GENERATOR OF TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE AND LIGHTING SYSTEM THEREBY
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an independent generator installed at the hub axis of a two-wheeled vehicle, and a lighting apparatus which uses electricity generated by the generator for lighting a variety of electric lamps, including a flasher or a turn signal lamp, a front light, and a decoration lamp which is installed at spokes of a wheel and is turned on in line with the rotation of the wheel.
Background of Art
In general, a two-wheeled vehicle is widely used in transporting persons and goods. The two-wheeled vehicle has a lighting system on the front part to provide a good forward view for the rider at night.
In the prior art of lighting system, a frictional generator which is installed at a fork of a bicycle, and rotates to generate electricity by the friction with the tire of the wheel which is rotating has been used. When a person rides a bicycle, an induced current is generated from the frictional generator such that the front light of the bicycle is turned on.
However, since the prior art's independent generator installed at the bicycle employs the frictional generation method, more power for pushing the pedals is needed due to the frictional power between the wheel and the generator when the generator is operated. Accordingly, more power for pushing the pedals is needed at night on the same road than daytime. If the road is not paved or the bicycle is old one, the side surface of the tire cannot have a regular track, and the rotation power of the generator becomes irregular. Therefore, desired currents cannot be generated, and the front light cannot light the front road with the same
brightness at the same speed of riding.
Disclosure of the Invention
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an independent generator in which a generator is directly installed at the hub and fixing axis of a wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle so that a quality current can be generated.
To solve the above problems, it is another objective of the present invention to provide a lighting apparatus in which, using the independent generator, a lighting unit is installed at a predetermined part of a wheel and body of a two-wheeled vehicle such that a traffic accident at night is prevented.
To solve the above problems, it is still another objective of the present invention to provide a lighting apparatus in which a lighting unit is installed on spokes of the wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle and is turned on and off at a predetermined interval such that riders who are sensitive to the appearance of the vehicle such as teenagers can be satisfied.
In order to accomplish the above objectives of the present invention, there is provided an independent generator which is formed with a rotor and a stator which are installed and operated at the rotation axis of a wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle. The stator having a ring-shaped magnet in which a plurality of N and S poles are alternately formed is fixed to the fixing axis at the center of the wheel of the two-wheeled vehicle. The rotor having a bobbin and a couple of yokes is installed at the hub of the wheel of the two-wheeled vehicle, the hub rotating about fixing axis. The bobbin rotates around the stator, and has a coil wound thereon for generating an induced current, and a space at the center into which the stator is inserted and installed. The couple of yokes, each of which has n gear teeth on the surface of the outer circumference thereof to facilitate forming magnetic poles facing the
stator, covering the bobbin from the upside and downside.
Also to accomplish the above objectives of the present invention, there is provided an independent generator which is formed with a rotor and a stator which are installed at a wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle. The rotor having a ring-shaped magnet in which a plurality of N and S poles are alternately formed and a hole for fixing the magnet to a side of the hub of the wheel of the two-wheeled vehicle is formed at the center of the magnet is fixed at a side of the hub of the wheel of the two-wheeled vehicle. The stator formed with a bobbin, a couple of yokes, and bobbin frame is fixed to the fixing axis of the two-wheeled vehicle. The bobbin has a coil wound thereon to generate an induced current and a hole at the center into which the rotator is inserted. Each of the couple of yokes being coupled to the bobbin has n gear teeth to facilitate forming magnetic poles on the inner circumference of the bobbin. The bobbin frame fixes the bobbin coupled with the yokes to the fixing axis.
Also to accomplish the above objectives of the present invention, there is provided a lighting apparatus using the independent generator. The lighting apparatus is formed with a regulator, a charger and a battery, a square wave generating unit, a control switch unit, and a lighting unit. The regulator converts an AC voltage generated in the coil of the generator into a regular DC voltage. The charger and battery store the current generated in the generator. The square wave generating unit converts the current provided by the regulator and the battery to pulse waves. The control switch unit determines whether or not to receive the pulses generated by the square wave generating unit. The lighting unit is formed with a front light, a safety lamp, and a turn signal lamp which are turned on and off according to the determination of the control switch unit.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the hub and fixing axis of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the hub and fixing axis of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a exploded perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the hub and fixing axis of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the first preferred embodiment of the independent generator is installed at the hub and fixing axis;
FIG. 5 is a exploded perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the hub and fixing axis of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the hub and fixing axis of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lighting apparatus which is installed at a spoke of a wheel using the independent generator according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle for showing an example of installing a lighting apparatus using an independent generator according to the present invention; and FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the circuit structure of a lighting
apparatus according to the present invention.
Best mode for carrying out the Invention
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the fixing axis 1 and hub 2, the generator formed with a stator 10 which is fixed to the fixing axis 1 and a rotor 20 which is installed at the hub 2.
First, the fixing axis 1 has a bolt shape having a spiral formed on the outer surface, excluding the center part on which the hub 2 is installed, such that the fixing axis 1 is coupled to an axis supporting body with a nut. The hub 2 has a plurality of grooves at both sides in which a plurality of spokes are fixed.
The stator 10 is formed with a cap-shaped magnet frame 12 which has a hole at the center thereof into which the fixing axis 1 is inserted to fix the stator 10 to the fixing axis 1 , and a ring-shaped magnet 13 which is installed inside the magnet frame 12 and in which a plurality of N and S poles are alternately formed. At this time, the magnet frame 12 is made of a substance that passes magnetic flux to form a magnetic pole, and the magnet 13 is a multipolar magnet, that is, a permanent magnet in which N and S poles are alternately formed. The magnetizing method of the multipolar magnet is well-known to a person in the art, so detailed explanation will be omitted.
The rotor 20 is formed with a coil 21 , a coil bobbin 22 on which the coil is wound, and a couple of yokes 23 and 24. The yokes are coupled to the coil bobbin 22 from the upside and downside, and each yoke has n gear teeth 25 on the outer circumference such that 2n electric poles are formed on the coil 21 by the magnet field generated by the magnet
13. At this time, the bobbin 22 is made of a non-conductive substance, and the couple of yokes 23 and 24 are coupled to the bobbin 22 such that the gear teeth of each yoke do not overlap. Also, two wires of the coil wound on the bobbin 22 are extended outside so that an induced current generated in the coil 21 is provided to the outside. The bigger the number of the gear teeth, the wider a cogging effect between the magnet 13 and the gear teeth 25 when the yokes are coupled to the bobbin 22 is distributed. However, considering the limit of the outer diameter of a yoke, and the flickering frequency of Light Emitting Diode (LED) to maximize a visual effect when an LED is employed in the lighting apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that each 12 teeth is formed on a yoke, and total 24 teeth are formed on the yokes 23 and 24.
FIG. 2 shows a second preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the fixing axis 1 and hub 2 of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention, the generator formed with a stator 10 and a rotor 20. The stator 10, as explained in FIG. 1 , is formed with a magnet frame 12, and a magnet 14, which is installed inside the magnet frame 12. The magnet 14 is a doughnut-shaped multipolar magnet, that is, a permanent magnet in which a plurality of N and S poles are alternately formed. The rotor 20 is formed with a substrate 27 which has a hole at the center for fixing the rotor 20 to the hub 2, a plurality of ferrite cores 28 which are coupled to one surface of the substrate 27, coils 21 , each of which is wound on one of the ferrite cores 28, and wires or connector pins 29 which are extended from the coils 12 wound on the ferrite cores 28 and formed at the back surface of the substrate 27
At this time, a printed circuit board is employed as the substrate 27 so that the ferrite cores 28 and connector pins 29 are easily implemented. Also, by extending wires from the coils 12 wound on the
ferrite cores 28, the independent generator can provide power to the same number of separate units as the number of the ferrite cores 28.
The ferrite core is a dust core which is placed in an empty space at the center of the wound coil and operates as a medium. The ferrite core is also used as a high frequency core, and with a high permeability, the ferrite core increases the strength of the magnetic field around the coil. To attach the ferrite core on the substrate, adhesive materials such as an epoxy adhesive are used.
FIG. 3 shows a third preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the fixing axis 1 and hub2 of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention, the generator formed with a stator 10 and a rotor 20. The stator 20, as explained in FIG. 2, is formed with a magnet frame 12, and a magnet 14, which is installed inside the magnet frame 12. The magnet 14 is a doughnut-shaped multipolar magnet, that is, a permanent magnet in which a plurality of N and S poles are alternately formed. The rotor 20, as explained in FIG. 2, is formed with a substrate 27 which has a hole at the center for fixing the rotor 20 to the hub 2, a plurality of coreless coils 28' which have no inner cores and are coupled to one surface of the substrate 27, and wires or connector pins 29 which are extended from the coreless coils 28' and formed at the back surface of the substrate 27. Thus formed independent generator can provide power to the same number of separate units as the number of the coreless coils 28' by extending wires from the coreless coils 28'. Generally, the coil used in the generator is also referred to as self-melting coil. Wires having a self-melting property are wound as desired and heated. Then, the wires are melted and attached to each other to form a coreless coil.
In thus formed first through third embodiments of independent generators, a rotor 20 of each embodiment is installed at one side of the hub 2 to which spokes 3 are coupled, as shown in FIG. 4. At this time,
if a spiral is formed on the surface of the outer circumference of the hub 2, a spiral is formed inside the hole of the rotor 20 such that the rotor 20 is coupled to the hub 2. If no spiral is formed on the surface of the outer circumference of the hub 2 as shown in FIG. 4, the diameter of the hole of the rotor 20 is formed to be a little bigger than the outer diameter of the hub 2 such that the hub 2 is forcibly inserted into and coupled to the rotor 20. Next, a nut 4 is coupled to the fixing axis 1 to decide a location for installing the magnet frame 12 to which the magnet 13 or 14 is coupled. The magnet frame 12 is placed such that the magnet 13 or 14 coupled to the magnet frame 12 is placed over the rotor 20. Then another nut 5 is fixed to the fixing axis 1 to fix the magnet frame 12. Thus, the stator 10 is installed.
If ferrite cores and coreless coils are employed as in the second and third embodiments of the independent generator, the cogging effect between the coils forming the rotor 20 and the magnet forming the stator 10 does not occur. Accordingly, yokes for forming electric poles are not needed and the rotation of the rotor 20 is smooth. Also, since yokes and bobbin are not needed, the generator can be made in a smaller size and lighter weight. Also, as described above, when a plurality of flashers or lamps are turned on, the second and third embodiments of the independent generator can provide power for the plurality of lamps by extending wires from coils, and therefore provides power more effectively than the generator of FIG. 1 which extends only one wire and, from the wire, power is distributed to multiple lighting units through wiring.
FIG. 5 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of an independent generator which is installed at the fixing axis 1 and hub 2 of a two-wheeled vehicle according to the present invention. The generator is formed with a stator 10' and a rotor 20'. The stator 10' is formed with a bobbin 22' on which a coil 21 is wound, a couple of yokes 23" and 24',
and a bobbin frame 12'. Each of the yokes 23' and 24' which are coupled to the bobbin 22' has n gear teeth 25' on the surface of the inner circumference such that 2n electric poles are formed from a magnetic field applied to the inside of the bobbin 22'. The bobbin frame 12' is coupled to the coil bobbin 22' coupled to the yokes 23' and 24' and fixes the coil bobbin 22' to the fixing axis 1. The rotor 20' is formed with a ring-shaped magnet 13'. The magnet 13' has an outer diameter such that the magnet 13' is inserted inside the bobbin 22' of the stator 10', and has an inner diameter such that the magnet 13' is installed at the hub 2. In installing the independent generator, the rotor 20' formed with the magnet 13' is fixed to a side surface of the hub 2 and a nut is put onto the fixing axis 1 to determine a location for installing the bobbin frame 12'. Then, the bobbin 22' on which the coil is wound and to which the yokes 23' and 24' are coupled is coupled to the bobbin frame 12' and the bobbin frame 12' is put onto the fixing axis 1. Then, another nut is put onto the fixing axis 1 to fix the bobbin frame 12'. Thus, the generator is installed at the fixing axis 1 and hub 2 of the two-wheeled vehicle. Therefore, the coil part for generating a current is used as the stator 10'. Also, like the fourth embodiment, the second and third embodiments of the generator can be made to a fifth and sixth embodiment, respectively. For this, the inner diameter of the magnet 14 forming the rotor 20 is formed so that the magnet 14 is installed at the hub 2. Thus, the rotor is formed as shown in FIG. 4. The stator is formed with a substrate 27 on which coils wound on the ferrite cores or coreless coils are installed, and a substrate frame (having the same shape as the frames described above) which has a hole at the center for the fixing axis inserting and on which the substrate is placed. Thus, the fifth and sixth embodiments of the independent generator are formed. FIG. 6 shows a seventh embodiment of an independent generator
according to the present invention. The fixing axis inserting hole 11 of the magnet frame 12 of the first embodiment is formed to be a little bigger in the seventh embodiment than the outer diameter of the hub such that the hub is inserted into the fixing axis inserting hole 11. The magnet 13 is installed in the magnet frame 12" and the magnet frame 12" is installed at the hub. Thus, the rotor of the seventh embodiment is formed. The inner diameter of the bobbin 22 of the first embodiment is formed in the seventh embodiment such that the fixing axis 1 is inserted in the bobbin 22. Fixing the bobbin with two nuts 4 and 5, the stator may be formed. As described above, in the independent generator of FIG. 6, the structure of the stator 10 and the rotor 20 is the inverse of that of the first embodiment.
All the embodiments of the independent generator described above can be installed at one of the front wheel and rear wheel. Though a sprocket is installed at a part of the hub of the rear wheel, the part to which a chain is coupled, the opposite side of the hub to the side at which the sprocket is installed is usually empty, and therefore the independent generator can be installed on the empty side.
Also, when necessary, one of the first through third embodiments and one of the fourth through seventh embodiments are installed at the left side and right side, respectively, of the hub and fixing axis of the front wheel so as to use the generators as desired.
Among the independent generators described above, in the first through third embodiments, the coil 21 forming the rotor rotates, and therefore, wires or connector pins for applying the current induced by the coil to the lamps rotate in line with the rotation of the wheel. Accordingly, the first through third embodiments are appropriate to a lighting apparatus which is installed at the wheel and provides continuous visual effects with periodical flickering when riding. Meanwhile, since the coil forming the stator is fixed regardless of the
rotation of the wheel, the fourth through seventh embodiments are appropriate for a lighting apparatus which is attached to the body of the two-wheeled vehicle such as a front light, a back light, or a turn signal lamp. Meanwhile, in order to provide power to a lighting apparatus installed in the body of the vehicle using one of the first through third embodiments of the independent generator, a wire is extended from the rotor 20 having the coil. However, since the rotor 20 rotates with the wheel, power cannot be provided directly from the rotor 20. Therefore, a rotational bipolar electric pole formed with a fixed part and a rotation part is installed at the hub and fixing axis. By connecting a wire extended from the coil to the rotation part which is installed at the hub, and extending a wire from the fixed part of the rotational electric pole, power generated from the independent generator can be provided to the lighting apparatus installed on the body of the vehicle.
In addition, when power generated by one of the fourth through seventh embodiments of the independent generator is provided to a lighting apparatus installed at a spoke of the wheel, the stator 10' having the coil does not rotate and the lighting apparatus for which power is provided rotates. Therefore, by installing a rotational bipolar electric pole, power can be provided to the lighting apparatus installed at the spoke of the wheel.
FIG. 7 shows a lighting apparatus which is installed at a spoke of a wheel using one of the first through third embodiments of the independent generator. The lighting apparatus is formed with a conductive terminal 41 and a plurality of clips (not shown). The conductive terminal 41 is connected to wires or connector pins extended from the independent generator, and on the conductive terminal 41, a plurality of flashers 42 are installed. The plurality of clips are installed in a plurality of places of the conductive terminal 41 such that the
conductive terminal is fixed to the spoke. At this time, LEDs are used for the flashers 42 such that when the two-wheeled vehicle runs, the flashers 42 are turned on and off at a predetermined cycle by the current provided from the independent generator. Also, the clips are formed to be easily attached to the spoke in a variety of forms.
In the first embodiment of the independent generator, a plurality of connector pins are connected to a wire extended from the coil wound on the bobbin, and connector or pin inserting hole 43 for coupling a connector pin at one end of the conductive terminal is formed such that the conductive terminal is easily installed. In the second and third embodiment of the independent generator, the same number of connector pins as that of coils are formed on the back surface of the substrate of the rotor such that the generator is connected to the conductive terminal having connectors. In order to make the flasher turned on and off at a predetermined cycle in line with the rotation of the wheel of the two-wheeled vehicle, using a xenon lamp instead of the LED in the lighting apparatus, a regulator for converting the alternating current voltage generated by the generator into a regular direct current voltage is needed. The regular direct current voltage which is converted and raised using the regulator is applied to a lamp circuit containing a xenon lamp such that the xenon lamp flashes at a predetermined cycle. That is, the xenon lamp flashes for a predetermined time to the naked eye, and a lighting effect by the xenon lamp is great because of the high pressure pulse of the lamp. The regulator and xenon lamp circuit are inserted in one case and installed at a spoke of the wheel of the two-wheeled vehicle, which is preferable from the viewpoints of protecting the lighting unit and visual effects.
A lighting apparatus which is installed at a spoke of the wheel using one of the fourth through seventh embodiments of the independent
generator has the similar structure to that of the lighting apparatus using one of the first through third embodiments. However, in the lighting apparatus using one of the fourth through seventh embodiments, a wire extended from the rotor is connected to the rotational electric pole, and a connecting means such as a connector pin for connecting the conductive terminal is formed on the hub. Also, it is preferable that the flasher using the xenon lamp is installed at a fork or at a predetermined part of the body of the vehicle, without using a rotational electric pole.
FIG. 8 shows an example of installing a lighting apparatus which can turns on lamps, including a front light 51 , a back light 52, and a turn signal lamp 53, which are attached to the body of the two-wheeled vehicle using one of the fourth through seventh embodiment of the independent generator. Using wires 54 from the generator, the front light, the back light, and the turn signal lamp are connected and power is provided.
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the circuit structure of the lighting apparatus installed as shown in FIG. 8. The lighting apparatus is formed with an independent generator 100 installed at the hub and fixing axis of the two-wheeled vehicle; a regulator 110 for converting an alternating current generated by the independent generator into a regular direct current; a charging unit 120 with a battery for providing power to the variety of lamps when the two-wheeled vehicle stops; a square wave generating unit 140 for converting the current provided from the regulator 110 or the charging unit 120 into a pulse wave having a predetermined cycle; a control switch unit 130 for determining whether or not to receive the pulses generated by the square wave generating unit 140; and a lighting unit which is formed with a front light, a turn signal lamp, and a back light which are turned on and off according to the determination of the control switch unit. All of the lighting apparatus except the generator and lamps can be integrated in one circuit board to be installed at a
predetermined part of the two-wheeled vehicle. Especially, when installed at the left or right side of handle of the vehicle, the lighting apparatus is operated easily.
The control switch unit may be formed with a power switch for determining whether or not to receive a current provided by one of the fourth through seventh embodiment of the independent generator; a back light switch for controlling the back light; an emergency switch for simultaneously turning on and off the left and right turn signal lamps in an emergency; a front light switch for controlling the front light; a lighting confirming lamp for confirming lighting; and a turn indicating lever for selectively turning on and off the left and light turn signal lamps. Therefore, when the two-wheeled vehicle runs, an alternating current provided by the independent generator is converted through the regulator, and the converted direct current power is converted into a pulse wave having a predetermined cycle through the square wave generating unit. Then, by manipulating switches of the control switch unit, desired lamps are turned on or off.
As described above, in the fourth through seventh embodiment of the independent generator, the stator contains the coil such that power is easily provided to the lighting apparatus installed on the body of the two-wheeled vehicle. However, since in the first through third embodiments, the rotor contains the coil, in order to provide power to the lighting apparatus a rotational electric pole is formed on a side of the hub such that power from the rotor is provided to the lighting apparatus.
Industrial Applicability
As described above, since the independent generator according to the present invention continuously rotates in line with the rotation of the wheel, and the operation of the generator does not affect the rotation of the wheel, continuous quality power is provided.
Also, the lighting apparatus using the independent generator can attach desired color lamps to be turned on and off during daytime or at night to a wheel or the body of the two-wheeled vehicle. Therefore, the lamps can indicate running of the vehicle, can make others easily identify the lamps to improve safety riding, and can satisfy teenagers who are sensitive to appearances.
Also, the lighting apparatus using the independent generator make others understand the rider's intention such that following cars respond to the signal and a traffic accident is prevented. So far, optimum embodiments are explained in the drawings and specification, and though specific terminologies are used here, those were only to explain the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments and many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not determined by the desc pt but by the accompanying claims.