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System and method for controlling dollies

  • US 9,919,640 B2
  • Filed: 01/13/2015
  • Issued: 03/20/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A load transport system comprising:

  • at least two physically independent dollies configured to transport a single load, wherein at least one of the at least two dollies is a power dolly configured to independently drive a load by controlling speed and direction, and wherein each of the at least two dollies comprise a top cap encoder, wherein the top cap encoder reports the rotation of the dolly at all times by monitoring the orientation of a top cap in relation to a dolly frame, and a front axle encoder communicatively coupled to a dolly control unit, wherein the top cap encoder and front axle encoder communicate measured data to the dolly control unit;

    at least one power unit, the power unit comprising a power unit computer communicatively coupled with the at least one dolly control unit via a network, wherein the at least one dolly control unit communicates measured data to the power unit computer; and

    a single control device, the control device configured to communicate with the power unit computer via a network and allow a user to view and manipulate system data, and provide instructions to the power unit computer;

    wherein the power unit computer is configured to calculate adjustments to the at least two dollies based on dolly control unit data and user input data to effect user instructions, the dolly control unit data and user input data comprises location data for each of the at least two dollies in relation to preset steer points, dolly frame and dolly axle orientation data, top cap orientation data, a front steer point angle and a rear steer point angle; and

    wherein the power unit is configured to actuate the at least one power dolly'"'"'s longitudinal movement and the at least two dollies'"'"' steering.

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