Patent ID: 12195079

Referring firstly toFIGS.1a-dand3a-dthere are provided various views of two embodiments of a vehicle2in accordance with the invention and the same reference numerals are used for the same features in each embodiment. The vehicle includes a body4to which are mounted a series of axles8on which are provided wheels9with tyres10. The wheels are arranged into two sets,11,12, a first set provided on the first side14of the body and the second set12provided on the opposing side16of the body2.

In each set of wheels, (in this embodiment there are provided three wheels but this need not always be the case) in accordance with the invention, one of the wheel axles, the centre wheel axle8′ is offset to the axles8of the other two wheels of the set and, more specifically, it is offset in a perpendicular direction to the surface18along which the vehicle travels so that the axle8′ is closer to the surface18than the axles8of the remainder of the wheels in each set. In this way, while all wheels are capable of contact with the surface18, the centre wheel axle8′ is in greater contact in terms of surface area and/or pressure with the surface the majority of the time, whilst taking into account undulations in the surface18so that this wheel has the greater grip and/or traction on the surface18than the other wheels in the set.

It should be appreciated that this effect can be enhanced or alternatively achieved, by the selective inflation pressures of the tyres of the wheels in the set so that for example the pressure of the tyre of the centre wheel is greater than the pressure of the tyres of the other wheels in the set and this may, be an alternative manner to achieve greater grip and/or traction of that wheel without offsetting the axle of that wheel from the other wheels in the set of wheels.

The provision of the said wheel which has the greater traction and/or grip in the set of wheels allows that wheel9′ to act as the pivot wheel as will be described subsequently.

Typically, the body includes a cockpit22in which there is located a seat24for the user to sit in and on which is mounted a roll bar26which is formed so as to raise above and protect the normal head position of the user when sitting in the vehicle2. In one embodiment the type and/or size of seat which is provided can be selected to determine whether the vehicles is to be used by an adult or child.

Also located on the body, in this embodiment are first and second joysticks30,32, and a dashboard. The dashboard34can provide conventional driving information such as speed, available power, indicators, light, horn and the like. It may also include a display for other indicators to allow the condition of operation of the vehicle to be indicated such as for example, if the vehicle is to be provided as an all terrain vehicle, there may be an indicator of the slope or incline in which the vehicle is positioned at that time and/or if the vehicle is to be used in gameplay, then there may be further indicators to indicate the particular condition of the gameplay, perhaps the position of the player in the overall game, the condition of the vehicle in terms of available ability to participate in the game and/or the position of the vehicle with respect to the detected position of other vehicles in a group of the vehicles.

In a further embodiment, the display34may be provided on the vehicle and/or part of a device for the person such as a helmet. In one embodiment the display may indicate a particular mode of operation which is available for the vehicle at that time or for a predesignated period of time in the future such as for example, the vehicle may be operable in a boost mode in which more power is available for a predetermined time so as to give the player an advantage in playing the game using the vehicle for that time.

The vehicle can be steered using the first and second joysticks30,32which are positioned so as to be useable when gripped, by the users left and right-hand respectively. The joysticks also typically include a Deadman's handle switch system which means that both the switches36,38, need to be depressed by the user's hand simultaneously before it is possible for the power to be supplied to the wheels and hence before it is possible for the vehicle is to be moved. If both or one of the switches, is then returned to an out of use position by removal of the finger from the switch or hand from the joystick which could be intentional or unintentional such as, for example, if there was a crash situation, the power to the vehicle will automatically be stopped.

Although this embodiment of the vehicles includes two joysticks it is possible that one joystick may be provided or other steering user interaction means could be used such as levers, steering wheel or the like to the same effect.

Thus, in order to steer, the user can selectively move each of the joysticks30,32independently and, while this will typically still mean that power is supplied to both sets of wheels, if the user wishes to steer the vehicle to the right or left, there will be provided a differential in the drive force supplied to the wheels. Thus, for a slight steer to the right or the left, then one set of wheels may be moved at a greater speed than the other set of wheels in the same direction while for a more abrupt steer or bend, one set of wheels may be moved in the first direction and the second set of wheels may be moved in the opposite direction.

In any case, due to the greater grip and/or traction of the centre wheel axle8′ in each set of wheels then the movement to the right or left is about a pivot axis which is located at the centre of the vehicle. Thus, as shown inFIG.2a, when it is desired for the vehicle to turn to the right, the pivot of rotation38is generated by the operation of the control means, in this embodiment in the form of the two joysticks, so that a forward power force42is applied to the left-hand set of wheels11and a reverse drive force44is applied to the second set of wheels12so that there is a powered steer achieved as indicated by the arrow56.

InFIG.2b, when it is desired that the vehicle is to be steered to the left46, the pivot axis38is again about the centre of the vehicle and the different drive forces are applied in opposite directions to those inFIG.2aso that the vehicle2is steered in the direction of the arrow46as indicated.

It will be appreciated that this is a different form of steering from that used in other all terrain vehicles which typically operate a skid steer system which requires significant power and which would quickly drain the batteries used to provide power for the current vehicle.

Typically, the body4will include storage space therein for one or more batteries (not shown) so as to provide the electrical power to the drive means to allow the vehicle to be moved. It is imperative that the lifespan for the operation of the vehicles between battery charges to be long enough so as to be effective and therefore to allow the vehicle to be practically usable for commercial purposes such as the hiring of the same for periods of time of use to individuals or groups, such as children. This is achieved in the current invention by providing a relatively lightweight vehicle body and importantly the provision of the steering system which allows the steering of the vehicle to be achieved with a relatively low power requirement and this sis achieved by the provision of the offset arrangement of at least one wheel in each set of wheels which allows the steering to be achieved without significantly draining available power from the batteries of the vehicle. As such it is found that the available capacity of power from the batteries is sufficient to allow the vehicle to be used for practical purposes. A vehicle battery management system will typically be provided in which the current of the power supply from the one or more batteries is monitored during use of the vehicle and if the current is detected as being above a predetermined level the motors of the vehicle are switched off for a predetermined period of time and after the predetermined period of time power is again supplied to the motor and the current level is then monitored once again and if the current has reduced below the predetermined level the normal operation of the vehicle is resumed.

Typically the vehicle will include one or more sensing means72as shown as an example inFIG.3a, to detect the presence of other vehicles or objects and, if the movement of the vehicle is such that the presence of another vehicle or object is detected as being too close within a predefined range74the power to the vehicle is stopped or more typically reduced and continues to be reduced if the vehicle continues in the path towards the detected other vehicle or object and continues until eventually no power is supplied and thereby avoids or at least minimises any impact with the said other object or vehicle.

In another embodiment wire in the ground technology can be used to define an area of use and/or direction of travel and/or avoid obstacles on a track.

In a further embodiment the location of the vehicle can be determined using, for example, GPRS technology and if the area in which the vehicle is confirmed to travel is mapped and/or locations of other vehicles is known then the location of the vehicle with respect to obstacles and/or other vehicles in the area can be determined and if the same are detected as being too close the control of the vehicle can be remotely controlled and the control inputs from the driver of the vehicle over-ridden so that the operation of the vehicle and/or other vehicles are remotely controlled such as for example to cause deceleration and thereby avoid or minimise the opportunity for collision to occur.

Typically the vehicles in a group of vehicles are provided with a communication system which allows the wireless communication between the vehicles directly rather than via a centralised controlling unit so as to allow game play or other functions to be available directly between the users of the vehicles.

The use of all terrain vehicles allows them to be used in relatively undulating surface and environments and in accordance with one embodiment of the invention the vehicle includes an anti-tilt system which ensures that the vehicle is prevented from reaching an angle of tilt which may cause the same to topple over in an uncontrolled manner. The centre of gravity of the vehicle will be affected by the size of the person driving the vehicle at a given time and therefore in one embodiment the vehicle includes the facility for the size of the driver to be input or assessed prior to commencing operation and the anti tilt system can take this information into account when assessing the appropriate angle at which an alarm or prevention of movement of the vehicle is activated by the anti tilt system. In one embodiment the said predefined angle may be 30 degrees from horizontal. The anti tilt system may include an accelerometer, gyroscope and/or magnetometer with 360 degree axes of detection and typically with 9 degrees of freedom.

In which ever form, in one embodiment, once the predefined angle is detected, the movement of the vehicle in the current direction is stopped automatically by the control system for the vehicle. In one embodiment the vehicle then enters a recovery mode in which the movement of the vehicle is started in the opposite direction or in another direction determined with reference to the angle of approach to the vehicle's current position so as to move the vehicle to a position at which the angle of tilt is removed and thereafter normal operation of the vehicle can be recommenced.

There will typically be a need to transport the vehicle2either at the time of manufacture and transport to the retailer or customer, or, thereafter, to allow the vehicles to be transported to different locations of use which may be relatively frequently required if the vehicle is to be hired out for use at different locations. In accordance with the invention in one embodiment and as illustrated inFIGS.4a-c, the vehicle can be moved between the in use-condition shown inFIGS.3a-dto a storage position by following steps shown inFIGS.4a-cin which the roll bar26is removed from the body4as shown inFIG.4aand for the seat24to be disengaged from the body4and then moved out of the cockpit22as indicated by arrow54to leave the cockpit22empty as shown inFIG.4b. The roll bar may then be stored separately or can be positioned with regard to the body such that the roll bar26lies substantially flush with the top surface50of the body. The seat24is then pivoted 180 degrees around the axis56and turned through 90 degrees about axis58so that the seat can then be positioned in the cockpit22such that the backrest52of the seat24is substantially flush with the top surface50of the body as shown inFIG.4cand thus it will be appreciated that the overall height of the vehicle is significantly reduced for storage conditions and can relatively easily be moved to the in-use condition as and when required by reversing the steps described above.

As shown inFIGS.5a-ceach of the sets of wheels11,12is provided with an independent drive system60,62respectively, each including an electrically powered direct drive motor64and a worm gear assembly66connected to drive a chain68. Each chain is connected to sprocket wheels70which are provided on the axles8,8′ for the wheels9,9′ in each set so that each wheel in each set is driven by the same drive system, with one drive system on each side. In one embodiment tensioning means (not shown) may be provided for the chain68so as to ensure that the chain connection with the gear assembly and/or sprocket wheels70is maintained during use of the vehicle in order to ensure effective transfer of power between the components.

This provides the ability for an advanced powered steering system to be provided which allows a smaller turning circle to be achieved for the vehicle whilst reducing power/fuel consumption by up to 75% during turning/steering operation in comparison to conventional steering systems and which, in turn, allows the provision of an effective electric powered vehicle to be provided which has a practical life of use between battery charging which is of paramount importance.