Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Christoph Ruberg

Torsten Gerhardt

Robert Spahl

Bruce Southey

James Neugebauer

A device for transporting a payload (to include a human user) over varied terrain. A platform accommodates the payload. A pair of wheel clusters are mounted to opposite ends of the platform and are powered in rotation relative thereto. Each includes at least two co-planar wheels powered by electric motors. A latch is hand-operable (without tools) to secure the cluster to the platform and, alternatively, allow the cluster to be detached from the platform and rotated 90&#xb0; to lie parallel thereto. An electrical connector conducts electric power from the platform to the cluster when the latch is operated/actuated to secure the cluster to the platform, and is configured such that it does not impede or obstruct detaching the wheel cluster from the platform, with no requirement that the user take any additional step (other than actuating the latch) to detach the wheel cluster.

Wheeled personal transportation device

A motorized device for transporting a human or inanimate payload. A platform is configured to accommodate the payload and a pair of wheel clusters are mounted to the platform at opposite ends thereof and are powered in rotation relative to the platform, for example by one or more electric motors housed in or on the platform or wheel clusters. Each of the two wheel clusters comprises three drive wheels arranged in a generally triangular and co-planar configuration, and each is independently powered about its respective axis of rotation by a hub-mounted electric motor. An electronic controller commands the motors powering the two wheel clusters and of each of the six drive wheels. The independent controllability of each wheel and of the wheel clusters relative to the platform allows the device to steer and to ascend and descend steps.

A motorized device for transporting a human or inanimate payload. A platform is configured to accommodate the payload and a pair of wheel clusters are mounted to the platform at opposite ends thereof and are powered in both rotation and in translation relative to the platform, for example by one or more electric motors housed in or on the platform or wheel clusters. Each of the wheel clusters comprises an arm, and a first and a second wheel rotatably mounted to respective opposite ends of the arm. Each of the wheels is independently powered about its respective axis of rotation. An electronic controller commands the motors to enable stable rolling movement of the device over a surface with only one wheel of each cluster in contact with the surface, and to allow the device to steer and to ascend and descend steps.

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Korschenbroich NRW, Germany

Christoph Ruberg