Propulsion device with traction accessories

Abstract

The invention is a vehicle propulsion device, such as a wheel or track, comprising one or more traction accessories that can change position to transition from a ground propulsion position to a fluid propulsion position, or a fluid propulsion position, or a slippery surface propulsion position. The main applications are land vehicles capable of traveling on roads, uneven or muddy terrain, and navigating on or in water, such as motor vehicles, boats capable of navigating shallow waters, submarines, or aircraft capable of landing on beaches or water.

Description

Title of the invention: Propulsion device with traction accessories technical field

[0001] The invention is a vehicle propulsion device that can adapt to the environment on which or in which it moves, by the use of auxiliary traction accessories such as wings, blades, vanes, anti-slip treads, removable studs and cleats, etc. Previous technique

[0002] CN107962922A of April 27, 2018, by CUI JIE et al., is known, describing a track equipped with a plurality of paddles arranged on the outer end faces of the tracks and which provide propulsion for an amphibious vehicle in water. These paddles are permanently perpendicular to the outer faces of the tracks, so that they are not well suited to the movement of the vehicle on hard ground and slow the vehicle in their upper part when it encounters water.

[0003] We know of CN108422821 (A) of August 21, 2018 by SUN SHILIANG which describes a similar device and presents the same drawback.

[0004] We know of CN110733305 (A) of January 31, 2020 by WANG XINGBO et al. which describes a blade comprising a plurality of flexible blades ensuring the propulsion of a vehicle in water, but which is also poorly adapted to the circulation of a vehicle on a hard ground.

[0005] We know of US 10259280 (B 1) of April 16, 2019 by ROE RICHARD DARIN [US] which describes a vehicle equipped with wheels allowing it to roll on a ground, which have on their lateral part paddles to ensure the propulsion of the vehicle on water, but the efficiency of the drive on water of this device is low.

[0006] CN114619813A of June 14, 2022, from GAO ​​SHENGYUN [CN] is known, describing a four-wheeled amphibious vehicle with water-agitation plates that can be periodically extended and moved to a resting position. Switching between a land driving mode and a water driving mode can be achieved by rotating the angle of a cam. This vehicle cannot automatically switch to land driving mode when encountering a solid obstacle.

[0007] We know of WO2007079045A2 of July 12, 2007, from MUNSHAUR TODD [US] and VAN OSDELL STEVEN [US], which describes an amphibious vehicle equipped with floating amphibious propulsion wheels, the wheels having a number of foldable pockets arranged around the surface of the wheel and oriented in the direction of rotation of the wheel. This vehicle cannot operate in a fluid in reverse, whereas reversing is the most effective braking method for boats.

[0008] Numerous documents describing variants of the Voith Schneider cycloidal propulsion system, also known as a cyclorotor, are also known, including BRI 12023023953 (A2) of January 30, 2024, from HOFREITHER KLEMENS [AT] et al. of October 8, 1929, from EDWARD CALDWELL JONATHAN, RU2060203 (Cl) of May 20, 1996, from FEDCHISHIN VITALIJ G [RU], and EP3715249 (A2) of September 30, 2020, from CYCLOTECH GMBH [AT]. None of the devices described in these documents allows driving on hard surfaces.

[0009] We finally know of many documents describing tire studs and spikes that expand or retract under the effect of temperature. Technical problem

[0010] The devices described above do not allow a vehicle to switch from a configuration allowing energy-saving quality driving as is permitted with smooth wheels or tracks rolling on a smooth and non-slip surface such as a road or dry path, to another configuration suitable for driving on mud, snow or ice, or even for aquatic or aerial propulsion.

[0011] The problem is complex because the tread must have several possible configurations and therefore include traction accessories. These accessories must automatically deploy from their rest position to their working position when necessary to propel the vehicle by applying pressure to a fluid, but also retract automatically when they encounter an obstacle such as a surface hard enough to damage them. They must also allow, upon command from a person or a computer, for a gradual transition from one position to another, for braking and reverse operation under all circumstances, and for extrication from mud and lifting the vehicle above the water's surface to minimize drag, while remaining compatible with flexible tires that ensure good road holding.

[0012] Numerous inventors have been searching for a solution for years without success. The aforementioned document WO2007079045A2 comes closest to the solution found but lacks these advantages. It describes foldable pockets arranged around the wheel surface, but these pockets would tear upon encountering certain obstacles instead of closing, and they only function when moving forward. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] The invention will be well understood, and other objects, advantages and features thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the description which follows, which is illustrated by figures 1 to 14.

[0014] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of components of a wheel according to the invention and of an assembled wheel. On the left, we see the traction accessories 21, 22, and 23 and following, which are chevron-shaped blades, and whose position is determined by the secondary shaft 40, which is a ring offset relative to the primary shaft 10, thus driving all the blades downwards. On the right, we see that only blades 24, 25, and 26 are visible, the others remaining enclosed in their housings 210, 220, and 230.

[0015] [Fig.2] is a perspective and cross-sectional view of the wheel of [Fig. 1], in which The blades are less far from the axis of rotation 10 of the wheel, which has the effect that they are all set back from the rolling path, and do not limit the elasticity of the wheel allowing it to absorb the shocks of small obstacles.

[0016] [Fig. 3] is also a perspective and cross-sectional view of the wheel of [Fig. 1] and of the [Fig.2], in which the secondary shaft 40 is offset downwards and forwards, which has the effect that the blades located at the front of the wheel give rise, during the rotation of the propulsion wheel, to a force directed more downwards than on the device shown in [Fig.1] where this force is directed backwards.

[0017] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of two IA wheels whose blades 21 22 and following The traction accessories are flat and sliding. These are the vanes on the left and the winter tire stud assemblies on the right. Elastic springs 31, 32, and following push them in the direction from their rest position to their working position. The wheel rolls on hard ground, and the lower traction accessories are retracted into the rest position, while the upper traction accessories are in the working position. If this wheel were rolling on mud or fresh snow, the lower traction accessories would be in the working position. This device is particularly suitable for airless tires.

[0018] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of two wheels according to the invention, of which the Housings 210 and following traction accessories are fixed only to the tread of wheel IA.

[0019] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of dawns 21 22 and following similar to those represented in [Fig.1], each equipped with a bearing, respectively 211, 221 and following, allowing their position to be determined by cooperation with a concave cam visible in [Fig.7].

[0020] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of the mechanism which determines the position of the blades depending on their position in the wheel's rotation cycle. Elastic springs (not shown) push the blades towards their working positions, but this movement is limited by the concave cams 401 and / or 402. On the left, the concave cam 402 places them all at an equal distance from the primary shaft 10, while on the right, the concave cam has pivoted 180 degrees and released the blades in such a way that it is the oblong-shaped cam 401 that allows the blades in the lower part of the wheel to be deployed while those in the upper part are not.

[0021] [Fig-8] is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with paddle wheels according to figures 1, 2, 3 or 6. It is equipped with 4 wheels according to the invention and in addition at the front of an obstacle crossing aid device according to patent application FR3048404A3 of September 8, 2017.

[0022] [Fig.9] is a perspective view of two mechanical sub-assemblies of this vehicle. The one on the left is in hard ground driving mode and all the blades are in the rest position, while the one on the right is in water driving mode and the lower blades are in the working position.

[0023] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of two devices functioning like a wheel but constructed according to the cyclorotor method. The blades are wings which are shown here in their rest position (left and right) to form a complete wheel. A wing 21 pivots relative to the wheel about axis 51, and its inclination is determined by the position of the arm of an element 4, called the synchronizer, which rotates around the shaft 40, called the secondary shaft, to determine sets of possible positions of the blades 21, 22, 23, and subsequent blades. This axis of the main shaft 10, which drives the rotation of the wheel, coincides here with that of the shaft 40, which drives the rotation of the synchronizer, and all the wings are in their rest position.

[0024] [Fig. 11] is a perspective view of two identical wheels that differ in the distance of the hub forming the secondary shaft 40 from the assembly formed by the left part of the wheel and the wings. On the left, it is far from this assembly and the wings are in the rest position, while on the right it is closer to it, which increases the circumference of the synchronizer and brings all the wings into the working position.

[0025] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, in three different configurations, the blades 21, 22, 23 and following being oriented differently depending on the direction of rotation. Those of the left and right wheels are in a propulsion position in a fluid, in one direction of rotation or in the opposite direction, while those of the center wheel are in a rest position. The blades are flexible and constitute a homogeneous rolling surface, which gives this wheel the best road-rolling capabilities.

[0026] [Fig. 13] is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with wheels 1A1 and 1A2 according to [Fig.3], moving forward on a road, then on soft ground and finally in water.

[0027] [Fig. 14] is a perspective view of a track according to the invention. The paddles 21, 22 and following are in the working position at the bottom, providing propulsion on soft ground or on or in water, while those at the top are in the rest position. The elastic return springs are not shown, but two belts 61 and 62 can be seen forcing the upper paddles of the track IB to move into the rest position. Description of the invention

[0028] The invention is a vehicle propulsion device such as a wheel IA or a track IB comprising - a plurality of so-called traction accessory elements 21, 22 and following, - and a deployment / retraction means enabling a traction accessory to deploy from a rest position in which it does not protrude or protrudes only slightly from the periphery of the rolling track defined below, to a working position in which it protrudes more from said rolling track, and conversely to retract, characterized in that it comprises an elastic return means 31 allowing the retraction of one of said traction accessories when an obstacle opposes its deployment during the cycle, it being specified that the above and below are understood - by tread, the periphery of the tread that the said propulsion device would present if all said traction accessories were in their rest position, - by tread, the part of said propulsion device in contact with the ground when said vehicle is rolling on the ground, said traction accessories all being in their rest position, - by deploying and retracting movements of a traction accessory going respectively in the direction from the rest position to the working position and in the opposite direction, - and per cycle, all the positions of one of said traction accessories during one complete revolution of said wheel or said track, as the case may be. Detailed description of the invention

[0029] The principle of the present invention is to equip the running surface of a wheel or track with a plurality of traction accessories that can be deployed by a control means to automatically adapt to the medium on or in which the vehicle is moving, a traction accessory thus placing itself in a so-called resting position when the vehicle is on solid ground such as a road, and in a so-called working position when the vehicle is moving either on soft ground such as mud or snow or on slippery ground such as ice or black ice, either in a fluid or on its surface. This also allows movement on irregular surfaces such as uneven ground or shallows and navigation on rivers or streams considered unnavigable, or even in poorly known maritime areas.

[0030] In one embodiment, the traction accessory is a propulsion vane of the vehicle by its pressure on a fluid such as mud, water or air, but it can also be an outgrowth of a tire or a track allowing to drive on a muddy or snowy ground, or even a stud or a series of studs allowing not to slip on black ice or ice.

[0031] It is particularly advantageous for the propulsion device to include an elastic retraction means 31 allowing the traction accessory to retract when an obstacle prevents its deployment during the cycle. This elastic retraction prevents damage to the traction accessory when it encounters an obstacle or excessively hard ground.

[0032] An important improvement consists of equipping the propulsion device with a means for adjusting the elastic resistance of this elastic return, so that an operator or a computer can adjust it by means of a control. This makes it possible, for example, to have a smooth tire wheel to save energy when traveling on a dry paved road, but to extend traction accessories when necessary.

[0033] The propulsion device can be equipped with traction accessories of several different kinds, such as propulsion vanes and cleats.

[0034] A traction accessory can also change its nature depending on the extent of its deployment. For example, a protrusion may protrude from the track with a small deployment, while a larger deployment causes cleats to protrude. To take another example, a blade may protrude perpendicularly from the track with a small deployment, but tilt forward or backward with a larger deployment.

[0035] The propulsion device is particularly suited to wheels with airless tires. These tires most often consist of a central hub and a tread connected by multiple elastomer links that ensure the tire's elastic deformability. In this case, the traction accessories are advantageously positioned between these links when in the rest position.

[0036] The movement of the traction accessory can be arranged so that, when moving forward, it moves backward when transitioning from the working position to the rest position, and forward when moving backward. This facilitates its retraction if it encounters an obstacle while moving forward. In the case where the traction accessory is moved by sliding, it is sufficient that the direction of sliding is inclined with respect to the vertical passing through the same point of the rolling path (not shown).

[0037] The geometry of the propulsion device is advantageously designed so that the effect of a rotational moment applied to a traction accessory, if it is less than a determined threshold, is not sufficient to make it move from its working position to its resting position.

[0038] Those skilled in the art have many means at their disposal to prevent a traction accessory in the so-called working position from moving into the rest position under the effect of a rotational moment applied to it, in both directions of rotation known as forward and reverse. - in the case of sliding, the trajectory is perpendicular to the force - in case of rotation, the moment does not give rise to a rotational moment of the traction accessory because the force exerted on the salient part of the traction accessory is aligned with its center of rotation.

[0039] The rotation of the traction accessory caused by the moment can also cause it to bump against an obstacle which prevents its retraction.

[0040] The designer can also determine the characteristics of an elastic return to be applied to the traction accessories so that the rotational moment applied to one of them is less in the direction of rotation said forward than a threshold, and in said direction of rotation said reverse than a threshold which may be different.

[0041] A traction accessory may pass through the tread as shown in the figures. To maintain the material continuity and sealing of the tread, or for other reasons, it may also be located inside the tread and deform it by bearing on its inner surface when it moves into the working position, or be embedded in the tread in the rest position and move away from it in the working position. These versions are not shown.

[0042] A traction accessory can have all sorts of possible shapes (not shown), such as for example a flat surface, a portion of a sphere, or even a rod or a set of rods, depending on the intended use.

[0043] The travel of a traction accessory can be greater than that which takes it from the rest position to the working position, both towards the inside of the rolling path to reach a so-called extreme retraction position, and towards the outside to reach a so-called extreme projection position.

[0044] The extreme retraction position may, for example, correspond to all said traction accessories being placed in a position in which they are not rotationally fixed with said wheel.

[0045] The extreme protrusion position can for example cause the studs of the traction accessory and / or the rolling path to protrude, in addition to the protrusion of conventional outgrowths allowing rolling on muddy ground.

[0046] The extension and retraction of the traction accessories can be achieved in numerous different ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. Each traction accessory can be equipped with its own deployment / retraction means, but it is simpler to equip the device with a so-called synchronizer 4 connecting the vehicle with a plurality of traction accessories to determine sets of possible positions for the traction accessories. Such synchronizers are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, and 11.

[0047] Different types of synchronizers are proposed which can produce cyclic movements of said traction accessories: - a synchronizer may for example include a secondary shaft 40 parallel to the axis of rotation of the propulsion device, this shaft being able to be offset from this axis of rotation and rotate with the rolling path as shown in figures 1,2,3, 10 and 11; - it can also include a cam cooperating with a follower or a pusher, for example one or more fixed cams 401 and 402 as shown in figures 6 and 7.

[0048] A particular cam synchronizer is illustrated by [Fig.5] which shows the combination between two concave cams 401 and 402 which each determine the set of possible positions of the traction accessories, according to two different configurations made available to the user who can thus put into service the cam 402 to drive on a road or the cam 401 to navigate on water or in mud.

[0049] A person skilled in the art can use both concave and convex cores, or assemblies of both types, to modify the position of the traction accessories during the cycle.

[0050] The synchronizer may advantageously deform elastically and / or have flexible parts. This elasticity may also constitute said elastic return means (31) allowing the retraction of said traction accessories when an obstacle opposes their deployment during the cycle.

[0051] In the case where the synchronizer consists of a mechanical assembly comprising a secondary shaft 40 connected directly or indirectly to traction accessories by rigid or flexible links, it is necessary to provide a specific device to synchronize the rotation of the secondary shaft 40 with that of the primary shaft 10. Those skilled in the art have many known means to achieve this synchronization.

[0052] The synchronizer is advantageously mechanically linked to the vehicle, so that the latter can be used as a reference point to determine the position of a traction accessory within the cycle. The vehicle therefore comprises, in this case, the fixed part of the synchronizer, and optionally a means for modifying the configuration of said synchronizer and a control means for this modification, which can be operated by a person or by a computer.

[0053] The connection of the traction accessories to the propulsion device can be obtained by a synchronizer but also by independent means, mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic, or even by magnets or electromechanical means which can be independent.

[0054] The designer can thus use many known means to easily maintain the airtightness of an inflated tire, or prevent foreign bodies from passing through the tread.

[0055] An elastic means may be provided so that, when a traction accessory has been placed in its fully retracted, resting, working, or fully extended position, it remains in equilibrium. In either of these two cases, the synchronizer or another mechanical means may be used to place a traction accessory in one of these equilibrium positions. An advantage of this solution is that it can maintain all traction accessories in a stable position throughout the rotation of the wheel or the entire cycle of a track, without friction between the traction accessory and the track. In this case, it is recommended to equip the device with several means for changing the equilibrium position of a traction accessory.

[0056] Fixed magnets or electromagnets can, for example, be used to move or hold traction accessories in the rest position along the upper path, and electromagnets to move the traction accessories into the working position on command. These magnets or electromagnets can be located at unique positions along the cycle. Magnets can be moved to be active or inactive, or reversed to have opposite effects. A single electromagnet may be sufficient to move the traction accessories from the rest position to the working position or vice versa.

[0057] Depending on the synchronizer configuration, the traction accessories may be, for example: - either all in rest position, - or all in working position, - or, which is an advantage of the present invention, those which are in one part of the cycle in working position, and those which are in another part of the cycle in rest position.

[0058] Regardless of the type of synchronizer chosen, it is possible to move the traction accessories located at the bottom of the propulsion device to their working position and, conversely, to move those located at the top to their rest or fully retracted position. This has the advantage of reducing the device's size and, above all, of not offering resistance to the forward movement of a vehicle equipped with a wheel or track according to the invention when it moves on or in water. This distinguishes the device according to the invention from older paddle wheels, the upper part of which could strike waves, thus hindering the boat's progress, and it allows the use of a fully submerged wheel. The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to propel a submarine, a land vehicle, or a boat that becomes a submarine.This also allows the use of wheels according to the invention with existing vehicles undergoing only slight modifications, by preventing the traction accessories from striking the wheel arch in the bodywork. This can be achieved by numerous means available to those skilled in the art, such as a stop attached to the vehicle chassis preventing the deployment of the traction accessories in the upper part of the device. Such a stop is formed by belts 61 and 62 on the track of the [Fig. 14].

[0059] The operation of the synchronizer makes it possible to determine which part of the cycle the traction accessories are in working position and which part they are in rest position, which traction accessories are moved, and what the importance of the deployments considered is.

[0060] In a synchronizer configuration, the traction accessories are in working position in one part of the cycle, and in rest position in another part of the cycle.

[0061] In another configuration of the synchronizer, the traction accessories are in working position in an upper part of the cycle, and in rest position in a lower part of the cycle, it being specified that above, upper and lower parts of the cycle mean the positions of the moving parts located at the highest or lowest point during their cycle allowing a complete turn of the wheel or the track as the case may be.

[0062] When the device according to the invention is a track, the synchronizer can elastically push the lower traction accessories towards their working position. Advantageously, it simultaneously and continuously pushes those at the top towards their rest position. This can be a simple stop, a rail, a cable, or belts 61 and 62 as shown in [Fig. 14].

[0063] The synchronizer can also, as shown in [Fig. 3], generate a downward force during wheel rotation, which can be used both to pull a vehicle out of mud and to push a vehicle upwards. navigating on water to reduce its drag, or even to make it take off and fly in the air.

[0064] The propulsion device according to the invention advantageously includes a means of determining which part of the cycle the traction accessories should be in working position and which part they should be in resting position.

[0065] Traction accessories advantageously have an internal structure made of rigid but flexible materials and are easily removable for quick replacement. In the example shown in Figures 12 and 13, they form the tread of the tires and therefore their main wear parts, which means that the bulk of the tire can last longer.

[0066] The possibility of protrusion and / or retraction of a traction accessory can be limited by friction, for example by modifying the structure of the contact surfaces during sliding or rotating movement, when subjected to a significant torque resulting from resistance to the vehicle's forward motion. Ball or needle bearings, or equivalent devices, can also be used.

[0067] A wheel can be made up of traction accessories which are cyclorotor wings forming, in their rest position, a circular track allowing it to roll on the ground. The synchronizer can be designed so that the wings propel the vehicle only when they move from front to back in their lower section; a preferred solution is for this propulsion to occur, as with conventional cyclorotors, when they move from top to bottom and bottom to top. The advantage of these two solutions, which can be combined, is that the wheel, when fully immersed in water, is efficient for most of its cycle. These solutions are shown in Figures 10 and 11.

[0068] The traction accessories are then wings, and they can be moved to the working position in the lower part of the track and to the resting position in the rest of the track, but it is advantageous to use the method applied to cyclorotors. This also makes it possible to change the direction of the thrust provided by the wings without changing the direction of rotation of the device, simply by changing the configuration of the synchronizer. A vehicle equipped with such cyclorotor wheels can thus drive on the ground, propel itself on or in a fluid, or even fly. It also offers the advantage of almost automatic cleaning of the wings when driving in mud or snow. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the geometry of the cyclorotor can also be varied by increasing the radius of rotation of the wings as well as their surface area, which has an effect important on the power transmitted and therefore the speed of the vehicle in water or even in air.

[0069] A synchronizer configuration can be provided in which the traction accessories are stored near the axis of rotation of the wheel hub 10 in the hyper-retracted position. In this case, they can remain stationary relative to the rest of the wheel throughout the wheel's rotation. Consequently, there is no friction due to the passage of traction accessories during wheel rotation.

[0070] Figure 11 shows how all the traction accessories can be maintained in their rest position or in their working position. The position of all the traction accessories is determined by moving a part of the synchronizer along the axis of rotation of the wheel.

[0071] This may be suitable, for example, when the traction accessories are studs or sets of studs protruding from the tread when the ground is icy. This particular configuration can be achieved by causing a suitable deformation of the synchronizer, the hub here also being located on the axis of rotation of the wheel

[0072] When the wheel is driven by means of a shaft connecting the motor to the wheel, it is difficult to position the synchronizer hub on the wheel's axis of rotation if the hub does not have a central recess allowing the shaft connecting the motor to the wheel to pass through. In this embodiment, the synchronizer hub is bulkier and can also be more expensive to manufacture, particularly if it incorporates ball bearings. One solution is to position it on the side of the wheel opposite the vehicle chassis, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

[0073] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, not shown, the motor of a wheel according to the invention is located in the wheel itself. In this case, the wheel no longer has a shaft to connect to the external drive hub, and the synchronizer hub can be located on the axis of rotation of the wheel to determine the position of all the traction accessories, while being located on the side connecting the wheel to the vehicle chassis.

[0074] It is also possible to use a hubless wheel driven by its rim, to obtain the same advantage.

[0075] The synchronizer can advantageously be constructed of a material or have an architecture that allows it to undergo elastic deformation. This means that, if the friction due to the movement of a traction accessory from one position to another exceeds a certain threshold, it can deform to cease producing the expected effect, and thus avoid causing damage to the traction accessory in question or to the synchronizer.

[0076] Without departing from the scope of the invention, a wheel may be fitted with one or more circular flanges allowing it to roll on the ground. The same applies to a track that may be fitted with an auxiliary track supporting part or most of the vehicle's weight.

[0077] In a particular embodiment, the wheels or tracks constituting the traction device according to the invention may be less dense than water in order to contribute to the buoyancy of the vehicle when it travels on water. They may even provide its buoyancy on their own.

[0078] Wheels or wheel parts located between traction accessories, inflated at low pressure or made of very flexible materials, can ensure comfortable rolling and efficient propulsion on uneven ground. This also applies to tracks or track links.

[0079] Figure 5 illustrates an implementation particularly suited to this case. The left wheel has controls for deploying / retracting the blades (51 for blade 21) while the right one does not, the blades being either each positioned according to the resistance of the ground or according to an autonomous deployment / retraction device.

[0080] The advantage provided by the fact that the housings 210 and following of the traction accessories are fixed only to the tread of the wheel IA is important, because in this case these housings can be rigid and allow deployment with low friction of the traction accessories.

[0081] A mechanical means (not shown) may be provided to automatically switch certain traction accessories into their working position when the force exerted by the propulsion device on the vehicle chassis is below a certain value. This allows, for example, the accessories to automatically switch into their working position when the vehicle is floating on water, since the force exerted by the propulsion device on the vehicle chassis is then reduced.

[0082] In a particular version not shown, the traction accessories are not permanently linked to the wheel or track. A so-called selector device has the effect of - either in a first configuration of placing the traction accessories in a rest position, and then they stack on top of each other, without being driven by the wheel or the track, - or, in a second configuration, to move them into the working position, in which they are driven with the wheel or track, moving away from the tangent plane at the periphery of the wheel or track, as the case may be. A complementary device allows the traction accessories that will move towards the top of the wheel or track to move into the resting position.

[0083] The invention also includes a vehicle equipped with a propulsion device according to the invention described above. Advantageously, such a vehicle comprises the portion of the synchronizer that does not rotate with the propulsion device, and / or a means for adjusting the elastic resistance of the elastic return 31, and / or a means for modifying the configuration of the synchronizer, and / or a means for controlling these two adjustment or modification means.

[0084] In a particularly advantageous embodiment illustrated by [Fig. 8], the vehicle is equipped with an obstacle-crossing aid 70 connected directly or indirectly to the vehicle chassis by a mechanical linkage such that it lifts the vehicle when encountering an obstacle, moving from a rest position in which it is not in contact with the solid or liquid support on which the vehicle rests, to a working position in which it supports the vehicle against the obstacle in question. This obstacle may be solid, a wave, or an overpressure of the fluid on which the vehicle is traveling. All obstacle-crossing aids described in the applicant's patent application FR3048404A3 of September 8, 2017, may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0085] It is also the method of maneuvering a vehicle equipped with a propulsion device according to the invention, by a human operator or a computer, the maneuvering of the vehicle comprising a step of modifying the configuration of the synchronizer by a control means of the configuration modification means and / or a step of adjusting the elastic resistance of the elastic return 31 by the control means of the adjustment means of this resistance. Applications

[0086] The main applications of the present invention are land vehicles that can travel on roads as well as on uneven or muddy ground and sail on water or in certain versions take off and land vertically and fly in all directions, as well as a large or small boat, a submarine navigating in water or rolling on the bottom, or an aircraft, all these vehicles being able to land on a beach and cross shallows without damage.

[0087] These vehicles can be used for leisure or work, rescue, public works but also for military combat.

[0088] They can be piloted by humans, whether passengers or not, using radio controls, or by computers.

[0089] Another important benefit is to make many rivers navigable which are not currently so.

[0090] The main vehicles likely to benefit from the invention are the following: - small fishing boats on rivers or ponds, or in marshes, - the tenders of pleasure boats, - leisure barges and canal boats, - military ground drones, certain tanks, artillery or missile launchers, and more generally military equipment that must be able to be transported autonomously from one point to another, - Public works or agricultural vehicles that must cross wet, muddy or snowy areas, - and remote-controlled vehicles for recreational use such as toys, but all land, water or air vehicles are concerned, including fast vehicles, provided that traction accessories are only put into working position when the speed is not too high because they may affect the balance of the wheels, which is detrimental at high speed.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle propulsion device such as a wheel (IA) or a track (IB) comprising - a plurality of elements called traction accessories (21, 22 and following), - and a deployment / retraction means allowing a traction accessory to deploy from a rest position in which it does not protrude or protrudes only slightly from the periphery of the track defined below, to a working position in which it protrudes more from said track, and conversely to retract, characterized in that it comprises an elastic return means (31) allowing the retraction of said traction accessories when an obstacle opposes their deployment during the cycle, it being specified that above and below, - track means the periphery of the tread that said propulsion device would present if all said traction accessories were in a rest position,- by tread: the part of said propulsion device in contact with the ground when said vehicle is traveling on the ground, all said traction accessories being in the rest position; - by extension and retraction: movements of a traction accessory going respectively in the direction from the rest position to the working position and in the opposite direction; - and by cycle: all the positions of one of said traction accessories during a complete revolution of said wheel or track, as the case may be.

2. Propulsion device according to claim 1 characterized in that said traction accessory is a blade contributing to the propulsion of the vehicle by its pressure on a fluid.

3. Propulsion device according to claim 1 comprising an airless tire wheel, consisting of a central hub and a tread connected by multiple elastomer links ensuring the elastic deformability of the tire, characterized in that said traction accessories are placed between these links when they are in a rest position.

4. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the effect of a rotational moment applied to one of said traction accessories, if it is less than a determined threshold, is not sufficient to make it pass from said working position to said rest position.

5. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises or is associated with a means called synchronizer (4), linking the vehicle with a plurality of traction accessories to determine sets of possible positions of traction accessories, a set of possible positions being hereinafter referred to as a configuration of said synchronizer.

6. Propulsion device according to claim 5 characterized in that said synchronizer allows switching from one of said configurations in which all traction accessories are in rest position to another configuration.

7. Propulsion device according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterized in that in one of said configurations of said synchronizer, said traction accessories are in working position in one part of the cycle, and in rest position in another part of the cycle.

8. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it is provided with a means of determining which part of said cycle the traction accessories must be in working position and which part they must be in resting position.

9. Vehicle equipped with a propulsion device according to any one of claims 5 to 8 characterized in that it comprises the part of said synchronizer which does not rotate with said propulsion device, and / or a means for adjusting the elastic resistance of said elastic return (31), and / or a means for modifying the configuration of said synchronizer, and / or a means for controlling these two means for adjusting or modifying.

10. A method for maneuvering a vehicle according to claim 9, by a human operator or a computer, characterized in that the maneuvering of said vehicle comprises a step of modifying the configuration of said synchronizer by a control means for modifying said configuration and / or a step of adjustment of said elastic resistance of said elastic return (31) by means of control of said means of adjustment of said resistance.

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