A two-wheel compact magnetic crawler vehicle for traversing and inspecting surfaces is disclosed. The crawler comprises a chassis. Two independently actuated magnetic drive wheels are spaced apart in a lateral direction and mounted to the chassis by a hinged joint enabling each wheel to tilt in response to the surface curvature. A probe wheel is provided at the midpoint between the two drive wheels and laterally in line therewith. A spring-assisted probe carrier passively moves the probe wheel vertically relative to the chassis in response to changes in the surface curvature. Additionally, the vehicle includes a probe angle normalization mechanism comprising spring-loaded, vertically moveable, ball casters positioned symmetrically about the probe wheel. The combined utilization of the probe carrier and the caster carrier passively maintain the probe contacting the surface, the chassis level, and the probe normal to the surface irrespective of changes in the surface curvature with vehicle movement.
TWO-WHEEL COMPACT INSPECTION CRAWLER WITH AUTOMATIC PROBE NORMALIZATION
2022-06-09
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B25J Manipulatoren , MANIPULATORS / B60B VEHICLE WHEELS , Räder für Fahrzeuge / B62D MOTOR VEHICLES , Motorfahrzeuge / G01N Untersuchen oder Analysieren von Stoffen durch Bestimmen ihrer chemischen oder physikalischen Eigenschaften , INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES |
TWO-WHEEL COMPACT INSPECTION CRAWLER WITH AUTOMATIC PROBE NORMALIZATION
European Patent Office | 2022
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