Patent ID: 9539856
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: B60B,B60Y

Claim:
1. Wheel, wherein: the wheel includes a rim, which is fast to a hub of the wheel, for rolling motion about a wheel axis; the wheel includes many tread-plates; the wheel includes resiliently flexible tread-springs; proximal ends of the tread-springs are fast to the rim; distal ends of the tread-springs are fast to the tread-plates, whereby the tread-plates and tread-springs form tread-units; the tread-units are so configured that: (a) the tread-plates are urged radially outwards, with respect to the axis of the wheel, by the resilience of the tread-springs; and (b) the tread-plates can move, individually, radially inwards against the resilience of the tread-springs; the tread-units are arranged in a hoop-set, or in hoop-sets; in respect of the or each hoop-set of tread-plates: (a) the hoop-set is so configured that each tread-plate of the hoop-set lies circumferentially between adjacent tread-plates of the hoop-set; (b) the hoop-set includes a hoop-cable; (c) each one of the tread-plates that make up the hoop-set is fast to the hoop-cable; (d) the hoop-cable is of so dimensioned that, the wheel being unloaded and the tread-plates being urged radially outwards by the tread-springs, the hoop-cable is under hoop-tension; and (e) the tread-plates are each fastened to the hoop-cable in such manner that, the wheel being unloaded, adjacent tread-plates can approach but cannot separate, circumferentially.