Abstract
The invention relates to methods of using amphibious and ground effect vehicles that incorporate a wheel having a box portion affixed to a disc or wheel portion such that a vehicle with such wheels can roll on most surfaces and easily transition from one type of terrain, or medium, to another.
Claims
1. A method of multi-medium transport comprising a) operating a hybrid wheel having i) a prismatic box portion having at least one vertical base; ii) a chassis with a coupling means for conveying rotational energy to the wheel; and iii) at least one cylindrical disc, wherein the prismatic box portion and at least one of its vertical bases is affixed concentrically to at least one cylindrical portion at its base to form the hybrid wheel wherein the hybrid wheel is able to operate on liquid, solid, deformable substrates, or a combination thereof.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1. Perspective view of simple box wheel with large disc.
[0008] FIG. 2. Perspective view of elementary box wheel with small diameter disc.
[0009] FIG. 3. One-tenth scale four-wheel drive RC vehicle in the water in take-off configuration.
[0010] FIG. 4. One-tenth scale four-wheel drive RC vehicle on the lake in cruise configuration.
[0011] FIG. 5. One-tenth scale RC self-stabilizing two-wheeled vehicle on the lake in cruise configuration.
[0012] FIG. 6. Two-footed yin-yang style box wheel.
[0013] FIG. 7. Two footed box wheel.
[0014] FIG. 8. Yo-yo styled box wheel.
[0015] FIG. 9. Orthogonal view of front, rear, top, and bottom sides of Yo-Yo styled box wheel.
[0016] FIG. 10. Orthogonal view of left or right side of Yo-Yo styled box wheel.
[0017] FIG. 11. Fractal pattern box wheel.
[0018] FIG. 12. Orthogonal view of left side (dome side) of FIG. 11.
[0019] FIG. 13. Diagram of disc momentum.
[0020] FIG. 14. Box wheel with disc in between two boxes.
[0021] FIG. 15. Front side perspective view.
[0022] FIG. 16. Rear side perspective view.
[0023] FIG. 17. Right side orthogonal view.
[0024] FIG. 18. Left side orthogonal view.
[0025] FIG. 19. Top side perspective view.
[0026] FIG. 20. Bottom side perspective view.
[0027] FIG. 21. Perspective view of wheel track in the snow.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] FIG. 1 is an elementary box wheel 23 with a disc 22 of greater radius than the greatest radius of the box 24 (e.g., from its center in the plane of the disc face to a corner). The box portion 24 may be some other right regular prism other than the square one described. As box wheel 23 rolls on a deformable surface like snow, facet 26 will form a contour 28 in the snow similar to that shown in FIG. 21. The snow must be deep enough that the disc does not touch substrate below the snow for the complete form to occur. One revolution of box wheel 23 will make four consecutive contours. The track 30 so formed in FIG. 21 may be created by a box wheel transport. If the front and rear wheels are properly spaced from one another, the rear wheels will roll almost effortlessly on the track created by the front wheels. Any point on the radius of the disc that is further from its center than the corresponding radius of the box from its center will take a path 32 through the deformable medium (e.g. snow, water, or air) that is generally elliptical or teardrop shaped as shown in FIG. 13. This elliptical path occurs principally as the disc traverses the medium. The momentum of a classic wheel on a solid substrate has a momentum path approximating the profile of road 34 (FIG. 13) for any point on its circumference. The momentum path for any point on the circumference of disc 22 is generally prescribed or influenced by the road 34 that box 24 must travel. A large disc 22 relative to the box 24 makes the disc 22 very interactive with the medium {e.g. snow, water, etc.). It may, in some cases, be desirable to minimize disc size as shown in FIG. 2. Box wheel 36 has a minimal radius of its disc 38 that matches the greatest radius in the plane of the base of box 40. A box wheel such as box wheel 36 may minimize drag of the disc. In a relative sense, a box wheel may have a greater circumference than its measured circumference. Finned box wheel 42 (FIG. 6) exploits this complex motion with fin 44. Box wheel 46 (FIG. 7) exploits this complex motion of the disc with the addition of foot 48. Foot 48 may behave more like a foot when the footed box wheel 46 is turned counter-clockwise and more like a claw if turned clockwise. Fins 44 and foot 48 have aerodynamic effects in the non-teardrop portion of disc momentum path 32. Disc 110 (FIG. 11) would also have aerodynamic effects in the non-teardrop portion of the momentum path 32. Rolling a box wheel on water is simple at low RPM. Increase the RPM, and very aggressive suction forces develop. Box wheels work well to create strong suction forces and hence, extreme traction. In FIG. 3 four-wheel drive box wheel vehicle 50 is in take-off configuration. Rear wheels 52 and 54 engage the water more than wheels 56 and 58. All wheels of vehicle 50 are mounted so that ground clearance of the vehicle 50 is the same from front to back when on the pavement. When the vehicle sits in the water, it sits lower in the rear. That is why the rear wheels 52 and 54 are more interactive with the water. When square facet 27 of box 24 (FIG. 1) is at rest and oriented so that top and bottom facets are in the plane of the horizon, the bottom edge 29, ideally, for easy take-off, should only slightly penetrate the water's surface. The flat bottom hull 60 (FIG. 3) should penetrate the water's surface to about the same depth. The torque produced at take-off causes the front wheels 56 and 58 to lift off of the surface in a wheelie for nose up attitude. Flat bottomed hull 60 is freed from the water bond on the buoyant hull 60 in this stage of take-off. Fixed elevator 62 and 65 are thrust (torqued) against and into the water when the nose 64 comes up. This may cause a water swell or wave 66 underneath and aft of wheel axel 68. The downward torque of elevator 62 and stern 65 has a compound effect for take-off. It not only propagates wave 66, but also lifts the rear wheels 52 and 54 up toward the crest of propagated wave 66. A 900-watt motor 70, 150-amp speed control 72 and 11.1 volt battery 74 contribute to this aft center of gravity. Wheel 52 and wheel 54 are able to generate high rpm at this stage of take-off. The water may be, in a relative sense, work-hardened or so aeriated that the wheels can break loose of the suction. FIG. 4 is in a more advanced stage of take-off where the front heels 56 and 58 are very slightly touching the lake surface. In this stage of take-off, the flat-bottomed hull 60 is supported both by ram air confronting nose 64 and some torque from the rear end. The wave propagated is minimal and the wheels are starting to roll on the water. Fixed elevator 62 has leveled after the torque has subsided to the minimum for cruise. The nose level attitude may be assisted with trim tab 76. Water line 78 is further evidence of nose elevation. FIG. 5 demonstrates box wheel two-wheeled vehicle Slat cruise. Vehicle 51 may be modified or simplified to have only one box wheel 100 (FIG. 8) or box wheel 123 (FIG. 14) installed in the middle of the longitudinal axis of hull 88 (FIG. 5). Any of the other box wheel embodiments maybe used singularly with or without a hull. A hull like hull 88 may be used only for take-off with a uniwheel box wheel. Once the uniwheel is at cruise, it may release the take-off hull. The wheel may then be turned against the payload inside the wheel. Similarly, box wheel vehicles may be of one, two, three, four or more wheels. Nose 80 and stern 82 (FIG. 5) are well above the water line 84. Elevator 86 (FIG. 5) is necessary for take-off. Elevator 86 and flat-bottomed hull 88 are buoyant structures that, when torqued into the water react to lift box wheels 90 and 92 so that they may roll on the surface 94. 96 is a reflection of box-wheel 90 on the lake surface. Shroud 98 may provide some lift. FIG. 8 depicts box wheel 100. The box 102 is square in the plane of the disc 104 and 106. FIG. 11 depicts box wheel 108. Box wheel 108 has general dome-shaped disc 110 that is generally a sort of fractal pattern. The disc is comprised of ridges 112 and valleys or depressions 114. Wall 116 extends up to ridge 112. Valley 114 interfaces wall 116 at its base. Box 118 is square in the plane of disc 110 on it flat side 120. Disc 110 has structure that relates to foot 48 of box wheel 46 (FIG. 7). Similarly, box wheel 42 (FIG. 6) relates to the multitude of pinwheel structure in disc 110 of box wheel 108 FIG. 11. Fin 44 (FIG. 6) relates, in part, to a form in a pinwheel. Any point on any radius from the center of disc 110 (FIG. 11) of box wheel 108 that extends past the perimeter of box 118 will have a momentum path 32 similar to that shown in FIG. 13. This momentum path is relevant when the disc 110 (FIG. 11) is generally led by the action of the box 118 rolling on a deformable medium. FIG. 14 is a box wheel 123 with disc 122 in between box 124 and box 126. The square polyhedron box was chosen as it is believed to maximize torque on the hull, or other buoyant component (e.g. cylindrical portion of wheel). It is also believed that such a polyhedron is most conducive to generating a generally inverted catenary road of compressed air for a very high speed vehicle to roll on. Disc 106 and disc 104 of box wheel 100 (FIG. 8) are analogous to snow wall 31 and snow wall 33 of track 30 (FIG. 21). Analogous to walking on a conveyer belt in the direction the conveyor is moving, the so-formed inverted catenary road formed on a deformable surface may be pushed forward. This means that the linear distance traveled for a revolution of the wheel may be greater than the linear distance of its circumference.
[0029] From the discussion above those skilled in the art can see that the box wheel of the present invention provides an effective way for locomotion through an array of mediums swiftly and elegantly. The box wheel has the ability to transition from one medium to another without the cumbersome entanglements seen in the prior art. Transports and toys of the present invention are simple to manufacture and operate. Logistical concerns for industry could be greatly minimized with such transport capability.
[0030] The invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of at least one of the embodiments. However, such a detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principals of the invention or the scope of monopoly to be granted. The skilled reader, in view of the specification, may envision numerous variations and combinations of the above disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the reader should understand that these modifications and equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and scope of the invention.
