Land vehicles: wheels and axles – Wheel – Dual wheels
Patent
1990-06-29
1991-10-15
Stormer, Russell D.
Land vehicles: wheels and axles
Wheel
Dual wheels
301 5R, B60B 1108, B62D 4906
Patent
active
050568710
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns a structure with multiple independent wheels for a motorized or engine-driven vehicle designed to travel on an irregular surface, each wheel comprising a central portion connected to the base structure of the vehicle and a peripheral portion concentric to the said central portion and disposed to rotate around the latter, wherein the said central portion and the said peripheral portion are connected during at least one rotation, comprising at least one interior annular element joined to the said central portion and at least one exterior annular element concentric to the said interior annular element and joined to the said peripheral portion, the latter supporting a tire appropriate for the type of surface on which the vehicle will move, and wherein the said central portion is connected to the base structure of the vehicle at off-center connection points on the wheel.
Many utilitarian vehicles, road bikes or specialized vehicles for lumber yards or shipyards consist of dual tires which offer several advantages over single tires. First, the risk of accident after a tire puncture is considerably reduced by the fact that the wheels in a pair of dual wheels generally are not simultaneously overturned after a puncture. Second, the cost of two standard narrow tires is cheaper than that of one double width tire. These benefits are well known and are taken advantage of by manufacturers However, they are mitigated to some degree by problems essentially arising from the fact that in all known constructions, dual wheels are connected to each other either because their rims are joined, or because they are mounted on the same rigid axis In actuality, when one of the tires lifts up because of a bump in the road surface, the other wheel automatically lifts, as it is connected to the first, even if the bump does not extend as far as the second tire. The result is a momentary simultaneous loss of adherence in both tires. This phenomena is continuously repeated along the road surface, resulting in decreased traction due to repeated loss of adherence, thereby causing constant jerkiness in the wheels.
Present manufacturing methods do not solve this problem.
The present invention proposes to overcome these disadvantages by achieving a structure of multiple independent wheels as defined above providing continuous contact between the tires and the underlying surface, under any conditions of vehicle use or whatever the condition and nature of the surface with which it is in contact.
This goal is attained by the structure according to the invention, characterized in that the independent wheels are connected two by two by at least two diametrically opposed rocker arms articulated at one of their extremities to an off-center anchoring point on one of the independent wheels, and at the other extremity to an off-center anchoring point on another of said independent wheels, and in that the said rocker arms are affixed by means of pivoting elements, either directly or by means of rocker arms with two coupling arms connected to the base structure of the vehicle.
According to a preferred embodiment, the independent wheels consist of a pair of dual wheels connected to each other by two diametrically opposed rocker arms and articulated at one of their extremities of an off-center anchoring point on one of the dual wheels and at the other extremity to an off-center anchoring point on the other of the dual wheels, and by the fact that the said rocker arms are attached by means of pivoting elements to the said coupling arms connected to the base structure of the vehicle.
The said coupling arms further constitute the suspension means for the vehicle.
The said pivoting means are preferably equidistant from the said off-center anchoring points on the independent wheels and are preferably staggered in relation to the rocker arm.
According to another embodiment, the exterior annular elements of the bearings of the dual wheels are joined to each other by means of a small connecting rod, the extremities of which are respe
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SM Sbarro Mottas Engineering S.A.
Stormer Russell D.
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