Wheel Or Axle Patents (Class 105/78)
  • Patent number: 8487504
    Abstract: A dynamically induced magnetic hysteresis apparatus is described which allows for levitation and adjustable power coupling without direct mechanical attachment or linking. Adjustment of spatial and penetration gaps are adjusted to vary the ratio of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Elberto Berdut Teruel
  • Patent number: 7233221
    Abstract: Specially conceived for vehicles which have to be displaced over ferromagnetic surfaces, like the iron or steel walls of large tanks for example, it is incorporated by the combination of a hollow rim (1–1?) and a tyre (4) of an elastomer or similar material, which define a cylindrical chamber (8) inside which a magnetic annulus (9) runs, materialized in a permanent magnet of adequate strength, with the particularity that said magnetic annulus (9) has a substantially smaller diameter than that of the cited chamber (8), so that it is capable of carrying out a planetary motion inside the same, maintaining a permanently tangential condition with the tyre (4) at the point in which the latter is in contact at all times with the ferromagnetic surface over which the vehicle is displaced, achieving maximum adherence at said point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Applus Norcontrol, S.L. (Sociedad Unipersonal)
    Inventors: Oscar Reboredo Losada, Manuel Varela Rey
  • Patent number: 6886651
    Abstract: A material transportation system includes one or more material transportation vehicles, each having magnetic wheels coupled to a magnetically attractive surface that can include a ceiling, a wall, a floor, and/or a transition region. The material transportation vehicles are adapted to carry material from place to place. Each material transportation vehicle has sensors and motor controls that reduce swing motion of the material transportation vehicle and the material coupled thereto. A collision avoidance and traffic control system prevents collisions between the one or more material transportation vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Alexander H. Slocum, Shorya Awtar, Anastasios John Hart
  • Patent number: 5678489
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrically-operated ornament travelling on a rail capable of explaining the free quadrants described in the Mobius Theorem. The ornament mainly includes a three-dimensional endless rail supported on a set of supports. The rail includes at least a twisted and turned part and a non-twisted part. Two parallel metal wires extend through a full length of the rail on both surfaces thereof. A controller is used to supply current to the metal wires and to control the magnitude and flowing direction of the supplied current. A moving body having rollers made of permanent magnetic material is magnetically attached to the metal wires. A transmission mechanism in the moving body is powered through the controller to drive the moving body to travel, back, or stop on the endless rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignees: Studio Eluceo Ltd., Jya Cheng Enterprise Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Xian Wang
  • Patent number: 5408935
    Abstract: A magnet-type transportation system of a car-side primary type includes a rail of a magnetic material, fixedly laid down along a traveling track, and a power car capable of self-movement by a plurality of wheels adapted to roll over the traveling track. The power car includes a plurality of magnet belt conveyor units, each having a magnet belt extended in an endless manner around a driving wheel and a driven wheel. The power car also includes a power unit and a power transfer/transmission mechanism for driving each conveyor unit. The power car is adapted so that the magnet belts mounted thereon are magnetically attracted to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignees: Furukawa Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, East Japan Railway Company, Magnetic Transportation System Engineering Company, Railway Electrical Engineering Association of Japan
    Inventors: Kazumi Matsui, Takashi Takasue, Nagao Sakakura
  • Patent number: 5388528
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided for moving within pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least one wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall. An arm is rotatably mounted on the central portion of the outer wheel member. The arm has a pair of magnetically permeable members disposed widthwise of the vehicle body. A magnet is mounted on the arm with its poles in contact with the pair of magnetically permeable members. The arm can be rotated and freely oriented toward the running surface magnetically to hold the wheel to the running surface. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Company, Limited
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Eric A. Edwards, Lawrence S. Gullman
  • Patent number: 5355807
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided for moving in pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least on wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall and an inner wheel member including a portion of a magnetically permeable material. The inner wheel member has an outside diameter smaller that the inside diameter of the outer wheel member and is rollable on the inner peripheral surface of the outer wheel member. A magnet is provided in the inner wheel member having magnetic poles in contact with the permeable portion of the inner wheel. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Eric A. Edwards, Lawrence S. Gullman
  • Patent number: 5284096
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided for moving within pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least one wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall with an inner wheel member including a portion of magnetically permeable material. The inner wheel member has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the outer wheel member and is rollable on the inner peripheral surface of the outer wheel member. A magnet is provided in the inner wheel member having magnetic poles in contact with the permeable portion of the inner wheel. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Company, Limited
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Eric A. Edwards, Lawrence S. Gullman
  • Patent number: 5220869
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided for moving within pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least one wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall with an inner wheel member including a portion of magnetically permeable material. The inner wheel member has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the outer wheel member and is rollable on the inner peripheral surface of the outer wheel member. A magnet is provided in the inner wheel member having magnetic poles in contact with the permeable portion of the inner wheel. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Eric A. Edwards, Lawrence S. Gullman