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 present invention provides a tracked wall climbing robot including a rack, two sets of track mechanisms and power components operating respectively in cooperation with the two sets of track mechanisms. Each set of track mechanism includes a track, a driving wheel, a tensioning wheel and a plurality of load bearing wheels, wherein the driving wheel, the tensioning wheel and the load bearing wheels are sleeved with the track, the tensioning wheel is used for tensioning the track, the driving wheel, the tensioning wheel and the load bearing wheels are rotatably arranged on the rack respectively through a driving wheel axle, a tensioning wheel axle and load bearing wheel axles, the driving wheel drives the tensioning wheel and the load bearing wheels to rotate through the track, the track is composed of a plurality of convex platforms, and attractive components are arranged in gaps between the convex platforms.

The present invention provides a tracked wall climbing robot including a rack, two sets of track mechanisms and power components operating respectively in cooperation with the two sets of track mechanisms. Each set of track mechanism includes a track, a driving wheel, a tensioning wheel and a plurality of load bearing wheels, wherein the driving wheel, the tensioning wheel and the load bearing wheels are sleeved with the track, the tensioning wheel is used for tensioning the track, the driving wheel, the tensioning wheel and the load bearing wheels are rotatably arranged on the rack respectively through a driving wheel axle, a tensioning wheel axle and load bearing wheel axles, the driving wheel drives the tensioning wheel and the load bearing wheels to rotate through the track, the track is composed of a plurality of convex platforms, and attractive components are arranged in gaps between the convex platforms.

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.

A suction traveling device includes: a main pressure reducing chamber, sub pressure reducing chambers communicating with the main pressure reducing chamber and disposed in drive parts, ventilation holes on a same side of the sub pressure reducing chamber as suction holes and communicating the sub pressure reducing chambers and suction holes, and an open/close unit for releasing the ventilation holes when a pressure in suction chambers formed by a wall surface and the suction holes is equal to a pressure in the sub pressure reducing chamber and for closing the ventilation holes when the pressure in the suction chambers is higher than in the sub pressure reducing chamber. When the ventilation hole is closed, a gap of a size preventing the pressure in the sub pressure reducing chamber from affecting the pressure in the other suction chamber is formed in the ventilation hole.

A suction traveling device includes: a main pressure reducing chamber, sub pressure reducing chambers communicating with the main pressure reducing chamber and disposed in drive parts, ventilation holes on a same side of the sub pressure reducing chamber as suction holes and communicating the sub pressure reducing chambers and suction holes, and an open/close unit for releasing the ventilation holes when a pressure in suction chambers formed by a wall surface and the suction holes is equal to a pressure in the sub pressure reducing chamber and for closing the ventilation holes when the pressure in the suction chambers is higher than in the sub pressure reducing chamber. When the ventilation hole is closed, a gap of a size preventing the pressure in the sub pressure reducing chamber from affecting the pressure in the other suction chamber is formed in the ventilation hole.

Monitoring vehicles comprising track systems or tires to obtain information regarding the vehicle, including information regarding the track systems or tires, such as an indication of a level of wear, a rupture like a break, a puncture, chunking, de-bonding, etc., which can be used for various purposes, such as, for example, to convey the information to a user (e.g., the operator); control the vehicle (e.g., a speed of the vehicle, operation of a work implement, etc.); transmit the information to a remote party (e.g., a provider such as a manufacturer or distributor of the track systems or tires); etc.

Monitoring vehicles comprising track systems or tires to obtain information regarding the vehicle, including information regarding the track systems or tires, such as an indication of a level of wear, a rupture like a break, a puncture, chunking, de-bonding, etc., which can be used for various purposes, such as, for example, to convey the information to a user (e.g., the operator); control the vehicle (e.g., a speed of the vehicle, operation of a work implement, etc.); transmit the information to a remote party (e.g., a provider such as a manufacturer or distributor of the track systems or tires); etc.