Low profile walking machine and method of operation
First Claim
1. A walking machine for moving a load over the ground comprising:
- a substructure having laterally spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams for carrying the load above the ground;
a first lifting assembly mounted on a first end of each main beam;
a second lifting assembly mounted on the opposite or second end of each main beam;
wherein each lifting assembly includes a power-driven actuator connected to a plunger element with a foot plate, the power-driven actuators being selectively operable for extending their plunger elements downwardly to force the foot plates against the ground to raise the main beams and substructure off the ground, and for retracting their plunger elements upwardly to disengage the foot plates from the ground to lower the main beams and substructure;
wherein each lifting assembly further includes a housing and a rocker arm pivotally connected to the housing;
the housing being dimensioned for slideably receiving a plunger element for reciprocal vertical movement therewithin;
wherein each power-driven actuator is pivotally connected to a first end of its associated rocker arm and the plunger element is pivotally connected to a second end of its associated rocker arm;
a first shifter mechanism mounted on each first lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction;
a second shifter mechanism mounted on each second lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction; and
wherein the first and second shifter mechanisms operate to extend and retract to displace the main beams and the substructure along the ground in a selected direction when the first and second lifting assemblies have raised the main beams and the substructure off the ground.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A walking system for moving a load over the ground includes a substructure having laterally spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected main beams for carrying the load. A jack support beam is mounted as a cantilever on top of each main beam, and each includes a lifting jack assembly. Each lifting jack assembly includes a power-driven hydraulic cylinder having a ram and foot plate, and each is selectively operable for extending a ram downwardly to force the foot plate against the ground to raise the substructure off the ground, and for retraction to disengage the foot plates from the ground, thereby lowering the substructure to the ground. Each jack lifting assembly includes a shifter mechanism operable for displacing the main beams and the substructure along the ground in a selected steering mode when the lifting jack assemblies are actuated to raise the main beams and the substructure above the ground.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A walking machine for moving a load over the ground comprising:
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a substructure having laterally spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams for carrying the load above the ground; a first lifting assembly mounted on a first end of each main beam; a second lifting assembly mounted on the opposite or second end of each main beam; wherein each lifting assembly includes a power-driven actuator connected to a plunger element with a foot plate, the power-driven actuators being selectively operable for extending their plunger elements downwardly to force the foot plates against the ground to raise the main beams and substructure off the ground, and for retracting their plunger elements upwardly to disengage the foot plates from the ground to lower the main beams and substructure; wherein each lifting assembly further includes a housing and a rocker arm pivotally connected to the housing;
the housing being dimensioned for slideably receiving a plunger element for reciprocal vertical movement therewithin;wherein each power-driven actuator is pivotally connected to a first end of its associated rocker arm and the plunger element is pivotally connected to a second end of its associated rocker arm; a first shifter mechanism mounted on each first lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction; a second shifter mechanism mounted on each second lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction; and wherein the first and second shifter mechanisms operate to extend and retract to displace the main beams and the substructure along the ground in a selected direction when the first and second lifting assemblies have raised the main beams and the substructure off the ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A walking machine for moving a load over the ground comprising:
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a substructure having laterally spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams for carrying the load above the ground; a first lifting assembly mounted on a first end of each main beam; a second lifting assembly mounted on the opposite or second end of each main beam; wherein each lifting assembly includes a pair of hydraulic power-driven cylinders each with an extendable/retractable rod connected to a plunger element with a foot plate, the power-driven cylinders being selectively operable for extending their rods to push the plunger elements downwardly to force the foot plates against the ground to raise the main beams and substructure off the ground, and for retracting their rods to pull the plunger elements upwardly to disengage the foot plates from the ground to lower the main beams and substructure; wherein the power-driven cylinders on the first lifting assemblies are diagonally-mounted, side-by-side on each main beam with their rods directed upwardly toward the first ends of those main beams; wherein the power-driven cylinders on the second lifting assemblies are diagonally-mounted, side-by-side on each main beam with their rods directed upwardly toward the second ends of those beams; a first shifter mechanism mounted on each first lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction; a second shifter mechanism mounted on each second lifting assembly selectively operable for extension and retraction; and wherein the first and second shifter mechanisms operate to extend and retract to displace the main beams and the substructure along the ground in a selected direction when the first and second lifting assemblies have raised the main beams and the substructure off the ground. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A lifting mechanism for use on a walking machine having a substructure and laterally spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams for carrying and moving a load above the ground comprising:
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a lifting assembly adapted for mounting on one of the main beams including a pair of hydraulic power-driven cylinders each with an extendable/retractable rod connected to a plunger element with a foot plate, each of the power-driven cylinders being selectively operable for extending their rods to push the plunger elements downwardly and for retracting their rods to pull the plunger elements upwardly; wherein each of the power-driven cylinders is adapted to be diagonally-mounted, side-by-side on a main beam with their rods directed upwardly toward the end of a main beam; and a shifter mechanism mounted on the assembly selectively operable to extend and retract the foot plate relative to the plunger element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for moving a load over the ground comprising:
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supporting the load above the ground on a substructure carried by a pair of spaced-apart, rigidly interconnected first and second main beams; providing a first lifting assembly on a first end of each main beam and a second lifting assembly on the second end of each main beam; actuating the first and second lifting assemblies so that their foot plates are raised above the ground and the main beams engage the ground and support the substructure thereby; extending a shifter mechanism on each first lifting assembly to displace their foot plates in the intended direction of travel and retracting a shifter mechanism on each second lifting assembly to displace their foot plates in the intended direction of travel, thereafter maintaining the foot plates stationary; actuating power-driven cylinders on each lifting assembly to urge the foot plates against the ground and raise the main beams and substructure above the ground to be supported on the foot plates; wherein the step of actuating power-driven cylinders on each lifting assembly further includes actuating a pair of power-driven cylinders on each lifting assembly; wherein the step of actuating a pair of power-driven cylinders further includes extending the rods of a pair of diagonally-mounted power-driven cylinders on each first lifting assembly diagonally upward toward the first end of each main beam and simultaneously extending the rods of a pair of diagonally-mounted power-driven cylinders on each second lifting assembly diagonally upward toward the second end of each main beam; and retracting the shifter mechanism on each first lifting assembly and simultaneously extending the shifter mechanism on each second lifting assembly to displace the main beams and substructure in the direction of travel.
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Specification