US4828059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wall-crawling machine
Assignee: Mitsubishi Power Ltd
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Filing: 1987-10-05
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Granted: 1989-05-09
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Expires: 2007-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A wall-crawling machine comprises a body, a plurality of guide wheels rotatably mounted on the body, at least one crawler track extending around the guide wheels, a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on an outer surface of each of the crawler tracks, and a guide device provided on the respective crawler tracks for selectively restraining or releasing the crawler track from moving relative to the body in a direction perpendicular to a plane on which the permanent magnets travel.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinji Naito
- 👤 Kenji Tsuchita
- 👤 Yoshiaki Ichikawa
- 👤 Chikara Sato
- 👤 Shigeru Kajiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:36
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/18; B62D55/26; B62D55/265; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S180/00; Y10S180/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A wall-crawling machine comprising: a body; a plurality of guide wheels rotatably mounted on said body; at least one crawler track extending around said guide wheels; a plurality of permanent magnets secured to an outer surface of each of said crawler tracks, each of said permanent magnets including a connecting member; and guide means associated with the respective crawler tracks and means for selectively moving said guide means between first and second positions for, in said first position, engaging a plurality of said connecting members to combine; some of said permanent magnets, which face a plane on which said permanent magnets travel, into an integrated magnet means against a force acting on said integrated magnet means in a direction perpendicular to said plane and in said second position, said connecting members being freely movable relative to said guide means for separating said integrated magnet means into permanent magnets which individually act in a direction perpendicular to said plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A wall-crawling machine comprising: a body; a plurality of guide wheels rotatably mounted on said body; at least one crawler track extending around said guide wheels; a plurality of permanent magnets secured to an outer surface of each of said crawler tracks, each of said permanent magnets including a connecting member; and guide means associated with the respective crawler tracks and means for selectively moving said guide means between first and second positions for, in said first position, engaging a plurality of said connecting members to combine; some of said permanent magnets, which face a plane on which said permanent magnets travel, into an integrated magnet means against a force acting on said integrated magnet means in a direction perpendicular to said plane and in said second position, said connecting members being freely movable relative to said guide means for separating said integrated magnet means into permanent magnets which individually act in a direction perpendicular to said plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
A wall-crawling machine according to claim 1, wherein said crawler track comprising a plurality of links each of which carries a permanent magnet through its associated connecting member, and wherein said means for selectively moving said guide means includes at least one fluidic cylinder connected at one end thereof to said body, and wherein said guide means includes a rigid bar to which said fluidic cylinder is connected at the other end thereof, so that said rigid bar is capable of engaging with said connecting members to combine some of said permanent magnets, which face a plane on which said permanent magnets travel, into said integrated magnet means against a force acting on the integrated magnet means in a direction perpendicular to said plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A wall-crawling machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of crawler tracks are provided, one of each of said pairs is swingable relative to the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A wall-crawling machine according to claim 1, wherein said machine further comprises supporting means which is magnetically energized or de-energized, and driving means for making said crawler track swing about a swing axis, and wherein said guide means includes a first guide means provided along a first part of said crawler track and a second guide means provided along a part of said crawler track opposite to said first part of said crawler track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A wall-crawling machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of crawler tracks are provided parallel to each other, and wherein each of said crawler tracks is movable close to and apart from the adjacent one in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of said machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A wall-crawling machine according to claim 1, wherein said machine further comprises inspecting means for inspecting a condition of a part of said plane around said machine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE583358C
Cited
US3493070A
Cited
DE2032231A1
Cited
US4132279A
Cited
WO1985002135A1
Cited
JPH06189184A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-08 | 1992-11-07 | 1993-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-08 | 1996-11-07 | 1997-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-08 | 2000-11-07 | 2001-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |