Motorized unicycle wheel

• US 4,109,741 A
• Filed: 07/29/1977
• Issued: 08/29/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles L. Gabriel
• Original Assignee: Charles L. Gabriel
• Inventors: Gabriel, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/820,377
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 180/21, 180/10, 180/65 R, 180/65 F, 180/34, 180/1 R, 180/1 G, 280/11.11 E, 280/205, 280/206, 310/67, 272/1 R
• US Class Current: 180/21
• 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 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/22 Yaw angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/34 Stabilising upright position of vehicles, e.g. of single axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 1/00 Unicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/12 with the engine beside or within the driven wheel
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A unicycle wheel has a fixed unit having fixed pedals on either side thereof on which the operator stands, and a rotatable ground engaging unit mounted on the fixed unit and forming a hollow body with it. Drive means are mounted within the hollow body together with means operated upon forward or rearward tilting of the pedals by the operator to rotate the wheel in either direction and to control its speed of movement in response to the degree of tilting.

Claims

1. A power operated unicycle wheel, comprising a fixed member, foot supporting pedals mounted on the fixed member for angular rocking movement with the fixed member, a rotatable member comprising a cup shaped body rotatably mounted on the fixed member and forming a hollow body therewith, power operated means within the hollow body connected to the rotatable member to cause rotation thereof, and means controlled by rocking movement of the foot pedals for energizing the power operated means and controlling the direction and speed of rotation thereof.

2. A power operated unicycle wheel, comprising a fixed unit comprising a circular plate, a shaft extending at right angles from the center of the plate, two pedals extending diametrically of the plate, one on the opposite side of the plate from that of the shaft and the other at the outer end of the shaft, a rotatable unit comprising a cup shaped body rotatably mounted on the shaft and having a bottom which is parallel to the plate of the fixed unit and a surrounding flange the outer edge of which is adjacent the periphery of the plate of the fixed unit and the outer surface of which is adapted to engage the ground surface, the fixed and rotatable units forming a hollow body with the pedals exterior thereto and on opposite sides thereof, a gear wheel connected to the rotatable unit within the hollow body, a reversing electric motor mounted on the plate of the fixed unit within the hollow body and having an armature having a gear thereon in mesh with the gear wheel, and means for energizing the electric motor.

3. A power operated unicycle wheel according to claim 2, in which the pedals are mounted for limited tilting fore-and-aft movement with respect to the fixed unit, and means controlled by such tilting movement of the pedals to control the direction of rotation of the motor and of the rotatable unit.