Quotables
"Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical and insignificant, if not utterly impossible."
Simon Newcomb, astronomer ; Said in 1902, less than two years before the first flight at Kitty Hawk
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7938216 | Moving carrier that sticks to surface by use of sticking means such as negative pressure The moving carrier which sticks to the surface is provided with easy transverse movements on the surface. The moving carrier has at least two sets of driving wheels or one set of caterpillar on each of its right and the left sides relative to its traveling direction... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7775312 | Surface traversing apparatus and method The invention concerns a surface traversing apparatus that includes a frame, a seal having a seal perimeter that is mounted to the frame, and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface. The seal perimeter is adapted substantially for rolling co... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7748487 | Device movable along body surface This invention provides a device capable of covering the surface of an object situated in a gas with a region filled with a liquid and of moving such region, capable of sucking and collecting such liquid from the surface of the object wetted by the liquid and of dry... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7694767 | System element for the transporting and positioning of tools A system element for the transporting and positioning of a tool on a surface of a workpiece, includes at least one suction device that generates a suction stream, and a transport device that is arranged around the suction device, and includes: at least two rollers t... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7520356 | Modular wall climbing robot with transition capability A mobile robot generally including a first suction module, a second suction module and a hinge assembly pivotably connecting the suction modules together. Each of the suction modules includes a support frame defining a vacuum chamber and a vacuum unit supported on t... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7404464 | Vacuum traction device A traction device includes a continuous traction belt provided on a pair of opposing rollers. The traction belt includes openings such that a vacuum may be applied through the traction belt causing the traction device to cling to a working surface. A motor may be pr... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7352074 | System for producing hydrogen making use of a stream of water A system for producing hydrogen from water, making use of a stream of water such as a gulf stream or tidal stream, includes a number of submerged modules, each having a turbine that can be driven by the stream of water. The turbine is coupled to a generator for gene... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7311162 | Apparatus and method for traversing compound curved and other surfaces A traction unit capable of traversing and turning on surfaces that include compound curves like the surface of a sphere or are inverted like a ceiling. The traction unit includes a plurality of trucks operable to propel the unit across a surface and a plurality of a... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7280890 | Method for fabricating sliding vacuum cups A surface clinging robotic device. The device includes a supporting structure or base, on which is mounted (a) a lead pivoting support surface, such as a pivoting wheel, and (b) two or more traction drives, such as drive wheels. Each of the traction drives are indep... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7204672 | Multi-modal forced vortex device A multi-modal forced vortex device is described having a top plate and a side wall creating a partially enclosed volume. The top plate includes one or more adjustable fluid openings to permit, or restrict, fluid flow into and out of the partially enclosed volume. Ro... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7194818 | Mount table, surface texture measuring machine and surface texture measuring method A mount table having a mount surface on which a workpiece as an object to be measured or worked includes a support unit for supporting the mount table so as to be floated from a surface plate so that the mount table can freely move or rotate on the surface plate fin... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7174982 | Displaceable support stand A displaceable support stand (1) includes a support stand base (5) with a support surface (6) which is adapted to rest on the ground, a lifting device for lifting the support stand base (5) and therewith the support stand (1) above... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7155307 | Surface adhering tool carrying robot A surface clinging robotic device. The device includes a supporting structure or base, on which is mounted (a) a lead pivoting support surface, such as a pivoting wheel, and (b) two or more traction drives, such as drive wheels. Each of the traction drives are indep... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7073239 | Fiducial calibration method and system for assembling parts Fiducial calibration systems and methods for precisely and accurately manufacturing a part from a workpiece, inspecting or measuring a part, and/or assembling a plurality of manufactured parts including providing a workpiece, wherein the workpiece and the associated... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7073631 | Lifting device with synchronization mechanism A lifting device for a transfer system, in particular for a transfer system with a pneumatic drive, raises and/or lowers transported goods. The lifting device has at least two lifting pistons (3), whose movements are synchronized by means of a synchronization... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6964312 | Surface traversing apparatus and method The invention concerns a surface traversing apparatus that includes a frame, a seal having a seal perimeter that is mounted to the frame, and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface. The seal perimeter is adapted substantially for rolling co... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6742617 | Apparatus and method for traversing compound curved and other surfaces A traction unit capable of traversing and turning on surfaces that include compound curves like the surface of a sphere or are inverted like a ceiling. The traction unit includes a plurality of trucks operable to propel the unit across a surface and a plurality of a... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6691811 | Safety configuration for an apparatus that can be moved over a surface An apparatus that attaches itself to a surface by negative pressure and that can move over the surface, in particular, for carrying out work, to prevent a risk, depending on the alignment of the surface, of the apparatus dropping downward if there is a de... | 02/17/2004 |
| 6336515 | Unsprung vacuum-operated traction enhancement system for land vehicles A vacuum intake horn is constantly secured to a portion of a land vehicle and connected to a vacuum generator to increase the load on the wheels and, thereby, enhance traction. In order to minimize the clearance between the intake horn face and road surfa... | 01/08/2002 |
| 6318489 | Ground effect machine A novel Ground Effect Machine capable of operating in low airflow and low air-pressure conditions. By using an air bladder, partially filed with liquid, in lieu of a skirt, the invention is able to reduce airflow, and consequently maximize the lift provid... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6276478 | Adherent robot A robot capable of moving against gravity uses at least one vacuum cup assembly having a port for applying a lubricant on the working surface so the cup may slide on the surface as the robot is maneuvered with the aid of powered wheels. The wheels and vac... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6122578 | Active controls for vehicular suspensions The relative motion and force between two interconnected elements can be counteracted with active controls when such motion and force is predictable. Magnitudes, wavelengths and locations of rocking motion by vehicles traveling along fixed guideways can b... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6102145 | Coating removal vehicle with resilient suction ring A suction-adhering vehicle for removing a coating from a surface includes a resilient suction ring (e.g., a tubular ring, an inner tube, or a solid foam ring) defining a substantially enclosed region between vehicle frame and the surface. Spray nozzles wi... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6099091 | Traction enhanced wheel apparatus A drive wheel, having a cylindrical surface positioned at a radius from the center of the drive wheel, and a plurality of suction cup members disposed in a spaced apart relationship on the cylindrical surface, useful in a pressurized pool cleaning apparat... | 08/08/2000 |
| 6090221 | System for treating exterior surfaces of buildings A system for treating an external surface of a building, has (a) at least one treatment unit configured to treat the external surface of the building with a pressurized fluid; (b) at least one suspension system for suspending the treatment unit adjacent t... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6053267 | Coating removal vehicle with inflatable suction ring A suction-adhering vehicle for removing a coating from a surface includes an inflatable member (e.g., a tubular ring or an inner tube) defining a substantially enclosed region between vehicle frame and the surface. Spray nozzles within the enclosed region... | 04/25/2000 |
| 5839532 | Vacuum wall walking apparatus A vacuum wall walking apparatus includes an annular body frame, a plurality of leg mechanisms extending downward from the body frame, and a plurality of suction cups attached to fore ends of the respective legs. The body frame is composed of a flexible me... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5752577 | Device capable of suction-adhering to surface of object and moving therealong A device capable of suction-adhering to and moving along the surface of an object includes a pressure reduction housing, a suction-adhering seal mounted on the pressure reduction housing and defining a pressure reduction space in cooperation with the pres... | 05/19/1998 |
| 5592998 | Device capable of suction-adhering to a surface and moving therealong A device capable of suction-adhering to a surface and moving therealong includes a pressure receiver, a partitioning device mounted on the pressure receiver and defining a pressure reduction space in cooperation with the pressure receiver and the surface,... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5588900 | Surface treating device A surface treating device comprising a swivel bearing mechanism, an oscillating tube connected to the swivel bearing mechanism so as to be free to pivot about the axis center of the swivel bearing mechanism and such that with respect to the axis center, a... | 12/31/1996 |
| 5536199 | Traveling device A traveling device having a frame means, and a moving means mounted on the frame means and moving on a travel surface, the moving means comprising a plurality of wheels, or a plurality of endless tracks each including a plurality of belt pulleys is disclo... | 07/16/1996 |
| 5487440 | Robotic apparatus A robot for performing a working operation on a surface. The robot comprises a frame which supports a pair of parallel tracks. An endless link chain is mounted for travel on each track and each chain is driven by an independent motor mounted on the frame.... | 01/30/1996 |
| 5366038 | Robot traveling on wall face A robot traveling on wall face is capable of advancing or retreating on the wall face in a stable manner with a quick change-over of its traveling direction with the help of a plurality of movable adsorption discs designed for a close contact with the wal... | 11/22/1994 |
| 5351626 | Walking robot The present invention relates to a walking robot. The robot includes: an X-elongated member; a Y-elongated member; a moving body moving on the X- and Y-elongated members; an X-leg section provided to the X-elongated member, the X-leg section being capable... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5194032 | Mobile toy with zero-gravity system A mobile toy including at least one vacuum generating assembly mounted on a chassis and including an impeller with the axial intake end thereof positionable closely adjacent a support surface whereby at least a major portion of the radial discharge from t... | 03/16/1993 |
| 5014803 | Device capable of suction-adhering to a wall surface and moving therealong A device comprising a main body, a motor and drive wheels mounted on the main body, a partitioning member mounted on the main body and defining a pressure reduction space in cooperation with the main body and a wall surface, and a vacuum pump for reducing... | 05/14/1991 |
| 5007210 | Device capable of suction-adhering to a wall surface and moving therealong A device comprising a main body and vibration generating means mounted on the main body. The vibration generating means imparts a force in a direction away from a wall surface and a force in a predetermined direction along the wall surface to the main bod... | 04/16/1991 |
| 4997052 | Device for moving along a wall surface while suction-adhering thereto A wall surface suction-adhering and moving device including a supporting frame and at least one suction-adhering and moving unit. The device moves along the wall surface while suction-adhering thereto. The suction-adhering and moving unit includes a rotat... | 03/05/1991 |
| 4971591 | Vehicle with vacuum traction A vehicle comprising a chassis and slidable vacuum apparatus mounted on the chassis and arranged for slidable vacuum seal engagement with a support surface.... | 11/20/1990 |
| 4934475 | Device capable of suction-adhering to a wall surface and moving therealong A device comprising a main body and vibration generating means mounted on the main body. The vibration generating means imparts a force in a direction away from a wall surface and a force in a predetermined direction along the wall surface to the main bod... | 06/19/1990 |
