The Boeing Company

Richard A Hawkins

Michael Strasik

Arthur C Day

John A Mittleider

Kevin Earl McCrary

Philip E Johnson

Mark David Higgins

John Edwards

James R Schindler

A method of operating a production line comprises the steps of supporting equipment in the production line on a plurality of crawlers comprising at least one rolling track and a structural support for supporting the equipment. A first plurality of lifting magnets coupled to an interior surface of said at least one rolling track is configured to oppose a second plurality of lifting magnets coupled to an exterior surface of said structure support to lift the structural support, such that the structural support floats between and within said at least one rolling track. The magnetic fields experienced by the first and second plurality of lift magnets are adjusted to translate the at least one rolling track, such that the crawlers move along the production line.

Method of operating a production line

An equipment-carrying crawler () includes a rolling track () and a structural support (). The structural support () supports equipment (). Lifting magnets () are coupled to the rolling track () and to the structural support (). The lifting magnets () are configured to oppose each other, lift the structural support (), and aid in the translation of the rolling track ().

Superconducting crawler system for a production line

Growing community of inventors

Puyallup, WA, United States of America

Richard A Hawkins