초록 ▼

An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame

An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame. The forward section includes an elongated arm. One end of the arm is pivotally coupled to the main frame near the forward end of the main frame about a transverse axis that is generally perpendicular to the sides of the main frame. The arm has a length sufficiently long to allow the forward section to extend below the main section in at least some degrees of rotation of the arm, and a length shorter than the length of the main section. The center of mass of the main section is located forward of the rearmost point reached by the end of the arm in its pivoting about the transverse axis. The main section is contained within the volume defined by the main tracks and is symmetrical about a horizontal plane, thereby allowing inverted operation of the robot.

대표청구항 ▼

An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame

An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame. The forward section includes an elongated arm. One end of the arm is pivotally coupled to the main frame near the forward end of the main frame about a transverse axis that is generally perpendicular to the sides of the main frame. The arm has a length sufficiently long to allow the forward section to extend below the main section in at least some degrees of rotation of the arm, and a length shorter than the length of the main section. The center of mass of the main section is located forward of the rearmost point reached by the end of the arm in its pivoting about the transverse axis. The main section is contained within the volume defined by the main tracks and is symmetrical about a horizontal plane, thereby allowing inverted operation of the robot. aximum reach being greater than 60 inches when said mechanical lift is fully extended. 11. A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising: (a) a vehicle chassis; (b) a plurality of wheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis; (c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle; (d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and (e) a munitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that: i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft; and ii. in the aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft; and (f) said munitions handling vehicle defining a profile measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface, said profile being less than 14 inches when said mechanical lift is fully retracted. 12. A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising: (a) a vehicle chassis; (b) a plurality of wheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis; (c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle; (d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and (e) a munitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that: i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft, and in the weapons-transport position, said vehicle defines a profile of less than 14 inches measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface; and ii. in the aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft, and in the aircraft-access position, said vehicle defines a maximum reach of greater than 60 inches measured from said munitions carrier to the ground surface. 13. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein each of said omni wheels comprises a plurality of generally elliptical-shaped rollers. 14. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 13, wherein each of said omni wheels comprises at least six of said rollers. 15. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, and comprising an electric motor operatively connected to each of said omni wheels for actuating said wheels. 16. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 15, wherein each electric motor comprises a minimum of 5 horsepower. 17. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said mechanical lift comprises a scissor lift including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, crossing arms. 18. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said mechanical lift comprises a collapsible weapons stand including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, folding arms. 19. A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said vehicle chassis comprises a support platform. 20. A method for loading weapons in military aircraft, comprising the steps of: (a) transporting a weapon to an aircraft on a munitions handling vehicle, the vehicle comprising a plurality of omni wheels cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of the vehicle; (b) with the vehicle located at the aircraft, movin