Patent ID: 6139248
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
A low-profile, height-regulating transporter for conveying a load of greater than fifty tons, comprising:a support structure for supporting and transporting the load, the support structure including at least two longitudinally extending frame members joined at a base, wherein the frame members are adjacent the ground and possess a low profile;at least one movable carriage associated with each frame member and positioned at a distance from the base, the at least one movable carriage permitting portions of the frame members distanced from the base to be selectively vertically movable between raised and lowered positions during transport of the load;a powered motivator for moving the transporter in a horizontal direction, one end of the motivator supporting and being rotatably connected to the base, wherein the base can be raised or lowered during transport independent of the vertical movement of the frame members permitted by the at least one movable carriage, thereby allowing the load to be maintained in a substantially level condition during transport;wherein the motivator has a substantially instantaneous turn radius, and is capable of moving the support structure in any horizontal direction by first rotating the motivator about a generally vertical axis passing through a portion of the motivator; anda main cylinder facilitating rotation of the powered motivator.