OMNI-DIRECTIONAL WHEELS AND METHODS AND VEHICLES EMPLOYING SAME

• US 20080087484A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Airtrax, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airtrax, Inc.
• Inventors: Mullowney, Robert, Fenelli, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/758,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20080087484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/236
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/003 Multidirectional wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/125 with helical projections on radial outer surface translating rotation of wheel into movement along the direction of the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/202 by casting
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/212 by drawing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/302 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/10 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/32 Plastic compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/324 Comprising polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/3412 Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/36 Composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/50 Rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/70 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2380/12 Ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2380/14 Roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/06 movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks vehicle aspects B60 - B62; vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading or unloading B60P1/00; low-lift hand trucks for transporting goods B62B3/06

Abstract

Omni-directional vehicles and wheels therefore including methods of constructing same. In alternative embodiments, omni-direction wheel modules for imparting omni-directional locomotional capabilities to vehicles and objects. In further alternative embodiments, apparatus and methods for transporting and loading and off-loading munitions utilizing specialized, omni-directional capable vehicles for improved efficiency and/or safety.

Claims

1. A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading munitions on and from military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle chassis;

(b) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle;

(c) a munitions carrier supported by said vehicle chassis for carrying munition loads, said munitions carrier being movable upon actuation of a lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that;

i. in said weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft; and

ii. in said aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft.

2. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of said omni wheels comprises a plurality of generally elliptical-shaped rollers.

3. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each of said omni wheels comprises at least six of said rollers.

4. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1, and comprising an electric motor operatively connected to each of said omni wheels for actuating said wheels.

5. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 4, wherein each electric motor is capable of generating at least five horsepower.

6. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said lift comprises a scissor lift including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, crossing arms.

7. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said lift comprises a collapsible munitions stand including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, folding arms.

8. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle chassis comprises a support platform.

9. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle defines a profile measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface, said profile being less than 14 inches when said mechanical lift is fully retracted.

10. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle defines a maximum reach measured from said munitions carrier to a ground surface, said maximum reach being greater than 60 inches when said mechanical lift is fully extended.

11. A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle chassis;

(b) a plurality of wheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis;

(c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle;

(d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and

(e) a munitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that;

i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft; and

ii. in the aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft; and

(f) said munitions handling vehicle defining a profile measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface, said profile being less than 14 inches when said mechanical lift is fully retracted.

12. A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle chassis;

(b) a plurality of wheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis;

(c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle;

(d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and

(e) a munitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that;

i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft, and in the weapons-transport position, said vehicle defines a profile of less than 14 inches measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface; and

ii. in the aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft, and in the aircraft-access position, said vehicle defines a maximum reach of greater than 60 inches measured from said munitions carrier to the ground surface.

13. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein each of said omni wheels comprises a plurality of generally elliptical-shaped rollers.

14. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 13, wherein each of said omni wheels comprises at least six of said rollers.

15. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, and comprising an electric motor operatively connected to each of said omni wheels for actuating said wheels.

16. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 15, wherein each electric motor comprises a minimum of 5 horsepower.

17. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said mechanical lift comprises a scissor lift including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, crossing arms.

18. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said mechanical lift comprises a collapsible weapons stand including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, folding arms.

19. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said vehicle chassis comprises a support platform.

20. A method for loading weapons in military aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(a) transporting a weapon to an aircraft on a munitions handling vehicle, the vehicle comprising a plurality of omni wheels cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of the vehicle;

(b) with the vehicle located at the aircraft, moving the weapon from a weapons transport position, wherein the vehicle defines a profile of less than 14 inches measured from an uppermost extremity of the vehicle to a ground surface, to an aircraft-access position, wherein the vehicle defines a maximum reach of greater than 60 inches measured from the ground surface; and

(c) in the aircraft-access position, loading the weapon in the aircraft.