GB2370259A - Multidirectional vehicle - Google Patents

Multidirectional vehicle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2370259A
GB2370259A GB0031161A GB0031161A GB2370259A GB 2370259 A GB2370259 A GB 2370259A GB 0031161 A GB0031161 A GB 0031161A GB 0031161 A GB0031161 A GB 0031161A GB 2370259 A GB2370259 A GB 2370259A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
wheels
vehicle
wheeled vehicle
oriented
driven wheels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0031161A
Other versions
GB0031161D0 (en
Inventor
Michael Raymond Hillman
Karen Hagan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bath Institute of Medical Engineering Ltd
Original Assignee
Bath Institute of Medical Engineering Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bath Institute of Medical Engineering Ltd filed Critical Bath Institute of Medical Engineering Ltd
Priority to GB0031161A priority Critical patent/GB2370259A/en
Publication of GB0031161D0 publication Critical patent/GB0031161D0/en
Publication of GB2370259A publication Critical patent/GB2370259A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/04—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven
    • A61G5/041—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven having a specific drive-type
    • A61G5/042—Front wheel drive
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/04—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven
    • A61G5/041—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs motor-driven having a specific drive-type
    • A61G5/045—Rear wheel drive
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
    • A61G5/1051—Arrangements for steering
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D7/00—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings
    • B62D7/06—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins
    • B62D7/14—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in more than one plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, e.g. all-wheel steering
    • B62D7/15—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in more than one plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, e.g. all-wheel steering characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels
    • B62D7/1509—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in more than one plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, e.g. all-wheel steering characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels with different steering modes, e.g. crab-steering, or steering specially adapted for reversing of the vehicle

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A wheeled vehicle has two driven wheels 1 and two non-powered wheels 2. Each of the driven wheels is able to rotate about a vertical axis 3, and the drive motor 4 for that wheel rotates with the wheel about the same vertical axis. A third motor 5 orientates the driven wheels through a gearbox, cranks and linkage arms. The vehicle is suitable for use as a powered wheelchair for use indoors.

Description

MULTIDIRECTIONAL VEHICLE.
This invention relates to a wheeled vehicle, which is able to move in multiple directions.
Solutions to the problems of making a wheeled vehicle move easily in a restricted environment include making the vehicle rotate about its centre and translate sideways as well as the more conventional forward motion and steering. Existing solutions to vehicle rotation place the wheels in non-ideal positions, and many solutions to sideways translation are complex.
The object of this invention is to allow both rotation and translation with a single mechanism.
This invention uses wheels which may be rotated about a vertical axis so that, according to the orientation of the wheels, the vehicle may move forwards and backwards, turn to the left or right, rotate about the centre of the vehicle (or any other point along its longitudinal axis), or translate sideways. These wheels are powered to drive the vehicle. Other non-powered wheels are also incorporated to stabilise the base.
A particular application of the invention relates to a powered wheelchair for use in an indoor environment. This application is described in the following drawings: FIGURE 1 shows the general arrangement of the vehicle, in plan view.
FIGURE 2 shows the arrangement to orient the driven wheels.
FIGURE 3 shows the wheels oriented for forward and reverse motion and simple turning.
FIGURE 4 shows the wheels oriented for sideways translation.
FIGURE 5 shows the wheels oriented for rotation about a point on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
As shown in Figure 1 the two rear wheels 1 are powered and may be re-oriented about a vertical axis 2, while the two front wheels 3 are non-powered and likely to be castoring. The principles would work equally well if the front and rear wheels were transposed. The drive motor units 4 are mounted adjacent to the wheels. The drive motor units are likely to incorporate a reduction gearbox, driving the wheels directly. The drive motor/wheel assemblies are oriented by a third motor 5. The drive from the orientation motor may be via a gear train, linkage, belt or chain or a combination. In Figure 2 a combination of gearbox 6 driving a linkage arm 7 through a crank 8 is illustrated.
For forwards and backwards motion the wheels are oriented pointing forwards as illustrated in Figure 3. Both wheels are driven in the same directions for forwards and for rearward motion.
Rotation and turning about any point along the axis through the driven wheels may be obtained by varying the relative speeds and directions of rotation of the powered wheels.
For sideways translation to the right the wheels are oriented through 90 degrees and driven in the directions shown in Figure 4. For sideways translation to the left the wheels are driven in opposite directions to those shown. If the non-powered wheels drag, causing the vehicle to translate in a non-straight line, this may be overcome by orienting the wheels past the 90 degree point.
If the wheels are oriented at an intermediate angle, and driven in the directions as shown in Figure 5, the vehicle will rotate in an anti-clockwise direction about a point on its longitudinal axis. If the wheels are driven in the opposite directions the vehicle will rotate in a clockwise direction. The centre of rotation is defined by the intersection of axes perpendicular to the wheels. In particular the wheels may be oriented so that the vehicle rotates about its centre of area, for moving in a restricted environment.

Claims (8)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A wheeled vehicle that is able to move easily in multiple directions, by orienting the driven wheels about a vertical axis.
  2. 2. A wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 which is able to translate sideways
  3. 3. A wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 which is able to rotate about any point on its longitudinal axis, in particular the geometric centre of the vehicle.
  4. 4. A wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 where the motor for each driven wheel is attached to and may be oriented with that driven wheel.
  5. 5. A wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 4 where the two driven wheels are oriented by a third motor.
  6. 6. A wheeled vehicle as claimed in Claim 5 where the two driven wheels are oriented by a third motor through a gearbox, cranks and linkage arms.
  7. 7. A wheeled vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim suitable for transporting a disabled person in a restricted environment.
  8. 8. A powered wheelchair as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB0031161A 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Multidirectional vehicle Withdrawn GB2370259A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0031161A GB2370259A (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Multidirectional vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0031161A GB2370259A (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Multidirectional vehicle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0031161D0 GB0031161D0 (en) 2001-01-31
GB2370259A true GB2370259A (en) 2002-06-26

Family

ID=9905519

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0031161A Withdrawn GB2370259A (en) 2000-12-19 2000-12-19 Multidirectional vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2370259A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105997381A (en) * 2016-05-04 2016-10-12 许金华 Wheelchair
US9963167B2 (en) * 2014-01-28 2018-05-08 Noblelift Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. Industrial vehicle capable of driving in four directions and traveling mechanism for such industrial vehicle

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3031024A (en) * 1959-07-23 1962-04-24 Yale & Towne Mfg Co All directional industrial truck
EP0026098A1 (en) * 1979-09-24 1981-04-01 Charles Mackintosh Power operated wheelchair
GB2188294A (en) * 1986-03-10 1987-09-30 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Automatic guided vehicle
WO1995030569A1 (en) * 1994-05-06 1995-11-16 Ian James Spark Left and right wheel steering control system for vehicle
GB2337030A (en) * 1998-03-27 1999-11-10 Arjo Ltd A mobile chassis for an invalid hoist

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3031024A (en) * 1959-07-23 1962-04-24 Yale & Towne Mfg Co All directional industrial truck
EP0026098A1 (en) * 1979-09-24 1981-04-01 Charles Mackintosh Power operated wheelchair
GB2188294A (en) * 1986-03-10 1987-09-30 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Automatic guided vehicle
WO1995030569A1 (en) * 1994-05-06 1995-11-16 Ian James Spark Left and right wheel steering control system for vehicle
GB2337030A (en) * 1998-03-27 1999-11-10 Arjo Ltd A mobile chassis for an invalid hoist

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9963167B2 (en) * 2014-01-28 2018-05-08 Noblelift Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. Industrial vehicle capable of driving in four directions and traveling mechanism for such industrial vehicle
CN105997381A (en) * 2016-05-04 2016-10-12 许金华 Wheelchair
CN105997381B (en) * 2016-05-04 2017-09-05 许金华 A kind of wheelchair

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0031161D0 (en) 2001-01-31

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)