Drifting kart
Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.
1. A ridable vehicle comprising:
a chassis having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
a steering mount coupled to the forward portion of the chassis,
wherein the steering mount comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion, wherein the first portion is positioned forward of the second portion and the intermediate portion connects the first portion with the second portion, wherein the steering mount is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle,
wherein the steering mount comprises a steering assembly configured to support a fork, the fork configured to support a motor;
a seat coupled to the chassis, wherein the seat is positioned adjacent the second portion of the steering mount,
at least two caster wheels coupled to the rearward portion of the chassis, wherein the caster wheels are configured to rotate about a rotational axis and swivel about a swivel axis, wherein the swivel axis is substantially stationary relative to chassis;
wherein the motor is configured to drive the front wheel.
2. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering mount comprises a substantially trapezoidal shape from a side vantage point of the ridable vehicle.
3. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
4. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a front end of the seat is positioned adjacent a lower portion of the second portion of the steering mount.
5. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the seat is positioned above the chassis.
6. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering assembly extends through an aperture in the intermediate portion.
7. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a base of the seat is positioned approximately aligned with a lateral axis that is perpendicular to a swivel axis of the caster wheels.
8. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a variable speed electric motor.
9. The ridable vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the power delivered to the variable speed electric motor is controlled by an acceleration pedal.
10. The ridable vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the caster wheels are coupled to the chassis via a rotatable member that is coupled to a hand lever coupled to the chassis and rotation of the hand lever rotates the caster wheels from a first position where the caster wheels are aligned so that the weight on the caster wheels limits the ability of the caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes, to a second position where the caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes.
11. A ridable vehicle comprising:
a chassis having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
a steering mount coupled to the forward portion of the chassis,
wherein the steering mount comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is positioned forward of the second portion, wherein the steering mount is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vehicle,
wherein the steering mount comprises a steering assembly configured to support a fork, the fork configured to support a steering wheel and a motor;
a seat coupled to the chassis, the seat comprising a base and a rear portion,
at least two caster wheels coupled to the rearward portion of the chassis, wherein the caster wheels are configured to rotate about a rotational axis and swivel about a swivel axis, wherein the swivel axis is substantially stationary relative to chassis;
wherein the motor is configured to drive the front wheel, and
wherein the rear portion of the seat is positioned rearward of a connection between the caster wheels and the chassis.
12. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the seat is positioned entirely below the steering wheel.
13. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the motor is a variable speed electric motor.
14. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the caster wheels are coupled to the chassis via a rotatable member that is coupled to a hand lever coupled to the chassis and rotation of the hand lever rotates the caster wheels from a first position where the caster wheels are aligned so that the weight on the caster wheels limits the ability of the caster wheels to swivel about their swivel axes, to a second position where the caster wheels are aligned so that they are free to swivel about their swivel axes.
15. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the steering mount comprises a substantially trapezoidal shape from a side vantage point of the ridable vehicle.
16. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein a front end of the seat is positioned adjacent a lower portion of the second portion of the steering mount.
17. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the steering mount are angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the chassis.
18. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the base of the seat is positioned approximately aligned with a lateral axis that is perpendicular to a swivel axis of the caster wheels.
19. The ridable vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the swivel axis is rearward of the connection between the caster wheels and the chassis.
20. A method comprising:
obtaining a cart comprising:
a chassis comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion;
a steering mount coupled to the forward portion of the chassis;
a seat coupled to the chassis;
a front wheel;
a motor; and
at least two caster wheels coupled to the rearward portion of the chassis and configured to rotate about a rotational axis and swivel about a fixed swivel axis;
driving the front wheel with the motor;
receiving a turning input to turn the front wheel and to induce a turn of the cart; and
engaging the caster wheels to provide drifting movement of the cart during the turn.