Caption: Two Small Models Which were Built to Demonstrate the Operation of the Walking Legs That Took the Place of Driving Wheels
Source: Popular Science Monthly, Aug 1921
"WALKING" MOTOR CAR TRAVELS SLIPPERY ROADS
A true nonskidding motor car has been evolved by a Czecho-Slovakian inventor in which the driving members are feet and legs instead of wheels, and which propels itself by a heel-and-toe walking action. The four legs of the odd contrivance are attached to the throws of a crankshaft in such a way that as it revolves they are first lifted, then carried forward and lowered, and again carried backward.
Another part causes them to rock backward at the top as they descend, which brings the heel of the foot in contact with the ground first. As the shaft continues to turn, the heel gives a backward shoving impulse and rises. The toe then comes into contact and imparts a shove. The throws of the crankshaft are so spaced that the eight heels and toes follow each other with their impulses in rapid succession and at exactly equal intervals.
Caption: The circular motion of the driving crank is converted into In action
Source: Popular Science Monthly, Jan-Jun 1922
Automobile Walks on Steel Feet over Rough Ground
Toy models of a walking automobile driven by the reciprocating action of steel feet and legs attracted much attention at the International Motor Exposition at Prague. The illustration shows the walking drive to be simple in principle.
The circular motion of the driving-crank is converted into a perfectly uniform horizontal motion of the mechanical feet. The wear and tear on the main parts of the mechanism Is virtually nil, and the treads and guide-rolls may be readily replaced. The capacity of the drive is considerable and the fuel consumption low.
Its inventor claims that over rough ground the walking drive is more efficient than the caterpillar truck. This is debatable, even if a wheel or caterpillar must surmount all obstacles on the ground, while a walking-truck need only deal with 20 per cent of them. The device is not intended to repine wheels on vehicles traveling over smooth roads, but it is said to be an advantage to tractors working in soft soil.
Most likely these models were made by Václav ZboÅ™il.
See full patent details here.
Patent number: 1511928
Filing date: Aug 22, 1922
Issue date: Oct 14, 1924