CROSS-COUNTRY WHEEL (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: transport engineering. SUBSTANCE: wheel is designed for use in running gear of cross-country vehicles. Proposed wheel consists of hub with drive and flexible rim interconnected by crank levers made in hub. Hub is made in form of planetary mechanism consisting of group of planet pinions equally spaced over circumference and rigidly connected by crank levers. Said planet pinions are in meshing with central gear. To negotiate soft grounds, wheel is made elliptical and it operates in crawler mode. Larger part of ellipse is arranged in parallel with surface of movement. To overcome projecting obstacles larger part of ellipse is set at definite angle relative to surface of movement, thus creating angle of approach like in crawler propulsive device. To overcome loose and other such grounds and when moving in liquid in liquid medium afloat wheel operates in walking mode. In this case wheel rotates together with axles of ellipse. For long run of vehicle along hard-surface roads, wheel is changed into round form to operate as conventional wheel. Invention simplifies design of wheel and makes it possible to change its geometry and operating conditions to suit specific road conditions. EFFECT: provision of effect negotiation of rough terrains irrespectively of character of ground and profile of terrain. 4 cl, 4 dwg