Abstract:
An economically operated low cost wheeled vehicle that accommodates a single driver occupant is propelled by power provided by a controllable combination of pedaling action of the driver, an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The vehicle is elongated upon a center axis between a front extremity and a rear extremity having a single, axially centered wheel that drives the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to motor vehicles, and more particularly concerns a wheeled motor vehicle which is of low cost and is economical to operate. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In view of the ever increasing cost of gasoline, considerable attention has been directed toward the development of “hybrid” vehicles which include a battery powered electric motor that supplements a gasoline engine of generally smaller size than might otherwise be employed for the vehicle. The primary function of the engine is to augment the power provided by the electric motor when additional power is needed, as in acceleration and hill-climbing. The battery is generally re-charged either by a generator which is driven by the vehicle&#39;s engine, or by overnight plug-in to a stationary terminal supplied with electrical power. 
   Another method for re-charging the battery is to employ the vehicle&#39;s momentum during braking to operate a generator which feeds electrical current to the battery. Such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,165 and elsewhere. 
   The use of a driver-operated pedaling mechanism to augment the vehicle&#39;s power system while driving is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. RE31156 and 6,260,649. 
   In low cost vehicles that utilize electrical propulsive power, manufacturing economy and compactness of design can be achieved by incorporating the electric motor into the hub of a driving wheel. Such driving wheels, employed with hub motors, are generally centered upon the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as in straddle-type two-wheeled vehicles and three-wheeled vehicles having a single rear wheel. Typical hub motors, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,974,399; 6,296,072 and 5,691,584 include a stator secured to the vehicle frame, and an interactive rotor mechanically adapted to rotate the driving wheel. 
   Although the aforesaid innovations are intended to improve fuel economy in a vehicle driven by a gasoline engine, the implementation of such innovations generally results in a vehicle of considerable complexity whose cost outweighs the potential savings in gasoline consumption. 
   It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle whose primary propulsion power is supplied by a gasoline engine, and said power is augmented by a battery operated electric motor. 
   It is a still further object of this invention to provide a vehicle of the aforesaid nature having a driver-operated pedaling mechanism which, by way of suitable gearing directly contributes to the propulsion of the vehicle. 
   It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a vehicle of the aforesaid nature having hand activated operating controls, thereby freeing the operator&#39;s feet for pedaling. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide a vehicle of the aforesaid nature amenable to low cost manufacture. 
   These objects and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a vehicle which accommodates a seated driver and extends upon a longitudinal center axis between front and rear extremities of a rigid framework that secures a wheel centered upon said axis at said rear extremity and adapted to rotate upon a horizontally oriented axle. In a preferred embodiment, said axle is equipped with an electric motor, and the vehicle has a powertrain comprised of:
     a) a rechargeable storage battery which supplies electrical power to said motor,   b) an electronic controller which, in a first mode of function regulates the amount of electrical power routed to said motor, and in a second mode of function causes the motor to produce braking of the vehicle with attendant generation of electricity which is fed to the battery,   c) a pedaling mechanism operable by said driver to produce motive power,   d) a gasoline engine which produces motive power, and   e) a transmission system which accumulates the power from said pedaling mechanism and engine, and causes said accumulated power to drive said centered wheel to propel the vehicle.   

   In a further preferred embodiment, shock-absorbing means are associated with said axle to ameliorate the consequence of torque force received by said axle during braking. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the left side of a tricycle embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear right side of the tricycle embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a motorcycle embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic top view of a transmission system useful in the vehicle of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of the transmission system of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top schematic view of a steering system for the tricycle embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a tricycle embodiment of the vehicle  10  of the present invention is shown having a chassis framework  11  comprised of: elongated bottom beams  26  extending longitudinally between front and rear portions of the vehicle in paired opposition about a center axis  22 ; a transverse front yoke  81  attached to beams  26 ; an extension beam  82  forwardly emergent from yoke  81  upon axis  22 ; an upper transverse bracing strut  83 ; paired forward bracing members  28  inclined between strut  83  and yoke  81  in joinder therewith; and paired rearward bracing members  44  inclined between strut  83  and transverse rear yoke means  84  in joinder therewith. Said manner of bracing causes strut  83  to represent an apex feature positioned about 2¼ to 3¼ feet above bottom beams  26 . Paired “roll bars”  25  may extend upwardly from strut  83  for protection of the driver. Components of framework  11  are preferably fabricated of tubular steel in order to minimize overall weight of the vehicle. 
   Paired free-wheeling front wheels  12  are associated with front yoke  81 . A rear driving wheel  13  is secured by yoke means  84  and centered upon axis  22 . Framework  11  further supports driver&#39;s seat  14  with backrest  17 , steering control system  15  mounted forwardly of said seat, and power train  23 . The vehicle also contains, or may be made to contain other commonly employed vehicle components such as braking means, front and rear lights, gauges, horn, rear view mirrors, engine exhaust system, operating linkages, crash protection means and spring suspensions. A weather proof enclosure may be disposed above seat  14  in association with roll bar  25 . 
   Said power train is comprised of a gasoline operated engine  18 , an electrically operated hub motor  19  installed in wheel  13 , storage batteries  20 , transmission system  50  and pedaling mechanism  16  positioned forwardly of front wheels  12 . An electronic controller  73  is interactive between said batteries and hub motor. 
   In the tricycle embodiment of the vehicle, the spacing of the two front wheels is between 34 and 64 inches. The diameter of said wheels is between 20 and 26 inches, the axially measured distance between front and rear wheels is between 4 and 10 feet, and the ratio of front wheel spacing to the axial distance between front and rear wheels is preferably between 0.6 and 0.8. The overall weight of the vehicle, inclusive of the driver, is such that about 60% is forward of the mid-length of the vehicle. Such features of construction contribute to the stability of the tricycle in turning. 
   The exemplified embodiment of steering control system  15 , is comprised of paired upright posts  51  adapted to be vertically gripped by the driver&#39;s hands and operated in a push/pull manner to produce pivoted movement of the front wheels by way of mechanical couplings. As best shown in  FIG. 7 , posts  51  extend downwardly to connecting bar  87  mounted on pivot bearing  89  and having arms  90  that pivotably engage opposing drive rods  88 . Any push or pull movement of posts  51  causes rods  88  to pivotably act upon stub axles  91  which are rotatable about vertical pivot posts  92  positioned upon yoke  81 , and such action produces synchronous turning of wheels  12 . 
   Posts  51  contain the several control features for proper operation of the vehicle, including speed regulating means interactive with said electronic controller, a momentary braking button  54  interactive with said electronic controller, gear shifting means interactive with said rear wheel, hand brakes and signal light control switches. Because the controls for the operation of the vehicle are hand-operated, the driver&#39;s feet are available for pedalling. In other embodiments, the steering control system may be in the form of a conventional handlebar or steering wheel. 
   Gasoline engine  18 , preferably of standard single cylinder 4 cycle design has a power rating in the range of about 1.5 to 17.0 horsepower. As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an output shaft  27  emergent from engine  18  is coupled by chain and sprocket assembly  58  to jack shaft  29  of said transmission system. 
   Hub motor  19 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 , is centered upon stationary axle  60  secured to rear yoke means  84 . Wheel  13  rotates upon said axle. Suitable electrical features are surroundingly built upon the axle to cause it to function as the stator component  72  of an electric motor. A rotor member  61 , affixed to the spokes  62  of said wheel, closely embraces stator  72 . When electrical current is supplied to stator  72 , wheel  13  is caused to rotate. The speed of such rotation is dependent upon pulses of electrical current supplied by said electronic controller. During braking, as provided by said electronic controller, hub motor  19  functions as a generator that feeds electrical current to battery  20 . In alternative embodiments, an auxiliary electric motor  21  of conventional design may be employed in addition to or in place of said hub motor, and may be connected to a hub transmission  24  and engine  18  by chain drive  36 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , or may be connected to jackshaft  24  by chain  38 . 
   Suitable electronic controllers are available from the Crystalyte Company of China as Models 4840; 3640; 4820; 3620; 4825 and 3625; and controllers by Kelley Controller of China as Models KEB48221, KEB48301, KEB48401, KEB72331, KEB72451 and KEB72601. By pressing said momentary braking control button  54 , the driver reverses the output polarity of the electronic controller. Such action, when employed with said hub motor, causes braking of the vehicle with simultaneous generation of electricity which is regeneratively fed to battery  20 . Said momentary braking control button is preferably positioned to function in conjunction with a conventional hand brake control. 
   It has been found, however, that the rapid change in polarity applied to the hub motor in the course of braking produces a twisting force great enough to deform or break axle  60 . In order to ameliorate said twisting force, a shock-absorbing assembly  65  is preferably installed in interactive relationship between axle  60  and framework  11 . An embodiment of said shock-absorbing assembly is exemplified as comprised of axle-immobilizing means  66  which may be a steel block welded to or otherwise secured to axle  60 , and having affixed thereto, as by bolting, an elongated flat spring  68  which extends to an upward distal extremity. Said distal extremity is attached to securing means such as bar  74  joined to a portion of framework  11  such as rear yoke means  84 . The effect of the spring is to permit slight but sufficient rotative movement of the axle to prevent distortional twisting thereof. 
   An embodiment of transmission system  50  particularly adapted for use with the embodiment of the vehicle of this invention that employs a hub motor, is exemplified in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . It includes a jack shaft  29  having a continuously variable transmission (CVT) assembly  34  that outputs to sprocket and chain assembly  35  which drives rear wheel  13 . A conventional bicycle type gear shift assembly  80  may be interactively disposed between chain assembly  35  and wheel  13 . The CVT assembly permits variation of torque supplied to wheel  13 . Alternative transmission systems may also be employed. 
   Pedaling mechanism  16  is intended to be operated by the driver at about 100 rpm and is connected to speed increasing means in the form of a chain and sprocket assembly  39  which provides a 4 to 1 increase in output rpm. This results in a final output of about 1600 rpm. Chain and sprocket assembly  39  terminates in a sprag-type free wheeling clutch  41  associated with jack shaft  29 . Said clutch adds the pedal-produced power to the engine-produced power when the pedal-produced rpm equals the engine-produced rpm. By virtue of the aforesaid construction, the power outputs of engine  18  and pedaling mechanism  16  are accumulatively added to the power supplied by said batteries. Pedaling may be selectively done by the driver for increased acceleration or hill climbing, or merely for exercise. 
   The motorcycle embodiment of the vehicle of this invention, as shown in  FIG. 4  has essentially the same features as the tricycle embodiment, with the exception of the wheel configuration, the steering control system and the positioning of the pedaling mechanism rearwardly of the front wheel. 
   While particular examples of the present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects. The aim of the appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.