Patent · US Active

Adhesion system for a climbing vehicle

US9902447B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

1References

21Claims

0Family size

Assignees

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY · AU
ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES · AU

Inventors

Peter Ward · Farmington Hills, US
Dikai Liu · Sydney, AU

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 14, 2014
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 14, 2034

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB62D57/02
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system for selective anchoring a climbing vehicle or robot to a surface of a structure. The system includes a foot (1) having at least one surface contacting toe assembly (2). The toe assembly includes a magnetic adhesion system transitionable between an engageable state, wherein said adhesion system is configured to actively hold said toe to the surface on a plane of engagement thereby anchoring said foot to the structure, and a disengageable state to allow detachment of said foot from said surface. The adhesion system includes a magnetic field generator for projecting a magnetic field outwardly from the plane of engagement toward said engaged surface when the adhesion system is in the engageable state, to thereby generate a magnetic attractive force between the module and a magnetic target material within or beneath the surface of the structure.

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