초록 ▼

An omni-directional wheel for an omni-directional vehicle that exhibits constant ride height, low vibration, and reduced maximum ground contact pressure is disclosed. The invention consists of a wheel assembly rotatably connected to the omni-directional vehicle chassis. The wheel assembly includes a

An omni-directional wheel for an omni-directional vehicle that exhibits constant ride height, low vibration, and reduced maximum ground contact pressure is disclosed. The invention consists of a wheel assembly rotatably connected to the omni-directional vehicle chassis. The wheel assembly includes a hub on which free spinning rollers are rotatably mounted at an angle to the wheel axis. Constant ride height and low vibration operation are accomplished by configuring the rollers with an exterior profile, thickness, material properties and surface grooving to achieve constant deflection of the roller contact surface at all wheel rotation angles.

대표청구항 ▼

An omni-directional wheel for an omni-directional vehicle that exhibits constant ride height, low vibration, and reduced maximum ground contact pressure is disclosed. The invention consists of a wheel assembly rotatably connected to the omni-directional vehicle chassis. The wheel assembly includes a

An omni-directional wheel for an omni-directional vehicle that exhibits constant ride height, low vibration, and reduced maximum ground contact pressure is disclosed. The invention consists of a wheel assembly rotatably connected to the omni-directional vehicle chassis. The wheel assembly includes a hub on which free spinning rollers are rotatably mounted at an angle to the wheel axis. Constant ride height and low vibration operation are accomplished by configuring the rollers with an exterior profile, thickness, material properties and surface grooving to achieve constant deflection of the roller contact surface at all wheel rotation angles. tended position the second face of each of said safety beam upper elements lie substantially outside and adjacent to the side of the vehicle, and constructed such that said safety beam upper elements on the left side of said vehicle provide resistance to lateral impact forces originating from the left side of said vehicle by engaging said fixed body members, while sliding to the left along a lateral axis guided by said safety beam lower elements to provide controlled and substantially minimal resistance to lateral impact forces originating from the right side of the vehicle, and such that said safety beam upper elements on the right side of said vehicle provide resistance to lateral impact forces originating from the right side of said vehicle by engaging said fixed body members, while sliding to the right along a lateral axis guided by said safety beam lower elements to provide controlled and substantially minimal resistance to lateral impact forces originating from the left side of the vehicle. 21. The vehicle structure of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of locking devices attached to the fixed body members and to one or more of the upper primary slides, the protector shields and the shock absorbing devices such that when said upper primary slides are in the operating position, activation of said locks will bind the one or more of the safety beam upper elements, the protector shields and the shock absorbing devices to said fixed body members of the vehicle. 22. The vehicle structure of claim 2, further comprising an independantly ejectable mechanism for each of said passenger support mechanisms, wherein: a) said independently ejectable mechanisms for the passenger support mechanisms on the left side of the vehicle are mounted indirectly to fixed body members on the left side of said vehicle to allow said passenger support mechanisms on the left side of the vehicle to eject by one of: sliding along a lateral axis to a position substantially outside and adjoining the vehicle; rotating to face substantially outside the vehicle; extending to face substantially outside the vehicle and moving outwards from the vehicle, to a position substantially adjoining the vehicle on the left side thereby allowing said passengers that ride on said passenger support mechanisms on the left side of said vehicle to egress and ingress from the left side of the vehicle by ejecting said independently ejectable mechanisms; and b) said independently ejectable mechanisms for the passenger support mechanisms on the right side of the vehicle are mounted indirectly to fixed body members on the right side of said vehicle to allow said passenger support mechanisms on