US 2011/0031045 A1 · TRACKED MOBILITY DEVICE

Abstract

A tracked mobility device includes: a) a pair of independent, self-supported track drives defining a planar ground contact area; b) a multi-directional wheel having a raised position above the plane of the ground contact area, and a lowered position below the plane of the ground contact area; and c) an actuator for moving the multi-directional wheel to either its raised or its lowered position. When the actuator lowers the multi-directional wheel, part of the planar ground contact area is raised from the ground without raising all of the planar ground contact area from the ground. Each track drive functions independently so that bumps along one track may be traversed without tilting the entire vehicle. Each track drive may be attached to the vehicle body with flexible mounts that allow each track drive to independently tilt upward or downward as the device moves on its tracks.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A tracked mobility device, comprising:

a) a pair of independent, self-supported track drives having a ground contact area;
wherein each of said independent, self-supported track drives comprises:
i) a drive wheel;
ii) a plurality of rollers;
and
iii) a flexible track;
and
iv) a frame;
wherein said frame holds said drive wheel, said plurality of rollers, and said flexible track in an aligned orientation wherein the track drive may function as an independent, self-supported assembly;
b) a body connected to said pair of independent track drives;
c) a seat supported by said body;
d) a controller to control the speed and direction of rotation of each of the track drives;
e) a multi-directional wheel having a first, raised position above the plane of said planar ground contact area, and a second, lowered position below the plane of said planar ground contact area;
and
f) an actuator effective to lower said multi-directional wheel to its lowered position, wherein the actuator lowers said wheel an amount sufficient to raise at least part of said track drive ground contact areas from the ground without raising all of said track drive ground contact areas from the ground.

12 more elements

A tracked mobility device, comprising:

a) a first self-supported, independent track drive comprising:
i) a first motor operably connected to a first drive shaft;
ii) a first drive wheel connected to the first drive shaft;
iii) a first plurality of rollers aligned with said first drive wheel;
iv) a first track;
and
v) a first pair of spaced-apart frame members effective for holding the first plurality of rollers in an aligned orientation;
wherein said frame members additionally assist in holding the first track drive together as a self-supported, independent assembly;
b) a second self-supported, independent track drive comprising:
i) a second motor operably connected to a second drive shaft;
ii) a second drive wheel connected to the second drive shaft;
iii) a second plurality of rollers aligned with said second drive wheel;
iv) a second track;
and
v) a second pair of spaced-apart frame members effective for holding the second plurality of rollers in an aligned orientation;
wherein said frame members additionally assist in holding the second track drive together as a self-supported, independent assembly;
c) a body jointly supported by said first self-supported, independent track drive, and by said second self-supported, independent track drive;
d) a seat supported by said body;
and
e) a controller to control the speed and direction of rotation of each of the track drives.

17 more elements

A tracked mobility device, comprising:

a) a pair of track drives, each of said track drives defining a planar ground contact area, wherein said pair of planar ground contact areas are coplanar, wherein each of said ground contact areas including a forward ground contact area and a rearward ground contact area;
b) a first castor wheel having a first, raised position above the plane of said ground contact areas, and a second, lowered position below the plane of said ground contact areas;
c) a second castor wheel having a first, raised position above the plane of said ground contact areas, and a second, lowered position below the plane of said ground contact areas;
d) a first actuator effective to lower said first castor wheel to its lowered position;
e) a second actuator effective to lower said second castor wheel to its lowered position;
wherein said first actuator and said second actuator cooperate to lower said first castor wheel and said second castor wheel an amount sufficient to raise one of said forward and rearward ground contact areas of each track drive from the floor without raising the other of said forward and rearward ground contact areas of each track drive from the floor;
f) a body;
g) a seat supported by said body;
and
h) a controller to control the speed and direction of rotation of each of the track drives.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tracked mobility device

Life of this patent

Tracked mobility device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18