US3916704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibratory locomotion means
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1973-04-23
•
Granted: 1975-11-04
•
Expires: 1993-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A vibratory locomotion device which consists of one or more skids resting on the ground supporting a payload, and a vibrating mass attached to the skid. The mass, operated by a motor which creates a sinusoidal oscillation, alternatively pulls and pushes on the skid at a predetermined angle to the ground as it vibrates. When the mass is at the top of its stroke, it lifts and pulls forward on the skid and, when it is at the bottom of its stroke, it pushes downward and backward on the skid. Since the downward force increases the normal and, hence, the available friction force, the angle of the mass to the ground can be adjusted so that no backward slide results. As a result of the vibration of the mass, the skid incremently shuffles forward along the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard A Gaberson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G27/00; B65G27/10; B65G27/16; B65G27/18; B65G27/20; F; F03; F03G; F03G3/00; F03G3/097; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A vibratory locomotion system for a vehicle comprising: a payload; means fur supporting said payload resting on the ground; at least one weight having a predetermined mass attached to the payload and supporting means; means for vibrating said weight with sinusoidal oscillations of predetermind frequency to produce a vibration in a direction nonparallel to the direction of travel of said payload; and means for adjusting the angle at which the weight is vibrated with respect to the supporting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A vibratory locomotion system for a vehicle comprising: a payload; means fur supporting said payload resting on the ground; at least one weight having a predetermined mass attached to the payload and supporting means; means for vibrating said weight with sinusoidal oscillations of predetermind frequency to produce a vibration in a direction nonparallel to the direction of travel of said payload; and means for adjusting the angle at which the weight is vibrated with respect to the supporting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vibratory locomotion system of clain 1 wherein: the vibrating weight is comprised of at least two balanced eccentric weights of equal mass; and the vibrating means is comprised of means for counter-rotating the eccentric weights so that the center of gravity of the eccentric weights oscillates sinusoidally in a straight line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vibratory locomotion system of clain 1 wherein: the vibrating weight is comprised of at least two balanced eccentric weights of equal mass; and the vibrating means is comprised of means for counter-rotating the eccentric weights so that the center of gravity of the eccentric weights oscillates sinusoidally in a straight line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 2 wherein the balanced eccentric weights are comprised of: three eccentric weights; said eccentric weights being mounted adjacent each other on concentric shafts with two of the weights being mounted on opposite ends of an inner concentric shaft equidistant and on either side of a center weight mounted on an outer concentric shaft; the two weights on the inner concentric shaft being of equal mass and having a combined mass equal of the center weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 3 wherein the vibrating means is comprised of: a hydraulic motor; a pinion gear attached to the shaft of the hydraulic motor; a first bevel gear attached to the inner concentric shaft and engaging the pinion gear to rotate the inner concentric shaft; a second bevel gear attached to the outer concentric shaft and engaging the pinion gear to rotate the outer concentric shaft in a direction counter to the inner concentric shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 3 wherein the vibrating means is comprised of: a hydraulic motor; a sprocKet attached to the shaft of the hydraulic motor; a first sprocket attached to the outer concentric shaft; a chain connecting the hydraulic motor sprocket to the first sprocket; a second sprocket attached to the opposite end of the outer concentric shaft; a differential; a first sprocket attached to one end of the differential; a chain connecting the second sprocket on the outer concentric shaft to the first sprocket on the differential; a second sprocket on the opposite end of the differential; a sprocket attached to the inner concentric shaft; and a chain connecting the second sprocket on the differential to the sprocket on the inner concentric shaft wheeby operation of the hydraulic motor produces counter-rotation of the two weights attached to the outer concentric shaft with the center weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 5 wherein the means for adjusting the vibration angle of the weights comprises: a drive shaft attached to the differential; means for locking the drive shaft; and means for releasing and relocking the drive shaft so that the angle of coincidence of the three weights can be adjusted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 1 wherein the means for vibrating the weight comprises: a motor; a crank adapted to be rotated by the motor; a first link connected to the crank; a second link anchored to the vehicle; said weight being connected at the intersection of the first and second links so that rotation of the crank vibrates the weight to produce a sinusoidal oscillation in substantially a straight line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 7 wherein the means for vibrating the weight comprises: a motor; a link attached to the motor and adapted to rotate; a roller attached to the free end of the rotating link; a slide having a slot engaging the roller; a shaft rigidly attached to the slide; a frame rigidly attached to the vehicle and supporting the shaft on bearings permitting the shaft to slide freely; said weight being rigidly attached to the shaft so that rotation of the link vibrates the shaft and weight to produce sinusoidal oscillations in a straight line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 1 wherein the means for vibrating the weight comprises: a double-acting hydraulic cylinder with the weight rigidly connected to the piston of the cylinder; and an electro-hydraulic servo system connected to the hydraulic cylinder for driving the cylinder so that the mass is sinusoidally oscillated in a straight line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 9 wherein the means for vibrating the weight comprises: a flat base; at least two inclined guide shafts supporting said base on bearings permitting the base to slide on the guide shafts; a motor; a scotch yoke assembly connecting said motor to said flat base; a spring of predetermined resonant frequency attached to said base; said weight rigidly attached to the opposite end of the spring so that operation of the motor oscillates the base to produce sinusoidal oscillations on the spring and weight in a straight line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 1 wherein the means for vibrating the weight comprises: an inclined base attached to the vehicle; a spring of predetermined resonant frequency attached to the inclined base; a plate attached to the oppsoite end of the spring; a motor rigidly attached to the plate; at least one eccentric weight attached to the shaft of the motor so that operation of the motor rotates the eccentric weight to produce sinusoidal oscillations of the motor-plate-spring system in a straight line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 1 wherein the means for vibrating the weight comprises: a compressed air driven vibrator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 11 wherein: the payload is comprised of a tractor body; the means fOr supporting the payload is comprised of two skids mounted on either side of the tractor body; each of said skids being attached to the tractor body by two suspension springs at the front and rear; and each skid has a vibrating weight system pivotally attached to a hydraulic motor which in turn is rigidly attached to the skid; said hydraulic motor adapted to vary the angle of inclination of the vibrating weight system from a nearly horizontal position to a vertical position in the forward or rearward direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 13 wherein the suspension springs are selected to have a natural frequency of less than half the operating frequency at which the weight is to be oscillated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 1 wherein the mass of the vibrating weight is between approximately 5 to 20% of the gross vehicle weight.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of vibratory locomotion for a vehicle comprising: mounting at least one weight of predetermined mass on the vehicle; producing a vibration in a direction nonparallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle by vibrating the weight at a predetermined frequency of oscillation; isolating the body of the vehicle from the vibrations of the weight; and adjustably inclining the mass to produce locomotion.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of vibratory locomotion for a vehicle comprising: mounting at least one weight of predetermined mass on the vehicle; producing a vibration in a direction nonparallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle by vibrating the weight at a predetermined frequency of oscillation; isolating the body of the vehicle from the vibrations of the weight; and adjustably inclining the mass to produce locomotion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the vibration frequency of the weight is such that; MA < or = 1.0 where M the mass of the weight divided by the total mass of the vehicle and weight A the intensity of the vibration amplitude.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the vibration frequency of the weight is such that; phi MA > 1.0 where
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the angle of inclination of the vibrating is adjustable from near horizontal to near vertical in the forward or rearward direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 19 wherein the means for supporting the payload comprise at least one skid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 20 wherein the vibrating weight is adjustably attached to the skid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vibratory locomotion system of claim 21 wherein the payload is connected to the skid by suspension springs to provide isolation from the oscillations of the vibratory weight.
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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |