WHEEL FOR AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES

Abstract

A wheel (10a, 10b) for amphibious vehicles (1) has a rim (100) and a tire contact surface (102) for driving over a solid surface. At least one float (101) designed to hold air and/or gas is provided on the wheel (10a, 10b) and, when required, able to be brought from a neutral position to a floating position. The float (101) is formed from numerous profiles (1010) pivotable at a defined angle (W) to the wheel plane (E) on the circumference of the rim (100) and/or on the circumference of a receiving means (1000) extending inside the inner circumference of the rim (100). At least one water-tight and flexible and/or elastic material (1012) is arranged on the profiles (1010) and/or connected to the profiles (1010) to form a floating cavity (1011).

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A wheel (10a, 10b) for an amphibious vehicle (1), comprising: a rim (100) and a tire contact area (102) for travelling over solid ground; and a float (101) designed to hold air and/or gas, wherein the float can be brought from a neutral position into a floating position, wherein the float (101) is formed from a plurality of profiles (1010) pivotable at a defined angle (W) to a wheel plane (E) on a circumference of the rim (100) and/or on a circumference of a receiving means (1000) extending inside an inner circumference of the rim (100), and a water-tight and flexible and/or elastic material (1012) arranged on the profiles (1010) and/or being connected to the profiles (1010) to form a buoyant cavity (1011).

16. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein the profiles (1010) are arranged and/or designed to overlap at least to some extent.

17. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein a device (1013) is provided, by which the profiles (1010) can be pivoted from their neutral position into a floating position provided at a defined angle (W) to the wheel plane (E) and vice versa.

18. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 17, wherein the device (1013) includes roll-shaped, spherical or wheel-shaped levers (10130), wherein the roll-shaped, spherical or wheel-shaped levers (10130) bear against the inner circumference of the profiles (1010), and wherein the profiles (1010) can be pivoted by pressure exerted by the roll-shaped, spherical or wheel-shaped levers (10130) from their neutral position into a floating position provided at a defined angle (W) to the wheel plane (E) and vice versa.

19. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 18, wherein the roll-shaped, spherical or wheel-shaped levers (10130) are arranged on a pivotable lever arm (10131), and wherein the levers (10130) can be actuated by the pivotable lever arm (10131) along a guide path (F) of the profiles (1010).

20. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 19, wherein the pivotable lever arm (10131) has a hydraulic and/or telescopic design.

21. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 17, wherein the device (1013) comprises electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, chemical and/or magnetic means, by which the profiles (1010) can be pivoted from their neutral position into a floating position provided at a defined angle (W) to the wheel plane (E) and vice versa.

22. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein the float (101) comprises air/gas inlets and/or air/gas outlets as well as means for filling the buoyant cavity (1011), by which the buoyant cavity (1011) can be filled with air and/or gas.

23. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein all the profiles (1010) provided on the wheel (10a, 10b) are connected to one another in a water-tight manner on the float (101) by the water-tight and flexible and/or elastic material (1012) in order to form the buoyant cavity (1011) running around the circumference of the wheel (10a, 10b).

24. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein the material (1012) is connected to the wheel (10a, 10b) at a further region of the wheel (10a, 10b) in order to form the buoyant cavity (1011) on the float (101).

25. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein a volume of the float (101) or the buoyant cavity (1011) on the wheel (10a, 10b) can be variably adjusted.

26. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, further comprising a control system by which a pivoting process can be initiated and/or a volume of the float (101) or the buoyant cavity (1011) on the wheel (10a, 10b) can be variably adjusted.

27. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein the profiles (1010) are blades, and wherein the profiles (1010) contract/fold in to generate a propulsive force and open in a hinge-like manner after passing through a bicycle fork.

28. The wheel (10a, 10b) according to claim 15, wherein the profiles (1010) for opening and closing are activated from a mechanism within the rim (100), and wherein the mechanism is triggered by a control cable or a hydraulic system by an OPEN switch 104b.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the wheel for an amphibious vehicle in one advantageous embodiment, wherein the pivotable profiles are pivoted in (bearing against);

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the wheel for an amphibious vehicle as in FIG. 1, wherein the pivotable profiles are folded out to form the buoyant cavity by means of the water-tight and flexible and/or elastic material;

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a side view of two wheels on an amphibious vehicle with pivoted-in profiles;

[0010] FIG. 4 shows a side view of two wheels on an amphibious vehicle with pivoted-out profiles;

[0011] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment, in which a mechanism is triggered in the rim part, preferably where the mudguard begins, which mechanism triggers the spreading action by flexural hinge technology and disengages it again by means of a snap mechanism;

[0012] FIG. 6a shows the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 5 in an enlarged view in a zoom OPEN position, which triggers the spreading action;

[0013] FIG. 6b shows the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 5 in an enlarged view in a zoom CLOSED position, which disengages the spreading action again.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] As evident from FIG. 1, the wheel 10a, 10b for amphibious vehicles 1 has a rim 100 and a tire contact area 102 for driving over solid ground, with at least one float 101 designed to hold air and/or gas being provided on the wheel 10a, 10b, which float, as required, can be brought from a neutral position into a floating position.

[0015] The float 101 is formed from numerous profiles 1010 pivotable at a defined angle W to the wheel plane E on the circumference of the rim 100 and/or on the circumference of a receiving means 1000 extending inside the inner circumference of the rim 100, at least one water-tight and flexible and/or elastic material 1012 being arranged on the profiles 1010 and/or being connected to the profiles 1010 to form a buoyant cavity 1011.

[0016] As evident from FIG. 2, the material 1012 is stretched to form the cavity 1011 when the profiles 1010 are pivoted open.

[0017] In order to form the cavity 1011, it is not absolutely necessary that the profiles 1010 themselves are connected to one another in a water-tight manner, rather that a water-tight cavity is created by the material 1012 or the materials 1012 connected to the profiles 1010. In a further embodiment of the invention, the profiles 1010 themselves can however also be connected to one another in a water-tight manner.

[0018] In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, all the profiles 1010 provided on a wheel 10a, 10b are connected to one another in a water-tight manner on the float 101 by means of at least one water-tight and flexible and/or elastic material 1012 in order to form a buoyant cavity 1011 running around the circumference of the wheel 10a, 10b.

[0019] The material 1012 can furthermore be connected to the wheel 10a, 10b at at least one further region of the wheel 10a, 10b in order to form a circumferential buoyant cavity 1011 on the float 101.

[0020] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the profiles 1010 are arranged and/or designed to overlap at least to some extent, wherein in a further embodiment, the profiles 1010 can also be designed as vanes and/or blades and/or as elongate profiled bodies. Designing the profiles 1010 as blades enables the wheel 10, 10b to be used simultaneously as a floating means and as a drive means.

[0021] As is evident from the figures, at least one device 1013 is preferably provided, by means of which the profiles 1010 can be pivoted from their neutral position into a floating position provided at a defined angle W to the wheel plane E and vice versa.

[0022] In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device 1013 is formed from at least one roll-shaped, spherical or wheel-shaped lever 10130 which bears against the inner circumference of the profiles 1010 and by means of which the profiles 1010 can be pivoted by means of pressure from their neutral position into a floating postilion provided at a defined angle W to the wheel plane E and vice versa.

[0023] Such levers 10130 can, for example, be attached to the outer edge of the profiles 1010 in a (preferably profile-free) region. In the present exemplary embodiment, the wheel 10a, 10b is provided e.g. with profiles 1010, which open, for example, in a hinge-like manner after passing through the bicycle fork or suspension due to the pressure of a roll-shaped, spherical or wheel-shaped lever 10130 which generates a downwards pressure and is pressed into the inside of the profiles 1010 (ideally at the edges). So that these profiles can pass through and contract/fold in again around the bicycle fork (or suspension), a second lever 10130 can be arranged for pressing in. A last lever 10130 can provided so that the pressure of the lever 10130 generating a downward pressure is not too high and the profiles 1010 do not open too early (in order to have the lowest frictional resistance, the corresponding material is installed with low frictional resistance).

[0024] The roll-shaped, spherical or wheel-shaped levers 10130 are preferably arranged on a pivotable lever arm 10131, by means of which the levers 10130 can be actuated along the guide path F of the pivotable profiles 1010.

[0025] In theory, other systems such as the air chamber technique, e.g. a two-way hinge with, for example, two downward pressure rollers could also be attached, in which the outer hinge provides for stabilization and propulsion with the fluted strips, and an inner hinge strip that prevents sinking (i.e. provides the buoyancy). However, this is superfluous here because of the air chamber technique. The previous present description employs the technique via an airtight fold-out (rubber) chamber.

[0026] The lever arm 10131 preferably has a hydraulic and/or telescopic design.

[0027] The device 1013 can comprise electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, chemical and/or magnetic means, by means of which the profiles 1010 can be pivoted from their neutral position into a floating position provided at a defined angle W to the wheel plane E and vice versa.

[0028] The floats 101 preferably comprise air/gas inlets and/or air/gas outlets as well as means to fill the buoyant cavity 1011, by means of which the buoyant cavity 1011 can be filled with air and/or gas.

[0029] The volume of each of the floats 101 or the buoyant cavities 1011 on the wheel 10a, 10b can preferably be variably adjusted.

[0030] Moreover, a control system can be provided, by means of which the pivoting process can be initiated and/or the volume of each of the floats 101 or the buoyant cavities 1011 on the wheel 10a, 10b can be variably adjusted.

[0031] While the front wheel 10a of an amphibious vehicle regularly only has a buoyancy function (+optional steering function), the rear wheel 10b can be used/over-extended mainly for propulsion and stabilization.

[0032] The wheels 10a, 10b of an amphibious vehicle with at least two wheels 10a, 10b are preferably designed to provide buoyancy for a person (if necessary, a larger wheel size would have to be selected to provide sufficient buoyancy and stabilization for heavy persons). The wheel 10a, 10b is therefore designed to be as large as possible but not unnecessarily large in order to have the necessary volume.

[0033] The spoke region of the wheel 10a, 10b can preferably be designed as an emergency volume that suffices to prevent complete sinking if any pedals that might be present are not in use.

[0034] In the case of the rear wheel 10b, which can have a stabilizing and propulsive effect, aluminum bars are advantageously employed, which are designed as a preferably semi-hollow profile and create a waterwheel-propulsion effect, i.e. propel the rear wheel 10b.

[0035] FIG. 5 a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which a mechanism is triggered in a rim (part) 100, preferably where the mudguard 105 beings, which mechanism triggers the spreading action by flexural hinge technology and disengages it again by means of a snap mechanism.

[0036] In this modification/improved version, the profiles 1010 (vanes and/or blades) for opening and closing are preferably activated from a mechanism within the rim 100, which is triggered by a control cable, a hydraulic system or in some other way by at least one OPEN switch 103.

[0037] The OPEN switch 103 (preferably a switch lever or some other mechanical and/or electrical switching element), which can advantageously be attached to or in the region of the steering wheel, activates an OPEN pressure roller 103b, which is preferably attached to the (more solid in each case) front mudguard and presses towards the rim (like a brake lever) and thus narrows the path to the rim such that the OPEN lock-release lever 1030 is pressed downwards and thus the lock is released (at the same time the head of the open lock-release lever 1030 disappears into the slot as seen here, so that the open pressure roller 103b can continue to run. The locking rocker 1035, thus disengaged under permanent pressure, clears the way to be exposed to the pressure of the compression springs 1032 and the profile-hinge combination 1036 therefore springs upwards (laterally delimited and guided by the sliding rollers 1033 and enabled by the spreading of the hinges 1034) and forms a continuous vane plane. In addition to the disengaged locking rocker, this process was also enabled by the 10130 lever (e.g. roller) which was then retracted by the press-in roller return spring 1031.

[0038] Closing mechanism: A CLOSE switch 104 (preferably a switch lever or some other mechanical and/or electrical switching element), which can also preferably be attached to the steering wheel, activates a closed pressure roller 104b, which is attached to the (more solid) rear mudguard, presses towards the rim 100 (like a brake lever-hydraulically by control cable or in some other way) and thus narrows the path to the rim such that the closed pressure lever 1040 is pressed downwards and disappears into the slot, so that the open pressure roller 104b can continue to run. In the process, the lever 10130 is pushed onto the profile platform 1038 by the press-in roller slide 1041 and the profile-hinge combination 1036 is pressed downwards again (and the vanes close again at the same time) until the locking rocker 1035 is re-engaged.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0039] 10a (front) wheel [0040] 10b (rear) wheel [0041] 100 rim [0042] 101 float [0043] 102 tire contact area [0044] 103 OPEN switch [0045] 104 CLOSED switch [0046] 103b OPEN pressure roller [0047] 104b CLOSED pressure roller [0048] 1000 receiving means [0049] 1010 profiles [0050] 1011 cavity [0051] 1012 material [0052] 1013 device [0053] 1030 OPEN lock/release lever [0054] 1031 press-in roller return spring [0055] 1032 permanent compression springs (adjustable) and locking pin [0056] 1033 sliding rollers [0057] 1034 hinges [0058] 1035 locking rocker [0059] 1036 profile-hinge combination [0060] 1038 profile platform [0061] 1040 closed pressure lever [0062] 1041 press-in roller slide [0063] 10130 lever [0064] 10130 lever for pivoting out/opening the profiles [0065] 10130 lever for pivoting in/closing the profiles [0066] 10131 lever arm [0067] 10132 operator control part for lever arm [0068] E wheel plane [0069] F guide path [0070] W angle