초록 ▼

A vehicle includes a storage pack for storing gas under pressure for providing an onboard supply of the pressurized gas. The pressurized gas may be used as a medicinal gas, e.g. oxygen, on emergency medical vehicles, or the gas may be used as a fuel source for a motorized vehicle having a motor that

A vehicle includes a storage pack for storing gas under pressure for providing an onboard supply of the pressurized gas. The pressurized gas may be used as a medicinal gas, e.g. oxygen, on emergency medical vehicles, or the gas may be used as a fuel source for a motorized vehicle having a motor that runs on combustible gas. The gas storage pack includes a pressure vessel formed from a plurality of hollow chambers, which have either an ellipsoidal or spherical shape, interconnected by a plurality of relatively narrow conduit sections disposed between consecutive ones of the chambers. The pressure vessel includes a reinforcing filament wrapped around the interconnected chambers and interconnecting conduit sections to limit radial expansion of the chambers and conduit sections when filled with a fluid under pressure. The gas storage pack further includes a gas transfer control system attached to the pressure vessel for controlling gas flow into and out of the pressure vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

A vehicle includes a storage pack for storing gas under pressure for providing an onboard supply of the pressurized gas. The pressurized gas may be used as a medicinal gas, e.g. oxygen, on emergency medical vehicles, or the gas may be used as a fuel source for a motorized vehicle having a motor that

A vehicle includes a storage pack for storing gas under pressure for providing an onboard supply of the pressurized gas. The pressurized gas may be used as a medicinal gas, e.g. oxygen, on emergency medical vehicles, or the gas may be used as a fuel source for a motorized vehicle having a motor that runs on combustible gas. The gas storage pack includes a pressure vessel formed from a plurality of hollow chambers, which have either an ellipsoidal or spherical shape, interconnected by a plurality of relatively narrow conduit sections disposed between consecutive ones of the chambers. The pressure vessel includes a reinforcing filament wrapped around the interconnected chambers and interconnecting conduit sections to limit radial expansion of the chambers and conduit sections when filled with a fluid under pressure. The gas storage pack further includes a gas transfer control system attached to the pressure vessel for controlling gas flow into and out of the pressure vessel. ry gear assembly including a portion comprising said nose. 4. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said planetary gear assembly includes a spider for carrying planetary gears, said spider including said nose. 5. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism further comprises a control device for selectively actuating said actuator, said control device being a portion of a brake assembly for braking said second wheel hub when said brake assembly brakes said first wheel hub for improved braking. 6. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism further comprises a control device for selectively actuating said actuator, said control device being independently actuatable from a brake assembly by a vehicle operator for locking said first and second wheel hubs together for improved traction. 7. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a fluid actuated piston movable in a linear direction within a cylinder. 8. The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said direction is parallel with said rotational axis. 9. The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said actuator is pneumatic. 10. The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said actuator is hydraulic. 11. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said second wheel hub includes a shaft extending therefrom and said first wheel hub includes a carrier extending therefrom spaced from said shaft with said friction discs arranged therebetween. 12. The mechanism according to claim 11, wherein a differential is arranged between said shaft and said first wheel hub. 13. A method of braking a dual wheel assembly with independently rotatable wheels comprising the steps of: a) providing a first wheel hub supported on a spindle and a second wheel hub supported on a support member on the first wheel hub, the second wheel hub being rotatable relative to the first wheel hub, and a hub locking member arranged between the first and second wheel hubs, respectively; and b) actuating a fluid operated piston linearly; and c) moving the hub locking member to a position in which the hub locking member is engaged to lock the first and the second wheel hubs. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the hub locking member is an engagement member splined to one of the wheel hubs and step c) includes moving the engagement member toward another of the wheel hubs to couple the wheel hubs together. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second wheel hub and the engagement member each include a plurality of teeth engageable with one another. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first wheel hub is driven and the second wheel hub is normally undriven. 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein step a) includes providing first and second friction discs adjacent to one another respectively splined to a housing supported on the spindle and the hub locking member, and the hub locking member is splined to the support member, and further including the step of: d) moving the friction discs toward one another to a brake position. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein steps c) and d) occur simultaneously. 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein steps c) and d) occur independently. 20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the locking hub member is first and second friction discs respectively splined to the first and second wheel hubs, and step c) includes moving the discs toward one another. 21. A variable engagement mechanism for a dual wheel assembly, said mechanism comprising: a spindle having a drive axle defining a rotational axis; a first wheel hub supported on said spindle and coupled to said drive axle for being rotatably driven about said rotational axis, said first wheel hub having a support member extending there from along said rotational axis; a second wheel hub supported on said support member adjacent to said first wheel hub, said second wheel hub being normally undriven and rotatable relativ