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US 2019/0291528 A1Published application
Mobile Drive Unit Having A Split Chassis
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDragan Pajevic, Peter Thomas Colantonio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mobile drive unit includes a pivot between the front chassis unit and the rear chassis unit, thereby diminishing the total height of the unit.
Claims20
A mobile drive unit chassis assembly for traversing a floor, the chassis assembly comprising:
- a front chassis unit including a pair of mid-chassis drive wheel assemblies and a front caster wheel;
- a rear chassis unit including a rear caster assembly mounted on the rear chassis base,
- a pivotal connection between the rear chassis base and the front chassis base;
- each one of the front caster and the rear caster being asymmetrically offset from a driving-direction centerline of the chassis assembly;
- whereby the pivotable connection enhances floor contact of the drive wheels and the front and rear caster wheels when traveling over an uneven floor;
- and
- whereby pivoting of the front chassis relative to the rear chassis enhances vertical clearance of components on the chassis assembly.
4 more elements
A mobile drive unit chassis assembly for traversing a floor, the chassis assembly comprising:
- a first chassis unit including a first chassis base, a pair of motorized drive wheel assemblies coupled to opposing sides of the first chassis base, a first load mount, and a caster assembly mounted on the first chassis base;
- the first load mount being adapted for receiving a portion of a load;
- and
- a second chassis unit including a second chassis base, a second load mount, and a caster assembly mounted on the second chassis base;
- the second load mount being adapted for receiving another portion of the load;
- the second chassis base and the first chassis base coupled together by a pivotable connection.
3 more elements
A method of transporting a load via a mobile drive unit, comprising the steps of:
- (a) the mobile drive unit receiving a drive signal;
- (b) in response to the receiving step (a), powering a pair of drive wheels to drive the mobile drive unit in a forward direction;
- (c) upon encountering a floor irregularity, a front chassis unit of the mobile drive unit pivoting relative to a rear chassis unit of the mobile drive unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.