“Car of the Future” by Dr.Purves – 1932

Electrically driven unicycle was supposed to roll trough the cities in “common” nowdays segway style… Could this concept be cursed ? To steer the “dynasphere,” drivers would sit in an enclosed cabin that would obviously remain still while the wheel spin around it.

Dynasphere by J.H. Purves

Inside, center of gravity is low to prevent the wheel from tipping over. The weight of the motor and driver is sufficient to keep them always parallel with the ground.

Dynasphere has been tested on the beach at Weston Super Ware, England. With ease it reached speeds of thirty miles an hour, with two occupying the seat, have been comfortably attained. The lattice-work in front of the driver’s eyes disappears when the wheel is in motion, flashing past so rapidly that he has a good view of the road he is traveling.

Dynasphere by J.H. Purves

No mention of the hamstering problem common to one-wheeled vehicles. If the wheel was braked sufficiently slowly to prevent hamstering, wouldn’t the occupants be showered with beach sand? Sand picked up by the wheel’s surfaces should fly free when running at any appreciable speed, but you can’t instantly stop a center-piloted monowheel (because applying brakes just whirls you around like a hamster on an exercise wheel) so you’ll have to slowly drift to a stop while taking a shower in road debris

5-seater version

It is now impossible to say what may come of this invention, but it has so many advantages that further developments will cause no surprise. As the wheel simply rolls along  and there is no effort, and practically no wear, at the point of contact with the ground, the cost of maintenance should be comparatively low and the vehicle should be durable.

The bodywork and the engine move lightly on the rails and the easy motion of the sphere itself is comfortable for the driver and passengers, and the simplicity of construction would make the vehicle comparatively cheap to build. It is claimed that the dynasphere can achieve all that is asked of passenger-carrying vehicles, and even if it is never brought into use on a large scale on the roads of civilized countries, it may prove invaluable for work in others that are not so well developed.

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“Car of the Future” by Dr.Purves – 1932 Electrically driven unicycle was supposed to roll trough the cities in “common” nowdays segway style… Could this concept be cursed ? To...