Track Systems Patents (Class 104/91)
  • Patent number: 4746291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bakery and pastry oven, of the type which is capable of receiving therein a tray-carrying truck, and of subjecting the said truck to a rotatory motion during the cooking process, which oven has been substantially improved in order to achieve, on the one hand, a greater capacity or useful space inside the said oven, and, on the other, the possibility of coupling trucks of varying sizes to the rotating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Industrial Salva, S.A.
    Inventor: Jose L. Cistero
  • Patent number: 4735042
    Abstract: The process for positioning a series of suspended roving bobbin carriages equipped with a plurality of roving bobbins running on at least one rail opposite a plurality of working positions of a yarn manufacturing spinning machine comprises automatically guiding a positively actuated suspended roving bobbin carriage to a predetermined position opposite the working positions and stopping it in that predetermined position during delivery of the roving bobbins. The apparatus for performing this process includes a plurality of positioning elements working together pairwise of which a movable one is movable for positioning the suspended carriage, a carriage mounted one is positioned on one of the roving bobbin carriages and a fixed one is fixed on the stationary part of the spinning machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Zinser Textilmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Igel
  • Patent number: 4723714
    Abstract: A programmable sprinkler system ideally suited for use in an enclosure such as a nursery and/or arboretum includes a first overhead rail and a water pipe connected to a pressurized source of water. The water pipe is provided with a plurality of water valves placed at discreet intervals along its length and extend outwardly therefrom and is positioned alongside and close to the first overhead rail and parallel thereto. A source of electrical power is positioned close to and generally parallel with the first rail on the other side thereof and extends essentially its entire length. A plurality of second overhead rails have one end of each positioned near the valves and the first rail and extends outwardly therefrom, preferably at right angles thereto, defining a path along which the water is to be dispensed. A carrier mechanism rests on the first rail. Nested upon the carrier mechanism is a detachable car that includes a second coupling device to bring electrical power to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Inventor: Gary H. Lucas
  • Patent number: 4712485
    Abstract: In an automated transport system which includes a rail, a plurality of free traveling trolleys riding on the rail, and chain driven pushers for propelling the trolleys along the rail, a bracket is provided on the chain for each pusher which allows a trolley located far in advance of the pusher to move into engagement with the pusher and thereafter limits the distance it can move ahead of the pusher, as for example when the trolley rides on a downwardly sloping portion of the rail. The brackets are made of plastic and are releasably connectable with the chain, with a snap fit action, so that they can be easily added to or removed from the chain as required to adapt the chain to a given application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roald P. Nymark
  • Patent number: 4711182
    Abstract: A magnetic suspension for a vehicle, includes a guide rail vertically mounted on a track and an underframe having a magnetic system surrounding lateral sides of the guide rail on which are mounted strips of permanent magnets. The magnetic system of the underframe also comprises strips of permanent magnets installed on the lateral sides of the underframe facing toward the guide rail, the strips of permanent magnets being installed with a spacing equal to the spacing of the strips of the guide rail, and the polarities of pole facets of the strips facing toward one another being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Inventors: Adolf M. Alexandrov, Evgeny G. Vasiliev, Alexandr A. Iskanderov, Vladimir S. Magdenko, Semen G. Melikov, Eduard R. Avsharov, Jury A. Tsimbler, Vladimir I. Presnyakov
  • Patent number: 4614158
    Abstract: A conveyor system having an upper power track with a propelling device for selectively engaging and propelling trolleys along a lower free track from which they are suspended by carrier arms. The propelling device has a pivotally mounted hook engageable with an opening in a carrier arms of the trolleys. The hook is mounted in an arresting device which has an inverted U-shaped recess into which the ends of the carrier arms can be selectively inserted. The distance between the power track and the free track is shorter along inclined sections of the conveyor system than along level sections. This shortened distance between the tracks brings the carrier arm closer to the arresting device in a manner so that the end of the carrier arm is inserted into the U-shaped recess. When the end of the carrier arm is inserted into the U-shaped recess, the arresting device is able to control movement of a trolley along inclined portions of the conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignees: R. Paul Nymark, Karl Johan Pettersen
    Inventor: Oscar Helde
  • Patent number: 4602566
    Abstract: A handling apparatus adapted to be installed on a crane with a boom for loading and unloading materials comprises track device installed on the crane and at least two carrying devices suspended from the track device. The track device includes at least three track sections situated substantially parallel to each other. The track sections are connected to the respective adjacent track sections so that two elongated endless tracks slightly offset in the longitudinal direction thereof are formed. Each carrying device includes a carrier and a pair of crabs situated on the track sections for suspending the carrier under the track device. The crabs are arranged on the carrier so that when the carrier is oriented perpendicular to the track section, the two crabs are located on the track sections remote from each other, and when the carrier is oriented parallel to the track sections, the two crabs are located on the remaining track section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Natdevco B.V.
    Inventors: W. J. A. Kernkamp, M. M. De Jongh
  • Patent number: 4545575
    Abstract: Apparatus for learning to ski, comprising a harness (2) which sustains the skier (1) who is unbalanced just prior to a fall, the harness being connected to a movable carriage (6) by retention straps (13a). The carriage (6) moves on a roller track which serves as a rail (8). The carriage (6) is mounted on rollers and comprises brakes (10a). The brakes (10a) may be automatically actuated by the beginning of a fall of the skier (1), the retention straps (13a) being connected to the brakes (10a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Inventor: Roland Forjot
  • Patent number: 4428299
    Abstract: At a power line discontinuous portion of a power-and-free trolley conveyor, a carrier is transferred from a carrier entering first power line to a second power line by being pushed by a following pusher dog from behind. The following pusher dog is restrained from disengaging from the rear free trolley by at least one endless free chain positioned immediately above and parallel to the path of the pusher dog. A pair of endless free chains can be used with the chains being reeved around sprockets to be free movable along with the engaged pusher dog, thereby avoiding wear on the pusher dog side projections. The loop of the chains extend for a distance sufficient for the front free trolley of the carrier to cross the powerline discontinuous portion of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Nakanishi Metal Works Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 4389944
    Abstract: A mechanism for use with a power-and-free type conveyor to allow a trolley system to be pushed across a transfer zone or the like. The trolley system is composed of at least a leading trolley and a trailing trolley, and perhaps an intermediate trolley. The leading trolley is pushed across the transfer zone by virtue of the mechanism of the trailing, or intermediate, trolley. The mechanism includes a dog member attached to the trailing (or intermediate) trolley, a first drive member for moving the dog member to a first position in which it will be engaged by a pusher member and pushed across a transfer zone, and a second drive member for moving the dog member to a second position out-of-engagement with the pusher member. The mechanism is constructed so that the dog member will stay in either of the first or second positions until it is positively moved to the other position by either the first or second drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Southern Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Linton, David B. Kiss
  • Patent number: 4372218
    Abstract: A conveyor system for serving a plurality of processing stations having a plurality of trolley carriages, an overhead main conveyor comprising a monorail track for the trolley carriages, and forming a loop having a pair of substantially parallel sides along which the processing stations are distributed, a cable or chain for propelling the trolley carriages along the track, a plurality of side conveyors coordinated with the processing stations. Each of the side conveyors comprises a loop shaped overhead monorail track, and switches for selectively connecting the side conveyors to the main conveyor, including, for each of the side conveyors, a first switch arranged in a first position to lead a trolley carriage along the main conveyor and in a second position to deviate a trolley carriage from the main conveyor to one end of a side conveyor, and a second switch for connecting the other end of the side conveyor to the same side of the main conveyor as the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Jobmatic, Inc.
    Inventor: Roland J. A. Ostlund
  • Patent number: 4296690
    Abstract: The suspension cable of a suspended railway lies in a vertical plane above the elongated track thereof. Hangers interconnecting the suspension cable and the track each have an upper part connected to the suspension cable, a lower part connected to the track, and an intermediate part pivoted on the upper and lower parts about respective horizontal upper and lower pivot axes. The lower pivot axis is perpendicular to the plane of the suspension cable and to the direction of elongation of the track, and is relatively close to the upper surface of the track. The upper pivot axis is generally parallel to the track and lies in the plane of the suspension cable, but is spaced from the upper surface of the track by a distance equal at least to the width of the track in a direction perpendicular to the plane thereof. Between these two pivot axes the intermediate part is completely rigid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Inventors: Rudolf Baltensperger, Hans B. Pfister
  • Patent number: 4264996
    Abstract: A suspended railway has a track hung via a plurality of hangers from a suspension cable which is supported at intervals at the tops of towers. A beam is provided at each of these towers which bows the track when unloaded downwardly at the tower. A saddle is furthermore provided at the top of each of the towers and has an upwardly open seat receiving and supporting the suspension cable. This seat has a length measured parallel to the length of the beam which is equal to at least one-third of the length of the beam. Furthermore the seat has a central portion with a larger radius of curvature than its flanking end portions. The saddle is carried on rollers for rolling in a horizontal direction parallel to the suspension cables, and can even twist about a vertical axis perpendicular to this horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Inventors: Rudolf Baltensperger, Hans B. Pfister
  • Patent number: 4223610
    Abstract: A power and free conveyor system wherein a train of track supported trolleys includes a lead trolley normally driven by an overhead power chain. The train moves through a transfer area wherein the lead trolley is disengaged from the power chain; and, in order to complete the transfer, a trailing trolley is provided with a secondary or transfer dog which engages the power chain while the lead trolley is undriven. The transfer dog is pivotally connected to one end of an operating arm which is pivotally mounted on a lower portion of the trailing trolley, and the other end of the operating arm supports a cam follower. An actuating cam extends below the track in the transfer area, causing the transfer dog to rise into a transfer position so as to engage the power chain and thereby propel the train through the transfer area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1980
    Assignee: Mid-West Conveyor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: George D. Lempio
  • Patent number: 4214535
    Abstract: A switch for a suspended railway vehicle having two elastic wheels, comprises four rails forming three paths one of which branches off into two other paths. A gap is bounded between the four rails. When the vehicle runs over the switch from one to another path one of its wheels enters the gap and runs without support, and after passing the gap this wheel engages with a portion of one rail of the other path. A plurality of ramps are provided each arranged on a respective one of the above-mentioned portions and so that after passing the gap the one wheel is raised by the ramp to a contact surface of the rail of the other path. At the same time, each ramp includes a transitional portion merging into the rails with a transverse inclination which decreases proceeding in the direction along which the transitional portion merges into the respective rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Waggonfabrik Uerdingen A.G.
    Inventor: Thomas Gerhard
  • Patent number: 4202272
    Abstract: A pneumatic transport system in which a continuous overhead rail extends through a plurality of transport stations. Transport tubes are arranged along the rail for high-speed travel of a vehicle which is suspended therefrom. Between the transport tubes, the vehicle rests upon driven rollers which propel the vehicle into the tubes and receive the vehicle after it leaves the tubes. In the stretches provided with these rollers, the rail approaches the rollers so that the vehicle rests upon the rollers and is only guided laterally by the rail. Within the tubes themselves, however, the vehicle is suspended from the rail generally out of contact with the walls of the tubes and is displaced through the latter by a pressure differential generated by suction devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: Institutul National Pentru Creatie Stiintifica Si Tehnica
    Inventors: Constantin Teodorescu, Constantin Ceauselu, Stefan Ardeleanu
  • Patent number: 4148261
    Abstract: In a power-and-free conveyor including a first free rail, a second free rail branching off from the first free rail, a first and a second power rail provided above the free rails respectively, a transfer system for transferring the carriers movably supported by the first free rail to the second free rail. An auxiliary rail attached to the first of the free rails slightly projects above the first free rail and has a cutaway section of requred length to the rear of the branching point of the second free rail. The carrier has at its front portion a pair of tilting drive and back-up dogs engageable with the propelling member driven along the power rail and at its rear portion a propelling member raising cam member. When a carrier advances into the cutaway section, a raising plate disposed near the front end of the rail cut-away portion, disengages the propelling member from the tilting drive dog on the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Standard Alliance Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Takao Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 4038925
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement for towing conveyors comprising a towing chain having catchers, a track disposed below the towing chain, running carts equipped with two running mechanisms rolling on the track, said catchers having movable coupling parts and said running carts having coupling elements securely disposed on said running mechanisms cooperating with said coupling parts, where the coupling parts disposed on the catchers of the towing chain comprise a housing in which a catcher finger and a setting lever which is in operative relationship thereto are pivotally mounted for movement in opposite directions about horizontal axes in a manner that the setting lever normally holds the catcher finger in its position of engagement and for a raised position of a run up part provided at the rear running mechanism of each running cart with a local running mechanism as seen in the direction of feed causes a pivoting upwardly of the catcher finger, while the roller carriers' supports of the running cart are designed as co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Pfalzstahlbau GmbH.
    Inventor: Erich Kuwertz
  • Patent number: 4023339
    Abstract: Automatic device for loading and unloading identical objects e.g. textile or yarn supports, on at least one machine and for conveying said objects between the machine, a take up area and a feed area for use particularly in the automatic doffing and donning operation of textile machines, and more especially, machines with vertical spindles, such as synthetic yarn drawing machines.The device includes at least two groups of cars having gripping and laying means. The first group is used for removing treated objects e.g. bobbin with yarn winding thereon, from the machine and conveying them to a take up area, the second group for conveying objects to be treated e.g. empty bobbins, from the feed area and positioning them on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc-Textile
    Inventors: Paul Laderach, Charles Michalet, Jean Rigaud
  • Patent number: 4015537
    Abstract: A self-propelled car and load-conveying container on the car travel along a track system having horizontal and vertical track runs with bends or curves between such runs, and having inside and outside corner bends or curves between horizontal track runs . The track system also has switches to connect the system between various stations at various locations on the same or different building floors. The track is generally channel-shaped with spaced rail heads at the extremities of the channel legs. The channel web always has vertical orientation for the horizontal and vertical track runs and bends. The track is formed in sections, and the rail heads have replaceable wear strips. The track sections and wear strips have staggered, non-registering joints. Car travel control strips are mounted at desired locations on the track. Spring-pressed, rounded-groove guide wheels support the car on the track. Car movement control brushes are mounted on the car engageable with the control strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Harry T. Graef, Kenneth R. Hansen, Larry A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 3965823
    Abstract: This invention provides a conveyer comprising overhead rails mounted on pendant supports, and a load carrying device running on the rails. The supports each have a pair of downwardly extending arms which carry bolts that are fixed to the rails. Each rail has a groove opening on the side opposite to the guiding surface. Each pair of arms has inwardly projecting horizontal extensions at their lower ends. Each rail has at least three horizontal limbs and a vertical limb, the first limb having its upper surface serving as a bearing surface for the load carrying device and its lower surface bearing on an extension of one of the arms; the other horizontal limbs carrying flanges to contain T-shaped heads on the bolts which can be inserted at right angles to the length of the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Sucmanu
    Inventor: Pierre Bardot