Patent ID: 6065557
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: B62M,Y10S

Abstract:
An assembly for providing a direct frictional drive to the outer circumferential tread portion of a vehicle wheel, said assembly comprising:a) support means for contiguously disposing two drive rollers laterally spaced with respect to each other at two separate locations against said tread portion for frictionally causing said vehicle wheel to rotate about an axis of wheel rotation,b) said support means including drive roller carrier means for rotatably supporting said drive rollers and being effective to maintain the drive rollers in frictional driving contact with the tread portion,c) said support means including coupling means floatingly connecting the drive roller carrier means to provide limited rotational movement of said drive roller carrier means about a radial pivot axis which is substantially normal to and extends through said axis of wheel rotation with each said drive roller being disposed with respect to each other on opposing sides of said radial pivot axis, said coupling means being effective to provide a continuous back and forth alignment of said drive rollers with respect to any back and forth movement of the tread portion in a first direction parallel to said axis of wheel rotation as the vehicle wheel rotates and connection means pivotally mounting the driver roller carrier means to the coupling means to maintain a continuously in and out positive radial contact between said drive rollers and the tread portion in response to any in and out movement of the tread portion in a second direction normal to said axis of wheel rotation of the rotating vehicle wheel, andd) electric power drive means mounted to said support means for rotating said drive rollers,e) said power drive means including electrically powered motor means, battery means, and electric coupling means for electrically connecting the battery to said motor means.