VEHICLE ELLIPSOIDAL WHEEL Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: vehicles. SUBSTANCE: ellipsoidal wheel has pin wheel attached to axle and fitted with chain comprised of links with large curvature radius. Links have cogs to engage pin wheel. Fitted on closed circuit of eight links is pneumatic tire forming flexible articulated rim. Tire is of high elasticity, or special tire is used. Small bending in longitudinal plane is permissible in region of link hinge joint. Ellipsoidal shape of rim is formed by wheel hydraulic system under action of ground reaction forces. For this purpose, rim chain link, every other, is articulated by hydraulic cylinder to pin wheel. Hydraulic cylinders of opposite links are interconnected in pairs by independent hydraulic system in which fluid from non-rod end of one hydraulic cylinder flows to rod end of other cylinder, and vice versa. To prevent wheel pin space from ingress of earth, flexible shells are furnished on rims. EFFECT: higher efficiency. 4 dwg