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US 10,821,776 B1Granted
Aerodynamic wheels for a bi-directional vehicle
AssigneeZoox, Inc.
InventorsChristopher William Labadie, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An arrangement of wheels for a bi-directional vehicle may decrease the drag coefficient for the vehicle regardless of a direction of travel of the vehicle. A pair of wheels, each wheel of the pair having a configuration of fins to promote a desired aerodynamic effect, when located at a leading end of the vehicle promotes airflow laterally outboard of the vehicle body. In contrast, the same pair of wheels, when located at a trailing end of the vehicle promotes airflow laterally inboard of the vehicle body.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a body;
- two first wheels, one of the first wheels being disposed proximate a first end of the body and a first side of the body, and the other of the first wheels being disposed proximate a second end of the body and a second side of the body, the second end being spaced from the first end along a longitudinal axis and the second side being spaced from the first side along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each of the two first wheels comprising:
- a first hub disposed to rotate about a first wheel axis;
- a first rim radially spaced from the first hub;
- and
- a first fin extending at least partially between the first hub and the first rim, the first fin including a portion of a first fin surface angled at a first angle relative to a first plane, the first wheel axis being normal to the first plane;
- and
- two second wheels, one of the second wheels being disposed proximate the first end and the second side and the other of the second wheels being disposed proximate the second end and the first side, each of the second wheels comprising:
- a second hub disposed to rotate about a second wheel axis;
- a second rim having a second surface radially spaced from the second hub;
- and
- a second fin extending at least partially between the second hub and the second rim, the second fin including a portion of a second fin surface angled at a second angle relative to a second plane, the second wheel axis being normal to the second plane,
- wherein, when the vehicle travels in a first direction in which the first end is a leading end, the first fin associated with the one of the first wheels and the second fin associated with the one of the second wheels push air laterally away from the longitudinal axis and the first fin associated with the other of the first wheels and the second fin associated with the other of the second wheels push air laterally toward the longitudinal axis.
10 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a body having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the first end being spaced from the second end along a longitudinal axis, the first side being spaced from the second side along a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the first side and the second side being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, and the first end and the second end being disposed on opposite sides of the lateral axis;
- a first wheel disposed proximate the first end and the first side, the first wheel having a first feature configured to push air in a first lateral direction of the vehicle;
- a second wheel disposed proximate the first end and the second side, the second wheel having a second feature configured to push air in a second lateral direction of the vehicle, the second lateral direction being opposite the first lateral direction;
- a third wheel disposed proximate the second end and the second side, the third wheel having the first feature;
- and
- a fourth wheel disposed proximate the second end and the first side, the fourth wheel having the second feature,
- wherein the first wheel, the second wheel, the third wheel, and the fourth wheel are coupled to the body to transport the body along a surface.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a body;
- a first pair of wheels arranged at a first end of the body and, each of the first pair of wheels configured to push air laterally outboard of the body when the vehicle travels in a first direction in which the first end of the body is a leading end;
- and
- a second pair of wheels arranged at a second end of the body, opposite the first end, each of the second pair of wheels configured to push air laterally inboard of the body when the vehicle travels in the first direction.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.