Movable platform for use with surface profiling system
AssigneeAllen Face and Company LC
InventorS. Allen Face, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A movable platform is provided for use with a surface profiling system. The platform eliminates all errors associated with wheel inconsistencies. A frame is supported above a surface by, among other supports, three supports arranged in a linear alignment that defines a direction of travel for the frame. The three supports are defined by a front support, a rear support and a center support centered between the front support and rear support. The center support is a floating support capable of substantially vertical movement. At least two of the front support, rear support and center support are wheels configured to roll in the direction of travel defined by the three supports that are linearly aligned. These wheels are coupled to one another for synchronizing rolling movement thereof on the surface.
Claims20
A movable platform, comprising:
- a frame for supporting a surface measurement system thereon;
- at least four supports coupled to said frame and contacting a surface wherein said frame is supported above said surface;
- a first three of said at least four supports being arranged in a linear alignment that defines a direction of travel for said frame, and a remainder of said at least four supports being spaced apart from said linear alignment;
- said first three defined by a front support, a rear support and a center support centered between said front support and said rear support;
- said center support being a floating support capable of substantially vertical movement;
- at least two of said front support, said rear support and said center support being wheels configured to roll in said direction of travel;
- and
- means coupled to said wheels for synchronizing rolling movement thereof on said surface.
A movable platform, comprising:
- a frame;
- at least four supports coupled to said frame and contacting a surface wherein said frame is supported above said surface;
- a first three of said at least four supports being arranged in a linear alignment that defines a direction of travel for said frame, and a remainder of said at least four supports being spaced apart from said linear alignment;
- said first three defined by a front support, a rear support and a center support centered between said front support and said rear support;
- said center support being a floating support capable of substantially vertical movement;
- a sensor coupled to said center support for measuring a vertical component of said substantially vertical movement and for generating a signal indicative thereof;
- at least two of said front support, said rear support and said center support being wheels configured to roll in said direction of travel;
- an odometer coupled to one of said wheels for measuring a distance traveled on said surface caused by each rotation of said one of said wheels and for generating a signal indicative of said distance traveled;
- and
- means coupled to said wheels for synchronizing rotation thereof wherein said distance traveled by said one of said wheels is the same for remaining ones of said wheels.
A movable platform for rolling movement on a hard surface having a contoured profile, comprising:
- a frame;
- at least four supports coupled to said frame and contacting said surface wherein said frame is supported above said surface;
- a first three of said at least four supports being arranged in a linear alignment that defines a direction of travel for said frame, and a remainder of said at least four supports being spaced apart from said linear alignment;
- said first three defined by a front support, a rear support and a center support centered between said front support and said rear support;
- said center support being a floating support capable of substantially vertical movement;
- a sensor coupled to said center support for measuring a vertical component of said substantially vertical movement and for generating a signal indicative thereof;
- at least two of said front support, said rear support and said center support being wheels configured to roll in said direction of travel;
- an odometer coupled to one of said wheels for measuring a distance traveled on said surface caused by each rotation of said one of said wheels and for generating a signal indicative of said distance traveled;
- means coupled to said wheels for synchronizing rotation thereof when rolling on said surface wherein said distance traveled by said one of said wheels is the same for remaining ones of said wheels;
- and
- a processor mounted on said frame and coupled to said sensor and said odometer for determining the contoured profile of said surface along said direction of travel using said vertical component of said substantially vertical movement and said distance traveled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.