Variable-diameter wheel apparatus for motor vehicles

• US 6,733,088 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas B. Elkow
• Original Assignee: Douglas B. Elkow
• Inventors: Elkow, Douglas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellinger, Jason R.
• Application Number:
  US10/648,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 301/13-- 1, 301/36.1, 301/40-- 4, 301/40.6, 152/415-416, 152/418-419, 152/331.1, 152/376, 152/339.1, 152/340.1, 152/341.1, 152/342.1
• US Class Current: 301/40.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 11/00 Units comprising multiple wheels arranged side by side; Wheels having more than one rim or capable of carrying more than one tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 11/02 Units of separate wheels mounted for independent or coupled rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/001 Tyres requiring an asymmetric or a special mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 5/22 the chambers being annular

Abstract

A wheel-and-tire apparatus having at least two coaxially mounted tires is disclosed in which the diameters of one or more of the tires in the apparatus may be adjusted to select the tire or tires which are to be in contact with the road surface. The apparatus facilitates the selective use of tires having different performance characteristics, as may be desired or preferred to suit particular road conditions or vehicle operating conditions. The diameters of particular tires are increased or decreased as required to achieve a desired configuration of relative tire diameters, using tire diameter adjustment means such as one or more pneumatic pumps mounted in association with the apparatus. Sensors monitor selected operational parameters of the vehicle and transmit corresponding signals to a computer which selects an optimal tire configuration to suit the particular combination of operational parameters received from the sensors. The computer then transmits a corresponding signal instructing the tire diameter adjustment means to adjust the diameter of one or more tires in the apparatus as required to achieve the selected optimal tire configuration.

Claims

1. A wheel-and-tire apparatus comprising:

(a) a wheel-and-tire assembly comprising an inboard rim and an outboard rim, plus an inboard tire and an outboard tire mounted on said inboard and outboard rims respectively, said rims being jointly rotatable about a common axis, and said assembly being mountable on a wheel hub of a motor vehicle;

(b) tire diameter adjustment means, adapted to selectively introduce compressed air into, or to exhaust air out of, a designated tire selected from said inboard and outboard tires, while the wheel assembly is rotating;

(c) an actuator associated with the tire diameter adjustment means;

(d) a computer having a memory;

(e) one or more sensors, each sensor being adapted to be able to measure a selected operational parameter of the vehicle, and each sensor having a sensor communication link for conveying sensor signals, corresponding to measurements made by the sensor, from the sensor to the computer; and

(f) an actuator communication link, for conveying actuation signals from the computer to the actuator;

wherein;

(g) a tire configuration protocol is stored in the computer memory, said protocol comprising selected optimum tire configurations corresponding to selected sensor signals or combinations of sensor signals, said protocol including the tire configurations wherein;

g.1 only the inboard tire is in operatively-effective contact with the road surface;

g.2 only the outboard tire is in operatively-effective contact with the road surface; and

g.3 both tires are in operatively-effective contact with the road surface;

(h) the computer is adapted and programmed;

h.1 to receive a sensor signal or signals through the sensor communication link or links;

h.2 having reference to the tire configuration protocol, to select a tire configuration corresponding to the received sensor signal or combination of sensor signals; and

h.3 to transmit a corresponding actuation signal to the actuator, through the actuator communication link; and

(i) the actuator is adapted to actuate the tire diameter adjustment means, in response to and in accordance with an actuation signal from the computer, so as to inflate or deflate the designated tire as necessary to deploy a selected one or both of the tires in operatively-effective contact with the road surface, in accordance with the selected tire configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operational parameter measured by each sensor is selected from the group consisting of vehicle speed, acceleration, engine speed, braking load, steering input, steering load, engaged transmission gear, tire pressure, tire temperature, and shock absorber load.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the designated tire is the inboard tire.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the designated tire is the outboard tire.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tire diameter adjustment means is further adapted to selectively introduce compressed air into, or to exhaust air out of, both the inboard tire and the outboard tire, while the wheel assembly is rotating, so as to selectively inflate or deflate both the inboard and outboard tires as necessary to selectively deploy both tires, only the inboard tire, or only the outboard tire in operatively-effective contact with the road surface, in accordance with the selected tire configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the computer further comprises means for transmitting wireless signals;

(b) the actuator further comprises means for receiving wireless signals; and

(c) the actuator communication link is a wireless connection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

(a) at least one of the sensors further comprises means for transmitting wireless signals;

(b) the computer further comprises means for receiving wireless sensor signals; and

(c) each sensor communication link associated sensors having wireless transmission means is a wireless connection.