Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Disclosed is a foldable wheel defined about an axis of rotation of the wheel, which includes a closed loop made up of at least two links and, each link being substantially in the shape of a ring sector of section as defined in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel that in the shape of a trapezoid including two non-parallel faces and, a major base, and a minor base; a unit for mounting the links and to pivot about a pivot axis, including a bearing having two portions and, respectively a pivot pin and a rotary housing, the pin being pivotally mounted in the pivot housing, the male and female bearing portions and being at two points situated in the proximity of the apex of the V-shape, the V-shape being defined by the shape formed by the two facing non-parallel faces of the two links.

Disclosed is a foldable wheel defined about an axis of rotation of the wheel, which includes a closed loop made up of at least two links and, each link being substantially in the shape of a ring sector of section as defined in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel that in the shape of a trapezoid including two non-parallel faces and, a major base, and a minor base; a unit for mounting the links and to pivot about a pivot axis, including a bearing having two portions and, respectively a pivot pin and a rotary housing, the pin being pivotally mounted in the pivot housing, the male and female bearing portions and being at two points situated in the proximity of the apex of the V-shape, the V-shape being defined by the shape formed by the two facing non-parallel faces of the two links.

Wheel having a first part rotable around a central axis, with branches inscribed in a circle whose diameter equals that of the wheel, a circular outer surface of all branches forming a first part of the wheel tread, a second part movable relative to the first part between first closed and second open positions, the second part including branches inscribed in a circle whose center coincides with the central axis, apparatus for moving between first and second positions, the first position where the wheel has a complete circular circumference forming a continuous tread and the second position where the wheel has an incomplete circular circumference forming a discontinuous tread. A third wheel part has teeth whose circular outer surface forms a second part of the wheel tread, the teeth pivotally mounted on the first part, driven by movement of the second part, and movable between two positions.

Wheel having a first part rotable around a central axis, with branches inscribed in a circle whose diameter equals that of the wheel, a circular outer surface of all branches forming a first part of the wheel tread, a second part movable relative to the first part between first closed and second open positions, the second part including branches inscribed in a circle whose center coincides with the central axis, apparatus for moving between first and second positions, the first position where the wheel has a complete circular circumference forming a continuous tread and the second position where the wheel has an incomplete circular circumference forming a discontinuous tread. A third wheel part has teeth whose circular outer surface forms a second part of the wheel tread, the teeth pivotally mounted on the first part, driven by movement of the second part, and movable between two positions.

A universal traction device for movement over even and uneven supporting surfaces that includes an all-terrain wheel having a circular wheel assembly with a plurality of spoke-containing components arrayed around an outer perimeter wheel edge and control means for extending spokes from the spoke-containing units when encountering an obstacle that the vehicle is to traverse and retracting the spokes when the spokes are no longer required for traversing the obstacle.

A universal traction device for movement over even and uneven supporting surfaces that includes an all-terrain wheel having a circular wheel assembly with a plurality of spoke-containing components arrayed around an outer perimeter wheel edge and control means for extending spokes from the spoke-containing units when encountering an obstacle that the vehicle is to traverse and retracting the spokes when the spokes are no longer required for traversing the obstacle.

A wheel-legged amphibious mobile robot with a variable attack angle, which belongs to the technical field of robot structure technology. The robot includes three parts: motion unit, body trunk and power unit. As a key structure, the motion unit mainly includes a moving mechanism, a wheel assembly, a telescopic mechanism and a transmission device. The robot drives the telescopic mechanism to reciprocate linearly through a gear and rack set, and pushes “legs” to expand and retract, so as to realize a mutual switching between a wheeled mode and a gait mode. Under transmission of bevel gear set, the blades can rotate at any same angle at the same time, to change the attack angle and realize the steering. The robot provided by the present disclosure can effectively adapt to a complex and harsh amphibious environment, and meet a series of operation requirements such as rapid movement, obstacle climbing, underwater steering.

A variable compliance non-pneumatic wheel which comprises a stationary tubular body (32) attached to the vehicle chassis. A tubular member is freely rotatable relative to the stationary tubular body and has a series of peripheral mounting rods (12, 13) on sides of the wheel. A plurality of interconnected and freely rotating caterpillar-like tiles (5), which are in contact with the ground during wheel operation, are coupled to the outer periphery of the wheel. A plurality of connecting spring members, (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), each connecting a specific mounting rod on a side of the hub (1, 2) are configured to connect the tiles (5) to the hub. The tubular member is split in two parts (1, 2) which are each free to rotate relative to one another. Each part carries approximately half number of mounting rods and connecting springs on a respective side of the wheel.

A variable compliance non-pneumatic wheel which comprises a stationary tubular body (32) attached to the vehicle chassis. A tubular member is freely rotatable relative to the stationary tubular body and has a series of peripheral mounting rods (12, 13) on sides of the wheel. A plurality of interconnected and freely rotating caterpillar-like tiles (5), which are in contact with the ground during wheel operation, are coupled to the outer periphery of the wheel. A plurality of connecting spring members, (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), each connecting a specific mounting rod on a side of the hub (1, 2) are configured to connect the tiles (5) to the hub. The tubular member is split in two parts (1, 2) which are each free to rotate relative to one another. Each part carries approximately half number of mounting rods and connecting springs on a respective side of the wheel.