Variable speed transmission for scooter

Abstract

A small, motor-driven vehicle has at least one steered wheel and at least one motor-driven wheel with the rider supported between the wheels. The rider directs the steered wheel while applying motor power through a throttle mechanism to the driven wheel. The throttle mechanism includes a driven shaft from the motor contacting the periphery of the driven wheel. This driven shaft has an adjustable diameter. When the driven shaft is adjusted to have a small diameter, the small, motor-driven vehicle is propelled at low speed and high torque with optimum power transmission for proceeding either uphill or over terrain presenting higher resistance to vehicle passage. When the driven shaft is adjusted to have a larger diameter, the small, motor-driven vehicle is propelled at higher speed and lower torque, on the level, downhill or over terrain presenting lower resistance to vehicle passage. Accordingly, the adjustable diameter of the driven shaft permits optimization of scooter torque and speed for proceeding with optimum motor efficiency.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a small, motor-driven vehicle having: 
 at least one steered wheel;    a motor for driving the small, motor-driven vehicle;    at least one motor-driven wheel;    a platform supporting the rider from the at least one driven wheel wherein the rider supported on the platform directs the steered wheel while applying power from the motor through a throttle mechanism to the driven wheel; and,    a throttle mechanism for applying power from the motor to the driven wheel;    the improvement of a throttle mechanism comprising: 
 a driven shaft from the motor contacting the periphery of the driven wheel;  
 means for providing the driven shaft with an adjustable diameter between a small diameter and a larger diameter when driving the driven wheel whereby,  
 when the driven shaft is adjusted to have a small diameter, the small motor driven vehicle is propelled at low speed and high torque, and  
 when the driven shaft is adjusted to have a large diameter, the small motor driven vehicle is propelled at higher speed and lower torque.  
   
     
     
         2 . The small, motor-driven vehicle according to  claim 1  and wherein: 
 the small, motor-driven vehicle is a scooter.  
 
     
     
         3 . The small, motor-driven vehicle according to  claim 1  and wherein: 
 the means for providing the driven shaft with an adjustable diameter includes two opposed parts for moving toward and away from one another.  
 
     
     
         4 . The small, motor-driven vehicle according to  claim 3  and wherein: 
 the two opposed parts produce a larger diameter when moved toward one another and produce a smaller diameter when moved away from one another.  
 
     
     
         5 . The small, motor-driven vehicle according to  claim 1  and wherein: 
 the driven shaft is inflatable to provide a variable diameter.  
 
     
     
         6 . The small, motor-driven vehicle according to  claim 5  and wherein: 
 the driven shaft when inflated provides a larger diameter; and,  
 the driven shaft when deflated provides a smaller diameter.  
 
     
     
         7 . In a small, motor-driven vehicle having: 
 at least one steered wheel;    a motor for driving the small, motor-driven vehicle;    at least one motor-driven wheel;    a platform supporting the rider from the at least one driven wheel wherein the rider supported on the platform directs the steered wheel while applying power from the motor through a throttle mechanism to the driven wheel; and    a throttle mechanism for applying power from the motor to the driven wheel;    a process of driving the driven wheel through the throttle mechanism comprises the steps of: 
 providing a driven shaft from the motor for contacting the periphery of the driven wheel;  
 providing the driven shaft with an adjustable diameter between a small diameter and a larger diameter when driving the driven wheel;  
 adjusting the driven shaft to have a small diameter to propel the driven wheel at low speed and high torque; and,  
 adjusting the driven shaft to have a larger diameter to propel the driven wheel at high speed and low torque.  
   
     
     
         8 . The process of driving the driven wheel through the throttle mechanism of  claim 7  and further including: 
 mounting the driven shaft on a pivot relative to the driven wheel; and,  
 pivoting the driven shaft toward and away from the wheel to apply power to the driven wheel.  
 
     
     
         9 . The process of driving the driven wheel through the throttle mechanism of  claim 7  and wherein the providing of the driven shaft with an adjustable diameter includes the steps of: 
 providing the driven shaft with interlocking parts moving toward and away from one another to provide a first shaft diameter in a first toward-and-away position and to provide a second shaft diameter in a second toward-and-away position; and,  
 moving the interlocking parts of the driven shaft to vary the torque and speed of the driven wheel.  
 
     
     
         10 . The process of driving the driven wheel through the throttle mechanism of  claim 9  and wherein: 
 moving the interlocking parts of the driven shaft away from one another to provide high torque and low speed to the driven wheel.  
 
     
     
         11 . The process of driving the driven wheel through the throttle mechanism of  claim 7  and wherein the step of providing the driven shaft with an adjustable diameter includes: 
 providing the driven shaft with an inflatable diameter;  
 inflating the driven shaft to provide the driven wheel with high speed and low torque; and  
 deflating the driven shaft to provide the driven wheel with low speed and high torque.