MULTI-DIRECTIONAL DRIVING MECHANISM OF A SPHERIC WHEEL

• US 20130257138A1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Feng-Jung Chang
• Original Assignee: Feng-Jung Chang
• Inventors: CHANG, Feng-Jung
• Application Number:
  US13/433,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/5.23
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/003 Multidirectional wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/12 Roller-type wheels B60B19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2200/26 Medical appliances
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/84 Wheelchairs

Abstract

A multi-directional driving mechanism of a spheric wheel is assembled at a preset position on the surface of an existing spheric wheel, thus driving multi-directional rotation of the spheric wheel. The multi-directional driving mechanism comprises at least two driving wheels assembled at opposite directions of the spheric wheel. An axle is set at the enter of said driving wheel for driving the rotation via a driving gear. One lateral side of the driving wheel is abutted tightly onto the surface of the spheric wheel for frictional driving. Rolling elements are pivoted at interval on the periphery of the driving wheel and the axial direction of said rolling elements runs perpendicular to the axial direction of axle on the driving wheel. The driving wheels assembled at opposite directions could be abutted normally onto the surface of the spheric wheel for driving or sliding without mutual interference.

Claims

1. A multi-directional driving mechanism of a spheric wheel, wherein said multi-directional driving mechanism is assembled at a preset position on the surface of an existing spheric wheel, thus driving multi-directional rotation of the spheric wheel;

the multi-directional driving mechanism comprises at least two driving wheels assembled at opposite directions of the spheric wheel;

an axle is set at center of said driving wheel for driving the rotation via a driving gear;

one lateral side of the driving wheel is abutted tightly onto the surface of the spheric wheel for frictional driving;

it is characterized by that;

rolling elements are pivoted at interval on the periphery of the driving wheel; and

the axial direction of said rolling elements runs perpendicular to the axial direction of axle on the driving wheel;

when the driving wheel is rotated by taking the axle as its pivot, the spheric wheel could be driven frictionally;

when the axial directions of the driving wheel and spheric wheel are different from each other, the rolling elements on the periphery of the driving wheel will be frictionally pushed to rotate by the surface of the spheric wheel, so that the driving wheels assembled at opposite directions could be abutted normally onto the surface of the spheric wheel for driving or sliding without mutual interference.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein yokes are set at interval onto the periphery of the driving wheel in a radial pattern;

axle holes are set at external ends of said yokes;

said rolling elements are of a column body with convex surface; and

convex shafts are set at two opposite ends of the rolling elements for assembly into the axle holes set at external ends of the yokes.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the driving gear for driving the rotation of the driving wheel comprises of a -shaped frame, a driving motor and changing gear sets;

said -shaped frame comprises of a main frame and two side frames set laterally at interval onto the main frame;

a holding space is defined between two side frames to accommodate the driving wheel;

the driving motor is accommodated into the main frame, while the changing gear sets are separately set into two side frames, so as to link the driving motor and the axle of the driving wheel.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the spheric wheel is of a hollow round ball, which is assembled securely by several arched shell plates;

a criss-cross skeleton is combined internally to support the arched shell plates.