Double Inner Rail Patents (Class 104/94)
  • Patent number: 5476047
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handling device including a track (1) constituting a travel path for one or more mobile elements, the said mobile elements being driven by a linear electric motor composed of an inductor (42, 43) carried by the mobile element and extending parallel to the track, and of an armature (4, 5) carried by the track and extending along the latter in such a way as to be able to cooperate with the inductor.According to the invention, the said inductor (42, 43) and the said armature (4, 5) have, as viewed in cross section, the former, a rectangular shape defining three active faces and one inactive face, and the second, a U shape defining three active faces and suitable for housing the inductor in such a way that the respective active faces of the inductor and of the armature cooperate with one another, two by two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Matflex
    Inventor: Jean Sebillaud
  • Patent number: 5400717
    Abstract: Track sections of industrial conveyor systems are joined in end-to-end relationship using alignment devices that ensure that the internal running surfaces of the rail flanges of the track are free from irregularities at the track joints. Tubular bushings are located at the ends of the sections on adjacent external surfaces of the rail flanges out of running contact with the moving conveyor components. When the bushings are brought into register and united to form a connection, proper alignment is achieved and maintained without the need to weld the track sections together at each joint. This provides a modular track configuration to facilitate the installation and maintenance of conveyor track systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Robert A. Hoehn
  • Patent number: 5355804
    Abstract: A rail-guided apparatus-carrying system for conveying and moving an apparatus such as a loudspeaker or a spotlight along a predetermined path defined by the system when fixed in a wall or roof of a housing, the system comprising a rail-like stationary holder to be fixed to the roof and a movable carrier including a driving motor unit for moving the carrier along the holder and an apparatus actuating unit for moving the apparatus relative to the carrier, the apparatus being connected to the carrier by an apparatus hanging member, the carrier being supported in the holder by a supporting-guiding-estabilizing mechanism including damping-resilient devices for obtaining steady and smooth movements for the carried apparatus, an electrical system being provided to supply electricity to the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventors: Eduardo R. Garcia, Patricia Lazzeretti
  • Patent number: 5351621
    Abstract: In a traveling inspection robot system, two carriages are each provided with one pair of guide rollers for guiding the travel in the vertical direction and two pairs of side rollers for guiding the travel in the horizontal direction. The two pairs of side rollers are arranged such that one pair locates on each of the front and rear sides of the pair of guide rollers as viewed in the direction of advance. The two carriages are interconnected by a coupling plate through parallel steering shafts, and a sprocket and a motor for driving the sprocket are provided as travel driving device on one carriage for giving a traction force to a transversely central portion of the upper inner surface of the monorail. An antenna and a current collector are provided on the other carriage. A control circuit unit and a span and tilt mechanism are attached to the coupling plate with a sensor unit mounted to the span and tilt mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Tanaka, Tatsuyuki Omote, Yutaka Kometani, Masaki Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Kido, Tetsuo Waki, Tomiharu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5203265
    Abstract: A self-propelling transport having utility as an elevator system in a high rise building, the transport having a vehicle unit that rides on a track unit that includes a stationary drive chain that is engaged by a sprocket wheel assembly on the vehicle unit, the vehicle unit having a suspended passenger cab and a propulsion unit that engages the chain to retain the vehicle unit against the track during movement with the drive chain being magnetically retained on the track unit by electromagnets that are demagnetized where the drive chain is engaged by the sprocket wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventors: Koichi P. Nii, Shizuo Harada
  • Patent number: 5181296
    Abstract: A multidirectional carrier and track generally comprising a disc, a track, and structure on the track defining a disc supporting surface. The disc is supported for rotation about an axis. The disc is in engagement with the disc supporting surface and has first and second ball bearing assemblies. The ball bearing assemblies have inner and outer races, the inner races mounted adjacent one another along the axis. The disc also has an outer cylindrical rim portion, the rim portion have an inner-facing surface, an outer-facing surface and upper and lower surfaces, the inner-facing surface engaging the outer races and the lower surface contacting the track. Structure on the inner-facing surface defines axially spaced faces projecting radially inward towards the axis in step-wise fashion, forming two axially-facing shoulders projecting from the inner-facing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Hufcor, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Williams
  • Patent number: 5043052
    Abstract: A flexible rail according to one preferred embodiment of the invention comprises (a) hollow rail pieces each having a generally inverted U-shaped vertical cross section, opposed open ends, a pair of laterally opposed bottom portions for supporting rollers of a roller chain, and a bottom space located between the opposed bottom portions from which hangers may be hung from the roller chain, (b) a pair of laterally opposed side plates fixed to the respective side walls of each rail piece such that the side plates overlap the side walls, (c) a pair of laterally opposed connecting plates each associated with adjacent side plates on one of opposed sides, each of the connecting plates overlapping both of the adjacent side plates, but being fixed to only a rear one thereof, and (d) a pair of pivotal means provided in conjunction with the opposed side plates, respectively, and each connecting a front one of adjacent side plates on one of the opposed sides and a connecting plate on the same side for pivotal movements a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignees: Nichidai Industrial Co. Ltd., Daiwa Paint Trading Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 5027712
    Abstract: A monorail toy train is suspended from an overhead guideway, which guideway is secured to a ceiling or other fixed support structure. The elongated tubular guideway includes a plurality of guideway sections connected together at a joint by a short tubular coupler and a hanger secured to the ceiling. Each guideway section is connected to like length guide rails and rack rails, which, together, define a track for cars of the monorail toy. Trucks of driven and nondriven cars ride on the track defined by the rack rail and guide rail. The driven car includes a drive frame including a motor, drive gear and pinion gear, which pinion gear meshes with the rack rail to provide motive force for the monorail train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: William P. Wallick
  • Patent number: 5016541
    Abstract: A greenhouse transport system for moving plants and plant trays through a greenhouse comprising a cart including a carriage assembly having at least one roller extending upwardly from the cart, an overhead track assembly including at least one track channel to selectively receive the roller to support the cart thereon, and at least one lift station including a lift member movable between a lower and upper position having a lift channel formed thereon to receive the roller therein and an alignment assembly such that when the lift member is in the lower position the roller is operatively disposed in the lift channel and the lift channel is axially aligned relative to the track channel by the alignment assembly as the lift member is moved from the lower position to the upper position to permit the cart to be moved from the lift channel to the track channel whereby the roller is disposed within the track channel for movement through the greenhouse on the overhead track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: William L. Feaster, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4991257
    Abstract: A sliding door apparatus for installation in a structural opening, having overhead runway rails with tracks or runways in which guide rollers of the sliding doors are mounted in a displaceable arrangement, additional cylindrical guide pins (pilots) (14) being provided as guides on switches which project downwardly into the runways (20) and which have centers that lie on assumed center lines of the runways (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Dorma - Glas Gesellschaft fuer Glastuer - Beschlaege und-Konstruktionen GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Eutebach
  • Patent number: 4972778
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an arrangement relating to the cable winding device that moves the transfer vehicles (2) of a store and/or transfer line (1, 10), located at the end of the line, in which the store line (1) is formed of sequential store places, and in which the store line (1) is crossed by at least one transverse transfer line (10), and in which the packages on the store line (1) are transported by being carried on the lifting device of the transfer vehicle, in which the aforementioned cable winding device includes a motor (9) and a cable drum (7) turned by it or a corresponding cable collecting device. By means of the invention an attempt is made to achieve a precisely operating cable winding device to be installed at the end of a line, which makes simple crossing arrangements possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventor: Seppo K. Suominen
  • Patent number: 4967669
    Abstract: A track expanding device is employed in a conveyorized transport system to spread apart adjacently disposed sections of track thereby tensioning an endless chain travelling with these track sections. The expanding device comprises a splice and an expander having a threaded member for engaging with the splice with each of the splice and the expander being connected to an associated one of the adjacently disposed track sections thereby tensioning the endless chain as the threaded member is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Kuchta
  • Patent number: 4944230
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus comprising a rail device and automotive carts supported and guided by the rail device to be travelled. The rail device comprises an automotive cart guiding member having a C letter-shaped section provided with an opened portion for travelling the cart therethrough and a duct member communicating with the guiding member through a slit. The cleaning of the inside of the duct member, the installation of various kinds of instrument and the wiring operation within the duct member, the maintenance and inspection after the wiring operation and the like can be carried out through the opened portion and the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Maeda, Masayuki Tsuneda
  • Patent number: 4919054
    Abstract: In a conveying apparatus wherein a carriage is driven by a linear motor to run along guide rails, the guide rails comprise two parallel guide members, each having a first guide surface that prevents lateral movement of the carriage, and a second guide surface that prevents vertical movement of the carriage. The carriage comprises first wheels disposed between upper and lower surfaces of the carriage for rolling along the first guide surfaces and second wheels disposed spaced apart from the first wheels in the running direction of the carriage to roll along the second guide surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yukito Matsuo
  • Patent number: 4850281
    Abstract: A traction wheel turn for a power and free conveyor employs a single rotary unit to effect a complete, 180.degree. reversal of the course of the conveyor. A circular track component forms a part of the free track at the inside of the turn and is carried by the traction wheel and rotates therewith. The inside wheels of the free trollies transfer from a standard, straight track section to the circular component at the turn, are carried thereby through the turn, and are delivered to the next stationary track section at the end of the turn. The horizontal space occupied by the turn is therefore, no greater than the diameter of the traction wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Automatic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond H. Kurek
  • Patent number: 4845806
    Abstract: With a suspended sliding partition with a level track (1) and at least one panel-like element (3) is provided an upper mounting rail (4) which is suspended from the track (1) by two carrying bolts (2) which extend through a continuous slot in the underside of the track (1) into the latter and are there each connected to a carrying device (26, 27, 28, 40) which is supported in the track (1). The track (1) has two guide channels (12, 20) arranged at a distance one above the other and provided with lateral guiding surfaces (13, 21) on both sides, as well as a level supporting surface (17). On each carrying bolt (2) are mounted two lateral guiding elements (23, 30, 33, 34) which are guided in one of the guide channels (12, 20), as well as the carrying device (26, 27, 28, 40) which is supported on the supporting surface (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Walter Hamacher
  • Patent number: 4843971
    Abstract: A suspended monorail track system has a box-shaped cross section with flanges extending inward and upward from the bottom edges of the side walls to form an acute angle between each flange and its attached side wall. An opening remains between the flanges extending along the bottom of the track. An intermediate horizontal wall may be added below the top wall to form an enclosed channel for power and signal cables within the track. A number of power and signal conductors extend along the interior surfaces of the track to provide electrical contact with vehicles moving along the track. Signal conductors are used to prevent collision between vehicles. Each vehicle is suspended from the track by a bogie assembly extending through the opening along the bottom of the track. The bogie assembly is supported by load-bearing wheels riding on the upper surfaces of the flanges, and stabilized by a second set of wheels rolling along the bottom surfaces of the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Regis College
    Inventor: Magnus V. Braunagel
  • Patent number: 4841871
    Abstract: A monorail transportation system utilizing generally inverted channel shaped rail members for supporting personal transit vehicles which are each suspended from the rails by a carriage having traction motor propelled drive wheels engageable with the rail channel and spaced apart vehicle supporting guide wheels. The vehicles have aerodynamically contoured bodies provided with lift surfaces which provide varying degrees of lift in accordance with vehicle speed and angle of attack to reduce mechanical friction in the carriage and structural loading on the rail network. The vehicles are automatically controlled and used by individual user when called up from storage track sections at spaced apart stations along the rail network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventor: Martin N. Leibowitz
  • Patent number: 4837891
    Abstract: A track and trolley system that allows wall panels to be moved with a minimum amount of friction is disclosed. The system includes a track having a first rail, a second rail which is higher than the first rail, and a trolley having two drive wheels that engage the rails via annular track engaging surfaces of different diameters. Each drive wheel is independently rotatable in opposite directions. The system further includes a wall panel mount assembly haivng a housing integral with a movable wall panel and slide pads at track intersections to reduce the vertical elevational drop of a trolley when it moves across a track intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Modernfold, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Toma, N. Douglas Owens
  • Patent number: 4838412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor rail intended for handling individual objects. The rail is composed of straight and curved modules consisting of quadratic sections (1), preferably of aluminium, with chain guides (4, 5, 6, 7) arranged on each side, This enables a single type of curved profile to be utilized for curves in any direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Wamac AB
    Inventor: Ralf Backman
  • Patent number: 4825769
    Abstract: An improved rail assembly and method of construction thereof is disclosed herein that is particularly adapted for use with a crane trolley in a hot cell environment which is exposed to airborne and liquidborne radioactive contaminants. The rail assembly is generally comprised of a support wall having an elongated, rail-housing recess having a floor, side wall and ceiling. The floor of the recess is defined at least in part by the load-bearing surface of a rail, and is substantially flat, level and crevice-free to facilitate the drainage of liquids out of the recess. The ceiling of the recess overhangs and thereby captures trolley wheels within the recess to prevent them from becoming dislodged from the recess during a seismic disturbance. Finally, the interior of the recess includes a power track having a slot for receiving a sliding electrical connector from the crane trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Ralph E. Watts
  • Patent number: 4798149
    Abstract: A wheel lock assembly for reversibly rotatably mounting a wheel assembly which comprises an inner race and an outer race and bearings disposed therebetween on a trolley which includes a central bore having a central axis and having a substantially annular recess eccentric relative to the central bore. The wheel lock assembly includes an axle member, the axle member including a cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and an enlarged substantially annular head portion eccentric relative to the longitudinal axis. The wheel lock assembly further includes a cap member and locking screw for fastening the cap member to an end of the body portion of the axle member to draw the cap member into frictional engagement with the inner face and to draw the head portion of the axle member into mating engagement with the recess of the trolley arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Florkey's Conveyor Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank F. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4791871
    Abstract: A dual-mode transportation system comprises a monotube guideway along which a dual-mode vehicle travels in a first mode of operation, the dual-mode vehicle having a second mode of operation in which it travels along a roadway. Each dual-mode vehicle carries its own four-wheel dolly for engaging the guideway as the vehicle travels along the guideway, the dolly being retractable so as to be stored in a recess in the roof of the vehicle. The dolly carries a flexible pick-up element which extends to an electric supply line in the guideway so as to receive and provide to the vehicle centrally generated power provided by the electric supply line. Power received by the vehicle during travel along the guideway is used not only to motivate the vehicle along the guideway but also to recharge a battery which powers the vehicle during conventional roadway travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: Jack U. Mowll
  • Patent number: 4781119
    Abstract: A solar-powered rapid transit system is provided, which travels suspended above ground along a horizontal rail, supported by vertical/horizontal supports. The guide rail is basically a parallelogram, with five inner surfaces. It can be configured as either an overhead monorail system, or a birail system. The rail car is attached to and suspended from such rail by power transmission and support shafts, each of which attaches to a wheel box that fits into the horizontal guide rail. Power is transmitted to the wheels in each wheel box from several electric motors by a series of pulleys and belts in a unique configuration. Such wheels then propel the rail car or cars, which can be connected in series, down the rail. Power for electric motors is supplied by rectangular solar panels supported by vertical supports attached to the roof of each rail car, which extend several feet above the rail car and guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: James G. Davis
  • Patent number: 4768442
    Abstract: Overhead crane apparatus is disclosed incorporating an extruded aluminum alloy rail structure for runway and bridge girder applications. The relatively light weight and low cost rail structure is shaped to provide a trolley passageway protected from the ingress of deleterious substances, and is further contoured to provide a shaped cavity for ready reception of novel clamp means facilitating the imposition of increased loads on existing crane apparatus. The rail structure during the extrusion process may also be formed with fluid passages in the side walls thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Phillips Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Miller
  • Patent number: 4752987
    Abstract: A support and guide system for movable door or wall elements is disclosed, which system comprises stationary ceiling channels with channel junctions. Running in the ceiling channels are trolleys from which the door or wall elements are suspended through a gap in the ceiling channel. The trolleys feature trolley rolls which are rotatable about horizontal axles which are located on the side edges of a square. Provided in the areas of the channel junctions are additional support elements, in the ceiling channels, for trolley support. To enable a material- and weight-saving design, the support elements are inserted in the ceiling channels, on support arms, at a specified spacing above the trolley, while above the trolley there is a support plate mounted which is supportable from underneath by the support elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Huppe GmbH
    Inventors: Fredo Dreyer, Bernd J. Kappe, SchuKarl
  • 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: 4653407
    Abstract: A lifting device having front plates at the end of the winch drum the front plates being provided with flanges to which bracket elements are secured. The bracket elements are interconnected by means of tension rods as well as carriers for the wheels to obtain a rectangular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Udo Dietrich, Heinz Hasselmann
  • Patent number: 4640196
    Abstract: A track member for supporting the wheels of conveyor trolleys connected to a chain comprises first and second trackways arranged in vertically spaced, oppositely facing relation, each trackway having a pair of track surfaces spaced apart by a vertical web. The web of one trackway is longer than the other so that the first trackway is adapted to support trolley wheels of one diameter and the second trackway trolley wheels of another diameter. Various track constructions for overhead and floor type conveyors are obtainable by mounting pairs of the track members in transversely spaced parallel relation with either the first or second trackway of one member aligned with and facing the corresponding trackway of the other. In each of these track constructions the vertical webs of the non-facing trackways form parallel surfaces of a channel which laterally encloses and contains the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Jervis B. Webb Company
    Inventor: Clarence A. Dehne
  • Patent number: 4628719
    Abstract: The specification discloses a puller apparatus for pulling an extrusion profile as it emerges from an extruder. A puller carriage is mounted for rolling motion beneath a track which extends away from the extruder and a puller jaw is located on the front of the carriage for grasping the extrusion profile to be pulled. The track includes two spaced apart, opposed, parallel rails extending parallel to the track. An upwardly and inwardly facing running surface is formed on each rail. Inclined wheels are rotatably attached to the carriage and are configured to engage and roll on the running surfaces of each rail so that as the profile is being pulled away from the extruder, the inclined wheels transmit to the running surfaces downward, upward and lateral forces which occur during the extrusion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: R. L. Best Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Best
  • Patent number: 4576096
    Abstract: A locking wheeled locking carrier including a pair of identical molded half carriage parts each of which carries a pair of canted wheels to support the carrier within a track, and a pendulum part pivoted between the carriage halves and extending downward through the bottom slot in the ceiling track for suspending a desired article. The two carriage halves are slidably interfitted with one another for lateral movement toward and away from one another within the ceiling track, and the pendulum pivot extends slidably through both carriage halves. In the vertical pendulum position a camming action exerted by the pendulum on the two carriage halves forces the carriage halves laterally apart from one another so that their outside surfaces engage the ceiling track slot walls and frictionally lock the carriage in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Inventor: Ellis I. Toder
  • Patent number: 4561359
    Abstract: The present invention provides that an overhead suspension system is provided with at least two suspension rails which are parallel, and at least one trolley which runs on the rails, the trolley having respective rollers which respectively engage the rails for the firm mounting of the trolley on the rails.In a particular example, there is provided a novel form of roller head which comprises three rollers with their axes parallel, and the roller head is carried by a suspension bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Stockrail Services Limited
    Inventor: Edward Duce
  • Patent number: 4532385
    Abstract: A transporting device having an overhead track arrangement with straight sections, curved sections, crossing sections and switching sections. A track carriage is movably mounted on the track. A wheeled transport carriage unit moves over a floor surface and is releasably coupled to the track carriage. Structure is provided for effecting a desired movement of the track carriage through switching sections and crossing sections. The transport carriage unit has the drive mechanism thereon and essentially pushes and follows the guide offered by the cooperating track and track carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Eduard Angele
    Inventor: Wolf Friske
  • Patent number: 4524698
    Abstract: A modular rail member facilitates the translation of load-bearing carriages on an overhead track and comprises a vertical wall formed with two sections of different lengths which are spaced apart from and connected to each other by a flare having a vertical web. The two spaced-apart sections have ends curved in the same direction, and a vertical plane passing through the horizontal outer edges of the curved ends is set back relative to the vertical web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Etablissements Tourtellier S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Tourtellier, Roger Schoen
  • Patent number: 4464997
    Abstract: A conveyor comprising a track formed by a pair of longitudinally extending track members providing a pair of transversely spaced supporting surfaces and a pair of transversely spaced guide surfaces; and a trolley having a body on which supporting wheels and guide rollers are rotatably mounted. The trolley body includes a shield member that is disposed adjacent to the guide rollers, extends radially outwardly of the periphery thereof, and overlaps the guide track surfaces engaged thereby. A socket, formed in the trolley body and having one end closed by the shield member, movably supports a driving dog which has a stem portion projecting into the socket and engaged therein by rollers and wear plates carried by the trolley body. The shield member is located above the trolley and forms a cover that protects the moving parts of the trolley from contamination and decreases the possibility of a foreign object becoming wedged between the guide rollers and guide track surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Jervis B. Webb Company
    Inventor: Clarence A. Dehne
  • Patent number: 4463683
    Abstract: A motor-driven overhead trolley conveyor is described which comprises a rail having horizontal sections and inclined sections. Rack sections or chain sections are associated to the inclined sections. Each trolley comprises its own drive motor. In the horizontal sections the driving force is transmitted exclusively through a drive roller. In inclined sections the drive is effected by means of a gear meshing with the rack or chain and being driven with the same angular velocity as the drive roller. The drive roller comprises a drive wheel connected with the drive shaft as well as a ring mounted on the periphery of the drive wheel in a slide bearing fashion. By this feature, a cold working of the drive roller surface and the rail surface due to alternate stresses caused by the gear is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Inventor: Georg Uttscheid
  • Patent number: 4456121
    Abstract: A load moving apparatus for moving loads such as tools, fixtures or parts in a linear path comprising an elongated channel-shaped frame member having a pair of rod-like guide members which support a carriage member for the movement in a reciprocating path longitudinally of the frame for all possible positions of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Automatic Hydraulic Devices
    Inventors: Guy V. Palmer, Raymond J. Schihl
  • Patent number: 4401033
    Abstract: A self-plumbing, counter-rotating trolley and track suspension system for supporting an operable wall panel is disclosed. The suspension system comprises a trolley assembly, including a pendant bolt to provide a common axle on which a pair of counter-rotating discs are rotatably mounted in spaced apart alignment. The track-contacting surface of each disc is spherically formed, with each surface generated from a common centerpoint but having unequal radii so that the surfaces generated by the radii have curvatures which are similar but are not congruent. The suspension system also includes a track having a pair of vertically spaced and diametrically arranged rails, each rail defining a cylindrical surface which is generated from the same common centerpoint of that of the discs, the locus of which lies above the rail-contacting surface of the upper disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Carl F. Gerken
  • Patent number: 4362108
    Abstract: A conveyor system is composed of a trolley and an elongated inverted U-shaped or C-shaped track which is formed without any machining involving removal of material by simple deformation of a sheet-metal blank. The track has a horizontal or vertical web, two vertical or horizontal legs extending from the marginal portions of the web, and two horizontal or vertical ledges which constitute the inwardly bent end portions of the legs. One of the ledges has a V-shaped cross-sectional outline and the other ledge has an inturned carrier for a toothed rack in mesh with a pinion driven by a motor on the trolley. The trolley has a first pair of rollers whose conical peripheral surfaces engage the opposite sides of the V-shaped ledge, and a second pair of rollers whose cylindrical peripheral surfaces engage the opposite sides of the other ledge. One roller of each pair is adjustable to ensure that both rollers of each pair engage the corresponding ledge with negligible clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Inventor: Erwin Jenkner
  • Patent number: 4314512
    Abstract: A damped suspension system for conveyors which has a pair of shock absorbers each of which is associated with an initial stressed spring thereby exerting a balancing effect. In preferred embodiments the shock absorbers are provided with means comprising, for example, a casing and a sleeve wherein the cylinder is executing and up and down movement relative to the sleeve. Casing and sleeve each supporting one end of the spring during movement of the conveyer in a straight line. Since, during an inclination of the cabin of the conveyor, both ends of the spring located on the lower side of the cabin are supported only through the casing, there is no possibility of a releasing. Thereby at least the initial force of the spring located on the raised side of the cabin is effective for a reset of the cabin into its vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Waggonfabrik Uerdingen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhard, Ulrich Giesen
  • Patent number: 4284010
    Abstract: A conveyance system having an overhead guide rail above a surface and one or more vehicles which are guided by the rail and partially supported on the surface by a wheel structure. Preferably, the guide rail includes the stator of a linear induction motor which cooperates with a rotor element in a propulsion member for the vehicle. A handpole on the vehicle connects the propulsion member to a passenger-carrying platform on the wheel structure. The handpole is sufficiently vertical to be readily grasped by a passenger for support while riding and assistance in getting on and off the vehicle, and yet the pole is sufficiently inclined to partially support the vehicle and permit its movement in response to the propulsion member. The preferred system uses simple, lightweight vehicles which can be readily installed over a pre-existing surface such as a sidewalk or corridor and are arranged to move continuously therealong at a slow passenger-transfer speed and a faster speed between transfer points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
    Inventor: Rolf F. Marshall
  • Patent number: 4267778
    Abstract: An overhead trolley conveyor system has an overhead track comprising a pair of angle irons each having an inwardly extending flange and an upwardly extending flange, the angle irons being supported in spaced relationship to each other by a plurality of strap members which impart a cant to the inwardly extending flanges which are adapted to support a pair of tapered wheels associated with an axle of a trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Inventor: William V. Wilkie
  • Patent number: 4203369
    Abstract: In a transportation system of the kind in which vehicles move along a guideway which includes diverging junctions and a vehicle-mounted track selection mechanism can be set to control which side of the junction the vehicle is to follow, both by an on-board operating member and by an on-guideway operating member. In normal use, the on-guideway operating member would be set to cause the vehicle to take the route with the highest traffic level so that intervention by the on-board operating member is necessary only when divergence from such route is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Inventor: Francis C. Perrott
  • Patent number: 4172423
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle system comprises a load-carrying vehicle formed by two bogies each of which has two co-axial rollers, the two bogies being connected by an articulating spindle carrying a centering roller arranged to bear against the internal sides of the track. Each bogie preferably carries a steering roller rotatable about a vertical axis and situated substantially in the same plane as the centering roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1979
    Inventor: Maxime Monne
  • Patent number: 4147110
    Abstract: A power and free conveyor system comprising a power track, a power conveyor movable along the track, the conveyor having a plurality of depending pusher dogs thereon, a free track extending along the power track, and a plurality of carriers movable along the free track. Each carrier has at least one trolley with a pusher normally in the path of the depending pusher and holdback dogs. Each pusher and holdback dog is deflectable laterally into and out of the path of the pushers on the trolleys. A combined cam and stop member is provided with means for moving the cam and stop into the path of the pusher on the carrier. The cam and stop member includes a cam portion operable to depress the pusher dog and a cam portion operable to deflect the depending pusher and holdback dogs out of the normal path of the pusher. Stops are provided in advance of and to the rear of the carrier and are operable to maintain the carrier in stopped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: American Chain & Cable Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth F. Knudsen
  • Patent number: 4125908
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and transporting an invalid from a wheelchair to a bed or other location and back including a sling suspended from a motor driven winch for raising and lowering the sling. The winch is suspended from a motorized traverse mechanism for reciprocably moving the winch and sling along a horizontal track attached to the ceiling of a room for transporting the invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Inventors: Dottie J. Vail, Nancy Getches
  • Patent number: 4122778
    Abstract: A load carrier is supported on a guide rail by means of a front and rear trolley. The load carrier is pivotally connected to the front trolley by means of a pivoted rod and a shock absorber is interposed between the pivoted rod and the body of the front trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: F.A.T.A - Fabbrica Apparecchi Di Sollevamento E Trasporto Ed Affint S.p.A.
    Inventor: Getano Di Rosa
  • 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: 4003714
    Abstract: A tunnel autoclave having guillotine doors at opposite ends has sections of rail fixed to the said doors so as to be aligned with guide rails extending through the said autoclave when the doors are in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1977
    Assignee: Superga S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Foglino, Alfio Battain, Raffaello Cappucciati
  • Patent number: 3987877
    Abstract: A trolley busway housing has a generally T-shaped top portion which stiffens the housing to provide improved bending resistance and also provides a continuous top flange on which hangers can be clamped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Assignee: Midland-Ross Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Bulanchuk