Reconfigurable mobile vehicle with magnetic tracks
First Claim
1. A vehicle for use in a vessel having walls with interior surfaces capable of supporting a magnetic circuit, comprising:
- a vehicle frame member;
a first endless driven member received on said vehicle frame member and adapted for travel on the interior surfaces of the vessel walls;
means for driving said first endless driven member;
a magnetic system attached to said vehicle frame member and comprising a magnet, fixed magnetic circuit means, and movable magnetic circuit means for establishing first and second magnetic circuits;
means for selectively connecting said movable magnetic circuit means to said means for driving to move said movable magnetic circuit means between a first position wherein said first magnetic circuit is established between said endless driven member, said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means and said movable magnetic circuit means such that said endless driven member is caused to magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel, and a second position wherein said second magnetic circuit is established between said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means, and said movable magnetic circuit means such that said endless driven member does not magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel; and
permanent magnet means pivotally attached to said vehicle frame member adapted to selectively pivotally engage the interior surfaces of the walls of the vessel to enable the vehicle to move from a first vessel surface to a second vessel surface that intersects the first vessel surface as said first endless driven member is driven.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile vehicle having at least one endless driven member for driving the endless member on a surface capable of supporting a magnetic circuit. The vehicle is equipped with a magnetic system that is housed in a substantially hermetically sealed enclosure and comprises a magnet, a fixed magnetic circuit member, and a movable magnetic circuit member for establishing first and second magnetic circuits. A clutch is provided to selectively connect the movable magnetic circuit member to the motor to move the movable magnetic circuit member between a first position wherein the first magnetic circuit is established such that the endless driven member can magnetically engage the surface and a second position wherein the second magnetic circuit is established such that the endless member does not magnetically engage the surface. The enclosure is pressurized with a pressure medium at a predetermined pressure and temperature and is monitored by sensors within the enclosure. The pressure and temperature sensors interface with microprocessors which can trigger a shut down of the vehicle'"'"'s components should anomalous pressure or temperature conditions occur within the enclosure. The vehicle also has permanent magnet tracks pivotally attached thereto to enable the vehicle to traverse between intersecting magnetic wall surfaces.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle for use in a vessel having walls with interior surfaces capable of supporting a magnetic circuit, comprising:
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a vehicle frame member; a first endless driven member received on said vehicle frame member and adapted for travel on the interior surfaces of the vessel walls; means for driving said first endless driven member; a magnetic system attached to said vehicle frame member and comprising a magnet, fixed magnetic circuit means, and movable magnetic circuit means for establishing first and second magnetic circuits; means for selectively connecting said movable magnetic circuit means to said means for driving to move said movable magnetic circuit means between a first position wherein said first magnetic circuit is established between said endless driven member, said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means and said movable magnetic circuit means such that said endless driven member is caused to magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel, and a second position wherein said second magnetic circuit is established between said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means, and said movable magnetic circuit means such that said endless driven member does not magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel; and permanent magnet means pivotally attached to said vehicle frame member adapted to selectively pivotally engage the interior surfaces of the walls of the vessel to enable the vehicle to move from a first vessel surface to a second vessel surface that intersects the first vessel surface as said first endless driven member is driven. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A mobile vehicle for use in an enclosed vessel having walls with interior surfaces capable of supporting a magnetic circuit comprising:
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a vehicle frame member; at least two drive members, each said drive member having a housing connected to said vehicle frame member such that said drive members are parallel to one another, each said drive member further having a first endless driven member received on said housing and adapted for travel on one of the interior surfaces of one of the vessel walls, and means for driving said first endless driven member, and a magnetic system attached to said housing comprising a magnet, fixed magnetic circuit means, and movable magnetic circuit means for establishing first and second magnetic circuits, and means for selectively connecting said movable magnetic circuit means to said means for driving to move said movable magnetic circuit means between a first position wherein said first magnetic circuit is established between one of said endless driven members, said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means and said movable magnetic circuit means such that one of said first endless driven members is caused to magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel, and a second position wherein said second magnetic circuit is established between said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means and said movable magnetic circuit means such that said one of said first endless driven member does not magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel; and at least one permanent magnet means pivotally attached to each said drive member housing, said permanent magnet means adapted to selectively pivotally engage the interior surfaces of the walls of the vessel to enable the vehicle to move from a first interior surface to a second interior surface that intersects the first interior surface as said one of said first endless driven member is driven. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A mobile vehicle for use in an enclosed vessel having walls with interior surfaces capable of supporting a magnetic circuit comprising:
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a vehicle frame member; at least one drive member attached to said frame member, each said drive member having a substantially hermetically sealed drive housing having a predetermined pressure established therein, each said drive member further having a first endless driven member received on said housing and adapted for travel on the interior surfaces of the vessel walls, means for driving said first endless driven member, and a magnetic system attached to each housing comprising a magnet, fixed magnetic circuit means, and movable magnetic circuit means for establishing first and second magnetic circuits, and means for selectively connecting said movable magnetic circuit means to said means for driving to move said movable magnetic circuit means between a first position wherein said first magnetic circuit is established between said first endless driven member, said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means and said movable magnetic circuit means such that said first endless driven member is caused to magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel, and a second position wherein said second magnetic circuit is established between said magnet, said fixed magnetic circuit means and said movable magnetic circuit means such that said first endless driven member does not magnetically engage one of the interior surfaces of the vessel; tether means; power supply means located exterior to the vessel and attached to each said means for driving said corresponding endless driven members and each said means for selectively connecting said corresponding movable magnetic circuit means to said corresponding means for driving by said tether means; means for monitoring said predetermined pressure; and means for controlling said power supply means, said means for controlling said power supply means communicating with said monitoring means to cause said power supply means to discontinue supplying power to each said means for driving and said means for selectively connecting said movable magnetic circuit means when said predetermined pressure changes by a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification