Wheel structure and method of controlling wheel structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12583252-B2
Application number	US-202318134288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2023
Priority date	Sep 30, 2022
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

Disclosed is a wheel structure including a first hub member, a plurality of spokes that are provided in a circumferential direction (C 1 ) of the first hub member, protrude outward from the first hub member in an outward direction (R 1 ) intersecting the circumferential direction (C 1 ), and have sides coupled to the first hub member, guide parts to which the plurality of spokes are slidably coupled, and a second hub member to which sides of the guide parts are rotatably coupled, wherein the plurality of spokes include a rotation spoke rotatably coupled to the first hub member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wheel structure comprising:
a first hub; a plurality of spokes coupled to the first hub such that the plurality of spokes are provided along a circumferential direction of the first hub and protrude outward from the first hub; a plurality of guide parts to which the plurality of spokes are slidably coupled; and a second hub to which sides of the guide parts are rotatably coupled, wherein the plurality of spokes comprise a rotation spoke rotatably coupled to the first hub.

2 . The wheel structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of guide parts are coupled to the plurality of spokes in a one-to-one fashion.

3 . The wheel structure of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of guide parts comprises:
an insertion member that forms a through-hole into which a spoke of the plurality of spokes is inserted, wherein the through-hole is configured to guide movement of the spoke; and a connection member comprising one side fixedly coupled to the insertion member and another side rotatably coupled to the second hub.

4 . The wheel structure of claim 3 , wherein the connection member comprises:
a covering region fixedly coupled to the insertion member and comprising a region through which the insertion member is inserted; and an extension region extending from the covering region toward the second hub and having one side rotatably coupled to the second hub, wherein the extension region has a shape bent from the covering region.

5 . The wheel structure of claim 2 , wherein a plane comprising regions in which the plurality of spokes are rotatably coupled to the first hub is parallel to a plane comprising regions in which the plurality of guide parts are rotatably coupled to the second hub.

6 . The wheel structure of claim 2 , wherein the first hub and the second hub are parallel to each other.

7 . The wheel structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spokes further comprise a fixed spoke fixedly coupled to the first hub.

8 . The wheel structure of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of spokes comprise a plurality of rotation spokes.

9 . The wheel structure of claim 1 , wherein regions in which the plurality of spokes are coupled to the first hub are provided on a virtual first circle, and regions in which the plurality of guide parts are coupled to the second hub are provided on a virtual second circle.

10 . The wheel structure of claim 9 , wherein a size of the virtual second circle is greater than a size of the virtual first circle.

11 . The wheel structure of claim 1 , wherein the first hub and the second hub each independently have a disk shape or a ring shape.

12 . The wheel structure of claim 11 , wherein an outer diameter of the second hub is greater than an outer diameter of the first hub.

13 . The wheel structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a link part having one side coupled to the first hub and configured to allow a shape of the wheel structure to be deformed.

14 . The wheel structure of claim 13 , wherein the link part comprises:
a first link having one side coupled to the first hub; and a second link having one side rotatably coupled to the first link.

15 . The wheel structure of claim 14 , wherein the link part further comprises:
a first posture control motor configured to rotate the first link relative to the second link; and a second posture control motor configured to rotate the second link.

16 . The wheel structure of claim 13 , wherein the link part is spaced apart from the first hub and the second hub in a width direction of the wheel structure, and
wherein an interval between the link part and the second hub in the width direction is smaller than an interval between the link part and the first hub in the width direction.

17 . A method comprising:
causing a front portion of a wheel structure to approach a stepped section protruding upward, wherein the wheel structure comprises:
a first hub;
a plurality of spokes coupled to the first hub such that the plurality of spokes are provided along a circumferential direction of the first hub and protrude outward from the first hub;
a plurality of guide parts to which the plurality of spokes are slidably coupled; and
a second hub to which sides of the guide parts are rotatably coupled, wherein the plurality of spokes comprise a rotation spoke rotatably coupled to the first hub;
moving the second hub with respect to the first hub in an upward direction; and causing the second hub to rotate onto the stepped section.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the moving the second hub with respect to the second hub comprises moving the second hub with respect to the first hub in a rearward direction.

19 . A method of controlling a wheel structure, wherein the wheel structure comprises:
a first hub, a plurality of spokes coupled to the first hub such that the plurality of spokes are provided along a circumferential direction of the first hub and protrude outward from the first hub, a plurality of guide parts to which the plurality of spokes are slidably coupled and a second hub to which sides of the guide parts are rotatably coupled, wherein the plurality of spokes comprise a rotation spoke rotatably coupled to the first hub, the method comprising: moving the first hub relative to the second hub in a rearward direction; rotating the second hub in a forward movement direction; and after the moving the first hub relative to the second hub in the rearward direction, moving the first hub relative to the second hub; and rotating the second hub in a rearward movement direction.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
moving the second hub relative to the first hub in an upward direction before the moving the first hub relative to the second hub in the rearward direction.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Ha Ji Woo
• Ko Hun Keon
• Kim Tae Yu

Classifications

• B60B9/28

  with telescopic action · CPC title

• B60B2900/551

  Handling of obstacles or difficult terrains · CPC title

• B25J5/007

  mounted on wheels · CPC title

• B60B27/0047

  characterised by functional integration of other elements · CPC title

• B60B1/042

  Attaching spokes to hub · CPC title