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US 8,672,062 B2Granted
Internal means for rotating an object between gravitationally stable states
OwnerGregory C Schroll, Kenneth R Schrollinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle incorporating a plurality of control motion gyroscopes (CMTs) contained within a support structure is described. Optionally, a mass shifting mechanism may also be incorporated in the vehicle. The vehicle and its CMTs are configured to have a plurality of gravitationally stable states on a sloped surface.
Claims14
A mobile device for movement on an underlying support surface, the device comprising:
- a shell including an outer support surface and defining a cavity;
- a center of gravity located within the cavity;
- a mass shifting mechanism located within the cavity, the mass shifting mechanism adapted to selectively move the center of gravity;
- and
- a plurality of control moment gyroscopes disposed within the cavity, the plurality of control moment gyroscopes having mutually non-parallel tilt axes and being disposed to selectively apply resultant torques to said mobile device, the selectable resultant torques including torques substantially perpendicular to the underlying support surface.
2 more elements
A mobile device for movement on an underlying ground surface, the device comprising:
- a shell including an outer support surface and defining a cavity;
- a center of gravity located within the cavity;
- a mass shifting pendulum located within the cavity, the mass shifting pendulum having an arm and a drive mechanism for rotating and positioning the arm relative to the shell to shift the center of gravity;
- and
- a plurality of single-gimbled control moment gyroscopes disposed within the cavity and mounted on the arm, the plurality of control moment gyroscopes having mutually non-parallel tilt axes;
- said plurality of control moment gyroscopes disposed to apply selectable resultant torques to said mobile device.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.