Abstract: Disclosed is a wheel chair capable of going over an obstacle or ascending or descending a stair. The wheel chair comprises a wheel frame; an actuator coupled to the wheel frame; a power generating unit coupled to the actuator; a first transmission having a sun gear fixed to the power generating unit, a plurality of planet gears meshed with the sun gear, a ring gear meshed with the respective planet gears, and carriers coupled to the respective planet gears; a second transmission having a driving shaft meshed with the ring gear, a key frame rotatably installed on the driving shaft, and a casing fixed to the key frame; a plurality of front wheels each coupled to the driving shaft; a follower drivingly coupled to the driving shaft and having a follower shaft; and a rear wheel fixed to the follower shaft.

Abstract: A moving unit provides a wheel that supports a body portion in a condition that the body portion can be moved, a supporting member that is mounted at a position that does not interfere with rotation of the wheel and an arm that is mounted at a position shifted from an axis of the supporting member and that can move a distal end of the arm toward a direction away from the axis of the supporting member by being driven with the supporting member as a foothold and is so arranged that the body portion can be lifted up together with the wheel by grounding the distal end of the arm when the moving unit is transported, the crank and the arm are incorporated around an axle of the wheel in a compact state, which makes it possible to operate the moving unit stably.

Abstract: A personal transportation apparatus has a frame defining a surface for supporting a load, and a plurality of air-cushion cells mounted to the frame and depending from a lower side thereof, the air-cushion cells each having a changeable height to accommodate variations in an underlying terrain during a translation of the frame over the terrain. A pressure source is mounted to the frame and is operatively connected to the air-cushion cells for supplying air under pressure to the cells, thereby generating an air-cushion support for the frame. An elevation mechanism is mounted to the frame for lifting the frame from one step to a next higher step of a stairway so that the frame ascends the stairway from a lowermost step to an uppermost step of the stairway.

Abstract: A method for operating a device ascending or descending stairs. The device has a plurality of wheels rotatable about axes that are fixed with respect to a cluster arm, where the cluster arm itself is rotated about an axis so that wheels rest on successive stairs. The wheels and cluster arms are controlled according to separate control laws by a controller. Whether the device ascends or descends the stairs is governed by the pitch of the device relative to specified front and rear angles.

Abstract: A method for operating a device ascending or descending stairs. The device has a plurality of wheels rotatable about axes that are fixed with respect to a cluster arm, where the cluster arm itself is rotated about an axis so that wheels rest on successive stairs. The wheels and cluster arms are controlled according to separate control laws by a controller. Whether the device ascends or descends the stairs is governed by the pitch of the device relative to specified front and rear angles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the systems and methods allow for the control of a human transport device such that the human transport device remains in an upright position regardless of the surface being traversed. The systems and methods may include a plurality of operational modes where each mode has different characteristics. Additionally, systems and method for locating a center of gravity of a device are disclosed.

Abstract: A balancing vehicle that supports a rider on a support such as a seat in a such a manner as to allow the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle to be varied by motion of the support. Motion of the support additionally provides for control of a drive that propels the vehicle in a manner responsive to the position of the center of gravity. The vehicle is thus capable of control by leaning of a seated rider.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus capable of ascending or descending stairways and carrying goods consists of a frame, a transmission mechanism and a driving mechanism located on a lower section of the frame. The transmission mechanism includes a planetary gear set and is with two degrees of freedom. When moving on the floor, the driving mechanism may drive a driving wheel in the transmission mechanism to deliver output of the conveying apparatus based on floor conditions, thereby to ascend or descend the stairways, or moving on the plain floor.

Abstract: A method for operating a device ascending or descending stairs. The device has a plurality of wheels rotatable about axes that are fixed with respect to a cluster arm, where the cluster arm itself is rotated about an axis so that wheels rest on successive stairs. The wheels and cluster arms are controlled according to separate control laws by a controller. Whether the device ascends or descends the stairs is governed by the pitch of the device relative to specified front and rear angles.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for operating a device ascending or descending stairs. The device has a plurality of wheels rotatable about axes that are fixed with respect to a cluster arm, where the cluster arm itself is rotated about an axis so that wheels rest on successive stairs. The wheels and cluster arms are controlled according to separate control laws by a controller. Whether the device ascends or descends the stairs is governed by the pitch of the device relative to specified front and rear angles.

Abstract: A vehicle for transporting a payload over a surface that may be irregular and may include stairs. The vehicle has a support for supporting the payload and a ground contacting element movable with respect to a local axis, where the local axis can be moved with respect to some second axis that has a defined relation with respect to the support. The vehicle also has a motorized drive arrangement for permitting controllable motion of the ground contacting element so as to operate in an operating condition that is unstable with respect to tipping in at least a fore-aft plane when the motorized drive arrangement is not powered. The vehicle also has an input device for receiving an indication from an assistant who is not disposed on the vehicle of a direction of desired motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A portable load transporting dolly having a mechanism manually operable for selectively ascending or descending steps is shown. The dolly has generally cross-shaped wheels and a pivotal driving lever is located at its handle. A cable couples the pivotal driving lever to the rotating shaft of the cross-shaped wheels through a plurality of pulleys and ratchet gears such that the wheels may be rotated easily by gripping the lever. The radial arms of the cross-shaped wheels have sliding reciprocative rods which react with the steps of the staircase to enhance the climbing action of the dolly on the staircase.

Abstract: A transporting device has wheels, a stair climbing unit having climbing legs, an electric motor provided for driving of the stair climbing unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the electric motor and is formed as a crank shaft located symmetrically to a central longitudinal axis of the device, the drive shaft having halves each rotatably supporting a first crank for the climbing leg and a second crank for the wheel.

Abstract: A sack trolley (1) comprises a support frame (2) presenting a lower pair of carrying wheels (4) and a hoist mechanism (6) for climbing steps, which comprises a lifting arm (10) equipped with support rollers at its free end and which can be swivelled about a swivelling axis (S) parallel to the carrying wheel axis (L) by means of a crank drive (8). In order to achieve step-climbing assistance which is simple, space-saving, easy to handle and functionally safe, the lifting arm (10) is comprised of a swing guide component (11) swivel-mounted about the swivel axis (S) and a support component (12) taking up the support rollers (13) and longitudinally displaceable compared to the swivel guide component (11), whereby the crank drive (8) is articulated on the support component (12) with its crank arm (9).

Abstract: A method for operating a device ascending or descending stairs. The device has a plurality of wheels rotatable about axes that are fixed with respect to a cluster arm, where the cluster arm itself is rotated about an axis so that wheels rest on successive stairs. The wheels and cluster arms are controlled according to separate control laws by a controller. Whether the device ascends or descends the stairs is governed by the pitch of the device relative to specified front and rear angles.

Abstract: A motor-driven stair climbing device (10) to carry equipment and goods, more particularly wheel chairs (9) with disabled persons. The wheel chair (9) can be detachably fixed to the stair climber (10) and essentially comprises a stable frame (101) with an energy source (8.1, 8.2), a drive shaft (18), a drive control, feelers (7,131,132), sensors (7) and a lifting mechanism to climb the steps. The stair climbing device is characterized in that a support device (30, 33) is provided, which is supported on the following step of the stairs (1.2, 1.3) and in that the entire center of gravity (5) of the stair climber (10), the wheeler chair (9) and the disabled person is located between the support points of the running wheel (12) or the support device (30, 330) on the steps of the stairs (1.1, 1.2, 1.3).

Abstract: A safety device for stairway elevator systems (10) used for transporting apparatus and goods, especially wheelchairs (9) with persons who are unable to walk. The device is characterized in that the stairway elevator (10) or wheelchair (9) is fitted with a mounting device (20) equipped with a rotation pin (21). A support bracket (30) is mounted on the rotation pin (21) and a braking and blocking device (40) is attached to both the support bracket (30) and mounting device (20). A sensor (70) controls the braking and blocking device (40) in such a way that it blocks the support bracket (30) as soon as the stairway elevator (10) is at risk of tipping over and down the stairs (1) and releases the support bracket (30) when the stairway elevator (10) is placed at a correct angle to the stairs(1).

Abstract: In a stair-climbing vehicle for negotiating steps, ledges and stairs comprising a vehicle body having wheel support arms mounted thereon at opposite sides and in spaced relationship so as to be pivotable about a wheel support arm shaft and wheels rotatably mounted on the free ends of the wheel support arms, climbing arms are supported on the vehicle pivotable about the pivot axes of the support arms. The climbing arms are linearly extendable for moving the wheels from one step to the next, one wheel, one wheel support arm and one climbing arm forming together a stair climbing module.

Abstract: A vehicle for transporting a payload over a surface that may be irregular and may include stairs. The vehicle has a support for supporting the payload and a ground contacting element movable with respect to a local axis, where the local axis can be moved with respect to some second axis that has a defined relation with respect to the support. The vehicle also has a motorized drive arrangement for permitting controllable motion of the ground contacting element so as to operate in an operating condition that is unstable with respect to tipping in at least a fore-aft plane when the motorized drive arrangement is not powered. The vehicle also has an input device for receiving an indication from an assistant who is not disposed on the vehicle of a direction of desired motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A transporting device has wheels, a stair climbing unit having climbing legs, an electric motor provided for driving of the stair climbing unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the electric motor and is formed as a crank shaft located symmetrically to a central longitudinal axis of the device, the drive shaft having halves each rotatably supporting a first crank for the climbing leg and a second crank for the wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle, for driving over a ground surface, has a body with a left side, a right side, a front and a back. The vehicle includes left and right drive mechanisms. Each mechanism includes first and second traction elements for engaging the ground surface and transmitting a driving force between the vehicle and ground surface. Each mechanism includes first and second arms coupled to the first and second traction elements for relative rotation about first and second axis respectively. Each mechanism includes a rotor having a third axis, the rotor coupled to the body for rotation about the third axis and coupled to the first and second arms for relative rotation about the third axis. The mechanism includes first and second drive motors for driving the first and second traction elements and first and second transmissions, driven by the first and second motors and engaging the rotor. Driving the first and second traction elements simultaneously rotates the rotor relative to the first and second arms, respectively.

Abstract: The self-propelled stairs moving unit A1 moves on stairs, putting a manual wheelchair K on the pallet 7, by driving the front crawler traveling units 1a, 1b and the rear crawler traveling units 2a, 2b wherein right and left are unitedly connected with each other. When the stairs moving unit A1 is started to go up to the stairs from the flat face of lower hand, the front crawler traveling unit 1a relatively gently goes up. Then, the angle between the pallet 7 to be held to be level with the connecting shaft 6 which is rotation center of the traveling unit 1a as its center of oscillation and the line connecting both connecting portions of the support frames 5a connecting the front and rear crawler traveling units 1a, 2a (that is, the self-propelled portion) is slowly changed.