Motorized Cycle
There is provided a motorized cycle comprising a frame, a seat mounted upon the frame, a plurality of suspensions mounted to the frame, a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension wherein the operation of the motorized cycle is based on the physical position and movements of the rider. Also provided is a suspension system for a motorized cycle comprising a plurality of suspensions each coupled to the frame of the motorized cycle, and a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension such that each wheel is able to move relative to the other wheels and the frame. According to another aspect, there is provided a rider positioning system for a motorized cycle comprising handle bars and a seat wherein the movement of the handle bars affects the movement of the seat. There is also provided a control system for operating a motorized cycle comprising a control board including software, a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board, a plurality of wheels wherein each wheel is instructed by the control board to accelerate or decelerate to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.
The present invention relates to transportation vehicles, and more particularly to a motorized cycle for transporting individuals where the motorized cycle has the ability to navigate conventional roads as well as smaller spaces that are not accessible to larger vehicles in high populated and dense areas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTransportation is one of the most important challenges faced by individuals in the modern world. As cities throughout the world grow larger and more complex, individuals who require transportation face more complex challenges relating to cost, efficiency and timeliness. These challenges are also present in less densely populated areas, where individuals are often highly dependant on transportation to accomplish their basic needs such as shopping, attending work and school, and visiting family and friends.
Cars and trucks are popular methods of transportation, but this option is limited because of the high cost of owning such a vehicle. Other people are concerned about pollution that cars and trucks emit to the environment.
The acceptance by much of the world that greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for global warming has created a need for transportation vehicles, such as electric cars, that are less harmful to the environment. Unfortunately, such vehicles are in the early stages of development and the cost of owning such a vehicle is prohibitive for many people. In some places, smaller vehicles such as scooters and motorcycles have enjoyed wide acceptance because they are inexpensive and are less harmful to the environment compared to cars and trucks. The gear, braking and steering systems of scooters and motorcycles, however, are often complex to use and involve a significant amount of training to operate safely. Furthermore, many scooters and motorcycles are heavy, which adds additional cost, and makes them cumbersome to use by a single person.
The operation of conventional bicycles involves virtually no pollution and has wide acceptance in modern society. Bicycles suffer from different limitations, however, mainly in relation to speed, safety and rider fatigue involved with operating such a vehicle.
In view of these and other known deficiencies in the art, there remains a need for improvements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a motorized cycle for transporting one or more individuals on conventional roads and in smaller spaces that are not accessible to a car.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motorized cycle comprising: a frame, a seat mounted on the frame for supporting a rider seated on the motorized cycle, handle bars coupled to the frame, a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame, a plurality of wheels where each is coupled to a suspension, one or more motors for driving the wheels, a control mechanism for allowing the rider to operate the motorized cycle where a least two of the wheels are laterally displaced relative to each other.
In another embodiment, there is provided a motorized cycle comprising: a frame, a seat mounted to the frame for supporting a rider of the motorized cycle, handle bars coupled to the frame, a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame, a plurality of wheels where each is coupled to a suspension, one or more motors for driving the wheels, a control mechanism for allowing the rider to operate the motorized cycle where each of the suspensions is able to move relative to each of the other suspensions.
In another aspect, there is provided a motorized cycle comprising: a frame, a seat mounted to the frame for supporting the rider of the motorized cycle, handle bars coupled to the frame, a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame, a plurality of wheels where each is coupled to a suspension, a plurality of motors for driving the wheels and a driving mechanism whereby the motorized cycle is controlled by the physical position of the rider in the front-back direction and the side-to-side direction.
For a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, there is provided a suspension system comprising: a plurality of elements where each is movably coupled to the frame at one end and one of the plurality of wheels at the other end such that each element and its associated wheel can move relative to the frame and each of the other elements.
For a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, there is also provided a rider positioning system comprising: a seat coupled to the frame and handle bars coupled to the frame such that the seat and the handle bars are able to move relative to one another while the motorized cycle is operational.
For a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, there is also provided a control system comprising: a control board including an algorithm, a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board, a plurality of motors receiving instructions from the control board wherein the algorithm is operable to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle by instructing the motors to accelerate or decelerate.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, embodiments of the present invention and in which:
Reference is first made to
Motorized cycle 100 comprises a frame (not shown), a body 102 including seat 106, handle bars 120, foot pegs 122 and two tires indicated individually by references 110 and 116 that are mounted upon wheel 112 and another wheel (not shown) respectively. The motorized cycle 100 has a front 130, a back 132, a left side 140 and a right side (not shown). The motorized cycle 100 tilts in the direction of arrow 101b as it travels in the direction of arrow 101a and tilts in the direction of arrow 103b as it travels in the direction of arrow 103a. According to an embodiment, a pneumatic cylinder operating as a kickstand extends from the nose 131 or any other part of the body 102 to support the motorized cycle 100 while it is at rest. According to another embodiment, the motorized cycle 100 is self-balancing and the distance between tires 110 and 116 is sufficient to support the motorized cycle 100 in a stable position while it is at rest.
Reference is next made to
Reference is next made to
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the left suspension 310 may also include a motor 320, a motor mount 324, a motor pulley 326, a belt or chain 329 and a wheel pulley 328. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the motor 320 drives the motor pulley 326, which in turn is coupled to and drives the wheel pulley 328 via a chain or belt 329. Chain or belt 329 is operatively connected to a wheel (not shown) so as to cause the wheel to rotate. The position of the motor 320 according to the embodiment illustrated in
Reference is next made to
As shown in
As shown in
Reference is next made to
Reference is next made to
Reference is next made to
As shown, the swing arms 904 and 1004 are connected to the inside of the wheels 914 and 1002 respectively. In another aspect, the swing arms 904 and 1004 are connected to the outside of the wheels 914 and 1002. In this aspect, the wheels 914 and 1002 are able to be positioned next to each other with very little space between them. Such a configuration further decreases the width of the motorized cycle 200 and allows the motorized cycle 200 to be stored or parked in smaller spaces. The narrower distance between wheels 914 and 1002 provides a narrower wheel base for the motorized cycle 200 and allows the rider to perform turns in a smaller radius than when the wheels 914 and 1002 are further apart.
Reference is next made to
The rider positioning system 1200 comprises a seat mount 1202, a seat gear 1204, a link 1212, a frame 1206, a handle bar gear 1208 and handle bars 1210. The frame 1206 includes a back component 1250 and a front component 1260. The handle bars 1210 are attached to the frame 1206 and are able to rotate about the pivot point 1211 relative to the frame 1206 in the directions of arrow 1213. The seat mount 1202 supports a seat (not shown) and is moveable in the directions of arrow 1203 along the frame 1206. To operate the motorized cycle 200, the rider sits down on the seat and takes a hold of handle bars 1210. The rider is able to move handle bars 1210 in the direction of arrow 1213 to control the speed of the motorized cycle. As shown, the seat gear 1204 and the handle bar gear 1208 are mechanically operatively connected via the link 1212 which is generally a belt or chain but may be any other suitable link. When the rider moves the handle bars in the directions of arrow 1213, the link 1212 causes the seat gear 1204 to rotate. The seat mount 1202 includes a rack and pinion element which is shown in
In a further aspect, the seat gear 1204 is operatively connected to the handle bar gear 1208 such that seat mount 1202 moves in the same direction as the handle bars 1210. In this aspect, when the handle bars 1210 are pushed toward the front component 1260 of the frame 1206, the seat mount 1202 also moves toward the front component 1260 of the frame 1206. Likewise, when the handle bars 1210 are pulled toward the back component 1250 of the frame 1206, the seat mount 1202 also moves toward the back component 1250 of the frame 1206
Reference is next made to
In another aspect of the rider positioning system 1200 of the motorized cycle 200, the handle bars 1210 may be operatively connected to the seat mount 1202 via electrical and/or programmatic means. As the rider exerts a force on the handle bars 1210, a signal may be sent to a control board (not shown) which instructs an actuator (not shown) to adjust the seat along the path of arrow 1203. In a further aspect, the handle bars 1210 are able to move in a straight line instead of rotating about the pivot 1211. In yet another aspect, the rider is able to move only the seat mount 1202 or the handle bars 1210, but not both. In yet another aspect, the rider may adjust the handle bars 1210 and the seat mount 1202 and lock one or both into place as the rider is driving. Such an embodiment is akin to cruise control on a car and allows the rider to stay in the same position (and thus travel at the same speed) for as long as desired.
Power Source, Electronics and Software of the Motorized CycleThe battery pack 1402 may be recharged by plugging a power cord connected to the battery pack 1402 into a standard power outlet. According to another aspect, the life of the battery pack 1402 and thus the range of the motorized cycle of the present invention is increased by using the resistance energy generated in the mechanical systems of the motorized cycle to recharge the battery pack 1402 while the motorized cycle is in use.
As shown in
Reference is next made to
Continuing to reference
As shown, the control board 1502 may receive input signals from encoders 1548 and 1550 that are coupled to motors 1540 and 1542. The encoders 1548 and 1550 monitor the rotational velocity of the motors 1540 and 1542 and input the rotational velocity in a discretized format to the control board 1502 and the software 1505. In an aspect, the software activates the emergency systems as described above if the rotational velocity of either motors 1540 or 1542 is not within a predefined range of the desired rotational velocity of motors 1540 or 1542. In a further aspect, software 1505 uses the difference between the actual rotational velocity and the desired rotational velocity of motors 1540 and 1542 as a calibration factor. The calibration factor may be added or subtracted to the rotational velocity at which motors 1540 and 1542 are instructed to rotate.
Reference is next made to
Reference is next made to
Also shown in
As shown, the algorithm 1800 includes a torque sub-algorithm 1850. Torque sensors (not shown) sense the amount of torque exerted on the handle bars (not shown) by a rider. The control board 1862 reads the signal from the torque sensors at step 1852. At step 1854, a conflict check is performed to ensure that the motorized cycle maintains is center of gravity in the direction of arrows 101b and 103b and the direction of arrows 301b and 303b. A steering algorithm is executed at step 1856 to turn the motorized cycle in the direction of arrows 301a and 303a. The steering algorithm 1856 may execute in conjunction with steering algorithm 1840 or the algorithms 1856 and 1840 may execute independently.
At step 1860 the control board 1862 sample signals from accelerometers. The signals from the accelerometers are compared to the signals read by the gyroscopes in algorithms 1810 and 1830. If the readings from the accelerometers do not match the readings from the gyroscopes of algorithms 1810 and 1830, then the software may conduct an error checking analysis to determine if an emergency event has occurred or calculate a calibration factor. The calibration factor may be used to optimize the rotational velocity of motors 1872 and 1874, for example, by adding or subtracting to the rotational velocity at which the motors 1872 and 1874 are instructed to rotate.
The encoders 1866 also provide inputs to the control board 1862 representing the actual rotational velocity of the motors 1872 and 1874. The inputs from the encoders 1866 are verified against the rotational velocity at which the motors 1872 and 1874 are instructed to rotate. If either of the motors are not operating within a defined range, then the software may deploy emergency systems. The software may also calculate a calibration factor representing the difference between the real-time rotational velocity of the motors 1872 and 1874 and the rotational velocity at which the motors 1872 and 1874 are instructed to rotate.
Operating the Motorized CycleThe general operation of the motorized cycle 100 is next described with reference to
Turning the motorized cycle 100 is accomplished by the rider leaning to the same side that the rider wishes to turn. When the rider leans to one side, the outer wheel begins to rotate faster than the inner wheel causing the motorized cycle 100 to turn in the direction the rider is leaning. With reference to
According to an aspect of the present invention, the motorized cycle 100 maintains its center of gravity whether the rider leans to the front, back, right side or left side thus giving the rider complete control over the operation of the motorized cycle 100 without causing instability.
As shown, a rider will be in a motorcycle position according to the embodiment of
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that other embodiments of the present invention may include a throttle device that is used in cooperation with the operation described above. In this aspect, a throttle can supplement operating the motorized cycle based on the rider's position. In another aspect, a throttle can fully replace operating the motorized cycle based on the rider's position. For example, on long trips a rider may want to take a rest from moving back and forth and side-to-side. A switch mechanism can be engaged that allows the rider to use a throttle instead of his or her physical position. The rider can disengage the throttle at any time and resume operating the motorized cycle 100 according to body position.
In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2., a rider is able to control the position of his or her body while the motorized cycle 200 is in operation. The handle bars 212 are operatively connected to the seat 209. The rider grabs hold of the handle bars 212 and can either move the handle bars 212 towards the front 220 or the back 222 of the frame 216 which causes the handle bars 212 to rotate in the direction of arrow 203. The seat 209 moves in conjunction with the handle bars 212. The rider may choose to maintain a seated position or a lying down position for greater control of the motorized cycle 200 or for comfort purposes. As described above, one or both the handle bars 212 and the seat 209 can be locked into place at any time. An arrangement where both the handle bars 212 and the seat 209 are locked into place is akin to cruise control as the motorized cycle 200 will maintain a constant speed. The rider can unlock one or both the handle bars 212 and the seat 209 at any time.
As the rider adjusts his or her position by maneuvering the handle bars 212, the motorized cycle 200 will either tilt in the direction of arrow 201a or in the direction of arrow 203a. If the rider leans forward in the direction of arrow 201b, the motorized cycle 200 will accelerate in the direction of arrow 201a. If the rider leans backward in the direction of arrow 203b, the motorized cycle 200 will decelerate in the direction of arrow 203a. The rider may choose to lean forward or backward by changing the position of handle bars 212 relative to the seat 209, or by locking the handle bars 212 and the seat 209 and operating the motorized cycle 200 in the manner described with respect to
In yet another aspect, a potentiometer connected to the handle bars 212 provides a signal to the control board representing the angle of the handle bars 212 in the direction of arrow 203. The software of the control board uses the input from the potentiometer to calibrate the angle of the motorized cycle 200 in the direction of arrows 201b and 203b. The calibrated angle of the motorized cycle 200 is different than the actual tilt of the motorized cycle 200 in the direction of arrows 201b and 203b. The software uses the calibrated angle as an adjustment factor to increase or decrease the actual tilt of the motorized cycle 200 in the direction of arrows 201b and 203b. The rider may choose to move the handle bars 212 to adjust the actual tilt of the motorized cycle 200 for comfort or for better control of the motorized cycle 200. At all times, the stability of the motorized cycle 200 is maintained. In yet a further aspect, the potentiometer is connected to a throttle device connected to the handle bars 212.
In yet another aspect, torque sensors measure the amount of force exerted by a rider on the handle bars 212. The rider is able to maneuver the motorized cycle of the present invention by exerting force on the handle bars 212. In an aspect, the force exerted by the rider on handle bars 212 is used by the software in conjunction with the position of the rider in the direction of arrows 301b and 303b to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle 200. In a further aspect, the rider may engage or disengage the torque sensors at any time or selectively program the software via the input/output device 1520 to increase or decrease the impact of the measured torque on the operation of the motorized cycle 200. For example, the rider may choose to steer the motorized cycle almost exclusively with the handle bars 212 with little impact of the rider's position in the direction or arrows 301b and 303b.
Storing the Motorized CycleThe motorized cycle of the present invention may include numerous systems that ensure the stability and safety of the motorized cycle when it is not in use. A kickstand may extend from any part of the frame or body of the motorized cycle upon the activation of a parking switch or button. The kickstand may be spring-loaded, powered by a pneumatic cylinder, or may extend with gravity. For example, the kickstand may extend from body 102 or the frame 216 at the positions indicated by references 131 and 220 respectively.
In another aspect of the present invention, the motorized cycle is self-balancing. While the motorized cycle is operational, the rider engages a “stability” button or switch which sends a signal to the control board. The control board launches a routine that instructs one wheel to “lock” and the other wheel is instructed to adjust itself in increments until the motorized cycle is balanced. Gyroscopes or other sensors continually monitor the center of gravity of the motorized cycle and send input signals to the control board which are passed to the routine. Once the motorized cycle is balanced an indication (visual or audio) is given to the rider at which point the rider can turn off the motorized cycle which will remain in a balanced position.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled. In the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A motorized cycle comprising:
- a frame having a front, a back and two sides,
- a seat mounted on the frame for supporting a rider seated on the motorized cycle,
- handle bars coupled to the frame,
- a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame,
- a plurality of wheels, each wheel coupled to one of the plurality of suspensions,
- one or more motors connected to the wheels for causing the wheels to rotate,
- a control mechanism for allowing the rider to operate the motorized cycle,
- wherein at least two of the plurality of wheels are laterally displaced relative to each other.
2. The motorized cycle of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of wheels is driven independently by a motor in response to the side-to-side movement and the front-back movement of the rider to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.
3. The motorized cycle of claim 2 wherein each suspension interconnects one wheel with the frame for allowing the wheel to move relative to the frame.
4. The motorized cycle of claim 3 further comprising a first gyroscope for sensing the front-back movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.
5. The motorized cycle of claim 4 further comprising a second gyroscope for sensing the side-to-side movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the side-to-side movement of the rider.
6. The motorized cycle of claim 5 further comprising a control board including software for instructing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate.
7. The motorized cycle of claim 6 wherein the handle bars are moveable and are operatively connected to the seat such that the movement of the handle bars causes the seat to move.
8. A motorized cycle comprising:
- a frame having a front, a back and two sides,
- a seat mounted to the frame for supporting a rider of the motorized cycle,
- handle bars coupled to the frame,
- a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame,
- a plurality of wheels, each coupled to one of the plurality of suspensions,
- one or more motors connected to the wheels for causing the wheels to rotate,
- a control mechanism for allowing the rider to operate the motorized cycle;
- wherein each of the suspensions is able to move relative to each of the other suspensions.
9. The motorized cycle of claim 8 wherein each of the suspensions is connected to the frame at a pivot point and each of the suspensions is able to rotate around the pivot point.
10. The motorized cycle of claim 9 further comprising a first gyroscope for sensing the front-back movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.
11. The motorized cycle of claim 10 further comprising a second gyroscope for sensing the side-to-side movement of the rider and for causing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.
12. The motorized cycle of claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of wheels is driven independently by a motor in response to the side-to-side movement and the front-back movement of the rider to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.
13. The motorized cycle of claim 11 further comprising a control board including software for instructing the one or more motors to accelerate or decelerate.
14. The motorized cycle of claim 13 wherein the software is operable to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle while the motorized cycle is operating.
15. The motorized cycle of claim 15 wherein the handle bars are moveable and are operatively connected to the seat such that the movement of the handle bars causes the seat to move.
16. A motorized cycle comprising:
- a frame having a front, a back and two sides,
- a seat mounted on the frame for supporting the rider of the motorized cycle,
- handle bars coupled to the frame,
- a plurality of suspensions coupled to the frame,
- a plurality of wheels where each is coupled to a suspension,
- a plurality of motors connected to the wheels for causing the wheels to rotate,
- and a driving mechanism whereby the motorized cycle is controlled by the physical position of the rider in the front-back direction and the side-to-side direction.
17. The motorized cycle of claim 16 further comprising a first gyroscope for sensing the front-back movement of the rider and for causing the plurality of motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the front-back movement.
18. The motorized cycle of claim 17 further comprising a second gyroscope for sensing the side-to-side movement of the rider and for causing the plurality of motors to accelerate or decelerate depending on the side to side movement.
19. The motorized cycle of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of wheels is driven independently by a motor in response to the side-to-side movement and the front-back movement of the rider to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.
20. The motorized cycle of claim 18 further comprising a control board including software for instructing the plurality of motors to accelerate or decelerate.
21. The motorized cycle of claim 20 wherein the software of the control board executes an algorithm based on the inputs of the gyroscopes and instructs the plurality of motors to respond based on the result of the algorithm.
22. The motorized cycle of claim 21 wherein the software is operable to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle while the motorized cycle is operating.
23. The motorized cycle of claim 22 wherein the handle bars are moveable and are operatively connected to the seat such that the movement of the handle bars causes the seat to move.
24. In a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, a suspension system comprising:
- a plurality of elements each movably coupled to the frame at one end and one of the plurality of wheels at another end such that each of the plurality of elements can move relative to the frame and each of the other elements.
25. The suspension system of claim 24 further including one or more dampening devices to cushion the movement of the elements.
26. The suspension system of claim 25 wherein the elements are coupled to the frame at a pivot such that the elements are able to rotate independently in a radius about the pivot such that the wheels.
27. In a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, a rider positioning system comprising:
- a seat coupled to the frame,
- handle bars coupled to the frame,
- wherein the seat and the handle bars are able to move relative to each other while the motorized cycle is operational.
28. The rider positioning system of claim 27 wherein the handle bars and the seat are linked to each other such that the movement of the handle bars affects the movement of the seat.
29. The rider positioning system of claim 28 further including a rack and pinion coupled to the seat.
30. The rider positioning system of claim 29 wherein the movement of the handle bars causes the rack and the seat to move in the front-back direction.
31. In a motorized cycle comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels laterally displaced relative to each other, a control system for operating the motorized cycle, comprising:
- a control board including an algorithm,
- a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board,
- a plurality of motors receiving instructions from the control board,
- wherein the algorithm is operable to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle by instructing the motors to accelerate or decelerate.
32. The system of claim 31 wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one sensor for measuring the side-to-side tilt of the motorized cycle and at least one sensor for measuring the front-back tilt of the motorized cycle.
33. The system of claim 32 wherein the plurality of sensors includes gyroscopes.
34. The system of claim 33 further including a feedback loop from at least one sensor to the control board.
35. The system of claim 34 wherein the algorithm provides instructions to each of the plurality of motors based on the feedback loop to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2008
Inventor: Benjamin Gulak (Milton)
Application Number: 12/113,330
International Classification: B62D 61/02 (20060101); G01C 19/02 (20060101); B62K 25/00 (20060101); B62K 11/14 (20060101); G06F 17/00 (20060101);