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EP-4737287-A1 - CARGO BIKE

EP4737287A1EP 4737287 A1EP4737287 A1EP 4737287A1EP-4737287-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cargo bike (1), with a longitudinal orientation (X), comprising: - a steerable front wheel (4) located at a front section (2) of the cargo bike (1), a first rear wheel (8) and a second rear wheel (9) located at a rear section (3) of the cargo bike (1), a chassis (10) being configured to support loads (11) placed at the rear section (3), - a first drive motor mechanically coupled to the first rear wheel (8) and built into the first rear wheel (8), and a second drive motor mechanically coupled to the second rear wheel (9) and built into the second rear wheel (9), - at least one pedal (7), and an electric generator connected mechanically with said at least one pedal (7) and configured to generate power when said at least one pedal (7) is actuated, - at least one electric assistance battery (12) for powering the first drive motor and the second drive motor, - an electronic power unit for controlling the powering of the first drive motor and the second drive motor by the electric generator and by the at least one electric assistance battery, and - a rear suspension system (13) comprising for each rear wheel (8, 9) a damping element and a cylinder for adjusting the height of a lateral part of the chassis (10), each cylinder being controlled by a control system to adjust the position of the chassis (10).

Inventors

  • COURTENS, Fabrice

Assignees

  • Volvo Truck Corporation

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241029

Claims (15)

  1. A cargo bike (1), with a longitudinal orientation (X), comprising: - a steerable front wheel (4) located at a front section (2) of the cargo bike (1), a first rear wheel (8) and a second rear wheel (9) located at a rear section (3) of the cargo bike (1), a chassis (10) being configured to support loads (11) placed at the rear section (3), - a first drive motor (17) mechanically coupled to the first rear wheel (8) and built into the first rear wheel (8), and a second drive motor (17) mechanically coupled to the second rear wheel (9) and built into the second rear wheel (9), - at least one pedal (7), and an electric generator connected mechanically with said at least one pedal (7) and configured to generate power when said at least one pedal (7) is actuated, - at least one electric assistance battery (12) for powering the first drive motor (17) and the second drive motor (17), - an electronic power unit for controlling the powering of the first drive motor (17) and the second drive motor (17) by the electric generator and by the at least one electric assistance battery (12), and - a rear suspension system (13) comprising for each rear wheel (8, 9) a damping element (26) and a cylinder (29) for adjusting the height of a lateral part (10a, 10b) of the chassis (10), each cylinder (29) being controlled by a control system to adjust the position of the chassis (10) as a function of a predetermined position.
  2. The cargo bike (1) of claim 1, wherein each cylinder (29) is controlled by a control system to maintain the position of the chassis (10) in a predetermined equilibrium position.
  3. The cargo bike (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein for each rear wheel (8, 9) a suspension arm (25) links the wheel (8, 9) to the chassis (10).
  4. The cargo bike (1) of claim 3, wherein the damping element (26) is mounted on the suspension arm (25) and on the chassis (10).
  5. The cargo bike (1) of claim 3 or 4, wherein each rear wheel (8, 9) is integral with a wheel support (27) which is rotatably mounted around a chassis support (28) to which the suspension arm (25) is fixed.
  6. The cargo bike (1) of claim 5, wherein the suspension arm (25) is rotatably mounted around the chassis (10) and is fixedly mounted on the chassis support (28).
  7. The cargo bike (1) of claim 5 or 6, wherein the cylinder (29) is mounted to rotate both around the chassis support (28) and the chassis (10).
  8. The cargo bike (1) of claim 7, wherein the cylinder (29) comprises a cylinder tube (29a) in which moves a piston (29b) connected to the chassis support (28).
  9. The cargo bike (1) of claim 8, wherein the piston (29b) is rotatably mounted around the chassis support (28).
  10. The cargo bike (1) of claim 8 or 9, wherein the cylinder tube (29) is rotatably mounted around the chassis (10).
  11. The cargo bike (1) of any claims 1-10, wherein the electronic power unit is able to pre-charge a capacitor (18) of each drive motor (17) by said at least one electric assistance battery (12) for a predetermined period.
  12. The cargo bike (1) of claim 11, wherein the electronic power unit includes a pre-charging system (20, 21) comprising a series circuit consisting of a switch (20) and a resistor (21).
  13. The cargo bike (1) of claim 12, wherein the electronic power unit includes a charging system comprising a main switch (19).
  14. The cargo bike (1) of claim 13, wherein the main switch (19) of the charging system is connected in parallel with the pre-charging system (20, 21).
  15. The cargo bike (1) of claim 14, wherein the electronic power unit includes a control device able, during an initial period, to close the switch (20) of the pre-charging system (20, 21) while opening the main switch (19), and, after the initial period, to close the main switch (19) while opening the switch (20) of the pre-charging system (20, 21).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates generally to the distribution of containers by a vehicle and, more particularly, by a cargo bike. In particular aspects, the disclosure relates to a three-wheeled electric cargo bike. Although the disclosure may be described with respect to a cargo bike, the disclosure is not restricted to any particular vehicle. BACKGROUND The invention applies to distribution of articles ordered by users, in particular urban users living in a city. The articles are usually collected in a warehouse outside the city before being delivered by distribution vehicles from different companies to the user individually or via a retail outlet, such as a supermarket or shop. For this purpose, delivery systems implementing containers such as a pick-up box with a plurality of compartments each configured to accommodate at least one of the articles are known. In particular, the container is prepared according to the orders of the users and temporary placed on a ground surface where the users may pick-up their article. Last-mile delivery has developed rapidly in recent years. One of the main problems is congestion due to the number of light and heavy vehicles delivering goods, but the worst is the time spent unloading, usually in poor parking conditions, having to open the rear doors of a truck, deploy a tail lift and use a pallet truck. Given the various constraints of urban delivery and the difficulties of recharging electric vehicles, the cargo bike seems to offer a sustainable solution for absorbing the growth in last-mile deliveries due in particular to the explosion in e-commerce. Cargo bikes are developing rapidly, especially electrically-assisted cargo bikes, first in cycle logistics start-ups specializing in urban deliveries, but also increasingly with traditional hauliers and vehicle rental companies. Electrically-assisted cargo bike has a number of advantages. It emits no CO2 or particulates, so it is not subject to access restrictions in city centers. Thanks to a range of equipment, including trunks and towbars, it can transport up to 300 kg of load, including temperature-controlled goods. It is manoeuvrable enough to access any road, delivering to the nearest recipient even in streets or alleyways that are off-limits or inaccessible to trucks. The integrated, low-power electric motor helps the delivery to bear the weight of the device, but does not require long charging times for the batteries, which can even be recharged when pedaling or braking. An important objective is to have a cargo bike that is light, easy to handle and less expensive. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a cargo bike, with a longitudinal orientation, comprises: a steerable front wheel located at a front section of the cargo bike, a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel located at a rear section of the cargo bike, a chassis being configured to support loads placed at the rear section,a first drive motor mechanically coupled to the first rear wheel and built into the first rear wheel, and a second drive motor mechanically coupled to the second rear wheel and built into the second rear wheel,at least one pedal, and an electric generator connected mechanically with said at least one pedal and configured to generate power when said at least one pedal is actuated,at least one electric assistance battery for powering the first drive motor and the second drive motor,an electronic power unit for controlling the powering of the first drive motor and the second drive motor by the electric generator and by the at least one electric assistance battery, the electronic being for instance electrically connected to the electric generator, the at least one electric assistance battery, the first drive motor and the second drive motor, anda rear suspension system comprising for each rear wheel a damping element and a cylinder for adjusting the height of a lateral part of the chassis, each cylinder being controlled by a control system to adjust the position of the chassis, in particular as a function of a predetermined position. The first aspect of the disclosure may seek to provide a cargo bike which allows to eliminate the need for a mechanical link between the pedals and the rear wheels. Due to the management of the drive motors power supply by the electronic power unit, a chain or a belt is not required for coupling the pedals to the rear wheels, and the problem of the weight and of the twisting of such a chain or belt when the front part rotates is avoided. Moreover, the specific rear suspension system makes it possible to stabilize the cargo bike by adjusting the height and position of the chassis. In some examples, each cylinder is controlled by a control system to maintain the position of the chassis in a predetermined equilibrium position, for instance to maintain a horizontal chassis position in all circumstances, so that the cargo bike remains permanently parallel to the road. In some examples, for e