Vehicles and methods using center of gravity and mass shift control system

• US 7,350,787 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Darrell W. Voss
• Original Assignee: Darrell W. Voss
• Inventors: Voss, Darrell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/113,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.5, 280/5.507, 280/281.1, 280/283, 280/288.4, 180/218
• US Class Current: 280/5.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/63 Location of the center of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/414 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/415 Inclination sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/32 Steering heads bearings therefor B62K21/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/02 Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine

Abstract

A center of gravity (C/G) control system for a vehicle includes sensors to measure the center of gravity shift and mass shift of the human body in relation to the vehicle, a controller to determine outputs, a dynamically adjustable vehicle system, and a power supply. The sensor measures the direction and rate of shift of the center of gravity and mass shift of the human and creates a representative input signal. The controller determines the appropriate outputs in response to the relative center of gravity shift data received. The dynamically adjustable vehicle system receives the controller output and performs the expected action.

Claims

1. A payload transport bicycle having a ride characteristic adjustment mechanism, said payload having a mass, the improvement comprising:

sensor apparatus for sensing a mass shift of said payload relative to said bicycle and producing signals corresponding to said mass shift, and

means coupling said signals to said ride adjustment mechanism to adjust the ride characteristic of said bicycle.

2. In a two-wheeled payload transport vehicle having a ride characteristic adjustment mechanism in the form of an attached dynamic system and wherein said attached dynamic system includes, singly or in multiple, front suspension, rear suspension, dual suspension, front brake, rear brake, front drive, rear drive, adjustable frame geometry, safety equipment, steering control, and power control, said payload having a center of gravity position, the improvement comprising:

sensor apparatus for sensing changes in said center of gravity position of said payload relative to said vehicle, and

means connected to said ride characteristic adjustment mechanism and responsive to sensed changes in said center of gravity position to adjust the ride characteristic of said vehicle; and

wherein said vehicle is selected from a human or motor powered vehicles including bicycles, scooters, skateboards, mopeds, electric bikes, and motorcycles.

3. In a two-wheeled payload transport vehicle having a ride characteristic adjustment mechanism in the form of an attached dynamic system and wherein said attached dynamic system includes, singly or in multiple, front suspension, rear suspension, dual suspension, front brake, rear brake, front drive, rear drive, adjustable frame geometry, safety equipment, steering control, and power control, said payload having a center of gravity position, the improvement comprising:

sensor apparatus for sensing changes in said center of gravity position of said payload relative to said vehicle, and

means connected to said ride characteristic adjustment mechanism and responsive to sensed changes in said center of gravity position to adjust the ride characteristic of said vehicle and wherein said vehicle is a bicycle and said ride characteristic adjustment mechanism is a shock absorber.

4. The payload transport vehicle defined in claim 3 wherein said means connected to said ride characteristic adjustment mechanism includes a linkage.

5. A payload transport bicycle having a ride characteristic adjustment mechanism, said payload having a mass, the improvement comprising:

sensor apparatus for sensing a mass shift of said payload relative to said bicycle and producing signals corresponding to said mass shift, and

means coupling said signals to said ride adjustment mechanism to adjust the ride characteristic of said bicycle, and wherein said ride characteristic adjustment mechanism includes, singly or in multiple, front suspension, rear suspension, dual suspension, front brake, rear brake, front drive, rear drive, adjustable frame geometry, safety equipment, steering control, and power.