Internally electrically powered bumper cars comprising multiple drive wheels and integral hub motors

A bumper car, comprising:

• a frame;
• a seat attached to the frame, the seat being configured to hold and position at least one rider of the bumper car;
• a portable source, mounted to the frame, of electrical power for propelling the bumper car;
• multiple drive wheels mounted to the frame, each drive wheel comprising a respective hub motor that, when supplied with the electrical power from the source, rotates the respective drive wheel relative to the frame and propels the bumper car, each hub motor being a combination of an electric motor and one or more gear means located in a hub of the respective drive wheel;
• a motor controller connected to the source and to the hub motors, the motor controller being configured to perform at least two of (a) limiting a maximal current, supplied by the source to the hub motors during a surge-current situation, to a preset maximum, (b) ramping down the maximal current, over a preset time interval, during the surge-current situation, and (c) limiting a steady-state current, supplied to the hub motors during actual running of the motors, to a preset value that is lower than the maximal current;
• and
• at least one rider control interconnected with the source, the hub motors, and the motor controller and configured to be manipulated by a rider for propelling and maneuvering the bumper car.

A bumper car, comprising:

• frame means for holding and supporting components of the bumper car;
• seat means for holding and positioning a rider while riding in and maneuvering the bumper car;
• portable power means, supported by said frame means, for supplying electrical power;
• drive-wheel means for propelling the bumper car, the drive-wheel means comprising hub-motor means for actuating, when said hub-motor means are supplied with electrical power from said portable power means, said drive-wheel means to propel the bumper car, each hub-motor means being a combination of electric motor means and gear means located in a hub of the respective drive-wheel means;
• motor-controller means for controlling the supplying of electrical power from said portable power means to said hub-motor means while (a) limiting a maximal current, supplied by said portable power means to said hub-motor means, during a surge-current situation to a preset maximum, and (b) ramping down the maximal current, over a preset time interval, during the surge-current situation;
• and
• control means, manipulatable by the rider, for supplying electrical power to said hub-motor means to propel the bumper car and to maneuver the bumper car.

A method for propelling a bumper car, comprising:

• providing a bumper car with first and second drive wheels powered by first and second hub motors, respectively, that are integral with the first and second drive wheels, respectively, each hub motor being a combination of an electric motor and one or more gears located in a hub of the respective drive wheel;
• providing a source of electrical power carried by the bumper car;
• and
• controlling delivery of electrical power from the source to the first and second hub motors so as to energize the hub motors in a selective manner serving to propel the bumper car, while (a) limiting a maximal current supplied by the source to the hub motors, during a surge-current situation, to a preset maximum, and (b) ramping down the maximal current over a preset time interval during the surge-current situation.

A method for propelling and maneuvering a bumper car, comprising:

• providing a bumper car with first and second drive wheels powered by first and second hub motors, respectively, that are integral with the first and second drive wheels, respectively, each hub motor being a combination of an electric motor and one or more gears located in a hub of the respective drive wheel;
• providing a source of electrical power carried by the bumper car;
• controlling delivery of electrical power from the source to the first and second hub motors so as to energize the hub motors in a selective manner serving to propel the bumper car, the delivery control including at least two of (a) limiting a maximal current supplied by the source to the hub motors, during a surge-current situation, to a preset maximum, (b) ramping down the maximal current over a preset time interval during the surge-current situation, and (c) limiting a steady-state current, supplied to the hub motors during actual running of the motors, at a preset value that is lower than the maximal current;
• and
• steering the bumper car by controlling respective amounts of electrical current delivered to the first and second hub motors so as to produce corresponding rotational velocities of the first and second drive wheels.