Patents Assigned to HiBot Corp.
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Patent number: 11435021Abstract: An in-pipe moving apparatus that can freely and smoothly move in a pipe having a bent portion and a branching portion, is not stuck in the pipe even if a drive motor of a movement mechanism fails or otherwise experiences a problem, and can be readily taken out of the pipe. The in-pipe moving apparatus includes two sets of wheel-based traveling elements (2A) and (2B), which each have two driving wheels (8A) and (8B) linearly arranged, and a variable bag, which is expanded and contracted in accordance with the pressure of a fluid supplied to the variable bag, and the two sets of wheel-based traveling elements (2A) and (2B) are so disposed as to sandwich the variable bag (3) and are fixed to the outer surface of the variable bag (3).Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: HiBot Corp.Inventor: Shigeo Hirose
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Publication number: 20190264856Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an in-pipe moving apparatus that can freely and smoothly move in a pipe having a bent portion and a branching portion, is not stuck in the pipe even if a drive motor of a movement mechanism fails or otherwise experiences a problem, and can be readily taken out of the pipe. The in-pipe moving apparatus includes two sets of wheel-based traveling elements 2 A and 2B, which each have two driving wheels 8A and 8B linearly arranged, and a variable bag 3, which is expanded and contracted in accordance with the pressure of a fluid supplied to the variable bag, and the two sets of wheel-based traveling elements 2A and 2B are so disposed as to sandwich the variable bag 3 and are fixed to the outer surface of the variable bag 3.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: August 29, 2019Applicant: HiBot Corp.Inventor: Shigeo Hirose
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Patent number: 9791090Abstract: An in-pipe moving apparatus for passing through a pipe bent in any direction without control of the attitude of the apparatus is provided. The in-pipe moving apparatus may include at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units arranged in series in a traveling direction and at least two sets of joint sections that pivotably link the at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units to each other. Each of the at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units includes a tire-integrated wheel, a drive section, a first frame fixed to the drive section, and at least one second frame pivotably attached to the drive section. A bending generator is provided between one of the first frames and one of the second frames in the at least three sets of tire-integrated wheel units and imparts tension for causing the first frames and the second frames to have a V-like bent shape.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: HiBot Corp.Inventors: Shigeo Hirose, Michele Guarnieri, Paulo Debenest
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Patent number: 9383055Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an in-pipe traveling apparatus and a traveling module is provided, having a simple structure but capable of operating with a short overall traveling path and setting a large drive force for forward and backward traveling operation. The In one embodiment, the in-pipe traveling apparatus includes at least three traveling modules capable of passing through a pipe. Each of the traveling modules includes a traveling module body, a pair of traveling wheels provided in the traveling module body on one side thereof in a traveling direction, a drive member that drives the pair of traveling wheels in such a way that the traveling wheels rotate, a connection member that connects the traveling module to another traveling module in a bendable manner in a pitching direction, and a swing member that causes the adjacent traveling module to swing in a yawing direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: HiBot Corp.Inventors: Shigeo Hirose, Paulo Debenest, Michele Guarnieri