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JP-2026076044-A - Electric wheelchairs and electric wheelchair wheels

JP2026076044AJP 2026076044 AJP2026076044 AJP 2026076044AJP-2026076044-A

Abstract

[Problem] To simplify the process of attaching the wheels to the frame. [Solution] The operating rod 32 is axially relative to the axle 31 between a wheel lock position that positions the wheel lock member 33 in an engaged position and a wheel unlock position that allows the wheel lock member 33 to move to an unlocked position. The operating rod 32 is pushed from the wheel unlock position toward the wheel lock position by the elastic force of the first elastic member 38, and is movable from the wheel lock position toward the wheel unlock position by being pushed by the user. The stopper member 34 engages with the operating rod 32 when the operating rod 32 is in the wheel unlock position and maintains the operating rod 32 in the wheel unlock position against the elastic force of the first elastic member 38. [Selection Diagram] Figure 5

Inventors

  • 岩城 泰宏

Assignees

  • ヤマハ発動機株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20241023

Claims (13)

  1. Wheels that can be attached to and removed from the frame of an electric wheelchair, A cylindrical axle for fitting inside a cylindrical support portion provided on the vehicle body, An operating rod inserted inside the cylindrical axle, First elastic member and A wheel locking member is provided that is movable in the radial direction of the cylindrical axle between an engagement position in which it engages with the cylindrical support portion and a release position in which it does not engage with the cylindrical support portion. It has a stopper member, The operating rod is axially movable relative to the cylindrical axle between a wheel lock position that positions the wheel lock member in the engagement position and a wheel unlock position that allows the wheel lock member to move to the unlock position. The operating rod is pushed from the wheel lock release position toward the wheel lock position by the elastic force of the first elastic member, and is movable from the wheel lock position toward the wheel lock release position by being pushed by the user. The stopper member engages with the operating rod when the operating rod is in the wheel unlock position, and maintains the operating rod in the wheel unlock position against the elastic force of the first elastic member, for the wheel of an electric wheelchair.
  2. The stopper member is positioned in a housing hole formed in the cylindrical axle and is capable of moving within the housing hole in the radial direction of the cylindrical axle. A stopper portion is formed on the aforementioned operating rod. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member engages with the stopped portion when the operating rod is in the wheel unlock position to maintain the operating rod in the wheel unlock position.
  3. The stopper member has a through hole that penetrates the stopper member in the axial direction. The operating rod extends axially through the through hole, The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the stopper member has an engaging portion on the inside of the through hole that engages with the portion to be stopped.
  4. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein when the operating rod is in the wheel lock release position and the cylindrical axle is inside the cylindrical support portion, the stopper member does not engage with the portion to be stopped.
  5. The wheel lock release position includes a first position and a second position which is closer to the wheel lock position than the first position. The operating rod is pushed by the first elastic member from the first position toward the second position, When the operating rod is in the first position, the operating rod allows the wheel lock member to move to the release position, the stopper member engages with the stopped portion, and maintains the operating rod in the first position. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein when the operating rod is in the second position, the operating rod allows the wheel locking member to move to the release position, and the stopper member is not engaged with the stopped portion.
  6. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 5, wherein when the stopper member is located inside the cylindrical support portion together with the cylindrical axle, the operating rod is not maintained in the first position but moves to the second position due to the elastic force of the first elastic member.
  7. The stopper member is movable in the radial direction of the cylindrical axle between a stopper position in which the stopper member engages with the portion to be stopped and maintains the operating rod in the first position, and a stopper release position in which the engagement between the stopper member and the portion to be stopped is released. The stopper member is biased from the stopper release position to the stopper position by the elastic force of the second elastic member. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 5, wherein when the stopper member is located inside the cylindrical support portion together with the cylindrical axle, movement from the stopper release position to the stopper position is restricted.
  8. The stopper member has an interference portion that protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical axle when the stopper member is in the stopper position. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 7, wherein when the stopper member is located inside the cylindrical support together with the cylindrical axle, the interfering portion interferes with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical support, thereby restricting the movement of the stopper member from the stopper release position to the stopper position.
  9. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein, while the operating rod is in the wheel lock release position, the maintenance of the operating rod in the wheel lock release position is automatically released during the process in which the cylindrical axle is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical support portion.
  10. The stopper member is movable in the radial direction of the cylindrical axle between a stopper position in which the stopper member engages with the portion to be stopped and maintains the operating rod in the hole-lock release position, and a stopper release position in which the engagement between the stopper member and the portion to be stopped is released. The stopper member has an interference portion that protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical axle when the stopper member is in the stopper position. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 2, wherein the interfering portion is pressed by the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical support portion to move the stopper member from the stopper position to the stopper release position.
  11. When the operating rod is in the wheel lock position, it pushes the wheel lock member outwards in the radial direction of the cylindrical axle so that the wheel lock member and the cylindrical support portion engage. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 1, wherein the operating rod, when in the wheel lock release position, allows the wheel lock member to sink toward the radial center of the cylindrical axle.
  12. The operating rod has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion that are separated in the axial direction. The large-diameter portion pushes the wheel lock member outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical axle and restricts the radial movement of the wheel lock member when the operating rod is in the wheel lock position. The wheel of an electric wheelchair according to claim 11, wherein the small-diameter portion allows the wheel locking member to sink toward the radial center of the cylindrical axle when the operating rod is in the wheel lock release position.
  13. An electric wheelchair having the wheels described in claim 1.

Description

This disclosure relates to electric wheelchairs and wheels for electric wheelchairs. The electric wheelchair disclosed in Patent Document 1 below has electric motors in both the left and right wheels. The wheels can be removed from the frame of the electric wheelchair. The user can load the electric wheelchair into a car or store it at home with the wheels removed. In the electric wheelchair described in Patent Document 1, the wheel has a rod 48 inserted inside a cylindrical axle. A locking member 49 is attached to the tip of the rod 48. A ball 52 is positioned on the outer circumferential surface of this locking member 49, and the locking member 49 pushes the ball 52 outwards from the outer circumferential surface of the axle 11. This ball 52 engages with a sleeve 54 provided on the frame, locking the wheel to the frame. That is, separation of the wheel from the frame is restricted. When the user pushes the rod 48 against the elastic force of the spring 51, the position of the locking member 49 shifts from the position of the ball 52. As a result, the ball 52 is allowed to sink, and the engagement between the ball 52 and the sleeve 54 is released. This allows the user to remove the wheel from the frame. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-173387 This is a side view of an electric wheelchair.This is a cross-sectional view of the wheel shown by the line II-II in Figure 1.This is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the wheel.Figure 3A is an enlarged view of the operating rod.This is a perspective view of the stopper component.This is a side view of the stopper component.This is a cross-sectional view illustrating the movement of the operating rod, wheel locking member, and stopper member. In Figure (a), the operating rod is positioned in the wheel lock position. In Figure (b), the operating rod is positioned in the wheel unlock position.This is a cross-sectional view illustrating the movement of the operating rod, wheel lock member, and stopper member. In Figure (a), the operating rod is positioned in a first position, which is part of the wheel lock release position. In Figure (b), the operating rod is positioned in a second position, which is another part of the wheel lock release position.This diagram illustrates the operations performed by an operator when removing an axle from a cylindrical support fixed to a frame, as well as the movement of each component.This is an enlarged view of Figure 7.This diagram illustrates the operations performed by an operator when attaching an axle to a cylindrical support fixed to a frame, as well as the movement of each component. The following describes the electric wheelchair and its wheels proposed in this disclosure. Figure 1 is a side view of electric wheelchair 100, an example of the electric wheelchair proposed in this disclosure. In the following explanation, the Z1 and Z2 directions shown in Figure 1 will be referred to as upward and downward, respectively. The Y1 and Y2 directions shown in Figure 1 will be referred to as forward and backward, respectively. The X1 and X2 directions shown in Figure 2 will be referred to as right and left, respectively. The X1-X2 direction shown in Figure 2 is also the direction along the axis Ax of the axle 31 of the wheel 10. The direction along the axis Ax will be referred to as the "axial direction." As shown in Figure 1, the electric wheelchair 100 has wheels 10 positioned on the right and left sides of the vehicle body. Tires 11 are attached to the outer circumference of the wheels 10. The wheels 10 also have handrims 12 positioned along the tires 11 and a cover 13 that covers the electric motor 20 (described later). The electric wheelchair 100 also has a battery 71 that stores power supplied to the electric motor 20 and a battery holder 72 that holds the battery 71. As shown in Figure 1, the electric wheelchair 100 has casters 66 positioned in front of the wheels 10, foot supports 61 for the user's feet, a seat 62 for the user to sit on, a back support 63 for supporting the user's back, and arm supports 64 for the user's arms. An operating unit 65 is positioned in front of the arm supports 64 to receive user input. The user can input instructions regarding the wheelchair 100's direction of travel and speed through the operating unit 65. The operating unit 65 may include, for example, a joystick 65a. The operating unit 65 may also include a power switch and a switch for adjusting the maximum speed. As shown in Figure 1, the electric wheelchair 100 has a frame 50. The frame 50 has rear frame sections 51 that are positioned on the right and left sides of the vehicle body and extend vertically. The rear frame sections 51 support the right and left sides of the back support 63. The frame 50 may also have a seat frame section 52 that supports the right and left sides of the seat 62, and a lower frame section 53 positioned below the seat frame section 52 that supports casters 66, etc. The wheels 1