Object transportation and reorientation apparatus

• US 9,139,262 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Skaggs, Kirk D., Swanson, Gregory W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS, GREGORY W
• Application Number:
  US13/975,006
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 212/79, 212/82, 220/631, 222/463, 248/143, 254/94, 280/47.12, 294/68.26, 294/68.27, 414/419, 414/421, 414/754, 414/756, 414/758, 414/766, 414/768, 414/769, 414/770, 414/773, 414/777, 414/778, 414/779, 414/780, 414/782, 414/919
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/30 self-discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/24 orientating the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 7/08 for tilting the loads
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or assembling magnets, inductances or transformers; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing materials characterised by their magnetic properties

Abstract

Described herein is an apparatus for transporting and reorienting an object on a base surface includes a first header coupled to a first side of the object, and a second header coupled to a second side of the object. The object is between the first and second headers. Each of the first and second headers includes a first flat surface that is contactable with the base surface for supporting the object in a first orientation, a second flat surface that is contactable with the base surface for supporting the object in a second orientation, and a curved surface that couples the first and second flat surfaces. The curved surface is contactable with the base surface as the object transitions between the first and second orientations. A radius of curvature of the curved surface is based on a position of a center of gravity of the object.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transporting and reorienting an object on a base surface, comprising:

a first header coupled to a first side of the object; and

a second header coupled to a second side of the object, the object being between the first and second headers;

wherein each of the first and second headers comprises a first flat surface contactable with the base surface for supporting the object in a first orientation, a second flat surface contactable with the base surface for supporting the object in a second orientation, and a curved surface coupling the first and second flat surfaces, the curved surface being contactable with the base surface as the object transitions between the first and second orientations, wherein the curved surface comprises a varying radius of curvature along a length of the curved surface, wherein respective centers of respective radii of curvature extending from respective points of contact between the curved surface and the base surface remain vertically aligned with a position of a center of gravity of the object as the object transitions between the first and second orientations, wherein the radius of curvature of the curved surface is centered on a rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis intersects the position of the center of gravity of the object as the object transitions between the first and second orientations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second headers comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second headers comprises a panel and at least one first flange and at least one second flange coupled to the first and second headers, and supporting the object.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one first flange supports a third side of the object and the at least one second flange supports a fourth side of the object.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one first and second flanges extend substantially transversely away from the respective panels.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retention device coupled to the first and second headers and secured about the object.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flat surface, second flat surface, and curved surface are contiguous.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a lowermost portion, and wherein when the first and second header are coupled to the object, the lowermost portion is substantially directly adjacent the curved surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flat surface is longer than the second flat surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flat surface is longer than the second flat surface, and wherein the radius of curvature of the curved surface decreases along the length of the curved surface from the first flat surface to the second flat surface.

11. An apparatus for transporting and reorienting an object on a base surface, comprising:

an object carrier for supporting the object; and

at least one curved surface coupled to the object carrier, the curved surface being contactable with the base surface to facilitate a transition of the object supported by the object carrier between first and second orientations, wherein the curved surface comprises a varying radius of curvature along a length of the curved surface, wherein respective centers of respective radii of curvature extending from respective points of contact between the curved surface and the base surface intersect a position of a center of gravity of the object as the object transitions between the first and second orientations, wherein the object carrier is fixed relative to the position of the center of gravity of the object as the object transitions between the first and second orientations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the object carrier comprises a first set of wheels for supporting and transporting the object in the first orientation, and a second set of wheels for supporting and transporting the object in the second orientation.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an anti-roll device operable to prevent a transition from at least one of the first orientation to the second orientation, or the second orientation to the first orientation.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the object carrier comprises a first flat panel, a second flat panel, and a retention device retaining the object between the first and second flat panels, and wherein the at least one curved surface comprises a first and second curved surface, each of the first and second flat panels comprising a respective one of the first and second surfaces.

15. A method for transporting and reorienting an object on a base surface, comprising:

positioning an object carrier on the base surface, the object carrier comprising two headers each with a curved surface;

securing an object between the two headers in a first orientation, wherein the object comprises a center of gravity, wherein a position of the center of gravity is fixed relative to the object, wherein the curved surface of each of the headers has a varying radius of curvature that is based on the object; and

with the object secured between the two headers, rotating the object carrier about the curved surfaces along the base surface from the first orientation to a second orientation such that the center of gravity of the object remains substantially vertically aligned with respective points of contact between the curved surfaces and the base surface.