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 Title: |
US5590605:
Conveying device with self steering powered caster
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Salter, Kenneth D.; Glendale, CA
Armstrong, Daniel A.; Simi Valley, CA
Fredrick, Ted W.; Saugus, CA
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| Assignee: |
The Walt Disney Company, Burbank, CA
other patents from WALT DISNEY COMPANY (617665) (approx. 101)
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| Published / Filed: |
1997-01-07
/ 1995-11-20
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| Application Number: |
US1995000560828
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A63G 25/00;
B62D 1/26;
Core:
B62D 1/00;
more...
IPC-7:
B61B 12/02;
B61F 13/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
A63G25/00; B62D1/26;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
104/139;
104/053;
104/242;
180/401;
Original:
104/139;
104/053;
104/242;
180/401;
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| Field of Search: |
104/139,140,53,242,244.1,247
105/72.2
180/401
280/776,81.6
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| Priority Number: |
| 1995-11-20 |
US1995000560828 |
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| Abstract: |
A transport system for moving along a track on a support surface. The system includes a body, a guide system and a powered self-steering caster assembly. The guide system cooperates with the track to apply lateral forces to the body to guide it along a predetermined path when a propulsive force is applied to the body. The powered self-steering caster assembly has a pivot joint and a wheel driven by a motor. The wheel has a center of rotation and is rotatably mounted to engage the support surface and roll in a forward direction. The pivot joint is mounted to the body to allow the wheel to pivot about a predetermined axis intersecting the support surface forward of the engagement between the wheel and the support surface. The wheel drives the body and pivots in response to frictional side slip forces between the wheel and the support surface without restraint from a steering linkage. An optional viscous damper mounted between the body and the caster assembly allows operation of the transport system at speeds in excess of those available without such a damper.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Newburry, Keith A.Pretty, Schroeder, Brueggemann & Clark ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Oberleitner, Robert J.; Rutherford, Kevin D.
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 28 claims |
We claim:
1. A transport system for moving along a track on a support surface, comprising:
- a body;
- a guide system mounted to the body for cooperation with the track to apply lateral forces to the body to guide it along a predetermined path when a driving force is applied to the body; and
- a powered self-steering caster assembly mounted to the body and having a pivot joint and a wheel,
- the wheel rotatably mounted to the caster assembly and engaging the support surface, the wheel powered by a motor to roll the wheel about a center of rotation in a forward direction along the support surface, and
- the pivot joint mounted for rotation of the wheel about a predetermined axis intersecting the support surface in front of the engagement between the wheel and the support surface to allow the wheel to rotate about the axis in response to frictional side slip forces between the wheel and the support surface, the wheel free of restraint from a steering linkage actively controlling the position of the wheel in response to the direction of the track.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 6 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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