GB2224984A - Wheel with self-contained drive assembly, eg. for carts or golf trolleys - Google Patents

Wheel with self-contained drive assembly, eg. for carts or golf trolleys Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2224984A
GB2224984A GB8922160A GB8922160A GB2224984A GB 2224984 A GB2224984 A GB 2224984A GB 8922160 A GB8922160 A GB 8922160A GB 8922160 A GB8922160 A GB 8922160A GB 2224984 A GB2224984 A GB 2224984A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
drive assembly
assembly according
wheel
wheels
drive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB8922160A
Other versions
GB8922160D0 (en
Inventor
Francis Vause
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB8922160D0 publication Critical patent/GB8922160D0/en
Publication of GB2224984A publication Critical patent/GB2224984A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K7/00—Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel
    • B60K7/0007—Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel the motor being electric
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K1/00—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units
    • B60K1/04—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K17/00—Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles
    • B60K17/04—Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing
    • B60K17/043—Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L15/00—Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles
    • B60L15/20—Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/50—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
    • B60L50/52—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells characterised by DC-motors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K1/00—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units
    • B60K1/04—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion
    • B60K2001/0405—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units of the electric storage means for propulsion characterised by their position
    • B60K2001/045—Arrangement in a wheel, e.g. a spare wheel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K7/00—Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel
    • B60K2007/0038—Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel the motor moving together with the wheel axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K7/00—Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel
    • B60K2007/0061—Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2200/00—Type of vehicles
    • B60L2200/30—Trolleys
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2220/00—Electrical machine types; Structures or applications thereof
    • B60L2220/40—Electrical machine applications
    • B60L2220/44—Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2220/00—Electrical machine types; Structures or applications thereof
    • B60L2220/40—Electrical machine applications
    • B60L2220/46—Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2240/00—Control parameters of input or output; Target parameters
    • B60L2240/40—Drive Train control parameters
    • B60L2240/42—Drive Train control parameters related to electric machines
    • B60L2240/421—Speed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
    • B60Y2200/00—Type of vehicle
    • B60Y2200/80—Other vehicles not covered by groups B60Y2200/10 - B60Y2200/60
    • B60Y2200/86—Carts; Golf carts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
    • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
    • B62B5/0026—Propulsion aids
    • B62B5/0033—Electric motors
    • B62B5/0036—Arrangements of motors
    • B62B5/004—Arrangements of motors in wheels
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/64—Electric machine technologies in electromobility
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/72—Electric energy management in electromobility

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Friction Gearing (AREA)
  • Current-Collector Devices For Electrically Propelled Vehicles (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

A drive assembly for a wheel (1) or wheels is contained wholly within one of such wheels. The drive assembly may comprise an internal power source, e.g. batteries (12), which drives the wheel axle (6) by way of a motor (13) and gear arrangement (26, 27, 28). The assembly is mounted within the wheel (1) by way of a suitably configured housing bracket (16) whereby the assembly is held stationary relative to the axle (6) whilst the wheel (1) rotates thereabout. A roller-bearing clutch (32) may be located inside the lowest gear (28), with the axle (11) passing therethrough. A speed controller (31) may be mounted on the bracket (16) for connection to a remote user-operated control. <IMAGE>

Description

DRIVE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a drive assembly for a wheel or wheels particularly for use in powered carts, for example golf trolleys, carts etc.
Commonly wheel drive assemblies for such trolleys and the like are provided externally of the wheels and thus the wheels are driven through external transmission units, gear boxes and speed controllers etc. These types of arrangement are generally bulky and can therefore be difficult to transport, requiring dismantling of the assembly beforehand.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a drive assembly for a wheel or wheels which is compact in size and is able to be fitted (and removed) with the wheel with relative ease.
According to the present invention therefore there is provided a drive assembly for a wheel or wheels wherein said drive assembly is provided substantially wholly within one of said wheels.
With this arrangement it is possible to provide a compact and simple drive for a wheel.
Preferably said drive assembly includes an integral power source and said power source may comprise one or more battery cells. The drive assembly may further comprise a motor adapted to provide the drive for said wheel or wheels. Said motor may drive said wheel or wheels via a transmission means, which transmission means may comprise multiple intermeshed gears.
The drive assembly may further comprise a housing bracket means, which housing means is adapted to locate said transmission means. Thus said gears may be located in a recess in said housing. Said housing means may further act to locate said battery cells and said motor in a fixed disposition relative to each other and said transmission means.
A clutch means may be associated with said transmission means and said clutch may be of the roller bearing type whereby rotation of a wheel with which the drive assembly is used is permitted in one direction only.
A speed control means may be included in said drive assembly, which control means is operable directly to control the speed of said motor. Said control means may be connected to a remote user operable control and in this case the connection may be effected by a cable or rod or the like. In one embodiment a remote potentiometer arrangement is linked to the speed control means via a cable thereby allowing a user to conveniently alter the speed as desired or as appropriate.
Preferably the drive assembly is mounted within a wheel in such a manner that the wheel is able to root about an axis thereof whilst said assembly reaic stationary relative to said axis.
The control means may be fixed onto said housing bracket means.
Whilst the drive assembly is described in relation to a wheel it is of course to be appreciated that the drive assembly can be used to drive any suitable arrangement.
It is envisaged that the drive assembly of the invention will find particular application in the powering of golf trolleys or carts or similar, however the invention is not intended to be restricted to these uses.
The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows an exploded view of one form of drive assembly according to the invention.
Referring now to the drawing, thra is shown an exploded view of a drive assembly for a wheel 1 which can be mounted within the wheel and can be completely enclosed thereby.
The wheel 1 comprises a generally hollow cylindrical tyre 2 which has a continuous throughbore 3 thereto. The throughbore 3 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the entire wheel 1. One end z of the throughbore 3 of the tyre 2 is closed off by a disc- shaped member 6 having a circumferential flange 7 extending around the entire periphery thereof. The disc member 6 is secured to the end 4 of the wheel 1 by way of screws or other fixing devices (not shown) extending through aligned apertures (not shown) in the flange 7 and end 4.
A circular bearing 8 having a central throughbore 9 is fixed to the disc member 6, the throughbore 9 communicating with an aperture (not shown) in the centre of the disc member 6 thereby defining a continuous bore therethrough.
The wheel axle 11 extends generally along the axis of the wheel 1 through the throughbore 9 in bearing 8 and the aperture in the disc member 6.
An internal power source 12 is provided in the form of two battery cells disposed one on each side of the wheel axle 11 and hence the axis of the wheel 1. The battery cells 12 provide the power to drive a conventional d.c. motor 13 which is disposed above the battery cells 12 and is secured at one end 14 to a housing bracket 16.
The housing bracket 16 comprises a generally L-shaped member having longitudinal and transverse planar sections 17, 18 and tapered side sections 19. A hollow cylindrical tubular sleeve 21 is formed integrally wit the bracket 16 and projects perpendicularly from the surface of the transverse section 18 and extends generally parallel to the longitudinal section 17. The sleeve 21 projects beyond the longitudinal section 17.
The diameter of the sleeve 21 is such that it can be inserted into the bore through the disc member 6 and the bearing 8 during assembly such that an interference fit is achieved with the bearing 8.
An upstanding wall 22 is provided on a back surface of the transverse section 18 of the bracket 16 defining a recess inside the wall 22. The recess has an axis of symmetry, which in the drawing is substantially vertical, along which are provided, spaced from each other, three apertures 23, 24, 25. Each aperture 23, 24, 25 serves to locate a gear 26, 27, 28, each gear 26, 27, 28 being of conventional form and preferably constructed from nylon thereby requiring no lubrication. The lower of the apertures 25 communicates with the interior of the tubular sleeve 21, this interior being adapted by the provision of upstanding projections extending parallel to the axis thereof for a purpose to be described hereinafter.
The upper of the apertures 23 is adapted to receive the drive shaft 29 of the motor 13 therethrough into engagement with an upper one 26 of the gears.
A speed controller 31 of conventional for is mounted on the longitudinal section 17 of the housing bracket 16. The speed controller 31 acts to directly set the speed of the drive motor 13 in accordance with a users wishes.
A roller bearing clutch 32 is housed in the lower 28 of the gears and is configured such that the axle 11 can pass through. The gears 26, 27, 28 are retained in position in the recess by a gear cover 33 which comprises a suitably configured plate which is adapted to be secured over the recess in any convenient manner. The plate 33 has an aperture 34 in a lower part thereof through which the axle 11 can pass.
A further disc-shaped member 36 is arranged to close off the opposite side of the wheel 1 in a similar manner to that described in relation to the first disc-shaped member 6. The further member 36 has an aperture 37 in the centre through which the axle 11 can extend by a very small proportion of its length. A small drive member 38 having a tubular locating member 39 projecting from the centre thereof is used to connect the axle 11 to the wheel 1. The end of the axle 11 is inserted into the locating member 39 of the drive member 38 and the drive member 38 is shrunk into attachment therewith. It will of course be appreciated that at least the locating member 39 and preferably the whole drive member 38 is constructed from thermally shrinkable material such as thermoplastics or steel or the like.An end securing portion 41 of the drive member 38 is adapted by the provision of fixing holes 42 to be secured to the further disc-shaped member 36 by way of screws or other fixing devices.
In use a free end 43 of the axle 11 is used to secure the wheel 1, with drive assembly in place, to a wheel (not shown) on the opposite side of the trolley and the housing bracket 16 is used to secure the assembly to the trolley. The drive assembly can be operated by either a control switch (not shown) provided on the wheel 1 itself or alternatively the speed controller 31 can be connected by way of a cable to a control switch mounted in a more accessible place on the trolley, for example the handle or similar. Such a cable can be led between the sleeve 21 and the axle 11 and can emerge through an aperture 38 in the sleeve 21 and thus can be conveniently located without interfering with the operation of the assembly.In the latter case the control switch can comprise a simple potentiometer, and when activated by operation of the control switch, the motor 13 drives the axle 11 via the gears 26, 27, 28. Due to the provision of the projections in the sleeve 21 of the housing bracket 16, when the axle 11 rotates the disc member 6 and tyre 2 will rotate therewith whilst the housing bracket 16 will remain stationary. This is advançageous since it prevents any unnecessary movement of the parts of the drive assembly thereby minimising the possibilities for disruption of the operation of the assembly by such movement. Furthermore, the roller bearing clutch 33 mounted in the lower gear 28 acts to permit free rotation of the axle 11 and tyre 2 in one direction only.
The speed of rotation of the axle 11 and thus the speed of movement of the trolley can be conveniently set via the control switch (not shown).
With this arrangement it is possible to provide a small and efficient drive assembly for a powered trolley which is capable of being readily and conveniently removed.
It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims (18)

1. A drive assembly for a wheel or wheels wherein said drive assembly is provided substantially wholly within one of said wheels.
2. A drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein said assembly comprises an integral power source.
3. A drive assembly according to claim 2, wherein said power source comprises one or more battery cells.
4. A drive assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said assembly comprises a motor adapted to provide the drive for said wheel or wheels.
5. A drive assembly according to claim 4, wherein said motor drives said wheel or wheels via transmission means.
6. A drive assembly according to claim 5, wherein said transmission means comprises multiple intermeshed gears.
7. A drive assembly according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said assembly further comprises a housing bracket means adapted to locate said transmission means.
8. A drive assembly according te claim 7, wherein said housing bracket is provided with a recess in which said transmission means locate.
9. A drive assembly according to claim 7 or claim 8 when dependent on claim 2 or claim 4, wherein said housing bracket is further adapted to locate said power source and said motor in such a manner as to maintain the same in a fixed disposition relative to each other and said transmission means.
10. A drive assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein a clutch means is provided associated with said transmission means.
11. A drive assembly according to claim 10, wherein said clutch means is of a roller bearing type.
12. A drive assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein said drive assembly further includes a speed control means operable to control the speed of said motor.
13. A drive assembly according to claim 12, wherein said speed control means is connected to a remote user operable control by way of a cable.
14. A drive assembly according to claim 13, wherein said remote user control comprises a potentiometer arrangement.
15. A drive assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14 when dependent on claim 7, wherein said speed control means is fixed onto said housing means.
16. A drive assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein said drive assembly is mounted within a wheel in such a manner that the wheel rotates about an axis thereof whilst the motor remains stationary relative to said axis.
17. A drive assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
18. A vehicle having a wheel incorporating a drive assembly according to any preceding claim.
GB8922160A 1988-10-01 1989-10-02 Wheel with self-contained drive assembly, eg. for carts or golf trolleys Withdrawn GB2224984A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888823091A GB8823091D0 (en) 1988-10-01 1988-10-01 Self powered wheel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8922160D0 GB8922160D0 (en) 1989-11-15
GB2224984A true GB2224984A (en) 1990-05-23

Family

ID=10644586

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888823091A Pending GB8823091D0 (en) 1988-10-01 1988-10-01 Self powered wheel
GB8922160A Withdrawn GB2224984A (en) 1988-10-01 1989-10-02 Wheel with self-contained drive assembly, eg. for carts or golf trolleys

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888823091A Pending GB8823091D0 (en) 1988-10-01 1988-10-01 Self powered wheel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8823091D0 (en)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5474150A (en) * 1993-05-13 1995-12-12 Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. Battery operated wheeled vehicle
EP0691232A3 (en) * 1994-07-06 1996-03-06 Nabco Ltd Motor-driven vehicle
US5540296A (en) * 1993-07-24 1996-07-30 Strothmann; Rolf Electric auxiliary drive for a travelling device primarily driven, in particular drawn or pushed, by human or animal power
FR2733187A1 (en) * 1995-04-10 1996-10-25 Honda Motor Co Ltd Drive unit for motorised golf buggy
WO1998019875A1 (en) * 1996-11-05 1998-05-14 Vernon Joel Grant A modular wheel assembly
GB2332723A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-06-30 Shieh Shanq Ching Power transmitting device for a golf trolley
US6009964A (en) * 1996-11-21 2000-01-04 Nabco, Limited Motor-driven vehicle
GB2364032A (en) * 2000-06-27 2002-01-16 Powermade Designs Ltd A power drive unit for a golf trolley
US6390216B1 (en) * 1995-04-10 2002-05-21 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Motorized cart
US6752227B1 (en) * 1999-09-22 2004-06-22 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Final drive for driving a vehicle wheel
EP1700766A3 (en) * 2005-03-12 2009-05-27 Manfred Pomutz Drive powered by an electrical motor
GB2499871A (en) * 2012-02-28 2013-09-04 Joseph Henry Sutton A collapsible golf trolley and bag
CN106827949A (en) * 2017-01-06 2017-06-13 苏州凤凰动力工业有限公司 Electric drive Mecanum wheel

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1270532A (en) * 1968-02-24 1972-04-12 Paul Alan North Trolleys
GB1363649A (en) * 1971-11-24 1974-08-14 Dudley Controls Ltd Invalid carrieages
GB1566994A (en) * 1977-01-21 1980-05-08 Siemens Ag Drive arrangements for wheeled vehicles
GB2123362A (en) * 1982-04-08 1984-02-01 Wheelpower Limited A self-propelling hub unit
GB2161436A (en) * 1984-07-04 1986-01-15 Dennis Vincent Wrigley Motorised golf trolley wheel
GB2183105A (en) * 1985-11-13 1987-05-28 Property Associates Limited Improvements in or relating to bicycles or tricycles
GB2201386A (en) * 1986-12-15 1988-09-01 Hydro Spartan Ltd Wheel drive arrangement

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US5474150A (en) * 1993-05-13 1995-12-12 Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. Battery operated wheeled vehicle
US5540296A (en) * 1993-07-24 1996-07-30 Strothmann; Rolf Electric auxiliary drive for a travelling device primarily driven, in particular drawn or pushed, by human or animal power
EP0691232A3 (en) * 1994-07-06 1996-03-06 Nabco Ltd Motor-driven vehicle
US5732786A (en) * 1994-07-06 1998-03-31 Nabco Limited Manual driving force sensing unit for motor driven vehicle
FR2733187A1 (en) * 1995-04-10 1996-10-25 Honda Motor Co Ltd Drive unit for motorised golf buggy
FR2736876A1 (en) * 1995-04-10 1997-01-24 Honda Motor Co Ltd MOTORIZED TROLLEY
FR2736841A1 (en) * 1995-04-10 1997-01-24 Honda Motor Co Ltd GOLF TROLLEY
US6390216B1 (en) * 1995-04-10 2002-05-21 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Motorized cart
WO1998019875A1 (en) * 1996-11-05 1998-05-14 Vernon Joel Grant A modular wheel assembly
US6009964A (en) * 1996-11-21 2000-01-04 Nabco, Limited Motor-driven vehicle
GB2332723A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-06-30 Shieh Shanq Ching Power transmitting device for a golf trolley
GB2332724A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-06-30 Shieh Shanq Ching Power transmitting device for a golf trolley
US6752227B1 (en) * 1999-09-22 2004-06-22 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Final drive for driving a vehicle wheel
GB2364032A (en) * 2000-06-27 2002-01-16 Powermade Designs Ltd A power drive unit for a golf trolley
US6382334B1 (en) 2000-06-27 2002-05-07 Powermade Designs Ltd. Power drive unit for a golf trolley
GB2364032B (en) * 2000-06-27 2002-12-18 Powermade Designs Ltd Power drive unit for a golf trolley
EP1700766A3 (en) * 2005-03-12 2009-05-27 Manfred Pomutz Drive powered by an electrical motor
GB2499871A (en) * 2012-02-28 2013-09-04 Joseph Henry Sutton A collapsible golf trolley and bag
CN106827949A (en) * 2017-01-06 2017-06-13 苏州凤凰动力工业有限公司 Electric drive Mecanum wheel

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GB8922160D0 (en) 1989-11-15
GB8823091D0 (en) 1988-11-09

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