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 Title: |
US8219308:
Monowheel type vehicle
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Leeser, Karl F.; San Jose, CA, United States of America
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
2012-07-10
/ 2010-02-02
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| Application Number: |
US2010000699002
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G06F 17/10;
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| U.S. Class: |
701/124;
701/069;
701/070;
701/071;
701/072;
701/073;
180/248;
180/197;
180/233;
180/247;
475/086;
475/088;
475/231;
303/009.67;
303/113.5;
303/139;
303/146;
303/171;
280/047.32;
224/184;
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| Field of Search: |
701/069,70,71,72,73,74,78,79,83,89,124
180/1.5,197,233,247,248,249
303/9.67,113.5,139,146,171
280/47.32
224/184
070/226
475/086,88,231
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| Priority Number: |
| 2010-02-02 |
US2010000699002 |
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| Abstract: |
An engine-propelled monowheel vehicle comprises two wheels, close together, that circumscribe the remainder of the vehicle. When the vehicle is moving forward, the closely spaced wheels act as a single wheel, and the vehicle turns by leaning the wheels. A single propulsion system provides a drive torque that is shared by the two wheels. A separate steering torque, provided by a steering motor, is added to one wheel while being subtracted from the other wheel, enabling the wheels to rotate in opposite directions for turning the vehicle at zero forward velocity. The vehicle employs attitude sensors, for sensing roll, pitch, and yaw, and an automatic balancing system. A flywheel in the vehicle spins at a high rate around a spin axis, wherein the spin axis is rotatable with respect to the vehicle's frame. The axis angle and flywheel spin speed are continually adjustable to generate torques for automatic balancing.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Patent Law Group LLP ;
Ogonowsky, Brian D. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Trammell, James; Marc, McDieunel
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
None
Family Legal Status Report
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| Family: |
Show 2 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 43 claims |
1. A vehicle comprising: a wheel having a diameter, an outer periphery of the wheel for contacting a surface for moving relative to the surface; a support structure circumscribed by the wheel, wherein the wheel rotates about the support structure; a propulsion system circumscribed by the wheel and connected to the support structure, the propulsion system being coupled to the wheel for rotating the wheel around the propulsion system, thus propelling the wheel along the surface; and an automatic balancing system circumscribed by the wheel and connected to the support structure, the balancing system comprising: a flywheel that is controllable to spin around a flywheel spin axis, the flywheel spin axis being connected to the support structure by a pivot that is rotatable to orient the flywheel in different directions, whereby changing a direction of the flywheel spin axis places a torque on the support structure; and a control system configured to receive signals from one or more sensors in the vehicle providing balancing information, the control system being coupled to the pivot to orient the flywheel in different directions to adjust an attitude of the vehicle for maintaining balance of the vehicle.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
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| Description: |
Show description
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