Personal transport vehicle and method of improving the maneuverability of a vehicle

• US 5,842,532 A
• Filed: 09/25/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fox American Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fox American Incorporated
• Inventors: Fox, George A., Fox, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US08/721,585
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 180/22, 180/24.06, 180/24.07, 180/24.08, 180/24.11, 180/24.12, 180/6.2, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/65.1, 180/65.6
• US Class Current: 180/6.48
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/046 at least three driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/06 with obstacle mounting facilities, e.g. for climbing stairs, kerbs or steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/107 positioning the whole seat forward or rearward
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/04 by means of separate power sources

Abstract

An all wheel drive personal transport vehicle is provided which can be used to transport persons over a wide range of terrains, while at the same time providing a vehicle that can be easily controlled and maneuvered. The vehicle includes a frame having a front end, a rear end, and first and second opposed sides. A first drive train is supported on the first side of the frame. A second drive train is supported on the second side of the frame. Each of the drive trains are adapted to be driven by a reversible motor and include front, middle, and rear wheels. Each of the wheels includes a pneumatic tires with a tire pressure. Preferably, the tire pressure of each of the middle wheels is greater than either of the tire pressures of the front and rear wheels so that the frame easily pivots about the tires on the middle wheels when the drive trains are driven in opposite directions or at different speeds. The increased tire pressure in the middle tires causes a greater proportion of the weight of the vehicle to be directed to the middle tires, thus minimizing the drag between the front and rear tires and the support surface. A method of improving the maneuverability of a six wheel drive vehicle is provided which includes the steps of providing a six wheel drive vehicle having a pair of front tires, middle tires, and rear tires and providing a pressure in each of the tires. The middle tires are provided with a pressure in the range of approximately two to four times greater than any of the tire pressures of the front and rear tires, such that the weight of the vehicle is distributed with greater proportion to the middle tires and the turning ability and general maneuvering ability is improved.

Claims

1. A personal transport vehicle comprising:

a frame having a front end, a rear end, and first and second opposed sides;

a first drive train supported on said first side of said frame;

a second drive train supported on said second side of said frame; and

each of said drive trains adapted to be driven by a reversible motor and including front, middle, and rear wheels, each of said wheels being rotatably mounted and having a pressurized tire with a tire pressure, said tire pressure of each of said tires on said middle wheels being greater than either of said tire pressures of said front and rear wheels so that said frame pivots about said tires on said middle wheels when said drive trains are driven in opposite directions or at different speeds.

2. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of said wheels are mounted on driven axles extending from and rotatably supported by said first and second sides of said frame.

3. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each of said axles are adapted to be driven about an axis of rotation and said axles are aligned in a common plane, whereby all of said tires are aligned for simultaneously engaging a support surface.

4. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a control system including;

a control handle having a plurality of positions about first and second axes; and

at least one drive assembly in communication with said handle and with said reversible motors, said drive assembly adapted to convert each of said positions of said handle into first and second voltages and for applying said first voltage to one of said motors and said second voltage to the other of said motors.

5. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said control handle comprises a resistive joy-stick.

6. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a first reversible motor adapted to be powered, said first reversible motor having a drive shaft drivingly coupled to said axle of said middle wheel on said first side of said frame;

a second reversible motor adapted to be powered, said second reversible motor having a drive shaft drivingly coupled to said axle of said middle wheel on said second side of said frame; and

each of said axles of said middle wheels drivingly coupled to said axle of said front wheel on its respective side and to said axle of said rear wheel on its respective side.

7. A personal transport vehicle comprising:

a frame adapted to support a person, said frame having a forward end, a rear end, and first and second spaced apart sides;

a first set of wheels independently rotatably mounted on said first side of said frame;

a second set of wheels independently rotatably mounted said second side of said frame;

each of said first and second sets of wheels including a center wheel, a front wheel, and a rear wheel, each of said wheels including tires mounted thereto having generally the same diameter;

each of said wheels being mounted on a respective load bearing axle, said respective load bearing axles being rotatably supported by said frame, each of said axles having an axis of rotation, said axes of rotation aligned in a common plane, whereby said tires are aligned for simultaneously engaging a support surface;

a first reversible motor adapted for connection to a power source, said first motor having a drive shaft coupled to said respective load bearing axle of said center wheel of said first set of wheels;

a second reversible motor adapted for connection to a power source, said second motor having a drive shaft coupled to said respective load bearing axle of said center wheel of said second set of wheels, said center wheel of each of said first and second wheel sets being rotatably coupled to said front wheel and said rear wheel in said respective wheel set; and

an electrical control system comprising;

a pivotal handle having a plurality of positions about first and second axes; and

at least one drive circuit in communication with said handle and with said reversible motors, said drive circuit adapted to convert each of said positions of said handle into first and second voltages and to apply said first and second voltages to said first and second motors, respectively.

8. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said drive assembly includes:

a first drive assembly coupled to said pivotal handle and to said first reversible motor, said first drive assembly adapted to convert each of said positions of said pivotal handle into a first voltage and to apply said first voltage to said first motor; and

a second drive assembly coupled to said pivotal handle and to said second reversible motor, said second drive assembly adapted to convert each of said positions of said pivotal handle into a second voltage and to apply said second voltage to said second motor.

9. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said pivotal handle comprises a joy-stick.

10. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said axles of said first wheel set are mounted on said first side of said frame, said axles of said second wheel set mounted on said second side of said frame, each axle of said center wheels including three sprockets, a first of said three sprockets on said axle of said center wheel on said first side of said frame coupled to said first motor shaft, a second of said sprockets on said axle of said center wheel on said first side of said frame coupled to said axle of said front wheel on said first side of said frame, a third of said sprockets on said axle of said center wheel on said first side coupled to said axle of said rear wheel on said first side, a first of said sprockets on said axle of said center wheel on said second side coupled to said second motor shaft, a second of said sprockets on said axle of said center wheel on said second side coupled to said axle of said front wheel on said second side, and a third of said sprockets on said axle of said center wheel on said second side coupled to said axle of said rear wheel on said second side.

11. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said sprockets are coupled to said respective motor shafts and axles by chain linkages.

12. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said frame includes a seat for supporting the person.

13. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 7, wherein each of said tires generates a coefficient of friction with the support surface, said tires of said center wheels generating a higher coefficient of friction with the support surface than said tires of said front and rear wheels whereby the maneuverability of said personal transport vehicle is improved.

14. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said tires of each of said wheels have a stiffness, said tires of said center wheels having a greater stiffness than said tires of said front and rear wheels whereby said tires of said center wheels generate a higher coefficient of friction with the support surface than said tires of said front and rear wheels whereby the maneuverability of said personal transport vehicle is improved.

16. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 10, said first tire pressure being in the range of approximately 2.5 to 3.5 times greater than said tire pressures of said tires of said front and back wheels.

15. A personal transport vehicle comprising:

a frame adapted to support a person, said frame having a forward end, a rear end, and first and second spaced apart sides;

a first set of wheels independently rotatable mounted on said first side of said frame;

a second set of wheels independently rotatably mounted said second side of said frame;

each of said first and second sets of wheels including a center wheel, a front wheel, and a rear wheel, each of said wheels including tires mounted thereto having generally the same diameter;

each of said wheels adapted to be driven about an axis of rotation, said axes of rotation aligned in a common plane, whereby said tires are aligned for simultaneously engaging a support surface, each of said tires of said center wheels having a first tire pressure, and said tires of said front and back wheels having tire pressures which are less than said first tire pressures;

a first reversible motor adapted for connection to a power source, said first motor having a drive shaft coupled to said center wheel of said first set of wheels;

a second reversible motor adapted for connection to a power source, said second motor having a drive shaft coupled to said center wheel of said second set of wheels, said center wheel of each of said first and second wheel sets being rotatably coupled to said front wheel and said rear wheel in said respective wheel set;

an electrical control system comprising;

a pivotal handle having a plurality of positions about first and second axes; and

at least one drive circuit in communication with said handle and with said reversible motors, said drive circuit adapted to convert each of said positions of said handle into first and second voltages and to apply said first and second voltages to said first and second motors, respectively;

a first drive assembly coupled to said pivotal handle and to said first reversible motor, said first drive assembly adapted to convert each of said positions of said pivotal handle into a first voltage and to apply said first voltage to said first motor; and

a second drive assembly coupled to said pivotal handle and to said second reversible motor, said second drive assembly adapted to convert each of said positions of said pivotal handle into a second voltage and to apply said second voltage to said second motor.

17. A personal transport vehicle comprising:

a frame adapted for supporting a person, said frame having a front end, a back end, and first and second opposed sides;

two sets of axles, each of said sets of axles including three equidistantly spaced axles extending from said opposed sides of said frame, each of said axles adapted to be driven about an axis of rotation, said axles aligned in a common plane;

a ground engaging pressurized tire mounted on each of said axles, said tires having generally the same diameter for simultaneously engaging a support surface;

a first reversible motor adapted for connecting to a power supply, said first motor having a drive shaft drivingly coupled to a center axle of said three axles extending from said first side of said frame;

a second reversible motor adapted to be powered, said second motor having a drive shaft drivingly coupled to a center axle of said three axles extending from said second side of said frame; and

each of said center axles respectively drivingly coupled with a front axle of said three axles extending from a respective side of said frame and with a back axle of said three axles extending from said respective side of said frame, such that when said motors are powered to operate in the same direction all tires are simultaneously driven forward and when one of said motors is operated in an opposite direction from the other of said motors, tires on one set of axles are simultaneously driven forward while the tires on the other set of axles are simultaneously driven backwards, thus turning the transport vehicle about said tires on said center axles, and wherein each of said tires mounted to said center axles has a greater stiffness than said tires of said front and back axles to improve maneuverability of said personal transport vehicle.

18. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 17, further including a control system to selectively power said motors, said control system having a dual-axis handle.

19. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said frame includes a seat for supporting the person.

20. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said seat is centered over said center axles.

21. A personal transport vehicle comprising:

a frame adapted for supporting a person, said frame having a front end, a back end, and first and second opposed sides;

two sets of axles, each of said sets of axles including three equidistantly spaced axles extending from said opposed sides of said frame, each of said axles adapted to be driven about an axis of rotation, said axles aligned in a common plane;

a ground engaging pressurized tire mounted on each of said axles, said tires having generally the same diameter for simultaneously engaging a support surface, said tires of said center axles having a first tire pressure and said tires of said front and back axles generally having tire pressures which are less than said first tire pressure;

a first reversible motor adapted for connecting to a power supply, said first motor having a drive shaft drivingly coupled to a center axle of said three axles extending from said first side of said frame;

a second reversible motor adapted to be powered said second motor having a drive shaft drivingly coupled to a center axle of said three axles extending from said second side of said frame; and

each of said center axles respectively drivingly coupled with a front axle of said three axles extending from a respective side of said frame and with a back axle of said three axles extending from said respective side of said frame such that when said motors are powered to operate in the same direction all tires are simultaneously driven forward and when one of said motors is operated in an opposite direction from the other of said motors, tires on one set of axles are simultaneously driven forward while the tires on the other set of axles are simultaneously driven backwards, thus turning the transport vehicle on said tires about said tires on said center axles.

22. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 21, wherein each of said center axles include three sprockets, a first of said three sprockets on said center axle on said first side of said frame rotatably coupling to said drive shaft of said first motor, a second of said sprockets on said center axle on said first side of said frame rotatably coupling to said front axle on said first side of said frame, a third of said sprockets on said center axle on said first side rotatably coupling to said back axle on said first side, a first of said sprockets on said center axle on said second side rotatably coupling to said drive shaft of said second motor, a second of said sprockets on said center axle on said second side rotatably coupling to said front axle on said second side, and a third of said sprockets on said center axle on said second side rotatably coupling to said back axle on said second side.

23. A personal transport vehicle comprising:

a frame having a front end, a back end, and first and second opposed sides, said sides defining a compartment extending therebetween;

a first load bearing drive center axle rotatable mounted on said first side;

a first load bearing drive back axle rotatably mounted on said first side;

a first load bearing drive front axle rotatable mounted on said first side;

a second load bearing drive center axle rotatable mounted on said second side;

a second load bearing drive back axle rotatably mounted on said second side;

a second load bearing drive front axle rotatable mounted on said second side;

each of said first axles equidistantly spaced along said first side;

each of said second axles equidistantly spaced along said second side, all of said axles aligned in a common plane and having proximate end portions extending into said compartment through the respective sides of said frame;

a pneumatic tire mounted on distal end portions of each of said axles, said tires having substantially the same diameter for simultaneously engaging a ground surface;

a first reversible motor having a drive shaft with a first drive sprocket, said first drive sprocket coupled to said proximate end portion of said first center axle;

a second reversible motor having a drive shaft with a second drive sprocket, said second drive sprocket coupled to said proximate end portion of said second center axle;

said proximate end portions of said first and second center axles respectively coupled for rotation to said proximate end portions of said first and second front axles and to said proximate end portions of said first and second back axles; and

a control system for selectively powering each of said reversible motors.

24. A personal transport vehicle according to claim 23, wherein said control system includes a joy-stick handle.

25. A personal transport vehicle comprising:

a frame having a front end, a back end, and first and second opposed sides, said sides defining a compartment extending therebetween;

a first center axle mounted on said first side;

a first back axle mounted on said first side;

a first front axle mounted on said first side;

a second center axle mounted on said second side;

a second back axle mounted on said second side;

a second front axle mounted on said second side;

each of said first axles equidistantly spaced along said first side;

each of said second axles equidistantly spaced along said second side all of said axles aligned in a common plane and having proximate end portions extending into said compartment through the respective sides of said frame;

a pneumatic tire mounted on distal end portions of each of said axles, said tires having substantially the same diameter for simultaneously engaging a ground surface, each of said tires of said center axles having a first tire pressure and said tires of said front and back axles generally having tire pressures which are less than said first tire pressures, wherein said first tire pressures are in the range of approximately 2 to 4 times greater than said tire pressures of said tires of said front and back axles;

a first reversible motor having a drive shaft with a first drive sprocket, said first drive sprocket coupled to said proximate end portion of said first center axle;

a second reversible motor having a drive shaft with a second drive sprocket, said second drive sprocket coupled to said proximate end portion of said second center axle;

said proximate end portions of said first and second center axles respectively coupled for rotation to said proximate end portions of said first and second front axles and to said proximate end portions of said first and second back axles; and

a control system for selectively powering each of said reversible motors.

26. A method of improving the maneuverability of a six wheel drive vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a six wheel drive vehicle having a pair of front tires, a pair of middle tires, and a pair of rear tires;

providing each of the front tires with a pressure;

providing each of the rear tires with a pressure; and

providing each of the middle tires with a pressure greater than any of the tire pressures of the front and rear tires, such that the weight of the vehicle is distributed with greater proportion to the middle tires and, consequently, reduces the friction between the front and rear tires and a support surface to improve the turning ability and general maneuverability of the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein three of said tires are rotatably mounted in line with one another on each side of the vehicle, the vehicle including a drive assembly for driving said three in-line tires on one side in unison with one another and said three in-line tires on the other side in unison with one another, said method including providing the pressure in each of the middle tires in the range of two to four times greater than the pressures in the front and rear tires.