Multi-wheel transmission

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a transmission comprising a first wheel assembly including a first wheel, a first drive gear coupled to the first wheel such that driving the first drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the first wheel, and a first motor coupled to the first drive gear to drive the first drive gear. The transmission also includes a second wheel assembly that includes, a second wheel, a second drive gear coupled to the second wheel such that driving the second drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the second wheel, and a second motor coupled to the second drive gear to drive the second drive gear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transmission comprising:
 a first wheel assembly including:
 a first wheel; 
 a first drive gear disposed within and coupled to the first wheel such that driving the first drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the first wheel; and 
 a first motor coupled to the first drive gear to drive the first drive gear; 
   a second wheel assembly including:
 a second wheel of a size within ten percent of the first wheel; 
 a second drive gear disposed within and coupled to the second wheel such that driving the second drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the second wheel, the second drive gear a different size from the first drive gear by between approximately ten percent and two hundred percent; and 
 a second motor coupled to the second drive gear to drive the second drive gear. 
   
     
     
         2 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the first drive gear drives the first wheel by driving a ring gear coupled to a rim of the first wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the first drive gear drives the first wheel via static friction between the first drive gear and a rim of the first wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the first motor is configured to rotate a first drive shaft at a first speed and the second motor is configured to rotate a second drive shaft at a second speed. 
     
     
         5 . The transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third wheel assembly including:
 a third wheel the same size as the first wheel; 
 a third drive gear coupled to the third wheel such that driving the third drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the third wheel, and the same size as the first drive gear; and 
 a third motor coupled to the third drive gear to drive the third drive gear; 
   a fourth wheel assembly including:
 a fourth wheel of a size within ten percent of the second wheel; 
 a fourth drive gear coupled to the fourth wheel such that driving the fourth drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the fourth wheel, the fourth drive gear the same size as the second drive gear; and 
 a fourth motor coupled to the fourth drive gear to drive the fourth drive gear. 
   
     
     
         6 . The transmission of  claim 5 , wherein the first wheel assembly and the third wheel assembly are on a first side of a vehicle and the second wheel assembly and the fourth wheel assembly are on a second side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The transmission of  claim 5 , wherein the first wheel assembly and the third wheel assembly are rear wheels of a vehicle and the second wheel assembly and the fourth wheel assembly are front wheels of the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The transmission of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a fifth wheel assembly including:
 a fifth wheel approximately the same size as the first wheel; 
 a fifth drive gear coupled to the fifth wheel such that driving the fifth drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the fifth wheel, and a size different from the first drive gear and the second drive gear; and 
 a fifth motor coupled to the fifth drive gear to drive the fifth drive gear; 
   a sixth wheel assembly including:
 a sixth wheel of a size within ten percent of the first wheel; 
 a sixth drive gear coupled to the sixth wheel such that driving the sixth drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the sixth wheel, the sixth drive gear approximately the same size as the fifth drive gear; and 
 a sixth motor coupled to the sixth drive gear to drive the sixth drive gear. 
   
     
     
         9 . The transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third wheel assembly including:
 a third wheel the same size as the first wheel; 
 a third drive gear coupled to the third wheel such that driving the third drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the third wheel, and a different size than the first drive gear and the second drive gear; and 
 a third motor coupled to the third drive gear to drive the third drive gear; 
   a fourth wheel assembly including:
 a fourth wheel of a size within ten percent of the second wheel; 
 a fourth drive gear coupled to the fourth wheel such that driving the fourth drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the fourth wheel, the fourth drive gear a different size than the first drive gear, the second drive gear, and the third drive gear; and 
 a fourth motor coupled to the fourth drive gear to drive the fourth drive gear. 
   
     
     
         10 . A transmission comprising:
 a first wheel assembly including:
 a first wheel; 
 a first drive gear coplanar with and coupled to the first wheel such that driving the first drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the first wheel; and 
 a first motor coupled to the first drive gear to drive the first drive gear; 
   a second wheel assembly including:
 a second wheel of a different size from the first wheel by between approximately ten percent and two hundred percent; 
 a second drive gear coplanar with and coupled to the second wheel such that driving the second drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the second wheel, the second drive gear a size within ten percent of the first drive gear; and 
 a second motor coupled to the second drive gear to drive the second drive gear. 
   
     
     
         11 . The transmission of  claim 10 , wherein the first drive gear drives the first wheel via static friction between the first drive gear and a rim of the first wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The transmission of  claim 10 , wherein the first motor is configured to rotate a first drive shaft at a first speed and the second motor is configured to rotate a second drive shaft at a second speed. 
     
     
         13 . The transmission of  claim 10 , wherein the first wheel includes a centerless rim with a rail extending inwards towards a middle point of the first wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The transmission of  claim 13 , wherein the first drive gear is configured to interface with gear teeth along the rail. 
     
     
         15 . The transmission of  claim 10 , wherein the first motor is configured to rotate a first drive shaft at a first speed and the second motor is configured to rotate a second drive shaft at a second speed. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle comprising:
 a body;   a first wheel assembly including:
 a first rim; and 
 a first drive gear disposed within and coupled to the first rim such that driving the first drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the first rim; and 
   a second wheel assembly including:
 a second rim; and 
 a second drive gear disposed within and coupled to the second rim such that driving the second drive gear causes a corresponding rotation of the second rim, the second drive gear a different size than the first drive gear. 
   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the first wheel assembly is positioned along a first side of the vehicle and the second wheel assembly is positioned along a second side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle is one of an automobile or a wheelchair. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the second wheel assembly is positioned in line with and behind the first wheel assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein the vehicle is one of a bicycle, a scooter, a motorcycle, or an automobile.