Centering device for load transporting apparatus

A load transporting apparatus configured to move a load over a ground surface in one or more incremental steps each including a load-movement phase and a recovery phase, the load transporting apparatus comprising:

• a load bearing frame attached to the load;
• a lift mechanism including a lift cylinder connected to the load bearing frame, and a cylinder rod, the lift mechanism structured to lift the load-bearing frame at the start of the load-movement phase;
• a roller assembly coupled to the cylinder rod of the lift mechanism, the roller assembly including a roller frame and one or more rollers set in the roller frame;
• a support foot coupled to the roller frame of the roller assembly and structured to interface with the ground surface, the support foot having a length, width, and longitudinal centerline bisecting the width of the support foot;
• a travel mechanism coupled to the roller assembly, the travel mechanism structured to move the roller assembly relative to the support foot during the load-movement phase;
• guide bars positioned on opposite sides of the roller frame and displaced adjacent to the roller frame, the guide bars positioned substantially parallel with the length of the support foot;
• and
• one or more biasing devices coupling the guide bars to the support foot, the biasing devices structured to become deflected during a load-movement phase where the roller assembly is non-linearly displaced by the travel mechanism relative to the longitudinal center line of the support foot, and structured to return the support foot to a centered position relative to the roller assembly about the longitudinal center line of the support foot during a recovery phase.

An apparatus for transporting loads comprising:

• a lift mechanism structured to lift a load-bearing frame supporting a load;
• a support foot connected to the lift mechanism, the support foot structured to interface with a base surface over which the load is being transported;
• a roller assembly coupled to the lift mechanism;
• a travel mechanism coupled to the roller assembly, the travel mechanism structured to displace the roller assembly relative to the support foot;
• a guide device positioned adjacent to the roller assembly and configured to guide the roller assembly during movement caused by the travel mechanism;
• and
• means for biasing the guide device during movement caused by the travel mechanism, where the support foot is automatically returned to a centered position relative to the roller assembly about a longitudinal center line of the support foot when movement by the travel mechanism has ceased and the support foot has been raised by the lift mechanism.

A method of centering a lift mechanism of a load transporting device relative to a support foot during a load-transporting movement, the load transporting device including a roller assembly coupled to the lift mechanism, a travel mechanism structured to displace the roller assembly relative to the support foot, and one or more guide devices coupled to the support foot by a biasing device and positioned adjacent to the roller assembly, the method comprising:

• activating the lift mechanism to lower the support foot to a ground surface and raising a load supported by a frame;
• activating the travel mechanism to displace the roller assembly connected to the lift mechanism relative to the support foot and ground surface, thereby moving a position of the load;
• shifting the guide devices when movement of the roller assembly deviates from a longitudinal center line of the support foot to deflect the biasing device, the guide devices shifted by movement of the roller assembly;
• activating the lift mechanism to lower the load on the frame and raising the support foot from the ground surface;
• and
• centering the support foot relative to the roller assembly about the longitudinal center line of the support foot, wherein the support foot is centered by the deflected biasing devices.