# US 2014/0196962 A1 · Electric-powered self-balancing unicycle with steering linkage between handlebars and wheel forks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196962 A1 - Document ID: US20140196962A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/198,128 - Filed: 2014-03-05 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-01 - Assignees: RYNO Motors, Inc. - Applicants: Ryno Motors, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher J. HOFFMANN; Anthony J. OZRELIC - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196962A1 ## CPC - B60T 7/042: {by electrical means, e.g. using travel or force sensors} - B60T 7/085: {by electrical means, e.g. travel, force sensors} - B60T 7/12: for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger {(limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00)} - B62H 1/02: Articulated stands, e.g. in the shape of hinged arms (B62H1/10 takes precedence) - B62K 1/00: Unicycles - B62K 11/007: {Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider} - B62M 7/12: with the engine beside or within the driven wheel - B60L 2200/14: Vehicles with one wheel only - B60L 2260/34: Stabilising upright position of vehicles, e.g. of single axle vehicles - B62J 25/06: Bar-type foot rests - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - B62H: CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS ## Abstract A one-wheeled vehicle may include electric motors, a self-balancing system, and steering mechanism, wherein the electric motors and self-balancing system are disposed within the wheel of the one-wheeled vehicle. A computational resource such as a microprocessor-based controller receives input signals indicative of operation of a twist throttle and brake, and produces signals to adjust the tilt angle relative to the acceleration and thereby reduce the need for a rider to lean forward or backwards. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powered, self-balancing unicycle, comprising: a wheel assembly including a wheel having a rim, an inner surface of the wheel rim defining an inside volume; a motor coupled to a drive sprocket, the drive sprocket operatively connected to the wheel, the motor and the drive sprocket each being disposed within the inside volume of the wheel rim; a body coupled to the wheel assembly by a support frame, the body being configured for transporting a load; and a handlebar operatively connected to the wheel assembly, the handlebar being configured to aid in steering of the unicycle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The unicycle of claim 1, further comprising a battery that supplies energy to the motor, the battery being disposed within the inside volume of the wheel rim. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The unicycle of claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly further comprises an electromechanical braking system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The unicycle of claim 3, wherein the braking system includes a servo motor operatively connected to a pair of brake pads configured to impart a clamping force on a brake disc coupled to the wheel, and a brake controller configured to modulate the clamping force by controlling an amount of DC power applied to the servo motor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The unicycle of claim 2, further comprising: a jackshaft having a jackshaft sprocket; and a flexible link coupling the drive sprocket to the jackshaft sprocket; wherein the motor, the drive sprocket, the battery, the jackshaft, the jackshaft sprocket, and the flexible link are all enclosed within the inside volume of the wheel rim. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The self-balancing unicycle of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer enclosed within the inside volume of the wheel rim. ### Claim 7 A powered, self-balancing unicycle, comprising: a wheel rim coupled to a wheel, the wheel rim forming an inside volume; a motor configured to drive the wheel; a battery configured to supply energy to the motor; the battery and the motor being disposed in the inside volume of the wheel rim to aid in self-balancing; a supporting arm coupled to the wheel rim; a body coupled to the supporting arm, the body being configured for transporting a load; and a handlebar disposed above the wheel rim, the handlebar being configured to aid in steering of the unicycle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The unicycle of claim 7, further comprising one or more covers disposed on opposing lateral sides of the wheel rim such that the one or more covers and the wheel rim enclose the inside volume, wherein the opposing covers are spaced to house the motor and the battery within the inside volume such that no portion of the motor or the battery extends beyond the one or more covers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The unicycle of claim 7, wherein only one wheel is configured to contact the ground during movement of the unicycle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The unicycle of claim 7, further comprising a computer-controlled braking system that includes an electromechanical actuator, the braking system being disposed within the inside volume of the wheel rim, wherein a braking force applied by the braking system is modulated by an amount of DC power applied to a servo motor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The self-balancing unicycle of claim 10, further comprising an electronic gyro stabilization control system disposed within the inside volume of the rim. ### Claim 12 A powered, self-balancing unicycle, comprising: a wheel rim coupled to a wheel, the wheel rim forming an inside area: a motor having a drive sprocket, the motor and the drive sprocket each being disposed in the inside area of the wheel rim to aid in self-balancing; a supporting arm coupled to the wheel rim; a body coupled to the supporting arm, the body being configured for transporting a load; and a handlebar disposed above the wheel rim, the handlebar being configured to aid in steering of the unicycle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The unicycle of claim 12, further comprising a battery that supplies energy to the motor, the battery being disposed within the inside area of the wheel rim. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The unicycle of claim 13, wherein a squeeze pressure applied by a braking system of the unicycle is modulated by an amount of DC power applied to a servo motor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The unicycle of claim 12, wherein the wheel assembly further comprises a braking system that is controlled by a computer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The unicycle of claim 12, further comprising: a jackshaft having a jackshaft sprocket; and a belt coupling the drive sprocket to the jackshaft sprocket; wherein the motor, the drive sprocket, the battery, the jackshaft, the jackshaft sprocket, and the belt are all enclosed within an inside area formed by the wheel rim coupled to a wheel cover. ### Claim 17 A powered, self-balancing unicycle, comprising: a wheel rim coupled to a wheel, the wheel rim forming an inside area: a battery that supplies energy to a motor, the battery and the motor being disposed in the inside area of the wheel rim to aid in self-balancing; a supporting arm coupled to the wheel rim; a body coupled to the supporting arm, the body being configured for transporting a load; and a handlebar disposed above the wheel rim, the handlebar being configured to aid in steering of the unicycle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The unicycle of claim 17, further comprising one or more covers disposed on each side of the wheel rim such that the one or more covers and the wheel rim enclose the inside area, wherein a width of the wheel rim is sized to house the motor and the battery within the inside area such that no portion of the motor and the battery extend beyond either outermost edge of the width of the wheel rim. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The unicycle of claim 18, further comprising a computer-controlled braking system that includes an electromechanical actuator, the braking system being disposed within the inside area of the wheel rim, wherein a squeeze pressure applied by the braking system is modulated by an amount of DC power applied to a servo motor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The self-balancing unicycle of claim 19, further comprising one of a gyro stabilization device and an accelerometer disposed within the inside area of the rim.