Kinetic energy wheel brakes
First Claim
1. A braking device for a vehicle having a main structure with a longitudinal axis, x, defining the direction of vehicle motion, a perpendicular axis, y, and a vertical axis, z, the axes x, y, z defining an orthogonal coordinate system, said vehicle utilizing a plurality of wheels for motion thereof relative to a surface, each wheel having an axis of rotation, comprising:
- support means for supporting at least one of said wheels, said support means including;
(a) bent axle means, said bent axle means being unitary, one piece and having a first axle portion being disposed parallel to said y-axis and at least one terminal axle portion angularly disposed from said first axle portion,(b) means for rotatably engaging the first axle portion of said bent axle means, relative to said main structure, about an axis parallel to said y-axis, and(c) means for rotatably engaging said at least one terminal axle portion of said bent axle means with said at least one wheel,said wheel thereby rotating in a plane that is not parallel to the direction of vehicle motion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A braking device for a vehicle utilizing a plurality of wheels for motion relative to a surface. The present invention includes a bent axle for supporting at least one of the wheels. The bent axle has a first axle portion being disposed parallel to a y-axis which is perpendicular to an x-axis, the x-axis defining the longitudinal axis of a main structure of the vehicle, the x-axis also defining the direction of vehicle motion. The bent axle includes at least one terminal axle portion angularly disposed from the first axle portion. The first axle portion of the bent axle rotatably engages with the main structure of the vehicle, along an axis parallel to the y-axis. The terminal axle portion of the bent axle rotatably engages with the wheel. Therefore, the wheel rotates in a plane that is not parallel to the direction of vehicle motion.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A braking device for a vehicle having a main structure with a longitudinal axis, x, defining the direction of vehicle motion, a perpendicular axis, y, and a vertical axis, z, the axes x, y, z defining an orthogonal coordinate system, said vehicle utilizing a plurality of wheels for motion thereof relative to a surface, each wheel having an axis of rotation, comprising:
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support means for supporting at least one of said wheels, said support means including; (a) bent axle means, said bent axle means being unitary, one piece and having a first axle portion being disposed parallel to said y-axis and at least one terminal axle portion angularly disposed from said first axle portion, (b) means for rotatably engaging the first axle portion of said bent axle means, relative to said main structure, about an axis parallel to said y-axis, and (c) means for rotatably engaging said at least one terminal axle portion of said bent axle means with said at least one wheel, said wheel thereby rotating in a plane that is not parallel to the direction of vehicle motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A braking device for a vehicle having a main structure with a longitudinal axis, x, defining the direction of vehicle motion, a perpendicular axis, y, and a vertical axis, z, the axes x, y, z defining an orthogonal coordinate system, said vehicle utilizing a plurality of wheels for motion thereof relative to a surface, each wheel having an axis of rotation, comprising:
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(a) first braking means for providing a first source of braking, said first braking means including means for adjusting at least one of said wheels to a position sufficiently non-parallel to said x-axis so as to create a substantial braking component of the resulting friction force; and (b) second braking means connected to said first braking means for providing a second source of braking, said second source being a rotary friction brake assembly energized by said first braking means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A braking device for an aircraft utilizing main struts to support landing gear wheels, said aircraft having a longitudinal axis, x, a perpendicular axis, y, and a vertical axis, z, the axes x, y, z, defining an orthogonal coordinate system, said braking device comprising:
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(a) a unitary double stub axle supported by a main strut, said double stub axle having a central portion and two symmetrically disposed terminal axle portions angularly disposed from said central portion, said terminal axle portions for supporting said wheels; and (b) means for rotating said double stub axle so as to adjust the amount of "toe-out" of the wheels. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification