公开(公告)号：US20170157980A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-08

申请号：US15438149

申请日：2017-02-21

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jayson Michael Jochim ,  Martin Peter Aalund ,  David Bruce McCalib, JR. ,  Jon Stuart Battles

IPC: B60B19/00 ,  B60B19/12 ,  B60B19/02

CPC classification number: B60B19/003 ,  B60B19/02 ,  B60B19/12 ,  B60B2900/351 ,  B60B2900/551 ,  B60Y2200/62 ,  B65G2207/34

Abstract: Concepts of an omnidirectional pinion wheel are described. In one embodiment, the wheel includes first and second rims each including inner and outer rim surfaces, and an annular ring of rollers affixed on the outer surface of one of the first and second annular rim. Using an axis of freedom of the rollers, the wheel can move sideways in addition to forward and backward. Further, when used with a vertical rack gear, the wheel can provide vertical displacement by engagement between teeth of the gear and the pinion ring. Additionally, various racks and tracks with teeth for pinion ring engagement are described along with an example vehicle capable of vertical displacement using the wheels.

公开(公告)号：US20160375814A1

公开(公告)日：2016-12-29

申请号：US14752178

申请日：2015-06-26

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Jayson Michael Jochim ,  Martin Peter Aalund ,  David Bruce McCalib, JR. ,  Jon Stuart Battles

IPC: B60P1/48 ,  B66B9/16 ,  B60B19/02 ,  B62D57/04 ,  B60B19/00

CPC classification number: B60P1/48 ,  B60B19/003 ,  B60B19/02 ,  B60B2900/351 ,  B60B2900/551 ,  B62D57/04 ,  B65G2207/34 ,  B66B9/16

Abstract: Concepts of omnidirectional vehicle transport are described. In one embodiment, an omnidirectional vehicle includes a transportation platform, a drive system, and wheels. At a surface level, the vehicle can maneuver in any direction, including longitudinal and lateral directions. The vehicle can also be positioned to engage the wheels with a track having a rack gear to engage with the wheels. A control system of the vehicle can then drive the wheels in engagement with the track to raise the vehicle to a second level. At the second level, the vehicle can maneuver to transfer items onto the vehicle for transportation of the items back to the surface level. After the items are transferred onto the vehicle, it can be positioned for engagement with the track, and the control system can drive the wheels to lower the vehicle to the surface level and offload the items.

Abstract translation: 描述全方位车辆运输的概念。 在一个实施例中，全方位车辆包括运输平台，驱动系统和车轮。 在表面水平，车辆可以在任何方向上进行操纵，包括纵向和横向。 车辆也可以被定位成将车轮与具有齿条的轨道接合，以与车轮接合。 然后，车辆的控制系统可以驱动车轮与轨道接合，以使车辆升高到第二水平。 在第二级，车辆可以操纵将物品转移到车辆上以将物品运送回到地面水平。 在物品被转移到车辆上之后，它可以被定位成与轨道接合，并且控制系统可以驱动车轮以将车辆降低到表面水平并卸下物品。

公开(公告)号：US20190161228A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-30

申请号：US16265632

申请日：2019-02-01

Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Samuel Gardner Garrett ,  Martin Peter Aalund ,  Vinay Balan ,  Michael Barrett Hill ,  David Bruce McCalib, JR. ,  Timothy Alan Talda ,  Toby Ge Xu

IPC: B65B57/12 ,  B65B35/10 ,  B65B43/54

Abstract: The apparatus includes a moveable support platform within the container to reduce a distance that items fall into the container when stowed. The support platform is lowered by a movement mechanism as items are placed into the container. The movement mechanism may be a bladder filled with air, a biasing device, a pneumatic device, or a mechanical device. The moveable support may form a bottom portion of the container during transport of the container. In some instances, the movement mechanism may lift items out of the container to empty the container at a destination.