Combination pedal/motor driven tricycle
First Claim
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1. A combination Pedal/Motor Driven Tricycle comprising:
- a. a carriage frame having a steering end, and a driving end with a support platform there between structured to provide a passenger compartment with ingress and egress and seating for a passenger, when in use;
b. a steering wheel rotatably and pivotally mounted on the steering end, c. a steering assembly operably associated with the steering wheel to turn said steering wheel in a desired direction by an operator, d. a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on the drive end, e. dual direction electric motors operably associated with each of the drive wheels to move the tricycle at a desired speed and direction and provide for the differential wheel speed needed when going around curves eliminating the need for a differential gear, f. a storage battery mounted to the frame operably associated with the electric motors to power the same, g. a pedal operated electric generator mounted to the frame and operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, h. an aerodynamic enclosure with a top, windows and door surrounding the passenger compartment attached to the frame through which a passenger may enter and exit the passenger compartment, said enclosure structured to minimize air resistance to enable the vehicle to be powered by minimal sized motors and batteries meeting the desired performance load and speed requirements, i. a solar panel mounted to the top of the aerodynamic enclosure also operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, and j. operating controls associated with the electric motor and battery to selectively activate the same to drive the drive wheels and power the vehicle at the desired speed and forward and reverse direction;
whereby said vehicle components are designed to provide enough power for an operator to meet urban commuter applications within the constraints of energy available from solar, battery and pedal sources.
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Abstract
A zero-emissions electric three-wheeled, enclosed scooter with two 1 hp motors driven from batteries charged by solar panels and a pedal-driven generator; also incorporating an innovative rear wheel drive and suspension system and a tilt capability to reduce parking space requirement to approximately one quarter of that of a conventional automobile.
38 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A combination Pedal/Motor Driven Tricycle comprising:
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a. a carriage frame having a steering end, and a driving end with a support platform there between structured to provide a passenger compartment with ingress and egress and seating for a passenger, when in use;
b. a steering wheel rotatably and pivotally mounted on the steering end, c. a steering assembly operably associated with the steering wheel to turn said steering wheel in a desired direction by an operator, d. a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on the drive end, e. dual direction electric motors operably associated with each of the drive wheels to move the tricycle at a desired speed and direction and provide for the differential wheel speed needed when going around curves eliminating the need for a differential gear, f. a storage battery mounted to the frame operably associated with the electric motors to power the same, g. a pedal operated electric generator mounted to the frame and operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, h. an aerodynamic enclosure with a top, windows and door surrounding the passenger compartment attached to the frame through which a passenger may enter and exit the passenger compartment, said enclosure structured to minimize air resistance to enable the vehicle to be powered by minimal sized motors and batteries meeting the desired performance load and speed requirements, i. a solar panel mounted to the top of the aerodynamic enclosure also operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, and j. operating controls associated with the electric motor and battery to selectively activate the same to drive the drive wheels and power the vehicle at the desired speed and forward and reverse direction;
whereby said vehicle components are designed to provide enough power for an operator to meet urban commuter applications within the constraints of energy available from solar, battery and pedal sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)
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11. A combination Pedal/Motor Driven Tricycle comprising:
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a. a tiltable carriage frame having a steering end, and a driving end with a support platform there between structured to provide a passenger compartment with ingress and egress and seating for a passenger, when in use, and to tilt and upend the steering end of the tricycle to stand on the support platform, when parked;
b. a steering wheel rotatably and pivotally mounted on the steering end, c. a steering assembly operably associated with the steering wheel to turn said steering wheel in a desired direction by an operator, d. a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on the drive end, e. a pair of rear wheel suspension and drive assemblies associated with each drive wheel having a combination chain drive and V-belt drive using different size pulleys and chain rings to provide a desired wheel drive ratio and some slippage under high loads or shock loads when driven by the electric motors, f. dual direction electric motors operably associated with each of the drive wheels to move the tricycle at the desired speed and direction and provide for the differential wheel speed needed when going around curves eliminating the need for a differential gear, g. a storage battery mounted to the frame operably associated with the electric motors to power the same, h. a pedal operated electric generator mounted to the frame and operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, i. an aerodynamic enclosure with a top, windows and door surrounding the passenger compartment attached to the frame through which a passenger may enter and exit the passenger compartment, said enclosure structured to minimize air resistance to enable the vehicle to be powered by minimal sized motors and batteries meeting the desired performance load and speed requirements, j. a solar panel mounted to the top of the aerodynamic enclosure also operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, and k. operating controls associated with the electric motor and battery to selectively activate the same to drive the drive wheels and power the vehicle at the desired speed and forward and reverse direction;
whereby said vehicle components are designed to provide enough power for an operator to meet urban commuter applications within the constraints of energy available from solar, battery and pedal sources.
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14. A combination Pedal/Motor Driven Tricycle comprising:
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a. a tiltable carriage frame having a steering end, and a driving end with a support platform therebetween structured to provide a passenger compartment with ingress and egress and seating for a passenger, when in use, and to tilt and upend the steering end of the tricycle to stand on the support platform, when parked;
b. a steering wheel rotatably and pivotally mounted on the steering end, c. a steering assembly operably associated with the steering wheel to turn said steering wheel in a desired direction by an operator, the steering assembly consisting of i. a pivoting fork assembly with a top, and two inner and outer ends spaced apart to accommodate the width and diameter of a steering wheel whose axle is rotatably mounted therebetween to the forked inner and outer ends and the top pivotally attached to the tilting frame to rotate the steering wheel, ii. a spring suspension shock absorber connecting the pivoting fork assembly to the carriage frame, iii. a steering bar with ends attached to the top of the pivoting fork assembly to turn it in a desired direction, iv. a steering handle turnably mounted to the tilting frame, and v. steering cables attached to the ends of the steering bar and operably associated with the steering handle to turn the steering bar in response to the movement of the steering handle. d. a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on the drive end, e. a pair of rear wheel suspension and drive assemblies associated with each drive wheel having;
i. a combination chain drive and V-belt drive using different size pulleys and chain rings to provide a desired wheel drive ratio and some slippage under high loads or shock loads when driven by electric motors, and ii. a pie-slice-shaped frame with 1. a spine having a pivoting end attached to the bottom of the carriage frame and an upper end, 2. a vertical fork attached to the upper end with tines and tine ends, and 3. an horizontal fork with a front end attached to the pivoting end of the spine with tines and tine ends,
the vertical and horizontal fork tines with dimensions spaced apart to accommodate the width and diameter of a drive wheel to partially surround the drive wheel and their tine ends having slotted plates to which the drive wheel axle is rotatably mounted, and4. a spring shock absorbing assembly attached to the top of the vertical fork proximate the upper end between the vehicle frame to allow the pie slice shaped frame to pivot and absorb road shocks. 5. a metal block attached to the front end of the horizontal fork to fit between two swinging plates rotatably mounted on bearings which are concentrically mounted on the outside of a cylinder attached to the vehicle frame and housing the main drive shaft, 6. a drive shaft concentrically mounted with ball bearings on the inside of the said cylinder and rigidly attached to the vehicle frame, f. two reversible electric motors with drive shafts with 1. a small drive sprocket mounted on the outside of said motor drive shaft and aligned with 2. a large sprocket mounted on the drive wheel axle, 3. a large diameter v-belt pulley mounted on the inside of said motor drive shaft, 4. a motor drive pulley attached to the inside of the motor drive shaft, 6. a continuous chain drive connecting the small shaft sprocket to the wheel sprocket, and 7. a continuous belt drive connecting the motor and wheel pulleys operably associated with each of the drive wheels to move the tricycle in the desired direction, whereby said motors provide for the differential wheel speed needed when going around curves eliminating the need for a differential gear, g. a storage battery mounted to the frame operably associated with the electric motors to power the same, h. a pedal operated electric generator mounted to the frame and operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, i. an aerodynamic enclosure with a top, windows and door surrounding the passenger compartment attached to the frame through which a passenger may enter and exit the passenger compartment, said enclosure structured to minimize air resistance to enable the vehicle to be powered by minimal sized motors and batteries meeting the desired performance load and speed requirements, j. a solar panel mounted to the top of the aerodynamic enclosure also operably associated with the storage battery to charge said battery, and k. operating controls associated with the electric motor and battery to selectively activate the same to drive the drive wheels and power the vehicle at the desired speed and forward and reverse direction;
whereby said vehicle components are designed to provide enough power for an operator to meet urban commuter applications within the constraints of energy available from solar, battery and pedal sources.
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Specification