Personal transport vehicle

Abstract

An electric skateboard including a deck, a wheel and an electric motor mounted to a drive truck, the wheel rotatably supported by the drive truck and the electric motor configured to drive the wheel, wherein the drive truck is mounted to the deck, a battery mounted to a power truck and configured to power the electric motor, wherein the power truck is mounted to the deck, and a processor configured to control operation of the electric motor.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An electric skateboard comprising:
 a deck;   a skateboard truck mounted to the deck;   a wheel rotatably fixed to the truck;   an electric motor mounted to the truck, the electric motor configured to drive the wheel;   an energy storage device, movably coupled to the deck, that powers the electric motor; and   a processor that controls operation of the electric motor based on a signal received from a control input.   
     
     
         2 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is movably coupled to the support surface by a suspension mechanism that substantially reduces shear force between the energy storage device and the support surface. 
     
     
         3 . The electric skateboard of  claim 2 , wherein the suspension mechanism includes a flexible casing. 
     
     
         4 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is movably coupled to the support surface by a power truck, wherein the energy storage device is mounted to the power truck. 
     
     
         5 . The electric skateboard of  claim 4 , wherein the power truck is a separate truck from the first truck, wherein the first truck is mounted to a first end of the deck and the power truck is mounted to a second, opposing end of the deck. 
     
     
         6 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor drives the wheel through a positive drive mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The electric skateboard of  claim 6 , further comprising a belt tensioning mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The electric skateboard of  claim 7 , wherein the belt tensioning mechanism comprises an adjustable mounting system that adjustably mounts the electric motor to the truck, wherein adjustment of a position of the electric motor shaft relative to the wheel axis adjusts a belt tension of the positive drive mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the processor controls the electric motor to output an acceleration torque in a first direction, output a deceleration torque in a second direction opposing the first direction, and output a cruising torque substantially equivalent to an instantaneous torque during electric motor operation. 
     
     
         10 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the control input comprises a pressure sensor mounted to the support surface and connected to the controller, wherein the signal received from the control input is indicative of an applied force received by the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The electric skateboard of  claim 9 , wherein the signal is indicative of a position of the applied force along a length of the support surface, wherein the processor adjusts the output torque based on the indicated position of the applied force. 
     
     
         12 . The electric skateboard of  claim 11 , wherein the signal is indicative of a magnitude of the applied force, wherein the processor adjusts the output torque based on the indicated magnitude of the applied force. 
     
     
         13 . The electric skateboard of  claim 12 , wherein the control input comprises a remote control unit that sends an acceleration signal based on a position of an input mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a second wheel rotatably fixed to the truck and a second electric motor mounted to the truck that drives the second wheel. 
     
     
         15 . A drive train for an electric skateboard, the skateboard including a support surface, the drive train comprising:
 a skateboard truck configured to mount to the support surface;   a bearing rotatably supported by the truck;   an electric motor mounted to the truck, the electric motor configured to drive the bearing;   an energy storage device configured to movably couple to the support surface and to power the electric motor; and   a processor that controls operation of the electric motor based on a signal received from a control input.   
     
     
         16 . The drive train of  claim 15 , wherein the energy storage device is movably coupled to the support surface by a suspension mechanism that substantially decouples the energy storage device from the support surface in shear force. 
     
     
         17 . The drive train of  claim 16 , wherein the suspension mechanism includes a flexible casing. 
     
     
         18 . The drive train of  claim 15 , wherein the electric motor drives the bearing through a positive drive mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The drive train of  claim 18 , wherein the positive drive mechanism comprises a toothed belt passing around a first toothed pulley connected to the electric motor and around a second toothed pulley connected to the bearing. 
     
     
         20 . The drive train of  claim 19 , further comprising a belt tensioning mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . The drive train of  claim 20 , wherein the belt tensioning mechanism comprises an adjustable mounting system that adjustably mounts the electric motor to the truck, wherein adjustment of a position of the electric motor shaft relative to the bearing adjusts the belt tension. 
     
     
         22 . The drive train of  claim 15 , wherein the processor controls the electric motor to output a cruising torque that substantially maintains the instantaneous speed of the skateboard during operation. 
     
     
         23 . An electric skateboard, comprising:
 a support surface;   a heat conducting skateboard truck mounted to the support surface;   a wheel rotatably fixed to the truck;   an electric motor configured to drive the wheel, the electric motor mounted to the truck, wherein the truck is thermally connected to the motor controller;   a motor controller configured to control the electric motor, the motor controller mounted to the truck, wherein the truck is thermally connected to the motor controller;   an energy storage device, movably coupled to the second end of the deck, that powers the electric motor; and   a processor that adjusts an output torque of the electric motor based on a signal received from a control input.