Power module for multimodal transportation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926616-B2
Application number	US-201616320638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2016
Priority date	Jul 28, 2016
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A multimodal transportation system includes a module alternately coupleable with a vehicle and a mobility device. The module includes a casing and a motor, a battery, and a controller each supported by the casing. The vehicle and the module each include electrical contacts engageable with each other. The mobility device includes a frame, and the casing and the frame each include a locking element releasably engageable with each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multimodal transportation system comprising:
a vehicle;
a mobility device including a frame and an axle attached to the frame, the mobility device including a wheel rotatably supported by the axle; and
a module including a casing and a motor, a battery, and a controller supported by the casing;
the module configured to alternately couple with the vehicle and the axle of the mobility device, the vehicle and the module each including electrical contacts engageable with each other, and the casing and the frame each including a locking element releasably engageable with each other.

2. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a charging bay sized to slideably receive the module, the charging bay including the electrical contact of the vehicle.

3. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 2 , wherein the charging bay includes a lock releasably engageable with the module.

4. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the locking elements include a finger on one of the frame and the casing and a slot designed to receive the finger on the other of the frame and the casing.

5. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 4 , further comprising a finger lock supported by the casing and releasably engageable with the finger.

6. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 4 , wherein the finger is elongated along an arc about the axle.

7. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the module includes a fork removeably engageable with the axle.

8. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 7 , wherein the fork includes a fastener releasably engageable with the axle.

9. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 8 , wherein the fork is retractable relative to the casing.

10. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the motor is removeably coupleable to the wheel of the mobility device.

11. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 1 , further comprising a sprocket rotatably supported by the axle and removeably coupleable to the motor.

12. The multimodal transportation system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller and the battery are each contained in the casing and the motor extends through the casing.

13. A mobility device comprising:
a frame;
a wheel;
an axle attached to the frame and rotatably supporting the wheel; and
a module including a casing and a fork removeably engaged with the axle, the module including a motor, a battery, and a controller each supported by the casing;
a finger on one of the casing and the frame and a slot on the other of the casing and the frame removeably receiving the finger.

14. The mobility device according to claim 13 , wherein the slot includes a finger lock releasably engaged with the finger.

15. The mobility device according to claim 13 , wherein the finger is elongated along an arc about the axle.

16. The mobility device according to claim 13 , wherein the fork includes a fastener releasably engaged with the axle of the mobility device.

17. The mobility device according to claim 13 , wherein the fork is retractable relative to the casing.

18. The mobility device according to claim 13 , wherein the motor is removeably coupled to the wheel of the mobility device.

19. The mobility device according to claim 13 , further comprising a sprocket rotatably supported by the axle and removeably coupled to the motor.

20. The mobility device according to claim 13 , wherein the controller and the battery are each contained in the casing and the motor extends through the casing.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Vasallo Fidalgo Ricardo

Classifications

• B62J43/13

  on rider-propelled cycles with additional electric propulsion · CPC title

• B60K2001/0416

  Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle · CPC title

• B62M6/60

  power-driven at axle parts · CPC title

• B62M6/90

  Batteries · CPC title

• B60K1/04 Primary

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title