초록 ▼

A manually propelled vehicle has a power assisted drive wheel assembly coupled to a stationary chassis and a control system for actuating the powering. The drive wheel assembly is integrated with a gearless electric motor. The motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. The

A manually propelled vehicle has a power assisted drive wheel assembly coupled to a stationary chassis and a control system for actuating the powering. The drive wheel assembly is integrated with a gearless electric motor. The motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. The drive wheel assembly includes a stationary wheel support coupled to the chassis and a rotatable drive wheel rotatably mounted to the stationary wheel support. The drive wheel has an outer rim and an inner ring, the outer rim being connected to the inner ring by support members. The stationary wheel support includes a first annular well for housing the control system and a power source, and a second annular well formed concentrically around the first annular well. The stator is mounted to the stationary wheel support in the second annular well and the rotor is mounted to the inner ring, which is rotatably coupled to the distal portion of the stationary wheel support via bearings. The drive wheel freely rotates relative to the stationary wheel support when no power is applied to the electric motor or if the motor fails. A grip ring is connected to the drive wheel. The control system includes a torque sensor for detecting torque applied by the grip ring. The signal from the torque sensor is used as a variable for activating the motor.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [5.] A power assisted manually propelled vehicle comprising:a chassis;a power assisted wheel assembly, which includes:stationary wheel support coupled to the chassis,a rotatable wheel rotatably mounted to the stationary wheel support,an electric motor having a moving part and

[ What is claimed is:] [5.] A power assisted manually propelled vehicle comprising:a chassis;a power assisted wheel assembly, which includes:stationary wheel support coupled to the chassis,a rotatable wheel rotatably mounted to the stationary wheel support,an electric motor having a moving part and a stationary part, the stationary part being coupled to the stationary wheel support and the moving part being coupled to the rotatable wheel, the moving part being concentrically situated over the stationary part with a gap therebetween, anda grip ring connected to the rotatable wheel via leafsprings and rotatable pins rotatably mounted relative to the rotatable wheel,wherein the rotatable wheel is freely rotatable relative to the stationary wheel support when the electric motor is not powered; anda control system for selectively activating the motorswherein the control system includes a torque sensor for detecting torque applied to the grip ring, the torque sensor comprising a rotation transducer associated with one of the pins, the associated pin being rotatably mounted relative to the rotation transducer, which rotation transducer converts a rotation of the associated pin into an electrical signal for controlling the actuation of the motor.