System and method for providing gyroscopic stabilization to a wheeled vehicle
This invention provides a stabilizing system and method for two-wheeled vehicles that affords the rider no restriction on the full range of movements (banks, leans, etc.) common to bicycles, but that provides greater stability during turns and other maneuvers so that an unintentional bank or tilt (potentially causing a fall) is less likely, even at relatively slow speeds and startup. A rotating mass of predetermined mass-value and radial mass-distribution is provided coaxially with the front axle. The mass is supported on bearings so as to freewheel with respect to the rotation of the front wheel. As such it can be induced to spin significantly faster than the front wheel thereby generating a gyroscopic effect at the front wheel about the axle. This gyroscopic effect influences the steering of the wheel by the rider. Due to precession, the wheel tends to follow any excessive bank by the vehicle, ensuring that the rider can “steer-out-of” an unintended tilt or bank. Likewise, the gyroscopic effect limits the rider's ability to execute excessive steering, thereby preventing jackknife movements. The mass can be an electric-motor-driven flywheel within a shell housing that includes a battery, control system and drive motor. The drive motor engages a surface of the flywheel with a drive tire in a resilient manner to reduce potential damage to the motor.
1. A system for stabilizing a wheeled vehicle comprising:
a flywheel mounted with respect to a steerable wheel of the wheeled vehicle that has a characteristic precession so that the steerable wheel is urged in a direction of an unintentional bank to provide recovery in the form of steering from the bank, the steerable wheel being mounted on a steerable wheel mount having an axle and an inner hub coaxial with the axle that allows the steerable wheel to rotate relative to the axle and a steerable fork, wherein the flywheel is rotatably mounted on the axle with a bearing structure therebetween to allow the flywheel to rotate freely with respect to the inner hub;
a drive mechanism that is driven by an electric motor to thereby initiate rotation of the flywheel to a rotating state from a non-rotating state with respect to the inner hub while the inner hub and the steerable wheel are stationary and non-rotating; and
at least one battery that is operatively connected to deliver power to the electric motor,
wherein the battery, electric motor, drive mechanism, flywheel and a central portion of the axle are each enclosed within a shell that defines a rim supporting a tire.
2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flywheel is structured such that a greater portion of flywheel mass is displaced proximate an outer edge of the flywheel, and an inner portion of the flywheel is narrower and has less mass.
3. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a push button operatively connected to the electric motor to commence rotation of the flywheel.
4. A system for stabilizing a wheeled vehicle comprising:
a flywheel mounted with respect to a steerable wheel of the wheeled vehicle that has a characteristic precession so that the steerable wheel is urged in a direction of an unintentional bank to provide recovery in the form of steering from the bank, the steerable wheel being mounted on a steerable wheel mount having an axle and an inner hub coaxial with the axle that allows the steerable wheel to rotate relative to the axle and a steerable fork, wherein the flywheel is rotatably mounted on the axle with a bearing structure therebetween to allow the flywheel to rotate freely with respect to the inner hub;
a drive mechanism that is driven by an electric motor to thereby initiate rotation of the flywheel to a rotating state from a non-rotating state with respect to the inner hub while the inner hub and the steerable wheel are stationary and non-rotating; and
a groove-seated driving tire that is responsive to the drive mechanism by engaging a surface of the flywheel proximate an outer edge of the flywheel,
wherein the electric motor, drive mechanism, groove-seated driving tire, flywheel and a central portion of the axle are each enclosed within a shell that defines a rim supporting a tire.
5. The system as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a motor mount assembly that secures the electric motor within the steerable wheel and that movably biases the groove-seated driving tire against the surface of the flywheel.
6. The system as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a pair of opposing springs that bias the groove-seated driving tire into contact with the flywheel and a damper assembly that damps deflection of the pair of opposing springs.
7. The system as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a push button operatively connected to the electric motor to commence rotation of the flywheel.
8. A system for stabilizing a wheeled vehicle comprising:
a flywheel mounted with respect to a steerable wheel of the wheeled vehicle that has a characteristic precession so that the steerable wheel is urged in a direction of an unintentional bank to provide recovery in the form of steering from the bank, the steerable wheel being mounted on a steerable wheel mount having an axle and an inner hub coaxial with the axle that allows the steerable wheel to rotate relative to the axle and a steerable fork, wherein the flywheel is rotatably mounted on the axle with a bearing structure therebetween to allow the flywheel to rotate freely with respect to the inner hub;
a drive mechanism that is driven by an electric motor to thereby initiate rotation of the flywheel to a rotating state from a non-rotating state with respect to the inner hub while the inner hub and the steerable wheel are stationary and non-rotating;
at least one battery that is operatively connected to deliver power to the electric motor, wherein the battery, electric motor, drive mechanism, flywheel and a central portion of the axle are each enclosed within a shell that defines a rim supporting a tire; and
a charging plug located on the shell to accessibly enable charge to the battery.
9. The system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a push button operatively connected to the electric motor to commence rotation of the flywheel.
10. A system for stabilizing a wheeled vehicle comprising:
a flywheel mounted with respect to a steerable wheel of the wheeled vehicle that has a characteristic precession so that the steerable wheel is urged in a direction of an unintentional bank to provide recovery in the form of steering from the bank, the steerable wheel being mounted on a steerable wheel mount having an axle and an inner hub coaxial with the axle that allows the steerable wheel to rotate relative to the axle and a steerable fork, wherein the flywheel is rotatably mounted on the axle with a bearing structure therebetween to allow the flywheel to rotate freely about an axis of rotation oriented in a direction of the axle with respect to the inner hub; and
a drive mechanism positioned to initiate rotation of the flywheel to a rotating state from a non-rotating state with respect to the inner hub while the inner hub and the steerable wheel are stationary and non-rotating, the drive mechanism including a rotating drive member that engages a surface of the flywheel and that rotates on an axis approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the flywheel,
wherein the drive mechanism, flywheel and a central portion of the axle are each enclosed within a shell that defines a rim supporting a tire.
11. The system as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a motor mount assembly that movably biases the rotating drive member against the surface of the flywheel.
12. The system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a pair of opposing springs that bias the rotating drive member into contact with the flywheel and a damper assembly that damps deflection of the pair of opposing springs.