GB360137A - Improvements in and relating to vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

360,137. Unicycles; rail-ring vehicles. PURVES, J. -A., Chilliswood, Trull, Taunton, Somerset. Sept. 26, 1930, Nos. 28901/30, 36210/30, and 20986/31. [Classes 79 (i) and 136 (iii).] A vehicle adapted to be propelled by human power, by an internal-combustion engine, or by electric, hydraulic, or other means, comprises a sphere or spheroid, or preferably an annular part thereof, adapted to roll along the ground and provided within it with a trolley or carriage running on an internal track &c., the vehicle being steered principally by lateral displacement of the load or the major part of it relatively to the central vertical plane of the outer rolling member. The spherical annulus 1, Figs. 1 and 2, may be constructed of a number of spaced circumferential members connected by transverse members and covered by lattice-work to permit fore and aft vision, the outer rolling surface being provided with tyres &c. A carriage 3, adapted to carry an engine &c. 4 and passengers, runs on one or more circular rails 2, its wheels 5 being driven by chain &c. gearing from the engine &c. 4. Steering is effected by a lateral movement of the load, e.g. by rack and pinion mechanism, or by pivotal movement of slings 13, Fig. 5, supporting a platform 14 carrying the engine, passengers, &c. on a trolley 12. Alternatively, the load may be carried by a ring-like member which is provided with wheels to run on the track, and with an inner circular &c. loadcarrying frame adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis. In other modifications, the track 22, Fig. 10, itself is tilted, as by means of control wires or rack and pinion mechanism 28, spring- pressed rollers 26 preventing lateral oscillation. Alternatively, steering may be effected by changes in the angular momentum of one or more flywheels, which are mounted on vertical axes and are provided with braking-mechanism. The vehicle may be driven by the reaction of water discharged by a pump from a pipe, and then re-collected. The vehicle may be driven electrically by means of a motor and batteries &c., or by electromagnetic action between the trolley and its track, e.g. by means of electromagnets, conducting-strips and brushes, &c.