Patent ID: 8172022

Claim:
A wheel assembly for a vehicle comprising a rim and an energy recovery system, the energy recovery system comprising a flywheel, a continuously variable planetary (CVP), a first planetary gear set, and a second planetary gear set, wherein: the flywheel is substantially concentric with the rim and operable to rotate relative to the rim; the CVP is positioned within the flywheel and is operable to transmit rotational motion between the flywheel and the rim; the first planetary gear set is disposed in the flywheel and rotationally coupled to the rim and the CVP such that rotational motion transmitted between the CVP and the rim is transmitted through the first planetary gear set; the second planetary gear set is disposed in the flywheel and rotationally coupled to the CVP, the rim and the flywheel such that rotational motion transmitted between the CVP, the rim and the flywheel is transmitted through the second planetary gear set, wherein: when a magnitude of an angular velocity of the rim is greater than a magnitude of an angular velocity of the flywheel, kinetic energy from the rim is imparted to the flywheel and stored as mechanical potential energy; and when the magnitude of the angular velocity of the rim is less than the magnitude of the angular velocity of the flywheel, mechanical potential energy stored in the flywheel is imparted to the rim thereby accelerating the rim.