Patent ID: 6757936
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
A wheel for a traveling structure comprising:a pair of substantially hemispherical auxiliary-wheel carriers that rotate in a rotational direction when the traveling structure proceeds along a traveling surface in a generally straight direction; and a plurality of auxiliary wheels attached to the auxiliary-wheel carrier at circumferentially spaced apart locations so as to be freely rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the auxiliary-wheel carrier, wherein said auxiliary wheel carriers have a plurality of grooves formed in a radial direction and bearings formed on both sides of the grooves; and wherein said auxiliary wheels are in the form of circular discs having opposed planar faces; and wherein each of said circular discs protrudes outwardly from an external peripheral surface of the auxiliary-wheel carrier so that portions of said planar faces are exposed to thereby allow said circular discs to bite into said traveling surface; and wherein said auxiliary wheels include shafts journaled on the bearings to allow said auxiliary wheels to be freely rotatable and to mount the auxiliary wheels to the auxiliary wheel carriers in such a manner that part of the auxiliary wheels is exposed from the grooves.