GB1592914A

GB1592914A - Vehicle especially an amusement vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB1592914A
Application number: GB5108477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Barbeer G L
Current assignee: Barbeer G L
Priority date: 1977-12-08
Filing date: 1977-12-08
Publication date: 1981-07-15

Description

(54) VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AN AMUSEMENT VEHICLE, (71) I, GERALD LEE BARBER, a Citizen of the United States of America, of 1209 Edwards Road, Greenville, South Carolina 29615, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - The present invention is concerned with a wheeled vehicle, particularly a twowheeled amusement vehicle, and more particularly still to a vehicle in which a frame for receiving at least one occupant is located within the radial limits of a pair of coaxial spaced wheels.

Vehicles of the general nature with which the present invention is concerned have been known but heretofore have had certain defects in respect of the cost of manufacture and manoeuverability and the like.

The present invention has a primary object the provision of a two-wheeled vehicle of the nature referred to in which problems that have been encountered in connection with similar vehicles according to the prior art have been eliminated and which can be constructed relatively simply and at a relatively low cost.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a vehicle comprising a pair of coaxial spaced rotatable wheels having radially inwardly facing annular surfaces thereon, a frame within the radial confines of said wheels and extending axially between the wheels, roller means rotatable on respective horizontal axes on the frame and distributed circumferentially on the frame in the plane of and engaging each said annular surface for rotatably supporting the frame on said wheels, seat means in the frame for seating at least one occupant, the centre of gravity of said frame including any occupant(s) seated therein being substantially lower than the common axis of rotation of said wheels, drive means carried by the frame and under the control of the at least one occupant of the vehicle for driving at least one drive roller pertaining to each wheel for propelling the vehicle, a member having a pivotal connection with said frame and rotatably supporting said at least one drive roller at a point spaced from said pivotal connection, said spring means acting between said frame and said member to press said at least one drive roller mounted on said member into driving engagement with the respective wheel. Said vehicle may include means for varying the speed of one wheel relative to the other for steering purposes.

Said drive means may include occupantactuated crank means connected to said at least one drive roller; alternatively, said drive means may include occupantcontrolled power means connected to said at least one drive roller.

Said frame preferably comprises spaced coaxial ring members and structural elements extending axially between and fixed to said ring members.

In one embodiment of said vehicle, each wheel includes radially inwardly opening channels into which said rollers extend.

In such a case, said drive means may drive two drive rollers and each channel may have a V-shaped circumferentially extending member fixed therein, each drive roller being circumferentilaly grooved to receive the V-shaped member of the respective wheel.

Friction-enhancing means may be interposed between the or each drive roller and the respective wheel.

Said frame preferably comprises bracket means fixed to each ring member in cir cumferentially spaced relationship to one another, each bracket means comprising a pair of axially spaced bracket elements adapted to receive a respective one of said roller means therebetween.

Each said wheel may comprise a strip of metal formed to a cylindrical element, angle elements being secured to the outer surface of said cylindrical element in facing relation to form spaced grooves for receiving the bead portion of a tvre, and a reinforcing rail member extending about said cylindrical element. Said rail member is preferably rectangular in cross-section.

Said roller means preferably engage said cylindrical element on the inwardly facing side thereof on each lateral side of said reinforcing rail member; in such a case, each roller means comprises a pair of axially spaced coaxial rollers.

Said crank means hereinbefore described may comprise a crank connected to each drive roller and adapted for actuation by a respective occupant of the vehicle.

The exact nature of the present invention will be more clearly comprehended upon reference to the following detailed specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the vehicle wtih the rear wheel removed; Figure 3 is a sectional view indicated by line III-III on Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view indicated by line IV-IV on Figure 2; Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a wheel having a pneumatic tyre and also showing a modified form for the drive track of the wheel and the drive roller for the wheel; Figure 6 is a schematic view of a modification showing a differential in the drive train; Figure 7 shows a power drive for the vehicle; Figure 8 shows a drive arrangement utilizing an electric motor for each wheel; Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing a modification; and Figure 10 is a section indicated by line X-X on Figure 9.

The vehicle according to the present invention, as will be seen in Figures 1 and 2, comprises spaced coaxial wheels 10 and 12 within which there is rotatably supported a generally circular frame 14 having peripherally spaced rollers 16 which rollingly engage the radially inner sides of wheels l0 and 12 and support the frame therein.

Each side of frame 14 rotatably supports a drive roller 18 which, when rotated, will cause relative rotation between the frame and the wheels. The frame includes therein a seating arrangement generally indicated at 20 for seating one or more occupants of the vehicle.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the seating arrangement 20 is provided with a crankshaft 22 extending transversely thereof which can be actuated by the feet of the occupant, or occupants of the vehicle.

Crankshaft 22 (see Figure 3) supports small spurockets 24, of which only one will be seen in Figure 3, which are connected by chains 26 with sprockets 28, each mounted on a respective shaft 30 with each shaft 30 carrying a drive roller 18.

Each of the wheels 10 and 12 (see Figure 4) has a radially inwardly opening channel portion 32 into which the rollers 16, and the drive roller 18 at the respective end of frame 14, extend. Channel 32 may have a V-shaped central rib 34 extending thereabout and projecting radially inwardly therefrom for engagement with complementarily shaped peripheral grooves formed in rollers 16 and the respective drive roller 18.

The radially outer side of each wheel is provided with a tyre 36 which may be solid rubber of a suitable durometer, to impart a desired degree of resilience to the wheel, or the tyre may be a pneumatic tyre of a suitable size.

Figure 4 is a section through a wheel showing a solid tyre 36 thereon with the V-shaped member 34 mounted in the radially inwardly facing channel portion of the wheel while Figure 5 shows a wheel provided with a pneumatic tyre 36A and with the V-shaped member absent from the radially inwardly opening channel.

In the case of the last-mentioned Figure, at least the drive roller 18 is provided with a friction enhancing coating 19, as shown, in order to compensate for the loss of surface area which comes about by leaving the V-shaped element 34 out of the radially inwardly opening channel portion of the wheel.

The frame 14 referred to above is preferably formed of at least one pair of tubular members consisting of rings 38 made up from a tubular member and pairs of bracket means 40 welded to the rings 38 and projecting radially outwardly therefrom. Rollers 16 are rotatably mounted on bracket means 40 by pivot bolts 41 and bearings 42 (Figure 4). Structural elements 44, in the form of tubing, extend between corresponding inner ones of bracket means 40 pertaining to the respective wheels and have the ends welded to the bracket means 40 together with reinforcing gusset means 45. The frame is thus made substantially rigid and strong while still being of light weight.

The seating means 20, previously referred to, may rest on an angle iron 21 extending between and connected to bracket means 40 at opposite ends of the frame 14 and also has arcuate support brackets 23 and 25 at the upper and lower ends extending between and connected to adjacent ones of structural members 44.

The seating means is thus fixed to and supported by the frame 14.

Guiding of the vehicle can be effected by driving wheels 10 and 12 at different speeds, and this can be accomplished by causing the shafts 30 to turn at respective speeds which, in turn, in the embodiment referred to, can be effected by dividing the crankshaft in the centre into end portions 48 and 50 with each having two throws thereon. Each end portion of the crankshaft is operated by a respective occupant of the vehicle.

The vehicle can also be steered in a different manner as shown schematically in Figure 6 in which the crankshaft operated by the vehicle occupant, or occupants, is not divided into a portion for each occupant and drives a shaft 52 which forms the input to a three element differential 54, the other two elements of which are in the form of shafts 55 and 57 drivingly connected to the shafts 30 for the drive rollers.

Respective brake drums 56 are provided for the last-mentioned elements 55 and 57 of the differential and brake shoes 58 are mounted adjacent thereto. An actuating lever 60, normally centred by springs 61, is connected to the brake shoes and is occupant-activated manually for effecting selective engagement of the shoes with the respective drums thereby to selectively slow down one wheel while increasing the speed of the other, and in this manner, steering of the vehicle can readily be effected. The lever 60 can be moved bodily against the bias of a spring 68 to move both brake shoes 58 against the drums 56 to obtain a degree of vehicle braking.

The aforementioned drive rollers 18 are rotatably mounted on respective pairs of support arms, or plate means, 62 which are pivotally supported in frame 14 on an adjacent one of bolts 41 (Figures 2 and 3).

A spring 66 acts on each plate means 62 in a direction to press the respective drive roller against the inside of the pertaining wheel thereby insuring good frictional engagement of the drive rollers with the wheels.

Where the crankshaft means comprises repective end portions, the inner end of each crankshaft portion is preferably journalled in a self-aligning bearing so that the outer end of the respective crankshaft portion can readily be moved together with the respective plate means 62 in the radial direction of the vehicle wheels. Where the crankshaft is not so divided into end portions, bearings at the centre of the crankshaft can be eliminated and the plate means 62 can provide the entire support for the crankshaft.

All of the rollers comprise mouldings of plastics material, including the drive rollers, although the latter can also be formed of a slightly elastic material to enhance the frictional engagement thereof with the wheels.

Further, as mentioned, the drive rollers can be formed of moulded plastics material and be covered by a resilient tyre element or the like to improve the frictional engagement of the drive rollers with the wheels.

Figure 7 shows an engine or an electric motor M connected for driving the input element 52 of the three element differential 54, via a speed reduction transmission 53 which could be variable, for actuation of the vehicle. The same steering arrangement referred to above is utilized for steering th vehicle when a power source, such as an engine or an electric motor, is employed for driving the vehicle.

A further possibility for driving the vehicle, especially where the vehicle is in the form of an amusement device and runs on a smooth surface, is the provision of an electric motor for each wheel. A suitable speed reduction or variable speed transmission could be interposed between each motor and the respective drive roller shaft.

Differential speed of the wheels can be obtained by varying the speeds of the motors relatively or by adjusting the variable speed transmissions.

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the above-described arrangement. The respective electric motors are indicated at 70 and 72 with the respective transmissions driven thereby at 74 and 76.

For steering purposes, a resistor arrangement at 78 can be employed to cause the speeds of the motors to differ or a control can be supplied to vary the respective output speeds of the transmissions.

A speed control can be provided in the form of rheostat, or adjustable, resistor 81.

The embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 is quite similar to what has been described above but embodies certain advantageous changes.

In Figures 9 and 10, the seat 100 will be seen to be nested within the frame with an upwardly extending side rail 102 and a generally fore and aft extending further side rail 104. The rails have their adjacent ends interconnected in the region of the forward end of the seat while the outer end of rail 102 is connected to a roller support flange (not illustrated) while the outer end of rail 104 is connected to a structural member 108 which, in turn, is secured to an arcuate rail member 110 forming a part of the seat structure and extending around the inside of the vehicle frame for about 270 degrees.

In practice, the seat structure can be constructed within a pair of spaced arcuate rails 110 and thereafter assembled in the structure by connection of the aforesaid rails to the portion of the frame carrying the rollers 112 which are rollingly sup ported on the larger outer wheels.

The drive mechanism, as in connection with the embodiment previously described, includes crankshaft-driven sprocket means 114 each connected by a chain 116 to a sprocket on the axis of a respective drive wheel 118 which engages the inside of the main rotatable supporting wheel of the vehicle.

As will be seen in Figure 10, the main supporting wheels of the vehicle, one of which is indicated at 120 in Figure 10, are formed by connecting angle pieces 122 to a plate 124 so as to form a clincher arrangement for receiving the bead region of a pneumatic tyre 126. The plate 124 and the angle pieces 122 are, of course, circular.

As shown in Figure 10, a square rail element 128 is welded to the inside of plate 124 and reinforces the wheel and holds it in its circular configuration.

The rollers 112 previously referred to will be seen to comprise a pair of rollers in each supporting region about the inside of the wheel with the rollers 112 supported in a yoke arrangement 130 which, at its radially inner end, is fixed, as by welding, to the circular member 132 with forming a part of the frame at each end or side of the vehicle.

It will be seen in Figure 9 that each drive roller 118, which engages the inside of plate 124 on each side of the rail element 128, is rotatable in a respective frame 134 pivoted at one end on the respective structural member 108 and at the other end biased by a compression spring 136 in a direction to press the drive wheel against the inner surface of the pertaining main wheel of the vehicle.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A vehicle comprising; a pair of coaxial spaced rotatable wheels having radially inwardly facing annular surfaces thereon, a frame within the radial confines of said wheels and extending axially between the wheels, roller means rotatable on respective horizontal axes on the frame and distributed circumferentially on the frame in the plane of and engaging each said annular surface for rotatably supporting the frame on said wheels, seat means in the frame for seating at least one occupant, the centre of gravity of said frame including any occupant(s) seated therein being sub' stantially lower than the common axis ot rotation of said wheels, drive means carried by the frame and under the control of the at least one occupant of the vehicle for driving at least one drive roller pertaining to each wheel for propelling the vehicle, a member having a pivotal connection with said frame and rotatably supporting said at least one drive roller at a point spaced from said pivotal connection, and spring means acting between said frame and said members to press said at least one drive roller mounted on said member into driving engagement with the respective wheel.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, which includes means for varying the speed of one wheel relative to the other for steering purposes.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which said drive means includes occupant-actuated crank means connected to said at least one drive roller.

4. A vehicle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which said drive means includes occupant controlled power means connected to said at least one drive roller.

5. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which said frame comprises spaced coaxial ring members and structural elements extending axially between and fixed to said ring members.

6. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which each wheel includes radially inwardly opening channels into which said rollers extend.

7. A vehicle according to Claim 6, in which said drive means drive two drive rollers and in which each channel has a V-shaped circumferentially extending member fixed therein, each drive roller being circumferentially grooved to receive the V-shaped member of the respective wheel.

8. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding Claims, which includes fricton-enhancing means interposed between the or each drive roller and the respective wheel.

9. A vehicle according to Claim 5 or to any Claim appended to Claim 5, in which said frame comprises bracket means fixed to each ring member in circumferentially spaced relationship to one another, each bracket means comprising a pair of axially spaced bracket elements adapted to receive a respective one of said roller means therebetween.

10. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which each said wheel comprises a strip of metal formed to a cylindrical element, angle elements secured to the outer surface of said cylindrical element in facing relation to form spaced grooves for receiving the bead portion of a tyre, and a reinforcing rail member extending about said cylindrical element.

11. A vehicle according to Claim 10, in which said rail member is rectangular in cross-section.

12. A vehicle according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, in which said roller means engage said cylindrical element on the inwardly facing side thereof on each lateral side of said reinforcing rail member.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ported on the larger outer wheels. The drive mechanism, as in connection with the embodiment previously described, includes crankshaft-driven sprocket means 114 each connected by a chain 116 to a sprocket on the axis of a respective drive wheel 118 which engages the inside of the main rotatable supporting wheel of the vehicle. As will be seen in Figure 10, the main supporting wheels of the vehicle, one of which is indicated at 120 in Figure 10, are formed by connecting angle pieces 122 to a plate 124 so as to form a clincher arrangement for receiving the bead region of a pneumatic tyre 126. The plate 124 and the angle pieces 122 are, of course, circular. As shown in Figure 10, a square rail element 128 is welded to the inside of plate 124 and reinforces the wheel and holds it in its circular configuration. The rollers 112 previously referred to will be seen to comprise a pair of rollers in each supporting region about the inside of the wheel with the rollers 112 supported in a yoke arrangement 130 which, at its radially inner end, is fixed, as by welding, to the circular member 132 with forming a part of the frame at each end or side of the vehicle. It will be seen in Figure 9 that each drive roller 118, which engages the inside of plate 124 on each side of the rail element 128, is rotatable in a respective frame 134 pivoted at one end on the respective structural member 108 and at the other end biased by a compression spring 136 in a direction to press the drive wheel against the inner surface of the pertaining main wheel of the vehicle. WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A vehicle comprising; a pair of coaxial spaced rotatable wheels having radially inwardly facing annular surfaces thereon, a frame within the radial confines of said wheels and extending axially between the wheels, roller means rotatable on respective horizontal axes on the frame and distributed circumferentially on the frame in the plane of and engaging each said annular surface for rotatably supporting the frame on said wheels, seat means in the frame for seating at least one occupant, the centre of gravity of said frame including any occupant(s) seated therein being sub' stantially lower than the common axis ot rotation of said wheels, drive means carried by the frame and under the control of the at least one occupant of the vehicle for driving at least one drive roller pertaining to each wheel for propelling the vehicle, a member having a pivotal connection with said frame and rotatably supporting said at least one drive roller at a point spaced from said pivotal connection, and spring means acting between said frame and said members to press said at least one drive roller mounted on said member into driving engagement with the respective wheel.

13. A vehicle according to Claim 12, in

which each roller means comprises a pair of axially spaced coaxial rollers.

14. A vehicle according to Claim 3, in which said crank means comprises a crank connected to each drive roller and adapted for actuation by a respective occupant of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle constructed, arranged and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 1 to 5 or Figure 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 8 or Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.