Omni-directional vehicle with full circumferential revolvable hitch

• US 8,186,461 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc. (FabCorp, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc. (FabCorp, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hammonds, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeagley, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/985,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/6.48, 180/21
• US Class Current: 180/6.48
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/04 by means of separate power sources
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/065 Coupling of multi-purpose tractors with equipment towing bars B60D; with load transfer B62D53/08; power take-off B60K; with lifting devices B62D49/02; pushing gear B62D49/04
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07568 Steering arrangements

Abstract

An omni-directional vehicle (ODV) with a circular frame revolvably coupled to an appendage ring using a full circumferential coupling assembly. The appendage ring serves as a point of attachment for a push bar, trailer, tool, vehicle chassis, or other device. 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 and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The ODV 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 ODV 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.

Claims

1. In a service vehicle (10) including an omni-directional vehicle (8) characterized by having first and second independently powered drive wheels (12R, 12L) notably disposed along a horizontal axis (18) and designed and arranged to revolve 360 degrees about a central vertical axis (16) which intersects said horizontal axis between said first and second drive wheels, the improvement comprising:

a ring (9) encircling said omni-directional vehicle and revolvably coupled thereto by a plurality of engaging elements (44, 46);

said plurality of engaging elements including a plurality of vertical rollers, said plurality of vertically-oriented rollers disposed between said ring and said omni-directional vehicle and generally circuminterspersed about the circumference of said omni-directional vehicle, and a plurality of horizontally-oriented rollers; and

whereby the generally circuminterspersed position between said omni-directional vehicle and said ring of said plurality of vertically-oriented rollers provides a ring loading that is generally evenly distributed about the perimeter of said omni-directional vehicle.

2. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a vehicle chassis mounted to said ring.

3. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a vehicle chassis defining said ring.

4. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 1 wherein

said plurality of horizontal rollers include a first plurality of horizontal rollers positioned above said ring and a second plurality of horizontal rollers positioned below said ring.

5. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 4 wherein

said plurality of horizontal rollers are rigidly attached to said omni-directional vehicle.

6. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 4 wherein

said plurality of horizontal rollers are rigidly attached to ring.

7. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a bearing race defining the inner diameter of said ring; and

said vertically-oriented rollers mounted to said omni-directional vehicle and disposed such that said vertically-oriented rollers rotatively engage said bearing race.

8. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical slip ring mounted to said bearing race, and

an electrical brush assembly mounted to said omni-directional vehicle designed and arranged to maintain electrical contact with said electrical slip ring during revolution of said ring about said omni-directional vehicle.

9. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a bearing race defining the outer diameter of said omni-directional vehicle; and

said vertically-oriented rollers mounted to said ring and disposed such that said vertically-oriented rollers rotatively engage said bearing race.

10. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 9 further comprising:

an electrical slip ring mounted to said bearing race, and an electrical brush assembly mounted to said ring designed and arranged to maintain electrical contact with said electrical slip ring during revolution of said ring about said omni-directional vehicle.

11. A powered vehicle (10) comprising:

a frame (14) having a generally circular perimeter with a vertical axis (16) defined at the center of said perimeter;

first and second drive wheels (12R, 12L) coupled to said frame, each of said drive wheels capable of independent powered rotation from a horizontal axis (18) disposed through said vertical axis, each of said drive wheels capable of forward and rearward rotation about said horizontal axis;

a control mechanism (31R, 31L) arranged and designed to control the direction of rotation and the speed of said first and second drive wheels;

a ring (9) circumjacent said perimeter of said frame;

a coupling assembly revolvably connecting said ring and said frame, said coupling assembly including a plurality of engaging elements between said ring and said frame;

said plurality of engaging elements including a plurality of vertically-oriented rollers, said plurality of vertically-oriented rollers disposed between said ring and said frame and generally circumintervaled about the circumference of said frame, and a plurality of horizontal rollers; and

whereby the generally circumintervaled plurality of vertically-oriented rollers provide a ring loading that is generally evenly distributed about said perimeter of said frame.

12. The powered vehicle (10) of claim 11 wherein said coupling assembly further comprises:

a bearing race defining the inner diameter of said ring; and

said plurality of engaging elements secured to said frame and disposed such that said vertically-oriented rollers rotatively engage said bearing race.

13. The powered vehicle (10) of claim 12 further comprising:

an electrical slip ring mounted to said bearing race; and

an electrical assembly mounted to said frame designed and arranged to maintain electrical contact with said electrical slip ring revolution of said ring about said frame.

14. The powered vehicle (10) of claim 12 further comprising:

an electrical slip ring mounted to said bearing race, and

an electrical brush assembly mounted to said ring designed and arranged to maintain electrical contact with said electrical slip ring during revolution of said ring about said frame.

15. The powered vehicle (10) of claim 11 wherein said coupling assembly further comprises:

a bearing race defining the perimeter of said frame; and

said plurality of vertically-oriented rollers secured to said ring and disposed such that said vertically-oriented rollers rotatively engage said bearing race.

16. The powered vehicle (10) of claim 11 further comprising:

a vehicle chassis mounted to said ring.

17. The powered vehicle (10) of claim 11 further comprising:

a vehicle chassis defining said ring.