Variable-diameter wheel apparatus for motor vehicles

• US 20030071515A1
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas B. Elkow
• Original Assignee: Douglas B. Elkow
• Inventors: Elkow, Douglas B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,637,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/36.1
• 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 for use on a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a wheel assembly comprising an inboard rim, a central rim, and an outboard rim, plus means for interconnecting the inboard, central, and outboard rims so as to be jointly rotatable about a common axis;

(b) a tire assembly comprising an inboard pneumatic tire, a central pneumatic tire, and an outboard pneumatic tire, mounted on the inboard, central, and outboard rims respectively; and

(c) tire diameter adjustment means, whereby the relative diameters of the inboard, central, and outboard tires may be selectively varied.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tire assembly may be selectively configured such that the diameter of the central tire is greater than the diameter of the inboard and outboard tires, or such that the diameter of the central tire is substantially equal to the diameter of the inboard and outboard tires.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tire assembly may be selectively configured such that the diameter of the central tire is smaller than the diameter of the inboard and outboard tires, or such that the diameter of the central tire is substantially equal to the diameter of the inboard and outboard tires.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising sensor and control means for monitoring operational parameters of the motor vehicle, and for activating the tire diameter adjustment means in response to changes in the operational parameters.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor and control means comprises:

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

(b) one or more sensors, each sensor being capable of measuring a selected operational parameter of the vehicle, and each sensor having a sensor communication link for carrying signals corresponding to operational parameter measurements made by the sensor;

(c) a computer having a memory, said computer being in communication with each sensor by means of said sensor communication link or links, said computer being for processing operational parameter measurement signals received from the sensor or sensors, and for determining a selected tire assembly configuration corresponding to the operational parameter measurements, in accordance with a program stored in the memory; and

(d) an actuator communication link, for carrying from the computer to the actuator a signal corresponding to the selected tire assembly configuration;

wherein the actuator automatically actuates the tire diameter adjustment means in response to signals received from the computer so as to adjust the tire assembly in accordance with the selected tire assembly configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tire diameter adjustment means includes a pneumatic pump associated with the central tire, said pump having the facility to pump compressed air into the central tire or to exhaust air out of the central tire, as may be desired.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein power to operate the pneumatic pump is generated by rotation of the pump with the wheel assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pump is battery-powered.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tire diameter adjustment means comprises mechanical means for deforming the central tire.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising control means whereby the tire diameter adjustment means may be manually activated from within the motor vehicle.

11. A wheel-and-tire apparatus for use on a motor vehicle, said wheel assembly comprising:

(a) a wheel assembly comprising an inboard rim and an outboard rim, plus means for interconnecting the inboard and outboard rims so as to be jointly rotatable about a common axis;

(b) a tire assembly comprising an inboard pneumatic tire and an outboard pneumatic tire, mounted on the inboard rim and the outboard rim respectively; and

(c) tire diameter adjustment means, whereby the relative diameters of the inboard and outboard tires may be selectively varied.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tire assembly may be selectively configured such that the diameter of the inboard tire is greater than the diameter of the outboard tire, or such that the diameter of the inboard tire is substantially equal to the diameter of the outboard tire.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tire assembly may be selectively configured such that the diameter of the inboard tire is smaller than the diameter of the outboard tire, or such that the diameter of the inboard tire is substantially equal to the diameter of the outboard tire.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising sensor and control means for monitoring operational parameters of the motor vehicle, and for activating the tire diameter adjustment means in response to changes in the operational parameters.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensor and control means comprises:

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

(b) one or more sensors, each sensor being capable of measuring a selected operational parameter of the vehicle, and each sensor having a sensor communication link for carrying signals corresponding to operational parameter measurements made by the sensor;

(c) a computer having a memory, said computer being in communication with each sensor by means of said sensor communication link or links, said computer being for processing operational parameter measurement signals received from the sensor or sensors, and for determining a selected tire assembly configuration corresponding to the operational parameter measurements, in accordance with a program stored in the memory; and

(d) an actuator communication link, for carrying from the computer to the actuator a signal corresponding to the selected tire assembly configuration;

wherein the actuator automatically actuates the tire diameter adjustment means in response to signals received from the computer so as to adjust the tire assembly in accordance with the selected tire assembly configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tire diameter adjustment means includes a pneumatic pump associated with the inboard tire, said pump having the facility to pump compressed air into the inboard tire or to exhaust air out of the inboard tire, as may be desired.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein power to operate the pneumatic pump is generated by rotation of the pump with the wheel assembly.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the pump is battery-powered.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tire diameter adjustment means comprises mechanical means for deforming the inboard tire.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising control means whereby the tire diameter adjustment means may be manually activated from within the motor vehicle.