Patent · US Expired

Transport mechanism

US6422576B1 · kind B1 · utility

14Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 28, 2000
Grant dateJul 23, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 28, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S280/10
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A transport mechanism (104) for transporting a load-assembly (102), the transport mechanism comprising a closed flexible track (106) supported at an internal side thereof by at least two support rollers (108, 110), which at a first position one of the support rollers (108) exerts a force having a downward component onto the flexible track (106) at a point of contact thereof with a ground surface and biasing arrangement for biasing said flexible track (106) so as to assume a substantially circular shape. A displacing mechanism (112) is coupled to at least one of the support rollers for mutually displacing the support rollers into a second position, against the biasing arrangement in which the support rollers force the track to assume a state in which an extended portion (122) thereof is in contact with the ground surface and at least two of the support rollers are positioned at two ends of the portion.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.