Suspension systems for an electric skateboard
AssigneeFuture Motion, Inc.
InventorsKyle Jonathan Doerksen, Maximilian Fredrick Ballenger Sluiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-propelled, one-wheeled vehicle may include a suspension system configured to dampen up and down motion of a board relative to the axle of a central wheel assembly when the vehicle encounters obstacles and bumps on a riding surface. Illustrative suspension systems include a shock absorber, a rocker, a pushrod, bell cranks, and/or a swingarm that couple the axle to the board. The suspension system may be disposed completely below a foot deck of the vehicle.
Claims20
A self-balancing electric vehicle comprising:
- a wheel having an axis of rotation;
- a board including a frame having an aperture to accommodate the wheel, such that the board is tiltable about the wheel, first and second deck portions of the board each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the board;
- an electric hub motor configured to drive the wheel;
- a motor controller configured to receive orientation information indicating an orientation of the board and to cause the hub motor to propel the board based on the orientation information;
- and
- a suspension system including:
- a swingarm coupling an axle of the wheel to the frame of the board, such that the board is configured to be movable up and down relative to the axle;
- and
- a shock absorber oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the board and coupled at each end to the swingarm, such that the shock absorber is configured to dampen up and down movement of the board relative to the axle, wherein an entirety of the shock absorber is disposed below the first deck portion.
A method of operating a self-balancing electric vehicle, the method comprising:
- controlling a motor of a self-balancing electric vehicle using a motor controller configured to receive orientation information measured by at least one sensor and to cause the motor to rotate a wheel of the vehicle based on the orientation information, wherein the orientation information corresponds to orientation of a frame of the vehicle, the frame comprising a first deck portion disposed at a first end portion of the frame, and a second deck portion disposed at a second end portion of the frame, the first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
- and
- damping up and down movement of the frame relative to an axle of the wheel using a suspension system coupling the axle to the frame, the suspension system including a shock absorber oriented transverse to the direction of travel, wherein an entirety of the shock absorber is disposed below the first deck portion.
A self-balancing electric vehicle comprising:
- a wheel driven by a hub motor about an axis of rotation;
- a board including a frame having an aperture to accommodate the wheel, such that the board is tiltable about the wheel, first and second deck portions of the board each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the board;
- a motor controller configured to cause the hub motor to propel the board based on board orientation information;
- and
- a suspension system including:
- a swingarm coupling an axle of the wheel to the frame of the board, such that the board is movable up and down relative to the axle;
- and
- a shock absorber oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the board, such that the shock absorber is configured to dampen up and down movement of the board relative to the axle;
- wherein an entirety of the shock absorber is disposed below the first deck portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.