Three-wheeled tilting vehicle
AssigneeSway Motorsports LLC
InventorsKyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
Claims20
A convertible, tilting vehicle, comprising:
- a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis, wherein the front wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis;
- a steering actuator configured to selectively steer the front wheels;
- a single rear wheel coupled to the chassis;
- a motor configured to drive the rear wheel to propel the vehicle;
- a rider support platform;
- and
- a tilt-lock mechanism configured to limit tilting of the chassis;
- wherein the vehicle is configured to be transitionable between (a) a manned mode, in which the tilt-lock mechanism is disengaged and the rider support platform is configured to steer the vehicle in response to rider input, and (b) an autonomous mode, in which the tilt-lock mechanism is engaged, the rider support platform is displaced into a rider-unusable position, and an electronic controller of the vehicle is configured to steer the vehicle autonomously.
A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis and configured to tilt in unison with the chassis with respect to a roll axis of the chassis;
- a single rear wheel coupled to the chassis and including a motor configured to drive the rear wheel;
- a rider support platform including a handlebar assembly and a seat, wherein the rider support platform is configured to transition between (a) a manned mode, in which the rider support platform is configured to support a rider and to steer the vehicle in response to rider input, and (b) an autonomous mode, in which at least one of the handlebar assembly and the seat is pivoted to prevent a rider from sitting on the seat;
- wherein, in automatic response to a transition from the manned mode to the autonomous mode, an electronic controller of the vehicle is configured to steer the vehicle autonomously;
- and
- a tilt-lock mechanism configured to limit or prevent tilting of the chassis when the vehicle is in the autonomous mode;
- wherein engaging the tilt-lock mechanism causes a parking brake of the vehicle to be engaged.
A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:
- a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis and configured to tilt in unison with the chassis with respect to a roll axis of the chassis;
- a single rear wheel coupled to the chassis and including a motor configured to drive the rear wheel;
- a rider support platform including a handlebar assembly and a seat, wherein the rider support platform is configured to transition between (a) a manned mode, in which the rider support platform is configured to support a rider and to steer the vehicle in response to rider input, and (b) an autonomous mode, in which at least one of the handlebar assembly and the seat is pivoted to prevent a rider from sitting on the seat;
- wherein, in automatic response to a transition from the manned mode to the autonomous mode, an electronic controller of the vehicle is configured to steer the vehicle autonomously;
- and
- a tilt-lock mechanism configured to limit or prevent tilting of the chassis when the vehicle is in the autonomous mode;
- wherein when the tilt-lock mechanism is engaged, the tilt-lock mechanism is configured to lock the chassis either in an upright position or in a tilted position at a selected tilt angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.