Reconfigurable mobile vehicle with magnetic tracks

Abstract

A mobile vehicle having at least one endless driven member for driving the endless member on a surface capable of supporting a magnetic circuit. The vehicle is equipped with a magnetic system that is housed in a substantially hermetically sealed enclosure and comprises a magnet, a fixed magnetic circuit member, and a movable magnetic circuit member for establishing first and second magnetic circuits. A clutch is provided to selectively connect the movable magnetic circuit member to the motor to move the movable magnetic circuit member between a first position wherein the first magnetic circuit is established such that the endless driven member can magnetically engage the surface and a second position wherein the second magnetic circuit is established such that the endless member does not magnetically engage the surface. The enclosure is pressurized with a pressure medium at a predetermined pressure and temperature and is monitored by sensors within the enclosure. The pressure and temperature sensors interface with microprocessors which can trigger a shut down of the vehicle's components should anomalous pressure or temperature conditions occur within the enclosure. The vehicle also has permanent magnet tracks pivotally attached thereto to enable the vehicle to traverse between intersecting magnetic wall surfaces.