FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLIES AND VEHICLES INCLUDING SAME
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a frame defining a roll axis;
an engine supported by the frame;
a steering assembly pivotally coupled with the frame and pivotable about a steering axis;
a front wheel rotatably coupled with the steering assembly;
a rear wheel rotatably coupled with the frame;
a brake system associated with at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel and configured to facilitate selective braking of at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel;
a flywheel assembly comprising at least one inertial mass and being coupled with the frame, said at least one inertial mass being rotatable about a spin axis, wherein rotation of each of said at least one inertial mass produces an overall spin vector that extends coaxially with the spin axis; and
a controller coupled with the flywheel assembly and configured to facilitate selective rotation of said at least one inertial mass in order to produce the overall spin vector in anticipation of one of vehicular acceleration and vehicular deceleration.
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Abstract
A vehicle includes a frame, an engine, a steering assembly, a steerable wheel, a brake system, a flywheel assembly, and a controller. The frame defines a roll axis. The engine is supported by the frame. The steering assembly is pivotally coupled with the frame and is pivotable about a steering axis. The steerable wheel is rotatably coupled with the steering assembly. The flywheel assembly comprises at least one inertial mass and is coupled with the frame. A controller is coupled with the flywheel assembly and is configured to facilitate rotation of said at least one inertial mass.
58 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame defining a roll axis; an engine supported by the frame; a steering assembly pivotally coupled with the frame and pivotable about a steering axis; a front wheel rotatably coupled with the steering assembly; a rear wheel rotatably coupled with the frame; a brake system associated with at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel and configured to facilitate selective braking of at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel; a flywheel assembly comprising at least one inertial mass and being coupled with the frame, said at least one inertial mass being rotatable about a spin axis, wherein rotation of each of said at least one inertial mass produces an overall spin vector that extends coaxially with the spin axis; and a controller coupled with the flywheel assembly and configured to facilitate selective rotation of said at least one inertial mass in order to produce the overall spin vector in anticipation of one of vehicular acceleration and vehicular deceleration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame defining a roll axis; an engine supported by the frame; a steering assembly pivotally coupled with the frame and pivotable about a steering axis; a front wheel rotatably coupled with the steering assembly; a rear wheel rotatably coupled with the frame; a brake system associated with at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel and configured to facilitate selective braking of at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel; a flywheel assembly comprising at least one inertial mass and being coupled with the frame, said at least one inertial mass being rotatable about a spin axis, wherein rotation of each of said at least one inertial mass produces one of a positive overall spin vector and a negative overall spin vector each extending coaxially with the spin axis; and a controller coupled with the flywheel assembly and configured to control rotation of said at least one inertial mass in anticipation of an approaching turn. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a motorcycle, the motorcycle comprising a flywheel assembly having a braking system and at least one inertial mass that is rotatable about a spin axis, the method comprising:
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rotating each of said at least one inertial mass to produce an overall spin vector; and controlling each of said at least one inertial mass to produce the overall spin vector in anticipation of one of vehicular deceleration and vehicular acceleration, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for operating a motorcycle, the motorcycle comprising a flywheel assembly having a braking system and at least one inertial mass that is rotatable about a spin axis, the method comprising:
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rotating each of said at least one inertial mass to produce a positive overall spin vector and a negative overall spin vector; and controlling each of said at least one inertial mass to produce the positive overall spin vector and the negative overall spin vector in anticipation of an approaching leftward turn and an approaching rightward turn, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification