Wheel spoke structure, wheels, running and steering systems, and amphibious vehicles

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a spoke structure, a wheel, a travel and steering system, and an amphibious vehicle. The spoke structure is applied to a wheel and includes a spoke body, blades, and a drive component. The blades are rotatably connected to the spoke body and have an initial position and an extended position relative to the spoke body. In the extended position, in response to the spoke body rotating with the wheel, the blades provide propulsion for the wheel to move axially along the wheel. The drive component is disposed on at least one of the spoke body and the blades and is used to drive the blades to switch from the initial position to the extended position. Through this technical solution, the blades can push water flow during rotation to generate a reaction force, thereby propelling the amphibious vehicle laterally in water. This eliminates the need for additional propellers and drive structures, resulting in a simple structure, minimal added weight, and low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more specifically, to a spoke structure, a wheel, a driving and steering system, and an amphibious vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Amphibious vehicles combine the capabilities of both vehicles and boats. They are special vehicles that can travel on land like a car and float on water like a boat. They have special significance in transportation and can also be used for emergency self-rescue if the vehicle falls into the water.

[0003] In related technologies, existing amphibious vehicles generally use the vehicle as a hull, adding a propeller and corresponding drive structure to enable the vehicle to travel in water. However, if a single propeller is used for propulsion, a drive structure is needed to drive the propeller to rotate and change the propulsion direction. If multiple propellers are used for propulsion, more drive structures are needed to drive multiple propellers. Therefore, such amphibious vehicles have a series of problems such as complex structure of the water-driving part, large added weight of the whole vehicle, and high cost. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a spoke structure, a wheel, a driving and steering system, and an amphibious vehicle, which has a simple structure, less added weight, and lower cost when driving in water, so as to at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to a first aspect of this disclosure, a spoke structure is provided for use in a wheel, the spoke structure comprising:

[0006] Spoke body;

[0007] A blade, rotatably connected to the spoke body and having an initial position and an extended position relative to the spoke body, wherein in the extended position, in response to the spoke body rotating with the wheel, the blade provides a propulsive force to move the wheel axially; and

[0008] A driving component, disposed on at least one of the spoke body and the blade, is used to drive the blade to switch from the initial position to the deployed position.

[0009] Optionally, the drive component includes a water-absorbing expansion component, and the spoke body is provided with a mounting groove for accommodating the water-absorbing expansion component and a first water inlet channel communicating with the mounting groove.

[0010] Optionally, in the initial position, the blade is attached to the spoke body and covers the mounting groove.

[0011] Optionally, a waterproof structure is provided between the blade and the water-absorbing expansion member.

[0012] Optionally, the waterproof structure includes a sealing plug, which, in the initial position, is inserted into the mounting groove and located between the water-absorbing expansion member and the blade.

[0013] Optionally, the spoke structure further includes a first limiting structure for locking the blade in an unlockable manner at the initial position, and the drive member for unlocking the first limiting structure so that the blade switches from the initial position to the unfolded position.

[0014] Optionally, the first limiting structure includes an elastic fixing clip and a fixing groove, wherein the elastic fixing clip is disposed on one of the spoke body and the blade, and the fixing groove is formed on the other.

[0015] Optionally, the blade is rotatably connected to the spoke body via a hinge structure, the hinge structure and the first limiting structure being located on opposite sides of the spoke body and / or the blade along the circumference of the wheel.

[0016] Optionally, the spoke structure further includes a second limiting structure, in which the second limiting structure and the water-absorbing expansion member work together to hold the blade in the unfolded position.

[0017] Optionally, the second limiting structure includes a limiting block disposed on the spoke body, wherein in the unfolded position, the blade is stopped between the limiting block and the water-absorbing expansion member.

[0018] Optionally, the spoke body is formed with a channel for water to flow through, the channel extending along an axis perpendicular or inclined to the wheel.

[0019] Optionally, in the initial position, the blade is attached to the spoke body and covers the channel.

[0020] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a wheel is provided, including a rim, a hub, and a spoke structure as described above, the spoke body being connected between the rim and the hub.

[0021] Optionally, the hub is provided with a second water inlet channel, which is connected to a mounting groove on the spoke body for accommodating the drive member including the water-absorbing expansion member. The inlet of the second water inlet channel is provided on at least one of the inner peripheral wall, outer peripheral wall, axial inner side wall, and axial outer side wall of the hub.

[0022] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a driving and steering system is provided for an amphibious vehicle. The driving and steering system includes multiple drive systems spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the amphibious vehicle. Each drive system includes a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart along the width direction of the amphibious vehicle. The first wheel and the second wheel are wheels as described above. The blades of the first wheel are located on a side opposite to the second wheel, and the blades of the second wheel are located on a side facing the first wheel.

[0023] Each of the aforementioned drive systems employs its own power unit, which is used to drive the wheels to rotate, or...

[0024] Multiple drive systems share a single power unit, which controls the independent rotation of the wheels of each drive system.

[0025] Optionally, the number of drive systems is two, and the driving and steering system includes a straight-line driving state in water, a driving and steering state in water, and a stationary rotation state in water.

[0026] In the straight-line driving state in the water, the wheels of the two sets of drive systems have the same rotation speed and direction of rotation, so that the amphibious vehicle travels in a straight line.

[0027] In the water-driving and turning state, the wheels of the two sets of drive systems rotate in the same direction but at different speeds, so that the amphibious vehicle travels along a curve.

[0028] In the water-based rotation state, the wheels of the two sets of drive systems rotate in opposite directions but at the same speed, enabling the amphibious vehicle to rotate in place.

[0029] Optionally, the drive system includes a steering mechanism. In the non-water driving state, the steering mechanism changes the turning angle of the wheels to steer the amphibious vehicle. In the water driving straight state, water driving and turning state, and water stationary rotation state, the turning angle of the wheels of each group of the drive system is the same.

[0030] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, an amphibious vehicle is provided, including the driving and steering systems described above.

[0031] The above technical solution allows the blades to provide propulsion along the wheel's axis when the blades are in the deployed position and the spokes rotate with the wheel. When applied to amphibious vehicles, this enables the vehicle to move laterally in water. Specifically, the blades can rotate from their initial position to the deployed position via a drive mechanism, creating an angle between them and the spokes. As the wheel rotates axially, the spokes drive the blades to rotate synchronously around the wheel's axis. This allows the blades to push water flow during rotation, generating a reaction force that propels the amphibious vehicle laterally in water. This allows the vehicle's own drive system to be used without the need for additional propellers and drive structures, resulting in a simple structure, less added weight, and lower cost.

[0032] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a wheel provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, wherein the blades are located in the initial position;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a wheel provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, wherein the blades are in the unfolded position;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a wheel provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the spoke body connecting the hub and the rim provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram illustrating the fluid flow direction when the wheel rotates, as shown in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0039] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the blade provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0040] Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a wheel provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0041] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the driving and steering system provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0042] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the motion of an amphibious vehicle traveling in a straight line in water, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0043] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the motion of an amphibious vehicle in a water-based turning state, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0044] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the motion of an amphibious vehicle in a water-based turning state, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0045] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the motion of an amphibious vehicle in a state of rotation in water, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0046] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0047] 1. Wheel spoke body; 11. Mounting groove; 12. First water inlet channel; 13. Channel; 2. Blade; 3. Drive component; 31. Water absorption expansion component; 4. Waterproof structure; 41. Sealing plug; 5. First limiting structure; 51. Elastic fixing clip; 52. Fixing groove; 6. Second limiting structure; 61. Limiting block; 7. Wheel rim; 8. Wheel hub; 81. Second water inlet channel; 9. Drive system; 91. Steering gear. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0049] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "inner" and "outer" refer to the interior and exterior of the outline of the corresponding component; "far" and "near" refer to the distance of the corresponding component relative to another component in terms of spatial position. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure are for distinguishing one element from another and do not have sequential or importance. When the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0050] The spoke structure, wheels, driving and steering systems, and amphibious vehicle in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] The amphibious vehicle disclosed herein can float on water due to the airtightness of its structure. Therefore, when the amphibious vehicle is traveling in water or accidentally falls into the water and needs to rescue itself, it can achieve lateral movement through the blades 2 set on the wheel spokes. Compared with additional structures such as propellers, drive structures, and air cushions for vehicle movement in water, it can reduce the added weight, achieve overall vehicle lightweighting, reduce energy consumption to reduce costs, and improve the driving efficiency of the amphibious vehicle. In addition, the wheels of this disclosure are directly connected to the drive system of the amphibious vehicle, eliminating the need for additional drive devices such as those for driving propellers. The drive system can provide greater torque and thrust, enabling rapid hazard avoidance after the amphibious vehicle accidentally falls into the water. At the same time, multi-axle drive also helps to ensure the stability of the amphibious vehicle when traveling normally in water or when rapidly avoiding hazards in water.

[0052] According to the first aspect of this disclosure, referring to Figures 1 to 7 This disclosure provides a spoke structure applied to a wheel. The spoke structure includes a spoke body 1, blades 2, and a drive member 3. The blades 2 are rotatably connected to the spoke body 1 and have an initial position and an extended position relative to the spoke body 1. In the extended position, in response to the spoke body 1 rotating with the wheel, the blades 2 provide a propulsive force for the wheel to move along the wheel's axial direction. The drive member 3 is disposed on at least one of the spoke body 1 and the blades 2 and is used to drive the blades 2 to switch from the initial position to the extended position.

[0053] Through the above technical solution, when the blade 2 is in the deployed position and the spoke body 1 rotates with the wheel, the blade 2 can provide the wheel with propulsive force along the wheel axis. When applied to, for example, amphibious vehicles, this enables the amphibious vehicle to move laterally in water. Specifically, the blade 2 can rotate from the initial position to the deployed position via the drive component 3, so that it can form an angle with the spoke body 1. When the wheel rotates around its axis, the spoke body 1 drives the blade 2 to rotate synchronously around the wheel axis. Therefore, the blade 2 can push the water flow during rotation to generate a reaction force, thereby propelling the amphibious vehicle to move laterally in water. This allows the use of the vehicle's own drive system without the need for additional propellers and drive structures, resulting in a simple structure, less added weight, and lower cost.

[0054] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3The driving component 3 may include a water-absorbing expansion component 31 disposed on the spoke body 1. The spoke body 1 is provided with a mounting groove 11 for accommodating the water-absorbing expansion component 31 and a first water inlet channel 12 communicating with the mounting groove 11. The water-absorbing and expanding component 31 expands in volume when exposed to water and has a certain strength. For example, the water-absorbing and expanding component 31 can be a polymer water-absorbing and expanding material such as polyacrylamide gel, a mineral water-absorbing and expanding material such as bentonite, or a composite water-absorbing and expanding material composed of polymer and mineral materials. In this way, when the amphibious vehicle is driving in water or accidentally falls into the water, the water can flow into the first water inlet channel 12 and then flow along the first water inlet channel 12 to the mounting groove 11. At this time, the water-absorbing and expanding component 31 absorbs water and expands to push the blade 2, so that the blade 2 can switch from the initial position to the unfolded position, that is, the blade 2 can rotate around the axis on the spoke body 1 to have an angle with the spoke body 1, and then provide the wheel with the propulsion force to move along the wheel axis, so that the amphibious vehicle can drive laterally in the water. When the turning angle of the wheel allows the vehicle to move forward or backward normally on land, lateral driving can be understood as the vehicle being able to drive along the width direction of the vehicle. It is understood that in some other possible variations, the water-absorbing expansion member 31 can also be provided on the blade 2. In this case, a receiving groove for accommodating the water-absorbing expansion member 31 and a water inlet passage communicating with the receiving groove can be provided on the blade 2. Similarly, when the amphibious vehicle is driving in water or accidentally falls into the water, the water can flow into the water inlet passage and then flow along the water inlet passage to the receiving groove. At this time, the water-absorbing expansion member 31 absorbs water and expands to push the spoke body 1 and react on the blade 2, so that the blade 2 can rotate from the initial position to the unfolded position to form an angle with the spoke body 1, and then provide thrust for the wheel to move along the wheel axis, so that the amphibious vehicle can travel laterally in the water. Of course, the water-absorbing expansion member 31 can also be provided on both the spoke body 1 and the blade 2. This disclosure does not specifically limit this.

[0055] In addition, in some other possible embodiments not shown in the accompanying drawings, the drive unit 3 may also include a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or a linear motor mounted on the spoke body 1. Taking the drive unit 3 as a hydraulic cylinder as an example, the hydraulic cylinder can be mounted on one side of the spoke body 1. The blade 2 protrudes from the spoke body 1 along the side corresponding to the side on which the hydraulic cylinder is mounted, so that it can be used to be pushed by the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder. When the amphibious vehicle is driving in water or accidentally falls into the water, the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder pushes the blade 2 to rotate from the initial position to the deployed position, so that it has an angle with the spoke body 1, and then can provide thrust to the wheel to move along the wheel's axial direction, so that the amphibious vehicle can drive laterally in the water. Of course, the hydraulic cylinder can be manually activated by the driver, or it can be automatically activated by the amphibious vehicle's detection system when it detects that the vehicle has fallen into the water or needs to drive in the water. For example, a sensor and controller integrated control system can be used. The controller can be a PLC controller, DCS controller, or CNC controller, etc. The specific working process of the hydraulic cylinder will not be described in detail in this disclosure.

[0056] The following description will continue with the example of the driving component 3 including the water-absorbing expansion component 31. In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 In the initial position, the blade 2 is attached to the spoke body 1 and covers the mounting groove 11, so that the mounting groove 11 can be sealed by the blade 2. This reduces the possibility of rainwater entering the mounting groove 11 through the gap between the blade 2 and the spoke body 1 in rainy conditions, causing the water-absorbing expansion member 31 to expand and the blade 2 to switch to the unfolded position by mistake.

[0057] Furthermore, referring to Figure 7 A waterproof structure 4 can be provided between the blade 2 and the water-absorbing expansion member 31 to reduce the possibility that the water-absorbing expansion member 31 will absorb water and expand when the amphibious vehicle is driving on land, causing the blade 2 to accidentally open to the deployed position. For example, in some embodiments, the waterproof structure 4 may include a sealing plug 41. In the initial position, the sealing plug 41 is inserted into the mounting groove 11 and located between the water-absorbing expansion member 31 and the blade 2. In this way, the sealing plug 41 can block water such as rainwater that flows into the gap between the blade 2 and the spoke body 1 from flowing into the mounting groove 11, reducing the possibility of the water-absorbing expansion member 31 accidentally absorbing water and expanding, and ensuring the normal driving of the amphibious vehicle on land. The sealing plug 41 can be made of waterproof material such as rubber or silicone and is inserted into the opening of the mounting groove 11 near the blade 2. In addition, after the amphibious vehicle is driving in the water or accidentally falls into the water, the water can flow into the first water inlet channel 12 and then flow into the mounting groove 11 along the first water inlet channel 12. At this time, the water-absorbing expansion member 31 absorbs water and expands to push the sealing plug 41 out of the mounting groove 11, and at the same time can push the blade 2 to switch the blade 2 to the unfolded position.

[0058] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 3 to 6 The spoke structure may also include a first limiting structure 5, which is used to lock the blade 2 in an unlockable manner in the initial position. The drive member 3 is used to unlock the first limiting structure 5 so that the blade 2 can switch from the initial position to the deployed position. In this way, when the amphibious vehicle is driving on land, the blade 2 is locked in the initial position by the first limiting structure 5 so as not to affect the normal driving of the vehicle. When driving in water or accidentally falling into the water, the drive member 3 unlocks the first limiting structure 5 so that the blade 2 can rotate from the initial position to the deployed position so that it has an angle with the spoke body 1, and then can provide thrust to the wheel to move along the wheel axis, so that the amphibious vehicle can drive laterally in the water.

[0059] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first limiting structure 5 may include an elastic retaining clip 51 and a retaining groove 52. The elastic retaining clip 51 is disposed on one of the spoke body 1 and the blade 2, and the retaining groove 52 is formed on the other, so that the blade 2 can be locked in the initial position by the engagement of the elastic retaining clip 51 and the retaining groove 52. Exemplarily, one embodiment is described below. Figures 3 to 6 The elastic retaining clip 51 is disposed on the side of the blade 2 near the spoke body 1, and the retaining groove 52 is formed on the side of the spoke body 1 near the blade 2. Specifically, the elastic retaining clip 51 includes an extension and a protrusion disposed on the side edge of the extension. Meanwhile, the retaining groove 52 includes a first groove for accommodating the extension and a second groove for accommodating the protrusion. The second groove is formed on the side wall of the first groove, so the blade 2 can be locked in the initial position by inserting the protrusion into the second groove. When the amphibious vehicle is traveling in water or accidentally falls into the water, under the action of the drive member 3, such as the water-absorbing expansion member 31, the elastic retaining clip 51 undergoes elastic deformation so that the protrusion disengages from the second groove. The blade 2 can rotate from the initial position to the unfolded position to form an angle with the spoke body 1, and then provide thrust to the wheel to move along the wheel axis, so that the amphibious vehicle can travel laterally in the water. The end face of the protrusion that inserts into the second groove is arc-shaped to facilitate the insertion of the protrusion into or detachment from the second groove.

[0060] It is understood that in some other possible embodiments not shown in the accompanying drawings, the elastic retaining clip 51 may also be disposed on the side of the spoke body 1 near the blade 2, and correspondingly, the retaining groove 52 is formed on the side of the blade 2 near the spoke body 1, which also allows the blade 2 to be unlockably locked in the initial position. It should be noted that the first limiting structure 5 may also include a first magnet disposed on the blade 2 and a second magnet disposed on the spoke body 1, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet can be magnetically connected to allow the blade 2 to be unlockably locked in the initial position. Of course, under the action of the driving member 3 of the water-absorbing expansion member 31, the first magnet and the second magnet can separate to allow the blade 2 to rotate from the initial position to the unfolded position. Of course, the first limiting structure 5 can be constructed as any structure that allows the blade 2 to be unlockably locked in the initial position, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0061] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 3 to 6 The blade 2 can be rotatably connected to the spoke body 1 via a hinge structure. Specifically, the hinge structure may include a first connecting block disposed on the spoke body 1, and a pair of second connecting blocks disposed on the blade 2 and spaced apart on both sides of the first connecting block. The first and second connecting blocks can be connected via a hinge shaft to enable the blade 2 to rotate. The hinge structure and the first limiting structure 5 are located on opposite sides of the spoke body 1 and / or the blade 2 along the circumference of the wheel. This allows the blade 2 to maintain better contact with the spoke body 1 in its initial position, improving the stability of the blade 2 in its initial position.

[0062] In some embodiments, the spoke structure may further include a second limiting structure 6. In the deployed position, the second limiting structure 6 and the water-absorbing expansion member 31 work together on the blade 2 to hold the blade 2 in the deployed position. Thus, there is an angle between the blade 2 and the spoke body 1, which can then provide thrust for the wheel to move axially along the wheel, enabling the amphibious vehicle to travel laterally in water. It is understood that in the above process, the water-absorbing expansion member 31 has a certain strength after absorbing water and expanding. The water-absorbing expansion member 31 provides thrust for the blade 2 to move away from the spoke body 1, and the second limiting structure 6 provides resistance to stop the blade 2 from moving away from the spoke body 1. Therefore, the water-absorbing expansion member 31 and the second limiting structure 6 work together to enable the blade 2 and the spoke body 1 to have an angle suitable for the amphibious vehicle to travel in water.

[0063] Optionally, in some embodiments, reference is made to Figure 3 and Figure 4The second limiting structure 6 may include a limiting block 61 disposed on the spoke body 1. In the unfolded position, the blade 2 is stopped between the limiting block 61 and the water-absorbing expansion member 31. In this way, the limiting block 61 can stop the rotation of the blade 2 driven away from the spoke body 1 by the water-absorbing expansion member 31, so that the blade 2 will not rotate to an excessive angle with the spoke body 1 under the action of the water-absorbing expansion member 31, thereby losing the thrust to provide axial movement along the wheel, enabling the amphibious vehicle to move laterally in water.

[0064] Furthermore, in some other possible embodiments not shown in the accompanying drawings, the second limiting structure 6 may also include a cable connecting the blade 2 and the spoke body 1. The two ends of the cable may be connected to the side edges of the blade 2 and the spoke body 1, respectively, and arranged outside the blade 2 and the spoke body 1. Alternatively, the cable may be housed in a storage groove provided on the spoke body 1 or the blade 2, with one end connected to the bottom of the storage groove and the other end connected to the spoke body 1 or the blade 2. When the blade 2 is in the initial position, the cable is in a relaxed state; when the blade 2 is in the extended position, the cable is in a taut state, providing tension to limit the blade 2 from rotating away from the spoke body 1, thus cooperating with the water-absorbing expansion member 31 to keep the blade 2 in the extended position. Of course, the second limiting structure 6 may also be constructed in any other suitable manner, such as as a telescopic rod, to cooperate with the water-absorbing expansion member 31 to keep the blade 2 in the extended position. This disclosure does not specifically limit its application in this regard.

[0065] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 3 to 5 The spoke body 1 may have a channel 13 for water flow, the channel 13 extending perpendicularly or inclined to the wheel axis, so that when the amphibious vehicle is traveling in water or accidentally falls into the water, the blade 2 can be placed in the deployed position, for example, referring to Figure 5 In the direction shown in the diagram, the wheel rotates counterclockwise. Water can flow through the gaps between the spokes 1 from the side of the spoke 1 away from the connecting blade 2 to the side of the spoke 1 connected to the blade 2. Simultaneously, some water, propelled by the blade 2, flows from the side of the spoke 1 away from the connecting blade 2 through channel 13 to the side of the spoke 1 connected to the blade 2. Therefore, under the reaction force of the water flow, the amphibious vehicle moves towards the side of the spoke 1 away from the blade 2.

[0066] In some other possible embodiments not shown in the accompanying drawings, the wheel can rotate clockwise. During this rotation, water can flow through the gaps between the spokes 1 from the side of the spoke 1 connected to the blades 2 to the side of the spoke 1 opposite to the blades 2. Simultaneously, some water, propelled by the blades 2, can flow from the side of the spoke 1 connected to the blades 2 through the channel 13 to the side of the spoke 1 opposite to the blades 2. Therefore, under the counter-propulsive force of the water flow, the amphibious vehicle travels towards the side of the spoke 1 where the blades 2 are located.

[0067] Understandably, allowing some water to flow through channel 13 reduces lateral drag on the amphibious vehicle, thereby lowering energy consumption and improving its driving efficiency. Furthermore, the channel 13 also contributes to weight reduction, facilitating lightweight design.

[0068] Furthermore, in some embodiments, reference is made to Figure 1 In the initial position, the blade 2 can be attached to the spoke body 1 and cover the channel 13. When the amphibious vehicle is traveling on land, the blade 2 is in the initial position. At this time, the blade 2 is attached to the spoke body 1 to close the channel 13 in one direction. Therefore, it can protect the channel 13 on this side and reduce the possibility of impurities accumulating in the channel 13 and affecting the flow of water through the channel 13 when the amphibious vehicle is traveling in water.

[0069] According to the second aspect of this disclosure, referring to Figures 1 to 7 A wheel is provided, including a rim 7, a hub 8, and a spoke structure as described above, wherein the spoke body 1 is connected between the rim 7 and the hub 8. In this way, when the amphibious vehicle is traveling on land, the rotation of the wheel can drive the vehicle to move forward or backward, and when the amphibious vehicle is traveling in water, the rotation of the wheel can drive the vehicle to move sideways.

[0070] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 7 A second water inlet channel 81 can be provided on the hub 8. The second water inlet channel 81 is connected to the mounting groove 11 on the spoke body 1 for accommodating the drive member 3 including the water-absorbing expansion member 31. Thus, in conjunction with the above description, when the amphibious vehicle is driving in water or accidentally falls into the water, the water flows into the interior of the hub 8 from the second water inlet channel 81, and then flows along the second water inlet channel 81 into the first water inlet channel 12 provided on the spoke body 1, and then flows along the first water inlet channel 12 into the mounting groove 11. The water-absorbing expansion member 31 absorbs water and expands, so that the blade 2 can rotate from the initial position to the unfolded position, so that there is an angle between it and the spoke body 1, and then it can provide the wheel with the thrust to move along the wheel axis, so that the amphibious vehicle can drive laterally in the water.

[0071] The inlet of the second water inlet channel 81 can be located on at least one of the inner peripheral wall, outer peripheral wall, axial inner wall, and axial outer wall of the hub 8. For example, referring to... Figure 7 The inlet of the second water inlet channel 81 is located on the inner peripheral wall of the wheel hub 8. When the amphibious vehicle is traveling on land, the distance between the inner peripheral wall of the wheel hub 8 and the wheel in contact with the ground is the longest. Therefore, it can reduce the water flow from the second water inlet channel 81 into the interior of the wheel hub 8 when the vehicle is wading. The water then flows along the second water inlet channel 81 into the first water inlet channel 12 located on the wheel spoke body 1, and then flows along the first water inlet channel 12 into the mounting groove 11. The water-absorbing expansion member 31 absorbs water and expands, so that the blade 2 can rotate from the initial position to the deployed position, i.e., the blade 2 is accidentally opened. It is understood that, provided that the normal driving requirements in wading conditions are met, the inlet of the second water inlet channel 81 can also be located on the outer peripheral wall, the inner axial wall, and the outer axial wall of the wheel hub 8. This disclosure does not specifically limit this.

[0072] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a driving and steering system is provided for an amphibious vehicle. The driving and steering system includes multiple drive systems 9 spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the amphibious vehicle. Each drive system 9 includes a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart along the width direction of the amphibious vehicle. The first and second wheels are wheels as described above, with the blades 2 of the first wheel located away from the second wheel and the blades 2 of the second wheel located towards the first wheel. Thus, when the amphibious vehicle is driving in water or accidentally falls into the water, the blades 2 of the first wheel and the blades 2 of the second wheel rotate in the same direction, facilitating lateral movement of the amphibious vehicle in water. Exemplarily, the first wheel can be a left wheel, and the second wheel can be a right wheel, with the blades 2 of the left wheel located away from the right wheel and the blades 2 of the right wheel located towards the left wheel. Alternatively, the first wheel can be a right wheel, and the second wheel can be a left wheel, in which case the blades 2 of the right wheel are located away from the left wheel, and the blades 2 of the left wheel are located towards the right wheel.

[0073] Each drive system 9 employs its own power unit to drive the wheels. Alternatively, multiple drive systems 9 may share a single power unit, which controls the independent rotation of the wheels in each drive system 9. This allows for independent control of the rotation direction and speed of the wheels in any drive system 9, enabling the amphibious vehicle to operate in different modes while in water and facilitating switching between these modes. The power unit can be any power source used to drive the vehicle, such as a drive motor. It is understood that any suitable power unit from existing vehicles can be used, and this disclosure does not impose any specific limitations on it.

[0074] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 8 to 12 The number of drive systems 9 can be set to two groups. The rotation direction and rotation speed of the wheels of the driving and steering systems are different, so that the amphibious vehicle can include straight driving in water, driving and turning in water, and rotating in place in water. It should be noted that the driving force of the amphibious vehicle when it is driving in water is the reaction force of the wheels on the water flow. The following is a detailed explanation of the state of the amphibious vehicle driving in water.

[0075] For example, refer to Figure 9 In a straight-line driving state in water, the wheels of the two sets of drive systems 9 rotate at the same speed and in the same direction, so that the amphibious vehicle travels in a straight line. Referring to the direction shown in the figure, the amphibious vehicle is traveling to the right. Of course, the figure only exemplarily shows the state of the amphibious vehicle traveling in a straight line in one direction. In some other possible embodiments not shown in the figure, when the wheels of the two sets of drive systems 9 rotate at the same speed and in the same direction, but in the opposite direction to the rotation of the wheels of the two sets of drive systems 9 in the figure, the amphibious vehicle can travel in a straight line in the opposite direction to the direction shown in the figure, that is, the amphibious vehicle can travel to the left.

[0076] For example, refer to Figure 10 and Figure 11 In water-based turning maneuvers, the wheels of the two drive systems 9 rotate in the same direction but at different speeds, ensuring the amphibious vehicle travels along a curved path. This allows the amphibious vehicle to turn while driving in water. Specifically, as... Figure 10 As shown in the diagram, referring to the orientation, the thrust provided by both the front drive system 9 and the rear drive system 9 of the amphibious vehicle is directed to the left, but the thrust of the rear drive system 9 is greater than that of the front drive system 9. In this situation, the amphibious vehicle can travel to the right and turn left. Furthermore, as... Figure 11 As shown in the diagram, referring to the orientation of the drawings, the thrust provided by both the front drive system 9 and the rear drive system 9 of the amphibious vehicle is directed to the left, but the thrust of the rear drive system 9 is less than that of the front drive system 9. In this case, the amphibious vehicle can travel to the right and turn right. Of course, in some other possible embodiments not shown in the drawings, the thrust provided by both the front drive system 9 and the rear drive system 9 of the amphibious vehicle can be directed to the right, while the thrust of the rear drive system 9 is different from that of the front drive system 9. In this case, the amphibious vehicle can travel to the left and adaptively turn left or right. This disclosure will not elaborate further on this aspect.

[0077] For example, refer to Figure 12In the water-based rotational state, the wheels of the two drive systems 9 rotate in opposite directions but at the same speed, enabling the amphibious vehicle to rotate in place. Referring to the diagram, the thrust provided by the front drive system 9 is to the left, and the thrust provided by the rear drive system 9 is to the right, allowing the amphibious vehicle to rotate clockwise in place. It is understood that in some other possible embodiments not shown in the diagram, the thrust provided by the front drive system 9 may be to the left, and the thrust provided by the rear drive system 9 may be to the right, allowing the amphibious vehicle to rotate counterclockwise in place.

[0078] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 8 The drive system 9 may include a steering unit 91. In the non-water driving state, the steering unit 91 changes the wheel angle to steer the amphibious vehicle. In the water driving straight-line driving state, water driving and steering state, and water stationary rotation state, the wheel angle of each drive system 9 is the same. That is to say, when the amphibious vehicle is driving in water, it involves switching driving states. For example, when the amphibious vehicle needs to switch from the water driving straight-line driving state to the water driving and steering state, it can switch the vehicle's water driving state without changing the wheel angle through the steering unit 91. Instead, it can be completed by changing the magnitude and direction of the thrust provided by the drive system 9, making the adjustment process more convenient.

[0079] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, an amphibious vehicle is provided, including the driving and steering systems described above. This amphibious vehicle possesses all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned driving and steering systems, which will not be elaborated further herein. Furthermore, the amphibious vehicle can be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, etc., and this disclosure does not specifically limit it in this regard.

[0080] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0081] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this disclosure will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0082] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this disclosure can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this disclosure, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A spoke structure applied to a wheel, characterized in that, The spoke structure includes: Spoke body; A blade, rotatably connected to the spoke body and having an initial position and an extended position relative to the spoke body, wherein in the extended position, in response to the spoke body rotating with the wheel, the blade provides a propulsive force to move the wheel axially; and A driving component, disposed on at least one of the spoke body and the blade, is used to drive the blade to switch from the initial position to the deployed position; The drive component includes a water-absorbing expansion component, and the spoke body is provided with a mounting groove for accommodating the water-absorbing expansion component and a first water inlet channel communicating with the mounting groove.

2. The spoke structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the initial position, the blade is attached to the spoke body and covers the mounting groove.

3. The spoke structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A waterproof structure is provided between the blade and the water-absorbing expansion member.

4. The spoke structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The waterproof structure includes a sealing plug, which, in the initial position, is inserted into the mounting groove and located between the water-absorbing expansion member and the blade.

5. The spoke structure according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The spoke structure further includes a first limiting structure for locking the blade in an unlockable manner at the initial position, and the drive member for unlocking the first limiting structure so that the blade switches from the initial position to the unfolded position.

6. The spoke structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first limiting structure includes an elastic fixing clip and a fixing groove. The elastic fixing clip is disposed on one of the spoke body and the blade, and the fixing groove is formed on the other.

7. The spoke structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The blade is rotatably connected to the spoke body via a hinge structure, the hinge structure and the first limiting structure being located on opposite sides of the spoke body and / or the blade along the circumference of the wheel.

8. The spoke structure according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The spoke structure also includes a second limiting structure, in which the second limiting structure and the water-absorbing expansion member work together to hold the blade in the unfolded position.

9. The spoke structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second limiting structure includes a limiting block disposed on the spoke body, wherein in the unfolded position, the blade is stopped between the limiting block and the water-absorbing expansion member.

10. The spoke structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spoke body has channels for water to flow through, and the channels extend along the axis of the wheel, either perpendicular to or inclined to it.

11. The spoke structure according to claim 10, characterized in that, In the initial position, the blade is attached to the spoke body and covers the channel.

12. A wheel, characterized in that, The wheel includes a rim, a hub, and a spoke structure as described in any one of claims 1-11, wherein the spoke body is connected between the rim and the hub.

13. The wheel according to claim 12, characterized in that, The hub is provided with a second water inlet channel, which is connected to a mounting groove on the spoke body for accommodating the drive member including the water-absorbing expansion member. The inlet of the second water inlet channel is provided on at least one of the inner peripheral wall, outer peripheral wall, axial inner side wall and axial outer side wall of the hub.

14. A driving and steering system for an amphibious vehicle, characterized in that, The driving and steering system includes multiple drive systems spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the amphibious vehicle. Each drive system includes a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart along the width direction of the amphibious vehicle. The first wheel and the second wheel are wheels as described in claim 12 or 13. The blades of the first wheel are located on a side opposite to the second wheel, and the blades of the second wheel are located on a side facing the first wheel. Each of the aforementioned drive systems employs its own power unit, which is used to drive the wheels to rotate, or... Multiple drive systems share a common power unit, which is used to control the independent rotation of the wheels of each drive system.

15. The driving and steering system according to claim 14, characterized in that, The drive system consists of two sets, and the driving and steering system includes straight-line driving in water, driving and steering in water, and rotating in place in water. In the straight-line driving state in the water, the wheels of the two sets of drive systems have the same rotation speed and direction of rotation, so that the amphibious vehicle travels in a straight line. In the water-driving and turning state, the wheels of the two sets of drive systems rotate in the same direction but at different speeds, so that the amphibious vehicle travels along a curve. In the water-based rotation state, the wheels of the two sets of drive systems rotate in opposite directions but at the same speed, enabling the amphibious vehicle to rotate in place.

16. The driving and steering system according to claim 15, characterized in that, The drive system includes a steering mechanism. In the non-water driving state, the steering mechanism changes the turning angle of the wheels to steer the amphibious vehicle. In the water driving straight state, water driving and turning state, and water stationary rotation state, the turning angle of the wheels of each group of the drive system is the same.

17. An amphibious vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the driving and steering system as described in any one of claims 14-16.

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