3
Brief Survey
3.1
General Information
Everybody who sees the
CargoMaster
in action for the first time is
fascinated by its climbing mechanism.
Precisely those people who are technically inclined end up shaking
their heads as they try to understand how it works. If one did not see
the
CargoMaster
actually climp up- and downstairs, one would re-
ach the conclusion that this couldn´t possibly work, and yet it does.
3.2
The Functional Principle
The major focus lies at the axle (F) at the frame (A) of the
Cargo-
Master
, around which the lifting levers (E) together with the big
wheels (C) rotate (see 3.3 "Functional Sequence").
The big wheels are not powered; instead they rotate freely on the
motor shaft. The small supporting wheels (B) are also not powered
but rotate freely.
The lifting levers are fixed to the motor shaft by means of teeth. If
the motor rotates, then the lifting levers inevitably also rotate
around the axis (D), which is both the axis of the motor shaft as well
as of the not powered big wheels. The other ends of the lifting le-
vers, as described previously, rotate freely around the axis (F) atta-
ched to the frame of the
CargoMaster.
This free rotation inevitably
results in the climbing process` intended up or down movement of
either the big wheels or the frame of the
CargoMaster
on the stairs.
Depending on the constellation of the frame, lifting levers, and big
wheels to each other certain positions follow in which one can eit-
her drive or park the
CargoMaster.
How one can use the up and down movement of the big wheels and
the frame of the
CargoMaster
to climb stairs is shown and descri-
bed in details as follows.
4
CargoMaster
A
B
C
D
E
F
D
F
