Vehicle for cultivation and transportation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11895936-B2
Application number	US-202017605822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2020
Priority date	Apr 25, 2019
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

Vehicles having the versatility to be used as farm vehicles while also being able to be used as a transportation method, such as a motorcycle, are provided. The vehicles can generally include a three-wheel configuration in which first and second drive wheels are substantially vertically aligned, and the third wheel is offset from the vertically aligned drive wheels. The third wheel can be aligned with the second wheel, or it can be disposed at a location that is between the first and second wheels while still being offset from the vertical alignment. A tool for performing farming actions is also provided. In some instances the tool can be laterally offset from the vertically aligned wheels, located between the drive wheels, while in other instances the tool can be disposed distal of the rear wheel. Many vehicle and tool configurations are disclosed, as are methods for operating the same.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a chassis having a length defined by a front-most end and a back-most end;
a first wheel disposed below the chassis;
a second wheel disposed behind the first wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel being vertically aligned along a longitudinal axis extending the length of the chassis;
a third wheel disposed behind the first wheel, the third wheel being disposed offset from the longitudinal axis extending the length of the chassis;
an outrigger arm disposed between and coupled to the third wheel and at least one of the chassis and the second wheel;
a tool disposed behind the first wheel and in front of the second wheel, the tool being disposed offset from the longitudinal axis extending the length of the chassis and configured to be driven downwards by at least one of a direct supply of an active force or an indirect supply of an active force, into ground over which the vehicle is traveling, such that the tool applies force to, and enters into, the ground; and
a motor disposed behind the first wheel and configured to drive at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second wheel and the third wheel are axially aligned such that a center of the second wheel and a center of the third wheel are disposed along an alignment axis, the alignment axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extending the length of the chassis.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , the outrigger arm is manipulable to allow the third wheel to be stored on the vehicle such that the vehicle is driven with just the first wheel and the second wheel in contact with ground.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the outrigger arm has a storage position in which the third wheel is a distance above ground that is equivalent to at least a radius of the first wheel, each of the first wheel and the second wheel being in contact with the ground when the third wheel is in the storage position and the vehicle is being driven.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to drive both the first wheel and the second wheel.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tool is further configured to apply a second active force to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be pulled towards the ground while a position of the tool with respect to the ground remains substantially constant.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the applied force by the tool is a substantially horizontal force that cultivates the ground.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tool is visible to an operator of the vehicle such that the operator is able to control operation of the tool based on visual observations of the tool.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tool is movable laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis that extends the length of the chassis such that a distance between the tool and the chassis is adjustable while the vehicle and the tool are being operated.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to provide power take-off to the vehicle, the vehicle further comprising:
a front axle associated with the first wheel; and
a rear axle associated with the second wheel,
wherein the power take-off is located between the front axle and the rear axle, the power take-off being configured to rotate substantially perpendicularly to a centerline of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to provide power take-off to the vehicle, the vehicle further comprising:
a rear axle associated with the second wheel,
wherein the power take-off is located behind the rear axle, the power take-off being configured to be substantially parallel to a centerline of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to have a frequency of rotation held steady over a desired period of time.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the direct supply of the active force comprises at least one of an operator turning a knob or rotating a crank to cause the tool to apply force to, and enter into, the ground, and
wherein the indirect supply of the active force comprises an operator pushing a button that causes the motor to cause the tool to apply force to, and enter into, the ground.

14. A vehicle, comprising:
a chassis having a length defined by a front-most end and a back-most end;
a first wheel disposed below the chassis;
a second wheel disposed behind the first wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel being vertically aligned along a longitudinal axis extending the length of the chassis;
a third wheel laterally offset from the longitudinal axis extending the length of the chassis, a center of the third wheel being disposed behind a center of the first wheel and one of in front of or axially aligned with a center of the second wheel from a side view of the vehicle;
an outrigger arm disposed between and coupled to the third wheel and at least one of the chassis and the second wheel;
a tool for performing a farming operation coupled to at least one of the chassis and the outrigger arm; and
a motor disposed behind the first wheel and configured to drive at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel,
wherein the third wheel is configured to be stored at least one of on the vehicle above the chassis or disposed substantially behind the second wheel.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the outrigger arm is configured to be disposed on a same side of the chassis as the tool or on an opposite side of the chassis as the tool.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the outrigger arm has a storage position in which the third wheel is a distance above ground that is equivalent to at least a radius of the first wheel, each of the first wheel and the second wheel being in contact with the ground when the third wheel is in the storage position and the vehicle is being driven.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the motor is configured to drive the third wheel.

18. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the tool is disposed behind the second wheel.

19. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the tool is configured to be driven downwards by an active force, into ground over which the vehicle is traveling, such that the tool applies force to, and enters into, the ground, and to apply a second active force to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be pulled towards the ground while a position of the tool with respect to the ground remains substantially constant.

20. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the tool is visible to an operator of the vehicle such that the operator is able to control operation of the tool based on visual observations of the tool.

21. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the motor is configured to provide power take-off to the vehicle, the vehicle further comprising:
a front axle associated with the first wheel; and
a rear axle associated with the second wheel,
wherein the power take-off is located between the front axle and the rear axle, the power take-off being configured to rotate substantially perpendicularly to a centerline of the vehicle.

22. A vehicle, comprising:
a chassis having a length defined by a front-most end and a back-most end;
a first wheel disposed below the chassis;
a second wheel disposed behind the first wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel being vertically aligned along a longitudinal axis extending the length of the chassis;
a third wheel disposed behind the first wheel, the third wheel being disposed offset from

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Diaz Lankenau Guillermo Fabian
• Winter V Amos Greene

Classifications

• A01B51/026 Primary

  of the automotive vehicle type, e.g. including driver accommodation (A01B51/023 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B63/104

  on the middle part, i.e. between front and rear wheels · CPC title

• A01B63/106

  on the side · CPC title

• B62K11/00

  Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels (fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M) · CPC title

• B62D49/0628

  using detachable weights (counterweights against overturning B62D49/085; movable stabilisation masses B62D37/04) · CPC title