Patent GB-190615463-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Transporting Bodies on Land.
Inventor: HELE-SHAW HENRY SELBY
Filed: 1906-07-07
Granted: 1907-07-06
Abstract: 15,463. Shaw, H. S. Hele-. July 7 Wheels with portable tracks. - Relates to a walking transporter or vehicle either self-propelled or drawn by external means, in which the body of the vehicle is supported upon a series of feet. In the arrangement shown applied to a lorry in Figs. 3 and 5, four horizontal wheels or carriers B,arranged to rotate about vertical axes, carry series of feet C connected to legs D, which support the body of the vehicle by means of rollers running on continuous cam rails E secured to the underside of the framework. The cam rails E are so shaped t h a the feet and legs which are at any moment adjacent to the longest sides of the frames are lowered on to the ground so as to take the weight of the vehicle, which thus moves forward when the carriers Bare rotated. Fig. 6 shows a sectional elevation of one of the carriers together with the supporting feet and cam rail, and Figs. 8 and 9 show one of the legs in detail. The connexion between each foot and leg is a universal joint which also allows lateral movement in any direction, but no rotary movements. Each leg consists of two main parts relatively movable. The outer part D<1> is provided with trunnions D<2> supported in bearings in the carrier B. The inner part D <3> carries the foot C, and is supported, when in the raised position, by a spring D<6> arranged between a collar D' on the inner member and a flange D<5> on the outer. The lower cylindrical portion of a frame D<7> carrying the roller D" is supported in the inner member D3 by a spiral spring D<8>, which prevents shocks being transmitted from the foot to the vehicle. The frame D<7> and inner member D<3> are connected by a spiral torsion spring D<13>, which permits slight rotation of the foot when necessary. The universal joint connexion between the lower end of the leg and the foot, comprises an intermediate member F having upper and lower cylindrical surfaces at right-angles to one another, which engage respectively with a corresponding surface D" on the end of the member D<3>, and a similar surface F<1> on the inside of the foot C. Spiral springs F<2>, F<3> tend to return the foot to the central position when displaced laterally. The foot is held in position by springs F' connected to a flange on the sliding case D<17> surrounding the outer member D'. The universal joint is protected by a flexible casing F<5>. A modified construction of leg and foot is shown, in which the universal joint is replaced by an india-rubber ring. To ensure that the velocity of the foot in a forward or backward direction relatively to the body of the vehicle shall be constant while the foot is in contact with the ground, each leg is so guided that the path of the lower end relatively to the moving cam rail is along the curve a, e<4>, c, obtained by a special construction as shown in Fig. 14, so that the foot moves laterally in regard to the leg during forward movement. To ensure this definite movement of the lower end of the leg, the depressed part of the cam rail is bulged outwards in plan beyond the arc a, b, c, by an amount equal to the distance of the curve a, e<4>, c inside the arc. The vehicle is steered by giving a rotary adjustment to the cam rails about the vertical axis of the carriers, so as to vary the direction in which the feet move relatively to the vehicle when they are depressed and in contact with'the ground. The ball bearings A', Fig. 6, allow easy adjustment of the cam rails. The four cam rails in the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 5, may be connected and adjusted from the steering hand-wheel by a rack and toothed sectors in such a way that each system of feet tends to turn the vehicle about the same point. The front carriers only, or all four carriers, may be driven by a motor, or the transporter may be drawn by external means, such as the tractive efforts of animals. The carriers on opposite sides of the vehicle may be driven through differential or freewheel gearing. A pair of carriers might be attached for steering to a frame corresponding to the forecarriage of an ordinary vehicle. The body may be mounted on the transporter frame by additional ordinary springs. The feet may be raised and lowered by hydraulic methods, and the carriers may take various forms instead of the wheel shown. The cam rails may be of circular or of any other shape.