A MOTORIZED SNOW OR ICE VEHICLE

Abstract

A motorized snow or ice vehicle comprising a body (1), a sliding surface at the bottom (2) of said body (1), a first wheel (3) or endless track (4) at one side of the vehicle and a second wheel (3′) or endless track (4) at the opposite side of the vehicle, both attached to the outside of the body (1), and a seat (7). The vehicle comprises a first motor attached to one side of the body (1) and a second motor attached to the opposite side of the body (1), wherein the first motor is in drive connection with the first wheel (3) or endless track (4) and the second motor is in drive connection with the second wheel (3) or endless track (4′), wherein the vehicle further comprises a first accelerator control (33) for the first motor and a second control (33) for the second motor, wherein first accelerator control (33) and second accelerator control (33) are working independently of each other.

Claims

1. A motorized snow or ice vehicle comprising a body, a sliding surface at the bottom of said body, a first wheel or endless track at one side of the vehicle and a second wheel or endless track at the opposite side of the vehicle, both attached to the outside of the body, and a seat, further comprising: a first motor attached to one side of the body and a second motor attached to the opposite side of the body, wherein the first motor is in drive connection with the first wheel or endless track and the second motor is in drive connection with the second wheel or endless track, wherein the vehicle further comprises a first accelerator control for the first motor and a second control for the second motor, wherein first accelerator control and second accelerator control are working independently of each other.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein that the seat is mounted between the first wheel or endless track and the second wheel or endless track.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first motor and the second motor are attached to the bottom of the body at the rear half of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first motor and second motor are electric motors, wherein the electric motors are powered by at least one battery, which is located at the bottom, preferably underneath the seat, of the vehicle, wherein the first and second electric motor are arranged in the first and second wheel or in the first and second endless track, respectively.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the at least one battery is chargeable via recuperation from the first wheel or endless track and/or the second wheel or endless track or both the first wheel or endless track and the second wheel or endless track by braking the vehicle.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wheels or endless tracks are attached to the body at the rear of the vehicle and wherein the sliding surface at the bottom of the body is in the front of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a suspension system for the wheels or endless tracks, wherein the suspension system allows for a vertical motion of the wheels or the endless tracks.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first wheel or endless track and the second wheel or endless track at each side of the vehicle can be raised or lowered independently of each other, wherein the whole sliding surface of the vehicle is in contact with the ground when the first and second wheel or endless track are raised off the ground.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the first wheel or endless track and the second wheel or endless track at each side of the vehicle can be raised or lowered mechanically with control levers.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the first wheel or endless track and the second wheel or endless track at each side of the vehicle can be raised or lowered electrically via a wheel suspension, with control levers.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least half of the sliding surface touches the surface on which the vehicle is moving when the wheels or endless tracks are lowered.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface is curved upwards at the front of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the whole sliding surface of the vehicle is at the bottom of said body and formed by said body.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a computer-controller, wherein the computer-controller controls the at least one battery of the electro motors and measures the battery charge and the distance of the vehicle to the next battery charging station, wherein the computer-controller preferably contains GPS-coordinates.

15. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the seat is attached to the inner bottom of the body.

16. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the at least one battery is located underneath the seat of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the first wheel or endless track and the second wheel or endless track at each side of the vehicle can be raised or lowered via a mechanical wheel suspension.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the inventive vehicle with two wheels.

[0027] FIG. 2 provides a bottom view of the inventive vehicle with two wheels and a large sliding surface.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the inventive vehicle with endless tracks.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the inventive vehicle including the seat and the computerized battery of the electro motor.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a back view of the inventive vehicle with the endless tracks in different vertical positions.

[0031] FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the rear of the inventive vehicle with mechanical levers which may raise and lower the endless tracks.

[0032] FIG. 7 depicts a side view of the rear of the inventive vehicle with an electrical mechanism that allows to raise and lower the endless tracks.

[0033] FIG. 8 provides a side view of the inventive vehicle including endless tracks that can be lowered into non-solid surfaces at different angles.

[0034] The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a sled, which is able to slide on a slippery surface like for example snow, ice or sand and which may be driven by a motor. More precisely, the inventive vehicle comprises wheels or endless tracks, which are preferably electric-motor powered.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle comprising a body 1, a sliding surface at the bottom 2 of said body 1, a first wheel 3 at the depicted side of the vehicle, wherein the second wheel 3′ at the opposite side of the vehicle cannot be seen in FIG. 1. Both wheels 3, 3′ are attached to the outside of the body 1. Furthermore, an example of a slippery surface 5 on which the vehicle is driving or sliding is depicted. The first and second motor of the snow or ice vehicle cannot be seen in FIG. 1, as they are arranged inside the first and second wheel 3, 3′ respectively.

[0036] In FIG. 2 the bottom view of the vehicle shows the huge sliding surface 2, which is at the bottom of the body 1 and formed by said body 1 and the first and second wheel 3, 3′, both attached to the outside of the body 1.

[0037] FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of the vehicle including a first endless track 4 instead of the first wheel 3 at the side of the vehicle, which is depicted in this figure. On the opposite side of the vehicle a second endless track 4′ is arranged (not seen in FIG. 3).

[0038] As can be seen in FIG. 4 in another side view of the inventive snow or ice vehicle a seat 7 is preferably mounted between the first wheel 3 (or endless track 4) and the second wheel 3′ (or endless track 4′). Moreover, the seat 7 may be attached to the inner bottom of the body 1, such that it is on almost the same level as the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ close to the ground.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment the first and second motor are electric motors, wherein the electric motors are powered by at least one battery 9, which is preferably located underneath the seat 7 of the vehicle as depicted in FIG. 4. Next to the battery may be a computer-controller 8, which controls the at least one battery 9 of the electro motors and measures the battery charge and the distance of the vehicle to the next battery charging station.

[0040] In all figures the snow and ice vehicles depicted are driven by electric motors, which as stated above are arranged inside the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′.

[0041] As can be seen in the figures wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ are preferably attached to the outside of body 6 at the rear of the vehicle.

[0042] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the inventive vehicle allow for the first and second wheel 3, 3′ or endless track 4, 4′ at each side of the vehicle to be raised or lowered independently of each other. FIG. 5 shows exemplarily a different vertical position of the first and second endless track 4, 4′.

[0043] In case the first and second wheel 3, 3′ or endless track 4, 4′ are raised off the ground, the whole sliding surface 2 of the vehicle is in contact with the ground, as shown for example in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

[0044] FIG. 6 also shows a mechanical wheel suspension 11, which can raise and lower the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ mechanically with control levers 33′. Another possibility to raise and lower the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ is shown in FIG. 7, where an electrical wheel suspension 12 is depicted, which is again actuated by control levers 33′.

[0045] FIG. 8 depicts the first accelerator control 33 in another side view of a certain embodiment of the inventive snow and ice vehicle. The first and second accelerator control 33 are attached to the body 6 in front of the seat 7. In this figure a suspension system 32 attached to the wheels or endless tracks 3, 3′; 4, 4′ is shown, which allows for a vertical motion of the wheels or the endless tracks 3, 3′; 4, 4′. FIG. 8 also shows an embodiment of the endless track 4 with three drive wheels 30.

[0046] In the side views of the inventive vehicle as depicted in some of the figures it can also be seen that the sliding surface 2 is curved upwards at the front of the vehicle.

[0047] Moreover, the figures show that at least half of the sliding surface 2 touches the surface on which the vehicle is moving when the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ are lowered. Thus, the weight of the vehicle and the potential driver is distributed among the part of the sliding surface 2 touching the ground and the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′.

[0048] The inventive snow or ice vehicle, in particular but not limited to a snow bob, thus comprises a first and second wheel 3, 3′ or endless track 4, 4′, which can be independently of each other propelled by power of a first and second motor, respectively. In a preferred embodiment the first and second motor are electro motors, which may therefore be attached to the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′. This allows to transfer the motor power directly into the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ without using some complex and less efficient gear systems. The electric motors are powered by at least one battery 9, which is controlled by a computer-controller 8.

[0049] The computer-controller 8 measures the battery charge and the distance of the vehicle to the next battery charging station. Furthermore, it may contain GPS-coordinates, which allow to locate the vehicle and thus, prevent the driver from going into danger zones like steep mountains and can also be used when a person rents the vehicle or when it is used by kids.

[0050] The independent drive connections of the first and second motor with the first and second wheel 3, 3′ or endless track 4, 4′ enables the motors do not only propel the vehicle but also steer the vehicle. More precisely, the vehicle is steered by differential steering, meaning that the first and second motor are driven at different speeds. On top of that the vehicle can also be steered by raising one of the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′.

[0051] A first accelerator control 33 for the first motor and a second accelerator control 33 for the second motor, which work independently, allow the driver to steer and propel the vehicle at the same time. The accelerator controls 33 may be part of control levers 33′ and are mounted in front of the seat 7. Moreover, there may be a brake lever 33″ next to the accelerator controls 33 to brake the vehicle. Depending on the embodiment the accelerator control 33 may either be a throttle or a joystick. In the first case the throttles are fixed on the control levers 33′ and pressing them changes the speed of the motor. In the second case there can be either a joystick for each of the control levers 33′, which change the speed of the motors by moving them along an axis, where in one direction the vehicle is propelled and in the other direction it is braking the vehicle, or there may be only one joystick for both motors that connects to the computer-controllers 8 of both motors. Then, the motion of this single joystick may be interpreted by the controllers 8 as a signal to drive one or both of the motors or to brake one or both of the motors.

[0052] As the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ may be moved vertically via a mechanical or electrical wheel suspension 11, 12 and even raised off the ground, the inventive vehicle can move on a slippery surface 5, like for example snow, ice, moss, wooden chips and similar, on the one hand due to motor power and on the other hand by sliding freely on such a surface 5 under the influence of gravity or inertia forces. In the latter case no motor power at all is needed for driving the snow or ice vehicle and the whole sliding surface 2, which extends over the whole bottom of the body 1, is touching the ground. The driver may move the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ in vertical direction with the help of control levers 33′.

[0053] The round shape of the sliding surface 2, which may also be curved upwards at the front of the vehicle helps to protect the vehicle from obstacles. Especially when the obstacles are covered by snow they cannot be seen and the driver of the vehicle may not pass the obstacles without hitting them. However, the round shape of the sliding surface 2 decreases the strength of the collision with the obstacle and thus, the body 1 of the vehicle is not destroyed.

[0054] The vertical movement of the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ can be implemented by mechanical levers as well as by other mechanisms, including also electric motors or other mechanical ways.

[0055] Another advantage of the inventive vehicle is that when the vehicle is sliding under the influence of gravity, for example when the vehicle is sliding down a hill, the battery 9 of the electric motor gets charged via recuperation from the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ by braking the vehicle. For braking the vehicle at least one of the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ has to be lowered to the surface, such that it touches the ground.

[0056] Moreover, the endless tracks 4, 4′ may be lowered into non-solid surfaces with a different angle between the surface of the endless track and the surface on which the vehicle is moving 5. This helps to increase the grip of the endless tracks with such non-solid surfaces.

[0057] The vertical movement of the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ via the mechanical or electrical wheel suspension 11, 12 also enables the ice or snow vehicle to free itself in case it gets stucked in a hole or similar in the ground. Whenever a wheel or endless track is stucked in the ground, the wheel suspension system allows to raise the wheel or endless track off the ground, such that the vehicle can move forward again, without the need of digging out the wheels or endless tracks.

[0058] Summarizing, the sliding surface 2 of the vehicle allows the vehicle to slide on non-solid-surface, such as snow, while the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′, controlled independently of each other and located on opposite sides of the vehicle, not only set in motion or brake the vehicle, but also provide the ability to turn the vehicle along the axis of motion. The vehicle's wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ can be lifted over the surface, fully or partly, together or independently of each other, to allow the vehicle to slide over a surface by inertia or gravity without motor power and without the friction of the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′. Thus, the vehicle can on the one hand slide down a hill like a bob and on the other hand go uphill like a snowmobile. Being lowered on the surface the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′ may transform the vehicle, which moved just by inertia or gravity, into a vehicle, which motion is controlled by independently accelerating or by braking the wheels 3, 3′ or endless tracks 4, 4′.