Electric vehicle

• US 10,696,348 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2019
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hangzhou Chic Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hangzhou Chic Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ying, Jiawei, Cao, Shaojun
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US16/694,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20200094905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/001 characterised by the vehicle control device mechanical features of control devices in general G05G; arrangements of vehicle control devices in general B60K20/00, B60K23/00, B60K26/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/02 with two road wheels in tandem on the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/40 Sensor arrangements sensors for control of electrically assisted cycles B62M6/50; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/414 Acceleration sensors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/002 without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An electric self-balancing vehicle including a top cover, a bottom cover, an inner cover, a rotating mechanism, two wheels, two hub motors, a plurality of sensors, a power supply, and a controller is described herein. The top cover includes a first top cover and a second top cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The bottom cover is fixed to the top cover and includes a first bottom cover and a second bottom cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The inner cover is fixed between the top cover and the bottom cover and includes a first inner cover and a second inner cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The rotating mechanism is fixed between the first inner cover and the second inner cover. The two wheels are rotatably fixed at two sides of the inner cover, respectively. The two hub motors are fixed in the two wheels, respectively. The plurality of sensors is disposed between the bottom cover and the inner cover, respectively. The power supply is fixed between the first bottom cover and the first inner cover. The controller is fixed between the second bottom cover and the second inner cover, the controller is electrically connected with the plurality of sensors, the power supply, and the hub motors, and the controller controls the hub motors to drive the corresponding wheels to rotate according to sensing signals transmitted by the sensors.

Claims

1. An electric balance vehicle, comprising:

a first platform;

a second platform;

a bottom cover comprising a first bottom cover removably connected to the first platform and a second bottom cover removably connected to the second platform, wherein the first platform and the second platform are made of a first material, and wherein the first bottom cover and the second bottom cover are made of a second material that differs in strength from the first material;

a rotation mechanism disposed between the first platform and the second platform, wherein the rotation mechanism allows the first platform and the first bottom cover to rotate relative to the second platform and the second bottom cover;

a first wheel rotatably fixed at a first end of the first platform and a second wheel rotatably fixed at a second end of the second platform, wherein the first end and the second end are at opposites ends of the electric balance vehicle;

a first motor mounted within the first wheel and configured to drive the first wheel;

a second motor mounted within the second wheel and configured to drive the second wheel;

a plurality of sensors;

a power supply disposed between the bottom cover and one of the first platform or the second platform;

at least one controller electrically coupled to the first motor, the second motor, the plurality of sensors, and the power supply and configured to control the first motor and the second motor, respectively, to drive the first wheel and the second wheel, respectively, using power from the power supply and based on signals from the plurality of sensors; and

a limiting mechanism configured to limit an overlarge relative rotation angle between the first platform and the second platform, wherein the limiting mechanism is disposed between the first platform and the second platform.

2. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of sensors comprise a gyroscope, an acceleration sensor, and an inductive switch configured to sense whether a user stands on the electric balance vehicle; and

the at least one controller is configured to receive signals from the inductive switch, the acceleration sensor and the gyroscope and to control the first and second motors.

3. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the inductive switch is an infrared photoelectric sensor.

4. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors, the power supply, and the at least one controller are disposed between the bottom cover and the first and second platforms.

5. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism further comprises a bearing and a shaft sleeve.

6. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the bearing and shaft sleeve are disposed inside a cylindrical barrel.

7. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the limiting mechanism comprises a shaft.

8. An electric balance vehicle, comprising:

a first part comprising a first platform and a first bottom cover removably coupled to the first platform;

a second part comprising a second platform and a second bottom cover removably coupled to the second platform;

a rotation mechanism disposed between the first part and the second part and configured to allow the first part and the second part to rotate relative to each other;

a first wheel rotatably fixed at a first end of the first part and a second wheel rotatably fixed at a second end of the second part, wherein the first end and the second end are at opposites ends of the electric balance vehicle;

a first motor mounted within the first wheel and configured to drive the first wheel;

a second motor mounted within the second wheel and configured to drive the second wheel;

a plurality of sensors;

a power supply disposed therein;

at least one controller electrically coupled to the first motor, the plurality of sensors, and the power supply and configured to control the first motor to drive the first wheel using power from the power supply and based on one or more signals from the plurality of sensors; and

a limiting mechanism disposed between the first part and the second part and configured to limit an overlarge relative rotation angle between the first part and the second part.

9. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of sensors comprise a gyroscope, an acceleration sensor, and an inductive switch configured to sense whether a user stands on the electric balance vehicle; and

the at least one controller is configured to receive signals from the inductive switch, the acceleration sensor and the gyroscope and to control the first motor.

10. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the rotating mechanism further comprises a bearing and a shaft sleeve.

11. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the bearing and shaft sleeve are disposed inside a cylindrical barrel.

12. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the limiting mechanism comprises a shaft.

13. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the first platform and the second platform are made of a first material, and wherein the first bottom cover and the second bottom cover are made of a second material that differs in strength from the first material.

14. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 13 wherein the first platform and the second platform comprise metal, and the first bottom cover and the second bottom cover comprise plastic.

15. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 14 wherein the first platform and the second platform comprise aluminum alloy.

16. An electric balance vehicle, comprising:

a first part comprising a first platform and a first bottom cover removably coupled to the first platform;

a second part comprising a second platform and a second bottom cover removably coupled to the second platform;

a rotation mechanism disposed between the first part and the second part and configured to allow the first part and the second part to rotate relative to each other, the rotation mechanism comprising a bearing and a shaft sleeve;

a first wheel rotatably fixed at a first end of the first part and a second wheel rotatably fixed at a second end of the second part, wherein the first end and the second end are at opposites ends of the electric balance vehicle;

a first motor mounted within the first wheel and configured to drive the first wheel;

a second motor mounted within the second wheel and configured to drive the second wheel;

a plurality of sensors;

a power supply disposed therein; and

a limiting mechanism disposed between the first part and the second part and configured to limit an overlarge relative rotation angle between the first part and the second part.

17. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising:

a controller electrically connected with the plurality of sensors, the power supply and the first motor, and wherein the controller is configured to control the first motor to drive the first wheel to rotate according to one or more signals from the plurality of sensors.

18. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further electrically connected with the second motor and configured to control the second motor to drive the second wheel to rotate according to one or more signals from the plurality of sensors.

19. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 16 wherein the first platform and the second platform comprise metal, and the first bottom cover and the second bottom cover comprise plastic.

20. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 19 wherein the first platform and the second platform comprise aluminum alloy.

21. The electric balance vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises a limiting shaft.