover member extending at least below the box and in front of the box and electric motor, the cover member having a plurality holes through which the air is directed to contact the electric motor while said vehicle is in motion, at least one battery being disposed within the box and being connected to the electric motor.

21. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the electric motor and the transmission means are linearly aligned and are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the longitudinal axis extending between the at least one front wheel and the at least one rear wheel.

22. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising a housing in which at least the electric motor is located, the housing having a cover on a side thereof with an opening being provided in the cover, a fan being provided within the housing on an opposite side to the side having the opening, the electric motor having coils which are positioned between the opening and the fan, operation of the fan will draw air into the housing to cool the electric motor, the electric motor being located in front of the non-stage transmission with a belt being provided between the electric motor and non-stage transmission, the fan being located between the belt and the coils of the electric motor.

23. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising a belt extending between the electric motor and the non-stage transmission, the electric motor having a driving pulley on a rotary shaft and the non-stage transmission having a driven pulley on an input shaft, the belt extending between the driving pulley and the driven pulley, the driving pulley having a fixed face and a movable face, the movable face being axially movable on the rotary shaft to vary distance between the movable face and the fixed face to thereby vary wrapping diameter of the belt.

24. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the driven pulley has a fixed face and movable face supported on the input shaft, the movable face of the driven pulley also being movable toward and away from the fixed face to thereby vary distance therebetween, the movable face of the driven pulley being moved in response to variation in the wrapping diameter of the belt.

25. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the twin-tube vehicle frame has two generally parallel portions and wherein the vehicle further comprises a reducing gear mechanism connected to the non-stage transmission, the reducing gear mechanism, the electric motor and the non-stage transmission being integrally formed as a power unit, the rotary shaft of the electric motor and an output shaft of the reducing gear mechanism being parallel to the two parallel portions of the vehicle frame, the power unit being located beneath the vehicle frame.

26. The electrically operated saddle vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the twin-tube vehicle frame has two generally parallel portions and wherein the electric motor has a rotary shaft, the vehicle further comprises a reducing gear mechanism with an output shaft, the reducing gear mechanism being connected to the non-stage transmission, the rotary shaft and output shaft being parallel to the two parallel portions of the vehicle frame, and the electric motor, the transmission means and the reducing gear mechanism being located beneath the vehicle frame.