Motor vehicles – Special driving device – Portable track
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-28
2001-01-30
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
Special driving device
Portable track
C180S009440, C180S006700, C305S052000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179073
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to omnidirectional positioning of vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The system for the movement of robots, forklift trucks, platforms, industrial and construction equipment, mobile chairs and a wide variety of other vehicles are continually being improved. There is particular need for improvements in systems which allow linear or curved movement in any direction from a point as well as rotation about a point.
In order to improve the movement, various systems have been developed which utilize rollers rotatably supported about the periphery of wheels. Such systems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,112 to Ilon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,460 to Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,900 to Farnam and U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,270 to West. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,112 patent to Ilon discloses a four wheeled vehicle with each wheel having rollers supported about the periphery with the axes of rotation of the rollers on a wheel extending transversely to the axes of rotation of the rollers on the wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle and at the opposite end of the vehicle. This system is very maneuverable without the need to steer any of the wheels. However, depending upon the load, the contact pressure between each of the rollers and the surface can be very high, sometimes too high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
This invention provides an improved assembly for omnidirectional movement of a vehicle over a surface by mounting a hybrid track assembly to each side of a vehicle for cooperating to steer the vehicle. A first lead track has a longitudinal axis entrained about a first plurality of wheels and a second lead track has a longitudinal axis entrained about a second plurality of wheels, the longitudinal axes of the tracks being parallel. A plurality of first lead rollers are rotatably supported in spaced and parallel relationship to one another along the longitudinal axis of the first lead track with each of the first lead rollers being supported for rotation about a first lead axis. A plurality of second lead rollers are rotatably supported in spaced and parallel relationship to one another along the longitudinal axis of the second lead track with each of said second lead rollers being supported for rotation about a second lead axis. The assembly characterized by said first and second lead axes of the first lead rollers and second lead rollers respectively being disposed in opposite directions.
It will be appreciated that the subject invention provides an improved assembly for omnidirectional movement of a vehicle over a surface which exhibits superior maneuverability in a tracked vehicle by utilizing a hybrid track assembly. For given overall dimensions and gross weight, a tracked vehicle will have a larger contact area than a wheeled vehicle with the support surface. Consequently, the ground contact pressure, and hence the sinkage and motion resistance, will be lower than an equivalent wheeled vehicle. Accordingly, the subject invention incorporates the advantages of a tracked vehicle with the advantages of rollers without the need for steering mechanisms. Another advantage of the subject invention is the improved drawbar-to-weight ratio.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2751259 (1956-06-01), Bonmartini
patent: 2867480 (1959-01-01), Cushman
patent: 3591241 (1971-07-01), Allen
patent: 3746112 (1973-07-01), Ilon
patent: 3872940 (1975-03-01), Gambini
patent: 4715460 (1987-12-01), Smith
patent: 4823900 (1989-04-01), Farnam
patent: 5186270 (1993-02-01), West
patent: 1 298 009 (1969-06-01), None
patent: 3841971 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 756078 (1960-01-01), None
patent: 601373 (1960-01-01), None
Chhabra Nitin
Wilkinson Stuart
DePumpo Daniel G.
Howard & Howard
University of South Florida
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