Climbing vehicle using suction with variable adaptive suspension seal
US10518830B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 2016 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60Y2200/47
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A climbing vehicle with wheel or endless-track type propulsion using suction for generating adhering forces is adapted to climbing non-planar surfaces such as intersecting walls, pipes or other structural members. The suction chamber is relatively fixed to the vehicle chassis and moves with the vehicle chassis. A seal is created around the suction chamber through an adaptive sealing mechanism. The adaptive sealing mechanism consists of a series of links that adapt to the climbing surface geometry and forms a seal at the climbing surface. The links in the adaptive sealing mechanism span a portion of the suction chamber along the longitudinal sides of the vehicle and are elastically sprung to maintain contact with the surface. The adaptive sealing mechanism links also span the lateral sides of the vehicle to fully enclose the suction chamber. Thus, the suction chamber is maintained even as the mobile vehicle passes over significant geometry changes in the climbing surface, for example transitioning between surfaces that are orthogonally opposed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.