IP Library Granted Patent US 8,781,684
Granted Patent B2
US 8,781,684 · App. 13/939,152 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Steering and control systems for a three-wheeled vehicle

Inventor: Ian A. Bruce (Dana Point, CA)
Assignee: Alpha Motors Company Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,781,684
App. No.
13/939,152
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A three-wheeled vehicle that includes: a single front wheel; two rear wheels; a passenger cabin; an electronic steering control unit; and a steering input device configured to send an electronic signal to the electronic steering control unit corresponding to an input received at the steering input device associated with turning the three-wheeled vehicle; wherein the electronic steering control unit is configured to counter-steer the front wheel in response to receiving the electronic signal, wherein the counter-steering of the front wheel initiates a leaning of the passenger cabin a direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

Claims (33)

1. A three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a single front wheel;

two rear wheels;

a passenger cabin;

an electronic steering control unit; and

a steering input device configured to send an electronic signal to the electronic steering control unit corresponding to an input received at the steering input device associated with turning the three-wheeled vehicle;

wherein the electronic steering control unit is configured to counter-steer the front wheel in response to receiving the electronic signal, wherein the counter-steering of the front wheel initiates a leaning of the passenger cabin a direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

2. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a single actuator arm coupled to the front wheel configured to steer the front wheel in response to signals received from the electronic steering control unit.

3. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rear wheels are mechanically coupled to the passenger cabin and are configured to steer the rear wheels in the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle in accordance with the leaning of the passenger cabin.

4. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a actuator arms coupled to the rear wheels, wherein the actuator arms are configured to steer the rear wheels in the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

5. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the actuator arms are configured to steer the rear wheels in the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle based on steering signals received from the electronic steering control unit.

6. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a rotary actuator coupled to the rear wheels and configured to steer the rear wheels in the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

7. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the rotary actuator is configured to steer the rear wheels in the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle based on steering signals received from the electronic steering control unit.

8. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a stability control unit coupled to the rear wheels and configured to receive stability control signals from the electronic steering control unit.

9. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the stability control unit is configured to slow down the rotation of an inner rear wheel relative to the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

10. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the stability control unit is configured to increase the rotation of an outer rear wheel relative to the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

11. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering input device comprises a hand-wheel or a joystick.

12. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a steering column coupled to the steering input device; and

two redundant actuators rotationally coupled to the steering column and configured to detect steering direction intent and torque input of the steering input device.

13. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electronic steering control unit is configured to counter-steer the front wheel in response to receiving the electronic signal when the three-wheeled vehicle is travelling at a speed above a threshold speed.

14. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the threshold speed is approximately 30 kilometers per hour.

15. An electronic steering control unit for a three-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

an input unit configured to receive a first electronic signal corresponding to an input received at a steering input device, the first electronic signal associated with turning of the three-wheeled vehicle; and

an output unit coupled an actuator arm that controls steering of a single front wheel of the three-wheeled vehicle, wherein, in response to receiving the first electronic signal from the input unit, the output unit is configured to send a second electronic signal to the actuator arm to counter-steer the front wheel, wherein the counter-steering of the front wheel initiates a leaning of a passenger cabin of the three-wheeled vehicle a direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

16. The electronic steering control unit of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second output unit configured to send a third electronic signal to a motor unit that controls actuator arms coupled to rear wheels of the three-wheeled vehicle, the actuator arms configured to steer the rear wheels in the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

17. The electronic steering control unit of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second output unit configured to send a third electronic signal to a rotary actuator coupled to rear wheels of the three-wheeled vehicle, the rotary actuator configured to steer the rear wheels in the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

18. The electronic steering control unit of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second output unit configured to send a third electronic signal to a stability control unit coupled to rear wheels of the three-wheeled vehicle, the stability control unit configured to control the rotation of each of the rear wheels.

19. The electronic steering control unit of claim 18 , wherein the stability control unit is configured to slow down the rotation of an inner rear wheel relative to the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

20. The electronic steering control unit of claim 18 , wherein the stability control unit is configured to increase the rotation of an outer rear wheel relative to the direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 18, 2025
From: GOTECH INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LEE, HELEN, MS.
Reel/Frame 071765/0389 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2015
From: ALPHA MOTORS LIMITED
To: GOTECH INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 035210/0759 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2013
From: BRUCE, IAN A.
To: ALPHA MOTORS COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 030815/0118 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61670074 · Jul 10, 2012
Related Publication 20140019006A1 · Jan 16, 2014