A tracked climbing vehicle containing a compliant suspension apparatus to prescribe the distribution of forces on the adhering members in the tracked climbing machine. The compliant suspension apparatus is configured to negotiate irregularities in a climbing-surface without the vehicle tracks losing full surface contact and adhesion by distributing the loads from the climbing machine chassis to the adhering traction members in a specific prescribed fashion. The apparatus thus avoids exceeding the allowable force in any adhering traction member and significantly improves the performance of the climbing machine.

A tracked climbing vehicle containing a compliant suspension apparatus to prescribe the distribution of forces on the adhering members in the tracked climbing machine. The compliant suspension apparatus is configured to negotiate irregularities in a climbing-surface without the vehicle tracks losing full surface contact and adhesion by distributing the loads from the climbing machine chassis to the adhering traction members in a specific prescribed fashion. The apparatus thus avoids exceeding the allowable force in any adhering traction member and significantly improves the performance of the climbing machine.

A tracked climbing vehicle containing a compliant suspension apparatus to prescribe the distribution of forces on the adhering members in the tracked climbing machine. The compliant suspension apparatus is configured to negotiate irregularities in a climbing surface without the vehicle tracks losing full surface contact and adhesion by distributing the loads from the climbing machine chassis to the adhering traction members in a specific prescribed fashion. The apparatus thus avoids exceeding the allowable force in any adhering traction member and significantly improves the performance of the climbing machine.

A tracked climbing vehicle containing a compliant suspension apparatus to prescribe the distribution of forces on the adhering members in the tracked climbing machine. The compliant suspension apparatus is configured to negotiate irregularities in a climbing surface without the vehicle tracks losing full surface contact and adhesion by distributing the loads from the climbing machine chassis to the adhering traction members in a specific prescribed fashion. The apparatus thus avoids exceeding the allowable force in any adhering traction member and significantly improves the performance of the climbing machine.

The invention relates to a hybrid surface traversing apparatus adapted to be adhered to a (e.g., submerged or in air) surface by a non-flow-through pressure differential, the apparatus includes a frame forming a chamber; a seal (e.g., closed-cell foam) having a closed seal perimeter (e.g., a closed polygon, a quadrilateral, and the like) defining an opening of the chamber, the seal perimeter adapted substantially for rolling relative to the chamber and for contact with the surface to be traversed to prevent leakage and maintain a non-flow-through seal with the surface; a suction pump structured and arranged to produce the (e.g., negative) pressure differential and cooperate with the seal to adhere the apparatus to the surface; and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface.

The invention relates to a hybrid surface traversing apparatus adapted to be adhered to a (e.g., submerged or in air) surface by a non-flow-through pressure differential, the apparatus includes a frame forming a chamber; a seal (e.g., closed-cell foam) having a closed seal perimeter (e.g., a closed polygon, a quadrilateral, and the like) defining an opening of the chamber, the seal perimeter adapted substantially for rolling relative to the chamber and for contact with the surface to be traversed to prevent leakage and maintain a non-flow-through seal with the surface; a suction pump structured and arranged to produce the (e.g., negative) pressure differential and cooperate with the seal to adhere the apparatus to the surface; and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface.

An apparatus for cleaning the outer side of the hull of a marine vessel and for cleaning the wall of cargo holds, the apparatus including a housing provided with magnetic continuous tracks at opposing lateral sides of the housing, a front wheel and a rear wheel for each of the magnetic continuous tracks, each magnetic continuous track including a plurality of links interconnected by drive pins, the links having an inwardly facing side and an outwardly facing side, a guide configured to engage the drive pins for preventing the links in a first portion of the extent of the of at least one of the magnetic continuous tracks between the front wheel and the rear wheel from moving in the direction in which the outwardly facing side faces and a submersible apparatus for cleaning the outer side of the hull of a marine vessel and for cleaning the wall of cargo space in the cargo holds that comprises a watertight housing provided with continuous magnetic tracks at opposing lateral sides of the housing. A watertight housing provided with continuous magnetic tracks at opposing lateral sides of said housing. At least one drive motor in the housing operably connected to at least one continuous magnetic track for driving the continuous magnetic tracks. The housing being provided with a main side between the continuous magnetic tracks.

An apparatus for cleaning the outer side of the hull of a marine vessel and for cleaning the wall of cargo holds, the apparatus including a housing provided with magnetic continuous tracks at opposing lateral sides of the housing, a front wheel and a rear wheel for each of the magnetic continuous tracks, each magnetic continuous track including a plurality of links interconnected by drive pins, the links having an inwardly facing side and an outwardly facing side, a guide configured to engage the drive pins for preventing the links in a first portion of the extent of the of at least one of the magnetic continuous tracks between the front wheel and the rear wheel from moving in the direction in which the outwardly facing side faces and a submersible apparatus for cleaning the outer side of the hull of a marine vessel and for cleaning the wall of cargo space in the cargo holds that comprises a watertight housing provided with continuous magnetic tracks at opposing lateral sides of the housing. A watertight housing provided with continuous magnetic tracks at opposing lateral sides of said housing. At least one drive motor in the housing operably connected to at least one continuous magnetic track for driving the continuous magnetic tracks. The housing being provided with a main side between the continuous magnetic tracks.

A Mobile Climbing Robot (MCR) with wheel or endless-track type propulsion using magnetic attraction for generating adhering forces is adapted to climbing non-planar surfaces such as intersecting walls, pipes or other structural members. A tether is connected to the MCR through a tether linkage that causes the tether to bend with a radius that keeps it from protruding outside of the MCR wheels. The purpose of this is to increase the mobility when passing over variations of the climbing surface such as edges or corners. The purpose is to further protect the tether from wear caused by rubbing with the climbing surface.

An endless-track traveling apparatus includes a casing, pulleys having axes arranged in parallel in the casing, a motor for driving the pulleys, and an endless track wound on outer circumferential surface portions of the pulleys to rotate together with the pulleys and move on a traveling target. The endless-track traveling apparatus further includes: a plate-shaped member disposed in contact with the endless track and opposed to the traveling target in a space surrounded by the endless track, and fitted in the casing; a magnet fixed in the casing to attract the traveling target; and an elastic member having one end in contact with an inside of the casing and another end in contact with the plate-shaped member, and urging the plate-shaped member in such a direction as to press the plate-shaped member against the endless track.