VEHICLE WITH COMPOSITE WHEEL

• US 3,821,995 A
• Filed: 10/15/1971
• Issued: 07/02/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elie P. Aghnides
• Original Assignee: Elie P. Aghnides
• Inventors: Aghnides, Elie P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/189,669
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2,21,29,27,7R 301/1R,36WP,41R 115/1R
• US Class Current: 180/6.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/00 Wheels not otherwise provided for or having characteristics specified in one of the subgroups of this group
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/06 with compartments for fluid, packing or loading material; Buoyant wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/302 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/305 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/50 Rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/30 the ultimate propulsive elements, e.g. ground wheels, being steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/20 Off-Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/42 Amphibious vehicles

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a vehicle with hemispheroidal wheels, at least one of which is a composite wheel and a steering means for the vehicle. The composite wheel is generally hemispheroidal in shape and has two parts, i.e. a large treaded portion for use on soft unstable ground, and a smaller rod surface portion. The respective axes of rotation for the two portions may be varied to place the smaller road surface part in a vertical or upright position, to lift the larger portion away from the road surface or to leave it in its normal slightly-above-the ground position for conventional use on roads or firm terrain. The two wheel portions may be aligned or left unaligned for use in soft, unstable terrain.

Claims

1. A vehicle adapted for use both on hard and soft terrain comprising, at least one axle which is tilted outwardly and downwardly, a first wheel part rotatable about said axle in a plane normal thereto, a second wheel part, means connecting said second wheel part with said axle for permitting said second wheel part to rotate at least at times in a generally vertical plane, said second wheel part being positioned outwardly and downwardly along said axle in relation to said first wheel part.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first wheel part is partially hemispheroidal in shape, said wheel portion being equipped with cleats for use in soft non-stable terrain.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first wheel part is longitudinally movable along said tilted axle.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle is provided with at least one pair of said first and second wheel parts on each side of its longitudinal and center axis, and means for differentially varying the angular velocities of said second wheel parts on the opposite sides of the vehicle to effect vehicle steering.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the angular velocity of One of said second wheel parts is varied by braking one of said second wheel parts.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the angular velocity of one of said second wheel parts is varied by a variable speed transmission means.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 wherein two pairs of first and second wheel parts are mounted on each side of the longitudinal and center axis of said vehicle, two of said second wheel parts on one side of said center axis being connected to a first variable speed transmission, and the other two second wheel parts on the other side of said center axis being connected to a second variable speed transmission.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 which further includes means for clutching together said first and second wheel parts and means for steering said vehicle by varying the rotational speed of the pair of first and second wheel parts on one side of the vehicle relative to that of the pair of first and second wheel parts on the other side of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said rotational speed is varied by a variable speed transmission means.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 which further includes means for moving said second wheel part to a predetermined position on said axle wherein it rotates parallel to said first wheel part.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 which further includes means effective when said second wheel part is in its said predetermined position for causing said second wheel part to rotate with the same angular velocity as said first wheel part.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said first wheel part is free-wheeling when said second wheel part is in its said vertical position.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said second wheel part is of smaller diameter than said first wheel part, the relative diameter of said first and second wheel parts and the tilt of said axle being such that the lowest portion of said first wheel part lies above the lowest portion of said second wheel part when the latter is in its vertical position.

14. A vehicle adapted for use on both hard or soft terrain comprising, two axles on each side of the vehicle, each being tilted outwardly and downwardly, at least one wheel member rotatable about each said axle, said wheel member being generally of hemispheroidal configuration and so disposed on the respective axle that the cross-sectional part of said wheel which is of largest diameter lies inwardly and upwardly of said tilted axle relative to the cross-sectional part of smallest diameter, a first variable speed transmission means operatively connected to drive the wheel members on one axle of the vehcile and a second variable speed transmission means operatively connected to drive the wheel members on the other side of the vehicle, whereby said vehicle may be steered by differentially controlling the relative angular speeds of the wheel members on the opposite sides of the wheels.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 which further includes means for turning in a forward direction the two tilted wheels on one side of the vehicle while concurrently turning rearwardly the two tilted unitary wheels on the other side of the vehicle to effect a sharp steering of the vehicle.

16. A vehicle adapted for use on both hard and soft terrain comprising:

two axles on each side of the vehicle, each being tilted outwardly and downwardly;

at least one wheel member rotatable on each axle, each wheel member having a rolling ground-contacting surface of generally decreasing diameter as the distance from the vehicle body increases, a first variable speed transmission means operatively connected to drive the wheel members on at least one axle on one side of the vehicle selectively in either the forward or reverse directions and a second variable speed transmission means operatively connected to drive the wheel members on at least one axle on the other side of the wheel selectively in either the forward or reverse directiOns, whereby said vehicle may be steered by driving said wheel members on one side of the vehicle in the forward direction while concurrently driving said wheel members on the other side of the vehicle in the reverse direction.

17. A vehicle adapted for use on both hard and soft terrain comprising:

two axles on each side of the vehicle, each being tilted outwardly and downwardly;

at least one wheel member rotatable on each axle, each wheel member having a rolling ground-contacting surface of generally decreasing diameter as the distance from the vehicle body increases, a first variable speed transmission means operatively connected to drive the wheel members on at least one axle on one side of the vehicle and a second variable speed transmission means operatively connected to drive the wheel members on at least one axle on the other side of the vehicle, and brake means for differentially braking the wheel members on the respectively opposite sides of the vehicle, whereby said vehicle may be steered by driving the wheels on one side of the vehicle by the associated variable speed transmission means while concurrently braking the wheel members on the opposite side of the vehicle.