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

• US 7,216,876 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey N. Cole
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey N. Cole
• Inventors: Cole, Jeffrey E., Orand, Nicolas, Vijayakumar, Srihari
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Hau
• Application Number:
  US11/030,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 280/42.23, 280/93.504, 280/124.112, 280/124.114, 280/87.041, 280/87.042, 180/307, 180/9.36, 180/6.24, 604/50, 604/52, 604/48, 604/13, 911/80, 912/20
• US Class Current: 280/43.23
• 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;

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;

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 having at least one axle adapted to receive at least one wheel.

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 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.

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 1, wherein the platform is a deck of a skateboard.

10. 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; and

wherein the expanding and compressing of the at least one hydraulic cylinder is performed by dipping a platform from side to side.

11. The method of claim 10, 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.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the torque from the hydraulic motor drives a wheel.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the pressurized hydraulic fluid before releasing the hydraulic fluid to the valve system and at least one hydraulic motor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the platform is a skateboard deck.

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

a skateboard deck, wherein movement of the skateboard deck from a first position to a second position causes a hydraulic fluid to be displaced;

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

a housing having at least one axle adapted to receive at least one wheel.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the torque from the at least one hydraulic motor directly or indirectly rotates the at least one wheel.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a directional control valve configured to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid to engage or bypass the hydraulic motor.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the directional control valve further comprises a pair of springs 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.

19. The device of claim 15, further comprising an accumulator adapted to store a pressurized hydraulic fluid, wherein the accumulator stores and releases the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor.

20. A method of powering a device comprising:

providing a hydraulic system comprising;

a skateboard deck, wherein movement of the skateboard deck from a first position to a second position causes a hydraulic fluid to be displaced;

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

a housing having at least one axle adapted to receive at least one wheel; and

displacing the hydraulic fluid by dipping the skateboard deck from side to side.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the torque from the at least one hydraulic motor directly or indirectly rotates the at least one wheel.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising a directional control valve configured to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid to engage or bypass the hydraulic motor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the directional control valve further comprises a pair of springs 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.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising an accumulator adapted to store a pressurized hydraulic fluid, wherein the accumulator stores and releases the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor.