Outer Wheels Patents (Class 105/155)
  • Patent number: 11078030
    Abstract: A conveyor hanger assembly includes an upper fastening end configured to mechanically couple to a conveyor, a lower fastening end configured to couple to an assembly component carrier, and a locking assembly including a locking body extending in longitudinal alignment with and between the upper fastening end and the lower fastening end, and a locking collar positionable between a locked position and an unlocked positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Blanche Lin Lu-Sullivan, Steven William Albert Goymour, Hussein Ajram, Jefferson Pickers
  • Patent number: 10415242
    Abstract: The invention(s) disclosed herein include(s) various panels, components of panels, partitions, systems, and/or methods that increase acoustic insulation. For example, some embodiments include a movable partition where the interface between two panels includes various gaskets, damping elements, and/or perforations that mitigate sound transmission from one side of the partition to the other. In one or more embodiments, the partition and/or panel(s) include one or more upper and/or lower drops seals having a gasket that significantly impedes sound from entering a window associated with the panel(s), which in some embodiments leads to a cavity/region relative to which the drop seal is retractable/extendable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Gonzalo Duran Ariza
  • Patent number: 10309102
    Abstract: A wall panel of a moveable and demountable frameless wall panel system that is secured between a floor of a room and a ceiling rail secured to a ceiling of the room. The wall panel includes a frameless panel, an upper clamp assembly, a ceiling track configured to be removably inserted into the ceiling rail, a lower clamp assembly, a first height adjustment mechanism secured to the lower clamp assembly, a second height adjustment mechanism, and a bottom floor channel receiving the first height and second height adjustment mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ALLSTEEL, INC.
    Inventors: Eberhard Von Hoyningen Huene, Michael Salzman, Anneke Struis
  • Patent number: 10231563
    Abstract: A curtain system may include a track system configured to be mounted to an interior structure of a vehicle. The track system may include three or more track sections oriented in at least two different directions. Each track section may be configured to support at least one curtain suspended from and slidable along the track sections. The track system may include at least one junction fitting interconnecting three or more track sections and allowing movement of a curtain from one of the three or more track sections to either one of two or more other track sections of the three or more track sections. In this regard, the junction fitting and the track sections may define different curtain paths for the curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jay Colacecchi
  • Patent number: 10065840
    Abstract: A transport vehicle travels on first and second paths orthogonally or diagonally crossing each other and each including an opening at a center and treads on both sides of the opening. The transport vehicle includes a vehicle in an upper portion; a transport in a lower portion to hold an article; and a column extending downward from the vehicle to the transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Takanori Izumi
  • Patent number: 9068385
    Abstract: The specification discloses a wheel carriage assembly (10) for supporting sliding doors or other similar panels with the wheel carriage assembly (10) rolling along a fixed guide track (11), the wheel carriage assembly (10) having at least one and often multiple pairs (17, 18) of laterally spaced wheels (19, 20) adapted to roll along the fixed guide track (11), the wheels (19, 20) of the or each said pair of wheels (17, 18) being mounted to a shaft (21) and at least one of the wheels (19, 20) being capable of limited axial movement relative to the shaft (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Anthony Innovations Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Nigel Proctor, Derek Jefferson
  • Patent number: 8807044
    Abstract: An apparatus and system whereby a first member can move along a cable track and then on a glide track to then move in another direction and back on a glide track. The first member has a secondary retention system disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: James Liggett, Troy Lee Garland, Timothy Powers
  • Patent number: 8468951
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism includes first and second hollow outer shafts, two rotating wheels located between the first and second outer shafts, and an inner shaft received in the second outer shaft. Each of the first and second outer shafts forms a connecting portion at one end thereof. Each connecting portion defines two receiving holes. Each rotating wheel includes a body and a rod extending through the body. The bodies of the rotating wheels are in contact with each other. Two ends of the rod of each rotating wheel are correspondingly received in the receiving holes of the first and second outer shafts to connect the first and second outer shafts together. One end of the inner shaft contacts the rod of one rotating wheel. The inner shaft is rotatable in the second outer shaft to drive the two rotating wheels to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shen-Chun Li, Hsien-Chuan Liang, Shou-Kuo Hsu
  • Patent number: 8286559
    Abstract: Disclosed is a trolley assembly that is adapted to be used with a passenger restraint, such as a locking reel. The trolley assembly allows the reel lock to be securely positioned at any of a number of discrete locations along the length of an associated track. A mechanism is included for permitting the user to selectively lock and unlock the trolley as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Conax Florida Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Robinson, Brian Ford
  • Patent number: 8156874
    Abstract: The rail mounted displaceable device is a ceiling mounted hoist comprising two pairs of carrying wheels (2) arranged to run in the rail (1) and two motion wheels (4) actuated by a motor (7). The motion wheels (4) are rotatably fixed on a hinged bracket (5) which is pivotably connected via a hinge (6) to a chassis (3). The displaceable device is provided with an actionable solenoid (8) for pressing said transport wheels (4) against the rail (1) in order to allow a displacement of the device along the rail (1) when the motor (7) is activated and to allow the carrying wheels (2) to rotate freely along the rail (1) when said motor (7) is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Invacare International SARL
    Inventor: Steen Hansen
  • Patent number: 7789021
    Abstract: A suspension conveyance apparatus has a conveying traveling body movably supported on a traveling guide rail and a hanger suspended from the conveying traveling body, and an anti-swaying guide rail in parallel with the traveling guide rail, the anti-swaying guide rail is engaged with a roller and prevents lateral swaying of the hanger. The anti-swaying guide rail is installed on only one of the right and left sides of the traveling guide rail and includes a horizontal flat rail surface and a circular rail surface curvedly protruding in the vertically opposite direction of the horizontal flat rail surface, and a flat peripheral surface roller adjoining to the horizontal flat rail surface and rolling and an hourglass-shaped peripheral surface roller fitted to the circular rail surface are provided as the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishihara, Tomohiro Sugo
  • Patent number: 7752978
    Abstract: A guide assembly, a guide rail for a guide assembly, and a method for forming guide assemblies are provided. The guide rail includes a plurality of facets angularly spaced from one another such that guide wheels for use with a guide carriage can ride on the guide rails in varying angular orientations. The guide rail preferably includes a pair of running rails that include at least four facets that extend the longitudinal length of the guide rail. The method includes providing a plurality of identical guide rails and a plurality of different carriages that have different characteristics, such as the orientation at which the guide wheels of the carriages engage the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Pacifiic Bearing Company
    Inventor: Jonathan R. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7739960
    Abstract: A running gear, for example, a single-rail lower-flange running gear for hoisting equipment, includes several wheels running on a rail, at least two of which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel of the running gear and adapted to be driven by an electric motor. The driven wheels are joined to at least two shafts, which are oriented coaxially to the axis of rotation of said at least two driven wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Moll, Klaus Nerger, Udo Gersemsky
  • Patent number: 7650843
    Abstract: A transportation system is provided that accommodates varying angles of slope along the path of its movement, while maintaining a level transportation platform without the need of mechanical leveling devices or systems. The platform may be connected to the rail by wheels that are held in a substantially fixed relationship to one another, the closest of which to the platform is above the rail, and the other below the rail. Accordingly, the platform is torqued downward to maintain contact between the wheels and the rail. As the slope of the terrain, and thus the slope of the rail, increases, the rail is widened to maintain the platform at level. As the slope decreases, the rail is narrowed to the same effect. The platform also may be tilted for loading or unloading by this rail-widening method, as may be desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Incline Access, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus C. Minges
  • Patent number: 7392747
    Abstract: A rail guide having first and second guiding rails disposed in a mirror-inverted relationship with regard to one another. At least one pair of spaced leading and following carriages are displaceably mounted to the guiding rails so as to engage and transport a sliding component along a transport path towards a stacking area. While the leading and following carriages are slidably supported by both guiding rails along the main track of the transport path, the leading carnage slides along the first rail, and the trailing carriage slides along the second rail along the transport path downstream from the main track in the stacking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co., KG
    Inventor: Andreas Ksyk
  • Patent number: 7283897
    Abstract: A method and system for compensating for wheel wear uses position and/or speed information from an independent positioning system to measure some distance over which the train has traveled. Wheel rotation information is also collected over the distance. The wheel rotation information and distance and/or speed information are then used to determine the size of the train wheels. The method is performed periodically to correct for changes in wheel size over time due to wear so that the wheel rotation information can be used to determine train position and speed in the event of a positioning system failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Quantum Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edward Kane, James Francis Shockley, Harrison Thomas Hickenlooper
  • Patent number: 6915745
    Abstract: Described are a self-lubricating, overhead conveyor system and the component parts thereof. The self-lubricating overhead conveyor system obviates the need for added lubricants, and comprises three main components: a trolley assembly, a conveyor chain and a turn wheel assembly. In one embodiment, all three components are integrated to provide an improved overhead conveyor system; however, individual components may be used to retrofit conventional overhead conveyor systems. The trolley assemblies contain a self-lubricating precision ball bearing assembly, and are joined together by a surface hardened conveyor chain internally treated to resist corrosion and eliminate flaking. The turn wheel assemblies are configured to engage the conveyor chain and provide continuous lubrication and cleaning to the conveyor chain. All components of the conveyor system of the present disclosure meet criteria established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in food processing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Tac Lube, LLC
    Inventor: Tom Carder
  • Patent number: 6910425
    Abstract: An enclosed track system comprising an enclosed track having at least one curve and a trolley for negotiating the curve. The trolley includes an externally located drive section and a rolling section having first and second roller portions located within the track. The first roller portion includes rollers for rolling on flange portions of the track. The second roller portion includes a yoke-mounted driven wheel and a pair of support rollers. The driven wheel rolls on an inner surface of the top of the track. The pair of support rollers roll on flange portions of the track and are mounting on respective rods for pivoting action about vertical axes. The drive section includes a motor powered driving wheel which extends partially into the track to engage the driven wheel. The drive section also includes an articulated joint coupling the first and second roller portions together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Transol Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold T. Galpin, Jeffrey M. Lesoine
  • Patent number: 6718885
    Abstract: An enclosed track system comprising an enclosed track having at least one curved portion and a trolley including a rolling section having first and second roller portions located within the track and spaced from each other and an externally located drive section. The second roller portion comprises a drive wheel arranged to roll on an inner surface of the track. The drive section has an articulated joint coupling the first and second roller portions to each other. The drive section includes a motor to cause the drive wheel to rotate, whereupon the trolley rolls along the track, with the articulated joint enabling the first and second roller portions to pivot longitudinally with respect to each other so that the trolley can negotiate curves in the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Transol Corporation
    Inventors: Philip E. Risser, Jeffrey M. Lesoine
  • Patent number: 6659014
    Abstract: There is provided a transportation system for transporting content from a first specified address to a second specified address. The transportation system comprises a transport channel, a plurality of containers, an operator, a propeller operatively connected to said container and in operative communication with said operator, and a central controller remote from said containers and in operative communication with said operator. The controller is configured for receiving orders for transport between the first and second addresses. In operation, the controller communicates instructions to the operator, and the operator further communicates the instructions to the propeller, causing the propeller to propel the cargo from the first address to the second address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Faycal Chaabi
  • Patent number: 6499408
    Abstract: A rail support system pendent from an overhead structure is provided for supporting, lifting, and conveying material, machinery, and equipment from one location to another, and for supporting movable trolleys and traveling cranes. The rail support system includes a plurality of side rail members wherein the side rail members are disposed in opposed pairs in uniform parallel alignment thereby forming a runway section with one or more runway sections disposed in successive end-to-end relationship to form a runway track. The alignment of the opposed pairs of side rail members are maintained by spacers and clamps that are disposed between and interconnect the side rail member pairs. Trolley vehicles travel in v-shaped track guides of the side rail members, and adjacent side rail members forming each half of the runway sections are secured together by joint plates that prevent the separation of the adjacent side rail members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Kundel, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6216602
    Abstract: A balance control mechanism for an overhead traveling carrier includes a movable section disposed on a carrier body at a position below the fulcrum of a traveling wheel of the carrier such that the movable section can be moved laterally of the carrier body to thereby displace the center of gravity of the movable section laterally of the carrier body, a gravity center moving unit for moving the center of gravity of the movable section with respect to the carrier body, and a balance control unit for calculating a balancing position at which the center of gravity of the movable section is to be placed so that the moment of a centrifugal force turning around the fulcrum with an axis lying in a direction of travel of the carrier and applied to the carrier in its entirety upon travel of the carrier over a curved portion of the rail is counterbalanced by the moment of gravity, and then controlling the gravity center moving unit to cause the center of gravity of the movable section to be moved to the balancing positi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Daisuke Fukuzaki, Yoshikazu Nakano
  • Patent number: 6138574
    Abstract: An overhead trolley track system has extruded aluminum track sections having tubular portions, adjacent track sections connected end to end with plates attached to a central upright flange portions formed on each track section. Sealing tubular fittings are slidably received in each end of the rubular portions adjacent sections held by the plates to allow air pressure to be distributed. Air pressure fittings are inserted in drilled holes along the track sections, held in by brackets. The trolleys have rollers engaged with opposite upper sides of the tubular portions, the trolley rollers separable to allow removal from the track sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Knigh Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James Zaguroli, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5924365
    Abstract: A conveyor carriage has running wheels guided in rail parts so as to prevent the conveyor carriage from lifting off transversely to the plane of the rails. Each conveyor carriage contains a driving unit with at least one driving wheel prestressed against the rail. In order to move the conveyor carriage manually, a lifting device allows the driving wheel to be lifted off and disengaged from the rail. In order to simplify the lifting device, the lifting device is equipped with a shaft mounted on the conveyor carriage adjoined to the driving unit by a flexible coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Telelift GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Pircher
  • Patent number: 5609107
    Abstract: The invention supports a mechanical carriage at three contact points for precise positioning on two guide rails, one guide rail having a V-grooved surface and the other having a flat surface. Two of the three contact points are recirculating ball bearings mounted against the V-grooved rail. The third contact point is on the flat rail and is also the driving contact point and comprises a drive shaft having a friction wheel thereon engaged with the flat rail to drive the mechanical carriage. The recirculating ball bearings and friction wheel are loaded against the V-grooved and flat rails, respectively, by magnets mounted on the carriage and spaced from the rails by an air gap. The air gap provides for a magnetic force between the magnets and the guide rails while permitting relative movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Viola, Lawrence S. Blake
  • Patent number: 5566623
    Abstract: An improved wheel and bearing assembly for a load transporting overhead trolley with a load support bracket having opposed stems mounting laterally offset wheels in rolling engagement with an overhead track has wheel-incorporated radially inner and outer race members with anti-friction load bearing balls between them in an annular trackway. The radially inner race member is split offset from the line connecting the center of the balls and formed of mating laterally outer and laterally inner abutting members which have laterally mating non-compressible radially abutting surfaces with radially aligned annular grooves therein. A circumferentially compressible retention spring is carried in one of the annular grooves and resiliently projects radially from the groove so that a snap fit is achieved when the inner race members are moved relatively laterally into mating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Saginaw Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Wareham
  • Patent number: 5450798
    Abstract: A rail truck for use in an elevated closed beam having a slot in the bottom surface for clearance of a car body support member. The passenger car body is hung beneath the beam and elevated above the ground with the trucks running inside the beam. The flanged wheels run on a pair of parallel rails with an electric power rail located above the center of the two running rails. The suspension permits restrained swinging of the passenger car in the lateral and longitudinal directions. A safety wheel is mounted to the frame to prevent upward movement of the frame to the extent that the wheel flanges on the running rails could climb over the top of the running rails. A pair of auxiliary climbing rails are mounted parallel to the power rail and above the running rails. Auxiliary climbing wheels on the truck are mounted on actuators which permit a controlled elevation of the auxiliary climbing wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Bryant Trenary
  • Patent number: 5419260
    Abstract: A self-propelled overhead track-mounted moving system includes an elongated support rail attachable to an overhead support structure, a carrier trolley mounted for undergoing movement along the support rail, an actuation unit supported on the support rail and on one side of the trolley, and a drive unit mounted on an opposite side of the trolley and coupled to the actuation unit. The support rail has a pair of top guide tracks and a bottom guide track. The trolley includes a housing having a pair of opposite lateral sides and a pair of front and rear ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: James Hamilton
  • 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: 5351620
    Abstract: Carrier system for a mobile device positionable in various directions in space, such as a directive light source, including a trolley which can move along a guide ramp. The ramp includes two helical rails turning about a given longitudinal axis, and the trolley includes a pair of axles with parallel axes holding the ramp therebetween. Each axle is provided with a central body engaging with an associated face of the ramp by wheels capable of running the ramp and guiding the axles when the wheels move along the ramp, with which the wheels are held in contact by an elastic connecting member pulling them towards each other. The light source is fixed to the central body of one axle, and the central body is coupled in rotation with the wheels of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Inventors: Vincent Becheau, Marie-Laure Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 5277298
    Abstract: A forged conveyor trolley bracket has head, arm and base portions bounded by sides, and a bent elbow formed in the arm portion medially of the head and base portions. A web, disposed centrally between the sides along the base and arm portions, has outer and inner faces. Projecting from the web outer face adjacent to the bracket sides are a pair of base portion reinforcing ribs and an outer pair of arm portion reinforcing ribs forming continuations of the base portion reinforcing ribs. An inner pair of arm portion reinforcing ribs project from the web inner face along the arm portion in opposed aligned relation with the outer pair of arm portion ribs; and, this inner pair of ribs extends from the base portion along the arm portion with a depth which increases to substantially equal the depth of the outer pair of ribs at the bent elbow, and which gradually decreases from the bent elbow to the head portion where the inner pair of ribs terminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Jervis B. Webb Company
    Inventors: Clayton C. McDonald, Daniel S. Ellens, Raymond L. Milne
  • Patent number: 5277126
    Abstract: A trolley roller assembly for use with a conveyor system and including a roller for rolling engagement with a track of the conveyor system and having a central bore, a trolley hanger, a pin member having a shaft portion passing through an aperture in the hanger and positioned in the roller bore, and a bearing interposed between the pin shaft portion and the roller. The pin member further includes an enlarged head portion positioned in the roller bore and forming an annular shoulder with the pin member shaft portion and the bearing comprises an outer race, a plurality of balls relatively mounted in the outer race, and an inner race formed in part by the pin member head portion and in part by a collar surrounding the pin member shaft portion and positioned against the annular shoulder of the pin member. The inner race is formed in part by an arcuate annular groove in the pin member head portion and in part by a complementary annular arcuate groove in the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Allor Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Wendt, Thomas L. Beno
  • Patent number: 4984523
    Abstract: A self-propelled trolley and supporting track structure, the trolley forming a housing for a four wheel drive mechanism which is coupled to a driving motor attached to the housing and to a pair of axles each equipped with a pair of driving and supporting wheels adapted to engage transversely spaced track surfaces of the track structure. The track structure comprises a pair of transversely spaced channel section track members, each having upper and lower flanges terminating in guide surfaces and connected by a vertical web, the guide surfaces of one track member facing the guide surfaces of the other. The track surface are formed by the upper flanges of the track members and the guide surfaces are engageable by pairs of guide wheels appended to the trolley below the housing. A conductor bar assembly enclosed within the track members is engaged by collector shoes attached to the trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Jervis B. Webb Company
    Inventors: Clarence A. Dehne, Daniel S. Ellens
  • 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: 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: 4642844
    Abstract: A trolley assembly including a channel shaped body and a pair of frictionless bearing assemblies which include a split tubular spring liner constituting the outer race of the bearing and the wheel axle extends through the space between a plurality of roller bearings positioned between the axle and the outer race. End spacers are secured between the trolley wheels and the body for controlling the end play of the roller bearings and of the trolley wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: National Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: James R. Johnston
  • 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: 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: 4457046
    Abstract: A track roller carriage assembly, a pair of joining plates joined face to face and each having a half-round deformation portion intermediate its ends, the two deformation portions defining a bolt aperture the upper edges of the joining plates being notched downwardly to provide receiving shoulders, and a suspension bolt having on it a head which contains slots which engage side faces of the joining plates adjacent the notches to thereby prevent rotation of the suspension bolt itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Inventor: Lance M. Vater
  • 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: 4345524
    Abstract: A structure for a load carrying vehicle and the track therefor. The load carrying vehicle includes a load carrying platform and a pair of side plates, one plate located adjacent to each of the platform sides. The side plates are structurally weakened, that is, the rigidity of the side plates is controlled by, for example, fabricating them to include grooves, apertures, etc., so that the vehicle may deflect longitudinally. This is done so that all the wheels of the vehicle will be in contact with the track, and thereby serve to support at least part of the load being carried, thus improving the weight distribution of the vehicle load on the wheels and on the track. The track provided for supporting the load carrying vehicle, which track may be fabricated by roll forming a sheet of steel, includes four sections, two of which sections join the other two at an obtuse angle thereby providing a pivot point or flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Weston R. Loomer
  • 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: 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: 4166419
    Abstract: A pneumatic transport system in which a transport tube is provided with an overhead rail in the form of an I-beam contained therein and a vehicle riding along the rail. The vehicle is formed by an elongated container suspended beneath the rail and displaceable therealong within the tube, with at least one vertical pivot mounted at an end of the container and a support mounted at an end of the container and a support mounted on the vertical pivot. A plurality of support rollers are mounted on the support and engage the lower flange of the rail while a plurality of guide rollers, also mounted on the support, flank the lower flange of the rail. Packing means provided at an end of the container enables the vehicle to be pneumatically displaced through the tube, the packing means being spaced from the wall of the tube and mounted on the vertical pivot for displacement in a horizontal plane by a pin provided on the support and engaged by a fork provided on the packing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Assignee: Institutul National Pentru Creatie Stiintifica si tehnica-"INCREST"
    Inventor: Stefan Ardeleanu
  • 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: 3974777
    Abstract: Hollow rolling element for a handling equipment comprising at least two assembled profiles forming a tubular section opened at its lower part and receiving one or several pony trucks or crane crabs, characterized in that it comprises two sheeting piles located with their concavities confronting each other on both sides of a vertical plane, the lower edges of said sheeting piles being spaced from each other in order to provide a lower elongated opening whereas the upper edges are rigidly fixed on both sides of at least one spacing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Inventor: Maxime Monne
  • Patent number: 3951076
    Abstract: A trolley comprising a trolley body, a shaft fixed on the trolley body and having ends projecting outwardly along the sides of the trolley body and a wheel on each end of the shaft. Each wheel comprises an inner race, an outer race and rollers between the inner and outer races. The inner race having an opening through which the end of the shaft extends. The inner race also has a frusto conical surface adjacent the end of the opening. A conical washer having its outer surface complementary to the frusto conical surface of the inner race is placed adjacent thereto and interengaging means are provided between the washer and the shaft end to prevent rotation therebetween. Each end of the shaft having a threaded opening extending axially therein and a cap screw is threaded into the opening and engages the conical washer to hold the washer against the inner race and relative to the end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Assignee: American Chain & Cable Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Knudsen, George O. Nienhold