Dolly with extendable wheel assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220868-B1
Application number	US-201815927912-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 21, 2018
Priority date	Mar 21, 2018
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A dolly assembly comprises a base, a plurality of pneumatic cylinders connected to the base, a plurality of wheel assemblies connected to the plurality of pneumatic cylinders, and a pressure relief mechanism. The base has an outer surface configured to support cargo. The pressure relief mechanism is configured to bleed pressure from the plurality of pneumatic cylinders when the base is oriented at or exceeding a set angle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dolly assembly comprising:
a base with an outer surface configured to support cargo;
a plurality of pneumatic cylinders connected to the base;
a plurality of wheel assemblies connected to the plurality of pneumatic cylinders; and
a pressure relief mechanism configured to bleed pressure from the plurality of pneumatic cylinders when the base is oriented at or exceeding a set angle.

2. The dolly assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a forklift tine interface.

3. The dolly assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
traction material adhered to the outer surface of the base.

4. The dolly assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
cargo restraints mechanically connected to the base.

5. The dolly assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cargo restraints take the form of straps.

6. The dolly assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a plate connected to the base, wherein the plate and the base form pathways to supply pressure to the plurality of pneumatic cylinders.

7. The dolly assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
an air pressure inlet in the base, wherein the air pressure inlet is pneumatically connected to the pathways.

8. The dolly assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief mechanism comprises a pressure relief arm with a ballast.

9. The dolly assembly of claim 8 , wherein the pressure relief arm further comprises two flanges, wherein the ballast is centered between the two flanges.

10. A dolly assembly comprising:
a plurality of pneumatic cylinders;
a plurality of wheel assemblies connected to the plurality of pneumatic cylinders;
pathways configured to supply pressure from an air pressure inlet to the plurality of pneumatic cylinders to extend the plurality of wheel assemblies to a deployed position; and
release pathways configured to bleed pressure from the plurality of pneumatic cylinders in response to the dolly assembly being oriented at or above a set angle to retract the plurality of wheel assemblies to a stored position.

11. The dolly assembly of claim 10 , wherein the pathways are formed by a base and a plate connected to the base, wherein the plurality of pneumatic cylinders is connected to the base.

12. The dolly assembly of claim 11 , wherein the release pathways are formed by the base, the plate, and a pressure relief mechanism.

13. The dolly assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pressure relief mechanism comprises a pressure relief arm with a ballast centered between two flanges.

14. The dolly assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pneumatic cylinders is connected to a base having an outer surface configured to support cargo.

15. The dolly assembly of claim 14 , wherein the base further comprises traction material and cargo restraints.

16. A method comprising:
introducing positive air pressure to a dolly assembly;
extending a plurality of wheel assemblies of the dolly assembly using the positive air pressure to place the plurality of wheel assemblies in a deployed position;
moving cargo secured to the dolly assembly using the plurality of wheel assemblies of the dolly assembly while the plurality of wheel assemblies is in the deployed position; and
automatically retracting the plurality of wheel assemblies of the dolly assembly in response to the dolly assembly being oriented at or above a set angle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein automatically retracting the plurality of wheel assemblies of the dolly assembly comprises bleeding pressure from a plurality of pneumatic cylinders connected to the plurality of wheel assemblies.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein bleeding pressure from the plurality of pneumatic cylinders comprises opening release pathways configured to bleed pressure from the plurality of pneumatic cylinders in response to the dolly assembly being oriented at or above a set angle to retract the plurality of wheel assemblies to a stored position.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein opening the release pathways comprises pivoting a pressure relief arm of the dolly assembly relative to a base of the dolly assembly.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
automatically extending the plurality of wheel assemblies of the dolly assembly in response to the dolly assembly being oriented below a set angle.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Clos William Robert
• Brown Douglas Alan

Classifications

• B62B3/008

  having more than two axes · CPC title

• B62B2205/14

  Retractable wheels · CPC title

• B62B2206/003

  with actuation mechanisms which drive the adjustment or conversion operation · CPC title

• B62B3/02

  involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible · CPC title

• B62B5/00

  Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts ({B62B3/1404} , B62B9/00 take precedence; wheels, axles, or axle bearings for vehicles B60B; castors for vehicles, castors in general B60B33/00) · CPC title