Vehicle propulsion system

Abstract

A propulsion system for a vehicle comprised of two wheels, both of which are in the shape of hemispheres. Each of the hemisphere wheels is mounted through a bearing on a fork with two pivots attached to the stationary race of the bearing, allowing the wheel to rotate around two perpendicular accesses. The center of each wheel is attached to the shaft through a double universal joint or a flexible shaft. By rotating the hemisphere wheel around the fork pivots the diameter of the wheel engaged with the ground is increased or decreased allowing the vehicle speed and/or direction to very.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A propulsion system for a vehicle comprising: 
 first and second hemisphere wheels;    an input means connected to a first hemisphere wheel;    said first hemisphere wheel having a first bearing located on the inside circumference of the first hemisphere wheel;    a housing having a first mounting fork attached to said first hemisphere wheel at two pivot points located at the hemisphere wheels major diameter;    a control lever having a joint attachment to a stationary race of the first bearing, perpendicular to the pivot points of the first mounting fork;    said control lever also being attached to an stationary race of a second bearing, perpendicular to pivot points of a second mounting fork of a second hemisphere wheel;    said second hemisphere wheel having a second bearing located on the inside circumference of the second hemisphere wheel;    the housing having a second mounting fork attached to said second hemisphere wheel at two pivot points located at the second hemisphere wheels major diameter;    an outer circumference of said first and second hemisphere wheels being engaged through friction with the ground;    said control lever having the ability to swing both hemisphere wheels around the pivot points of the mounting forks to change the engaged diameters of both of the hemisphere wheels.    
     
     
         2 . The propulsion system of  claim 2 , wherein the first bearing is located on the inside circumference of the first hemisphere wheel at the hemispheres major diameter, and the first two pivot points are located on a first stationary race of said bearing, and the second bearing is located on the inside circumference of the second hemisphere wheel at the hemispheres major diameter, and the second two pivot points are located on a second stationary race of said bearing.  
     
     
         3 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the system is used as a vehicle's front wheels.  
     
     
         4 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the system is used as a vehicle's rear wheels.  
     
     
         5 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the system is used as both the front and back wheels of a vehicle, such that there are four hemisphere wheels in sets of two and two control levers, one control lever for each pair of hemisphere wheels.  
     
     
         6 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the system is used as both the front and back wheels of a vehicle, such that there are four hemisphere wheels in sets of two and four control levers, one control lever for each hemisphere wheel.  
     
     
         7 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a vehicle can have multiple pairs of hemisphere wheels.  
     
     
         8 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the multiple pair of hemisphere wheels is three or more pairs of hemisphere wheels.  
     
     
         9 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the input means consists of an input shaft wherein said input shaft is a flexible constant velocity device connected to a first hemisphere wheel on the inside center of said first hemisphere wheel.  
     
     
         10 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible constant velocity device is a double universal joint.  
     
     
         11 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible constant velocity device is a single universal joint.  
     
     
         12 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible constant velocity device is a flexible shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the input means is a motor mounted on a stationary race of the bearing of the first hemisphere wheel.  
     
     
         14 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein both the first and second hemisphere wheels have a motor mounted on the stationary race of the bearings, such that the first and second hemisphere wheels will have independent input means from each other.  
     
     
         15 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the input means is a motor mounted on the stationary race of the bearings of all four hemisphere wheels of the system, such that the first, second, third and fourth hemisphere wheels will have independent input means from each other.  
     
     
         16 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the input means is a motor mounted on the stationary race of the bearings of all four hemisphere wheels of the system, such that the first, second, third and fourth hemisphere wheels will have independent input means from each other  
     
     
         17 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the input means is an engine or a motor connected to the input shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the control lever is controlled by one of the following: 
 a. an hydraulic cylinder, or    b. a pneumatic cylinder, or    c. an actuator, or    d. manually.    
     
     
         19 . A propulsion system for a vehicle comprising: 
 first and second hemisphere sets, each hemisphere set comprising:    first and second hemisphere wheels;    an input means connected to said first hemisphere wheel;    said first hemisphere wheel having a first bearing located on an inside circumference of the first hemisphere wheel;    a housing having a first mounting fork attached to said first hemisphere wheel at two pivot points located at the first hemisphere wheels diameter;    a control lever having a joint attachment to a stationary race of the first bearing, perpendicular to a pivot axis defined by the pivot points of the first mounting fork;    a second control lever being attached to a stationary race of a second bearing, parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot points of a second mounting fork of a second hemisphere wheel;    said second hemisphere wheel having said second bearing located on the inside circumference of the second hemisphere wheel;    the housing having a second mounting fork attached to said second hemisphere wheel at two pivot points located at the second hemisphere wheels diameter;    an outer circumference of said first and second hemisphere wheels being engaged through friction with the ground;    said control lever having the ability to swing both hemisphere wheels around the pivot points of the mounting forks to change the engaged diameters of both of the hemisphere wheels; wherein the system is used as both the front and back wheels of a vehicle, such that there are four hemisphere wheels in sets of two and four control levers, one control lever for each hemisphere wheel.    
     
     
         20 . A propulsion system for a vehicle comprising: 
 first and second hemisphere wheels;    an input means connected to a first hemisphere wheel;    said first hemisphere wheel has a hallow boss located in the center of said hemisphere wheel said boss having a first bearing located on the inside circumference of the first hemisphere wheel boss;    a housing having a first mounting fork attached to an intermediate member at two pivot points;    said intermediate member serves as a stationary race of said bearing;    a control lever having a joint attachment to an intermediate member, perpendicular to the pivot points of the first mounting fork;    said control lever also being attached to an intermediate member of a second hemisphere wheel, perpendicular to pivot points of a second mounting fork of a second hemisphere wheel;    said second hemisphere wheel having a second bearing located on the inside circumference of a second hemisphere wheel boss;    the housing having a second mounting fork attached to said second hemisphere wheel at two pivot points;    an outer circumference of said first and second hemisphere wheels being engaged through friction with the ground;    said control lever having the ability to swing both hemisphere wheels around the pivot points of the mounting forks to change the engaged diameters of both of the hemisphere wheels.    
     
     
         21 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 20 , wherein the input means consists of an input shaft wherein said input shaft is a flexible constant velocity device connected to a first hemisphere wheel on the inside center of said first hemisphere wheel.  
     
     
         22 . The propulsion system for a vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the flexible constant velocity device is a single universal joint.  
     
     
         23 . The propulsion system of a vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein said pivot points can be located at a major diameter  
     
     
         24 . The propulsion system of a vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein said pivot points can be located anywhere from a major diameter of said hemisphere wheel to center of said hemisphere wheel such that when the hemisphere wheel is tilted, the distance from the pivot points to the ground is going to decrease.  
     
     
         25 . The propulsion system of a vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein said pivot points can be located closer to the center of said hemisphere wheel such that when the hemisphere wheel is tilted, the distance from the pivot points to the ground is going to decrease.