GB2436094A

GB2436094A - Convex ground engaging crawler belt assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2436094A
Application number: GB0605504A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johann H Mueller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-18
Filing date: 2006-03-18
Publication date: 2007-09-19
Also published as: GB0605504D0

Abstract

The present invention proposes to cut that part of the wheel space which is not used. The invention further proposes either to make the wheel space used an even arch (Drawing 2, figure 1), or, when different degrees of grip are required, a collection of consecutive flat surfaces of various lengths put together to form a rough arch representing that part of wheel surface normally used (Drawing 2, figure 2); each part of the arch can be used for contact with the surface the wheel is travelling on by tilting the wheel as required (drawing 2, figures 2, 2a and 2b).

Description

Page 1 New wheel

Background

Large wheels travel better than small wheels in terms of comfort and grip, however we only effectively use the small bottom part of a wheel space for transport. The remaining wheel space is wasted.

Furthermore, different situations require different degrees of grip, e.g. slow sharp turns are easier with less grip, whilst slippery surfaces require more grip; however standard wheels generally only provide one degree of grip.

Statement of invention

To overcome the limitations described in the background information, the present invention proposes to cut away most of the top of a wheel, which is not used in any case, and to only use the remaining small bottom part of the wheel arch in order to save space. The invention further proposes to not always make the wheel space used an even arch, but to make it a collection of consecutive flat surfaces of various lengths put together to form a rough arch when different degrees of grip are required.

Advantages By cutting away that part of the wheel space which is not used, it becomes possible to put much more wheel into much less space. This is positive both in things which are meant to be compact and in things where the benefits of a larger wheel are outweighed by the disadvantages of more required space.

The various lengths of flat surfaces used each result in different degrees of grip when making contact with the surface travelled upon. The wheel can thus be positioned such that the amount of grip provided is optimal for the circumstances encountered without actually having to replace the current wheel by a larger or wider wheel.

Since the required traction is now provided by elongating the wheelbase, rather than making it wider, more traction could be provided in taking corners by less surface contact.

An elongated wheelbase as opposed to a wider wheelbase also results in less "road noise" generated by the amount of new wheel area hitting the surface travelled upon per unit of forward direction.

Introduction to drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Drawing I shows the amount of wheel space normally used on a wheel.

* Drawings 2, 3 and 4 show the proposed invention and different possible ways of constructing it.

* Drawings 5 and 6 show possible applications of the proposed invention * Drawing 7 shows why elongated wheels should have more traction and generate less road noise than wider wheels.

Detailed description

Drawing I, figure 1, shows that a large wheel 1 can bridge gaps in the surface travelled upon much easier than a small wheel 2. Drawing 1, figure 2, shows that a large wheel I can also travel over an obstacle 3 much easier than a small wheel 2. Nonetheless, most of the wheel space of a large wheel remains wasted wheel space 4.

Drawing 2, figure 1 shows how the wasted wheel space is cut away to only leave the present invention, being that part of the wheel actually used. Drawing 2, figure 2 shows how the present invention can consist of a collection of flat surfaces of various lengths arranged together to form an arch representing that part of wheel surface normally used; each part of the arch can be used for contact with the surface the wheel is travelling on by tilting the wheel as required (drawing 2, figures 2, 2a and 2b). Naturally, the number of flat surfaces used can vary depending on what is needed for the circumstances in which the wheel is used. For instance the wheel could also have 5 consecutive flat surfaces of various lengths as in drawing 2, figure 3.

Page 2 Since the wheel itself is not round anymore, and therefore can not revolve around itself for smooth propulsion, drawing 3, figure 1, shows a flexible belt 5 to travel around a wheel frame 6 in order to propel the wheel. This means that the outer edges 7 of the wheel frame need to be rounded to reduce the required amount of twisting the belt needs to do.

The various lengths of the road surface contact can also be achieved by making an adjustable wheel frame which can either make the wheel higher and the road contact less (drawing 3, figure 2a) or make the wheel lower and increase the surface contact (drawing 3, figure 2b). The outside diameter of the wheel will in all cases have to be the same in order to keep the rubber belt tight on the wheel frame.

Such a wheel will require more moving parts and may therefore be more difficult to construct.

Where the propulsion is not generated through the wheel, e.g. the vehicle is pushed or pulled by a person or another vehicle, a simple belt 5 guided by system of pulleys 8 as illustrated in drawing 4, figure 1 suffices. Where the propulsion is actually generated through the wheel, e g by a motor turning the wheel, the belt 5 may be attached to a chain 9 in order to minimise "slip"; the chain is driven by a gear 10 on the wheel frame 6 as illustrated in drawing 4, figure 2. The gear is then attached to the external power source.

Because of its lack of height and width, the wheel could be used in compact items such as collapsible bicycles (drawing 5, figures 1 and 2), collapsible prams (drawing 5, figures 3 and 4), wheelchairs (drawing 6, figures 1 and 2) or (off-road) skateboards (drawing 6, figure 3), giving them the benefits of a large wheel, without requiring the space of a large wheel. It could also be used in place where the benefits of a larger wheel, is outweighed by the disadvantages of more required space such as (sports) cars where wheels seem to be ever increasing, making the car higher and higher and taking more and engine / passenger space (drawing 6, figure 4).

Since the contact surface is elongated for more grip instead of being widened (drawing 7, figure 1), the same amount of road contact provides much more grip for instance in taking corners. The reason for this is that in a corner 11 the traction in a traditional wheel actually has to come from its wide wheel base 12 which is actually in line with the centrifugal force 13 let loose on the wheel; in the proposed wheel, the traction actually comes from the length of the elongated wheel base 14 which is perpendicular to the centrifugal force 13, making it much more difficult to move the wheel in the direction of the force (drawing 7, figure 1).

The elongated wheel base 14 in the proposed wheel also means that when travelling on a road 15, less new wheel area 16 hits the road per unit travelled than is the case with a traditional wheel, where the same traction is created by a much wider base 12, rather than a long wheel base The reduced new wheel area, should also lead to a significant decrease in road noise in travelling cars and trucks (drawing 7, figure 2).

Claims

Page 3 Claims I. The present invention cuts away most of the top of a

wheel, which is not used in any case, and only uses the remaining small bottom part of the wheel arch in order to save space.

2. That part of the wheel remaining in claim 1, does not have to be made as an even arch, but a collection of consecutive flat surfaces of various lengths forming a rough arch.

3. The arch in claim 2 can be tilted such that the surface length best suited for the conditions at the precise moment is provided.