US3570407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic vehicle control system
Assignee: Doosan Bobcat North America Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-07
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1990-04-07
Abstract
Abstract An automatically controlled vehicle is driven longitudinally along a path defined by an inverted angle iron track. An air pressure system on the vehicle has outlets discharging against opposing surfaces of the angle iron to produce a back pressure at each outlet varying with the distance of the outlet from the angle iron surface. The pressure at each of the outlets is sensed by a differential pressure transducer and a signal varying as the difference between the pressures is applied to a steering system to control the direction of movement of the vehicle. Other air outlets having pressure sensitive switches adjacent to the outlets are located on the vehicle and blocking plates are mounted at selected stations along the track to create a back pressure at the outlets. The back pressure when an outlet is adjacent a plate is sensed and analyzed by a logic system to control movement of the vehicle along the track.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur R Burch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:19
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/24; B62D1/28; B61; B61L; B61L25/00; B61L25/02; B61L25/04; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
An automatic vehicle control system having a vehicle movable along a surface, a means for moving the vehicle, and a means for steering the vehicle, said system comprising: means defining a track for guiding the vehicle along a selected path of movement over the surface; means for supplying pressurized fluid; means connected to receive the pressurized fluid for indicating the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the means for guiding, said means for indicating having a pressurized fluid discharge outlet located in proximity to the means for guiding and adapted to produce a pressure level varying as a function of the lateral distance of said outlet from said means for guiding; means connected to sense the pressure level for producing an output signal varying as a function of said pressure level; means responsive to the output signal for controlling the means for steering the vehicle to steer the vehicle along the path defined by the track of the means for guiding; a pressure sensing means comprising a plurality of pressurized discharge openings and a plurality of respectively associated pressure sensing elements responsive to a change in pressure at its respectively associated openings for producing signals indicating selected pressure conditions at said openings; means for affecting the pressure at the pressure sensing means by producing a back pressure at selected openings at selected longitudinal positions of the vehicle along the path; and means connected to be responsive to the signals from the pressure sensing means for controlling the means for moving to thereby control longitudinal movement of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
An automatic vehicle control system having a vehicle movable along a surface, a means for moving the vehicle, and a means for steering the vehicle, said system comprising: means defining a track for guiding the vehicle along a selected path of movement over the surface; means for supplying pressurized fluid; means connected to receive the pressurized fluid for indicating the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the means for guiding, said means for indicating having a pressurized fluid discharge outlet located in proximity to the means for guiding and adapted to produce a pressure level varying as a function of the lateral distance of said outlet from said means for guiding; means connected to sense the pressure level for producing an output signal varying as a function of said pressure level; means responsive to the output signal for controlling the means for steering the vehicle to steer the vehicle along the path defined by the track of the means for guiding; a pressure sensing means comprising a plurality of pressurized discharge openings and a plurality of respectively associated pressure sensing elements responsive to a change in pressure at its respectively associated openings for producing signals indicating selected pressure conditions at said openings; means for affecting the pressure at the pressure sensing means by producing a back pressure at selected openings at selected longitudinal positions of the vehicle along the path; and means connected to be responsive to the signals from the pressure sensing means for controlling the means for moving to thereby control longitudinal movement of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An automatic vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said means for affecting pressure comprises plate supported at the selected positions in proximity to the locus of relative movement of selected discharge openings upon longitudinal movement of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An automatic vehicle control system according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive to the pressure sensing means for controlling the means for moving comprises a logic system for responding to and correlating the signals from the pressure sensitive elements to effect control of the means for moving.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of controlling a vehicle comprising: providing a track defining a selected path of movement for the vehicle, moving the vehicle along the path; providing the vehicle with a plurality of discharge outlets; connecting the discharge outlets with a source of pressure; indicating the lateral position of the vehiclE relative to the track by placing the outlets to discharge at least partially in opposition to each other at least partially normal to the path of movement and in proximity to the track to produce outlet pressure levels each indicating the distance of the respective outlet from the track; sensing the pressure levels and steering the vehicle in response to the difference between said pressure levels; indicating the longitudinal position of the vehicle along the path of movement by positioning a plurality of discharge openings on the vehicle with pressure sensing elements located to be sensitive to the pressure at said openings and thereby produce a signal indicating a change in pressure; positioning a plurality of plates adjacent the locus of relative movement of the discharge openings at selected positions along said path to create a back pressure at selected discharge openings; and correlating information derived from the signals indicating pressure changes to produce a control signal for controlling movement of the vehicle along the path in response to the correlated information.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of controlling a vehicle comprising: providing a track defining a selected path of movement for the vehicle, moving the vehicle along the path; providing the vehicle with a plurality of discharge outlets; connecting the discharge outlets with a source of pressure; indicating the lateral position of the vehiclE relative to the track by placing the outlets to discharge at least partially in opposition to each other at least partially normal to the path of movement and in proximity to the track to produce outlet pressure levels each indicating the distance of the respective outlet from the track; sensing the pressure levels and steering the vehicle in response to the difference between said pressure levels; indicating the longitudinal position of the vehicle along the path of movement by positioning a plurality of discharge openings on the vehicle with pressure sensing elements located to be sensitive to the pressure at said openings and thereby produce a signal indicating a change in pressure; positioning a plurality of plates adjacent the locus of relative movement of the discharge openings at selected positions along said path to create a back pressure at selected discharge openings; and correlating information derived from the signals indicating pressure changes to produce a control signal for controlling movement of the vehicle along the path in response to the correlated information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |