Slewing ring drive

• US 8,348,002 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volley Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boomerang Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Checketts, Stanley, Winger, Mike, Burleson, Ryan, Swasey, Merin
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Tashiana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scharich, Marc A
• Application Number:
  US13/004,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20110168474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/6.28, 180/6.44, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/7.1, 180/7.2, 180/8.3, 180/23, 180/24.06, 180/24.07, 180/199, 180/200, 180/202, 180/234, 180/237, 180/252, 180/253, 180/254, 180/255, 180/65.51, 744/25
• US Class Current: 180/252
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0046 the motor moving together with the vehicle body, i.e. moving independently from the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0061 the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/62 Conveyors, floor conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0418 Electric motor acting on road wheel carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/026 characterised by comprising more than one bogie, e.g. situated in more than one plane transversal to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19828 Worm

Abstract

A drive and steering unit for driving and steering a load support comprises a steering assembly, a slewing ring engaged with the steering assembly and being rotatable about an axis in response to actuation of the steering assembly, a drive assembly mounted to the slewing ring, and a drive power system coupled to the drive assembly and movable with the slewing ring.

Claims

1. A drive and steering unit comprising:

a) a worm steering assembly having a worm and a worm shaft;

b) a slewing ring engaged with the worm steering assembly and being rotatable about an axis in response to movement of the worm;

c) a drive wheel assembly secured to the slewing ring, such that the drive wheel assembly is supported by the stewing ring; and

d) a drive power system coupled to the drive wheel assembly, such that the drive power system is supported by and movable with the slewing ring.

2. The drive and steering unit of claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate fixed to the slewing ring to which the drive wheel assembly is secured.

3. The drive and steering unit of claim 2, wherein the drive wheel assembly further comprises a drive shaft secured within a pair of wheel mount blocks, the wheel mount blocks being secured to the mounting plate.

4. The drive and steering unit of claim 3, further comprising a drive wheel pulley secured to the drive shaft that is coupled to a timing pulley associated with the drive power system by a timing belt.

5. The drive and steering unit of claim 2, wherein the drive power system is secured to the mounting plate.

6. The drive and steering unit of claim 1, wherein the slewing ring is capable of less than 360 degrees of movement.

7. The drive and steering unit of claim 6, wherein the slewing ring is capable of approximately 185 degrees of movement.

8. The drive and steering unit of claim 1, wherein the worm steering assembly is fixed in position relative to the slewing ring.

9. The drive and steering unit of claim 1, further comprising a worm assembly power system that is independent of the drive wheel assembly.

10. The drive and steering unit of claim 1, wherein the worm steering assembly and the drive wheel assembly operate independently.

11. The drive and steering unit of claim 1, wherein the worm steering assembly and the drive wheel assembly are operable simultaneously.

12. The drive and steering unit of claim 1, wherein the worm steering assembly and the drive wheel assembly are each adapted to operate independently or simultaneously.