Traveling apparatus

• US 10,343,740 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kama, Takeshi, Mori, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Craciun, Gabriela C
• Application Number:
  US15/695,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20180072366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/412 Speed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/413 Rotation sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/00 Rider-operated controls specially adapted for cycles, i.e. means for initiating control operations, e.g. levers, grips specially adapted to cycle brake mechanisms B62L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• 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: B62K 5/02 Tricycles children's tricycles B62K9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/00 Brake-actuating mechanisms for back-pedalling brakes B62L5/00; Arrangements thereof

Abstract

Provided is a traveling apparatus including a front wheel supporting member configured to rotatably support a front wheel; a rear wheel supporting member configured to rotatably support a rear wheel; a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the front wheel and rear wheel; an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a wheel base length between the front wheel and the rear wheel by a user changing relative positions of the front wheel supporting member and the rear wheel supporting member; a control unit configured to control the driving unit based on a target speed associated with the wheel base length; and a failure detection unit configured to detect a failure in the traveling apparatus. When the failure detection unit detects the failure, the control unit stops the control based on the target speed associated with the wheel base length and performs control to extend the wheel base length.

Claims

1. A traveling apparatus including at least, with respect to a traveling direction, a front wheel and a rear wheel and on which a user rides when traveling, the traveling apparatus comprising:

a front wheel supporting member configured to rotatably support the front wheel;

a rear wheel supporting member configured to rotatably support the rear wheel;

a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel;

an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a wheel base length between the front wheel and the rear wheel by the user changing relative positions of the front wheel supporting member and the rear wheel supporting member;

a control unit configured to control the driving unit based on a target speed associated with the wheel base length; and

a failure detection unit configured to detect a failure in the traveling apparatus, wherein

when the failure detection unit detects the failure, the control unit stops the control based on the target speed associated with the wheel base length and performs control to extend the wheel base length.

2. The traveling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the failure detection unit detects the failure, the control unit stops supplying power to the driving unit or stops supplying a driving signal to the driving unit.

3. The traveling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the failure detection unit detects the failure, the control unit controls the driving unit to gradually reduce a speed of the traveling apparatus.

4. The traveling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rear wheel braking member configured to brake rotation of the rear wheel, wherein when the failure detection unit detects the failure, the control unit controls the rear wheel braking member to brake the rotation of the rear wheel in the control to extend the wheel base length.

5. The traveling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the adjusting mechanism comprises an extension driving unit that extends the wheel base length by driving a force of an actuator, and

when the failure detection unit detects the failure, the control unit controls the extension driving unit to extend the wheel base length in the control to extend the wheel base length.

6. The traveling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member disposed between the front wheel supporting member and the rear wheel supporting member and configured to extend the wheel base length when an locking part is unlocked, wherein when the failure detection unit detects the failure, the control unit unlocks the locking part of the elastic member in the control to extend the wheel base length.

7. The traveling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target speed is associated with the wheel base length in such a way that the greater the wheel base length, the greater the target speed becomes.