Ring gear and brake for centerless wheel

Abstract

The present disclosure may relate to centerless wheel assembly that includes a centerless rim including a first center point laying in a first plane generally defined by the centerless rim. The centerless wheel assembly may also include a centerless ring gear coupled to the centerless rim such that rotation of the centerless ring gear causes a corresponding rotation of the centerless rim. The centerless ring gear may include a second center point laying in a second plane generally defined by the centerless ring gear, and the first plane may be generally parallel to the second plane. Additionally, the centerless ring gear may be shaped to interface with a drive gear that drives the centerless ring gear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centerless rim for a centerless wheel, the centerless rim comprising:
 an exterior rim of a circular shape about a center point laying in a first plane generally defined by the centerless rim;   a rail protruding centrally from the exterior rim towards the center point, the rail including gear teeth at an apex of the rail;   a roller guide portion of the exterior rim between the rail and an edge of the exterior rim and, the roller guide portion shaped to interface with roller guides; and   a tire engaging portion shaped to interface with a tire.   
     
     
         2 . The centerless rim of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating on the roller guide portion. 
     
     
         3 . The centerless rim of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating on the gear teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The centerless rim of  claim 1 , wherein the rail includes a brake rotor portion between a base of the rail and the apex of the rail. 
     
     
         5 . The centerless rim of  claim 1 , wherein the gear teeth are shaped to interface with a helical gear. 
     
     
         6 . The centerless rim of  claim 1 , further comprising a void of material within the centerless rim. 
     
     
         7 . The centerless rim of  claim 6 , wherein the void of material is within the rail of the centerless rim. 
     
     
         8 . The centerless rim of  claim 7 , further comprising fins spanning the rail and disposed within the void of material. 
     
     
         9 . The centerless rim of  claim 1 , further comprising corrugations along an inner surface of the centerless rim. 
     
     
         10 . The centerless rim of  claim 1 , further comprising corrugations along an external surface of the centerless rim. 
     
     
         11 . A centerless wheel assembly, comprising:
 a centerless rim, comprising:   an exterior rim of a circular shape about a center point laying in a first plane generally defined by the centerless rim;   a rail protruding centrally from the exterior rim towards the center point, the rail including gear teeth at an apex of the rail;   a roller guide portion of the exterior rim between the rail and an edge of the exterior rim and, the roller guide portion shaped to interface with roller guides; and   a tire engaging portion shaped to interface with a tire;   an exoskeleton plate configured to remain in a fixed position relative to the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotates;   a set of roller guides coupled to the exoskeleton plate, the set of roller guides shaped and configured to roll along a first side of an inner circumference of the centerless rim; and   a drive gear with teeth shaped to interface with the gear teeth at the apex of the rail such that rotation of the drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the centerless rim.   
     
     
         12 . The centerless wheel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the set of roller guides are suspended from the exoskeleton plate via a cantilevered axle. 
     
     
         13 . The centerless wheel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the set of roller guides includes at least three roller guides displaced about a circumference of the centerless wheel assembly, at least one of the three roller guides at approximately a twelve o'clock position. 
     
     
         14 . The centerless wheel assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a second set of roller guides shaped and configured to roll along a second side of the inner circumference of the centerless rim, the second side of the inner circumference opposite the first side of the inner circumference relative to the rail. 
     
     
         15 . The centerless wheel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein roller guides of the first set of roller guides and roller guides of the second set of roller guides are a same size and shape. 
     
     
         16 . The centerless wheel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a first roller guide of the set of roller guides and a second roller guide of the second set of roller guides are located at a same position along a circumference of the centerless wheel assembly, the first roller guide on the first side of the inner circumference at the same position and the second roller guide on the second side of the inner circumference at the same position. 
     
     
         17 . The centerless wheel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drive gear is shaped and configured to interface with a chain via which the drive gear receives rotational force. 
     
     
         18 . The centerless wheel assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a brake caliper to interact with a portion of the rail that operates as a brake rotor to slow rotation of the centerless rim. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle comprising:
 a chassis;   four centerless wheel assemblies coupled to the chassis, each of the four centerless wheel assemblies comprising:   a centerless rim, comprising:   an exterior rim of a circular shape about a center point laying in a first plane generally defined by the centerless rim;   a rail protruding centrally from the exterior rim towards the center point, the rail including gear teeth at an apex of the rail;   a roller guide portion of the exterior rim between the rail and an edge of the exterior rim and, the roller guide portion shaped to interface with roller guides; and   a tire engaging portion shaped to interface with a tire;   an exoskeleton plate configured to remain in a fixed position relative to the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotates;   a set of roller guides coupled to the exoskeleton plate, the set of roller guides shaped and configured to roll along a first side of an inner circumference of the centerless rim; and   a drive gear with teeth shaped to interface with the gear teeth at the apex of the rail such that rotation of the drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the centerless rim.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein each of the centerless wheel assemblies further comprises a second set of roller guides shaped and configured to roll along a second side of the inner circumference of the centerless rim, the second side of the inner circumference opposite the first side of the inner circumference relative to the rail.