Hydro Crawler

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=145 BGCOLOR="#3366CC" TEXT="#080000" background="03cff483.gif"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="03dff483.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#6666FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Steps Tech . Com</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Times New Roman" >    </FONT> |    <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Steps Tech . Com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="h_twister.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hydro twister"><U>Hydro twister</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hy_picts.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hydro pictures"><U>Hydro pictures</U></A>   |   <B>Hydro Crawler</B>   |   <A HREF="tread.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tread"><U>Tread</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="03ef0050.gif" border=0 width="496" height="5" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Hydro Crawler</div> <div> <A HREF="main.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Main Area"><U>Main page</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Addendum (<A HREF="#crawler_setup" TITLE="Hydro Crawler"><U>Crawler Setup</U></A> ) <A NAME="top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> (<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Reworded May 16, 2001</FONT>)</div> <div> I got to thinking, there is currently a problem with developing a device to traverse unknown terrain, and as there are multiple unknowns involved with all types of  mechanical to motion devices, soooo , after studying the problem , it occurred to me a more natural approach would be desirable, so , using the natural motion of ground crawlers on Earth , this seems to fit most of the bill,  development of legs is too high on the scale (complicated) , and wheels are limited to simi-even terrain, the undulating motion of snakes and worms is more to the needs in an unknown environment. Please study the pictures in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>the</B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="hy_picts.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hydro pictures"><U><B>Hydro pictures</B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>section</B></FONT> to get the application method and simply turn it on its side, but likely staves will have to be added inside to support the larger area. </div> <div> Lubrication is always a concern , in this setup, the spring drive and the track container (Foil ) can easily be matched for minimum resistance between the two .  Since hi-speed is not in the interest of protecting equipment , it's best to use several speeds for open and cluttered terrain, the Drawing shows a middle coupler to cause turning, as using a caterpillar type of transmission is complicating the problem again, and success would seem to depend on simple operation. The Hydro-crawler would see the terrain in elevation , not as rocks , rubble, soft or hard, and as it grasps the surface , it can traverse terrain thought not possible before , such as steep rubble strewn surfaces.  It can be made as long as needed , or short as in the drawings here, but please don't remain with my simple sketches as a guide other than to gain an idea of the method. Note; Likely, the only terrain that can't be traversed is smooth even types such as glass or smooth ice, and would require some more engineering, as there is a slight backward motion imparted on smooth hard surfaces, perhaps this aspect could be used to move on these type of surfaces.</div> <bR> <div>  <img src="HTMLobj-341/aniGif.gif" alt="basic motion" border="0" align="bottom" width="150" height="112">  </div> <div> Basic motion</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="148902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALT="Hydro Crawler Kyle Gosnell" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The crawler would traverse uneven surfaces, and reduce them to simple elevational problems</div> <bR> <div>  <img src="HTMLobj-347/aniGif.gif" alt="worm tread" border="0" align="bottom" width="250" height="187">  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="149902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALT="turn method for hydro-crawler Kyle Gosnell" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A simple way of turning the crawler</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>For immediate operational setup</B><B> <A NAME="crawler_setup"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <bR> <div> <B> The Crawler is rather simple in construction, all you have to do to get a grasp of the physics involved, is make some links that are elongated like chain links. Place these on a spring of sufficient size , then observe the action from the side (Be sure to fill up the spring). Then the dynamics will become clear, as it uses two planes of action, one allows the spring to slide back and fourth (Side to side), and the other causes the links to rise and fall in an undulating manner. Most backyard tinkers could put it together, and if you want it to operate a large vehicle over rough terrain (Or Snow) , all you have to do is rubberize the links on the outside . with linking cleats to hold the spacing between links.  I never worked out the lubrication aspect within the cavity the spring operates in, but in would be less than contact with the ground, and have a larger surface to push (Transfer energy) with.</B></div> <div> <B>  I won't get into sizes, as that would be per application and loads required , though it would be wise, if you are using it where others are dependent on it, to use two springs, side by side to balance the weight, making smaller side to side, shift pressures on the tread setup, until the best setup can be constructed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Hydro Crawler"><U>Top</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>