Automotive inspection device

• US 7,958,955 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2008
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Fischer, Wolfgang, Tache, Fabien, Siegwart, Roland Yves, Moser, Roland, Mondada, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US12/155,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8.3, 180/8.1, 180/8.2, 180/8.5, 180/9.3, 180/9.32, 180/9.34
• US Class Current: 180/8.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/265 having magnetic or pneumatic adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/024 specially adapted for moving on inclined or vertical surfaces endless-track vehicles for ascending or descending stairs B62D55/075; hand-carts with provision for travelling up or down stairs B62B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/028 having wheels and mechanical legs B62D57/024 takes precedence; ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting or manoeuvring the vehicle, wholly or in part B60S9/00

Abstract

An automotive device for the inspection of internal spaces having ferromagnetic surfaces includes at least two magnetic wheels (3) or caterpillars, or at least two magnetic legs for the advancement of the device along the surfaces to be inspected. According to the invention, the device includes actively powered rotating arms (1) attached to a wheel (3), caterpillar, or leg of the device. Each rotating arm (1) has a length longer than the shortest distance between the point of attachment of the rotating arm to the device and the surface. When the device is in a position, where there is magnetic contact to the surface in two or more points and the device is no longer able to advance due to the strength of the magnetic forces, the rotating arms are brought into non-magnetic contact with the surface in order to create an air gap between the surface and the magnetic wheel and thus reduce the magnetic forces. The device is thereby enabled to overcome the magnetic forces and advance the device along the surface.

Claims

1. An automotive device for the inspection of spaces having ferromagnetic surfaces comprising:

at least two magnetic contact locomotion devices that allow movement of the automotive device along the spaces wherein

the device includes actively powered rotating arms attached to at least one of the contact locomotion devices, where each rotating arm has a length from its rotation axis to its end that is longer than a shortest distance between the rotation axis of the rotating arm at the device and the ferromagnetic surface, and the rotating arm, when directed toward the surface, being in non-magnetic contact with the surface and there is an air gap between the surface and at least one contact locomotion device, the air gap having a distance in which the magnetic force between the at least one contact locomotion device, and the ferromagnetic forces are reduced to a level that the at least one contact locomotion device is able to move along the spaces.

2. An automotive device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis of the actively powered rotating arms is coaxial with an axis of the device'"'"'s contact locomotion devices.

3. An automotive device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating arms each include a non-magnetic contact wheel or non-magnetic contact ball arranged at the end of the rotating arms.

4. An automotive device according to claim 1, wherein an actuator for the actively powered rotating arms and an actuator for moving the contact locomotion devices are arranged parallel to and above a rotation axis of the contact locomotion devices.

5. An automotive device according to claim 3, wherein one of the contact locomotion devices includes a steering mechanism.

6. An automotive device according to claim 5, wherein one of the contact locomotion devices includes a passive suspension system.

7. An automotive device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating arms each include a non-magnetic contact wheel or non-magnetic contact ball arranged at the end of the rotating arms.

8. An automotive device according to claim 2, wherein an actuator for the actively powered rotating arms and an actuator for moving the contact locomotion devices are arranged parallel to and above the rotation axis of the contact locomotion devices.

9. An automotive device according to claim 3, wherein an actuator for the actively powered rotating arms and an actuator for moving the contact locomotion devices are arranged parallel to and above the rotation axis of the contact locomotion devices.

10. An automotive device according to claim 4, wherein one of the contact locomotion devices includes a steering mechanism.

11. The automotive device according to claim 1, wherein the contact locomotion devices are wheels.

12. The automotive device according to claim 1, wherein the contact locomotion devices are caterpillar tracks.

13. The automotive device according to claim 1, wherein the contact locomotion devices are legs.

14. An automotive device for the inspection of spaces having ferromagnetic surfaces, comprising:

at least two magnetic contact locomotion devices that allow movement of the automotive device along the spaces wherein

the device includes actively powered rotating arms attached to at least one of the contact locomotion devices, where each rotating arm has a length from its rotation axis to its end that is longer than a shortest distance between the rotation axis of the rotating arm at the device and the ferromagnetic surface, and the rotating arm, when directed toward the surface, being in non-magnetic contact with the surface and there is an air gap between the surface and at least one contact locomotion device, and when directed away from the surface, the rotating arm not being in contact with the surface.