U.S. patent application number 15/744872 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-24 for two-wheeled vehicle frame, in particular for a pedelec.
The applicant listed for this patent is Rehau AG + Co, Storck Bicycle GmbH, Technische Universitat Dresden. Invention is credited to Jens BUDER, Christian GARTHAUS, Werner HUFENBACH, Andreas JEDRZEJOWSKI, Michael KRAHL, Georg LUTTERMANN, Martin POHL, Michael STEGELMANN.
Application Number | 20190023343 15/744872 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56571288 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190023343 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
JEDRZEJOWSKI; Andreas ; et
al. |
January 24, 2019 |
TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE FRAME, IN PARTICULAR FOR A PEDELEC
Abstract
The invention relates to a two-wheeled vehicle frame with two
frame half-shells (1, 1') which are joined so as to form a support
frame (3), thereby forming at least one inner cavity (2). The
support frame (3) has at least one separating surface (4) on which
the two frame half-shells (1, 1') rest against each other. The
support frame (3) preferably has receiving areas (5, 6, 7) for a
handlebar tube and/or a bottom bracket and/or an operator seat
tube. The support frame (3) forms a rear structure (8) for
assembling a rear wheel (9) at the rear end when seen in the travel
direction (z). In order to form the rear structure (8), a left-hand
support brace (10) when seen in the travel direction (z) and a
right-hand support brace (11) when seen in the travel direction (z)
are provided such that the rear wheel (8) can be mounted between
the two support braces (10, 11). According to the invention, the
separating surface (4) runs between the two frame half-shells (1,
1') as well as through the left-hand support brace (10) and through
the right-hand support brace (11).
Inventors: |
JEDRZEJOWSKI; Andreas; (Hof,
DE) ; GARTHAUS; Christian; (Dresden, DE) ;
POHL; Martin; (Dresden, DE) ; STEGELMANN;
Michael; (Dresden, DE) ; KRAHL; Michael;
(Dresden, DE) ; HUFENBACH; Werner; (Dresden,
DE) ; LUTTERMANN; Georg; (Munster, DE) ;
BUDER; Jens; (Chemnitz, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rehau AG + Co
Technische Universitat Dresden
Storck Bicycle GmbH |
Rehau
Dresden
Idstein |
|
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180208262 A1 |
July 26, 2018 |
|
|
Family ID: |
56571288 |
Appl. No.: |
15/744872 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
July 13, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/001213 PCKC 00 |
371 Date: |
January 15, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62K 19/16 20130101;
B62K 19/18 20130101; B62K 3/02 20130101; B62K 19/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62K 3/02 20060101
B62K003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 14, 2015 |
DE |
20 2015 103 688.4 |
Claims
1. A two-wheeled vehicle frame suitable for a pedelec, with two
frame half-shells, which are joined so as to form a support frame,
thereby forming at least one inner cavity, the support frame has at
least one inner parting plane at which the two frame half-shells
rest against each other, the support frame preferably has
receptacles for a handlebar tube and/or a bottom bracket and/or a
rider's seat tube, at its rear end viewed in the travel direction,
the support frame forms a rear structure for mounting a rear wheel,
and in order to form the rear structure, a left support strut
viewed in the travel direction and a right support strut viewed in
the travel direction are provided such that the rear wheel can be
mounted between these two support struts, wherein the parting plane
between the two frame half-shells extends through both the left
support strut and the right support strut and wherein the rear
structure is embodied asymmetrically in that the left support strut
and the right support strut are oriented offset from each other by
an angle (.alpha.) viewed in the plane of the support frame and
wherein one support strut, preferably the right support strut,
extends diagonally upward from the rear wheel axle while the other
support strut has an at least essentially horizontal
orientation.
2. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 1, wherein the
two frame half-shells split in fork fashion in a view from above in
order to form the rear structure.
3. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 2, wherein the
receptacle for the rider's seat constitutes the branching
region
4. (canceled)
5. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 4, wherein the
offset angle (.alpha.) is at least 5.degree..
6. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 4, wherein the
offset angle (.alpha.) is at most 70.degree..
7. (canceled)
8. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 7, wherein the
front end of the other support strut is adjoined by an upwardly
bending intermediate section.
9. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 8, wherein the
receptacle for the bottom bracket is positioned in the connecting
region between the intermediate section and the other support
strut.
10. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 9, wherein the
intermediate section and a continuation section of the one support
strut merge in the front region of the support frame.
11. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 1 wherein the
left support strut and right support strut are each embodied as a
closed hollow profile that is composed of the two frame
half-shells.
12. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 11, wherein
the height (h) of the hollow profile is at least twice as great, as
the width (b).
13. The two-wheeled vehicle frame according to claim 1 wherein the
frame half are made of plastic.
14. The two-wheeled vehicle frame of claim 4 wherein the offset
angle (.alpha.) is at least 10.degree..
15. The two-wheeled vehicle frame of claim 4 wherein the offset
angle (.alpha.) is at most 60.degree..
16. The two-wheeled vehicle frame of claim 11 wherein the height
(h) of the hollow profile is at least three times as great as the
width.
17. The two-wheeled vehicle frame of claim 2 wherein the rear
structure is embodied asymmetrically in that the left support strut
and the right support strut are oriented offset from each of their
by angle (.alpha.) viewed in the plane of the support frame.
18. The two-wheeled vehicle frame of claim 3 wherein the rear
structure is embodied asymmetrically in that the left support strut
and the right support strut are oriented offset from each of their
by angle (.alpha.) viewed in the plane of the support frame.
19. The two-wheeled vehicle frame of claim 5, wherein the offset
angle (.alpha.) is at most 70.degree..
20. The two-wheeled vehicle frame of claim 5, wherein the offset
angle (.alpha.) is at most 60.degree..
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the National Stage of International
Application No. PCT/EP2016/001213, filed Jul. 13, 2016, which
claims benefit under 35 USC .sctn. 119(a), to German patent
application Ser. No. 20 2015 103 688.4, filed Jul. 14, 2015.
[0002] The invention relates to a two-wheeled vehicle frame, in
particular for a pedelec, [0003] with two frame half-shells, which
are joined so as to form a support frame, thereby forming at least
one inner cavity, [0004] the support frame has at least one inner
parting plane at which the two frame half-shells rest against each
other, [0005] the support frame preferably has receptacles for a
handlebar tube and/or a bottom bracket and/or a bicycle seat tube,
[0006] at its rear end viewed in the travel direction, the support
frame forms a rear structure for mounting a rear wheel, and [0007]
in order to form the rear structure, a left support strut viewed in
the travel direction and a right support strut viewed in the travel
direction are provided such that the rear wheel can be mounted
between these two support struts.
[0008] Pedelecs differ from a normal bicycle in that they are
equipped with additional components. These include an electric
motor, at least one battery element for driving the motor, and
usually also control electronics for the motor. Preferably, the
electric motor can be switched on in order to assist the pedaling
force exerted by the rider. The control electronics measures the
force exerted or the speed and switches the motor off and on when
certain values are achieved. In practice, pedelec frames are
frequently made of aluminum. The frame tubes must be produced with
a comparatively large diameter in order to be able to accommodate
the above-mentioned additional elements. Sometimes, the additional
elements are also fastened to the outside of the frames, but this
is not very attractive from an esthetic standpoint.
[0009] The additional elements also make pedelec frames
significantly heavier than normal bicycle frames. There are
approaches in which pedelec frames are produced out of two
half-shells in which the power-supply elements are stowed. These
are disclosed, among other things, in the documents DE 10 2011 053
100 A1 and DE 20 2013 002 987 U1. The latter document has disclosed
a pedelec frame that is produced from two half-shells.
[0010] When producing a two-wheeled vehicle frame, particularly for
a pedelec, having two frame half-shells made of plastic, in the
region of the rear structure, which is used for accommodating a
rear wheel, there is a fundamental problem that it is not easy to
achieve a closed profile construction. The two half-shells are
generally produced by injection molding so that there are boundary
conditions with regard to their demolding capacity. In practice,
this results in the fact that support struts that are made of the
half-shells each have an open, for example C-shaped, profile that
has significantly reduced strength properties. In order to
counteract this problem, additional half-shell elements can be
used, which close the open profiles in the vicinity of the support
struts of the rear structure. But this involves an increased
production expense.
[0011] In light of these facts, the object of the present invention
is to disclose a two-wheeled vehicle frame, particularly for a
pedelec, which has a high mechanical strength in the region of the
rear structure and at the same time, is inexpensive to produce.
[0012] Based on a two-wheeled vehicle frame with the features
described at the beginning, this object is attained according to
the invention in that the parting plane between the two frame
half-shells extends through both the left support strut and the
right support strut. According to the invention, therefore, a
departure is taken from the conventional principle of using a
single half-shell for fully producing a support strut and closing
corresponding structures in the region of the support struts by
means of an additional, separate cover element. Instead of this,
the two-wheeled vehicle frame is structurally embodied so that the
two half-shell concept is also implemented in the two support
struts; the support struts are thus integrated into the two
half-shell concept. According to the invention, this makes it
possible to construct a closed hollow profile in the region of
these support struts in that here as well, the hollow
profile--analogous to the rest of the frame--is composed of the two
frame half-shells.
[0013] In order to make this structurally possible, it has turned
out to be advantageous for the two frame half-shells for forming
the rear structure to split in a forked fashion when viewed from
above. In this case, the receptacle for the rider's seat
constitutes the branching region. The parting plane between the two
frame half-shells preferably extends through the receptacle for the
bicycle seat tube, which from a production standpoint, achieves
advantages in the injection molding process for producing the two
frame half-shells. This advantageously also applies accordingly to
the receptacle for the handlebars in the front region of the
support frame.
[0014] In the context of the invention, it is particularly
advantageous to embody the rear structure asymmetrically. This can,
for example, be the case because the left and right support struts
are oriented offset from each other by an angle .alpha. viewed in
the plane of the support frame. This concept makes it possible,
starting from the front region of the support frame, for sections
of the two frame half-shells that serve to form the support struts
to extend past each other and particularly when assembled to form
the support frame, to cross over each other when viewed from above
so that the left frame half-shell viewed in the travel direction
also contributes to forming the right support strut and vice versa.
The offset angle .alpha. is advantageously at least 5.degree.,
preferably at least 10.degree.. On the other hand, it is
advantageous if the offset angle .alpha. is at most 70.degree.,
preferably is at most 60.degree..
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the right
support strut preferably extends diagonally upward from the rear
wheel axle while the other support strut has an at least
essentially horizontal orientation. This permits the
above-described asymmetry, which permits the teaching according to
the invention to be implemented in an esthetically elegant fashion.
There are also mechanical advantages. Preferably, the front end of
the other support strut is adjoined by an upwardly bending
intermediate section. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the receptacle for the bottom bracket is positioned in the
connecting region between the intermediate section and the other
support strut. The intermediate section and a continuation section
of the one support strut then advantageously merge in the front
region of the support frame.
[0016] The left and right support struts are advantageously each
embodied as a closed hollow profile that is composed of the two
frame half-shells. In the context of the invention, this
particularly means that the height of the hollow profile is at
least twice as great, for example at least three times as great, as
the width. Preferably, the two frame half-shells are made of
plastic. Basically, however, other materials such as aluminum can
be used.
[0017] On the whole, the teaching according to the invention
achieves the fact that the well-proven two half-shell concept can
also be implemented in the rear structure for accommodating the
rear wheel, without additional cover elements or the like being
required for this in addition to the two frame half-shells in the
region of the support struts.
[0018] The invention will be explained in greater detail below
based on the drawings, which show only one exemplary embodiment. In
the drawings:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle frame
according to the invention for a pedelec, having two
half-shells;
[0020] FIGS. 1a & 1b show the section A-A and B-B,
respectively, in FIG. 1,
[0021] FIG. 2 shows the view X from FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 shows the top view Y from FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional depiction of the
two-wheeled vehicle frame shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a depiction that corresponds to the one in FIG. 4,
before the assembly of the two half-shells; and
[0025] FIGS. 6a to 6c each show a very simplified depiction of the
half-shell design concept according to the invention in the top
view Y, which is implemented in exemplary embodiments according to
FIGS. 1 through 5.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a two-wheeled vehicle frame for a pedelec. The
two-wheeled vehicle frame has two frame half-shells 1, 1' made of
plastic (in particular, see FIGS. 2 through 5), which are produced
by means of an injection-molding process. The frame half-shells 1,
1' are assembled into a support frame 3, thereby forming a
plurality of inner cavities 2 (e.g. see FIGS. 1a & 1b). The
support frame 3 consequently has an inner parting plane 4 (see
FIGS. 2 & 3 among others) at which the two frame half-shells 1,
1' rest against each other. As is clear from a comparative
consideration of FIGS. 1 through 5, the support frame 3 has a
handlebar tube receptacle 5 a bottom bracket receptacle 6, and a
bicycle seat tube receptacle 7. At its rear end viewed in the
travel direction z, the support frame 3 forms a rear structure 8
for mounting a rear wheel 9 (indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6c). To form
the rear structure 8, a left support strut 10 viewed in the travel
direction z and a right support strut 11 viewed in the travel
direction z are provided such that the rear wheel 9 can be mounted
between these two support struts 10 and 11. This situation can be
inferred in particular from FIG. 3. In order to mount the axle 9'
of the rear wheel 9, the two support struts 10 and 11 each have a
receiving opening 30 at their respective rear ends. According to
the invention, the parting plane 4 extends between these two frame
half-shells 1, 1' and also extends through the left support strut
10 and the right support strut (in particular, see FIGS. 3 and
4).
[0027] From a design standpoint, this is enabled by the fact that
the two frame half-shells 1, 1' each split in fork fashion in a
view Y from above in order to form the rear structure 8. In this
case, the receptacle 7 for the rider's seat tube (not shown)
constitutes the branching region 50. When assembled to produce the
support frame 3, this results in the fact that the two frame
half-shells 1, 1' cross over each other in the view Y from above.
This makes it possible for the left frame half-shell 1 viewed in
the travel direction z to also contribute to forming the right
support strut 11 viewed in the travel direction z and for the right
frame half-shell 1' to also correspondingly form a half-shell for
forming the left support strut 10 viewed in the travel direction z
(see FIGS. 1a and 1b).
[0028] As can be inferred in particular from a combined
consideration of FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the rear structure 8 is
asymmetrically designed in that the left support strut 10 and the
right support strut 11, viewed in the plane of the support frame,
are oriented offset from each other by an angle .alpha.. In the
exemplary embodiment, this offset angle .alpha. is approx.
30.degree. (see FIG. 1). It is clear that the right support strut
11 viewed in the travel direction z extends diagonally upward
starting from its opening 30, i.e. the rear wheel axle 9', whereas
the left support strut 10 has an essentially horizontal
orientation. The front end of the left support strut 10 is adjoined
by an upwardly bending intermediate section 12. The receptacle 6
for the bottom bracket (not shown) is positioned in the connecting
region between the left support strut 10 and the intermediate
section 12. The intermediate section 12 and a continuation section
13 of the right support strut 11 merge in the front region of the
support frame 3.
[0029] Both the left support strut 10 and the right support strut
11 are each embodied as a closed hollow profile that is composed of
one of the two frame half-shells 1, 1'. This can be inferred in
particular from the sectional depictions in FIGS. 1a, 1b. The two
frame half-shells 1, 1' can be connected by means of conventional
joining processes such as gluing, clipping, welding, or any
combination of these above-mentioned measures. In the sectional
depiction B-B according to FIG. 1b, the height h of the hollow
profile is more than twice as great as the width b. In the
sectional depiction A-A according to FIG. 1a, the ratio h/b is
greater than 3. The sectional depictions in FIGS. 1a and 1b and
particularly FIG. 5 show that the two frame half-shells 1, 1' have
inner reinforcing ribs 20 to increase their mechanical
strength.
[0030] The basic design principle of the teaching according to the
invention is schematically depicted once again in FIGS. 6a through
6c. FIG. 6a shows the left frame half-shell 1 viewed in the travel
direction z and its two sections 1a and 1b that contribute to
forming the support struts 10 and 11 are each indicated with dashed
lines. FIG. 6b then shows the right frame half-shell 1' with the
corresponding sections 1a'and 1b'. FIG. 6c shows the two frame
half-shells 1, 1' after they are assembled to form the support
frame 3. It is clear that in the branching region 50 (depicted by
the dashed circle), the sections 1b and 1a'of the two frame
half-shells 1, 1' cross over each other so that the sections 1b and
1a'that serve to form the two support struts 10, 11 can extend past
each other. FIG. 6c also shows that by means of section 1a, the
left frame half-shell 1 contributes to forming the left support
strut 10 and by means of section 1b, it contributes to forming the
right support strut 11. This applies analogously for the right
frame half-shell 1' whose section 1b'contributes to forming the
right support strut 11 and whose section 1a'contributes to forming
the left support strut 10. In this way, it is possible to achieve a
closed hollow profile in both the left support strut 10 and the
right support strut 11 (FIGS. 1a and 1b) without additional cover
elements or the like being required for this. FIG. 6c also shows
the rear wheel 8, which can be mounted after assembly of the two
frame half-shells 1, 1'.
* * * * *