The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 2026
Filed:
Nov. 18, 2020
Autostore Technology As, Nedre Vats, NO;
Trond Austrheim, Etne, NO;
AutoStore Technology AS, Nedre Vats, NO;
Abstract
A remotely operated vehicle for moving on a rail system includes a first set of wheels, a second set of wheels, a wheel displacement assembly, and a wheel drive assembly. The rail system includes a first set of parallel rails and a second set of parallel rails arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails. The first set of wheels includes a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels, the first and second pairs of wheels arranged on opposite sides of a vehicle frame, allowing movement of the vehicle along a first direction on the rail system during use. The second set of wheels includes a third pair of wheels and a fourth pair of wheels, the third and fourth pairs of wheels arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle frame, allowing movement of the vehicle along a second direction on the rail system during use. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The wheel displacement assembly is mounted to the vehicle frame and arranged to move the second set of wheels in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle frame between a first position. The first set of wheels allows movement of the vehicle along the first direction, and a second position. The second set of wheels allows movement of the vehicle along the second direction. The wheel drive assembly includes a first motor, a drive band, and a band drive wheel. The first motor is operatively connected to rotate the band drive wheel. The drive band interconnects the band drive wheel and the third pair of wheels. The third pair of wheels and the first motor are mounted to a cross-plate which extends horizontally and is arranged to move vertically as part of the wheel displacement assembly. The third pair of wheels and the band drive wheel are attached to the cross-plate such that the cross-plate supports the third pair of wheels and the band drive wheel are in a fixed spatial configuration where each wheel of the third pair of wheels is located at an end portion of the cross-plate and the band drive wheel is positioned at a central portion of the cross-plate.