Method and apparatus for transporting and steering a heavy load
AssigneeColumbia Trailer Co., Inc.
InventorsKarl Boyd Williams, Steven Andrew Csergei
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transporting heavy machinery, equipment or other heavy loads from one location to another, whereby the apparatus may be constructed as a walking machine including a plurality of lifting assemblies operative to lift the load above the supporting surface and then move the load relative to the supporting surface by transporting the load via rollers or tracks in the walking machines. In one example, the lifting assemblies are provided with separate longitudinal and lateral drive mechanisms independently operative for translating the load in either or both longitudinal and lateral directions.
Claims17
A walking machine system for moving a load relative to a ground surface in one or more incremental steps via a plurality of lift assemblies, each lift assembly comprising:
- a lift mechanism operable to lift a load-bearing frame supporting the load;
- a foot pad assembly including a foot plate contacting the ground surface;
- a centering frame supported by the foot pad assembly, the centering frame including a first centering member and a second centering member offset from one another;
- and
- an alignment plate in operable communication with the centering frame, the alignment plate including a header end and an opposite footer end, the footer end further including a first notch and a second notch offset from one another, each of the first and second notches recessed relative to a peripheral edge of the footer end, and wherein the first notch engages the first centering member of the centering frame and the second notch engages the second centering member of the centering frame to align the foot pad assembly during transport of the load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.