Unmanned working vehicle

• US 5,894,621 A
• Filed: 03/26/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Moneual Incorporated (Hong-Seok Park, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kubo, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US08/826,058
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 15/50.1, 15/79.2, 15/319, 15/320, 15/340.1, 15/340.3, 180/6.5, 280/755, 280/757, 901/1
• US Class Current: 15/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation

Abstract

An unmanned working vehicle of the present invention comprises a work mechanism section which performs a specified work, and a main body section having a wheel for moving said unmanned working vehicle and a driver for driving said work mechanism section or said main body section, wherein said driver having a weight and being arranged on the side opposite from said work mechanism section relative to said wheel, whereby the center of gravity of said unmanned working vehicle is located on or near said wheel.

Claims

1. An unmanned working vehicle comprising:

a working mechanism section which performs a specific work; and

a main body section having a first side and a second side, said first side being located relative to said second side along an advancing direction of said unmanned working vehicle, said working mechanism section positioned at said first side, said main body section including,

a drive wheel for moving said unmanned working vehicle,

an auxiliary wheel provided one side of said drive wheel with respect to the advancing direction, said auxiliary wheel including a suspension mechanism capable of moving a vertical direction, and

a power supply for providing power for driving said working mechanism section and having substantial weight, said power supply being arranged at said second side, a center of gravity of said unmanned working vehicle being proximate said drive wheel as a result of the weights of said working mechanism section and said power supply.

2. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said working mechanism section is positioned outside said main body section.

3. An unmanned working vehicle comprising:

a working mechanism section which performs a specific work; and

a main body section having a first side and a second side, said first side being located relative to said second side along an advancing direction of said unmanned working vehicle, said working mechanism section being positioned at said first side, said main body section including,

a drive wheel for moving said unmanned working vehicle,

an auxiliary wheel provided one side of said drive wheel with respect to the advancing direction, said auxiliary wheel including a suspension mechanism capable of moving a vertical direction, and

a power supply for providing power for driving said drive wheel and having substantial weight, said power supply being arranged at said second side, a center of gravity of said unmanned working vehicle being proximate said drive wheel as a result of the weights of said working mechanism section and said power supply.

4. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 3,

wherein said working mechanism section is positioned outside said main body section.

5. An unmanned working vehicle comprising:

a work mechanism section which performs a specified work; and

a main body section having a front end and a rear end with said work mechanism section being positioned proximate the rear end, said main body section including,

a drive wheel for moving said unmanned working vehicle, an auxiliary wheel proximate the front end, and

a power supply for providing power for driving said work mechanism section and having substantial weight, said power supply being arranged at the front end, opposite from said work mechanism section positioned at the rear end, and directly over said auxiliary wheel, a center of gravity of said unmanned working vehicle being proximate said drive wheel as a result of the weight of said power supply.

6. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 5,

wherein said specified work is cleaning a floor surface.

7. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 6 further comprising,

a weight changing section arranged between said power supply and said work mechanism section, weight of said weight changing section changing as a consequence of cleaning said floor surface.

8. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 7,

wherein said weight changing section is a solution tank filled with a solution for cleaning said floor surface.

9. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 5,

wherein said specified work is carrying items.

10. An unmanned working vehicle comprising:

a work mechanism section which performs a specified work; and

a main body section having a front end and a rear end with said work mechanism section being positioned proximate the rear end, said main body section including,

a drive wheel for moving said unmanned working vehicle, an auxiliary wheel proximate the front end, and

a power supply for providing power for driving said main body section and having substantial weight, said power supply being arranged at the front end, opposite from said work mechanism section positioned at the rear end, and directly over said auxiliary wheel, a center of gravity of said unmanned working vehicle being proximate said drive wheel as a result of the weight of said power supply.

11. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 10,

wherein said specified work is carrying items while moving on a floor surface.

12. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a weight changing section arranged between said power supply and said work mechanism section, weight of said weight changing section changing as a consequence of said specified work performed by said work mechanism section.

13. The unmanned working vehicle as claimed in claim 10,

wherein said specified work is cleaning a floor surface.