Technical field

A travelling vehicle wheel for driving on a road and/or in a terrain, whose rolling surface is formed of circumferential segments following one after another.

Background art

Known are motor vehicles designed for driving on a road, for which overcoming even not complicated terrain outside the road is problematic and there is always danger that they get stuck in the terrain and the vehicle may be damaged. Vehicles of the„allroad" type remedy this shortcoming, nevertheless their usage off the road is limited to a certain degree of a heavy terrain. Heavy terrain is not given only by terrain unevenness, but also by a surface of the terrain which requires means of the wheel increasing its traction abilities like in a mud, on the snow, etc.

Solution according to DE10046421 A1 utilises a flat disc arranged on a face of travelling wheel provided with a common tyre, whose outside diameter is smaller than the tyre rolling diameter. In radial holes on circumference of this disc there are mounted extendable spikes, which after intervention of a vehicle's driver protrude above the tyre rolling diameter thus enabling e.g. riding in the snow or on an icy underlay. In principle this solution serves only to get the vehicle off a certain heavy area of the terrain.

Solution according to DE19912553B4 or similarly DE19950946A1 , describe a device at which in case of a need there are transferred to surface of tyre tread the engagement means creating on the tread the ribs being parallel with rotation axis of travelling wheel. These relatively complicated devices are installed on faces of travelling wheels. They are effective e.g. on a snowy riding surface, their function corresponds to snow chains, while the driver puts them into their working position on the wheel using a control means during vehicle riding.

Travelling wheel according to EP930980B1 is solved as a dual wheel, when in a gap between two discs with common tyres a further narrower disc is arranged, on which there is a special traction tyre whose tread is equipped with engagement protrusions, e.g. spikes. At a low air pressure in traction tyre the engagement protrusions are under the level of the treads of neighbouring common tyres. In case of a need, the traction tyre in a usual manner inflates itself to a pressure at which the engagement protrusions extend above the level of treads of neighbouring common tyres, by which adhesion is increased e.g. on a snowy surface.

US6273517B1 proposes to attach into an inner circumference of the disc of travelling wheel with a classic tyre in direction from its outer face a ring, in which are arranged radial vanes protruding in direction from the face of the wheel, while in a radial direction they do not exceed surface of the tyre tread. They are made of elastic tough material, which upon contact with a great solid obstacle deform for a short term without damage. The device increases driveability of vehicle in snow, mud and sand.

Solutions according to the background art improve the traction conditions during driving on a surface with a low adhesion nevertheless they are not suitable for driving in a terrain whose sandy, muddy and/or snowy surface is moreover extremely uneven. The goal of the invention is to propose a travelling wheel, which would be suitable for riding of vehicle on a common road, at the same time it would facilitate movement on a slippery road covered with snow slush or mud and would enable motion in a heavy uneven, loose or stony terrain.

Principle of the invention

The goal of the invention has been achieved by a travelling vehicle wheel for driving on a road and/or in a terrain whose principle consists in that, the circumferential segments are in the body of the travelling wheel arranged displaceably between the position for driving on a road and the terrain position, in which the individual circumferential segments are deflected from circumferential direction of the travelling wheel, whereas between the circumferential segments in direction of circumference of the travelling wheel there are gaps interrupting the rolling surface of the travelling wheel.

When the circumferential segments are set into a circumferential direction, the travelling wheel behaves like a conventional travelling wheel, which is with advantage applicable on a surface of common roads. After the circumferential segments are turned into the askew positions with respect to the circumference of the wheel there are created the circumferential gaps between the segments, through which driveability in uneven and/or incoherent terrain is improved. Angle of turning the segments may be set according to particular driving conditions. In an embodiment, in which the axis of a swivel pin is skew with respect to rotation axis of the travelling wheel, by turning the circumferential segments the wheel gauge may be increased, which increases stability of vehicle in an uneven and/or sloped terrain.

Each circumferential segment by means of the change-over mechanism arranged in body of the travelling wheel is hinge-connected with body of the travelling wheel, while the input member of a hinged connection is coupled with a change-over drive of the circumferential segment and the output member of a hinged connection is formed of a swivel pin being firmly connected with circumferential segment.

Between the input and output member of hinged connection there may be arranged a swinging body, whose one end is in a fixed manner connected with the input member of hinged connection, while its second end is provided with rotation drive of a swivel pin being in a fixed manner connected with the circumferential segment. Though mechanism of such an arrangement is rather complicated than the arrangement described above, by turning the circumferential segments a considerably greater wheel gauge may be achieved. Each circumferential segment is coupled with an independent changeover drive. This facilitates turning of the segments, as the segments turn subsequently only at a time, when they are not in contact with the terrain. This cannot be achieved in a case, when all circumferential segments are coupled with a common change-over drive. This solution requires a higher output of the change-over mechanism, but the displacement time is shortened and an equal setting of circumferential segments may be achieved easier, if this is desired.

The output of the common change-over drive is formed of an rotating cam of the transmission means arranged in axis of rotation of the travelling wheel, while its functional shaped surface or surfaces are coupled with swivel pins of all circumferential segments. Change-over of circumferential segments in this case is performed by a respective turning of the rotating cam.

It is also advantageous, when the output, of the common change-over drive is formed of a shifting cam of the transmission means arranged in axis of rotation of the travelling wheel, while its functional shaped surface or surfaces are coupled with swivel pins of all circumferential segments. In this case change-over of circumferential segments is performed by a respective axial displacement of the shifting cam.

The change-over drive comprises a hydraulic motor, at which there is no need to be supplemented by a further transmission.

If the change-over drive comprises an electric motor, preferably this is supplemented by a harmonic gearbox or a worm-gear unit.

It is advantageous if the change-over drive comprises an encoder for scanning the position of change-over of the circumferential segment, which facilitates an exact change-over of circumferential segments.

Description of the drawing

The drawing represents exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention, where Fig. 1 represents a travelling wheel with circumferential segment displaceable around its symmetry axis, Fig. 2a and 2b a travelling wheel with circumferential segment independently displaceable around an axis being skew with respect to the rotation axis of travelling wheel, Fig. 3 a travelling wheel with circumferential segment displaceable around axis being skew with respect to rotation axis of travelling wheel, while the change-over mechanisms of all segments have a common driving means, the Fig. 4 a rotating cam of common driving means, Fig. 5 a shifting cam of common driving means, and Fig. 6 a travelling wheel with circumferential segment with two degrees of freedom.

Examples of embodiment

Travelling wheel 10 according to the invention in exemplary embodiment represented in Fig. 1 comprises six identical circumferential segments 1_, which in the basic configuration practically create a continuous wheel tread 10. Each segment has a carrying section H in principle creating a rim section of the disc of travelling wheel 10 and on it arranged a tyre section 12, which may be solved as a tyre itself, possibly it may be produced of elastic filled material, for example rubber. In other embodiments the number of segments 1 may be different, of course.

The carrying section H of circumferential segment is in a fixed manner connected with the swivel pin 13, whose axis 14 in this exemplary embodiment creates a symmetry axis of circumferential segment 1, through whose centre S it is passing. At the same time the axis 14 lies in a plane perpendicular to rotation axis 15 of travelling wheel 10 and it intersects this axis 15. The pin 13 is mounted rotatably in the body 16 of travelling wheel 10, while it is connected with rotation output of change-over mechanism 2.

Each circumferential segment has an independent change-over mechanism 2 arranged in a body 16 of travelling wheel 10. The change-over mechanism 2 is coupled with change-over drive, which is formed of a driving motor 21, e.g. a direct-current electric motor with encoder scanning an angle position of its output shaft. With the driving motor 2J_ there is coupled a harmonic gearbox 22, whose output shaft is connected with the swivel pin 13. A springy torsional damper 17 is a part of the swivel pin 13. The supply of electric energy to the driving motor 21 and the not represented control and information transmission links are in a not represented manner run through the carrying shaft of travelling wheel 10. In another exemplary embodiment the device according to the embodiment represented in Fig. 2a and 2b each circumferential segment 1 of travelling wheel 30 also has an independent change-over mechanism 3. The Fig. 2a shows a side view to the travelling wheel with circumferential position of segment 1, Fig. 2b shows a view in driving direction to segment 1 turned with respect to the situation in Fig. 2a by 90°.

The carrying section H of circumferential segment is in a fixed manner connected with the swivel pin 31 in a place between the centre of circumferential segment and one of its ends. Preferably, the swivel pin 31 is connected with the carrying section Λ Λ_ of circumferential segment 1 approximately in a quarter of length of the carrying segment . The axis 32 of the swivel pin 3J. lies in a plane being perpendicular to rotation axis 15 of travelling wheel 30 and it is a skew line with respect to rotation axis 15 of travelling wheel 30.

The change-over drive of the change-over mechanism 3 is created by the driving motor 33, which for example like at the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is a direct current electric motor with encoder scanning the angle position of its output shaft. In another preferred exemplary embodiment the driving motor 33 may be a lamellar hydraulic motor with swinging motion.

The output shaft of driving motor 33 is parallel with rotation axis 15 of travelling wheel 30. To the output shaft of the driving motor 33 there is connected the worm gear unit 34, whose worm wheel 35 is connected with the swivel pin 31 mounted rotatably by means of bearings 36 in the body 37 of travelling wheel 30. The swivel pin 31 comprises a torsional damper 17.

The supply of electric energy to the driving motor 33 and the not represented control and information transmission links are in a not represented manner run through the carrying shaft of travelling wheel 30.

In exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention represented in Fig. 3 each circumferential segment 1_ of travelling wheel 40 has a change-over mechanism 4, which comprises for each circumferential segment 1_ an independent change-over mechanism 41. The carrying section 1 of circumferential segment 1 is in a fixed manner connected with swivel pin 42 in a place laying between centre of circumferential segment λ and one of its ends. Preferably the swivel pin 42 is connected with a carrying section U of circumferential segment 1 approximately in a quarter of length of the carrying segment Λ . The rotation axis 43 of the swivel pin 42 lies in a plane perpendicular to rotation axis 15 of travelling wheel 40 and it is a skew line with respect to rotation axis 15 of travelling wheel 40. The pin 42 is mounted rotatably by means of bearings 44 in the body 45 of travelling wheel 40. The end of swivel pin 42 opposite from the circumferential segment Λ is finished with a crank 46 with a finger 47.

The change-over mechanism 4 is coupled with the common gearing means 5 for control of all circumferential segments .

According to embodiment represented in Fig. 4 this gearing means 5 comprises the actuating cam 51 mounted rotatably with respect to the carrying shaft 48 as well as to the body 45 of travelling wheel 40. In cylindric surface of the cam 51 there are performed six screw-shaped grooves 52, which form a guidance for fingers 47 of the cranks 46 of swivel pins 42.

In exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 5 the output of gearing means 6 of the change-over mechanism 4 from Fig. 3 is coupled with the shifting cam 61. The shifting cam 61 is displaceably mounted with respect to the supporting axle 48 of the travelling wheel 40 as well as to the body 45 of the travelling wheel 40. In cylindrical surface of the shifting cam 6J. there is performed a circumferential groove 62, which creates guidance for fingers 47 of the cranks 46 of swivel pins 42.

The change-over drive is here formed of the not represented driving motor, for example electric motor, whose output is a rotating reversible motion for drive of the actuating cam 51 from Fig. 4, pr sliding reversible motion for drive of the shifting cam 6J. from Fig. 5.

Similarly, like in the embodiment of travelling wheel 10 from Fig. 1 , in embodiment represented in Fig. 6, each circumferential segment 1 is provided with independent change-over mechanism 7 arranged in the body 71 of travelling wheel 70. In this embodiment the change-over drive of the changeover mechanism 7 is formed of two driving motors. The first driving motor 72, which for example is a direct-current electric motor with encoder scanning the angle position of its output shaft, is coupled with the harmonic gearbox 73, whose output shaft is connected by means of the not represented torsional damper with the swivel pin 74 connected with output of the first driving motor 72.

The swivel pin 74 is in a fixed manner connected with one end of the swinging body 75. Second end of the swinging body 75 is provided with a second driving motor 76, which serves as a rotation drive of the swivel pin 77 of circumferential segment Λ . The circumferential segment is eccentrically attached to the swivel pin 77. The output shaft of motor 76 is arranged e.g. coaxially with swivel pin 77, in a not represented embodiment the motor 76 is mounted along a swinging body 75 , and between its output shaft and the swivel pin 77 a bevel gearing is arranged.

The travelling wheels 10, 30, 40, 70 according to the invention are preferably driven by independent not represented travelling driving motors. This facilitates control of the change-over mechanisms 2, 3, 4, 7. as it is mentioned in the following text. Nevertheless it is obvious, that each vehicle axle may have one travelling driving motor for both travelling wheels, possibly the vehicle may have one common travelling driving motor.

For driving on a normal roadway the circumferential segments 1 are set in circumferential direction of travelling wheel 10, 30, 40, 70, they continue one after another thus creating a continuous rolling surface of the travelling wheel, and the wheels roll on the underlay in a classic manner. Configuration of travelling wheels 10, 30, 40, 70 in the set position is always secured by means of the change-over mechanism itself, for example by means of self-locking effect of the worm-gear unit, by means of blocked hydraulic motor, possibly otherwise.

The following text describes the control function of the travelling wheel 1J3 on an exemplary embodiment represented in Fig. 1 , possibly in Fig. 2.

Before entering a slippery, sandy, stony or similarly heavy terrain, configuration of all driving travelling wheels 10, 30, 40, 70 is usually changed- over. At embodiment wit independent driving motors 21 , 33, 72 of individual circumferential segment Λ , the change-over mechanisms 2, 3, 7 of those circumferential segments Λ , which are outside a contact with an underlay, are subsequently engaging. This is preferred both from the point of view of dimensions of driving motors 21 , 33, 72, which may be small taking into account the desired performance, and from the point of view of dimensioning the parts of the change-over mechanisms 2, 3, 7. Circumferential segment or segments, which are actually in contact with underlay, are first released by driving forward the vehicle, and only after then the change-over is performed. Circumferential segments of all travelling wheels 10, 30, 70 are thus changed-over into a position, in which they are set askew to circumferential direction of travelling wheel 10, 30. For driving on a slippery terrain, e.g. on a snow slush, from the point of view of adhesion requirements a turning of circumferential segments Λ_ of the vehicle by 20° to 30° with respect to direction of the ride may be suitable. For driving in an uneven stony terrain a greater angular displacement of circumferential segments 1 being close nearly to 90°, practically into the position Y, is more suitable. Of course, this mode features a rocking riding resembling walking.

At embodiment according to Fig. 1 , where the circumferential segment Λ upon change-over turns around its axis passing the centre S, thus around axis 14 of the swivel pin 13, the„gauge" of travelling wheels 10 does not change, because the distance of centre contact points of tread of the circumferential segment Λ with the road does not change.

At travelling wheels 30 in embodiment according to Fig. 2a, 2b due to skew running of axis 32 of swivel pin 31 and rotation axis 15 of travelling wheel 30 and due to non-symmetric connection of the carrying section 11 of circumferential segment 1 with swivel pin 31 after turning the circumferential segments 1_ by 90° into position Y^, the gauge of travelling wheels 30 is changed. Increasing of initial gauge A of travelling wheels 30 to an increased gauge B (in this case given by a value 2 x) facilitates improvement of side stability of the vehicle (Fig. 2b). In case of even number of circumferential segments 1 it is also possible to change a value or sense of turning one after another following circumferential segments Λ . Then the contact points of one half of the number of segments represent„wheel gauge" increased by the value 2.x at maximum, of the second half of segments 1_ „wheel gauge" decreased by the value 2.x at maximum, which may be suitable on an uneven and inhomogenous underlay. At travelling wheels 40 in embodiment according to Fig. 3 to 5, due to the common drive of the change-over mechanism 4 by means of the gearing means 5, 6 all circumferential segments displace simultaneously. Nevertheless this is less advantageous from the point of view of loading the parts of mechanism of that segment 1, which at the moment is in contact with the underlay. At the same time, by turning the actuating cam 5 or by axial displacement the shifting cam 61 , the finger 47 displaces by action of the groove 52 in circumferential direction, or of the groove 62 in axial direction so that it turns the crank 45 by which it deflects the circumferential segment 1 from circumferential direction of the travelling„wheel". In arrangement represented in the Fig. 3 by change-over of the circumferential segments like at the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the wheel gauge is changed.

The embodiment according to Fig. 6 features a greater variability in setting of positions for circumferential segments 1_. By means of the driving motor 72 sideways from longitudinal vehicle axis the swinging bodies 75 may be tilted, through which a gauge of travelling wheels may be changed by a considerably greater value when compared with embodiment according to Fig. 2a, 2b. By means of the drive 76 of swivel pin 77 the direction of circumferential segments 1 may be then adjusted with respect to circumferential direction of travelling wheels 70. At a slow movement of the vehicle by an independent control of individual circumferential segments it is possible to search for the most suitable places for„a touch down" and to set them before touching the underlay into an optimal direction with respect to terrain surface. For such an application the vehicle may be e.g. equipped with a laser or ultrasound device scanning unevenness of the terrain. It is obvious, that the mechanism of circumferential segments Λ with two degrees of freedom will be less robust and during motion of vehicle will require greater care. In another, not represented embodiments for example the rotation axis 14 of circumferential segment need not lies in a plane being perpendicular to rotation axis 15 of the travelling wheel 10, 30, 40, 70· In such a case there occurs a change in gauge of the travelling wheels 10, 30, 40, 70 also if the axis 14 of swivel pin 13 creates an axis of symmetry of the circumferential segment and passes through its geometrical centre S and also through rotation axis 15 of the travelling wheel 10. Then, of course, the plane of travelling wheel 10 in a changed-over (terrain) position at a time of contact with underlay has another inclination towards the underlay, by which the engagement conditions of the travelling wheel 10, 30, 40, 70 may be affected to a certain degree.

Circumferential gaps between the changed-over circumferential segments are given by angular displacement and pitch distances of circumferential segments Λ . At a small number of segments, e.g. at six segments of here described exemplary embodiments, the gaps are considerable and the wheel practically becomes to be a hexagon. The manner of motion of such a wheel is best expressed with the designation „wheel crawler". Vertical alternating motion of vehicle chassis is acceptable from the point of view of driving comfort with respect to roughness of an underlay, on which the vehicle moves (and which would generate the rocking motion anyway) and a low speed of the vehicle. It is important that the circumferential segments turned by 90° create a wide and deep engagement track, which was not available at vehicles according to the background art. The small angular displacement of circumferential segments Λ , at which the circumferential gaps between them are small, can be advantageously utilised when driving on a slippery road. A short-term interruption of contact of the rolling surface of travelling wheels with a slippery road may exert an effect which is close to an effect e.g. of ABS or ASR. List of referential markings

1 circumferential segment

1 ^' circumferential segment in displaced position 1 ^" circumferential segment in displaced position

10 travelling wheel

1 1 carrying section (of circumferential segment)

12 tyre section (of circumferential segment)

13 swivel pin (of circumferential segment)

14 axis of swivel pin (of circumferential segment) 5 rotation axis (of travelling wheel)

16 body (of travelling wheel)

17 torsional damper

2 change-over mechanism

21 driving motor

22 harmonic gearbox

3 change-over mechanism

30 travelling wheel

31 swivel pin (of circumferential segment)

32 swivel pin axis (of circumferential segment)

33 driving motor

34 worm-gear unit

35 worm wheel

36 bearing

37 body (of travelling wheel)

4 change-over mechanism

40 travelling wheel

41 independent change-over mechanism

42 swivel pin (of circumferential segment)

43 swivel pin axis (of circumferential segment)

44 bearing

45 body (of travelling wheel) 46 crank

47 finger (of crank)

48 supporting axle (of travelling wheel)

5 transmission means

51 rotating cam

52 groove (of actuating cam)

6 transmission means

61 shifting cam

62 groove (of shifting cam)

7 change-over mechanism

70 travelling wheel

71 body (of travelling wheel)

72 first driving motor (of swinging body)

73 harmonic gearbox

74 swivel pin (of swinging body)

75 swinging body

76 second driving motor (of swinging pin)

77 swivel pin (of circumferential segment)

A basic„wheel gauge" (with segments set in circumferential direction) B increased„wheel gauge"

S centre of circumferential segment

X eccentricity of rotation axis of circumferential segment with respect to axis of wheel rotation