Vehicle moving devices and methods for moving a vehicle
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsRonald Scott Friend, Robert Aaron Allex, Brian McElroy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle moving device for moving a vehicle from a first location to a second location includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A driving wheel is coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to contact a vehicle wheel at a first wheel location. A holding arm is coupled to the second end of the frame opposite the driving wheel and configured to contact the vehicle wheel at a second wheel location. The holding arm holds the vehicle wheel in contact with the driving wheel as the driving wheel rotates the vehicle wheel.
Claims13
A vehicle moving device for moving a vehicle from a first location to a second location, the vehicle moving device comprising:
- a frame having a first end and a second end;
- a driving wheel coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to contact a vehicle wheel at a first wheel location;
- a holding arm coupled to the second end of the frame opposite the driving wheel and configured to contact the vehicle wheel at a second wheel location, wherein the holding arm holds the vehicle wheel in contact with the driving wheel as the driving wheel rotates the vehicle wheel;
- a powered actuator operatively coupled to the holding arm, wherein the powered actuator is operable to pivot the holding arm between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a user input device mounted to the frame and communicatively coupled to the powered actuator, wherein the user input device is configured to move the holding arm between the first position and the second position based on the input and using the powered actuator.
A method for moving a vehicle from a first location to a second location using a vehicle moving device, the method comprising:
- arranging a vehicle wheel of the vehicle within a frame of the vehicle moving device, the frame comprising a first end and a second end, a driving wheel coupled to the first end of the frame, and a holding arm coupled to the second end of the frame opposite the driving wheel;
- contacting the vehicle wheel at a first wheel location with the driving wheel;
- receiving a user input on a user input device coupled to the first end of the frame;
- actuating the holding arm with a powered actuator communicatively coupled to the user input device and operatively coupled to the holding arm, wherein actuation of the holding arm is based on the user input received from the user input device and the powered actuator is operable to pivot the holding arm between a first position and a second position, wherein:
- in the first position, a tension wheel rotatably coupled to the holding arm is disengaged with the vehicle wheel;
- and
- in the second position, the tension wheel is engaged with the vehicle wheel;
- contacting the vehicle wheel at a second wheel location with the tension wheel,
- wherein the tension wheel holds the vehicle wheel in contact with the driving wheel as the driving wheel rotates the vehicle wheel;
- and
- rotating the driving wheel to move the vehicle from the first location to the second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.