Dynamically stable transporter controlled by lean

• US 7,789,174 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Ambrogi, Robert R., Field, J. Douglas, Heinzmann, Richard Kurt, Langenfeld, Christopher C., Heinzmann, John David, Kamen, Dean L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/672,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 180/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/08 single-wheel type with single axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/52 Direct actuation of steering of roller skate or skateboards, e.g. by a foot plate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0161 mainly during straight-line motion B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/12 Cycles; Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/20 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/22 Perambulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/26 Carts
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0512 Pitch angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/63 Location of the center of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/40 Steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0192 longitudinal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/915 Suspension load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 : Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/30 : Universal machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/34 : Stabilising upright position of vehicles, e.g. of single axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 : the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/12 : Hand levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 : the driver standing in the vehicle
• 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: B62M 7/00 : Motorcycles characterised by position of motor or engine rider propulsion with addition source of power, e.g. auxiliary combustion engine or electric motor B62M6/00; frames characterised by position of engine B62K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 : Motorized wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/908 : Motor vehicles with short wheelbase

Abstract

A transporter for transporting a subject over a surface that may be irregular. The transporter includes a support platform for supporting a load, the loaded support platform defining fore-aft and lateral planes and characterized by a load distribution. A plurality of ground contacting elements are coupled to the support platform such that the transporter is statically stable with respect to tipping in the fore-aft plane. At least one of the plurality of ground contacting elements is driven by a motorized drive arrangement. A sensor module generates a signal indicative of the local distribution. Based at least on the load distribution, a controller commands the motorized drive arrangement.

Claims

1. A transporter comprising:

a support platform for supporting a load, the support platform defining a fore-aft plane and a lateral plane;

a plurality of ground contacting elements coupled to the support platform such that the support platform is statically stable with respect to tipping in the fore-aft and the lateral plane;

a pivot element pivotally coupled to at least one of the ground contacting elements such that the pivot element is capable of tilting;

a user interface for causing a tilt of the pivot element;

a sensor module for generating a signal indicative of the tilt of the pivot element;

a thumbwheel positioned on the user interface for generating a signal indicative of steering control of the transporter;

a motorized drive arrangement for driving at least two laterally spaced ground contacting elements of the plurality of ground contacting elements;

and a controller for commanding the motorized drive arrangement based on a combination of the signal indicative of the tilt of the pivot element and the signal indicative of steering control of the transporter.

2. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the pivot element is capable of tilting in at least the fore-aft plane.

3. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ground contacting elements include two laterally disposed wheels rotatable around an axis, the pivot element pivotally coupled to the axis.

4. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the pivot element is flexibly coupled to the support platform.

5. The transporter according to claim 4, wherein the pivot element is flexibly coupled to the support platform via at least one spring.

6. The transporter according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is a handlebar coupled to the pivot element.

7. A method for controlling a transporter having a support platform for supporting a load, the support platform defining fore-aft and lateral planes, the transporter including a plurality of ground-contacting elements such that the transporter is statically stable with respect to tipping, the transporter further including a pivot element pivotally coupled to a rotation axis of at least one of the ground contacting elements, the pivot element capable of pivoting around the rotation axis such that the pivot element is capable of tilting, and a motorized drive arrangement for driving at least one of the plurality of ground-contacting elements, the method comprising:

flexibly coupling the pivot element to the support platform;

causing a tilt of the pivot element by pivoting the pivot element around the rotation axis; and

commanding the motorized drive arrangement based at least on the tilt.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein causing the tilt includes tilting a handlebar coupled to the pivot element.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein commanding the motorized drive is further based on a control signal from a transporter user interface.

10. A method for controlling a transporter having a support platform for supporting a load, the support platform defining fore-aft and lateral planes, the transporter including a plurality of ground-contacting elements such that the transporter is statically stable with respect to tipping, the transporter further including a pivot element pivotally coupled to a rotation axis of at least one of the ground contacting elements, the pivot element capable of pivoting around the rotation axis such that the pivot element is capable of tilting, and a motorized drive arrangement for driving at least one of the plurality of ground-contacting elements, the method comprising:

causing a tilt of the pivot element by pivoting the pivot element around the rotation axis;

commanding the motorized drive arrangement based at least on the tilt; and

providing an externally visible indication based on motion commanded.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein providing the externally visible indication is based on acceleration commanded.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein providing the externally visible indication includes illuminating a light.