WO1998028158A1

WO1998028158A1 - Vehicle wheel

Info

Publication number: WO1998028158A1
Application number: PCT/SE1997/002133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bengt Erland Ilon
Original assignee: Ilon B E
Priority date: 1996-12-20
Filing date: 1997-12-17
Publication date: 1998-07-02
Also published as: DE19782168T1; SE9604536D0; GB9914183D0; GB2334924A; SE9604536L; AU5503398A; SE508103C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to vehicle wheels for vehicles which are intended to be driven in optional directions, including a main driving direction (F). The vehicle has at least two pairs (14, 17) of wheels with wheels (12) including rims (26) consisting of a plurality of roller bodies (25). The rims (26) of roller bodies of the wheels (12) are obliquely oriented so that said rims (26) of roller bodies through outer roller bodies (25a) engage an underlayer (2), while inner roller bodies (25b) are situated above said underlayer (2). Furthermore, each roller body (25) is obliquely mounted relative the rim (26) of roller bodies so that outer portions (25c) of the roller body (25) are located at a higher level than inner portions (25d) of said roller body (25) relative to the rim (26) of roller bodies.

Description

Vehicle wheel.

The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel for vehicles which are intended to be driven in optional directions including a main driving direction, whereby the vehicle, relative to the main driving direction includes front members, central members which are located substantially in parallel with said main driving direction and outer side members which are located on opposite sides of said central members, whereby the vehicle includes at least two pairs of wheels, whereby the wheels in each pair of wheels are provided on opposite sides of the central members of the vehicle, whereby the wheels are operable individually for rotation in clockwise as well as counterclockwise directions and whereby each wheel has a rim of roller bodies consisting of a plurality of roller bodies which are freely rotatably journalled and through which the wheel is intended to engage an underlayer on which the vehicle is parked.

Vehicles with vehicle wheels permitting the vehicles to be driven in optional directions are previously known. As an example of such prior art vehicles, reference is made to SE 363 781 (US 3 746 112) and US 4 258 815. In the latter publication, a vehicle with small or low-built wheels is described. The advantage with such a construction of the wheels is that said wheels and thus, the ve- hide can be given a small structural height.

An essential drawback with low-built wheels of prior art type is that the vehicle is not suitable for fast driving on bumpy underlayer and definitely not for speedy driving in a main driving direction on bumpy underlayer. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the abovementioned drawback and other disadvantages in connection with prior art vehicle wheels of the present type. This is arrived at by providing the initially defined vehicle wheel with the characterizing features of subsequent claim 1. Since the vehicle wheel is provided with said characterizing features, the vehicle can be driven at high speed in a main driving direction or other optional direction on bumpy underlayer even if this is rough country. The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle with vehicle wheels according to the invention; fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle of fig. 1; fig. 3 is a front view of the vehicle of fig. 1; and fig. 4 is a front view of a vehicle wheel forming part of the vehicle of fig. 1.

The drawings illustrate a vehicle 1 for driving in any optional direction on an underlayer 2. The illustrated vehicle 1 can be driven forward or straight on in a main driving direction F, in a direction backwards relative to the direction F, in a direction sideways to one or the other side or in any other optional direction such as around its own centre. The vehicle includes a chassis or underbody 3 consisting of front members 4, e.g. a front beam, rear members 5, e.g. a rear beam and outer side members 6 and 7, e.g. two side beams, which connect the front and rear members 4 and 5 with each other. The front and rear members 4, 5 are oriented transversely relative to the main driving direction F and the outer side members 6,

7 are oriented in parallel with the main driving direction F.

The outer side members 6, 7 are provided on opposite sides of central members 9 which extend in parallel with the main driving direction F, and between said outer side members 6, 7 there are preferably provided reinforcement members 8. The central member 9 may include a bearing or supporting device 9a, parallel with the main driving direction F, for a front arm 10 and a rear arm 11. On the front arm 10, the wheels 12, 13 of a front pair 14 of wheels are located on opposite sides of the bearing device 9a of the central member 9, and on the rear arm 11, the wheels 15, 16 of a rear pair 17 of wheels are located on opposite sides of said bearing device 9a.

The bearing device 9a allows each arm 10 and 11 respectively, to pivot about a pivot axle 18 and 19 respectively, parallel with the main driving direction F, so that the wheels 12, 13 and 15, 16 respectively, can pivot about said pivot axles 18 and 19 respectively, in vertical directions when the vehicle 1 is driven on the underlayer 2. When e.g. one wheel 12 in the front pair 14 of wheels pivots downwards in vertical direction while driving on the underlayer, the other wheel 13 in said pair 14 of wheels pivots upwards in vertical direction or vice versa. When e.g. one wheel 15 in the rear pair 17 of wheels pivots downwards in vertical direction, the other wheel 16 in the rear pair 17 of wheels pivots upwards and vice versa. The outer end portions of the front arm 10 may on opposite sides of the bearing device 9a be connected with outer end portions of the rear arm 11 through tie bars (not shown), which can be mounted on the arms 10, 11 through links which permit the arms 10, 11 to swing or pivot in vertical directions relative to each other.

Each wheel 12, 13, 15, 16 may include a hub member 20 which is journalled on a bearing device 21 on each arm 10, 11 so that said hub member 20 can be rotated about an axis of rotation Rl, R2 , R3 and R4. Each hub member 20 may down below have a cup-shaped member 22 which is provided with downwardly directed brackets 23, 24 for roller bodies 25. These roller bodies 25 are freely rotatably journalled to rotate about axes of rotation R5 and each wheel has e.g. twelve roller bodies 25 mounted in a rim 26 of roller bo- dies which surrounds the hub member 20 and which is rota- table about the same axis of rotation Rl, R2 , R3 and R4 as said hub member. The roller bodies 25 are also mounted so that their axes of rotation R5 are oblique relative to lines L which, seen from above towards the vehicle 1, are directed radially relative to the rim 26 of roller bodies. An angle V4 between the axes of rotation R5 and the line L may e.g. be 30-50°, preferably about 40°. The roller bodies 25 on the wheels 12, 13 in the front pair 14 of wheels can preferably be directed so that extension lines L2 , L3 to the axes of rotation R5 for two of these roller bodies 25, situated rearmost in the rims 26 of roller bodies to the wheels 12, 13, seen from above towards the vehicle 1, intersect each other behind the front pair 14 of wheels. The roller bodies 25 on the wheels 15, 16 in the rear pair 17 of wheels may preferably be oriented so that extension lines L4 , L5 to the axes of rotation R5 for two of these roller bodies 25, situated frontmost in the rims 26 of roller bodies to the wheels 15, 16, seen from above towards the vehicle 1, intersect each other in front of the rear pair 17 of wheels. Each roller body 25 may be divided into two roller body members, namely an inner roller body member 27 and an outer roller body member 28. These members are freely rotatable about said axis of rotation R5 and each roller body can be retained at the cup-shaped member 22 of the hub member 20 through a downwardly directed bracket 23 located within the inner roller body member 27 and a bracket 24 located between the two roller body members 27, 28.

Each roller body 25 may have the shape primarily of a bobbin and outer portions of the roller bodies 25, seen from above towards the vehicle, may be located some- what outside the outer edge of the cup-shaped member 22. The four wheels 12, 13, 15, 16 are operated individually by drive units D1-D4 which can rotate said wheels 12, 13, 15, 16 individually about their axes of rotation R5 in clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The drive units D1-D4 may be of any prior art type and are therefore only schematically illustrated in the drawings with dashed and dotted lines and they are controlled by means of a control or steering unit (not shown) which may also be of a prior art type. In which direction the wheels 12, 13, 15, 16 shall be operated individually for driving the vehicle 1 in the desired direction of travel, is described in SE 363 781 (US 3 746 112) or US 4 258 815. The rim 26 of roller bodies at each wheel 12, 13, 15, 16 is, seen in the direction FF from the front towards the vehicle 1, oblique so that outer roller bodies 25a of the rim 26 of roller bodies, which are located closest to said outer side members 6 or 7 , are situated at lower levels than inner roller bodies 25b of the rim 26 of roller bodies, which are located closest to said central members 9. Hereby, the wheels 12, 13 and 15, 16 respectively, in each pair 14 and 17 respectively, of wheels will engage the underlayer 2 through the outer roller bodies 25a, while the inner roller bodies 25b will be located above said underlayer 2.

Each roller body 25 is oblique in such a manner relative to the rim 26 of roller bodies that outer portions 25c of each roller body 25 will be located at a higher level than inner portions 25d of the roller body 25 relative to the rim 26 of roller bodies. More specifically, the rim 26 of roller bodies may be rotatable in a plane P which, seen in the direction FF from the front towards the vehicle 1, is oblique such that the outer roller bodies 25a are located at lower levels than the inner roller bodies 25b. More specifically, each roller body may be inclined in such a manner relative to said plane P that they, relative to the outer portions 25c of each rol- ler body 25 in the rim 26 of roller bodies, are situated at a higher level than the inner portions 25d of the roller body 25 relative so said plane P. Hereby, each roller body 25 will extend obliquely outwards/upwards relative to said plane P. Each plane P may, seen in the direction FF from the front towards the vehicle 1, define an acute angle VI with the underlayer 2 and the axis of rotation R5 may form an acute angle V2 with said plane P. Furthermore, the angles VI and V2 respectively, between said plane P and the under- layer 2 and between the axis of rotation R5 of the roller body 25 and said plane P respectively, may be equally great or substantially equally great. The angle VI between said plane P and the underlayer 2 may be 4-40°, preferably about 10°, and the angle V2 between the axis of rotation R5 of the roller body 25 and said plane P may be 4-40°, preferably about 10°. As is apparent from fig. 4, the angle V3 between the plane P and the axis of rotation Rl, R2 , R3 or R4 , seen from the front in the direction FF towards the vehicle 1, is right. Said axis of rotation Rl, R2 , R3 , R4 can, seen from the side S towards the vehicle 1, be vertically di- rected relative to the underlayer 2.

Lower portions 29 of the roller bodies 25 of the rim 26 of roller bodies may, seen in direction S from the side towards the vehicle 1, follow an upwardly bent arcuate line 30. This arcuate line 30 may be a circular arc 31, the centre C of which is located on an extension line L6, L7, L8 and L9 respectively, which prolongs the axis of rotation Rl, R2 , R3 and R4 respectively, in upwards direction from the underlayer 2. Said lower portions 29 of the roller bodies 25 of the rim 26 of roller bodies may, seen in the direction FF from the front towards the vehicle 1, also be arranged to follow an upwardly bent arcuate line 30, preferably the circular arc 31. The radius R of the circular arc 31 is preferably substantially larger than the outer diameter D of the rim 26 of roller bodies on each wheel 12, 13, 15, 16. The radius R may e.g. be at least twice as large as said outer diameter D.

The axes of rotation R1-R4 may, seen from the front in the direction FF towards the vehicle 1, be so oblique relative to a vertical plane V that they define an angle V5 with said vertical plane (see fig. 4) . The angle V5 may be 4-40° and is preferably about 10°.

Each wheel 12, 13, 15, 16 and preferably a hub member 20 forming part thereof may be mounted on the respective arm 10 or 11 for pivoting about a pivot axle 32 which cross the axis of rotation Rl, R2 , R3 or R4 and which preferably extends in a transverse direction relative to the main driving direction F of the vehicle 1. Hereby, each wheel 12, 13, 15, 16 can pivot or turn in forward/backward direction relative to said, in the main driving direction F forward or backward, driving on bumpy underlayer 2. The invention is not limited to the embodiment de- scribed above and illustrated in the drawings, but may vary within the scope of the subsequent claims. As examples of alternatives to the described embodiment it should be mentioned that the chassis 3 may have another construction than shown, that the wheels 12, 13, 15, 16 may be designed differently, that the roller bodies 25 may consist of one or another suitable number of members and that the vehicle 1 may have more than two pairs 14, 17 of wheels.

Claims

Claims :

1. Vehicle wheel for vehicles which are intended to be driven in optional directions including a main driving direction, whereby the vehicle (1) , relative to the main driving direction (F) includes front members (4) , central members (9) which are located substantially in parallel with said main driving direction (F) and outer side members (6, 7) which are located on opposite sides of said central members (9), whereby the vehicle (1) includes at least two pairs (14, 17) of wheels, whereby the wheels (12, 13, 15, 16) in each pair (14, 17) of wheels are provided on opposite sides of the central members (9) of the vehicle (1) , whereby the wheels (12, 13, 15, 16) are operable individually for rotation in clockwise as well as counterclockwise directions, and whereby each wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) has a rim (26) of roller bodies consisting of a plurality of roller bo- dies (25) which are freely rotatably journalled and through which the wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) is intended to engage an underlayer (2) on which the vehicle (1) is parked, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rim (26) of roller bodies at each wheel (12, 13, 15, 16), seen in the direction (FF) from the front towards the vehicle (1) , is obliquely provided so that outer roller bodies (25a) of the rim (26) of roller bodies, located closest to the outer side members (6, 7) of the vehicle (1) , are situated at lower levels than inner roller bodies (25b) of said rim (26) of roller bodies, located closest to the central members (9) of the vehicle (1) , such that the wheels (12, 13, 15, 16) in each pair (14 and 17 respectively) of wheels engages said underlayer (2) through said outer roller bodies (25a) , while said inner roller bodies (25b) are situated above said underlayer (2), and that each roller body (25) is obliquely mounted relative to the rim (26) of roller bodies such that outer portions (25c) of the roller body (25) are located at a higher level than inner portions (25d) of said roller body (25) , so that each roller body (25) extends obliquely outwards/ /upwards relative to the rim (26) of roller bodies.

2. Vehicle wheel according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rim (26) of roller bodies at each wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) is rotatable in a plane (P) which, seen in the direction (FF) from the front towards the vehicle (1) , is oblique such that the outer roller bodies (25a) are located at lower levels than the inner roller bodies (25b) , and that each roller body (25) in the rim (26) of roller bodies is inclined in such a manner relative to said plane (P) that the, relative to the rim (26) of roller bodies, outer portions (25c) of each roller body (25), are situated at a higher level than the inner portions (25d) of the roller body (25) relative to said plane (P) .

3. Vehicle wheel according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each plane (P) , seen in the direction (FF) from the front towards the vehicle (1), define an acute angle (VI) with the underlayer (2) and that an axis of rotation (R5), about which the roller body (25) rotates, form an acute angle (V2) with said plane (P) .

4. Vehicle wheel according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the angles (VI and V2 respectively) between said plane (P) and the underlayer (2) and between the axis of rotation (R5) of the roller body (25) and said plane (P) respectively, are equally great or substantially equally great.

5. Vehicle wheel according to any of claims 2 - 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the angle (VI) between said plane (P) and the underlayer (2) is 4-40°, preferably about 10°, and that the angle (V2) between the axis of rotation (R5) of the roller body (25) and said plane (P) is 4-40°, preferably about 10°.

6. Vehicle wheel according to any of claims 2 - 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that an axis of rotation (Rl, R2 , R3 , R4) about which the rim (26) of roller bodies rotates, extends at a right angle (V3) relative to said plane (P) , and that said axis of rotation (Rl, R2 , R3 , R4) , seen from the side towards the vehicle (1) in a transverse di- rection (S) relative to the main driving direction (F) of the vehicle (1) , is vertically directed relative to said underlayer (2).

7. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that lower portions (29) of the roller bodies (25) of the rim (26) of roller bodies may, seen from the side towards the vehicle (1) in a transverse direction (S) relative to the main driving direction (F) of the vehicle (1) , follow an upwardly bent arcuate line (30) .

8. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the roller bodies (25) of the rim (26) of roller bodies are provided so that lower portions (29) thereof follow an upwardly bent arcuate line (30) in the shape of a circular arc (31) , the centre (C) of which is located on an extension line (L6, L7, L8 and L9 respectively) which prolongs the axis of rotation (Rl, R2 , R3 and R4 respectively) which extends at a right angle (V3) to said plane (P) and about which the rim (26) of roller bodies rotates.

9. Vehicle wheel according to claim 7 or 8 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that lower portions (29) of the roller bodies (25) of the rim (26) of roller bodies are, seen in the direction (FF) from the front towards the vehicle (1) , also arranged to follow an upwardly bent arcuate line (30) , preferably a circular arc (31) .

10. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that axes of rotation (Rl, R2 and R3 , R4 respectively), about which the rims (26) of roller bodies on each wheel (12, 13 and 15, 16 respectively) in each pair (14 and 17 respectively) rotate, are obliquely provided relative to each other, seen in the direc- tion (FF) from the front towards the vehicle (1) , such that downwardly directed extension lines (L10, Lll and L12 , L13 respectively) to said axes of rotation (Rl, R2 and R3 , R4 respectively) meet beneath the vehicle (1) when said vehicle is parked on the underlayer (2) .

11. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the wheels (12, 13 and 15, 16 respectively) to the front pair (14) of wheels and the rear pair (17) of wheels respectively, are mounted on front and rear arms (10 and 11 respectively) , and that each arm (10 and 11 respectively) is provided to pivot about a pivot axle (18 and 19 respectively) which is located between the wheels (12, 13 and 15, 16 respectively) mounted on the respective arm (10 and 11 respectively) , whereby said pivot axle (18 and 19 respectively) preferably runs in parallel with the main driving direction (F) of the vehicle (1) so that each arm (10 and 11 respectively) can pivot about said pivot axle (18 and 19 respectively) and each wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) is mov- able in vertical direction about said pivot axle (18 and 19 respectively) when driving on the underlayer (2).

12. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) is pivotally mounted relative to an arm (10, 11) forming part of the vehicle (1) so that the wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) can pivot about a pivot axle (32) relative to the arm (10, 11) when driving on the underlayer (2) , whereby said pivot axle (32) is transversely oriented relative to the main driving direction (F) of the vehicle (1), so that each wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) can pivot in forward/backward direction relative to said main driving direction (F) .

13. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) includes a rotatably journalled hub member (20) which is provided with a member (22) having the shape of an upwardly bent cup on which brackets (23, 24) for the roller bodies (25) are mounted, which member (22) having the shape of an upwardly bent cup preferably has a spherical surface, the centre of which is situated above the wheel (12, 13, 15, 16) on an relative to the underlayer (2) upwardly directed extension line (L6, L7 , L8, L9) of an axis of rotation (Rl, R2 , R3 , R4) about which the rim (26) of roller bodies and the hub member (20) rotate.

14. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the roller bodies (25) are provided so that, seen from above towards the vehicle (1) , their axes of rotation (R5) are oblique relative to lines (L) which are directed radially relative to the rim (26) of roller bodies, whereby the angle (V4) between the axes of rotation (R5) of the roller bodies (25) and said line (L) is e.g. 30-50°, preferably about 40°.

15. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the roller bodies (25) on the wheels (12, 13) in the front pair (14) of wheels are directed so that extension lines (L2, L3 ) to the axes of rotation (R5) for two of the roller bodies (25) , situated rearmost in the rims (26) of roller bodies to both wheels (12, 13) in the front pair (14) of wheels, seen from above towards the vehicle (1) , intersect each other behind the front pair (14) of wheels, and that extension lines (L4, L5) to the axes of rotation (R5) for two of the roller bodies (25) , situated frontmost in the rims (26) of roller bodies to two wheels (15, 16) in the rear pair (17) of wheels, seen from above towards the vehicle (1) intersect each other in front of said rear pair (17) of wheels.

16. Vehicle wheel according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that each roller body (25) is divided into two roller body members (27, 28) , between which roller body members (27, 28) a bracket (24) is located for retaining the roller body (25) at a hub member (20) , that preferably an additional bracket (23) for retaining the roller body (25) at the hub member (20) is provided within an inner roller body member (27) of the two rol- ler body members (27, 28), that each roller body (25) preferably is shaped somewhat as a bobbin, and that portions of the roller body (25) , seen from above towards the vehicle (1) , preferably are located out- side an outer edge of a cup-shaped member (22) of the hub member (20) .