Variable resistance serial hybrid electric bicycle

• US 9,956,880 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kronfeld Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Rahtmobile, LLC
• Inventors: Kronfeld, Richard, Smith, Lyon, Bockin, Russell, Castellotti, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John D
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNS, HILARY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US15/361,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20170158061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 : Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 : Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/00 : Cycles with handlebars, equipped with three or more main road wheels cycle supports or stands equipped with additional wheels for ride stabilisation B62H1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 : with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 : Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/60 : power-driven at axle parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/85 : Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A drivable exercise machine may include an electric vehicle with human power input provided by a high output, variable-resistance pedal-driven generator. The vehicle may include a computing device with a user interface that mimics an electric exercise bicycle. Using one or more program modes, a user may activate pre-set, custom and dynamic terrain-based exercise program profiles while commuting.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame including a wheel;

an electric motor, connected to the wheel, configured to rotate the wheel and drive the vehicle at a speed;

an electric power source, in communication with the electric motor, configured to supply electric power to the electric motor;

a pedal generator system including a pedal drivetrain to receive user effort and a generator connected to the pedal drivetrain and in electrical communication with the electric power source to convert the user effort into electric power, configured to generate variable resistance against user effort applied to the pedals; and

,

a computing system including a control input sensor, attached to the vehicle, configured to

control vehicle speed based on an indication of a control input variable sensed by the control input sensor and

present a variable pedal resistance to the user, wherein the variable pedal resistance is independent of the control input variable.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an engine, coupled to the generator, configured to supply mechanical effort to the generator.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the engine and the pedal drivetrain are coupled to the generator in a serial hybrid relationship.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control input sensor configured to sense an indication of a control input variable includes at least one of a torque sensor configured to sense an indication of user-applied pedal drivetrain torque, a rotational speed sensor configured to sense an indication of user-applied pedal rotational speed, a GPS-based sensor configured to sense an indication of vehicle motion, or an inclination sensor configured to sense an indication of grades and slopes of the path traveled by the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the control input sensor is the torque sensor, attached to the pedal generator system, configured to sense an indication of torque generated by a user pedaling the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the control input sensor is the rotational speed sensor, attached to the pedal generator system, configured to sense an indication of the pedal generator rotational speed generated by a user pedaling the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the control input sensor is the GPS-based sensor, in communication with the computing system, configured to sense an indication of vehicle motion, including at least one of vehicle displacement, velocity, or acceleration.

8. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the control input sensor is the inclination sensor, configured to sense an indication of the grades and slopes of the path of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an exercise mode module, running on the computing system, configured to present variable pedal resistance to the user based on a look-up table.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a power management controller, in electrical communication with the electric motor, the electric power source, the pedal generator system, and the computing system, configured to control the flow of electric power between the electric motor, the electric power source, the pedal generator system, and the computing system.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising an electronically controlled variable resistance recharging system (ECVRR), in communication with the power management controller, configured to control the flow of electric power from the pedal generator system to the electric power source to present a variable pedal resistance to the user.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a target speed module, running on the computing system that receives an indication of vehicle speed and an indication of the control input variable, configured to maintain a user-selected target speed independent of the indication of the control input variable.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a regenerative braking motor controller, in communication with the power management controller, configured to transfer electric power generated by the electric motor to the electric power source during a vehicle braking event.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the computing system includes a GPS terrain mode module, running on a computing device, configured to present variable pedal resistance to the user at least partially dependent upon the control input variable.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the control input sensor to sense a control input variable to generate variable pedal resistance presented to the user at least partially dependent on the control input variable includes at least one of a torque sensor configured to sense an indication of torque, a rotational speed sensor configured to sense an indication of pedal rotational speed, a GPS-based sensor configured to sense an indication of vehicle motion, or an inclination sensor configured to sense an indication of grades and slopes of the path traveled by the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control input sensor is a torque sensor and the control input variable is the indication of torque.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control input sensor is a rotational speed sensor and the control input variable is an indication of pedal rotation speed.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control input sensor is a GPS-based sensor and the control input variable is an indication of vehicle motion, including at least one of vehicle displacement, speed, or acceleration.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control input sensor is an inclination sensor and the control input variable is an indication of grades and slopes of the path traveled by the vehicle.

20. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the variable pedal resistance presented to the user independent on at least one of a user heart rate or a caloric burn rate.