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US 12,570,348 B2Granted
Motorized wagon and operation method thereof
AssigneeEllavate Wagon, Inc.
InventorsMegan Lancaster, Michael Bubolz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motorized wagon system according to the present disclosure includes a frame, a base coupled to the frame, a first wheel set and a second wheel set connected to the base, a handle connected to the frame, and a control system. The control system includes a first sensor and a second sensor configured to measure two forces applied on different portions of the handle. The control system further includes a controller that controls the first wheel set based on measurements of the first sensor and the second wheel set based on measurements of the second sensor.
Claims20
A motorized wagon system, comprising:
- a frame, including a left arm and a right arm;
- a base connected to a first end of the left arm and a first end of the right arm;
- a first motorized wheel set connected to a right portion of the base and a second motorized wheel set connected to a left portion of the base, wherein each of the first motorized wheel set and the second motorized wheel sets respectively includes:
- a plurality of wheel hubs connected to the base;
- a plurality of wheels, each of the plurality of wheels connected to each of the plurality of wheel hubs;
- a brushless DC motor disposed within each of the plurality of wheel hubs and configured to drive and rotate each of the plurality of wheels;
- and
- a linear potentiometer connected to the brushless DC motor to control a speed of the brushless DC motor;
- a handle connected to a second end of the left arm and a second end of the right arm;
- and
- a control system disposed on the handle and including:
- a first sensor configured to measure a first force applied on a first portion of the handle and generate a first measurement;
- a second sensor configured to measure a second force applied on a second portion of the handle and generate a second measurement;
- and
- a controller connected to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the controller controls each brushless DC motor of the first motorized wheel set based on the first measurement, the control system controls each brushless DC motor of the second motorized wheel set based on the second measurement, such that the plurality of wheels of the first motorized wheel set and the plurality of wheels of the second wheel set rotate independently with respect to each other.
12 more elements
A method of operating a motorized wagon system, comprising:
- providing a motorized wagon comprising:
- a frame, including a left arm and a right arm;
- a base connected to a first end of the left arm and a first end of the right arm;
- a first motorized wheel set connected to a right portion of the base and a second motorized wheel set connected to a left portion of the base, wherein each of the first motorized wheel set and second motorized wheel sets respectively includes:
- a plurality of wheel hubs connected to the base;
- a plurality of wheels, each of the plurality of wheels connected to each of the plurality of wheel hubs;
- a motor disposed within each of the plurality of wheel hubs and configured to drive and rotate each of the plurality of wheels;
- and
- a linear potentiometer connected to the brushless DC motor to control a speed of the brushless DC motor;
- and
- a handle connected to a second end of the left arm and a second end of the right arm;
- a battery disposed on at least a portion of the base and protrudes away from a bottom of the base, such that a height of the battery is less than a length of a radius of each wheel;
- measuring a first force applied on a first portion of the handle and generating a first measurement;
- measuring a second force applied on a second portion of the handle and generating a second measurement;
- controlling each motor of the first motorized wheel set based on the first measurement;
- and
- controlling each motor of the second motorized wheel set based on the second measurement, such that each wheel of the first motorized wheel set and the second motorized wheel set rotate independently with respect to each other, and each motor of the first motorized wheel set is more compact in size with respect to each motor of the second motorized wheel set.
14 more elements
A motorized wagon system, comprising:
- a frame, including a left arm and a right arm;
- a base connected to a first end of the left arm and a first end of the right arm;
- a first motorized wheel set connected to a right portion of the base and a second motorized wheel set connected to a left portion of the base, wherein the first motorized wheel set and the second motorized wheel sets respectively includes:
- a plurality of wheel hubs connected to the base;
- a plurality of wheels, each of the plurality of wheels connected to each of the plurality of wheel hubs;
- a motor disposed within each of the plurality of wheel hubs and configured to drive and rotate each of the plurality of wheels;
- and
- a linear potentiometer connected to the brushless DC motor to control a speed of the brushless DC motor;
- a third wheel set including:
- a wheel hub connected to the base;
- a swivel caster rotatably coupled with the wheel hub;
- and
- a wheel coupled with the swivel caster;
- a handle connected to a second end of the left arm and a second end of the right arm;
- a control system disposed on the handle and including:
- a first sensor configured to measure a first force applied on a first portion of the handle and generate a first measurement;
- a second sensor configured to measure a second force applied on a second portion of the handle and generate a second measurement;
- a controller connected to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the controller proportionally controls the motor of the first motorized wheel set based on the first measurement, the control system proportionally controls the motor of the second motorized wheel set based on the second measurement, such that the plurality of wheels of the first motorized wheel set and the plurality of wheels of the second motorized wheel set rotate independently with respect to each other.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.