US 5,492,406 AGranted

Device for the propulsion of an oloid shaped tumbler body

AssigneeBioengineering AG

InventorPio Meyer

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Abstract

A tumbler body with an oloid hollow body (7) is positioned on two free-moving, endless conveyor belts (8). A strip (10) runs around and is attached to the hollow body (7) limited by two profiles (9). The strip (10) maintains a positive connection to a driving element in form of an endless belt. The profiles (9) sink into the area of the guiding and driving system (11) in between the conveyor belts (8). The system contains and combines a guide for guiding the profiles (9) and a drive for driving the driving elements. The conveyor belts (8) glide on the low-friction tables (12) supported by a frame (14) which is also the attachment point for the guiding and driving system. The frame (14) is supported by a base (15). During the rolling process on the conveyor belts (8), the hollow body (7) has a tumbling motion, during which the profiles (9) in the area of the guiding and driving system (11) sink to their lowest point and the tangents at the profiles (9) are always in the moving direction of the conveyor belts (8) at this lowest point.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A device comprising:

an oloid tumbler body having a continuous strip passing around a periphery of said oloid tumbler body and having two profiles, wherein one of the profiles is positioned on each side of the continuous strip, each of the profiles extending outward from said oloid tumbler body;
a frame having means for supporting said tumbler body which allows said oloid tumbler body to roll in position;
a guiding and driving system attached to said frame, said guiding and driving system including:
means for applying guiding forces to the profiles of said oloid tumbler body, thereby maintaining the position of said oloid tumbler body on the means for supporting said tumbler body of said frame;
and
means for driving said oloid tumbler body having a driving wheel, a drive element positioned around a portion of the driving wheel and positioned around a portion of the continuous strip of said oloid tumbler body, and two fairleads contacting the drive element so as to cause continuous contact between the drive element and the driving wheel and continuous contact between the drive element and the continuous strip of said oloid tumbler body, whereby the means for driving causes said oloid tumbler body to roll on the means for supporting said tumbler body of said frame.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.