Method and apparatus for transporting and steering a heavy load

A load transportation system configured to move a load over a surface in one or more incremental steps via a plurality of lift/transport assemblies, each lift/transport assembly comprising

• a lift mechanism operative to lift a load-bearing frame supporting the load;
• a rolling assembly, including a foot pad for contacting the surface, the rolling assembly coupled to the lift mechanism;
• a steering assembly coupled between the lift mechanism and the rolling assembly and operative to rotate the rolling assembly, the steering assembly comprising
• a steering ring connected to the rolling assembly and operative when rotated to rotate with the rolling assembly,
• a linear actuator,
• a multi-linkage connector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rotationally connected to the linear actuator and the second end is rotationally connected to the steering ring,
• wherein the multi-linkage connector is operative to continuously rotate the steering ring over an angle of at least about 179° upon motion of the linear actuator while maintaining connections of the multi-linkage connector to the linear actuator and the steering ring.

A load transportation system configured to move a load over a surface in one or more incremental steps via a plurality of lift/transport assemblies, each lift/transport assembly comprising

• a lift mechanism operative to lift a load-bearing frame supporting the load;
• a rolling assembly, including a foot pad for contacting the surface, the rolling assembly coupled to the lift mechanism;
• a steering assembly coupled between the lift mechanism and the rolling assembly and operative to rotate the rolling assembly, the steering assembly comprising
• a steering ring connected to the rolling assembly and operative when rotated to rotate with the rolling assembly,
• a linear actuator,
• first linkage comprising a first linkage first end and a first linkage second end, wherein the first linkage first end is connected to the linear actuator,
• a second linkage comprising a second linkage first end and a second linkage second end, wherein the second linkage first end is connected to the first linkage second end and the second linkage second end is connected to the steering ring,
• wherein the first and second linkages are operative upon displacement of the linear actuator to continuously rotate the steering ring over an angle of at least about 179° without requiring disconnection of a linkage and without requiring reconfiguration of the steering assembly.

A load transportation system configured to move a load over a surface in one or more incremental steps via a plurality of lift/transport assemblies, each lift/transport assembly comprising

• a lift mechanism operative to lift a load-bearing frame supporting the load;
• a rolling assembly, including a foot pad for contacting the surface, the rolling assembly coupled to the lift mechanism;
• a steering assembly coupled between the lift mechanism and the rolling assembly and operative to rotate the rolling assembly, the steering assembly comprising
• a steering ring connected to the rolling assembly and operative when rotated to rotate with the rolling assembly,
• a linear actuator,
• first linkage connected to the linear actuator,
• a second linkage comprising a second linkage first end and a second linkage second end, wherein the second linkage first end is connected to the first linkage second end and the second linkage second end is connected to the steering ring,
• wherein the first and second linkages are operative, upon displacement of the linear actuator, to continuously rotate the steering ring over an angle of at least about 179° while maintaining connections between the first linkage and the second linkages, between the linear actuator and the first linkage, and between the second linkage and the steering ring.