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Suspension systems for one-wheeled vehicles

  • US 10,343,051 B2
  • Filed: 07/02/2018
  • Issued: 07/09/2019
  • 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 orientation information of the board;

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

    a suspension system coupling the wheel assembly to the board, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle, the suspension system including;

    a first and a second pivotable link, each of the pivotable links coupled at a proximal end to a respective end portion of the axle and coupled at a distal end to the first end portion of the frame by a distal rotating joint;

    a first bell crank and a second bell crank, the first and second bell cranks opposing each other across a width of the board, wherein each of the bell cranks respectively has a first and a second moving pivot and is rotatably coupled to the first end portion of the frame by a respective fixed pivot;

    a first pushrod coupling the first pivotable link to the first moving pivot of the first bell crank, and a second pushrod coupling the second pivotable link to the first moving pivot of the second bell crank; and

    a shock absorber having a first end coupled to the second moving pivot of the first bell crank and a second end coupled to the second moving pivot of the second bell crank, such that the shock absorber is configured to damp movement of the board relative to the axle.

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