VEHICLE FOR ROUGH AND MUDDY TERRAIN

• US 3,845,831 A
• Filed: 10/16/1972
• Issued: 11/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jesse C. James
• Original Assignee: Jesse C. James
• Inventors: James, Jesse C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friaglia, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schrecengost, Randall A.
• Application Number:
  US05/297,740
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8B,8F 305/1-5 301/48,49,50 267/63R
• US Class Current: 180/8.7
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/022 consisting of members having both rotational and walking movements

Abstract

A vehicle according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of legs with which it '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'walks'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' rather than rolls across either soft or rough terrain. The legs are carried by a pair of wheel-like drive elements generally referred to as wheels. One of the wheels is rotatably mounted on the vehicle and the other is rotatable about an axis disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of the first wheel. The legs are pivotally secured to each of the wheels and remain substantially vertical at all times during revolving thereof as the vehicle traverses across the terrain, thereby allowing the legs to enter and exit soft terrain in substantially vertical condition to prevent the application of excessive bending moments to the legs. For application of the vehicle to soft terrain, such as flooded rice fields and the like, the legs are each equipped with feet that normally define a substantially thin silhouette and expand to increase the load supporting cross section thereof upon entering soft soil, such as mud, and engaging firmer subsoil.

Claims

1. A vehicle for traversing soft terrain comprising a vehicle body having a plurality of leg carrying mechanisms movable supported thereon, each leg carrying mechanism comprising a first wheel being rotatably secured to said vehicle, a second wheel being disposed adjacent to said first wheel, a plurality of legs, supported by each of said leg carrying mechanisms and being movable substantially vertically upwardly and downwardly and simultaneously revolving with said leg carrying mechanisms, said legs serially engaging the terrain over which said vehicle is moving said propelling said vehicle across said terrain, said legs being connected at different points thereon to each of said wheels, whereby said second wheel is rotatable about an axis that is spaced from the axis of said first wheel, at least one roller member rotatably supported by said vehicle, and roller engaging surface means formed on said second wheel and roller member engagement with said roller engagement surface means causing said second wheel to support the weight of said vehicle, and roller member-surface means engagememt cooperating with said legs to achieve smooth traversing of saId vehicle over the terrain, each leg providing a spread foot comprising a pair of curved sheet spring members secured to leg lower extremity and joined downwardly along a line of contact, said spring members bending upon entering said soft terrain to spread to a substantially broad foot for adequate support of said vehicle, and spring members collapsing upon withdrawal of said foot from said soft terrain to allow easy removal of said foot from said terrain, said second wheel roller engagement surface means comprising the inner rim surface of said second wheel for roller member cooperation.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1;

each leg member having its spread foot attached to the lower end thereof.

3. A vehicle for traversing soft and rough terrain comprising a vehicle body, a plurality of leg carrying wheel-like assemblies supporting said vehicle for movement across said terrain, each of said leg carrying wheel-like assemblies comprising a first wheel being rotatably secured to said vehicle, a second wheel being disposed adjacent said first wheel with the axis thereof offset relative to the axis of said first wheel, at least one roller member supported by said vehicle, roller engaging surface means formed on said second wheel, roller member engagement by said roller engaging surface means causing said second wheel to support the weight of said vehicle, a plurality of leg members each being pivotally connected at spaced points thereon to said first and second wheels and being oriented in substantially vertical relation at all times during movement of said wheel-like assemblies, said vehicle having a power source, at least one of said wheel-like assemblies being connected in driving relation with said power source, said vehicle having a steering assembly, each leg member providing a spread foot comprising a pair of curved sheet spring members secured to leg member lower extremity and joined downwardly along a line of contact, said spring members bending upon entering said soft terrain to spread to a substantially broad foot for adequate support of said vehicle, said spring members collapsing upon withdrawal of said foot from said soft terrain to allow easy removal of said foot from said terrain, said second wheel roller engagement surface means comprising the inner rim surface of said second wheel for roller member cooperation.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 3;

each leg member having its spread foot attached to the lower end thereof.