Omini direction vehicle

• US 20050173163A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc. (FabCorp, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc. (FabCorp, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hammonds, Carl L.
• Application Number:
  US10/925,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173163A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/6.500
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/06 by means of a single main power source
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/324 Luggage loaders specially adapted for loading individual luggage items into or out of the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07545 Overhead guards
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07568 Steering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07572 Propulsion arrangements

Abstract

An omni direction vehicle with a frame having a round surface about its perimeter with no apparatus mounted on the frame extending beyond the perimeter. Two independent drive wheels located on an axis through the center of the frame are mounted at the same distance from a central vertical axis through the frame. Each wheel is powered independently of the other and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The vehicle is capable of movement in any direction by rotating the axis of the drive wheels to a position which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel. The vehicle can spin about its vertical axis such that the axis of the drive wheels can be oriented at any direction without changing the original footprint of the space that the frame occupies over the ground. Thus, the vehicle requires a zero turning radius and requires only the space it occupies to change its forward orientation.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A service vehicle comprising,

a frame supported on the ground by wheels and with an outer rail periphery which is in the shape of a circle defined by a radius about a central vertical axis through said frame,

said frame having no apparatus mounted thereon which extends beyond the radius of said circle of said outer rail periphery,

said vehicle having a power source mounted on said frame with operation controls and being arranged and designed when powered by said power source to turn about said central vertical axis,

with said wheels including drive wheels mounted on said frame along a horizontal axis which intersects said vertical axis, said drive wheels coupled to said power source and arranged and designed to rotate independently in forward and backward directions,

whereby, said vehicle can be rotated such that its outer rail turns in a turning circle about said vertical axis wherein said turning circle is substantially the same as the circle shape of said outer rail.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A mowing machine comprising,

a frame supported on the ground by wheels and with an outer rail which is in the shape of a circle defined about a vertical axis through said frame,

said frame having no apparatus mounted thereon which extends beyond the circular radius of said outer rail when said frame turns about said vertical axis,

said vehicle having a power source mounted on said frame with operation controls and being arranged and designed when powered by said power source to turn about said vertical axis with no apparatus mounted on said frame extending outwardly beyond said circular radius such that said outer rail turns in a turning circle about said vertical axis that is substantially the same as the circle shape of said outer rail,

with drive wheels mounted on said frame along a horizontal axis which intersects said vertical axis, said drive wheels coupled to said power source and arranged and designed to rotate independently in forward and backward directions, and

a plurality of cutting blade assemblies mounted on said frame, each assembly powered by said power source, said assemblies mounted inside said circle so that no part of any cutting blade extends beyond said circle.

20. The mowing machine of claim 19, wherein

said cutting blade assemblies are mounted along an arc inside said circle and are arranged and positioned on said frame to provide cutting coverage along substantially the entire diameter of said frame.