Light weight transporter propelling fluid levitated loads includes load weight absorption device to provide controllable wheel traction
US6276469A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D51/04
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved transporter to guide and propel heavy loads in an industry where the loads levitate upon pressurized fluid plenums. The transporter is very light weight that provides many opportunities of lower cost, small size, ease of movement to its point of use, short turn radius, etc. The transporter is able to pull or push very heavy loads with such light weight. The key is that transporter includes a vertical forcing device, such as a piston and cylinder. The forcing device pushes upward against a load hitch rigidly attached to the load. More importantly, the forcing device pushes downward on transporter drive wheels. The vertical downward force on the wheels is controllable. Force can vary from so minimal as to allow wheel slipping on the floor during steering, to extreme force facilitating maximum desired pulling or pushing wheel traction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.