Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Leon Clyde Hendee, Iii

Adam Leshem

Martin Lewis Marugg

Walter Guy Hill, Jr

David Eugene Cooper

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the movement of a surface traversing apparatus across a member which has an ordered array of openings in it's surface. Move control routines are provided, each of which instruct the traversing apparatus to move incrementally over the surface of the member by disengaging, incrementally moving, and re-engaging one of two stepping arms. Each routine operates to advance the apparatus an increment in one of a number of directions. Some of the routines move the apparatus parallel to lines or rows of openings. Others move the apparatus diagonally. Each routine senses the relative positioning of the two stepping arms to establish the sequence of operations and returns the stepping arm to its former position if it is unable to complete a step. An automatic selection operation may move the apparatus toward a target opening by comparing the present location of the apparatus with the target address and selecting a routine which minimizes the number of move increments needed to get to the target.

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Chattanooga, TN, United States of America

Leon Clyde Hendee, Iii