Combination drive-wheel mechanism and travel-sensor mechanism
First Claim
1. Traction apparatus for propelling a vehicle on a surface and sensing the distance traveled, comprising:
- a drive wheel on the vehicle for engaging the surface;
said drive wheel being mounted for rotation on a generally horizontal transversely extending axis;
drive-mechanism means mounted on said vehicle and connected with said drive wheel for propelling the vehicle;
travel-measurement means for measuring the distance traveled, including;
(a) an annular encoder wheel encircling said drive-mechanism means, said encoder wheel frictionally engaging said surface so as to be rotated when the vehicle travels;
(b) vertically movable support means mounted on said vehicle for supporting said encoder wheel;
(c) bearing means rotatably connecting said annular encoder wheel with said vertically movable support means;
(d) encoder means connected to sense rotation of said encoder wheel for providing an electrical signal.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Traction apparatus for driving a vehicle and accurately sensing the distance traveled, in which a drive mechanism is encircled by a separate ring-shaped encoder wheel. The encoder wheel, which is part of a travel-sensing mechanism, nests annularly with the drive mechanism so that the width of the combination is minimized. The travel-sensing mechanism can be assembled to the vehicle without disturbing the drive mechanism. There is enough radial clearance in the toroidal encoder wheel to permit the drive mechanism to move up and down within the encoder wheel. The encoder wheel has approximately the same outside diameter as the drive wheel, so certain common-mode measurement errors cancel. The encoder wheel and the drive wheel are approximately concentric and closely spaced laterally to minimize measurement errors that would otherwise occur upon turning of the vehicle. The tire of the encoder wheel is much narrower than that of the driving wheel, so the encoder wheel has a more constant effective lateral location during turning of the vehicle, which increases accuracy of travel measurement. An electronic encoder is offset from the encoder wheel and is belt-driven to provide a mechanical amplification that improves the measurement'"'"'s resolution. A belt sprocket on the encoder wheel has spaced-apart groups of teeth that engage the toothed belt.
104 Citations
11 Claims
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1. Traction apparatus for propelling a vehicle on a surface and sensing the distance traveled, comprising:
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a drive wheel on the vehicle for engaging the surface; said drive wheel being mounted for rotation on a generally horizontal transversely extending axis; drive-mechanism means mounted on said vehicle and connected with said drive wheel for propelling the vehicle; travel-measurement means for measuring the distance traveled, including; (a) an annular encoder wheel encircling said drive-mechanism means, said encoder wheel frictionally engaging said surface so as to be rotated when the vehicle travels; (b) vertically movable support means mounted on said vehicle for supporting said encoder wheel; (c) bearing means rotatably connecting said annular encoder wheel with said vertically movable support means; (d) encoder means connected to sense rotation of said encoder wheel for providing an electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification