IP Library Granted Patent US 9,238,553
Granted Patent B2
US 9,238,553 · App. 13/757,332 · Granted Jan 19, 2016

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,238,553
App. No.
13/757,332
Granted
Jan 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A number of variations may include a vehicle for transporting or moving a load including a frame and may include a telescopic beam, a drive wheel and a support wheel, an arm connected to the drive wheel, and a conveyor having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the arm and the second end is connected to the support wheel. The telescopic beam may elongate and contract to reposition the position of the drive wheel in relation to the support wheel and thereby change the configuration of the vehicle and correspondingly the position of the conveyor.

Claims (45)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a drive wheel;

a support wheel;

a telescoping beam extending between said drive wheel and said support wheel;

an arm connected to said drive wheel;

a conveyor having a first end and a second end; said first end connected to said arm and said second end connected to said support wheel; and wherein the arm is an articulating arm pivotally connected to the drive wheel and pivotally connected to the conveyor.

2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said beam is pivotally connected to said drive wheel.

3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive wheel includes first and second wheel members and an electro-mechanical drive unit connected to an operable to rotate said first and second wheel members.

4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second wheel members have arcuate outer surfaces in a direction transverse an axis of rotation of said first and second wheel members.

5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 4 including a control arm connected to said drive wheel.

6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5 including a control unit attached to said control arm.

7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor includes at least one conveyor belt and a conveyor bed.

8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm is pivotally connected on one end to said drive wheel and is pivotally connected on an opposite end to said conveyor system.

9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a telescopic member.

10. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the arm includes a handle constructed and arranged to be grasped by an operator.

11. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the conveyor includes a forward roller or pulley and a rear roller or pulley, and a first conveyor belt extending between the forward roller or pulley and a rear roller or pulley, and further comprising an articulating arm having a first end pivotally connected to the drive wheel and the articulating arm having a second pivotally connected to forward roller or pulley of the conveyor.

12. A product as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a second conveyor belt extending between the forward roller or pulley and a rear roller or pulley.

13. The product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the telescoping beam is constructed and arranged such that when the length of the telescoping beam is adjusted the drive wheel is correspondingly adjusted.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a frame, said frame including a telescopic beam;

a conveyor, said conveyor including first and second rollers, said conveyor system connected at one end thereof to said frame;

a drive wheel, said drive wheel connected to said frame; and

an arm member, said arm member connected on one end thereof to said drive wheel and on an opposite end thereof to said conveyor system;

wherein the arm member is pivotally connected to the drive wheel and pivotally connected to the conveyor system.

15. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 including a control arm, said control arm connected to said drive wheel.

16. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said arm includes a telescopic member.

17. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said arm is pivotally connected on one end to said drive wheel and is pivotally connected on an opposite end to said conveyor system.

18. A vehicle as set forth in claim 17 wherein said arm includes a telescopic member.

19. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 including a support wheel.

20. A vehicle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said drive wheel includes at least one wheel member and an electro-mechanical drive unit operable to rotate said at least one wheel member.

21. A product as set forth in claim 14 wherein the arm includes a handle constructed and arranged to be grasped by an operator.

22. A product as set forth in claim 14 wherein the conveyor includes a forward roller or pulley and a rear roller or pulley, and a first conveyor belt extending between the forward roller or pulley and a rear roller or pulley, and wherein the arm member is pivotally connected to the drive wheel and pivotally connected to forward roller or pulley of the conveyor.

23. A product as set forth in claim 22 further comprising a second conveyor belt extending between the forward roller or pulley and a rear roller or pulley.

24. A method comprising:

providing a frame having a telescopic member, a conveyor pivotally connected at a first end thereof to said frame, a drive wheel pivotally connected to said frame, and an arm pivotally connected on one end to said drive wheel and pivotally connected at an opposite end to said conveyor;

adjusting the length of the telescopic member to reposition the drive wheel and correspondingly reposition the conveyor.

25. A method as set forth claim 24 further comprising:

providing said arm with telescopic member;

adjusting the length of the arm member to reposition the conveyor.

26. A method as set forth in claim 24 further comprising:

providing a control arm, said control arm connected to said drive wheel; and

using said control arm to control operation of said vehicle, including moving said control arm to direct movement of said vehicle such that the position of said control arm determines the direction of travel of said vehicle.

27. The method as set forth in claim 24 further comprising:

providing a control arm; and

using said control arm to adjust the length of said telescopic member.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0601 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 033135/0336 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2013
From: CHAMBERLAIN, SPENCER W.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 029745/0355 →