Occupant-propelled fluid powered rotary device, truck, wheeled platform, or vehicle

• US 20050280233A1
• Filed: 01/05/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey N. Cole
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey N. Cole
• Inventors: Cole, Jeffrey E., Orand, Nicolas, Vijayakumar, Srihari
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/87.042
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/00 Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles rider propulsion with additional source of power B62M6/00; propulsion by ground-engaging rods B62M29/02

Abstract

A device for generating rotational energy for hydraulic fluids, which includes at least one hydraulic cylinder, the at least one hydraulic cylinder comprising at least two chambers, wherein each of the at least two chambers are in fluid communication with the other. The hydraulic fluid is displaced from the hydraulic cylinder to an accumulator and a valve, which controls the release of the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor receives the hydraulic fluid from the accumulator and valve creating torque to drive a wheel or other device.

Claims

1. A device for generating rotational energy for hydraulic fluids comprising:

at least one hydraulic cylinder, the at least one hydraulic cylinder comprising at least two chambers, wherein each of the at least two chambers are in fluid communication with the other; and

an accumulator system comprising;

at least two accumulators configured to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic cylinder;

a valve adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least two accumulators;

at least one hydraulic motor adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the valve, wherein the hydraulic motor is configured to rotate by the displaced hydraulic fluid creating torque; and

a reservoir adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic motor and return the hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic cylinder.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the accumulators are gas loaded.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pair of directional control valves configured to direct the flow of the hydraulic fluid to engage or bypass the hydraulic motor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the valve system is configured to allow communication of hydraulic fluid between one of the accumulators and the directional control valve and prevent communication of hydraulic fluid between the other accumulator and the other direction control valve.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a platform attachable to the at least one hydraulic cylinder at a first connection point and a second connection point, wherein movement of the platform from a first position to a second position causes one of the at least two chambers to displace a hydraulic fluid to the other chamber; and

a housing attachable to the platform at a pivot point and having at least one axle adapted to receive at least one wheel, wherein the pivot point is approximately symmetrically positioned between the first connection point and the second connection point of the at least one hydraulic cylinder.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydraulic cylinder is a double-ended-piston-rod hydraulic cylinder.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the at least two chambers of the double-ended-piston-rod hydraulic cylinder are separated by a piston.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydraulic cylinder comprises at least two hydraulic cylinders.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein the platform is a deck of a skateboard.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein the directional control valve further comprises a control valve configured to adjust a defined working pressure range within which the at least one hydraulic motor receives hydraulic fluid and an outside pressure range within which the hydraulic fluid bypasses the hydraulic motor.

11. A hydraulic skateboard comprising:

a skateboard deck;

a pair of skateboard trucks, each skateboard truck being adapted to be attachable to the skateboard deck and comprising at least one axle protruding from the truck, wherein each of the at least one axles is configured to receive at least one wheel;

at least two hydraulic cylinders, each of the at least two hydraulic cylinders in fluid communication the other via a conduit, and wherein the skateboard deck is attachable to the at least two hydraulic cylinders, such that movement of the skateboard deck from a first position to a second position causes the hydraulic cylinders to displace a hydraulic fluid through the conduit to the other hydraulic cylinder;

an accumulator system comprising;

at least two accumulators configured to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least two hydraulic cylinders;

a valve adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least two accumulators; and

a reservoir adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic motor and return the hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic cylinder;

at least one hydraulic motor adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least two hydraulic cylinders, wherein the hydraulic motor is configured to rotate by the displaced hydraulic fluid creating torque to drive the at least one axle and configured to be attachable to the skateboard deck at a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is approximately symmetrically positioned between a first connection point and a second connection point of the at least two hydraulic cylinders and the skateboard deck; and

at least two wheels attached to the at least one axle of each skateboard truck.

12. The skateboard of claim 11, further comprising a directional control valve configured to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid to engage or bypass the hydraulic motor.

13. The skateboard of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two hydraulic cylinder comprise a cylinder configured to receive and displace the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder.

14. The skateboard of claim 11, further comprising a control member configured to adjust a defined working pressure range within which the at least one hydraulic motor receives hydraulic fluid and an outside pressure range within which hydraulic fluids bypass the hydraulic motor.

15. A method of powering a device comprising:

providing a hydraulic system comprising;

at least one hydraulic cylinder, the at least one hydraulic cylinder comprising at least two chambers, wherein each of the at least two chambers are in fluid communication with the other;

at least two accumulators configured to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic cylinder;

a valve system adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least two accumulators;

at least one hydraulic motor adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the valve system, wherein the hydraulic motor is configured to rotate by the displaced hydraulic fluid creating torque; and

a reservoir adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic motor and return the hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic cylinder;

compressing one chamber of the at least one hydraulic cylinder;

expanding the other chamber of the at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein the compressing and expanding of the two chambers displaces a hydraulic fluid to the at least two accumulators to release a pressurized hydraulic fluid to the valve system and at least one hydraulic motor to create torque.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displacing the hydraulic fluid through a directional control valve adapted to direct the fluid to the motor or to a bypass valve and the reservoir.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the expanding and compressing of the at least one hydraulic cylinder is performed by dipping a skateboard deck from side to side.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the torque from the hydraulic motor drives a wheel.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the pressurized hydraulic fluid before releasing the hydraulic fluid to the valve system and at least one hydraulic motor.

20. A method of propelling a wheeled platform comprising:

creating a source of human generated energy;

storing the source of energy; and

releasing the source of energy to propel the wheeled platform.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the source of the human generated energy is created upon loading of the wheeled platform.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the source of energy is released upon unloading of the platform.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the source of energy is released to a hydraulic motor, wherein the hydraulic motor is configured to propel the wheeled platform.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the wheeled platform comprises:

a platform;

a pair of trucks, each truck being adapted to be attachable to the platform and comprising at least one axle protruding from the truck and configured to receive a wheel; and

at least one wheel attached to the at least one axle of each truck.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the source of human generated energy is created by rotating the platform along a longitudinal axis.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the source of human generated energy is created by differential movement of the platform relative to a truck.