Motorcycle having interactive lean control

• US 9,555,849 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terracraft Motors Inc.
• Original Assignee: Terracraft Motors Inc.
• Inventors: Abbott, James Wesley, Jones, Bailey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US14/797,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20170008591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 569 Days
• Field of Search: 701/124
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/086 Frame mounted hoods specially adapted for motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/06 tubular
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations a motorized tricycle includes a lean mechanism and an active system that is operably coupled to the lean mechanism that receives an signal indicative of an interaction with human, that is operable to detect a lean of the body of the human and that is operable to receive a sensed movement on the seat via multisensory devices, and to generate and send a signal to the lean mechanism from the signal, the lean and the sensed movement.

Claims

1. A motorized tricycle comprising:

a frame;

two front wheels operably coupled to the frame;

one rear wheel operably coupled to the frame;

a suspension system operably coupled to one or both front wheels, the suspension system including a lean actuator in which one end of the lean actuator is connected to the frame, the lean actuator being configured to tilt the frame of the motorized tricycle;

a plurality of inertial measurement unit sensors, one of which is operably coupled to the frame near a center of gravity of the motorized tricycle, each of the plurality of inertial measurement unit sensors perform measurement of acceleration in three axes, angular rate in three axes, and measures magnetic field in at least one axis;

a lean mechanism controller that is operably coupled to the lean actuator of the suspension system, the lean mechanism controller including a sensor layer that is operably coupled to the plurality of inertial measurement unit sensors, a verification layer that is operably coupled to the sensor layer and that includes a component that determines accuracy of data from the sensor layer by comparing redundant measurements from the sensor layer; and

an active system that is operably coupled to the lean mechanism controller that operates in two modes;

a first mode being an autonomous mode in which the active system includes a first component that generates a signal to tilt the motorized tricycle in response to lateral forces so that a resultant force acts through the center of gravity of the motorized tricycle in line with a central axis of the motorized tricycle that simulates intuitive motorcycle rider'"'"'s actions, the signal being generated from the plurality of inertial measurement unit sensors, the signal being generated independent of steering inputs, and a second component that is coupled to the first component that sends the signal to the lean mechanism controller, the lateral forces including turning forces and effects of wind or unlevel terrain, the active system also including a third component that is coupled to the first component and that determines magnetic heading, road incline and smoothness, braking and acceleration forces, aerodynamic forces, skid and hydroplaning from data from the plurality of inertial measurement unit sensors, and

a second mode being an interactive mode in which the active system includes a fourth component that detects a lean of a body of a human and a fifth component that generates a signal to tilt the motorized tricycle in response to lateral forces so that a resultant force acts through the center of gravity of the motorized tricycle in line with a central axis of the motorized tricycle that simulates intuitive motorcycle rider'"'"'s actions, the signal being generated from the signal that is indicative of interaction with the human and from data from the plurality of inertial measurement unit sensors and the plurality of inertial measurement unit sensors, and the second component that is coupled to the fifth component that sends the signal to the lean mechanism controller.

2. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 further comprising:

triggers on a seat of the motorized tricycle.

3. The motorized tricycle of claim 2, wherein the triggers further comprises:

at least one switch.

4. The motorized tricycle of claim 2, wherein the triggers further comprises:

at least one gyroscope.

5. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 further comprising:

a motorcycle saddle seat;

handlebar motorcycle controls; and

an enclosable cockpit.

6. The motorized tricycle of claim 1 further comprising:

a cockpit;

a saddle seat;

motorcycle controls; and

an enclosable open configuration.