Omni-directional tread and contiguous moving surface
US7878284B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 8, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T152/10495
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A tire that is capable of moving a vehicle in both longitudinal and lateral directions has been developed. The tire is mounted on a circular hub with a center opening and a concave groove around the outer edge. The groove contains an electromagnetic drive mechanism that provides lateral drive to the tire. An axle that provides longitudinal drive to the tire is attached to the center opening. The tire further includes a surface layer that is in contact the groove of the hub, a belt layer comprising a that is connected to the interior of the surface layer and a bladder located in the interior of the belt layer that provides structural support to the tire so that the tire stays within the groove of the hub when the tire is moving laterally. The tire also includes a pair of rigid roller rings made of incrementally spaced roller bearings. Longitudinal movement of the tire is generated by rotating the axle and lateral movement of the tire is generated by the electromagnetic drive mechanism.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.