# US 11,909,279 B1 · Prime mover with integral drivers for providing multiple modes of locomotion

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- Number: US 11,909,279 B1
- Document ID: US11909279B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/474,618
- Filed: 2021-09-14
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-16
- Applicants: Charles Scott Wright
- Inventors: Charles Scott Wright
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909279B1

## CPC

- H02K 16/02: Machines with one stator and two {or more} rotors
- B60B 19/02: convertible, e.g. from road wheel to rail wheel; Wheels specially designed for alternative use on road and rail
- B60F 5/02: convertible into aircraft (convertible aircraft B64C37/00; convertible unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV]-type aircraft, e.g. convertible into land vehicles, B64U10/70)
- B64C 11/48: Units of two or more coaxial propellers
- B64C 37/00: Convertible aircraft
- B64D 27/24: using steam or spring force (jet aircraft B64D27/16)
- B64U 30/293: Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
- B64U 50/14: ducted or shrouded
- B64U 60/70: Movable wings, rotor supports or shrouds acting as ground-engaging elements
- H02K 1/187: {to inner stators}
- H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle}
- H02K 7/14: Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans (with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06)
- H02K 16/00: Machines with more than one rotor or stator {(machines for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; permanent magnet machines with multiple rotors or stators relatively rotated for vectorially combining the excitation fields or the armature voltages H02K21/029)}
- H02K 21/023: {by varying the amount of superposition, i.e. the overlap, of field and armature}
- H02K 21/12: with stationary armatures and rotating magnets
- H02K 21/22: with magnets rotating around the armatures, e.g. flywheel magnetos
- H02K 1/02: characterised by the magnetic material
- H02K 7/06: Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
- H02K 2201/18: Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
- H02K 2213/09: Machines characterised by the presence of elements which are subject to variation, e.g. adjustable bearings, reconfigurable windings, variable pitch ventilators
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60F: VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; VEHICLES CAPABLE OF TRAVELLING IN OR ON DIFFERENT MEDIA, e.g. AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES (air-cushion vehicles B60V)
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

## Abstract

Apparatus for a motive device that combines a prime mover integrated with one or more drivers for multimodal locomotion. The motive device has an axle configured to connect to a vehicle and has a ground configuration for land travel and a fan configuration for lift and flight. The motive device includes a prime mover integrated with a ground driver and a fan driver. The motive device includes a multitude of stator windings attached to the axle and a multitude of magnets attached to rotors. The ground driver includes a wheel with the spokes extending from at least one rotor. The wheel rotates for land-based locomotion when in the ground configuration. The fan driver includes blades extending from another rotor. The blades rotate for lift and flight when in the fan configuration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for providing locomotion for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
a prime mover including a stator and a plurality of rotors, said stator including an axle and a plurality of poles, each one of said plurality of rotors including a plurality of magnets, an outer member, and a side member, a bearing disposed between said side member and said axle, said axle defining a conduit holding a plurality of conductors, said plurality of conductors each having one end connected to a winding associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of poles, and said plurality of magnets attached to an inside surface of said outer member;
a first driver operatively connected to at least one of said plurality of rotors, said first driver including a wheel, said wheel including a plurality of spokes and a rim, a distal end of each one of said plurality of spokes attached to said rim, and an opposite end of each one of said plurality of spokes operatively attached to and extending radially from said rotor; and
a second driver operatively connected to at least one of said plurality of rotors, said second driver including a first set of blades operatively attached to said rotor, said first set of blades extending radially from said rotor, and said first set of blades configured to draw an air stream through said plurality of spokes when said prime mover causes said first set of blades to rotate about said axle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of rotors include a first rotor and a second rotor wherein both said first and second rotors rotate independently about said axle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of poles are selectively movable axially between said first rotor and said second rotor; said first rotor operatively attached to said plurality of spokes; and said second rotor operatively attached to said first set of blades whereby said first driver or said second driver is driven by said plurality of poles.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rim includes a first rim section and a second rim section, and said first rim section and said second rim section configured to releasably connect around a circumference of said rim, whereby said rim is separable to allow insertion of said first set of blades into a medial portion of said first driver.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of poles include a first and second set of poles, said plurality of rotors include first and second rotors that rotate independently in cooperation with said first and second set of poles, said first set of spokes operatively attached to said first rotor, and said first set of blades operatively attached to said second rotor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of poles include a first, second, and third set of poles, said plurality of rotors include first, second, and third rotors that rotate independently in cooperation with said first, second, and third set of poles, said first set of spokes operatively attached to said first rotor, said first driver including a second set of spokes operatively attached to said third rotor, and said first set of blades operatively attached to said second rotor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of poles include a first, second, and third set of poles, said plurality of rotors include first, second, and third rotors that rotate independently in cooperation with said first, second, and third set of poles, said first set of spokes operatively attached to said first rotor, said first set of blades attached to said second rotor, and said second driver including a second set of blades attached to said third rotor, whereby said first set of blades rotates independently of said second set of blades.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further including a tire and an airfoil, said tire engaging said rim proximate said plurality of spokes, and said airfoil positioned adjacent said tire and extending toward an inboard side of said rim.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further including a joint at a distal end of said axle, and said joint configured to move said first driver and said first driver between a ground configuration for land travel and a fan configuration for air-based travel.

### Claim 10

An apparatus for providing multiple modes of locomotion for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
a prime mover including a stator, a first rotor, and a second rotor, said stator including an axle, said stator including a first set of poles extending radially from said axle, said first set of poles cooperating with a first set of magnets associated with a cylindrical portion of said first rotor, said stator including a second set of poles extending radially from said axle, said second set of poles cooperating with a second set of magnets associated with a cylindrical portion of said second rotor, and said first rotor and said second rotor rotate independently about said axle;
a first driver including a first set of spokes operatively connected radially from said first rotor, a distal end of each one of said first set of spokes operatively connected to a rim such that said rim rotates with said first set of spokes; and
a second driver including a first set of blades operatively connected radially from said second rotor, a distal end of each one of said first set of blades extending toward said rim, and said first set of blades configured to draw an air stream through said plurality of spokes when said prime mover causes said first set of blades to rotate about said axle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 further including a third rotor, said stator including a third set of poles extending radially from said axle, and said third set of poles cooperating with a third set of magnets associated with a cylindrical portion of said third rotor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 further including a second set of spokes operatively connected radially from said third rotor, and a distal end of each one of said third set of spokes operatively connected to said rim such that said rim rotates with said first and second set of spokes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 further including a second set of blades operatively connected radially from said third rotor, a distal end of each one of said second set of blades extending toward said rim, and said second set of blades configured to draw an air stream through said plurality of spokes when said prime mover causes said second set of blades to rotate about said axle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said third rotor is positioned between said first rotor and said second rotor, said first set of poles being selectively movable axially between said first rotor and said third rotor, a second set of blades operatively connected radially from said third rotor, a distal end of each one of said second set of blades extending toward said rim, and said second set of blades configured to draw an air stream through said first set of spokes when said prime mover causes said set of blades to rotate about said axle whereby said first set of spokes or said second set of blades is driven by said first set of poles.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said rim includes a first rim section and a second rim section, and said first rim section and said second rim section configured to releasably connect around a circumference of said rim, whereby said rim is joinable after insertion of said second driver into a medial portion of said first driver.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said axle defines a conduit through which multiple conductors connect to said first set of poles and said second set of poles.

### Claim 17

An apparatus for providing locomotion for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
a prime mover including a stator and a plurality of rotors, said stator including an axle and a plurality of poles, each one of said plurality of rotors including a plurality of magnets, an outer member, and a side member, a bearing disposed between said side member and said axle, said axle defining a conduit holding a plurality of conductors, and said plurality of conductors each having one end connected to a winding associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of poles, said plurality of magnets attached to an inside surface of said outer member; and
a first driver operatively connected to at least one of said plurality of rotors, said first driver including a wheel, said wheel including a plurality of spokes and a rim, a distal end of each one of said plurality of spokes attached to said rim, and an opposite end of each one of said plurality of spokes operatively attached to and extending radially from said rotor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17 further including a second driver operatively connected to at least one of said plurality of rotors, said second driver including a first set of blades operatively attached to said rotor, said first set of blades extending radially from said rotor, and said first set of blades configured to draw an air stream through said plurality of spokes when said prime mover causes said blades to rotate about said axle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18 further including a tire and an airfoil, said tire engaging said rim proximate said plurality of spokes, and said airfoil positioned adjacent said tire and extending toward an inboard side of said rim.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said rim includes a first rim section and a second rim section, and said first rim section and said second rim section configured to releasably connect around a circumference of said rim, whereby said rim is joinable after insertion of said second driver into a medial portion of said first driver.