MULTI-PURPOSE GROUND VEHICLE

• US 20110036650A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GSE Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: GS Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: McKinstry, David Jon, Luskin, Luke Stephen, Simula, Glen Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/9.44
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/065 Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/075 Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, steep slopes or vertical surfacesmagnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/084 Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units B62D55/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/104 Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames vehicle suspension in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/116 Attitude or position control of chassis by action on suspension, e.g. to compensate for a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/305 acting on pivotably mounted idlers
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/005 Unmanned ground vehicles, i.e. robotic, remote controlled or autonomous, mobile platforms carrying equipment for performing a military or police role, e.g. weapon systems or reconnaissance sensors F41H11/16 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-purpose ground vehicle (10) that may serve as a platform (12) for carrying a payload (14). The vehicle has a chassis (16) and a suspension (18) mounted to the chassis (16) for varying ride height and for influencing a response of the chassis (16) to underlying terrain. Track modules (22, 24, 26, 28) are associated for the suspension. These modules (22, 24, 26, 28) can be reoriented independently of each other. Preferably, at least some of the track modules (22, 24, 26, 28) include a band track (38) that circumscribe one or more wheels (30, 32) that are associated with a given track module (22, 24, 26, 28).

Claims

1. A multipurpose ground vehicle that may serve as a platform for carrying a payload, the vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a suspension mounted to the chassis for varying ride height and for influencing a response of the chassis to underlying terrain;

a plurality of track modules associated with the suspension that can rotate independently of each other for altering the height of the chassis above the terrain or a clearance of the chassis beneath an overlying object;

one or more wheels associated with at least some of the plurality of track modules, at least some of the one or more wheels being propelled by means for turning a wheel; and

means for propelling the means for turning.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least some of the track modules comprise:

a band track that circumscribes one or more of the plurality of wheels associated with a track module, the vehicle being able to move without the band track so that it is propelled or retarded by the wheels; and

means for tensioning the band track that engages the band track for maintaining tension in the band track regardless of orientation of the associated track module as it maneuvers over uneven terrain.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least some of the track modules further comprise:

an idler roller linkage arm that extends between the means for tensioning and a distal portion of a walking beam having a fixed center; and

a rotary actuator that is affixed to the center of the walking beam, the rotary actuator serving to displace the distal region of the walking beam arcuately, the linkage arm and the means for tensioning being displaced in response, thereby influencing tension in the band track, the actuator also allowing an associated track module to be rotated independently of another track module.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the suspension has a high pressure state and a low pressure state, the high pressure state elevating the chassis and the rotary actuator urging the band tracks toward a position in which a major axis of the track module moves toward a vertical orientation, thereby enabling the platform to crawl over an object, the low pressure state lowering the chassis and the rotary actuator urging the major axis of the band tracks toward a horizontal position that enables the vehicle to crawl under an object.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the suspension comprises:

a rotary actuator mount for securing the suspension to the rotary actuator;

one or more radius control arms extending generally laterally from the rotary actuator mount;

an arm extending generally longitudinally from a rotary actuator mount; and

means for springing extending upwardly from a rotary actuator mount.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a vision system sensor attached to the chassis.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a payload attached to the chassis, the payload being selected from the group consisting of a weapons system, rescue hardware, fire-fighting hardware and hazardous materials handling equipment.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the payload is selected from the group consisting of a robot, a human and combinations thereof.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the suspension is an air-ride suspension.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a front portion, a rear portion and a pair of opposing side portions that extend between the front and rear portions.

11. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle has a front portion, a rear portion and a pair of opposing side portions that extend between the front and rear portions, the arms associated with the rotary actuators at the front of the chassis extending rearwardly from the front portion and the arms associated with the rear portion extending forwardly from the rear portion.

12. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the rotary actuator may displace an associated track assembly arcuately through a number(n) of degrees of arcuate displacement, where (n) lies between 1 and 360 degrees.

13. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the rotary actuator may displace an associated track assembly arcuately through a number (p) of degrees of arcuate displacement, where (p) equals (m) times (n), where (m) is an integer and (n) lies between 1 and 360 degrees.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the means for propelling is selected from the group consisting of a motor, a mechanical drive with a drive shaft, a gasoline engine, a diesel engine, a fuel cell, one or more electrical batteries, an electric motor, a hybrid system and a torque generator.

15. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the rotary actuator is selected from a group consisting of an electric motor and a hydraulic actuator.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, further including:

a track system attached to the chassis, the track system detachably securing the payload;

a displacement mechanism attached to the payload for displacing the payload in relation to the track system, thereby repositioning a center of gravity of a compound body including the chassis and the payload.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, further including a control system in communication with the displacement mechanism for sending a signal to the displacement mechanism in response to which the payload may move in relation to the track system.