Torque stick apparatus and methods of use

• US 10,071,778 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sierra eXtreme
• Original Assignee: Sierra eXtreme
• Inventors: Campbell, Dean Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau Van
• Application Number:
  US15/279,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20170190365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/08 motor-driven A63C5/035 takes precedence; apparatus for towing skis A63C11/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/085 with rolling or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/10 Combination of electric propulsion and magnetic suspension or levitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/30 with means to change over to human control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/46 Vehicles with auxiliary ad-on propulsions, e.g. add-on electric motor kits for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 : Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 : for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 1/14 : Propulsion; Control thereof B60V1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/112 : City movers, small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/126 : Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/81 : Toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/91 : Electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/91 : Battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/112 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/602 : DC Machines
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 : the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 : without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 : Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 : Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 : characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method of operating a personal transporter includes mounting the personal transporter. A torque stick apparatus having a rotating wheel is provided. The wheel of the torque stick apparatus is positioned against a drive surface to drive the personal transporter across a transport surface.

Claims

1. A method of operating a personal transporter:

mounting the personal transporter;

providing a torque stick apparatus having a rotating wheel, wherein the torque stick apparatus comprises a tubular housing, a user-actuated throttle control, a battery pack, a motor coupled to the wheel, and a motor controller coupled to the motor, the battery pack, and the user-actuated throttle control, wherein the motor controller supplies power from the battery pack to the motor in accordance with the user-actuated throttle control, wherein the battery pack, the motor controller, and the motor are contained within the housing; and

applying the wheel of the torque stick apparatus against a drive surface to drive the personal transporter across a transport surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the personal transporter is any one of the following:

skates, roller blades, skateboard, magnetically suspended hoverboard, hovercraft, scooter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the personal transporter is wheel-free.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the personal transporter is multi-wheeled.

5. The torque stick apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor is a one of a dc motor, an induction motor, and a variable reluctance motor.

6. The torque stick apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor is a brushless dc motor.

7. The torque stick apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor controller supplies power from the motor to the battery back when the motor controller is in a regenerative braking mode.

8. The torque stick apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a brake control coupled to the motor controller, wherein the motor controller enters into the regenerative braking mode when the brake control is asserted.

9. The torque stick apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor and the wheel have a same rotational speed.

10. A torque stick apparatus comprising:

a tubular housing;

a user-actuated throttle control;

a battery pack;

a wheel;

a motor coupled to the wheel; and

a motor controller coupled to the motor, the battery pack and the user-actuated throttle control, wherein the motor controller determines whether to select regenerative braking mode based at least in part on the position of the user-actuated throttle control, wherein the motor controller supplies power from the battery pack to the motor in accordance with the user-actuated throttle control when regenerative braking mode is not selected, wherein the motor controller supplies power from the motor to the battery pack when regenerative braking mode is selected, wherein the battery pack, the motor controller, and the motor are contained within the housing.

11. The torque stick apparatus of claim 10 wherein the motor is a one of a dc motor, an induction motor, and a variable reluctance motor.

12. The torque stick apparatus of claim 11 wherein the motor is a brushless dc motor.

13. The torque stick apparatus of claim 10 wherein the motor and the wheel have a same rotational speed.

14. The torque stick apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tubular housing has at least one of a circular and a polygonal cross section.

15. The torque stick apparatus of claim 10 wherein the housing has telescoping sections to enable varying a length of the housing.

16. A torque stick apparatus comprising:

a tubular housing;

a user-actuated throttle control;

a user-actuated brake control;

a battery pack;

a wheel;

a motor coupled to the wheel; and

a motor controller coupled to transfer power between the motor and the battery pack, wherein the motor controller is coupled to receive control signals from the user-actuated throttle control and the user-actuated brake control, wherein the motor controller supplies power from the battery pack to the motor in accordance with the user-actuated throttle control when the user-actuated brake control is not asserted, wherein the motor controller supplies power generated by the motor to the battery pack when the user-actuated brake control is asserted, wherein the battery pack, the motor controller, and the motor are contained within the housing.

17. The torque stick apparatus of claim 16 wherein the motor is a one of a dc motor, an induction motor, and a variable reluctance motor.

18. The torque stick apparatus of claim 17 wherein the motor is a brushless dc motor.

19. The torque stick apparatus of claim 16 wherein the tubular housing has at least one of a circular and a polygonal cross section.

20. The torque stick apparatus of claim 16 wherein the motor and the wheel have a same rotational speed.