Patent Publication Number: US-2004050603-A1

Title: Mounting arrangement for vehicle power source

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a continuing application of application Ser. No. 09/511,252 filed Feb. 23, 2000. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of Invention  
       [0003] The present invention provides a mounting arrangement for a cordless, rechargeable battery driven, hand held power tool, the tool powering a vehicle, such as a scooter.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0005] Various types of electric driven vehicles have been disclosed in the prior art. The most visible of these devices is the battery powered automobile which is currently being tested and could be offered for commercial sale in the near future.  
       [0006] Various types of scooters and bicycles have also been powered by electric batteries. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,452 to Patmont discloses an electric powered scooter wherein the rear wheel is electrically powered; U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,569 to Sugioka et al discloses an electric motor vehicle with a smaller sized battery and means for cooling the battery; U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,535 to Dennis discloses a bicycle having a battery power pack, an electric motor, and a drive wheel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,411 to Ono discloses an electromotive scooter having a power source and a warning device which warns the rider and passerby when the scooter is ready to run; U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,970 to Cho discloses a power source which supplies high voltage to the electric motor driving a scooter to provide high driving performance; U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,659 to Pepe which discloses a foldable motorized scooter having a unique drive transfer device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,288 to Ono discloses a lightweight electronic scooter wherein the batteries are positioned to provide a low scooter center of gravity; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,624 to Nesterick et al which discloses a power drive scooter having an on-board battery powered motor for driving one or more wheels, the scooter being designed to be easily assembled and disassembled.  
       [0007] All of the devices described hereinabove require an electric drive motor to power the vehicle. The drive motor, depending on size, is relatively expensive and requires a specific drive mechanism to link the motor output shaft to the vehicle drive wheel. The cost of servicing the drive motor and associated mechanism, when added to the initial costs of the vehicle, makes the cost of ownership relatively expensive. Further, the typical power output of the batteries which drive the vehicle is usually low, making electric drive vehicles less competitive with internal combustion driven vehicles as far as torque/power capabilities are concerned. In application Ser. No. 09/393,070, filed Sep. 7, 1999, a power source for use with electric vehicles which is less expensive and more reliable than those currently available is disclosed and claimed. In particular, a cordless, rechargeable battery-driven hand held power tool is used as the power source for vehicles. Although the concept of using such a power tool for driving a vehicle is believed to be unique, the mounting arrangement for the power source disclosed in the application is not aesthetically or commercially appealing since it extends essentially perpendicular to the axis of the vehicle. Thus, what is desired is to improve upon the power source/mounting arrangement disclosed in the &#39;070 application.  
       [0008] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,315 to Hawgood, cited by the examiner during the prosecution of the &#39;252 application, discloses a dollie device for manuvering trailers and the like for parking a trailer. The dollie uses an electrically powered hand drill for providing motive power to the dollie. As shown in the drawings, Hawgood contemplates the use of a drill powered by a standard A.C. voltage source and does not contemplate the use of a hand held drill powered by a detachable power pack as disclosed in the &#39;070 application.  
       [0009] The use of a hand held drill powered by a detachable battery pack although providing advantages noted in the &#39;070 application, presents additional problems if used to drive a vehicle that were not addressed in the application. In particular, a user of the vehicle, in order to drive the vehicle, must continually have power applied to the drill or the drill shaft will stop rotating, causing the vehicle, in turn, to stop suddenly. If not prepared, the user could be thrown from the vehicle. Further, momentum will cause the vehicle to continue to move, which in turn may damage the drill motor gears as the vehicle movement is transmitted back to the motor via the vehicle transmission.  
       [0010] What is also desired is to provide a vehicle with a motive force provided by a hand held drill powered by a detachable battery pack, the vehicle having a free wheel assembly to enable the vehicle to move when power is not applied to the drill tool.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0011] The present invention provides a member for mounting a portable power tool to a vehicle, the mounting member comprising a bracket mounted to the vehicle, a collar member integral with the bracket adapted to engage a portion of the tool and position it at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a member for removably holding the tool in place on the bracket. When mounted, the power tool chuck engages a rotatable shaft, the shaft in turn being coupled to a gearing system. The rotational speed of the shaft, and thus the speed of the vehicle, is controlled by the vehicle user via hand controls that pull the finger trigger on the power tool. A mechanism is provided which enables the user to push the vehicle without engaging the power tool, thus enhancing tool battery life.  
       [0012] The mounting arrangement of the present invention provides a system that adapts the novel concept of using hand held, battery driven power tool to drive a vehicle into a compact and aesthetically arrangement with enhanced commercial appeal. The power tool can quickly be released, enabling the user to use the power tool independently of the vehicle and the vehicle independently of the power tool. A free wheel assembly for pushing/coasting the vehicle in the forward direction without engaging the power tool is provided, thus increasing power tool battery life. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0013] For better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein:  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a scooter with a mounted power source in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the scooter of FIG. 1 with the foot platform/cover removed to show the transmission and chain drive;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a detail view along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a view of the mounting device with the vehicle power source removed;  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is a view along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 4 and illustrates the inline power take off from the power tool to the 90E angle gear and then to the drive sprocket; and  
     [0020]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the scooter shown in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0021] Referring now to FIG. 1, a vehicle, such as a scooter,  10  is shown with a portable, battery operated power tool  12  mounted to scooter  10  via mounting member  14 . Power tool  12  includes a battery pack  13  and trigger  15 .  
     [0022] Scooter  10  is, other than the power tool  12  and mounting member  14 , conventional and includes front wheel  16 , frame member  18 , rear wheel  20 , vertical extension  22  and handle  24 . As shown in FIG. 3, handle  24  has braking lever  26  and a throttle control lever  28  mounted thereto. It is noted that the disclosed mounting member  14  can be used in vehicles other than scooter  10 .  
     [0023] As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, power tool  12  is mounted to scooter  10  such that it is positioned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of frame member  18  as illustrated. The chuck portion  30  of power tool  12 , when mounted, engages a rotatable shaft  32  which in turn is coupled to a gearing system  34 . The gearing system  34 , shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 6, comprises gears  36  and  38 , gear  36  being coupled to shaft  32 , drive shaft  40  and gear  38 . The rotational movement of shaft  32  is coupled to gear  36 , gear  38  transferring the power of tool  12  into a rotational movement in a direction approximately 90B from the rotational direction of gear  36 . Gear  38 , mounted to shaft  40 , drives shaft  40  which in turn drives sprocket  37  which drives belt, or chain,  42 . Chain  42 , in turn, is coupled to a sprocket arrangement directly coupled to rear drive wheel  20  and couples the power from power tool  12  thereto. Sprocket  37  is mounted on hub  63  and engages in one direction only by pawls  43 . This free wheel assembly  31  is one-directional which allows coasting or drag free coasting in the forward direction without forcing power tool  12  to move with it, thus increasing the power tool battery life. This enables the movement of the vehicle  10  to be power driven or manually pushed and then to coast. The use of a vehicle free-wheel system, although available with certain vehicle, such as bicycles, has not been used previously in battery powered vehicles of the type disclosed in the pending application noted hereinabove and the mounting arrangement which is the subject of the present invention.  
     [0024]FIG. 4 illustrates member  14  without power tool  12  mounted thereto. Mounting member  14  comprises bracket, or frame, member  50 , strap  52  being secured to bracket member  50 , mounting collar  54  and mounting bolts  56 , bolts  56  mounting bracket member  50  to vehicle  10 . When the power tool  12  is mounted to vehicle  10 , the trigger  15  thereof is positioned in contact with power tool trigger control member  64 . The rotational speed, and thus the torque output, of the power tool  12  is controlled by lever  28  on handle  24 . In particular, lever  28  controls the position of a lever  64  mounted to bracket member  50  via cable  58  (FIG. 5). A user, by adjusting the pressure on member  64  via lever  28 , controls the force on power tool trigger  15  which in turn controls the power tool rotational speed/torque coupled to shaft  32 , the overall speed of vehicle  10  thus being controlled.  
     [0025]FIG. 5 shows in more detail the mounting member  14  and, in particular, releasable locking strap  52  which holds power tool  12  in position on bracket member  50 , pivoting fulcrum  61  mounted to bracket member  50  which allows lever  64  to transfer movement through the mounting member  14  to the power tool variable speed/torque control  15  and mounting collar, or centering ring,  54  which centers power tool  12  when positioned therein, providing a snug fit for holding power tool  12  such that chuck  30  can receive shaft  32   
     [0026]FIG. 6 is a view of the in-line power transfer from power tool  12  to the 90E angle gears  36  and  38  to the sprocket  37 . Shaft  32  is supported by a first bearing  33  and passes through gear  36  to a second stabilizing shaft bearing  39 . Gear  36  is cinched to shaft  32  by pinch bolt  41 . Drive gear  38  drives shaft  40 . Bearing assemblies  76  and  78 , coupled to base plate  72 , support shaft  40  as illustrated. A sprocket freewheel assembly  31 , comprising hub  63 , pawls  43  and sprocket  37  drives chain  42 .  
     [0027] The free-wheel system is located within sprocket assembly  31 . When shaft  40  rotates in the forward, or clockwise, direction, hub  63  engages pawls  43  with sprocket  37 . When the rotational speed of sprocket  37  exceeds that of shaft  40 , pawl  43  disengages allowing the sprocket  37  to rotate independently of the hub  63  when the power to tool  12  is on or off, allowing vehicle  10  to coast as set forth hereinabove.  
     [0028] The conventional scooter  10  is modified to incorporate the mounting arrangement of the present invention as follows:  
     [0029] The bracket member  50  is secured to the rear wheel assembly bracket  59  of scooter  10  using fastener members, or bolts,  56  (although bracket member  50  and bracket  59  are shown as separate components, a single, unitary mounting member could be used instead). The gearing system  34  is then secured to frame member  18 . The front portion of a battery driven power tool  12 , such as the Bosch Model No. 24 Volt Series, distributed by Robert Bosch Corporation, Broadview, Ill., is then positioned within centering ring  54  such that chuck  30  engages shaft  32  as shown in FIG. 1. Chuck  30  is then tightened such that shaft  32  is operatively engaged thereby. It should be noted that gears  36  and  38  are interchangeable and that the gear ratios can be selected to provide the desired vehicle torque output. Further, the actual dimensions of the bracket member  50  may vary depending upon the power tool model utilized. It also should be recognized that other portable, battery driven, hand held power tools can be utilized in the present invention, such as a conventional circular saw (this type of power tool would not require a 90 degree power transfer gearing mechanism since the tool itself provides that feature).  
     [0030]FIG. 7 is a plan view of vehicle  10  illustrating the foot platform for the operator  19 , which also encompasses a cover for the gearing system  34 , chain  42  and rear wheel  20 .  
     [0031] While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.