GB2525845A

GB2525845A - Vehicle moving device

Info

Publication number: GB2525845A
Application number: GB1405838.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Christie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-01
Filing date: 2014-04-01
Publication date: 2015-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-01
Also published as: GB201405838D0; GB2525845B

Abstract

A vehicle moving device comprises a first part 12 attachable to a wheel 2, and a second part 14, a drive means 24, 26 acting between said first and second parts to impart rotation to said first part with respect to said second part, said second part having ground engaging means whereby a rotational driving force of said drive means can be transferred between the first and second parts of the device to rotatably drive the wheel to which the device is attached. The ground engaging means may comprise at least one reaction arm 16, 18 to which is attached a wheel or roller 20, 22 on a distal end of the arm. At least one of the reaction arms may have an adjustable angular position and/or height. Alternatively the second part of the device may comprise a substantially triangular body having an uppermost apex and a base, where the ground engaging means are wheels provided at either end of the base. The first part of the device may be attached to the rim, hub or spokes of the wheel, for example using hooks 32. The device is intended to enable a vehicle to be readily moved without its engine running.

Description

Vehicle I\'1ovin Device This invention relates to device for moving a vehicle, in particular a car, to enable the vehicle to be readily moved without its engine running. A particular application of the s present invention is in moving racing cars between a pit garage and a starting grid or another location, such as a scrutineering bay.

It is often necessary to move a vehicle manually without starting the vehicle's engine. This is typically done manually by physically pushing the vehicle. The present invention provides a device that can transmit a driving force to a wheel of a vehicle to allow the vehicle to be moved without requiring pushing.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle moving device comprises a first part attachable to a wheel, and a second part, a drive means acting between said first arid second parts to impart rotation to said first part with respect to said second part, said second part having ground engaging means whereby a rotational driving force of said drive means can be transferred between the first and second parts of the device to rotatably drive the wheel to which the device is attached.

The ground engaging means prevents the second part from rotating so that a driving force can be transmitted to the wheel via the first part.

Said ground engaging means may comprise at least one reaction arm extending from said second part, preferably radially therefrom. A wheel or roller may be provided on a distal end of said reaction arm, The ground engaging means may comprise first arid second reaction arms extending in substantially opposite directions so that the device can drive the wheel in either direction to move the car in either a forward or rearward direction, The angular position and/or height of at least one of said reaction arms may be adjustable with respect to the second part to enable the device to be adjusted to suit the size of the wheel to which it is attached, Alternatively said ground engaging means may comprise one or more wheels mounted on a body of the second part of the device, Preferably at least two wheels are provided mounted such that at last one wheel is provided on either side of the rotational axis of a vehicle wheel to which the device is attached. Said wheels may be mounted on the second part of the body of the device via respective resilient mounting means, such as resilient arms or leaf springs formed from spring steel, carbon fibre or any other suitable resilient and elastic material.

Said second part of the device may comprise a substantially triangular body having an S uppermost apex and a base, said wheels being provided at either end of said base of the triangular body.

At least one of said wheels mounted on said second part may comprise a castor wheel or be otherwise steerable.

Further wheels may be provided on the second part of the device for added stability.

Said drive means may comprise an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or an internal combustion engine. In a preferred embodiment said drive means comprises an electric motor. Said electric motor may be powered by one or more batteries provided on the device or by means of the vehicles own battery via suitable a suitable connection means.

Preferably said first part is attachable to the wheel by attachment means. Said attachment means maybe adapted to engage one or more of the rim, hub or spokes of the wheel to releasably secure the first part of the device to the wheel. In one embodiment said attachment means may be adapted to engage a circumferential lip of the wheel rim on at least two positions to clamp the device onto the wheel. In an alternative embodiment the attachment means may comprise a plurality of hooks adapted to engage respective spokes of the wheel or apertures in the wheel. Alternatively the attachment means may comprise a radially expandable member adapted to engage an inner face of a rim of a wheel of a vehicle.

The first part of the device may be detachably mounted on the second part such that the first part of the device may be mounted on a wheel before the second part is engaged with first part to permit the drive means to apply a torque to the first part to rotate the wheel to which the first part is attached in a desired direction to move the vehicle.

The first part of the device may be attachable to the second part via said drive means, The drive means may be provided on said second part, said first part being adapted to releasably engage an output shaft of said drive means to pennit the transfer of a torque from the drive means to the wheel to which the first part is attached. The output shaft of the drive means may be releasably engaged with the first part to tnmsmit a driving force via a coupling.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle moving device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention ready to be attached to a wheel of a car; Figure 2 is a front view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a vehicle moving device of Figure 1 from below; and Figure 4 is an end view of the device of Figure 1, As shown in the drawings, a vehicle moving device 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a first part 12 attachable to a wheel 2 of a vehicle, in particular a car, and a second part N having a pair of reaction arms 6,1 8 terminating in ground engaging wheels 20,22, said reaction arms 16,18 being arranged to extend forwardly and rearwardly of the rotational axis of a vehicle wheel 2 when the first part 12 of the device lOis attached thereto. One of the reaction arms 16 is fixed with respect to the body of the second part 14 while a second reaction arm t8 is ad] ustably mounted on the second part 14, as will be described below in more detail.

An electric motor 24 is mounted on a body of the second part t4 of the device to, an output shaft of the motor 24 terminating in a coupling 26, via suitable gearing, the coupling 26 being adapted to drivingly engage a corresponding driven member 28 provided on the first part 12 such that the motor 24 can impart a torque between the first and second parts 12,14 ofthe device 10 to drive the wheel 2 of the vehicle 4 in order to move the vehicle. The reaction arms 16,18 and their ground engaging wheels 20,22 prevent the second part 14 from rotating when the motor 24 is activated so that a driving force can be transmitted to the wheel 2 via the first part 12 of the device 10.

The motor 24 is powered by a battery 30 mounted on the device 10, or alternatively from the vehicle's own battery via power leads provided with suitable connectors.

The first part 12 of the device 10 is provided with attachment means in the form of hooks 32 S adapted to engage spokes or apertures in the wheel 2 to permit the first part 2 of the device to be secured to the wheel 2.

The adjustable reaction arm 18 is pivotally mounted on the body of the second part 14 of the device 10 and is provided with an adjusting mechanism, in the form of a threaded rod or linkage 34, whereby the length of the linkage 34, and thus the angle of the adjustable reaction arm 18 can be adjusted with respect to the fixed reaction arm t6 to enable the height of the ground engaging wheels 20,22 to be adjusted with respect to the rotational axis ofthe wheel 2 to which the device lOis fitted to allow the device 10 to be adjusted to suit different sized wheels. The fixed reaction arm 16 may be mounted to be fixed in a number of discrete positions to provide further adjustability.

A handle 36 is provided on an upper region of the second part 14 of the device 10 to allow the second part 14 to be manoeuvred into engagement with the first part 12 once the first part 12 has been attached toawheel 2.

In use, the first part 12 of the device 10 is attached to a wheel 2 of a vehicle 4 (e.g. a racing car) via the attachment hooks 32. Next the coupling 26 is engaged with the driven member 28 to engage the second part 14 of the device onto the first part 12. The electric motor 24 can then be activated to impart a rotational torque to the wheel 2 to which the device lOis attached to move the vehicle in a desired direction, The ground engaging wheels 20,22 of the second part 14 of the device 10 prevent the second part t4 from rotating, thus ensuring that the torque generated by the motor 24 is transmitted to the vehicle's wheel 2 via the first part 12 of the device 10 secured to the wheel 2.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the second part of the device may comprise a substantially triangular body having an uppermost apex and a substantially horizontal base, in use, a ground engaging wheel being mounted at each end of the base of the body of the second part of the device. Each ground engaging wheel may be mounted on the body of the second part of the device via a respective resilient mounting either in the form of a leaf spring or a carbon fibre strip, to allow vertical displacement of the wheels over rough ground.

In a ifirther modified embodiment, the first part of the device may be provided with an attachment means for securing the first part to a wheel of a car in the form of an outwardly expandable resilient body adapted to engage in inner face of the rim of a wheel. The expandable body may be clamped between two plates forming a body of the first part of the device, clamping means, such as a threaded shaft and cooperating nut, being provided for moving the two plates towards one another to expand the expandable body outwardly into engagement with the inner face of the rim.

In an further alternative arangement, the first part of the device may be attachable to a vehicle wheel via clamps or hooks adapted to engage a circumferential rim of the wheel adjacent a front face of the wheel, in the manner of a tyre fitting machine. Alternativ&y the first part of the device may be provided with any other suitable attachment means adapted to engage the hub of a wheel, spokes of the wheel, rim of the wheel or to the wheel nuts or bolts or other wheel fixing means to secure the fist part of the device to the wheel.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1, A vehicle moving device comprises a first part attachable to a wheel, and a second part, a drive means acting between said first and second parts to impart rotation to said first part with respect to said second part, said second part having ground engaging means whereby a rotational driving force of said drive means can be transferred between the first and second parts of the device to rotatably drive the wheel to which the device is attached.
2. A device as claimed in claim, wherein the ground engaging means prevents the second part from rotating so that a driving force can be transmitted to the wheel via the first part.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ground engaging means comprises at least one reaction arm extending from said second part.
4, A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one reaction arm extends radially from the second part therefrom. C?)

0
5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a wheel or roller is provided on a distal end of said reaction arm.

C?) 20
6. A device as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the ground engaging means comprises first and second reaction arms extending in substantially opposite directions so that the device can drive the wheel in either direction to move the car in either a forward or rearward direction.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the angular position and/or height of at least one of said reaction anns is adjustable with respect to the second part to enable the device to be adjusted to suit the size of the wheel to which it is attached.
8. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ground engaging means comprises one or more wheels mounted on a body of the second part of the device.
9, A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least two wheels are provided mounted such that at last one wheel is provided on either side of the rotational axis of a vehicle wheel to which the device is attached.
10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said wheels are mounted on the second part of the body of the device via respective resilient mounting means, such as resilient arms or leaf springs formed from spring steel, carbon fibre or any other suitable resilient and elastic material.
11. A device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said second part of the device comprises a substantially triangular body having an uppermost apex and a base, said wheels being provided at either end of said base of the triangular body
12. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein at least one of said wheels mounted on said second part comprises a castor wheel or be otherwise steerable.y)
13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said drive means comprises an 0 electric motor, a hydraulic motor or an internal combustion engine.C) 20
14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first part is attachable to the wheel by attachment means.
15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said attachment means is adapted to engage one or more of the rim, hub or spokes of the wheel to releasably secure the first part of the device to the wheel.
16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said attachment means is adapted to engage a circumferential lip of the wheel rim on at least two positions to clamp the device onto the wheel.
17. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of hooks adapted to engage respective spokes of the wheel or apertures in the wheel.8. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the attachment means comprises a radially expandable member adapted to engage an inner face of a rim of a wheel of a vehicle.19. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first part of the device is detachably mounted on the second part such that the first part of the device may be mounted on a wheel before the second part is engaged with first part to permit the drive means to apply a torque to the first part to rotate the wheel to which the first part is attached in a desired direction to move the vehicle.20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first part of the device is attachable to the second part via said drive means.2L A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the drive means is provided on said second part, said first part being adapted to releasably engage an output shaft of said drive means to permit the transfer of a torque from the drive means to the wheel to which the first part is attached, C?) 0 22. A device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the output shaft of the drive means is releasably engaged with the first part to transmit a driving force via a coupling.C?) 20 23. A vehicle moving device substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.