OMNIDIRECTIONAL WHEEL

• US 3,789,947 A
• Filed: 04/17/1972
• Issued: 02/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Josef F. Blumrich
• Original Assignee: Josef F. Blumrich
• Inventors: Blumrich, Josef F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/244,519
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 180/79.3,6.2,7R,8F 301/5P
• US Class Current: 180/6.48
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/003 Multidirectional wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/10 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/30 Synthetic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/50 Rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/351 versatility, e.g. usable for different purposes or different arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/46 Arctic-/Extraterrestric explorers

Abstract

The apparatus of the invention consists of a wheel having a hub with radially disposed spokes which are provided with a plurality of circumferential rim segments. These rim segments carry, between the spokes, rim elements which are rigid relative to their outer support surfaces, and defined in their outer contour to form a part of the circle forming the wheel diameter. The rim segments have provided for each of the rim elements an independent drive means selectively operable when the element is in ground contact to rotatably drive the rim element in a direction of movement perpendicularly lateral to the normal plane of rotation and movement of the wheel. This affords the wheel omnidirectional movement.

Claims

1. An omnidirectional wheel for transporting a vehicle over a travel surface of the character described comprising:

a hub;

a radially disposed support structure for rim elements extending from said hub;

a plurality of peripherally spaced laterally rotatable rim segments having shafts mounting the same on said support structure;

a plurality of peripherally spaced laterally rotatable rim elements with means supportably mounting the same on said segments;

said rim elements being mounted with their axes of lateral rotation lying in the normal plane of rotation of said wheel, and their lateral plane of rotation laterally perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said wheel;

means for separately driving said rim eleMents and segments, selectively operable to actuate the same in lateral rotation when said elements are in contact with the travel surface;

each of said rim elements comprising an axially extended casing member having an outer contact surface arcuately contoured to conform to the circumference of said wheel and an inner cavity receiving said rim segments.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein;

said rim segments comprise shaft mounted wheel elements having semispherical support surfaces supporting said rim elements;

said elements and segments having corresponding interlocking connecting means thereon rotatably engaging the same.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said connecting means comprises a lengthwise extended groove on said rim segment and a corresponding spline on said rim element having a depending tooth of substantially circular cross-section received by said groove, movable longitudinally and rotatable therein, such as to impart driving motion in angular relation from said segment to said element.

4. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1, wherein said means for separately driving said rim segments comprises, in combination with said shaft fixedly supporting said segments, motor drive means mounted in said support structure adjacent to said shaft, including a rotating worm and a worm gear affixed to said shaft, such as to drive said shaft selectively in reciprocal motion.

5. Apparatus of the charactr described in claim 1, wherein said means for separately driving said rim segments comprises, in combination with a hollow shaft movably supporting said segments, motor drive means, axially mounted in said hollow shaft, having a separate drive coupling engaging an extension of said rim segment, such as to drive said segment selectively in reciprocal motion.