Displacement mechanism for a remotely operated vehicle

A remotely operated vehicle comprising:

• a displacement mechanism comprising:
• a motor configured to actuate a drive crank;
• a coupler link connected to the drive crank on a first side and a lift rocker on a second side;
• a displacement link connected to the lift rocker;
• and
• a first displacement plate connected to the displacement link and having a first plurality of wheels provided thereon,
• wherein the drive crank, the coupler link, the lift rocker, the displacement link, and the first displacement plate are each respectively connected with pivot connections such that actuation of the motor actuates the first displacement plate between a raised position and a lowered position, and
• wherein the lift rocker is configured with a pivot point arranged in a body of the lift rocker such that the lift rocker, the pivot connection between the displacement link and the lift rocker, and the pivot connection between the lift rocker and the coupler link each rotate around the pivot point when the motor is actuated,
• a lift shaft configured to couple the lift rocker of the displacement mechanism to a second rocker disposed on an opposite side of the remotely operated vehicle,
• wherein the second rocker is connected to a second displacement plate provided with a second plurality of wheels thereon, and actuation of the lift rocker is transmitted to the second displacement plate via the lift shaft and the second rocker.

A method for actuating wheels of a remotely operated vehicle, the method comprising:

• actuating a drive crank that is connected, by a pivot connection, to a coupler link, thereby displacing the coupler link,
• rotating a lift rocker with the displacement of the coupler link,
• actuating a displacement link with the rotation of the lift rocker, and
• actuating a displacement plate comprising a plurality of wheels with the actuation of the displacement link, thereby actuating the displacement plate between a raised position and a lowered position,
• wherein the lift rocker is configured with a pivot point such that rotating the lift rocker causes the lift rocker, the pivot connection between the displacement link and the lift rocker, and the pivot connection between the lift rocker and the coupler link to each rotate around the pivot point when a motor is actuated.