Retractable paddle traction device

Abstract

The invention is a vehicle traction device comprising retractable blades or protrusions that can be used to assist in vehicle traction by their pressure on a fluid or granular medium such as sand, snow, mud, or loose soil, and / or to harness kinetic energy by the rotation of such a blade or protrusion in a fluid or granular medium. The main applications are land vehicles capable of adapting their tread to conserve energy at low speeds, widening it, or equipping it with protruding treads when necessary, and also for traveling in mud or on or in water, such as a motor vehicle, a boat capable of navigating shallow waters, a submarine, or an aircraft capable of landing on a beach or on water. Abstract figure: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Traction device with retractable paddles technical field

[0001] The invention is a vehicle traction device comprising vanes or any outgrowths of a tire – hereinafter referred to interchangeably as vanes – which can be put into service - to participate in the traction of the vehicle by their pressure on a fluid or on a granular medium such as sand, snow, mud or loose soil, - and / or to exploit kinetic energy by the rotation of such a blade in a fluid or a granular medium. 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 traction 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 they encounter 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 traction of a vehicle in water, but which is poorly suited 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 traction 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 paddles that can be periodically deployed and retracted, the switch between a land driving mode and an aquatic driving mode being achieved by rotating the angle of a cam. This vehicle cannot automatically switch to land driving mode upon encountering a solid obstacle, and the paddles cannot all be in the retracted position simultaneously, which poses space constraints.

[0007] Patent WO2007079045A2 of July 12, 2007, by MUNSHAUR TODD [US] and VAN OSDELL STEVEN [US], describes an amphibious vehicle equipped with floating amphibious traction wheels. The wheels have a number of foldable pockets arranged around the wheel surface and oriented in the direction of wheel rotation. This vehicle cannot operate in a fluid while reversing, whereas reverse propulsion is the most effective braking method for boats. Furthermore, these pockets gradually fill with debris encountered by the vehicle, such as sand or soil, and thus lose their effectiveness.

[0008] Numerous documents describing tire studs and spikes are known. These elements cannot be considered as blades because they cannot generate or withstand significant pressure when moving through a fluid or granular medium. Technical problem

[0009] The main objective of the present invention is to enable a vehicle to switch from a configuration allowing for energy-efficient, high-quality driving, as is possible with smooth, narrow wheels or tracks running on a smooth, non-slip surface, to other configurations adapted for driving on mud, snow, or ice, or even for aquatic, underwater, or aerial traction. Brief description of the drawings

[0010] 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 19.

[0011] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of the components of a wheel according to the invention and of an assembled wheel. On the left, the chevron-shaped blades 21, 22 and 23 and following are visible. On the right, only the blades 24 and 25 are visible, the others remaining enclosed in their housings 210, 220 and 230.

[0012] [Fig.2] is a perspective and cross-sectional view of the wheel of [Fig. 1], in which the axis of rotation of the secondary shaft 40 which determines the position of the blades is close to the axis of rotation 10 of the wheel, with the result that the blades are all set back from the peripheral casing, and do not limit the elasticity of the wheel allowing it to absorb the shocks of small obstacles.

[0013] [Fig. 3] is also a perspective and cross-sectional view of the wheel of [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], in which the secondary shaft 40 is offset downwards and forwards (to the left of the figure), which has the effect that the blades located at the front of the wheel generate, during the rotation of the wheel, a propulsive force directed more downwards than on the device shown in [Fig.1] or this force is directed backwards.

[0014] [Fig. 4] is a perspective view of two wheels IA whose blades 21 and 22 are flat and slide through the peripheral casing 2. These blades may have sets of winter tire studs on the right. Elastic springs 31, 32 and following push them in the direction from their retracted position to their deployed position. On the left, the wheel rolls on a hard surface and the lower blades are in the retracted position, while the upper blades are in the deployed position. On the right, the wheel rolls on a hard surface and the lower blades are in a less retracted position. If this wheel were rolling on mud or fresh snow, the lower blades would be in the deployed position and the upper ones would be in the retracted position.

[0015] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of two wheels according to the invention, in which the housings 210 and following of the blades are fixed only to the peripheral casing of the wheel IA. Like that shown in the previous figure, this device is particularly suitable for airless tires.

[0016] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of blades 21 22 and following similar to those shown 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].

[0017] [Fig. 7] is a perspective view of the mechanism that determines the position of the blades according to their position in the rotation cycle of the wheel. Elastic return springs (not shown) push the blades towards their deployed 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 such that it is the oblong-shaped cam 401 that allows the blades in the lower part of the wheel to be more deployed while those in the upper part are less deployed or not deployed at all.

[0018] [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 70 according to patent application FR3048404A3 of Franck Guigan [FR] of September 8, 2017.

[0019] [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 retracted position, while the one on the right is in water driving mode and the lower blades are in the deployed position.

[0020] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of three AI wheels, the blades 21, 22 and following of which are tire treads. These blades are - in retracted position on the left - a position suitable for limited speed traffic - which reduces the surface area of ​​the tread actually in contact with the ground when the traction device is rolling on a flat, hard surface and allows for significant energy savings and a reduction in rolling noise. - in a mid-center position - a position suitable for high-speed driving - which offers the advantage of good grip, good stability in corners, short braking distances and great driving comfort, but results in higher fuel consumption. - and in the deployed position on the right, which allows movement on snowy or muddy ground.

[0021] [Fig. 11] is a perspective view of a traction device of a nature similar to those of [Fig. 10], showing the frame, which includes sub-assemblies of coaxial 5001, radial 5002 and diagonal 5003 structural cables crossing at a single point 5000, and sets of blades 21 to 24 located on either side of this single point 5000.

[0022] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view of four sets of blades that deploy simultaneously. On the left, the wheel IA and the six chevron-shaped blades 21 to 26 are visible through the transparent material. Their deployed position is determined by the position of the hub 400, which can be slid along the wheel's axis of rotation to cause them to retract or extend. Blade 21 is connected to the hub 400 by an articulated arm 2100, as are the other five blades. The three sets on the right represent the blade positions for different hub positions, and it can be seen that the blades can be completely retracted, as illustrated by the rightmost set.

[0023] [Fig. 13] is a series of 3 views under the same perspective of the same device according to the invention, whose chevron blades have no contact and therefore no friction with the wheel IA, and are each guided by two rollers marked 21A and 21B for blade 21, 22A and 22B for blade 22, etc. which are themselves mounted on ball bearings.

[0024] [Fig. 14] is a series of 2 views from different perspectives illustrating a particular embodiment in which the tread 1001 of the wheel is not the peripheral casing 2. The wheel IA, which includes this peripheral casing and the blades, is stored within the tread in the two upper views, extended from it in the middle views, and the blades themselves are deployed in the two lower views. The peripheral casing 2 is seen between the two lower views.

[0025] [Fig. 15] is a perspective view of a device whose blades are fixed to one side of a conventional wheel, the peripheral casing of which constitutes the tread of the device according to the invention. Three vehicles are visible on the right. equipped with such assemblies, which shows from left to right the lowered blades, centered on the axis of rotation of the wheel and raised on the right.

[0026] [Fig. 16] is a perspective view followed by two variants of the device shown in [Fig. 15], whose blades are flexible so that they can be folded less when not in use, in order to limit their size. On the left, they are in operation, in the lowered position, while on the right they are not only raised but also folded.

[0027] [Fig. 17] is a perspective view followed by two views in two different sections of the same paddle wheel, which includes a central part 1000 filled with pressurized air. The paddles come in pairs 22A and 22B, 23A and 23B, etc.

[0028] [Fig. 18] is a perspective view of two autonomous AI wheels according to the invention. The one on the left has a chassis 400 comprising two foot supports 401 and 402, and functions like devices often called single-wheel gyropods such as the one described in Janik Simeray's document EP1986910A2 [FR] (May 31, 2007) and the numerous subsequent documents citing this document. The one on the right has a stem 300 equipped with a handlebar 301 and two controls 302 and 303. Optionally, a rowlock 304 attached to a vehicle allows the traction force generated by the rotation of the wheel on a surface or in a fluid or granular medium to be transmitted to it, while allowing the handlebar to determine the direction of the thrust exerted by the device according to the invention on this vehicle.

[0029] [Fig. 19] is a perspective view of a track according to the invention. The paddles 21, 22 and following are in the deployed position at the bottom, providing traction on soft ground or on or in water, while those at the top are in the retracted position. The elastic springs are not shown, but two belts 61 and 62 are visible, allowing the paddles located in the upper part of the track IB to move into the retracted position under the effect of this elastic spring, and those located in the lower part to move into the deployed position. Description of the invention

[0030] The invention is a traction device for a vehicle such as a wheel IA or a track IB comprising - a peripheral casing element (2), comprising an outer face and an inner face which is separated from the outer face by the thickness of the peripheral casing, which may include a material in contact with the ground and a frame commonly called the casing which ensures its strength and resistance to load, this inner face defining an inner volume of said traction device, - a plurality of elements called blades 21, 22 and following which may generate or be subjected to pressure during their movement in a fluid or a granular medium, these blades not retracting under the effect of a force applied to them giving rise to a rotational moment applied to the device, in both directions of rotation called forward and reverse, if this rotational moment is less in the direction of rotation called forward than a first predetermined threshold, and in the direction of rotation called reverse than a second predetermined threshold, - and a so-called deployment / retraction mechanism allowing a blade to deploy from a so-called retracted position to a so-called deployed position in which it extends outwards from the outer face of the peripheral casing, moving in a direction from its inner face to its outer face, and vice versa, characterized in that: - The deployment or retraction of a blade increases or decreases the surface area of ​​the tread, - and the deployment or retraction of a blade does not deform the structural tread, It being specified that the peripheral casing can also constitute the tread, and that the terms above and below are understood to mean, - per tread, the surface area of ​​the traction device actually in contact with the ground when rolling on a flat, hard surface. - by structural tread the part of the tread excluding any part of that tread forming part of a blade, - and by deploying and retracting the movements of a blade going respectively in the direction going from said retracted position to said deployed position and in the opposite direction.

[0031] It can also be characterized in that - it includes an elastic return mechanism 31 allowing the retraction of a blade when an obstacle prevents its deployment during the cycle, - and part of the blades can be more deployed in one part of the cycle, and in a less deployed or retracted position in the rest of the cycle.

[0032] It can also be a wheel IA or a track IB, the elasticity of which is produced at least in part by elastically deformable links between on the one hand the tread, and on the other hand a hub in the case of a wheel or the rollers in the case of a track, and be characterized in that all or part of the assembly formed by a blade and its mechanical link with said deployment / retraction mechanism is placed between two of said deformable links when it is in retracted position. Detailed description of the invention

[0033] The principle of the present invention is to equip a wheel or a track with a plurality of blades which can be deployed on command by a control means to automatically adapt it to the environment on which or in which the vehicle is moving and to other driving conditions, in the widest possible variety of conditions, from the hard, non-slip surface of a road to mud or snow, and even driving on or in water.

[0034] Implementing this principle is complex because the design of the traction device must have all of the following characteristics: 1 - the tread must be able to be associated with elements called vanes which contribute to the traction of the vehicle by their pressure on a fluid or a granular medium, this term therefore in no way designates a simple stud intended to grip in ice; 2 - these blades must be able to retract inside an element referred to below as the peripheral casing, which can also function as a tread, - when they encounter an obstacle such as a fairly hard surface that could damage them, - and when they could oppose the flow of the fluid or granular medium relative to which the vehicle is moving; 3 - The presence of the blades must not diminish the mechanical qualities of the wheel or track, and in particular must not alter the elasticity of its tread, which means that deployment must not deform its tread. 4 - The blades must be able, upon command from a person or a computer, to move from one position to another gradually or abruptly. - to brake the vehicle and make it roll in reverse under all circumstances, - to extract it from a granular medium and raise it above the surface of a fluid to limit its drag, 5 - and their deployment must not increase the bulk of the traction device, either radially in its upper part so as to be able to use the device according to the invention without having to modify the bodywork of an existing vehicle, or laterally so as not to increase its width.

[0035] The search for a solution led to a plurality of innovations based on a common inventive concept, making it possible to achieve the objectives pursued while respecting all the characteristics mentioned above. The object of the present application thus relates to solutions corresponding to the different use cases of the invention, which can be grouped into two categories: on the one hand, an ability to adapt to the different classic conditions of traffic on the ground, and on the other hand, a traction and braking capacity on soft ground such as thick mud or powdery snow, and on slippery ground such as ice or black ice, or even in or on the surface of a fluid or a granular medium.

[0036] In its most advanced version, the invention allows for both categories of use cases, but it will be seen later that it allows one to limit oneself to one or the other of the two, the two main different implementations of the same invention corresponding to different objectives: 1- For the first category, it allows limiting the tread surface when driving slowly on non-slippery terrain, and benefiting from a wider tread at higher speeds, and even from tread patterns extending beyond the tread for driving on snowy or muddy ground, 2- for the second category to a capacity of traction and braking on even softer ground such as thick mud or powdery snow, and even in or on the surface of a fluid or granular medium.

[0037] The implementation of the invention for the first category of use cases aims at the design of tires or tracks adapting to the circumstances, while that for the second aims at the design of tires or tracks also allowing movement on irregular surfaces such as uneven ground or shallows and navigation on rivers or streams considered non-navigable, or even in poorly known maritime areas.

[0038] In each of these two cases, the device according to the invention must comply with specific constraints: 1- Devices in the first category must - to allow variation in the surface area of ​​the tread, with the deployment of a blade increasing the surface area of ​​this tread and its retraction decreasing it, - without the deployment or retraction of a blade deforming the structural tread, so that the traction device can travel at high speed, 2- and those of the second category must - include an elastic return mechanism allowing the blade to retract when an obstacle prevents its deployment during the cycle, - and allow some of the blades to be more deployed in one part of the cycle, and in a less deployed or retracted position in the rest of the cycle.

[0039] In order to benefit from the advantages linked to the presence of the peripheral envelope, a blade is advantageously located in its retracted position inside the so-called internal volume of the traction device, and is therefore located neither next to the device according to the invention, nor between two devices according to the invention.

[0040] The deployment and retraction of a blade are advantageously achieved by sliding within all or part of said peripheral envelope. This sliding can be linear, curvilinear, or rotary. One of the advantages is that the sliding follows a fixed trajectory within the peripheral envelope, i.e., without changing the angle. the blade outlet with the external surface of the peripheral envelope, which helps to limit the hole made through the peripheral envelope and the possible entry of foreign bodies into the device.

[0041] To limit friction, the blades are advantageously guided by rollers which can be mounted on ball bearings, as shown in [Fig. 13]. In a simpler version, these ball bearing rollers can be replaced by washers or bearings made of plastic materials with a low coefficient of friction, for example PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene also known as Teflon), POM (Polyoxymethylene also known as acetal or Delrin), PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) or UHMWPE (Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene).

[0042] Those skilled in the art know how to equip the traction device with means to prevent foreign bodies from slipping between the vanes and the fixed parts of the traction device, for example, lips made of a flexible and watertight material or brushes. Alternatively, they may provide clearance between the vanes and the fixed parts that guide their extension / retraction, and allow the expulsion of foreign bodies through its side walls.

[0043] Fig. 13 shows such a solution which consists of leaving a space between the blades and the tread, and equipping the device with openings in its side walls to allow mud and other foreign bodies to escape.

[0044] Apart from the case in which all the blades are deployed simultaneously, as shown in [Fig.10], the diameter of the wheel or the size of the track, as the case may be, remains advantageously constant, the vehicle not being able in this case to roll on its blades and its weight being sufficient to cause the retraction of a blade in contact with the ground.

[0045] When the wheel or track of the invention includes a tire or other equivalent device enabling it to deform elastically when encountering an irregularity in the surface on which it rolls, the restoring force of the elastic restoring means 31 is advantageously less than that of the elastic deformation of the traction device, so that the elastic restoring means 31 does not disturb its elastic characteristics.

[0046] An important improvement consists of equipping the traction device with a means for adjusting the elastic resistance of this elastic return 31, 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 deploy blades when necessary.

[0047] The traction device can be fitted with blades of several different types. A blade can have all sorts of possible shapes (not shown), for example a flat surface parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel or the track as the case may be, A blade is a set of surfaces forming a chevron or a portion of a sphere, depending on its intended use. This depends on the intended application of the traction device; for example, ascending and descending stairs necessitates a different blade design than that best suited for navigating soft ground. Blades can also exhibit varying characteristics of elasticity, hardness, compression set, tear resistance, operating temperature range, glass transition temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion, and resistance to weathering, ozone, and UV radiation. A blade can also include a portion of the traction device's tread. Blades may also incorporate different types of cleats or other means of improving traction on or in a particular medium. These cleats can be deployed from a blade once it has reached a certain point in its deployment.

[0048] Advantageously, in the case where the traction device is a wheel, its circumference is a circle when all the blades are retracted, and / or when all the blades are deployed.

[0049] In a version particularly suited to vehicles without a steering wheel, the track or wheel must be able to skid laterally easily. In this case, it is advantageous for the outermost end of the blade to be parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel or track, as the case may be, which does not preclude the rest of the blade from having a different shape (not shown).

[0050] Several sets of blades with identical or different characteristics can be deployed and retracted by different means controlled by different commands.

[0051] A blade can also change its nature depending on the extent of its deployment. For example, an outgrowth can be deployed with a small deployment, while a larger deployment causes the protrusions of the already deployed blade to protrude.

[0052] The present invention is particularly suited to traction devices comprising a tire or a so-called "airless" track because their elasticity is achieved by multiple elastomeric bonds that ensure the elastic deformability of the tread. In this case, the vanes are advantageously positioned—in whole or in part—between these bonds when they are in the retracted position. These elastomeric bonds are advantageously inclined with respect to an axial plane perpendicular to the tread, either forwards or backwards, along planes close to each other. Such an inclination of the bonds has the advantage of increasing the tire's flexibility. The vanes slide in this case along a plane median between these two planes.

[0053] Advantageously, in forward motion, a blade retracts when moving from the extended to the retracted position, and moves forward in reverse. This facilitates its retraction if it encounters an obstacle while moving forward. This only requires that the direction of movement be inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the tread.

[0054] The present invention is also adapted to tracks made according to the same principle of elastomer bonds ensuring good deformability of the tracks, allowing high-speed movement.

[0055] Without departing from the scope of the invention, a wheel according to the invention may be equipped with one or more circular flanges allowing it to roll on the ground. The same applies to a track according to the invention, which may be equipped with an auxiliary track supporting part or most of the vehicle's weight. Wheels or wheel sections located between the traction devices according to the invention may be inflated to low pressure or made of very flexible materials to ensure comfortable rolling and effective traction on uneven ground. This also applies to the tracks or track links.

[0056] Figure 5 illustrates a particularly advantageous implementation. The left wheel has controls for deploying / retracting the blades (51 for blade 21) while the right wheel does not, the blades being either each positioned according to the resistance of the ground or according to an autonomous deployment / retraction device.

[0057] The advantage provided by the fact that the housings 210 and following of the blades are fixed only to the peripheral casing or 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 blades.

[0058] Retracting a wheel blade to avoid generating an unwanted force on a fluid or granular medium in a part of the cycle implies the presence of a peripheral casing into which the blade can retract, but this peripheral casing may be separate from the tread as shown in [Fig. 14]. The tread 1001 may be flexible or have an elastic coating like a tire (version not shown).

[0059] The principle illustrated by [Fig. 14] also shows how a device according to the invention can be embedded in the body of a vehicle and only come out when it is put into service, in the same way that it comes out of the tread here.

[0060] The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to propel a land vehicle whose wheels are totally submerged, a submarine, or even a land vehicle or boat that becomes a submarine. It also makes it possible to use wheels according to the invention with existing vehicles undergoing only a slight modification. by preventing the blades from hitting the wheel arch in the bodywork. This can be achieved by many means available to those skilled in the art, for example a stop fixed to the vehicle chassis preventing the blades from deploying in the upper part of the peripheral casing 2.

[0061] A traction device according to the invention may include an accessory of a conventional wheel or track. This accessory may be removable and installed only when necessary, for example when the vehicle is stuck in mud or has to cross a river. In this case, the peripheral casing is the tread of a conventional wheel or track, and the set of blades is an accessory fixed to one of its sides as shown in [Fig. 15].

[0062] Advantageously, a plurality of blade assemblies are fixed on a plurality of wheels on the same side of a vehicle, and are connected by a linking element which constitutes the fixed part of each of the traction devices considered (version not shown).

[0063] A blade can be rigid or flexible, and can advantageously be folded and stored in a position limiting the vehicle's footprint and the proximity of the blades to the surface on which the vehicle travels, as illustrated in [Fig. 16]

[0064] A device according to the invention may also include one or more parts comprising blades, and one or more parts that are conventional pneumatic tires, thus taking advantage of the benefits of the invention and the lightness of inflated tires. Figure 17 illustrates this implementation and shows a wheel with a 1000 mm gap inflated by pressurized air.

[0065] A conventional track may include blades arranged like those of a wheel according to the invention, the track constituting the tread of the device. The sets of blades may also be arranged next to the track or within the same volume if the track is provided with holes allowing the passage of the blades. Each set of blades may be equipped with a wheel, and these wheels may each constitute one of the track's rolling rollers (not shown).

[0066] A traction device according to the invention can also be presented as a track fixed on the periphery of a conventional wheel, or of several such wheels, or of an existing track (not shown).

[0067] A person skilled in the art has many means to prevent a blade in the deployed position from moving into the retracted position under the effect of a force applied to it, giving rise to a rotational moment applied to the traction device according to the invention, in the two directions of rotation known as forward and reverse: - in the case of sliding, the trajectory is perpendicular to the force - in the case of rotation, the tangential force does not give rise to a rotational moment applied to the blade because the force exerted on the deployed part of the blade is aligned with its center of rotation as illustrated by [Fig. 19].

[0068] The rotation of the blade caused by a force with a tangential component can also cause it to bump against an obstacle which prevents its retraction.

[0069] The designer can also determine the characteristics of an elastic return to be applied to the blades so that a force applied to one of them is less in the direction of rotation said forward than a predetermined threshold, and in said direction of rotation said reverse than a predetermined threshold which may be different.

[0070] A blade can pass through the tread as shown in the figures, but to maintain the material continuity and sealing of the tread, or for other reasons, it can also be embedded in the tread in the retracted position, without passing through it, and extend outwards in the deployed position. This version is not shown.

[0071] The travel of a blade can be greater than that which takes it from the retracted position to the deployed position, both towards the inside of the peripheral envelope to reach a so-called extreme retraction position, and towards the outside to reach a so-called extreme deployment position.

[0072] The assembly consisting of a blade and its deployment / retraction mechanism can, in one of its possible positions, be located partly within the so-called internal volume of said traction device.

[0073] The extreme retraction position may, for example, correspond to all the blades being placed in a position in which they are not rotationally fixed with the peripheral casing.

[0074] The extreme deployment position can, for example, cause the crampons of the dawn to come out.

[0075] The deployment and retraction of the blades can be achieved in numerous different ways without departing from the scope of the present invention, by independent mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic means, or by magnets or electromechanical means, which may be independent. These means can be coordinated by a single means, but it is simpler to equip the device with a means called a synchronizer 4, which allows for the determination of sets of possible blade positions. A set of possible positions is hereinafter referred to as a configuration of said synchronizer.

[0076] This synchronizer is advantageously a purely mechanical mechanism, excluding any use of hydraulic or pneumatic technologies, to benefit from the simplicity and reliability of such mechanisms, reduced maintenance and low cost, but this is not mandatory.

[0077] This synchronizer can mechanically link, directly or indirectly, the vehicle with a plurality of blades. Such synchronizers are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 12, 17 and 19.

[0078] Different types of synchronizer are proposed which can produce cyclic movements of the blades.

[0079] A synchronizer may, for example, include a secondary shaft 40 parallel to the axis of rotation of the traction device. This shaft may be offset from this axis of rotation and rotate with the traction device, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. When the wheel is driven by means of a shaft connecting a motor to the wheel, it is difficult to position the synchronizer hub on the wheel's axis of rotation if this hub does not have a central recess allowing the shaft connecting the motor to the wheel to pass through (or if the wheel hub does not have a central recess allowing the secondary shaft to pass through). In this embodiment, the synchronizer hub is bulkier and may also be more expensive to manufacture, particularly if it incorporates ball bearings. One solution may be to position it on the side of the wheel opposite the vehicle chassis, as shown in Figures 15 and 16.Advantageously, the motor of a device according to the invention is located within the traction device itself. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, shown in [Fig. 18], the wheel no longer has a shaft to connect to the external drive hub, and the synchronizer hub can be located on the wheel's axis of rotation to determine the position of all the blades, while also being situated on the side of the wheel connecting it to the vehicle chassis. It is also possible to use a hubless wheel driven by its rim to achieve the same advantage.

[0080] The synchronizer may 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. Those skilled in the art may use either concave or convex cores, or assemblies of both types, to modify the position of the blades during the cycle.

[0081] The synchronizer can advantageously deform elastically and / or have flexible parts. This elasticity can also constitute the so-called elastic return mechanism 31 allowing the blades to retract when an obstacle opposes their deployment during the cycle.

[0082] In a version advantageous in many cases, not shown, the synchronizer may comprise a cable consisting of a flexible sheath and an inner cable that slides inside the sheath and operates by tension or compression. This allows the transmission of mechanical motion over a certain distance, while adapting to non-straight paths thanks to its flexibility and, in particular, has the advantage, in the case of airless tires, of being compatible with the chosen shape of the connections between the hub and the tread.

[0083] Several different types of synchronizers can be combined with each other, the one shown in [Fig. 12] being able, for example, to slide along the secondary shaft 40, this sliding allowing the average deployment of the blades to be defined and the decentering of the secondary shaft 40 allowing a sector of the cycle to be determined in which the blades are more deployed than in another.

[0084] In the case where the synchronizer consists of a mechanical assembly comprising a secondary shaft 40 connected directly or indirectly to blades by rigid or flexible links, it may be 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.

[0085] A gyroscope or any other known means can be used to determine the orientation of the device in space in order to determine the position of a blade within its cycle. However, in a simplified version, the synchronizer can be mechanically linked to the vehicle, and the vehicle can use the vehicle as a reference point to determine the position of a blade within its cycle. In this latter case, the vehicle therefore includes the fixed part of the synchronizer, which does not rotate with the traction device, and optionally a means for modifying the configuration of the synchronizer and / or a means for adjusting the elastic resistance of the elastic return 31.

[0086] The vehicle may also include a control means for one or both of these modification and adjustment means, which may be operated by a person or by a computer. The person or computer in question may be located on or outside the vehicle, for example using remote control means, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0087] An elastic means can be provided so that, when a blade has been placed in its fully retracted, retracted, extended, or fully extended position, it remains in equilibrium. In either of these two cases, the synchronizer or another mechanical means can be used to place a blade in one of these equilibrium positions. An advantage of this solution is that it can maintain all the blades in a stable position during all or part of the wheel rotation or all or part of the track cycle, without friction between the blade and any other part of the traction device.

[0088] Fixed magnets or electromagnets can, for example, be used to move or hold the blades in the retracted position within a part of the traction device, and other magnets or electromagnets to move the blades into the extended 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 blades from the retracted position to the extended position or vice versa.

[0089] Depending on the synchronizer configuration, the blades can be, for example: - either all in retracted position, - or all in deployed position, - or those which are in one part of the cycle in deployed position, and those which are in another part of the cycle in a less deployed or retracted position.

[0090] Regardless of the type of synchronizer chosen, it is possible to move the paddles located at the bottom of the traction device to their extended position to provide traction for the vehicle, and conversely, to move those located at the top to their retracted 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 is moving 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. It also eliminates the need to expend energy pumping water up the rear part of the paddle wheel, as was the case with these prior art devices.

[0091] A particularly advantageous embodiment is illustrated in [Fig. 18]. The device according to the invention shown on the left is a component of a gyropod. It is equipped with a chassis 400 which includes two foot supports and can operate like vehicles often referred to as unicycles. Such vehicles are described in document EP1986910A2 by Janik Simeray [FR] dated May 31, 2007, and in numerous subsequent documents citing this document.

[0092] The device shown on the right allows a swimmer or a floating craft to be pulled on or in the water by the wheel IA. The direction is determined by tilting the handlebar 301 to one side or the other. Controls 302 and 303 allow the rotational speed of the wheel and the configuration of the paddles to be controlled. For safety, as soon as the handles are released, the motor stops and the assembly floats. The direction of the pull can be freely chosen: forward, upward, or downward. Instead of having a control to determine the paddle configuration, the user can simply tilt the traction device forward or backward. Simple handles attached to the device shown on the left (not shown) can, in this case, allow a swimmer to perform this maneuver.

[0093] This autonomous wheel device is advantageously equipped with control means similar to those of gyropods. It can be remotely controlled or even managed by a computer, which can use artificial intelligence. In these latter cases, it can be commanded to follow the rider when they no longer need to be towed by the gyropod. A simple rope can then suffice to pull a person or a vehicle. land or water. To tow a heavy machine, such devices can be combined in series or in parallel.

[0094] The synchronizer operation makes it possible to determine in real time, according to the conditions encountered and the desired driving mode, which part of the cycle the blades are in the deployed position and which part they are in the retracted position, which blades are moved, and what the importance of the deployments considered is.

[0095] When the device according to the invention is a track, the synchronizer can elastically push the lower blades towards their deployed position. Advantageously, it simultaneously and continuously pushes the upper ones towards their retracted position. This can be a simple stop, a rail, a cable, or belts 61 and 62 as shown in [Fig. 19].

[0096] In one of said synchronizer configurations, the vanes are in a more deployed position in a lower part of the traction device to exert a horizontal thrust moving the vehicle horizontally.

[0097] It is also possible, as shown in [Fig. 3], to arrange the blades so that they are in a deployed position in a lower / front part of the traction device. This has the effect of generating, during the motorized rotation of the forward-moving wheel, a downward force, which can be used to pull a vehicle out of mud, to push a vehicle traveling on water upwards to reduce its drag, or even to make it take off and fly through the air.

[0098] Similarly, the synchronizer can also position the blades differently, placing them in a deployed rear position, so that they generate a more upward force when their rotation is driven by the movement of the fluid on or in which they rotate. This can allow the vehicle to rise above water or mud when towed or propelled by a sail or kite. A device according to the invention can thus serve as a wind turbine or a hydro turbine.

[0099] The blades advantageously have an internal structure made of rigid but flexible materials, and are easily removable so that they can be replaced quickly.

[0100] To allow a large number of blades to deploy simultaneously, the deployment of one blade can cause another blade to deploy, and its retraction can cause yet another blade to retract. Those skilled in the art know many ways to achieve this result, whether the objective is to drive a neighboring or distant blade.

[0101] It is advantageous to be able to modify the nature of a blade depending on the extent of its deployment. For example, the deployment of a tire tread pattern can, if it is greater, cause the tread lugs to protrude. In general, the deployment of a blade can thus lead, during part of this deployment movement, to the deployment of another blade of the same blade, in one or more different directions. Those skilled in the art have many known methods to achieve this, and this can allow for the deployment of blades with a larger surface area than the blade in question when it is in its retracted position. Different parts of a blade can also deploy in different directions to provide a larger contact area with the medium in or on which the vehicle is moving (versions not shown).

[0102] Wide tires or tracks offer the advantages of good traction, good stability in corners, short braking distances, and ride comfort. Therefore, it is advantageous that deploying a paddle increases the tread area.

[0103] To achieve energy savings, a wide tread resulting in higher fuel consumption, it is also advantageous that the deployment or retraction of a blade can lead to an increase or decrease in the tread area.

[0104] In one of its configurations, known as energy saving, the tread area may be less than half its value in another configuration, known as maximum efficiency.

[0105] Figure 10 shows a means of varying the tread area, illustrating three different configurations obtained by simply changing the distance of the vanes from the wheel's axis of rotation, demonstrating that the same tire can be used in many different applications. It should be noted that the device according to the invention allows not only for decreasing but also increasing the tread area.

[0106] Figure 11 shows a particular tire carcass, particularly suited to the present invention. It comprises coaxial 5001, radial 5002 and diagonal 5003 structural cable subassemblies intersecting at a single point 5000, and assemblies of blades 21 to 24 located on either side of this single point 5000.

[0107] It is advantageous that, in a first stage of their deployment, the blades are deployed simultaneously.

[0108] A low deployment of the blades can thus simultaneously concern all the blades of the device, while a higher deployment only concerns a part of them.

[0109] The optimal configuration can be controlled by a user, but also in real time by a computer that takes into account the vehicle's speed and trajectory, its load, and the state of the medium on or in which it is moving. The traction device then advantageously includes sensors to evaluate these parameters.

[0110] In the so-called energy saving configuration, the tread surface may not have a positive or negative tread pattern (also called a groove) exceeding 0.5% of the total height of the traction device.

[0111] In this so-called energy-saving configuration, the tread advantageously comprises one or more continuous or discontinuous rings coaxial with said peripheral wrap, each having a width less than that of said peripheral wrap

[0112] 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 force causing a blade to move from one position to another exceeds a certain threshold, the synchronizer can deform to cease producing the expected effect, and thus avoid causing damage to the blade or the synchronizer itself.

[0113] 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.

[0114] A mechanical means (not shown) may be provided to automatically move certain blades to the deployed position when the force exerted by the traction device on the vehicle chassis is less than a predetermined value. This allows, for example, the blades to automatically move to the deployed position when the vehicle is floating on water, since the force exerted by the traction device on the vehicle chassis is then reduced.

[0115] In a particular, unshown, embodiment, the blades are not permanently connected to the wheel or track. A selector device has the effect—either, in a first configuration, of moving the blades into a retracted position without being driven by the wheel or track, or, in a second configuration, of moving them into an extended position, in which they are driven with the wheel or track, moving away from the plane tangent to the periphery of the tread. A complementary device allows the blades that are about to move toward the top of the wheel or track to return to a retracted position.

[0116] The invention is also a machine such as a vehicle or a means of harnessing kinetic energy equipped with a traction device like those described above. Advantageously, such a vehicle comprises the part of the synchronizer that does not rotate with the traction device, and / or a means for modifying the configuration of the synchronizer and / or a means for adjusting the elastic resistance of the elastic return 31, and / or a means for controlling these two adjustment or modification means.

[0117] In a particularly advantageous embodiment illustrated by [Fig. 8], the vehicle is equipped with an obstacle-crossing assistance device 70 connected directly or indirectly to the vehicle chassis by a mechanical linkage such that it lifts the vehicle when encountering an obstacle by moving from a retracted position, in which it is not in contact with the solid or liquid support on which the vehicle rests, to a deployed position in which it supports the vehicle with 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 assistance devices described in the applicant's patent application FR3048404A3 of September 8, 2017, may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0118] The invention also provides a means of harnessing kinetic energy, consisting of a wheel or track according to the invention, propelled by the current of a fluid or gas. This makes it possible, for example, to recharge the batteries of a boat or submarine at rest. For instance, boats and submarines could be built that never need to be recharged because they automatically stop and drop anchor as soon as their electrical charge is too low, and then restart when the generation of electrical current by the fluid current or other means allows them to regain a sufficient electrical charge.

[0119] Boats can have means of electricity production (wave, tidal, wind or solar for example) and come ashore to discharge this electricity into the grid, without having to install cables between their electricity production location and the ground.

[0120] The invention can also allow the wheels of an aircraft to rotate before landing by using the air movement caused by its speed, so that they spin fast enough before touching the ground, thus saving the rubber usually lost during landing. It should be noted that, unlike other methods considered in the prior art, this one is lightweight and does not increase the size of the landing gear when retracted. In particular, the blades can be very thin and positioned between the cords forming the tire carcass, which are especially important during braking.

[0121] The invention is also the method of maneuvering a machine such as a vehicle or a means of exploiting kinetic energy equipped with a traction 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

[0122] The present invention applies to all land vehicles, from bicycles to trucks and including passenger vehicles, to save energy and / or allow automatic adaptation to traffic conditions.

[0123] The most amazing applications are land vehicles that can travel on roads as well as on uneven or muddy ground and sail on water or in some versions take off and land vertically and fly in all directions, as well as a large or small boat, a submarine navigating in the water or rolling on the bottom, or an aircraft, all these vehicles being able to land on a beach and cross shallows without damage.

[0124] These vehicles can be used for leisure or work, rescue, public works but also for military combat.

[0125] They can be piloted by humans, whether passengers or not, using remote control means, or by computers.

[0126] Another important benefit is to make many rivers navigable which are not currently so.

[0127] A particular application is the propulsion of persons on snow or on the surface of water, as well as in water, these persons being able or not to be equipped with an accessory such as skis or a surfboard.

[0128] All land, sea or air vehicles are concerned, including fast vehicles where the main objective is to save energy and adapt the tread structure in real time according to the conditions encountered and the driving style.

[0129] The main vehicles likely to benefit from the version of the invention in which some blades are deployed and others are not are as follows: - Motor vehicles of all kinds, and in particular amphibious or all-terrain vehicles, 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, - cargo or passenger transport vessels, regardless of their size and weight, and in particular fishing boats on rivers or ponds, or in marshes, tenders for pleasure craft, barges and recreational canal boats, - public works or agricultural machinery that must cross wet, muddy or snowy areas, - and remote-controlled vehicles for recreational use such as toys.

Claims

[Claim 1] Demands Vehicle traction device such as a wheel (IA) or a track (IB) comprising - an element called the peripheral envelope (2), comprising an outer face and an inner face which is separated from said outer face by the thickness of said peripheral envelope, which may or may in particular include a material in contact with the ground and a framework commonly called the carcass which ensures its solidity and resistance to load, said inner face defining an inner volume of said traction device, - a plurality of elements called blades (21, 22 and following) capable of generating or experiencing pressure during their movement in a fluid or granular medium, said blades not retracting under the effect of a force applied to them giving rise to a rotational moment applied to said device, in the two directions of rotation called forward and reverse, if this rotational moment is less in the direction of rotation called forward than a first predetermined threshold, and in the direction of rotation called reverse than a second predetermined threshold, - and a so-called deployment / retraction mechanism allowing a blade to deploy from a so-called retracted position to a so-called deployed position in which it extends outwards from the outer face of the peripheral casing, moving in a direction from the inner face to the outer face, and vice versa, characterized in that: - the deployment or retraction of a blade increases or decreases the surface area of ​​said tread, - and the deployment or retraction of a blade does not deform said structural tread, it being specified that the said peripheral envelope constitutes possibly or in particular the said tread, and that the above and below are understood to mean, - per tread, the surface of said traction device actually in contact with the ground when the traction device rolls on a flat and hard surface, - by structural tread, the part of said tread, excluding any part of said tread forming part of a blade, - and by deploying and retracting the movements of a blade going respectively in the direction going from said retracted position to said deployed position and in the opposite direction.

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