# US 10,308,299 B2 · Methods and systems for controlling movement of load transporting apparatuses

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- Number: US 10,308,299 B2
- Document ID: US10308299B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/223,091
- Filed: 2016-07-29
- Published: 2016-11-17
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-20
- Assignees: Hydraulic Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Hydraulic Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Carl Flynt Higginbotham, III
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308299B2

## CPC

- B62D 57/022: {consisting of members having both rotational and walking movements}
- B62D 57/032: with alternately or sequentially lifted supporting base and legs; with alternately or sequentially lifted feet or skid (B62D57/024 takes precedence)
- Y10S 280/901: Adaptation of nonspecialized vehicles to semitrailer tractors
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Systems and methods for moving at least one load transporting apparatus may include the load transporting apparatus(es) configured to move in at least one direction, at least one feedback sensing device disposed on and/or within the load transporting apparatus where the sensing device obtains movement measurements of the load transporting apparatus, a first location to receive a pre-determined input, a second location to receive the movement measurement(s), and a processing circuit to compare the movement measurement(s) to the pre-determined input. In a non-limiting embodiment, a pre-loading system may prepare the load transporting apparatus for movement prior to moving or lifting a load by depressing at least one component of the load transporting apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for moving load transporting apparatuses comprising:
a plurality of load transporting apparatuses each configured to move-in at least one direction;
at least one feedback sensing device disposed on and/or within each of the load transporting apparatuses; wherein each feedback sensing device is configured to obtain at least one movement measurement of the associated transporting apparatus during movement of the associated transporting apparatus; and
a controller configured to receive signals representative of the movement measurements and to adjust a rate of movement of at least one of the load transporting apparatuses to ensure the load is level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the movement measurements is one of a pressure measurement, a height measurement, a lateral distance measurement, a rotational measurement, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the load apparatuses comprises:
at least one lifter configured to connect between a movement assembly and a load bearing frame;
wherein the lifter is configured to lift a load away from a base surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a load disposed on or over the load transporting apparatuses.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the load is a rig.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller wirelessly communicates with the load transporting apparatuses.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to wirelessly communicate with the load transporting apparatuses to lift a load a pre-determined vertical distance.

### Claim 8

A system for moving a load, comprising:
a plurality of load transporting apparatuses each comprising at least one vertical movement cylinder and at least one lateral movement cylinder, the plurality of load transporting apparatuses configured to cooperatively lift the load vertically from a surface and to move the lifted load laterally in a predetermined direction;
at least one vertical movement sensing device associated with each load transporting apparatus, each vertical movement sensing device configured to generate signals representative of vertical movement of the load;
at least one lateral movement sensing device associated with each load transporting apparatus, each lateral movement sensing device configured to generate signals representative of lateral movement of the load; and
a controller configured to receive movement signals from the load transporting apparatuses, and configured generate one or more vertical movement cylinder signals to cause one or more of the plurality of vertical movement cylinders to alter its movement to ensure that the load is level.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the controller and each load transporting apparatus are configured for wireless communication there between.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to receive a predetermined lift height measurement, and configured to compare vertical movement signals from the load transporting apparatuses to the predetermined lift height measurement, and to stop vertical movement when the predetermined lift height measurement is reached.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein each load transporting apparatus further comprises a lateral movement assembly disposed between the vertical movement cylinder and the surface, and configured so that the at least one lateral movement cylinder can move the load a distance along the predetermined direction after the load has been lifted above the surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to laterally move the load in the predetermined direction a distance defined by the predetermined direction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to lower the load to the surface after the load has moved the predetermined lateral distance.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to generate one or more vertical movement cylinder signals to cause one or more of the plurality of vertical movement cylinders to alter its movement to ensure that the load is level while lowering to the surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a pressure sensor associated with each vertical movement cylinder and configured to generate signals representative of cylinder pressure.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to determine a pre-load set point for each load transporting apparatus based on a comparison between a predetermined pre-load pressure, a cylinder pressure signal, and a vertical movement signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the pre-load set point for a first load transporting apparatus is different than the pre-load set point for another load transporting apparatus.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to energize the vertical movement cylinders to lift the load a pre-determined distance off of the surface after the pre-load set points have been determined.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to alter the rate of movement while determining the pre-load set points.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the predetermined pressure is insufficient to lift the load from the surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the predetermined pressure is sufficient to begin lifting the load from the surface.
