Limited mobility transporter
First Claim
1. A transporter for movement along a predetermined path along a mounting surface, the transporter comprising:
- a linkage mechanism having four links connected at their ends by pivotal connections to form a four bar linkage;
an engager mounted at each pivotal connection operable for selectively engaging two adjacent pivotal connections to the mounting surface; and
an actuator assembly connected to one of said links for rotating said links about said two adjacent pivotal connections in a coplanar fashion to the mounting surface whereby the transporter is movable about the mounting surface by the simultaneous engagement of said selected engagers and rotation of said links whereby releasing said engaged pivotal connections after rotation of said links and engaging another pair of adjacent pivotal connections and rotating said links about said another pair of adjacent pivotal connections provides sequential movement of the work platform relative to the surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A limited mobility transporter (10) is disclosed having a linkage mechanism (12) with four links (14,16,18,20) pivotally connected at their ends to form a four bar linkage. Engagers (22) are mounted at pivotal connections (A,B,C,D) of the links (14,16,18,20) for selectively engaging a mounting surface (24). An actuator assembly (26) rotates the links (14,16,18,20) about the engaged pivotal connections (A,B,C,D). A programmable controller (28) controls a sequence of movements whereby the transporter (10) is movable about the mounting surface (24) by simultaneous engagement of selected engagers (22) and rotation of the links (14,16,18,20) about the selected engagers (22) in a coplaner fashion to the mounting surface (24). In one embodiment, the engagers (22) comprise a shot pin assembly and the mounting surface (24) includes receptacles for receiving the shot pins. In other embodiments, the engagers (22) are electromagnetic anchors or suction cups. The mounting surface (24) is ferromagnetic or includes ferromagnetic inserts when the electromagnetic anchors (22) are used.
120 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A transporter for movement along a predetermined path along a mounting surface, the transporter comprising:
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a linkage mechanism having four links connected at their ends by pivotal connections to form a four bar linkage; an engager mounted at each pivotal connection operable for selectively engaging two adjacent pivotal connections to the mounting surface; and an actuator assembly connected to one of said links for rotating said links about said two adjacent pivotal connections in a coplanar fashion to the mounting surface whereby the transporter is movable about the mounting surface by the simultaneous engagement of said selected engagers and rotation of said links whereby releasing said engaged pivotal connections after rotation of said links and engaging another pair of adjacent pivotal connections and rotating said links about said another pair of adjacent pivotal connections provides sequential movement of the work platform relative to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. A transporter for moving objects along a predetermined path along a mounting surface, the transporter comprising:
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a linkage mechanism having four links connected at their ends by pivotal connections to form a four bar linkage;
one of said links defining a work platform for supporting the object to be moved;an engager mounted at each pivotal connection operable for selectively engaging two adjacent pivotal connections to the mounting surface; and an actuator assembly connected to one of said links for rotating said links about said two adjacent pivotal connections in a coplanar fashion to the mounting surface whereby the transporter is movable about the mounting surface by the simultaneous engagement of said selected engagers and rotation of said links whereby releasing said engaged pivotal connections after rotation of said links and engaging another pair of adjacent pivotal connections and rotating said links about said another pair of adjacent pivotal connections provides sequential movement of the work platform relative to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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18. A method of moving objects supported on a work platform relative to a surface comprising:
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engaging selected adjacent pivotal connections of a linkage mechanism defining the work platform to the surface; and rotating said linkage mechanism about said engaged pivotal connections in a coplanar fashion to the surface to move said links and the objects supported on the work platform about the surface;
releasing said engaged pivotal connections after rotating;
engaging another pair of adjacent pivotal connections and rotating said links about said another pair of adjacent pivotal connections to provide sequential movement of the work platform relative to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification