ELECTRIC BICYCLE

• US 20160031516A1
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Southey, Bruce, Potticary, Simon, Neugebauer, James, Gerhardt, Torsten, Craven, Richard, Mundy, Jonathan, James, Lloyd
• Granted Patent: US 9,701,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 3/00 Steering gears power assisted or power driven B62D5/00; steering linkages B62D7/00; for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; gearing in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2005/008 Arrangements or adaptations for supporting U-locks on cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/003 using chains or cables chain or cable locks per se E05B67/003; with alarm E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/08 Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/20 characterised by the mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/30 for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/21 : intended to provide information to rider or passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/015 : using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/045 : indicating braking
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/00 : Collapsible or foldable cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 : the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/008 : foldable about 2 or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2015/001 : Frames adapted to be easily dismantled
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2015/005 : having additional wheels for use when folded or collapsed
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/16 : having adjustable parts therein
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 : Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/02 : for mounting axles rigidly on cycle frame or fork, e.g. adjustably
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/00 : Bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/02 : Frames tandem frames B62K3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 : Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 : characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/06 : directly under the saddle or seat
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 71/00 : Locks specially adapted for bicycles, other than padlocks locks integral with holders for parking or storing bicycles B62H3/00; locks integral with cycles B62H5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/10 : without using feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 : External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 : for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 : the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 : Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A bicycle includes a frame including first and second segments pivotable relative to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position. A magnet is fixed relative to the first segment. An electromagnet is fixed relative to the second segment and disposed in a magnetic field of the magnet when the frame is in the folded position. A controller is configured to power the electromagnet to repel the magnet to unfold the frame.

Claims

1. A bicycle comprising:

a frame including first and second segments pivotable relative to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position;

a magnet fixed relative to the first segment;

an electromagnet fixed relative to the second segment and disposed in a magnetic field of the magnet when the frame is in the folded position; and

a controller configured to power the electromagnet to repel the magnet to unfold the frame.

2. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a power source coupled to the controller and wherein the controller connects the power source to the electromagnet to power the electromagnet.

3. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a power source and a switch coupled to the power source and the controller, the controller being programmed to close the switch to power the electromagnet.

4. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to prevent supply of power to the electromagnet in the absence of detection of a security pass.

5. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to prevent supply of power to the electromagnet in the absence of detection of a pre-identified mobile phone.

6. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to prevent supply of power to the electromagnet in the absence of detection of a wireless proximity device.

7. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the magnet has poles and the electromagnet has poles and wherein common poles of the magnet and the electromagnet are aligned when the frame is in the folded position.

8. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second segments of the frame each include a wheel support member and wherein the magnet is fixed to the wheel support member of the first segment and the electromagnet is fixed to the wheel support member of the second segment.

9. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a spring extending from the first segment to the second segment and urging the first segment and the segment toward the unfolded position.

10. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a handlebar pivotably coupled to the first segment between an extended position and a retracted position, a second magnet fixed to one of the handlebar and the first segment, and the other of the handlebar and the first segment including a ferromagnetic portion disposed in the magnetic field of the second magnet when the handlebar is in the extended position.

11. The bicycle as set forth in claim 10 wherein the second magnet is a second electromagnet and wherein the controller is configured to power the second electromagnet to attract the ferromagnetic portion to hold the handlebar in the extended position.

12. The bicycle as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a mechanical lock releasably engaging the handlebar and the first segment when the handlebar is in the extended position.

13. The bicycle as set forth in claim 12 wherein the mechanical lock is configured to notify the controller when the mechanical lock engages the handlebar and the first segment.

14. The bicycle as set forth in claim 12 wherein the controller is programmed to power the second electromagnet for a predetermined period of time after the electromagnet is powered.

15. The bicycle as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a mechanical lock releasably engaging the handlebar and the first segment when the handlebar is in the extended position.

16. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a sensor in one of the first and second segments and configured to sense when the frame is in at least one of the folded position and the unfolded position.

17. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electromagnet includes a ferromagnetic portion positioned to be magnetically attracted to the magnet when the frame is in the folded position.

18. A system for a bicycle comprising a computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions, the instructions comprising programming to:

receive an instruction from an input device to move a first segment and a second segment of a bicycle frame from a folded position to an unfolded position; and

provide, in response to the instruction from the input device, an instruction to connect a power source to an electromagnet to repel a magnet that is magnetically coupled to the electromagnet.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to, in response from the instruction from the input device, provide an instruction to connect the power source to a second electromagnet on one of the first segment and a bicycle handlebar to magnetically attract the bicycle handlebar.

20. The system as set forth in claim 19 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to receive an indication from a lock that the bicycle handlebar is locked in an extended position relative to the first segment and to provide an instruction to disconnect the power source from the second electromagnet in response to the indication from the lock.