The Rhino: An Inventor’s Visionary Solution for Off-Road and Highway Transportation From The 1950s – Design You Trust

The Rhino: An Inventor’s Visionary Solution for Off-Road and Highway Transportation From The 1950s

Rhino’s tilting hemispheroidal wheels adjust to variable heights on uneven terrain.
1

Back in 1954, inventor Elie Aghnides was struck by an idea that would revolutionize the way we think about off-road vehicles. As he watched a caterpillar tractor muscling dirt around in New York City’s Central Park, he couldn’t help but wonder why such a powerful machine was limited to a maximum speed of 25 mph and plagued by frequent tread breaks.

h/t: vintag.es

Aghnides displays early models of his five-ton creation. Small one is his first model. Large one is more like the present full-size prototype.
2

Aghnides, best known for his Aerator water faucet attachment, set out to combine the best features of tracked and wheeled vehicles into one machine. The result was the Rhino, a rugged mechanical beast of burden capable of going just about anywhere – through swamps, mud, snow, mountains, and forests where trucks would be hopelessly entangled.

Huge and powerful prototype Rhino weighs about 10,000 pounds. It is powered by a six-cylinder Ford industrial engine of 110 hp at 3.000 rpm.
3

But the Rhino wasn’t just a specialized off-road vehicle. Thanks to its ingeniously designed wheels, it could travel on highways at speeds of up to 45 mph, making it a versatile transportation solution for a variety of industries.

Rugged vehicle charges through thick river bot-tom ooze. Its watertight body, hemispheroidal wheels permit easy passage through shoal waters.
4

Although the Rhino was a major breakthrough in vehicle design, Aghnides never stopped dreaming of even greater possibilities. He envisioned the Rhino one day reaching speeds of 70 mph, a feat that was once considered impossible for a vehicle of its size and capabilities.

In deep water it is propelled and steered by a Kermath Hydrojet unit which enables it to turn in its own length. It floats on hollow wheels.
5

Today, the Rhino continues to be a symbol of innovation and progress, inspiring inventors and engineers to push the boundaries of what’s possible. It stands as a testament to the power of imagination and the endless potential of human creativity.

Engineers discovered that even at 75 degree angle, Rhino wouldn’t tip over. Stability is due to low center of gravity and shape of its wheels.
6

Rubber cleats set at right angles to main rubber driving tread for optimum traction have been put on both the front and rear spheres.
7

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Oh, Design You Trust,' our brand new Facebook page! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

Someone Noticed That Cats Use Parking Bumpers As Pillows, And It’s Oddly Wholesome
Artist Creates Beautiful Paintings Based On Vintage Images To Merge The Past And Present
Inside a Porsche Factory From the Early 1970s
Customizing the 1940 Mercury: A Classic Car with Endless Possibilities
From Tire Stacks to Cultural Icon: Unraveling the Enduring Legacy of the Michelin Man
Superb Amusing Retro-Inspired Collages by Toon Joosen
Striking Black And White Photographs Of New York City’s ‘Mean Streets’ In The 1970s And 1980s
Amazing Photos of the 1948 Panhard Dynavia
"Terminal City": Extraordinary Photos Of Vancouver 1972-1982
Griffin Microsheen Used To Have Some Interesting Shoe Polish Ads In The 1950s
Charming Photos Of Cool Girls Posing With Their Cars In The 1920s
Amazing Vintage Photographs Of Cat's Meat Sellers In London In The Early 20th Century
Stunning Photos Of Cyndi Lauper At Coney Island For Her Album “She’s So Unusual” In 1983
Life in the Past Through Stunning Color Photos Captured by Fred Herzog
Cool Pics That Show Fashion Styles of the ’80s Young Women
Hippie Van Of The 1960s: Amazing Photographs That Capture People With Their Classic VW Buses
Family Pets In Fabulous Vintage Holiday Greeting Cards
China: The Land Where Fake Brands Reign Supreme
Picture Hats: One Of The Favorite Fashion Styles Of Edwardian Women
MINI Launches World's First Hi-Res Interactive LED Car: MINI Art Beat
Russian Artist Creates Incredible Ultrarealistic Miniature Models Of The Military And Utility Vehicles
Beehive Hairdo: The Women’s Popular Hairstyle Throughout the 1960s
Galaxy of Horrors!: NASA Posters Highlight Spooky Alien Planets, Just in Time for Halloween
Vintage Pictures of Snow King Chairlifts without Any Safety Bars that Look Very Unsafe, 1950-1970