| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 180600480 | Independently operable drive motors | 65 |
| 20090038862 | Omni-directional vehicle with full circumferential revolvable hitch - An omni-directional vehicle (ODV) with a circular frame revolvably coupled to an appendage ring using a full circumferential coupling assembly. The appendage ring serves as a point of attachment for a push bar, trailer, tool, vehicle chassis, or other device. Two independent drive wheels located on an axis through the center of the frame are mounted at the same distance from a central vertical axis through the frame. Each wheel is powered independently and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The ODV is capable of movement in any direction by rotating the axis of the drive wheels to a position which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel. The ODV can spin about its vertical axis such that the axis of the drive wheels can be oriented at any direction without changing the original footprint of the space that the frame occupies over the ground. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090057040 | HYDRAULIC TRAVELING VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR HYDRAULIC TRAVELING VEHICLE - With a hydraulic traveling vehicle, a controller is configured and arranged to switch a merging/diverging valve to a merging state when a working equipment is driven with the merging/diverging valve being in a diverging state and with turning of the hydraulic traveling vehicle being carried out, and when a required flow rate parameter for pressurized oil of the working equipment is greater than or equal to a prescribed threshold value, and to maintain the merging/diverging valve in the diverging state when the required flow rate parameter is less than the prescribed threshold value. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090205880 | Omni-directional vehicle with elevatable observation platform - A powered omni-directional security, patrol and surveillance vehicle that includes a circular frame and two drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis. The drive wheels are adapted to allow the vehicle to spin in place about a vertical axis which intersects the horizontal axis midway between the drive wheels and which is generally centered in the circular frame. An observation platform including an operators control station is mounted to the frame on a lift such that it is capable of selective elevation for superior vantage points. A cab preferably encloses the operator's station. A plurality of swivel casters disposed on distal ends of telescopic outrigger arms are circumpositioned about the circular frame. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090288892 | Control device for the active steering of a vehicle - A control device for the active steering of a vehicle comprising a driving differential that is positioned between a steering wheel and steering control means, said differential which furthermore receives at a first input a counter-steering command supplied by a turn correction motor, wherein said steering wheel is linked to a second input of said differential by non-return means preventing any force feedback from said differential to said steering wheel. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090301797 | Vehicle Steering Arrangement and Method - Vehicles with open loop hydraulic steering systems may suffer from jerky steering due to the necessity to have safety valves in the open loop system to prevent uncontrolled vehicle movement. Traditional open loop steering arrangements allow steering by controlling fluid quantities flowing from the pump to the drive motors. The disclosed vehicle has an open loop hydraulic drive system including first and second variable displacement motors for driving ground engaging mechanisms at first and second sides of the vehicle, respectively. The system includes a control mechanism configured for steering the vehicle by changing the displacement of one of the first and second motors. This allows the operator to change the drive motor speed range during travel. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100071968 | SELF-MOVING CAR FOR THE MOVING OF TRAILER MACHINES AND OF STATIC MACHINES OR THE LIKE - A self-moving car ( | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100133018 | All-terrain vehicle and suspension system therefor - An all-terrain vehicle having a unique suspension system for enabling handicapped individuals or invalids to easily access the vehicle and be self-transportable over ground or an ice surface. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100230182 | WINDROWER TRACTOR WITH REAR WHEEL SUSPENSION - A tractor has front wheels mounted on the frame at fixed angles and a pair of rear wheels each mounted on a respective castor assembly. Each of the castor assemblies has a vertical pivot axis mounted in a swivel support of an axle of the frame and a bottom transverse tubular member connected to a pair of parallel forks carrying at a lower ends the transverse axle of the wheel. The mounting link includes a torsion spring defined by a rod attached to the forks which passes though a sleeve containing a resilient elastomeric spring of the tubular member allowing spring suspension pivotal movement of the upper ends of the forks relative to the bottom transverse member about an axis parallel to the wheel axis. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100230183 | Unmanned autonomous vehicle for displacing feed - An unmanned autonomous vehicle for substantially lateral displacement of feed lying on a ground, comprising two wheels separately drivable by separate drive units, a torque difference adjusting device for adjusting the torque difference between the wheels, a control unit for controlling the vehicle and moving it in a direction of travel by controlling at least one of the separate drive units, a feed displacing device for substantially lateral displacement of the feed, and an adjusting device which is arranged to adjust the height and/or the position of a lowest point of the feed displacing device. The adjusting device comprises a vehicle tilting device which is arranged in such a manner that the lowest point will be located at least substantially off the center line of the vehicle. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100307843 | FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM - A four wheel drive system for bilaterally symmetric vehicles has separate controlled drive speed and direction for each wheel. Each drive system is operable to independently drive each wheel. The rear wheels of the vehicle are steering wheels which are connected with the vehicle frame for independent rotation about a vertical axis. Steering and driving of the wheels is controlled by a controller. The combination of controlled steering for the rear wheels through many degrees about their vertical axes and individual power to all four wheels provides the vehicle with a zero turning radius for improved mobility as well as improved traction on unstable surfaces. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110094805 | Omni-directional vehicle with full circumferential revolvable hitch - An omni-directional vehicle (ODV) with a circular frame revolvably coupled to an appendage ring using a full circumferential coupling assembly. The appendage ring serves as a point of attachment for a push bar, trailer, tool, vehicle chassis, or other device. Two independent drive wheels located on an axis through the center of the frame are mounted at the same distance from a central vertical axis through the frame. Each wheel is powered independently and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The ODV is capable of movement in any direction by rotating the axis of the drive wheels to a position which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel. The ODV can spin about its vertical axis such that the axis of the drive wheels can be oriented at any direction without changing the original footprint of the space that the frame occupies over the ground. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110108333 | CAB SUSPENSION - A suspension for a cab base on the frame of a swather tractor includes four dampened springs at the four corners with three links each pivoted on one end of the frame and the other end on the base. The links include two parallel links in the fore and aft direction parallel to the mechanical speed control link arm and one side to side link which constrain movement of the base against fore and aft movement and side to side movement parallel to the mechanical steering control link arm. This arrangement restricts movement of the base while allowing roll and pitch movements of the cab structure with the links arranged such that steering and ground speed are substantially unaffected when the cab moves on the suspension. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110120785 | TRAVELING AND TURNING DEVICE FOR CONSTRCUTION MACHINE - A traveling and turning device for a construction machine is provided, which includes a left driving motor and a right driving motor driven by hydraulic fluid, a left main control valve and a right main control valve controlling movement of the left driving motor and the right driving motor, respectively, and a left pedal and a right pedal adjusting the operation state of the left main control valve and the right main control valve, respectively. One of the left pedal and the right pedal enables the construction machine to make forward and backward movement by simultaneously applying pressure to a left side of a spool of the left main control valve and a left side of a spool of the right main control valve or by simultaneously applying pressure to a right side of the spool of the left main control valve and a right side of the spool of the right main control valve, and the other of the left pedal and the right pedal enables the construction machine to make turning movement by simultaneously applying pressure to the left side of the spool of the left main control valve and the right side of the spool of the right main control valve or by simultaneously applying pressure to the right side of the spool of the left main control valve and the left side of the spool of the right main control valve. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110180332 | STEERING SYSTEM FOR A TRACKED VEHICLE - A steering system for a vehicle having left and right endless tracks, left and right sprocket wheels, a motor and a hydraulic pump includes left and right hydraulic motors mounted to a respective one of the left and right sprocket wheels, a hydraulic circuit connecting the fluid outlet of each hydraulic motor to the fluid inlet of the other hydraulic motor, and a steering mechanism for receiving hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump and selectively distributing it to the first and second hydraulic motors. The steering mechanism is in fluid communication with the fluid inlets of the left and right hydraulic motors to provide hydraulic pressure in response to first and second steering inputs from a user. An attachment kit includes the steering system. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110186361 | DIFFERENTIAL STEERING CONTROL FOR A CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION MACHINE - A differential steering control system and method for a machine includes a motor for steering the machine in a leftwards or a rightwards direction, a continuously variable transmission for moving the machine in a forwards or a backwards direction, and a control unit connected to the motor and the continuously variable transmission. The control unit determines the speed of the continuously variable transmission and based upon the determined speed, modifies a speed of the motor in order to achieve/maintain a desired turn radius for the machine. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20120006603 | Steering system and method of steering a machine - A steering system for steering a machine having opposing first and second sides with first and second pairs of rotatably mounted rear wheels disposed along the respective sides and at least one rotatably mounted, spaced front wheel. The system includes at least one first drive unit and at least one second drive unit for rotating the rear wheels of the respective pairs, and a steering input device that provides a signal to a controller that produces drive unit request signals to control the drive units to rotate the associated rear wheels along one side at rotational speeds greater than those along the other side to facilitate turning. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120061153 | POWER VEHICLE WITH ADJUSTABLE VELOCITY PROFILES - Embodiments of the present invention relate to powered vehicles (e.g., lawn mowers) and, more particularly, to a control system for use with such a vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a power source such as an internal combustion engine and one or more drive control levers incrementally movable between a neutral position and a maximum velocity position. The system may also include a velocity profile control system having an adjustment member that permits altering a ratio between control lever movement and velocity of an associated drive member or wheel. Thus, the system may alter a maximum potential velocity of the vehicle while the drive control lever(s) are positioned in the maximum velocity position without varying an output level of the power source. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120205167 | Steering Drive System and Skid Steer Vehicle Equipped Therewith - A steering drive system includes a drive arrangement having a first drive and a second drive, a summing gear unit for summing driving torques of the drives on an output shaft of the summing gear unit, a first drive connection device by which the first drive is drivingly connected to a first input shaft of the summing gear unit, and a second drive connection device by which the second drive is drivingly connected to a second input shaft of the summing gear unit. The two drive connection devices are arranged in each instance such that no driving torque directed to the drives from the summing gear unit can be transmitted to the drives during a continuously produced drive connection between the drives and the summing gear unit. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120267176 | Steering And Ground Speed Control Mechanism Of A Dual-Path Hydrostatic Drive Arrangement - A dual-path hydrostatic drive arrangement for driving ground wheels at the opposite sides of the front of a self-propelled windrower is controlled for effecting steering and ground speed changes by a control mechanism including a gear train defined by a steering input gear and idler gear and steering output gears carried by a gear support member mounted for pivoting about a fixed axis of rotation of the input gear. The output gear is coupled for transmitting movement to first and second pump displacement control rods and steering is effected by turning a steering wheel which is coupled for rotating the input gear so as to impart rotation to the output gear which rotates so as to cause the control rods to move different amounts or in different directions. Speed changes are effected by a speed control device that is coupled for selectively swinging the speed/direction control arm. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20140131122 | Front Wheel Drive Control - A front wheel power system which may enable independent control of power to each wheel as well as yield direct control over average and differential front wheel speeds. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140138166 | Speed and Steering Control of a Hydraulically Driven Tractor - A tractor has hydraulically driven wheels at a cab end and castor wheels at an engine end. Each driven wheels is driven by a hydraulic motor with a continuous adjustment of the motor displacement, with the motor being driven by a pump also having continuous displacement. The motor displacement is controlled by an electronic controller in response to stroking of the speed control lever to manage the displacement to provide required drive torques at different points in the stroke. There is provided an automatic steering system having a guidance controller arranged to receive GPS position information which controls the steering by differentially adjusting the displacement of the motors so that the automatic steering is independent of the manual steering which controls the pumps. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140138167 | STEERING LINKAGE INTERFACE BETWEEN STEERING CYLINDER AND GROUND DRIVE PUMP DISPLACEMENT CONTROL ARMS - A four-bar linkage is provided as a mechanical interface for transferring respective outputs from a speed/direction control device and a hydraulic steering cylinder to displacement control arms of a pair of pumps of a dual-path hydrostatic transmission including a pair of motors respectively coupled for driving a pair of front wheels of a vehicle. The hydraulic steering cylinder is fixed and has a piston rod slidably coupled to an input arm of the four-bar linkage in such a way that a rotation speed decrease occurs as the arm and a linked control plate are pivoted from a neutral position, the control plate transferring pivotal movement to effect differential movement of the displacement control arms. This results in the vehicle speed decreasing during a turn. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140231155 | STAND ON MOWER WITH TRACTION DRIVE PEDALS - A stand on mower includes a left foot pedal and a right foot pedal. Each foot pedal is spaced from the other and is dimensioned to support one of the operator's feet. Each foot pedal is biased to a neutral position generally parallel to a horizontal surface of a foot platform located generally between or behind a pair of traction drive wheels. The left foot pedal and the right foot pedal pivot independently forwardly and rearwardly to forward and reverse traction drive positions, and are connected to a pair of wheel motors respectively that rotate each of the traction drive wheels in either forward or reverse based on the traction drive positions of the foot pedals. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140262560 | Steering Assembly Indicator System for a Lawn Care or Zero-Turn Vehicle - A riding lawn care vehicle may include a steering assembly and an indicator system may be incorporated into a portion of the steering assembly. The steering assembly, which may be, for example, a steering lever on a zero-turn vehicle, is coupled to a mechanism to move at least one wheel, and the indicator system may includes at least one illuminating element and/or display device that is configured to visually communicate information to an operator in response to detection of a predetermined trigger or condition occurring. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140291044 | INVERTED PENDULUM TYPE VEHICLE - An inverted pendulum type vehicle enabled to easily execute a turning motion with a configuration of a low cost. An inverted pendulum type vehicle includes a second moving motion unit disposed with an interval from a first moving motion unit and configured to be capable of moving in all directions on a floor surface. A brake device is configured to be capable of generating a brake force imparted to the second moving motion unit. A control unit is provided for determining the presence/absence of a request for turning motion of the vehicle, and, when there is a request for the turning motion, to control the motion of the brake device so as to impart a braking force to the second moving motion unit. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140353053 | CONTROL GROUP MOUNTING RELATIVE TO CONTROLLED HARDWARE - A mounting apparatus for positioning an actuator managing the pivotal position of rotatable pintel arms controlling the output of a pair of tandem-mounted hydraulic drive pumps providing motive power for an agricultural machine. The pumps are resiliently connected to the machine main frame, permitting relative movement to reduce vibration transmission to the main frame. A mounting bracket connected to the drive pumps provides a fixed connection for a first end of the actuator while the opposing second end is connected by an axially moveable linkage to the pintel arms. A common anchorage for the actuator and the pintel arms eliminates unintended pintel arm movement that occurs when anchoring the end of the actuator on the main frame. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140367180 | HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION WITH INTEGRATED PUMP AND MOTOR - A hydrostatic transmission includes a hydraulic pump, a top housing that houses the hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor. An endblock sub-assembly has a pump running face for interfacing with the hydraulic pump, and a motor connection portion for interfacing with a hydraulic motor. The enblock sub-assembly forms a porting manifold for communicating hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor includes an internal rotor set, and the hydraulic motor is secured to the endblock sub-assembly in a manner that permits rotation of the rotor set. The top housing is fixed to the endblock sub-assembly such that the housing and endblock sub-assembly form a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. The motor connection portion of the endblock sub-assembly supports the hydraulic motor externally to the top housing. The hydrostatic transmission is suitable for incorporation into various light vehicle categories, including zero-turn radius vehicles. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20150060156 | LIGHTWEIGHT FOLDING MOTORIZED CHAIR WITH MECHANICAL TRACTION STEERING AND BRAKING - A lightweight folding motorized chair with mechanical traction steering and braking. A folding frame supports the traction wheels and the drive system with hinged frame members configured to mechanically fold the control levers, wheels and periphery components into a substantially flat configuration for easy storage in small spaces. A mix of weight saving choices including: structural materials; mechanical traction control system; lithium ion battery; and overall lightweight design keeps the folding motorized chair at a size and weight that a person can lift into the trunk of a car. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20160037707 | MULTI-MODE STEERING CONTROL FOR A VEHICLE - A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20190141898 | HYDROSTATIC TRANSAXLE | 05-16-2019 |
| 180600500 | Electrical | 35 |
| 20080202826 | Drive System for the Individual Drive of Both Driven Wheels of a Driven Wheel Pair - The present invention concerns a drive system for the individual driving of the two driven wheels of a driven wheel pair or suchlike for a vehicle, which comprises two continuously variable drive motors ( | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080230284 | OFFSET DRIVE SYSTEM FOR UTILITY VEHICLES - A wheel driven utility vehicle includes a frame and two small volume high speed alternating current electric motors arranged side by side for driving the vehicle. Alternatively high speed direct current, hydraulic or pneumatic direct current motors may be used with suitable controls. Each motor has an output shaft which drives an offset planetary gear reducer. Each offset planetary gear reducer is affixed to the electric motor and includes an output carrier interconnected with an output shaft. Each output shaft includes first and second chain drive sprockets which drive chains interconnected with shafts driving the front and rear wheels respectively. Each offset planetary gear reducer enables use of space saving high speed relatively low-torque alternating current electric motors with attendant large speed reductions. Gear reduction enables the production of sufficient torque at the wheels of the vehicle. Applications in addition to utility vehicles are also specifically contemplated. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20090032314 | Drive system for a machine - A machine is provided. The machine has a frame, an implement attached to a front end, a power source, a first and a second drive motor, a left front and rear axle, and a right front and rear axle. The first and second drive motors are powered by the power source, and each has an inner and an outer sprocket. The left rear axle is coupled to the inner sprocket of the first drive motor and rotatably coupled to the frame. The left front axle is coupled to the outer sprocket of the first drive motor and rotatably coupled to the frame. The right rear axle is coupled to the inner sprocket of the second drive motor and rotatably coupled to the frame. The right front axle is coupled to the outer sprocket of the second drive motor and rotatably coupled to the frame. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090211822 | Method and Apparatus for Stall Detection - Stall detection apparatus for an electric motor controller has an input for receiving a drive error flag indicating if the controller is unable to achieve the required motor velocity and an input for receiving a signal in order to measure, directly or indirectly, the actual motor velocity. The actual motor velocity is determined in order to indicate whether the motor is stationary and, only if so, a stall signal is outputted in order to indicate that said motor has stalled. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090260901 | ELECTRIC GROUND WORKING VEHICLE - There is provided an electric ground working vehicle including a left wheel and a right wheel, at least one caster, a working apparatus, an acceleration operating element for performing acceleration instructions, a turn operating element for performing turn instructions, and a control unit. The left wheel and the right wheel are independently driven by left and right electric motors respectively. The control unit controls a regenerative brake driving unit so that electric power is regenerated from the left and right electric motors to an electric power source unit when the acceleration operating element is not operated during traveling to regeneratively brake the left and right wheels. The control unit controls the brake force of the wheels so that the brake force of the wheel at the inside of a turn, among the left wheel and the right wheel, can be made greater than the brake force of the wheel at the outside of a turn when the acceleration operating element is not operated during traveling and turn instructions are inputted from the turn operating element. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20100224426 | ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE - A shovel loader ( | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100252338 | Golf bag vehicle - A golf bag vehicle includes a vehicle body and a driving wheel. The vehicle body includes an axle mounting on a lower portion thereof. The driving wheel includes a wheel frame, a motor and a wheel circle. The wheel frame detachably connects to the axle, and has an inner room. The motor mounts inside the inner room, for electrically connecting with a power supply. The wheel circle receives the wheel frame therein, and is rotatable with respect to the wheel frame. The wheel circle connects with the motor, and is driven by the motor, so that the driving wheel forms a self-driven structure. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110232977 | CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR A MOTORISED VEHICLE - The technology disclosed relates to a controller and a control method for a motorised vehicle, and in particular to the control of a motorised vehicle having at least a left wheel and a right wheel, the left wheel being driven by a left motor and the right wheel being driven by a right motor. In accordance with such motorised vehicles, linear motion of the vehicle is typically effected by driving the left motor and the right motor in the same direction, whilst spinning of the vehicle is typically effected by driving the left motor and the right motor in opposite directions. A typical example of such a motorised vehicle is an electric wheelchair. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110232978 | OFFSET DRIVE SYSTEM FOR UTILITY VEHICLES - A wheel driven utility vehicle includes a frame and two small volume high speed alternating current electric motors arranged side by side for driving the vehicle. Alternatively high speed direct current, hydraulic or pneumatic direct current motors may be used with suitable controls. Each motor has an output shaft which drives an offset planetary gear reducer. Each offset planetary gear reducer is affixed to the electric motor and includes an output carrier interconnected with an output shaft. Each output shaft includes first and second chain drive sprockets which drive chains interconnected with shafts driving the front and rear wheels respectively. Each offset planetary gear reducer enables use of space saving high speed relatively low-torque alternating current electric motors with attendant large speed reductions. Gear reduction enables the production of sufficient torque at the wheels of the vehicle. Applications in addition to utility vehicles are also specifically contemplated. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110247886 | ELECTRIC ZERO-TURN WORKING VEHICLE - An electric zero-turn working vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame, right and left drive wheels, right and left first electric motors for driving the respective right and left drive wheels, a transaxle including at least one of the right and left first electric motors, a working implement, and a second electric motor for driving the working implement. The right and left first electric motors have a space therebetween. The transaxle is supported by the vehicle body frame and is disposed below the vehicle body frame. At least a part of the second electric motor is disposed in the space between the right and left first electric motors. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20120067653 | STEERING DOLLY - A dolly includes a frame having a load deck for supporting a load and a plurality of axles coupled to the frame in a generally parallel relationship with wheels rotationally coupled to each side of the axles. Independent drive motors are operatively connected to each of the wheels such that the wheels can be driven completely independently from each other. This independent rotation enables the dolly to rotate in place about a vertical axis as well as minimize a turning radius of the dolly in a skid steer operation. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120273283 | MIDWHEEL DRIVE WHEELCHAIR WITH INDEPENDENT FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION - A wheelchair includes a frame, and a front pivot arm pivotally mounted to the frame at a front pivot point, the front pivot arm having a caster for supporting the frame. A rear pivot arm is pivotally mounted to the frame at a rear pivot point, the rear pivot arm having a caster for supporting the frame. A ground engaging mid-wheel drive wheel is connected to the frame. A linkage connects the front and rear pivot arms to each other in a manner such that an upward or downward rotation of one of the pivot arms about its pivot point causes rotation of the other pivot arm about its pivot point in an opposite rotational direction. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120279789 | DETACHABLE POWER DRIVE UNIT FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS - A detachable power drive unit for propelling and steering a manual wheelchair is provided which comprises a frame, two independently controlled drive wheels, a power source, a hitching unit for coupling the device to the wheelchair, a force transfer apparatus, a user interface and a controller. The frame, motors, batteries and wheels have a low profile, which allows them to fit in the space underneath a standard manual wheelchair. The hitching unit couples the device to the wheelchair, yet allowing a fair degree of rotational motion to occur which minimizes the possibility of a wheel losing contact with the ground. The force transfer apparatus is a spring loaded arm that gets compressed by the wheelchair chassis during docking, thus transferring a significant portion of the wheelchair and occupant weights onto the drive wheels and ensuring adequate ground contact force and, as a consequence, drive traction. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120318587 | METHOD OF OPERATION OF A PORTABLE MULTIFUNCTIONAL MOBILITY AID APPARATUS - A method of operating a portable, foldable, and multifunctional mobility aid apparatus that assists a user in standing, sitting, and/or walking process. The apparatus has an integrated power source and is based on 4 wheels. Users can stand on it and drive it as an electric mobility device, or disable it and use it as a passive walker. The apparatus has a pair of supporting beams with adjustable width to be placed under the user armpits and support the user in standing up, sitting down, and/or moving around. The apparatus can be controlled by a control panel mounted on a pair of handles, and its functions can be controlled by the user with no need for help from another person. The apparatus can be minimized by a combination of multiple telescopic vertical minimization mechanisms and multiple folding mechanisms. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130015005 | WORKING VEHICLE WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC BRAKEAANM KOGA; KazunariAACI AmagasakiAACO JPAAGP KOGA; Kazunari Amagasaki JPAANM WANG; HongkunAACI AmagasakiAACO JPAAGP WANG; Hongkun Amagasaki JPAANM MATSUURA; JunAACI AmagasakiAACO JPAAGP MATSUURA; Jun Amagasaki JPAANM SASAHARA; KengoAACI AmagasakiAACO JPAAGP SASAHARA; Kengo Amagasaki JPAANM ISHINO; FumitoshiAACI AmagasakiAACO JPAAGP ISHINO; Fumitoshi Amagasaki JP - A lawnmower vehicle which is a working vehicle with an electromagnetic brake includes left and right electromagnetic brakes, a brake relay which is a common brake releasing unit, and an ECU. The ECU compares electricity supply states of the left and right electromagnetic brakes, and controls the brake relay to disconnect an electrical connection between a battery and the left and right electromagnetic brakes, and to brake left and right wheels when a difference in the electricity supply states compared by a comparator exceeds an allowable upper limit. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130043083 | POWERED WHEELCHAIR CONFIGURATIONS AND RELATED METHODS OF USE - A wheelchair includes a frame, a chair, a pair of drive wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a pair of front wheels. Each front wheel is part of a front arm assembly that is rigidly coupled to a drive via a mounting plate. The mounting plate is connected to the wheelchair frame by a pivot. The drives are transversely mounted. The batteries are disposed rearward of the drives. The wheelchair seat can be moved forward to provide access to the batteries without fully removing the wheelchair from the frame. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130068543 | WIDTH VARIABLE STRUCTURE OF MOVING AND TRANSPORT MEANS USING MECANUM WHEELS - A width variable structure of a moving and transport means using mecanum wheels is provided, which includes a plurality of mecanum wheels, a plurality of links connecting the mecanum wheels, and motors mounted on the mecanum wheels to transfer driving forces to the links, respectively. Since the width of the moving and transport means in the horizontal and vertical directions can be adjusted using the driving forces of the mecanum wheels, components such as actuators are omitted from the present invention in the overall assembly. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130068544 | Wheel Loader - A wheel loader includes: a front and rear frame connected at a connection section; front and rear wheel electric motors that drive front and rear wheels; a unit that rotates the front and rear frame in opposite directions about the connection section while steering actuation, by driving the motors so that a magnitude between speeds of the front and rear wheel electric motors on an inner wheel side and between speeds of those on an outer wheel side are opposite, and a speed difference corresponds to a steering angle; and a unit that, when the steering actuation is terminated, drives the motors so that an inner-outer wheels speed difference corresponding to the steering angle is applied to the speed difference of the front wheel electric motors on outer and inner wheel side, and to the speed difference of the rear wheel electric motors on outer and inner wheel side. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130098694 | Motorized Cycle - There is provided a motorized cycle comprising a frame, a seat, handle bars and a plurality of suspensions mounted to the frame, a plurality of wheels each coupled to one of the plurality of suspensions, one or more motors connected to the wheels causing the wheels to rotate and a control mechanism to independently control the one or more motors in response to a side-to-side and a front-to-back tilt of the motorized cycle. There is also provided a control system for operating a motorized cycle comprising a control board including software, a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board, a plurality of motors receiving instruction from the control board wherein the software maintains the center of gravity of the cycle in both a side-to-side and front-to-back direction by instructing the motors to accelerate or decelerate. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130220712 | POWERED WHEELCHAIR CONFIGURATIONS AND RELATED METHODS OF USE - A wheelchair includes a frame, a chair, a pair of drive wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a pair of front wheels. Each front wheel is part of a front arm assembly that is rigidly coupled to a drive via a mounting plate. The mounting plate is connected to the wheelchair frame by a pivot. The drives are transversely mounted. The batteries are disposed rearward of the drives. The wheelchair seat can be moved forward to provide access to the batteries without fully removing the wheelchair from the frame. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130228385 | Low-Profile Two-Wheeled Self-Balancing Vehicle with Exterior Foot Platforms - A personal vehicle having two wheels that are arranged substantially side-by-side and connected by a linkage mechanism to one another. The linkage mechanism supports the wheels in a substantially parallel relationship as the two wheels tilt from side to side. A foot placement platform is associated with each wheel, as is a motor to drive the wheels. Gyroscopic sensors are used to in driving the wheels to maintain an upright position. Various embodiments are disclosed including folding platforms, a parallelogram linkage structure, handles and/or seats that may extend above the wheels, lower leg contact surface, and other features. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130306383 | ANTI-TIP AND SUSPENSION SYSTEMS FOR WHEELCHAIRS - A wheelchair according to one embodiment includes a frame, a pair of drive wheels operatively coupled to the frame, a drive operatively coupled to each drive wheel, and a pair of anti-tip assemblies. Each anti-tip assembly includes a first member, a second member pivotally coupled to the first member at a joint that defines a pivot axis, an anti-tip wheel rotatably coupled to the second member, and a locking mechanism. The second member is capable of pivoting about the pivot axis between an extended position and a collapsed position. The locking mechanism is configured to selectively lock the second member in the extended position. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20140020962 | SELF-BALANCING VEHICLE WITH SWIVEL SEAT STEERING - A motorized vehicle includes a pair of opposed wheels and a seat which is mounted so that it can rotate about a vertical axis. The rotational position of the seat is sensed by at least one sensor, such as a potentiometer or rotary encoder, which produces an output signal. This signal is input into a control system which rotates the wheels to steer the vehicle based on the rotational position of the seat. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140345956 | MANUALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE - A manually propelled vehicle includes a vehicle body, a grip for a user to grip when walking, a wheel for moving the vehicle body along with the walking user, a wheel driver that electromotively drives the wheel, a grip sensor that monitors distribution of pressure applied to the grip, and a controller that sets parameters of the wheel driver according to output of the grip sensor. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140353052 | INVERTED PENDULUM TYPE VEHICLE - To suppress the height of a vehicle body frame of an inverted pendulum type vehicle in consideration of mounting and dismounting the vehicle. Left and right drive units are disposed so as to be juxtaposed in the left-right direction at same-height positions higher than a main wheel. The left and right drive units and a battery pack are disposed so as to be juxtaposed in front and behind a vehicle body frame. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150014070 | ELECTRIC MID-WHEEL DRIVE WHEELCHAIR - A wheelchair of the mid-wheel drive type comprises a chassis frame ( | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150129327 | WHEEL, WHEEL DEVICE AND INVERTED PENDULUM TYPE VEHICLE - An omni-wheel of a highly compact and light-weight is provided. The omni-wheel includes a disk-shaped hub member ( | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150343317 | TRACKLESS DARK RIDE VEHICLE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD - A motion assembly that produces pitch and roll motions includes lower and upper plates. A pivotable coupling having upper and lower shafts extending from its center is coupled between the upper and lower plates. At least two linear actuators are coupled between the plates. Extension and retraction of the actuators pivots the upper plate about the pivotable coupling relative to the lower plate. A vehicle includes two steerable propulsion wheels coupled to a chassis. A lower plate of a pitch and roll assembly, similar to that just described, couples to the chassis via a slew bearing. Seating is coupled to the upper plate. The seating rotates with respect to the chassis via controlled rotation of the slew bearing with reference to the chassis. The seating can be rotated to point in any direction with respect to the chassis regardless of the direction the steerable propulsion wheels move the chassis. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150353158 | SELF-BALANCING VEHICLE FRAME - A self-balancing vehicle frame includes two side frame units and a bearing unit interconnecting the side frame units such that each of the side frame units can tilt independently against the other of the side frame units. Each of side frames is mounted with a wheel, a driver, and a self-balancing electric system integrated with a pedal and handle. Through operation of hands and feet, each of the side frame units is operable to tilt the corresponding components forwardly and rearwardly. As such, a user can operate the vehicle using hands and/or feet to control travelling and turning of the vehicle. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20160057924 | RIDING MOWER - A riding mower is provided with a front frame, a rear frame on which a drive unit is mounted, a rollover protective structure (ROPS). A first coupling part couples one front frame and one rear frame. A second coupling part couples a rear end of the front frame and a supporting column of the ROPS. A third coupling part couples the supporting column and the rear frame. The riding mower utilizes at least one triangular structural element defined in part by the first, second and third coupling parts. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160101823 | SELF-BALANCING VEHICLE FRAME - A self-balancing vehicle frame is mounted with two angle sensors and two wheels that are electrically and respectively coupled to the angle sensors, and includes a front frame assembly that includes two front frame units and a first connecting unit. The front frame units cooperatively define a connecting space therebetween. Each of the front frame units is mounted with a respective one of the wheels and a respective one of the angle sensors, and is operable to tilt the corresponding one of the angle sensors. The first connecting unit is located in the connecting space, and interconnects the front frame units such that the front frame units are rotatable relative to each other. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160129963 | ELECTRIC SELF-BALANCING VEHICLE - 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 bottom cover is fixed to the top cover. The inner cover is fixed between the top cover and the bottom 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. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160158078 | TWO-WHEELED SELF-BALANCING WHEELCHAIR - A two-wheeled self-balancing wheelchair is provided, including: a housing having support brackets which are mounted directly below rotary shafts of the motors located at both sides of the bottom side of the housing, rotary shafts of the motors which are drawn out from the housing, and wheels which are mounted to the rotary shafts and rotate in a way as to read an inclination angle of a rider's body; a saddle frame which is mounted on the upper part of the housing; and multipoint supports mounted at the front and rear of the support brackets, each of the multipoint supports having a first hinge part and a second hinge part which are formed at the front ends of the multipoint support to be able to rotate by bolts and are connected with each other through a connection bar and a third hinge part. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160184150 | ALL TERRAIN WHEELCHAIR - An all terrain wheelchair is provided. The wheelchair includes a frame. The frame includes an upper bracket, a lower bracket, a first side, a second side, a front end and a rear end. At least one motor is mounted to the lower bracket of the frame. A first drive sprocket and a second drive sprocket may be disposed on the first side and the second side respectively. The motor may rotate the first and second drive sprockets. A first track drive wheel is rotatably connected to the first side and a second track drive wheel is rotatably connected to the second side. The first and second track drive wheels each include a wheel sprocket connected to the first and second drive sprockets respectively by a drive chain. A plurality of roller wheels are rotatably connected to each of the first side and the second side. A first track surrounds the plurality of wheels on the first side and a second track surrounds the plurality of wheels on the second side. The first track is driven by the first track drive wheel and the second track is driven by the second track drive wheel. The present invention may further include a seat mounted to the upper bracket and a controller operable to control an output of the at least one motor and a steering of the wheelchair. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20190144036 | SPHERICAL WHEEL DRIVE AND MOUNTING | 05-16-2019 |
