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Suspension systems for one-wheeled vehicles

  • US 10,010,784 B1
  • Filed: 12/05/2017
  • Issued: 07/03/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A self-balancing electric vehicle, comprising:

  • a board including a frame, a first deck portion disposed at a first end portion of the frame, and a second deck portion disposed at a second end portion of the frame, the first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the board;

    a wheel assembly including exactly one wheel rotatable on an axle, wherein the wheel is disposed between and extends above and below the first and second deck portions;

    a motor assembly configured to rotate the wheel about the axle to propel the vehicle;

    at least one sensor configured to measure an orientation of the board;

    a motor controller configured to receive board orientation information measured by the at least one sensor and to cause the motor assembly to propel the vehicle based on the board orientation information;

    a suspension system including a pair of four-bar linkages coupling opposing end portions of the axle to the first end portion of the frame, each of the four-bar linkages having a first fixed link connected to the axle, a second fixed link comprising the frame, and two pivotable links joining the first fixed link to the second fixed link, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle; and

    a shock absorber having a first end coupled to the pair of four-bar linkages and a second end coupled to the first end portion of the frame, such that the shock absorber is configured to damp up and down movement of the board relative to the axle.

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