Momentum management in a wheel such as a traction wheel under a changing load
First Claim
1. A wheel adapted to provide locomotive traction while in contact with a surface, said wheel including a hollow interior including a series of hollow segments, said hollow segments are each adapted for storing and transferring a fluid to other said segments, said storing and transferring said fluid modifies a mass moment of inertia of said wheel when said wheel is accelerating or decelerating while rotating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel, such as a traction wheel, with a momentum enhancing apparatus. The momentum enhancing apparatus may selectively enhance the wheel'"'"'s ability to maintain its angular velocity at relatively high speeds, while having a reduced effect on the angular velocity of the wheel at relatively slow speeds. The momentum enhancing apparatus may include one or more bodies that either translate radially between the hub and the rim of the wheel to change the mass moment of inertia of the wheel, or rotate with the wheel and transfer the momentum of the bodies to the wheel under increasing loads. Methods of using such apparati and vehicles equipped with such apparati are also enclosed.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A wheel adapted to provide locomotive traction while in contact with a surface, said wheel including a hollow interior including a series of hollow segments, said hollow segments are each adapted for storing and transferring a fluid to other said segments, said storing and transferring said fluid modifies a mass moment of inertia of said wheel when said wheel is accelerating or decelerating while rotating.
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8. A traction wheel having a variable mass moment of inertia, the traction wheel including:
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a traction wheel including solid components and a fluid component; said solid components including a circular shaped body having a hollow interior including a series of hollow segments adapted for storing and transferring a fluid component; and wherein said hollow segments providing a means for altering an angular velocity of said circular shaped body of said wheel while said wheel is rotating. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification