Motorized Roller Blades

The slickest rig of this sort I've seen does not attach to the wheeels of the skate, but rather powers another wheel-on-a-stick sort of thing. Looked like a ratehr easy type of fab out of a disused weedeater- check Make.com or Instructables. Putting ythe motor on the wheels is too heavy, cumbersome, and dangerous. With the hack I saw, shedding power was as easy as letting go of the driver.

I agree, the weedeater (or edger) idea is the safest.

If you really want to power the wheels, though, I'd mount a small motor on the ankle with the axis vertical. A flexible shaft would run to a wheel that could be disconnected by rocking back on your heels. Perhaps a release built into the brake. Batteries could be in a fanny pack (bum pack if you're British).

You might want to only power one side. It would be easier and avoid synchronization problems. You don't want one foot going faster than the other, now, do you?

The motor is the wheel. Fixed axle/rotating housing.

I think the remote drive is a good idea; the batts. and
drill type motor in a body pouch (bum bag) powering a
flexible drive to one or more of the wheels.

For safety you could incorporate a simple clutch on the
wheels, depending upon weight being applied. i.e. if the
foot is not on the ground the clutch disconnects the drive.
This way the drive could be cancelled by lifting the foot.

In the UK this set up may have a lot of mileage (no pun) in
that others, such as the Segway, are not accepted as legal.
(not for the road, and dangerous on the pavement)

If you get the system working well offer it to a manufacturer
with a licence / royalty?

Good luck with your blades.

jt.

Jesus said love thy neighbour, but he's 26 stone and has a beard!

Hot Dang, jt!

I think you're on your way to yet another GA! Nice concept. Worm drive on the wheels or a transmission? Of course, you could also skate in reverse, but if the direction switch is centered, it should go into drift/neutral rather than lock up like a drill.

Mark

Thanks for the enthusiasm Mark. Yes.

I have lots of ideas on this; e.g. instead of a clutch,
use limit switches for both forward and backward.

This means no drive when the blade is not on the floor
(weight less) - which saves the battery; with a similar
limit switch reversing the polarity for backward travel.
Simpler, effective and trouble free.
(no clutch problems or attracting the wet and dirt.)

I also had another idea (I do some times) it escapes me
now (past my bed time) so I'll have to return after a nap!

Thanks for the (near) vote!

jt.

Sleep, perchance to dream..... that beautiful.......

Howdy:

Bicycles in times of quick power needed

just ran friction drive on a tire edge from

say a 1hp O&R "chainsaw motor" in 1980's.

New little model- brushless motors

(FOUND EVERYWHERE)

with

a common gear-tooth drive

right against a roller-blade wheel

would demonstrate plenty!

Estimate the torque of say a 3/8" dia gear

required with about 3-5- (?) lbs of pressure

against a roller wheel, do a quick measurement

of loaded- controlled amps (someway)

or talk to a r/c-modeller/ hobby shop about this

to not burn out the motor in a short demo.

YOU MAY BE IMPRESSED BY HOW SMALL A MOTOR

WILL WORK FOR A MOTORED-HUMAN-DEMO !

You'll shoot your eye out

These things are already on the market. I came across them when I was looking at motorized scooters for the kids.

http://gizmodo.com/archives/motosk8-motorized-rollerblades-022415.php

Yikes! I know it takes a bit of horse power to move you along but that pic seems too much. HA!

Mate i have actually built a pair of motorized rollerblades. i have photos of the entire construction process and a video or two of my road test. my choice in engine size was limited to a 16cc snipper motor, however a 25cc to 30cc would be more appropriate. engine drives a transfer axle via chain (too noisy) on left side, transfer axle transfers power to right side, this then drives an adjustable idler wheel via friction drive, which then drives the rear wheel on the roller blade via friction drive. here's a few pix. . .

For Some Great Idea's Watch Air Gear DVD's It Will Help You.

haha watching air gear is what got me searching for motorized skates, and on this site. its also on hulu. you could go the brushless motor route. lots of power and torque. thanks. good luck