Sinusoidal wheel
OwnerMichael Engelinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved wheel is disclosed which is capable of traversing small obstacles easily without having to mount over the obstacle. The wheel design includes a wheel hub having an axis of rotation and a wheel rim coupled to the hub by a plurality of spokes. The wheel rim is formed in the shape of an annular sinusoidal wave having a plurality of alternating crests and troughs extending away from a center line by an amplitude. The wheel rim is configured such that the spokes couple to the rim at the center line at an intersection of the crests and troughs. The spokes are separated from each other by a space extending from the wheel rim to the hub.
Claims11
A wheel comprising:
- a. A wheel hub having an axis of rotation;
- b. A wheel rim coupled to the hub by a plurality of spokes;
- c. The wheel rim being formed in the shape of an annular sinusoidal wave having a plurality of alternating crests and troughs extending away from a center line by an amplitude;
- d. The wheel rim being configured such that the spokes couple to the rim at the center line at an intersection of the crests and troughs;
- e. The spokes being separated from each other by a space extending from the wheel rim to the hub;
- f. wherein the annular sinusoidal wave forming the wheel rim has a width, the width being less than the amplitude, and
- g. wherein the hub and spokes are configured to bias the wheel towards a rotational plane oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the hub, the hub and spokes being further configured to permit the wheel to pivot into a plurality of rotational planes which are not perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hub.
A drive train for driving a load over rough terrain, the drive train comprising:
- a. First and second wheels in locked rotational relationship with each other, each wheel having a wheel hub;
- b. Each wheel having a wheel rim formed in the shape of an annular sinusoidal wave having a plurality of alternating crests and troughs extending away from a center line by an amplitude;
- c. The wheel rim being configured such that the spokes couple to the rim at the center line at an intersection of the crests and troughs;
- d. The wheels being configured such that the first and second wheels are biased towards parallel rotational planes;
- e. The wheel hubs being configured to pivot such that the first and second wheels can pivot out of the parallel rotational planes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.