Variable-diameter wheel apparatus for motor vehicles
First Claim
1. A wheel-and-tire apparatus for use on a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a wheel assembly comprising an inboard rim, a central rim, and an outboard rim, plus means for interconnecting the inboard, central, and outboard rims so as to be jointly rotatable about a common axis;
(b) a tire assembly comprising an inboard pneumatic tire, a central pneumatic tire, and an outboard pneumatic tire, mounted on the inboard, central, and outboard rims respectively; and
(c) tire diameter adjustment means, whereby the relative diameters of the inboard, central, and outboard tires may be selectively varied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel-and-tire apparatus having at least two coaxially mounted tires is disclosed in which the diameters of one or more of the tires in the apparatus may be adjusted to select the tire or tires which are to be in contact with the road surface. The apparatus facilitates the selective use of tires having different performance characteristics, as may be desired or preferred to suit particular road conditions or vehicle operating conditions. The diameters of particular tires are increased or decreased as required to achieve a desired configuration of relative tire diameters, using tire diameter adjustment means such as one or more pneumatic pumps mounted in association with the apparatus. Sensors monitor selected operational parameters of the vehicle and transmit corresponding signals to a computer which selects an optimal tire configuration to suit the particular combination of operational parameters received from the sensors. The computer then transmits a corresponding signal instructing the tire diameter adjustment means to adjust the diameter of one or more tires in the apparatus as required to achieve the selected optimal tire configuration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wheel-and-tire apparatus for use on a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a wheel assembly comprising an inboard rim, a central rim, and an outboard rim, plus means for interconnecting the inboard, central, and outboard rims so as to be jointly rotatable about a common axis;
(b) a tire assembly comprising an inboard pneumatic tire, a central pneumatic tire, and an outboard pneumatic tire, mounted on the inboard, central, and outboard rims respectively; and
(c) tire diameter adjustment means, whereby the relative diameters of the inboard, central, and outboard tires may be selectively varied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A wheel-and-tire apparatus for use on a motor vehicle, said wheel assembly comprising:
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(a) a wheel assembly comprising an inboard rim and an outboard rim, plus means for interconnecting the inboard and outboard rims so as to be jointly rotatable about a common axis;
(b) a tire assembly comprising an inboard pneumatic tire and an outboard pneumatic tire, mounted on the inboard rim and the outboard rim respectively; and
(c) tire diameter adjustment means, whereby the relative diameters of the inboard and outboard tires may be selectively varied. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification