Omni Direction Vehicle
First Claim
1. A mowing machine (502) comprising:
- a segmented and articulated frame having the shape of a circle defined about a vertical axis (110);
first and second drive wheels (2) mounted on said frame along a first horizontal axis (120) that intersects said vertical axis, said first and second drive wheels capable of independent rotation in forward and backward directions;
a power source (4) mounted to said frame and coupled to said first and second drive wheels for powered rotation of said first and second drive wheels;
a first control arrangement (7) for controlling speed and direction of rotation of said first drive wheel;
a second control arrangement (7) for controlling speed and direction of rotation of said second drive wheel;
a first cutting blade assembly (22) rotatively mounted on said frame about a first vertical blade axis;
a second cutting blade assembly (22) rotatively mounted on said frame about a second vertical blade axis; and
a third cutting blade assembly (22) rotatively mounted on said frame about a third vertical blade axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An omni direction vehicle with a frame having a round surface about its perimeter with no apparatus mounted on the frame extending beyond the perimeter. Two independent drive wheels located on an axis through the center of the frame are mounted at the same distance from a central vertical axis through the frame. Each wheel is powered independently of the other and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The vehicle is capable of movement in any direction by rotating the axis of the drive wheels to a position which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel. The vehicle can spin about its vertical axis such that the axis of the drive wheels can be oriented at any direction without changing the original footprint of the space that the frame occupies over the ground. Thus, the vehicle requires a zero turning radius and requires only the space it occupies to change its forward orientation.
45 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A mowing machine (502) comprising:
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a segmented and articulated frame having the shape of a circle defined about a vertical axis (110); first and second drive wheels (2) mounted on said frame along a first horizontal axis (120) that intersects said vertical axis, said first and second drive wheels capable of independent rotation in forward and backward directions; a power source (4) mounted to said frame and coupled to said first and second drive wheels for powered rotation of said first and second drive wheels; a first control arrangement (7) for controlling speed and direction of rotation of said first drive wheel; a second control arrangement (7) for controlling speed and direction of rotation of said second drive wheel; a first cutting blade assembly (22) rotatively mounted on said frame about a first vertical blade axis; a second cutting blade assembly (22) rotatively mounted on said frame about a second vertical blade axis; and a third cutting blade assembly (22) rotatively mounted on said frame about a third vertical blade axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A lawn mower (502) comprising:
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a frame formed of a plurality of segments (520, 522, 524, 526, 528, 530) pivotably connected together, said frame defining a circular perimeter, said circular perimeter defining a first vertical axis (110); first and second drive wheels (2) rotatively mounted on said frame along a first frame diameter (120) which is bisected by said vertical axis, said first and second drive wheels capable of independent powered rotation in forward and backward directions so that said lawn mower can rotate in place about said first vertical axis; and a plurality of cutting blade assemblies (22) carried by said frame and positioned to provide cutting coverage along substantially the entire frame diameter; whereby said plurality of segments allows said lawn mower to conform to uneven ground. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A lawn mower comprising:
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An omni-directional vehicle (502) defining a vehicle vertical axis (110) about which said omni-directional vehicle can rotate in place over the ground; an articulated circular deck formed of a plurality of segments pivotably connected together, said deck carried by said omni-directional vehicle and centered on said vehicle vertical axis; and a plurality of cutting blades carried by said circular deck. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification