Vehicle steerable by movement of center of gravity

• US 7,481,291 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2004
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Gousuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arce Diaz; Marlon A
• Application Number:
  US10/558,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20060260862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 180/218, 180/181, 180/89.14, 180/327
• US Class Current: 180/218
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 17/00 Cycles not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle which can travel in the front and back direction and which can turn by right and left wheels rotated when a rider riding on a step-board moves the position of rider'"'"'s balance from the center of a vehicle base.

A vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to the present invention includes left and right wheels 4L and 4R located at least on the same axis, first and second drive motors 5L and 5R for rotating the left and right wheels 4L, 4R, a vehicle base 2 having the left and right wheels located at its left and right sides and which has the first and second drive motors mounted thereon, a step-board 3 located above the vehicle base 2 and on which a rider rides, pressure sensors 6L, 6R, 7L, 7R interposed between the vehicle base and the step-board to detect movement of rider'"'"'s balance and a drive control means 10 for controlling driving of the first and second drive motors based on detected signals from the pressure sensors to enable the vehicle to travel straight and/or turn.

According to the present invention, it is possible for the rider to run the vehicle in the front and back direction and to turn the vehicle in the left and right direction by only moving rider'"'"'s weight.

Claims

1. A vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance comprising:

first and second wheels located at least on the same axis;

first rotary drive means for rotating said first wheel and second rotary drive means for rotating said second wheel;

a vehicle base having said first and second wheels located at its right and left sides and which has said first and second rotary drive means mounted on a top surface of the base;

a step-board located above said vehicle base and on which a rider rides;

balance position detecting means interposed between said vehicle base and said step-board to detect a rider'"'"'s balance position, wherein the vehicle can be steered based on the balance position, the balance position detecting means includes a front-side detecting means located ahead of the axis and back-side detecting means located behind the axis; and

drive control means for controlling driving of said first and second rotary drive means to maintain the balanced state of said vehicle based on a detected signal from said balance position detecting means if the balance position is located at the center of balance of said vehicle base, and controlling driving of said first and second rotary drive means to enable said vehicle to travel straight and/or turn if the balance position is not located at the center of balance of said vehicle base.

2. In a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position wherein characterized in that said balance position detecting means is composed of two front-side detecting means located at right and left sides ahead of the position of rider riding on said vehicle base and two back-side detecting means located at right and left sides behind the position of rider riding on said vehicle base.

3. In a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position according to claim 1 a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position wherein said front-side detecting means and said back-side detecting means are both pressure sensors.

4. In a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position wherein a third wheel is provided in addition to said first and second wheels said third wheel being located with a displacement ahead of or behind an axial line connecting said first and second wheels.

5. In a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position wherein third and fourth wheels located on the same axis are provided in addition to said first and second wheels said third and fourth wheels being located with a displacement ahead of or behind an axial line connecting said first and second wheels.

6. In a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position wherein said wheel base is provided with a support shaft to rotatably support said step-board at one portion in substantially a point-contact fashion.

7. In a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position according to claim 6, a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position wherein said support shaft is provided on said vehicle base so as to rise at the balance position of said vehicle base.

8. In a vehicle which can be steered based on balance position according to claim 1, wherein the balance position detecting means includes two front-side detecting means located at right and left sides ahead of the position of rider riding on the vehicle base and two back-side detecting means located at right and left sides behind the position of rider riding on the vehicle base, and

wherein the step-board is mounted on a top surface of each detecting means.