STAIR-NEGOTIATING WHEEL CHAIR OR AN IRREGULAR-TERRAIN-NEGOTIATING VEHICLE

• US 3,580,344 A
• Filed: 12/24/1968
• Issued: 05/25/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnnie E. Floyd
• Original Assignee: Johnnie E. Floyd
• Inventors: Floyd, Johnnie E.
• Application Number:
  US04/786,674
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• US Class Current: 180/8.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/061 for climbing stairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/065 with three or more wheels mounted on a rotary cross member, e.g. spiders or spoked wheels with small wheels at the end of the spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/34 Stabilising upright position of vehicles, e.g. of single axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle including a variable-length central frame upon which is pivotally and rotatably mounted multiple wheel assemblies. A central propelling means powering the wheel assemblies. A central propelling means powering the wheel assemblies through a central differential operably connected to individual planetary gear set differential wheel transmissions driving individual spider arm wheel assemblies which rotate the peripheral wheels and/or spider-arms as the need demands to climb or descend stairs, negotiate uneven terrain, and execute various maneuvers. The operator preselects through a central control a desired maneuver or function. The vehicle senses the most appropriate mechanical function and performs the maneuver by the optimum safe means.

Claims

1. An uneven-terrain-negotiating vehicle:

a. a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, b. a central control means mounted on said frame, c. power means mounted on said frame, d. a multiplicity of wheel transmissions mounted adjacent to periphery of said frame constructed and arranged so as to have at least one wheel transmission mounted on the front portion of said frame and at least one wheel transmission mounted on the rear portion of said frame, e. a central differential means operably interconnected to said power means and said wheel transmissions, said differential constructed and arranged to differentially supply rotating force to said wheel transmission mounted on the front portion of said frame and said wheel transmission mounted on the rear portion of said frame, f. a braking means operably associated with said central differential adapted to selectively retard the output of said differential to a wheel transmission, g. wheel assemblies mounted for rotation on each said wheel transmission including peripheral wheels and spider arms, and h. control means including selective clutching means operably integrated with each said wheel transmission selectively imparting rotating force to peripheral wheels or spider arms through a planetary gear set differential of said wheel assemblies.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each said wheel transmission and wheel assemblies comprise:

a. a multiplicity of wheels constituting an epicyclic gear train, b. a multiplicity of spider arms driven in rotation by said wheel transmission, and c. gear means adapted for rotating said peripheral wheels in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of said spider arms.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein each said wheel transmission and wheel assemblies comprise:

a. a multiplicity of wheels constituting an epicyclic gear train, b. a multiplicity of spider arms driven in rotation by said wheel transmission, and c. said wheel transmission including gear means comprising a planetary gear set differential interconnecting said wheel means and said spider arms constructed in such an arrangement to differentially supply rotating force between said wheels and said arms.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein each said wheel transmission includes:

a. a spur gear differential;

b. said spur gear differential including an arm, c. spur gears rotatably secured to said arm, d. a transfer gear driving a spur gear, e. a wheel drive gear receiving the output of said spur gear, f. a clutching surface integral with said spur gear arm, and g. control means, including a pivotally mounted control arm adapted to selectively clutch and declutch said clutch surface of said arm.

5. The invention of claim 4 including:

a. clutching surface integral with said wheel drive gear, and b. said control means including a control arm adapted to selectively clutch and declutch said wheel drive gear clutching surface.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said central control means comprises:

a. a control drum, b. a multiplicity of cam lifts secured to said control drum, c. means for rotating said control drum, d. cam followers mounted adjacent said control drum in such a manner as to folloW the contour of said cams; and

e. cam pushrods interconnecting said cam follower and said control means of each said wheel transmission.

7. An uneven-terrain-negotiating vehicle comprising:

a. a frame, b. power means mounted on said frame, c. a multiplicity of wheel transmissions mounted adjacent the periphery of said frame, d. wheel assemblies attached to said wheel transmission, e. said wheel assemblies comprising wheels, f. said wheel assemblies comprising spider arms, g. said wheel transmissions each including gear means comprising a planetary gear set differentially interconnecting said wheels and said spider arms of said wheel assembly, and h. an overrunning clutch integral with each said wheel transmission restricting rotation of input gear means to rotation in one predetermined direction of rotation.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein each said wheel transmission includes:

a. a power drive gear operably driven by the said power means, b. a ring gear meshed with said power drive gear, c. an arm gear meshed with and driven by said ring gear, and d. a transfer gear meshed with and driven by said arm gear.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein each said wheel transmission includes:

a. a transfer gear driven by an arm gear, b. an overrunning clutch encompassing said transfer gear, said overrunning clutch constructed and arranged so as to permit only counterclockwise rotation of said transfer gear, and c. spur gears meshed with an driven by said transfer gear.

10. The invention of claim 7 wherein each said wheel transmission includes:

a. an arm integral with said wheel transmission and rotatably mounted therein, b. spur gears rotatably mounted on said arm and driven by said power means, c. a wheel drive gear meshed with spur gear, d. a circular transmission control cam mounted for rotation in said transmission, e. a camming segment integral with said circular transmission control cam, f. a control arm pivotally mounted in said wheel transmission operably engages said camming segment moving responsive to rotation of said transmission circular control cam, and g. a multiplicity of clutching surfaces selectively engaged by said control arm.

11. The invention of claim 7 wherein said wheel transmission gear means is adapted for rotating peripheral wheels in a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of said spider arms for descending stairs or the like.