Swivel drive system
OwnerBrent R. Cottinghaminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A swivel drive system, such as for providing a driving force for a vehicle, comprises multiple drive modules, with each drive module including a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted for rotation relative to an axis of the drive module, with each wheel assembly being separately rotatable relative to a respective axis of the wheel assembly. Simultaneous rotation of the wheel assemblies relative to the axis of the drive module and rotation of each wheel assembly about its own axis generates a driving force for the vehicle.
Claims20
A swivel drive system, said swivel drive system comprising:
- a pair of drive modules, each said drive module including
- a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted for rotation relative to an axis of said drive module, with each said wheel assembly being separately rotatable relative to a respective axis of said wheel assembly;
- wherein simultaneous rotation of said wheel assemblies relative to said axis of said drive module and rotation of each said wheel assembly about its own axis generates a driving force, and wherein said wheel assemblies are mounted to a rotatable carrier, wherein said carrier is driven for rotation about said axis of said drive module and wherein driven rotation of said carrier causes said wheel assemblies to rotate about the axis of said drive module, and wherein each said wheel assembly is rotated about its own axis at one-half the rate of rotation of said wheel assemblies about said axis of said drive module.
A vehicle having a swivel drive system, said vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of drive modules, wherein each said drive module includes
- a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted for rotation relative to an axis of said drive module, with each said wheel assembly being separately rotatable relative to a respective axis of said wheel assembly, and with each said wheel assembly including a rotatable wheel with the rolling orientation of said wheel being altered by said rotation of each said wheel assembly about its own axis;
- wherein simultaneous rotation of said wheel assemblies relative to said axis of said drive module and rotation of each said wheel assembly about its own axis generates a driving force, and wherein each said drive module further includes a rotatable carrier with the respective said wheel assemblies of each said drive module being joined with said carrier, and wherein said carrier is driven for rotation about said axis of said drive module whereby rotation of said carrier causes said wheel assemblies to rotate about the axis of said drive module, and wherein each said wheel assembly is rotated about its own axis at one-half the rate of rotation of said wheel assemblies about said axis of said drive module.
A swivel drive system, said swivel drive system comprising:
- a drive module, said drive module including
- a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted for rotation relative to an axis of said drive module, with each said wheel assembly being separately rotatable relative to a respective axis of said wheel assembly;
- wherein simultaneous rotation of said wheel assemblies relative to said axis of said drive module and rotation of each said wheel assembly about its own axis generates a driving force;
- said drive module further including a cam member, and wherein each said wheel assembly includes a cam follower, with said cam followers being rotated into contact with said cam when said wheel assemblies are rotated relative to said axis of said drive module to rotate said wheel assemblies about the respective axis of each said wheel assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.