Electric bicycle

• US 8,857,550 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HL Mando Corporation (Halla Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mando Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Jeong Rae, Ko, Chang Bok
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/683,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 180/220, 180/206.1, 180/206.2, 180/206.5, 180/206.6
• US Class Current: 180/206.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/005 characterised by the axle being supported at one end only
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/10 of single-beam type, i.e. connecting steering head to rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor

Abstract

An electric bicycle having an enhanced fixing structure of an electronic control unit, the electrical bicycle having an electronic control unit built in an a center frame along with a generator in a state of the electronic control unit is directly fixed at an upper portion of the generator, the electronic control unit is effectively be protected, as the fixing structure of the electronic control unit is simplified.

Claims

1. An electric bicycle, comprising:

a motor configured to rotate a front wheel or a rear wheel;

a battery to supply power to the motor;

a generator installed at a frame in between the front wheel and the rear wheel and having a pedal connected at both sides thereof, the generator configured to convert a rotational force of the pedals into electric energy, and to supply the electric energy to the battery; and

an electronic control unit (ECU) arranged at the frame directly fixed to an upper portion of the generator.

2. The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein

the frame further comprises a front frame provided with the front wheel;

a rear frame provided with the rear wheel; and

a center frame, wherein one end of the center frame is connected to in between the front frame and the rear frame and the other end of the center frame is provided at an inside thereof with the generator installed, and

wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is arranged between both ends of the center frame.

3. The electric bicycle of claim 2, wherein

at the upper portion of the generator, a mounting unit to fix the electronic control unit (ECU) is provided, the mounting unit protruding upwardly from the upper portion of the generator, and

an inner wall of the center frame that corresponds to a position of the mounting unit adheres to an outer surface of the mounting unit to prevent the mounting unit from moving.

4. The electric bicycle of claim 2, wherein

at the upper portion of the generator, a mounting unit to fix the electronic control unit (ECU) is provided, the mounting unit protruding upwardly from the upper portion of the generator,

the electronic control unit (ECU) comprises a circuit board and a housing having the circuit board built in,

the circuit board is mounted at an inner surface of a side panel of one side of the housing,

the housing is fixed to the mounting unit through a bottom panel, and

the side panel and the bottom panel are provided with a same heat-discharging material.

5. The electric bicycle of claim 2, wherein

a rear end of the front frame and a front end of the rear frame each is rotatively coupled to both sides of an upper end of the center frame such that the front frame and the rear frame are folded toward the lateral sides of the center frame.

6. The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the motor and generator are separate.

7. An electric bicycle, comprising:

a motor to rotate a front wheel or a rear wheel;

a battery to supply power to the motor;

a generator comprising a generator unit connected to pedals, and configured to supply electric energy to the battery by converting a rotational force into the electric energy, and a cover to surround the generator unit, the generator provided in between the front wheel and the rear wheel; and

a mounting unit integrally formed with an upper portion of the cover so that the electronic control unit (ECU) is directly fixed to an upper portion of the generator.