Crawler Ceiling Vehicle with Decoupling Drive Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceiling vehicles lack the capability for reliable and accurate traveling and positioning on structures with arbitrary orientations, particularly in overhead arrangements, due to limitations in coupling mechanisms that restrict motion to predefined paths and fail to accommodate varied geometries.
Innovation Solution
A crawler-type ceiling vehicle with suspension elements and a drive unit that utilize circumferential tracks with different shapes to decouple and recouple with the structure, allowing for flexible motion in two or three dimensions, and a coupling mechanism based on form fit with profile rails for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a predefined path (rail) is used to guide the vehicle, then the traveling path is well-defined and reliable, but the vehicle is limited to moving only along that predefined path and cannot adapt to varied geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle uses multiple independent suspension elements (at least two, preferably three or more) that can be independently coupled to and decoupled from the structure. Each suspension element acts as an independent module that can engage with the profile rails at different positions, allowing the vehicle to navigate complex geometries while maintaining stable suspension through the coordinated action of segmented suspension modules
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension elements are designed to be dynamically configurable - they can be actively coupled to the structure when needed for support and stability, and actively decoupled when the vehicle needs to change direction or navigate obstacles. This dynamic reconfiguration capability allows the vehicle to adapt its suspension configuration in real-time based on terrain requirements
2Reliability
If magnetic adhesion is used to ensure contact with the structure, then reliable contact is achieved, but the vehicle cannot provide high positioning accuracy across varied geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic adhesion with a mechanical form-fit coupling system. The suspension elements feature geometric coupling interfaces that physically engage with complementary profiles on the structure, providing both reliable contact through mechanical interlocking and precise positioning through the geometric constraints of the form-fit interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling interfaces of the suspension elements are designed with specific local geometric features (profiles, shapes, and dimensions) that match corresponding features on the structure. This localized geometric matching ensures both reliable contact and high positioning accuracy at each engagement point
3Reliability
If a coupling mechanism is designed for secure engagement with the structure, then reliable suspension is achieved, but the mechanism becomes complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension elements are designed as universal components that can engage with various profile rail geometries through standardized coupling interfaces. The same basic suspension element design can accommodate different structure types and orientations, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining reliable suspension through the universal form-fit coupling mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D~1E
AI summary
The present invention provides for a crawler type ceiling vehicle (10) configured for traveling in a suspended manner especially headlong at a ceiling structure (1), wherein the vehicle exhibits a plurality of suspension elements (13, 13b) configured for suspending the vehicle and configured for coupling the vehicle to the structure (1), and at least one drive unit (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) configured for circumferential driving motion and accommodating a first circumferential track and a second circumferential track having a different circumferential shape/contour than the first circumferential track. The present invention provides for a method of driving a crawler type vehicle for traveling in a suspended manner especially headlong at a structure (1).