Wheel system for a vehicle

• US 9,266,389 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Drury, Anthony D., Durbin, Richard Randon
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US13/946,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20150021873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 280/80.1, 152/157, 152/331.1, 152/337.1, 152/338.1, 152/339.1, 152/317
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/04 expansible
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 31/00 Apparatus or tools for assembling or disassembling wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/10 the wheels being individually rotatable around the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/14 for off-road use
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 5/18 Sectional casings, e.g. comprising replaceable arcuate parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 5/20 having multiple separate inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 5/24 the walls of the chambers extending transversely of the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10522 Multiple chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49492 Land wheel

Abstract

A wheel assembly for use with a vehicle is provided. The wheel assembly includes a first inner wheel portion, a second inner wheel portion positioned adjacent to the first inner wheel portion, a first wheel bladder coupled to the first inner wheel portion, and a second wheel bladder coupled to the second inner wheel portion.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly for use with a vehicle, said wheel assembly comprising:

a first inner wheel portion comprising a first plurality of walls that combine to define a substantially hollow first chamber;

a second inner wheel portion positioned adjacent to said first inner wheel portion, said second inner wheel portion comprising a second plurality of walls that combine to define a substantially hollow second chamber;

a first wheel bladder comprising a first radially inner wall coupled to a radially outer wall of said first plurality of walls such that said first wheel bladder is positioned radially outward from said first inner wheel portion, said first chamber configured to induce suction, pressure, or both to said first wheel bladder; and

a second wheel bladder comprising a second radially inner wall coupled to a radially outer wall of said second plurality of walls such that said second wheel bladder is positioned radially outward from said second inner wheel portion, wherein the wheel assembly is coupled to an axle assembly including an inner axle and an outer axle configured to rotate about the inner axle, the inner axle configured to retain an inflation device for inducing at least one of suction and pressure to the wheel assembly.

2. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second wheel bladders is substantially filled with granules, wherein said granules are selected based on at least one of a size of the vehicle and on a terrain over which said vehicle is configured to travel.

3. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second wheel bladders is selectively inflatable and deflatable to a vacuum based on a terrain over which said vehicle is configured to travel.

4. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first filter coupled to said first wheel bladder or said first inner wheel portion, or both.

5. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second filter coupled to said second wheel bladder or said second inner wheel portion, or both.

6. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a third inner wheel portion coupled to a third wheel bladder.

17. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first wheel bladder and said second wheel bladder are configured to contact a terrain over which said vehicle is configured to travel.

18. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first wheel bladder and said second wheel bladder comprise the radially outermost components of said wheel assembly.

19. The wheel assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of said first and second wheel bladders is configured to be at least partially deflated when in contact with the terrain.

7. A wheel system for use with a vehicle, said wheel system comprising:

an axle assembly comprising an inner axle and an outer axle configured to rotate about said inner axle; and

a first wheel assembly coupled to said axle assembly, wherein said inner axle of said axle assembly is configured to retain an inflation device for inducing at least one of suction and pressure to said first wheel assembly, said first wheel assembly comprising;

a first inner wheel portion comprising a first plurality of walls that combine to define a substantially hollow first chamber;

a second inner wheel portion positioned adjacent to said first inner wheel portion, said second inner wheel portion comprising a second plurality of walls that combine to define a substantially hollow second chamber;

a first wheel bladder comprising a first radially inner wall coupled to a radially outer wall of said first plurality of walls such that said first wheel bladder is positioned radially outward from said first inner wheel portion, said inflation device coupled in flow communication with said first chamber such that said first chamber induces suction, pressure, or both to said first wheel bladder; and

a second wheel bladder comprising a second radially inner wall coupled to a radially outer wall of said second plurality of walls such that said second wheel bladder is positioned radially outward from said second inner wheel portion.

8. The wheel system according to claim 7, wherein said inner axle comprises a first inflation aperture configured to mate with the inflation device.

9. The wheel system according to claim 8, wherein said first inner wheel portion includes a first inner wheel portion aperture that extends through said first inner wheel portion and said outer axle, said first inner wheel portion aperture configured to mate with said first inflation aperture.

10. The wheel system according to claim 7, further comprising a second wheel assembly and a third wheel assembly coupled to said axle assembly.

11. The wheel system according to claim 7, wherein each of said first and second wheel bladders is substantially filled with granules.

12. The wheel system according to claim 11, wherein the granules are a multifaceted material.

13. The wheel system according to claim 11, wherein the granules are husks, gravel, or pellets, or a combination thereof.

14. A method of fabricating a wheel system for use with a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing an axle assembly including an inner axle and an outer axle configured to rotate about the inner axle;

coupling an inflation device to the axle assembly such that the inner axle of the axle assembly is configured to retain the inflation device; and

coupling a wheel assembly to the axle assembly such that the inflation device is configured to induce at least one of suction and pressure to the wheel assembly, the wheel assembly comprising;

a first inner wheel portion comprising a first plurality of walls that combine to define a first substantially hollow chamber;

a second inner wheel portion positioned adjacent to the first inner wheel portion, said second inner wheel portion comprising a second plurality of walls that combine to define a second substantially hollow chamber;

a first wheel bladder comprising a first radially inner wall coupled to a radially outer wall of said first plurality of walls such that the first wheel bladder is positioned radially outward from the first inner wheel portion, wherein the inflation device is coupled in flow communication with the first chamber such that the first chamber induces suction, pressure, or both to the first wheel bladder; and

a second wheel bladder comprising a second radially inner wall coupled to a radially outer wall of said second plurality of walls such that the second wheel bladder is positioned radially outward from the second inner wheel portion.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising substantially filling each of the first and second wheel bladders with granules.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein coupling a wheel assembly to the axle assembly further comprises coupling a wheel assembly to the axle assembly such that an inner wheel portion aperture substantially mates with the inflation device.