The present disclosure may relate to a wheel that may include first and second exoskeleton plates. The wheel may also include first and second roller guide assemblies that each include one or more bearings, a roller guide coupled with the one or more bearings, and a shaft spanning the first and seco
The present disclosure may relate to a wheel that may include first and second exoskeleton plates. The wheel may also include first and second roller guide assemblies that each include one or more bearings, a roller guide coupled with the one or more bearings, and a shaft spanning the first and second exoskeleton plates and coupled with the roller guide such that the roller guide rotates around the shaft. The wheel may also include a tire and a centerless rim coupled with the tire. The centerless rim may be configured to have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the roller guide, and the roller guide may be configured to contact the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotates. The wheel may also include a first limiter to maintain contact between the centerless rim and the roller guide, and a second limiter.
대표청구항▼
1. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second exoskeleton plates, wherein the first and second exoskeleton plates are spaced apart and have generally circular configurations;a first roller guide assembly, wherein the first roller guide assembly includes: a first plurality of bearings;a first roll
1. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second exoskeleton plates, wherein the first and second exoskeleton plates are spaced apart and have generally circular configurations;a first roller guide assembly, wherein the first roller guide assembly includes: a first plurality of bearings;a first roller guide coupled with the first plurality of bearings; anda first shaft spanning the first and second exoskeleton plates and coupled with the first roller guide such that the first shaft is an axle for the first roller guide and the first bearings facilitate rotation of the first roller guide about the first shaft;a second roller guide assembly, wherein the second roller guide assembly includes: a second plurality of bearings;a second roller guide coupled with the second plurality of bearings; anda second shaft spanning the first and second exoskeleton plates and coupled with the second roller guide such that the second shaft is an axle for the second roller guide and the second bearings facilitate rotation of the second roller guide about the second shaft;a tire;a centerless rim coupled with the tire, the centerless rim configured to have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the first roller guide and the second roller guide, wherein the first roller guide is configured to roll along the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotates;a first limiter coupled to the first and second exoskeleton plates and spaced apart from the centerless rim by a gap that is maintained during normal operation and is closed such that the second roller guide contacts the centerless rim to prevent the first roller guide from being dislodged from the centerless rim; anda second limiter coupled to the first and second exoskeleton plates. 2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein an angle between the first roller guide assembly and the second roller guide assembly is between approximately ten degrees and one hundred and forty degrees with respect to a center of the centerless rim. 3. The wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the angle between the first roller guide assembly and the second roller guide assembly is approximately symmetrical about a six o'clock position of the wheel assembly. 4. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first limiter comprises a third roller guide assembly coupled with an upper portion of the first and the second exoskeleton plates. 5. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first roller guide and the second roller guide is spring-loaded to be biased towards the centerless rim. 6. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first limiter is disposed on a lever arm coupled to at least one of the first and second exoskeleton plates and positioned such that the lever arm operates as a quick release mechanism. 7. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second exoskeleton plates are made of a single unitary body. 8. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an engine or motor coupled to the first shaft;wherein the first roller guide assembly further comprises a key to lock the first roller guide to the first shaft;wherein the one or more bearings include one-way bearings; andwherein static friction between the first roller guide and the centerless rim causes rotation of the first roller guide to rotate the centerless rim. 9. The wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein a gear ratio between the first roller guide assembly and the centerless rim includes a ratio of between approximately 5:1 and 125:1. 10. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the second roller guide assembly includes: a second key to lock the second roller guide to the second shaft;a first gear coupled to the first shaft; anda second gear coupled to the second shaft and connected to the first shaft such that rotation of the first gear causes a corresponding rotation of the second gear. 11. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second exoskeleton plates have a void in material in a middle of the wheel assembly. 12. The wheel assembly of claim 11, further comprising a storage region within the void in material. 13. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first and the second exoskeleton plates include one or more pairs of corresponding slots; andthe first shaft is removably disposed within one of the one or more pairs of corresponding slots such that the first shaft may be moved to any position within the one of the one or more pairs of corresponding slots. 14. The wheel assembly of claim 13, wherein the one or more pairs of corresponding slots include one or more of arc-shaped slots, straight slots, or angled slots. 15. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the centerless rim includes one or more grooves in relief on an outer surface of the centerless rim such that one or more of gravitational and centrifugal forces cause foreign material to gravitate along the one or more grooves to an edge of the centerless rim. 16. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the centerless rim includes a generally concave shape and the roller guide includes a generally convex shape. 17. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the centerless rim includes a generally convex shape and the roller guide includes a generally concave shape. 18. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein: the centerless rim includes an output gear along a center line of the centerless rim; andthe roller guide includes an input gear that interfaces with the output gear. 19. The wheel assembly of claim 18, wherein a gear ratio between the input gear and the output gear may include between approximately 5:1 and 125:1. 20. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third roller guide assembly coupled to the first shaft. 21. The wheel assembly of claim 20, wherein: the first shaft is coupled to a motor or engine; andthe first roller guide assembly is locked to the shaft such that rotation of the first shaft causes the first roller guide to rotate. 22. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an external friction roller shaped to correspond to a shape of an outer surface of the tire and to roll along the tire as the external friction roller is rotated; andan engine or motor coupled to the external friction roller. 23. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein a profile of the centerless rim includes a plurality of features for interacting with a plurality of roller guide assemblies, the plurality of roller guide assemblies including the first roller guide assembly. 24. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising cladding coupled to the first and second exoskeleton plates to aerodynamically improve the wheel assembly. 25. A wheel assembly comprising: first and second exoskeleton plates, wherein the first and second exoskeleton plates are spaced apart and have generally circular configurations;a roller guide assembly, wherein the roller guide assembly includes: a plurality of bearings;a roller guide with a first profile including a first gap, the roller guide coupled with the plurality of bearings; anda shaft spanning the first and second exoskeleton plates and coupled with the roller guide such that the shaft is an axle for the roller guide and the bearings facilitate rotation of the roller guide about the shaft;a tire;a centerless rim coupled with the tire, the centerless rim configured to have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the roller guide and a rim profile that corresponds to the first profile, the rim profile including a rail that corresponds to the first gap while leaving a second gap between a peak of the rail and the roller guide, wherein the roller guide is configured to roll along the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotates, and to maintain the second gap unless the centerless rim oscillates; andan expansion bushing coupled to the first and second exoskeleton plates and configured to maintain the first and second exoskeleton plates in a target configuration such that the centerless rim and the roller guide maintain contact despite expansion or contraction of the first and second exoskeleton plates. 26. A system, comprising: a wheel assembly comprising: an exoskeleton plate;a roller guide assembly, wherein the roller guide assembly includes: a plurality of bearings;a roller guide coupled with the plurality of bearings;a shaft coupled to the exoskeleton plate and coupled with the roller guide such that the shaft is an axle for the roller guide and the bearings facilitate rotation of the roller guide about the shaft; anda first sensor disposed on the roller guide;a tire;a centerless rim coupled with the tire, the centerless rim configured to have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the roller guide, wherein the roller guide is configured to roll along the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotate;a second sensor disposed on the centerless rim or the tire;a motor; anda computing device communicatively coupled to the motor, the first sensor, and the second sensor, and configured to monitor the first sensor and the second sensor and to adjust the power delivered to the motor based on a comparison of readings of the first sensor and the second sensor.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (18)
Olsen,Christopher J., Articulated wheel assemblies and vehicles therewith.
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