Motorized wheel assembly with quick release

Abstract

A motorized vehicle assembly includes an axle comprising a channel extending along a central axis of the axle, a socket positioned within the channel of the axle, and a motorized wheel configured to be mounted on an end the axle. The motorized wheel includes a boss configured to engage the end of the axle when the motorized wheel is mounted on the axle, an electric motor, a tire mounted on the rotor, and a plug positioned within the boss, the plug configured to engage with the socket when the motorized wheel is mounted on the axle. The electric motor includes a stator fixed to the boss and a rotor surrounding the stator, the rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator. The electric motor is configured to cause the rotor to rotate relative to the stator to cause the tire to rotate.

1 - 102 . (canceled) 
     
     
         103 . A method for assembling a motorized skateboard comprising a deck, a truck connected to the deck, a hanger attached to the truck by a kingpin, an axle supported by the hanger, a wheel including a tire mounted on an electric motor such that the electric motor is capable of driving the tire, the method comprising:
 connecting a socket within a channel of the axle of the motorized skateboard to a plug positioned within a boss of the wheel to connect wiring that extends between a battery supported by the deck of the motorized skateboard and the electric motor of the wheel.   
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising aligning a projection extending from an inner surface of the boss of the wheel with a slot in the axle to align the wheel to the axle. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein aligning the wheel to the axle aligns the socket to the plug. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 103 , further comprising inserting a fastener through an opening in the truck such that a portion of the fastener is at least partially received within a groove of the boss of the wheel to retain the wheel on the axle. 
     
     
         107 . A method of manufacturing a motorized wheel assembly, the method comprising:
 positioning a socket within a channel of an axle;   routing wiring through the channel of the axle to the socket;   electrically connecting the wiring to the socket;   positioning a plug within a boss of a motorized wheel comprising an electric motor; and   electrically connecting the plug to the electric motor.   
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , further comprising mounting the boss on the axle such that the plug engages the socket to form an electrical connection between the electric motor and the wiring. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 107 , further comprising:
 attaching the axle to a hanger having a channel formed in the hanger, wherein the channel of the axle and the channel of the hanger are connected to form a continuous duct; and   routing the wiring through the channel of the hanger.   
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising:
 attaching the hanger to a truck with a kingpin, the truck having a channel formed in the truck, wherein the continuous duct includes the channel of the truck; and   routing the wiring through the channel of the truck.   
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , further comprising:
 attaching the truck to a vehicle; and   routing the wiring to a battery positioned on or within the vehicle.   
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 111 , wherein the vehicle is a skateboard and said attaching the truck to the vehicle comprises attaching the truck to a deck of the skateboard. 
     
     
         113 . A method for securing a motorized wheel to an axle mounted in a hanger, the method comprising:
 mounting a motorized wheel on an axle;   inserting a pin through a bore in a hanger such that the pin engages a groove on the motorized wheel; and   aligning a projection on the motorized wheel with a slot on the axle.   
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein mounting the motorized wheel on the axle comprises sliding a boss of the motorized wheel on the axle such that the projection slides along the slot. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 114 , further comprising:
 positioning an inner bearing on the boss;   positioning an inner bell end on the inner bearing; and   connecting the inner bell end to a rotor of an electric motor of the motorized wheel.   
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 115 , further comprising:
 connecting an outer bell end to the rotor, the outer bell end comprising an opening;   positioning an outer bearing on the boss within the opening of the outer bell end;   engaging a retainer with the boss; and   securing the outer bearing within the opening of the outer bell end via a flange of the retainer.   
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the outer bell end comprises a flange surrounding the opening of the outer bell end, and wherein the outer bearing is positioned between the flange of the outer bell end and the flange of the retainer. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein engaging the retainer with the boss comprises securing a tire of the motorized wheel onto the electrical motor via the retainer. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein the slot extends from an end of the axle along a direction parallel to a central axis of the axle. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein mounting the motorized wheel on the axle comprises extending a fastener through a locking plate along a central axis of the axle. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein extending the fastener causes displacement of a retaining ball in a direction perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the retaining ball is displaced into an opening in a wall of the axle.