Abstract:
vehicle has two vertical wheels, each fixed to a horizontal axle. A carriage that can hold a human rider is positioned in between the wheels, freely suspended from the axle. The wheels can be fixed to the same horizontal axle and the perimeter of the wheels can be connected so as to enclose the carriage. Alternatively, the wheels can be unconnected and fixed to different, but concentric, axles so that they can rotate independently. The vehicle can be unpowered, powered by the rider, or powered by an engine. It can be adapted to ride on land, water, or snow and ice.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a vehicle having two wheels that may or may not be connected, mounted on an axle, where a carriage holding a rider is suspended from the axle between the wheels. In particular, it relates to such a vehicle where the wheels are turned by a rider or an engine in the carriage.  
           [0002]    Unicycles, bicycles, tricycles, and cars have 1 to 4 wheels on one or more axles. A carriage that supports one or more riders rests on top of the axle or axles.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0003]    The vehicle of this invention differs from other wheeled vehicles in that, inside of resting on top of an axle, the carriage holding the rider is suspended from an axle.  
           [0004]    The two wheels are propelled when the weight of the carriage and rider force down a lever arm, such as a sprocket gear, that is attached to the axle. The carriage can have a seat, so that the rider can pedal from a sitting position, as in a bicycle, or the rider can stand.  
           [0005]    The vehicle of this invention can be non-propelled, rider-propelled, or motorized, and can be adapted to go on land, water, or even snow and ice. It can be used for recreational purposes, racing, or to go over rough terrain where the smaller wheels of other types of vehicles may fall into depressions. The land versions are expected to accelerate, decelerate, and turn somewhat sluggishly, but to be fuel-efficient and great fun to use. One land version can, for example, be ridden up a ramp, take off the air, and bounce several times as it rolls along. Because the rider can be enclosed inside the wheels, the wheels protect him from some types of injuries. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a side view of a certain presently preferred vehicle according to this invention, where the rider stands and pedals.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an end view through II-II in FIG. 1.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a plan view through III-III in FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative presently preferred vehicle according to this invention, where the rider sits and pedals.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a end view through V-V in FIG. 4.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternative vehicle according to this invention, which is propelled by an engine.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a end view through VII-VII in FIG. 6.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a side view of a vehicle adapted for use in water.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is an end view through IX-IX in FIG. 8.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 is a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 8, where a different steering mechanism is used.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 is a side view of still another alternative vehicle that is adapted for use in either land or water.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 2  is an end view through XII-XII in FIG. 11. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    In FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , vehicle  1  consists of two large wheels  2 , left wheel  2 A and right wheel  2 B, having axle  3  from which is freely suspended carriage  4 . Each wheel  2  has two parts, a central portion  5  and a peripheral portion  6 . Central portion  5  has two inner rims  7  connected by transverse supports  8  (most of which were omitted from the drawings for clarity). Spokes  9  connect inner rims  7  to hubs  10 , which are fixed to axle  3 . In FIG. 1, two spokes  11  have been omitted on the left wheel (but are present on the right wheel). A special spoke  12  is removably attached in between missing spokes  11  on the left wheel and connects inner rim  7  to hub  10 . This permits a rider to enter vehicle  1  by removing spoke  12 , entering central portion S, then reattaching spoke  12 .  
         [0019]    Referring now especially to FIGS. 2 and 3, peripheral portion  6  has a tire  13  held in tire rim  14 . Braces  15  connect tire rim  14  to transverse supports  17  which are connected to peripheral rims  16 . In between peripheral rim  16  and inner rim  7  are numerous springs  18 , which will return to the position shown in the drawings after being compressed or extended.  
         [0020]    Carriage  4  is fixed to sleeves  19 , which ride freely over axle  3 . Axle  3  has a left section and a right section to provide space for the rider. Each section of axle  3  preferably extends as far as possible into sleeves  19 . Removable caps  20  are fixed to the ends of the two sections of axle  3  to prevent the two sections from slipping out of sleeves  19 . Preferably, ball bearings are employed between sleeves  19  and axle  3  to reduce friction.  
         [0021]    To carriage  4  is attached freely rotatable pedal cam shaft  21  having sprocket wheel  22  fixed to one end. Two pedals  23  are rotatably mounted on pedal cam shaft  21 . Also fixed to axle  3  is a set of three sprocket wheels  24  (any number of sprocket wheels can be used). Chain  25  rides over sprocket wheel  22  and one of the sprocket wheels  24 . Sprocket wheels  24  are preferably Larger than sprocket wheel  22  (i.e., each sprocket wheel  24  has more teeth than sprocket wheel  22 ) so as to provide greater mechanical advantage. Alternatively,. V-shaped pulleys could be used instead of sprocket wheels  22  and  24  and a V-shaped belt could be used to turn the pulleys. Also, sprocket wheels  22  and  24  could be replaced by two gears that directly engage each other without a chain or other connection between them or that engage each other though additional gears.  
         [0022]    Derailleur  26  can shift chain  25  to any of the sprocket wheels  24 . (The tension sprocket wheel of the derailleur is not shown.) Additional sprocket wheels  22  could also be used with a second derailleur (not shown) to shift chain  25  between them. Derailleur  26  is connected by a cable (not shown) to gear shift  27  on handlebar  28 , which is fixed to sleeve  19  so that the rider can use gear shift  27  to control which of the sprocket wheels  24  is engaged by chain  25 . Thus, by engaging a larger sprocket wheel  24 , the rider can pedal more easily when vehicle  1  is beginning to move and, by engaging a smaller sprocket wheel  24 , he can move more rapidly without pedaling faster.  
         [0023]    Brakes  29 , attached to carriage  4 , are connected by a cable (not shown) to hand brake  30 , mounted on handlebar  28 , so that when the rider squeezes hand brake  30  he causes brakes  29  to grasp brake drum  31 , which is fixed to axle  3 , thereby slowing down and eventually stopping the movement of vehicle  1 . Disc brakes or another type of brake could also be used.  
         [0024]    A rider (not shown) stands on pedals  23  and holds onto handlebar  28 . He will normally face towards hand brake  30  and gear shift  27  so that he can easily operate the controls. As he pedals, he turns sprocket wheel  22  which causes chain  25  to turn one of the sprocket wheels  24 , moving vehicle  1  in the same direction as he is pedaling. The reason this happens is that a sprocket wheel  24  acts as a lever arm on axle  3 , and the rider&#39;s weight pulls down on the end of that lever arm.  
         [0025]    In FIGS. 1 and 2, vehicle  1  is shown with outer rim  16  resting on a support  32  (concrete, ground, or wood, for example), while tire  13  sits in trough  33 . Trough  33  is sloped at each end (see FIG. 1) so that as vehicle  1  moves to the end of trough  33 , it will be supported by tire  13  instead of by peripheral rim  16 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, vehicle  34  is similar to vehicle  1  in FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , except that carriage  35  holds seat  36  so that the rider can pedal in a seated position. Of course, additional seats can be provided, in tandem or side-by-side, to accommodate additional riders. If the vehicle is to be rolled down a hill or other slope, the pedals and gears can be eliminated.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, vehicle  37  is similar to vehicle  34  in FIGS. 4 and 5, except that vehicle  37  is powered by a power plant  38  instead of by a rider pedaling and only a single sprocket gear  24  is used as gear shifting is done in transmission-clutch  39 . Also, accelerator pedal  40  and brake pedal  41  have been mounted on the floor of carriage  35  so they can be operated by the rider&#39;s feet. Power plant  38  is preferably a gasoline engine with a gas tank, but other types of power plants, such as an electric motor and battery, a fuel cell with hydrogen tank, etc. could also be used.  
         [0028]    To ride the vehicle, it is placed over a trough, as shown in the drawings, or is otherwise steadied. The rider enters the wheel, climbs into position in the carriage, and begins pedaling (or starts the engine, if it is powered), balancing the vehicle as he would a bicycle. The rider stops by shifting his weight to one side or the other.  
         [0029]    The land vehicles of FIGS.  1  to  7  can be modified for use on snow and ice by removing tire  13  and braces  15 . Cleats can be placed on peripheral rim  16  for traction on ice. Transverse supports  17  can have a T-shaped cross-section, with the bottom of the T directed outward, to support the vehicle on snow and provide traction.  
         [0030]    The vehicle can also be adapted for use on water. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, vehicle  42  is similar to the vehicle shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, but tire  13 , spokes  15 , springs  18  and certain other parts have been omitted. Held between inner rims  43  and peripheral rims  44  by bands  45 , which are attached to rims  43  and  44 , are hollow, waterproof, air-filled toroidal floats  46  which enable vehicle  42  to float on water  47 . The two floats  46  are widely separated so that vehicle  42  is less susceptible to Transverse supports  48  and  49  connect inner rims  43  and peripheral rims  44 , respectively, and support paddles  50 . Spokes  51  connect inner rims  43  to hubs  52 . Inside axle  53  is a rod  54  that is connected to rudder control  55 , which is shaped like handlebar  28  in FIG. 3. Rod  54  extends from each end of axle  53  into housing  56  where each end is fixed to 45 degree gear  57 . Each gear  57  engages second 45 degree gear  58  which is fixed to rudder shaft  59 . Rudders  60  are fixed to rudder shafts  59  and the ends of rudder shafts  59  are rotatably connected to transverse support  61 . In this way, the rider can move rudder control  55  up or down to turn vehicle  42  to the right or left.  
         [0031]    Alternatively, the water version shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be steered by fixing rod  54  and transverse support  61  directly to rudder shafts  59 , as shown in FIG. 10. Floats  62  and radio-controlled rudder  63  are attached to transverse support  61  so that the rider can control the rudder by radio from inside the carriage. Rudder shafts  59  and transverse support  61  can be removed for use on land.  
         [0032]    Two large inner tubes can be used as floats  46  and the wheel and carriage can be made of a lightweight material, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or aluminum piping. It is also contemplated the land vehicle of FIGS.  1  to  7  could be combined with the water vehicle of FIGS. 8, 9, and  10  so that the vehicle could go either on land or water.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 11 and 1- 2  are directed to a version of the vehicle of this invention which is adapted to go on either land or water. In the vehicle of FIGS. 11 and 12, the two wheels  64  are not connected together, except at axle  65 . Each wheel  64  has an airinflated tire  66  held in rims  67 , which are attached by spokes  68  to hubs  69 . Paddles  70  are fixed to rims  67  and spokes  68 . Braces  71  are attached between spokes  68  and axle  65 . Axle  65  has two parts,  65 A and  65 B, separated by bearing  72 . Axle parts  65 A and  65 B can rotate independently, but cannot pull apart due to rod  73  inside axle  65 . Rod  73  extends from wheels  64  at each end, passing over ball-bearing plates  74 , where it is held by pins  75 . Sleeve  76  rides freely over axle  65  and supports carriage  77 , which extends from axles  65  a distance less than the radius of wheels  64 . Carriage  77  is provided with a seat  78  and a foot rest  79  for a rider. Carriage  77  holds engine  80  which had duel shafts  81 , each having a pulley  82  fixed at the end. Belts  83  ride loosely over pulleys  82  and over second pulleys  84  that are fixed to axles  65 . Third pulleys  85  are attached to lever arms  86  which pivot about their point of attachment to carriage  77 . By pushing lever arms  86  downward, third pulley  85  pushes against belts  83  and causes belts  83  to gradually engage pulleys  82  and  84 , thereby transferring power to left or right wheel  64  or to both wheels  64 . In this way, the rider can increase or decrease the speed of the vehicle and can turn it to the left or right.