Vehicle suspension and drive system

1. An in-the-wheel hub-less suspension system for use on a vehicle comprising: at least two vertical guides;

at least two mounting brackets to be affixed to diametrically opposing positions on the rim of the wheel to which the suspension system is to be attached;

at least one shock absorber unit;

one spring for each vertical guide;

at least one cavity; at least one top orifice; at least one bottom orifice;

at least one top cap with a first through-hole; at least one bottom cap with a second through-hole;

at least one first seal for each of said at least one top cap; and

at least one second seal for each of said at least one bottom cap;

wherein each of said at least two vertical guides extends through one of said at least one shock absorber unit, wherein said spring for each vertical guide is located underneath said at least one shock absorber unit and encloses said vertical guide; wherein each end of each of said at least two vertical guides engages with the corresponding mounting bracket;

wherein said top orifice and said bottom orifice are coaxial, wherein said top cap is secured onto said top orifice and said bottom cap is secured onto said bottom orifice,

wherein said first hole in said top cap, said top orifice, said second hole in said bottom cap, said bottom orifice and said at least one cavity form a third through-hole through which each of said at least two vertical guides extend, and

wherein said at least one first seal for each of said at least one top cap creates a tight seal between the at least one top cap and the vertical guide and the said at least one second seal for each of said at least one bottom cap creates a tight seal between the at least one bottom cap and the vertical guide.

2. The suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inner ring of the hub-less rim;

an outer ring of the hub-less rim; and

a drive system comprising an electric step motor comprising a stator part and a rotary part, said stator part being attached to said inner ring and said rotary part being attached to said outer ring.

3. The suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inner ring of the hub-less rim; a middle ring of the hub-less rim;

an outer ring of the hub-less rim; and

a drive system comprising an electric step motor located in the rim structure and comprising a stator part and a rotary part, said stator part being attached to said inner ring and

said rotary part being attached to said middle ring.

4. The suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a frame located in the hub of the rim, said frame adapted for attachment to the chassis of the vehicle;

a two-part drive motor located inside said frame; and

a mechanical power transfer system comprising: a first pair of gears coupled to the drive shaft of each part of the two-part drive motor, and located inside said frame;

a third gear coupled to said first pair of gears and located in said frame; a first shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first shaft being engaged with said third gear;

a second shaft located coaxial to said first shaft and having a first end and a second end, said second end of said first shaft being engaged with said first end of said second shaft;

a fourth gear engaged to said second end of said second shaft; and a fifth gear engaged to said fourth gear and being rigidly attached to the outer ring; wherein said first shaft further comprises a first engaging means and said second shaft further comprises a first matching engaging means and said first engaging means and said second engaging means engage to allow the transmission of rotational motion from said first shaft to said second shaft about the common longitudinal axis.

5. A system for use on a hub-less rim on a vehicle as in claim 4 wherein said two-part drive motor is an electric step motor.

6. The suspension system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inner ring of the hub-less rim; an outer ring of the hub-less rim; a frame located in the hub of the rim, said frame being adapted for attachment to

the chassis of the vehicle;

a two-part drive motor located inside said frame; and

a hydraulic power transfer system comprising: a hydraulic pump rigidly attached to said frame and coupled to the drive shafts of the two-part drive motor;

at least one hydraulic motor rigidly mounted onto said inner ring;

at least one high-pressure hose having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said hydraulic pump and said second end connected to said hydraulic motor;

a hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor and the high-pressure hose;

a first gear located in the space between said inner ring and said outer ring, said first gear coupled to the drive shaft of said hydraulic motor; and

a second gear rigidly connected to said outer ring, said second gear engaged with said first gear.

7. A system for use on a hub-less rim on a vehicle as in claim 6 wherein said two-part drive motor is an electric step motor.