Payload module for mobility assist

• US 20040164505A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Clemens, David A., Chun, Wendell H., Stinchcomb, Jon T., Beck, Michael S., Dunne, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,464,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/6.154
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/02 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0015 the motor being hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0023 the motor being pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/062 acting on transmission parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/10 with more than four wheels tractors of the low ground pressure type B62D49/002
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/50 Captive balloons
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/20 Rotorcraft characterised by having shrouded rotors, e.g. flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/028 Micro-sized aircraft

Abstract

A ground vehicle and a method for articulating a payload module for mobility assist are disclosed. The ground vehicle comprises a chassis; and a payload module capable of articulating relative to the chassis to assist the mobility of the ground vehicle. The method comprises articulating a payload module relative to a chassis.

Claims

1. A ground vehicle, comprising:

a chassis; and

a payload module capable of articulating relative to the chassis to assist the mobility of the ground vehicle.

2. The ground vehicle of claim 1, wherein the chassis defines a payload bay from which the payload module articulates.

3. The ground vehicle of claim 2, wherein the payload module articulates by rotating out of and into the payload bay.

4. The ground vehicle of claim 2, wherein the payload module articulates from the payload bay to push against the ground.

5. The ground vehicle of claim 2, wherein the payload bay can accommodate multiple, alternative payloads.

6. The ground vehicle of claim 1, wherein the payload module articulates by rotating.

7. The ground vehicle of claim 6, wherein the payload by rotates through 180°

.

8. The ground vehicle of claim 7, wherein the rotation is ±

90°

relative to a centerline of the chassis.

9. The ground vehicle of claim 1, wherein the payload module articulates to push against the ground.

10. The ground vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a payload housed in the payload module.

11. The ground vehicle of claim 10, wherein the payload includes:

an extendable mast; and

a sensor package mounted to a distal end of the extendable mast.

12. The ground vehicle of claim 10, wherein the payload is modular.

13. The ground vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an articulable coupling between the payload module and the chassis.

14. The ground vehicle of claim 13, wherein the articulable coupling includes:

a rotating joint housed in and affixed to the chassis;

an enclosure pivot coupled to the rotating joint; and

a position lock.

15. The ground vehicle of claim 14, wherein the enclosure pivot comprises a sliding dog clutch.

16. The ground vehicle of claim 14, wherein the rotating joint includes:

a housing to which the enclosure pivot may be attached for in-plane rotation;

a drive; and

a transmission engaged with the housing and the drive to reduce the speed of the drive motor as it drives the housing.

17. A method for assisting the mobility of a ground vehicle, comprising articulating a payload module relative to a chassis.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein articulating the payload module includes pushing against the ground.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein articulating the payload module includes rotating the payload module.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein rotating the payload module includes rotating the payload module out of a payload bay.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein rotating the payload module includes rotating the payload module through 180°

.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein rotating the payload module through 180°

comprises rotating the payload module ±

90°

relative to a centerline of the chassis.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein articulating the payload module includes articulating a payload module housing a payload.

24. An articulated payload comprising:

a payload module; and

an articulable coupling between the payload module and the chassis.

25. The articulated payload of claim 24, wherein the articulable coupling includes a center shoulder joint.

26. The articulated payload of claim 24, wherein the articulable couple is capable of articulating through 180°

.

27. The articulated payload of claim 24, wherein the payload bay is modular.

28. The articulated payload of claim 24, wherein the payload bay can accommodate multiple, alternative payloads.

29. An articulable payload module coupling.

30. The articulated payload coupling of claim 29, wherein the articulable couple is capable of articulating through 180°

.

31. The articulable payload module coupling of claim 29, wherein the articulable payload module coupling includes:

a splined, sliding dog clutch; and

a motor.

32. The articulable payload module of claim 31, further including a rotary encoder.

33. The articulable payload module of claim 29, including a rotary encoder.