Magnetic wheels, steel-climbing robots, and methods and systems for inspection of steel structures are disclosed, along with variations, alternatives, and modifications. A disclosed magnetic wheel has radially oriented rare-earth magnets disposed in an elastomeric wheel body. The magnets are disposed in circumferential rings about the wheel's axis. Neighboring rings have azimuthally staggered patterns. A steel-climbing robot employing such magnetic wheels is capable of traversing steel structures including obstacles, discontinuities, 90° joints, and rough surfaces.
STEEL CLIMBING ROBOT WITH MAGNETIC WHEELS
2020-03-26
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60B VEHICLE WHEELS , Räder für Fahrzeuge / G01C Messen von Entfernungen, Höhen, Neigungen oder Richtungen , MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS / G01N Untersuchen oder Analysieren von Stoffen durch Bestimmen ihrer chemischen oder physikalischen Eigenschaften , INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES |
Wall climbing vehicle with self-adaptive magnetic wheels
European Patent Office | 2023
|