Suspension systems for one-wheeled vehicles
First Claim
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-balancing electric vehicle may include a board having a frame, and a suspension system including at least one four-bar linkage coupling opposing end portions of a hub motor axle to the first end portion of the frame. The four-bar linkage(s) may have 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. A shock absorber may be coupled to the four-bar linkage(s) and 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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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-balancing electric vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A self-balancing electric vehicle, comprising:
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a board defining a plane and including first and second end 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 rotatable on an axle and extending above and below the plane defined by the board; 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 to the board, the suspension system including; a first bell crank and a second bell crank, each rotatably coupled to the first end portion of the board by a respective fixed pivot, and each including a first moving pivot and a second moving pivot; a first pivotable link coupled at one end to a first end of the axle and coupled at another end to a first pushrod which is also coupled to the first moving pivot of the first bell crank; a second pivotable link coupled at one end to a second end of the axle and coupled at another end to a second pushrod which is also coupled 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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A self-balancing electric vehicle, comprising:
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a board defining a plane and including first and second end portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider; a wheel extending above and below the plane defined by the board; a motor assembly configured to rotate the wheel about an axle to propel the vehicle; a sensor configured to measure orientation information of the board; a motor controller configured to receive orientation information measured by the sensor and to cause the motor assembly to propel the vehicle based on the orientation information; and a suspension system coupling the wheel to the board, the suspension system including; a first bell crank and a second bell crank, each including a first moving pivot, a second moving pivot, and a fixed pivot rotatably coupling the respective bell crank to the board; a first pivotable link member rotatably coupled at one end to a first end of the axle and rotatably coupled at another end to a first pushrod which is rotatably coupled to the first moving pivot of the first bell crank; a second pivotable link member rotatably coupled at one end to a second end of the axle and rotatably coupled at another end to a second pushrod which is rotatably coupled to the first moving pivot of the second bell crank; and a shock absorber having a first end rotatably coupled to the second moving pivot of the first bell crank and a second end rotatably coupled to the second moving pivot of the second bell crank. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification