Suspended railway locomotive

Claim 2

In an assembly movable along an overhead rail having a central web and oppositely extending flanges adjacent to one edge of the central web: a first frame having spaced parallel parts, first wheels at the sides of said spaced parts facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, a motor connected to said first frame, means operatively connecting said motor to said first wheels, a member pivotally connected to said first frame for rotation about an axis nonparallel to the axis of rotation of said first wheels, a second frame having spaced parallel parts, second wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said second frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, the axis of rotation of said second wheels being offset transversely of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame and the axes of rotation of said first and second wheels being offset with respect to one another axially of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame whereby said first and second wheels are engageable with opposite sides of the rail flanges and are offset lengthwise of the rail, and means connecting said second frame to said member comprising spring means for biasing said second wheels toward said first wheels.

Claim 3

In an assembly movable along an overhead rail having a central web and oppositely extending flanges adjacent to one edge of the central web: a first frame having spaced parallel parts, first wheels at the sides of said spaced parts facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, a motor connected to said first frame, means operatively connecting said motor to said first wheels, a member pivotally connected to said first frame for rotation only about an axis nonparallel to the axis of rotation of said first wheels, a second frame having spaced parallel parts, second wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said second frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, the axis of rotation of said second wheels being offset transversely of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame and the axes of rotation of said first and second wheels being offseT with respect to one another axially of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame whereby said first and second wheels are engageable with opposite sides of the rail flanges and are offset lengthwise of the rail, means connecting said second frame to said member comprising spring means for biasing said second wheels toward said first wheels, and means for limiting the movement of said second wheels relative to said member under the force of said spring means.

Claim 4

In an assembly movable along an overhead rail having a central web and oppositely extending flanges adjacent to one edge of the central web: a first frame having spaced parallel parts, first wheels at the sides of said spaced parts facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, a motor connected to said first frame, means operatively connecting said motor to said first wheels, a member pivotally connected to said first frame for rotation only about an axis nonparallel to the axis of rotation of said first wheels, a second frame having spaced parallel parts, second wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said second frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, the axis of rotation of said second wheels being offset transversely of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame and the axes of rotation of said first and second wheels being offseT with respect to one another axially of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame whereby said first and second wheels are engageable with opposite sides of the rail flanges and are offset lengthwise of the rail, means connecting said second frame to said member comprising spring means for biasing said second wheels toward said first wheels, and means for limiting the movement of said second wheels relative to said member under the force of said spring means.

Claim 5

In an assembly movable along an overhead rail having a central web and oppositely extending flanges adjacent to one edge of the central web: a first frame having spaced parallel parts, first wheels at the sides of said spaced parts facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, a motor connected to said first frame, means operatively connecting said motor to said first wheels, first and second members pivotally connected to said first frame for rotation only about an axis nonparallel to the axis of rotation of said first wheels and extending in opposite directions from said first frame, second and third frames each having parallel spaced parts, second and third wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said second and third frames, respectively, facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, the axis of rotation of said second wheels being offset transversely of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame and the axis of rotation of said second and third wheels being offset with respect to the axis of rotation of said first wheels in the same direction axially of the pivotal connections of said first and second members with said first frame whereby said first and said second and third wheels are engageable with opposite sides of the rail flanges and are offset lengthwise of the rail, and means connecting said second and third frames to said first and second members, respectively, comprising spring means for biasing said second and third wheels toward said first wheels.

Claim 6

In an assembly movable along an overhead rail having a central web and oppositely extending flanges adjacent to one edge of the central web: a first frame having spaced parallel parts, first wheels at the sides of said spaced parts facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, a motor connected to said first frame, means operatively connecting said motor to said first wheels, first and second members pivotally connected to said first frame for rotation only about an axis nonparallel to the axis of rotation of said first wheels and extending in opposite directions from said first frame, second and third frames each having parallel spaced parts, second and third wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said second and third frames, respectively, facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, the axis of rotation of said second wheels being offset transversely of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame and the axis of rotation of said second and third wheels being offset with respect to the axis of rotation of said first wheels in the same direction axially of the pivotal connections of said first and second members with said first frame whereby said first and said second and third wheels are engageable with opposite sides of the rail flanges and are offset lengthwise of the rail, and means connecting said second and third frames to said first and second members, respectively, comprising spring means for biasing said second and third wheels toward said first wheels.

Claim 7

In a device movable along an overhead rail having oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web: a first assembly including a first frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, first wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said first wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a motor connected to said first frame below said rail, drive means operatively connecting said motor to said first wheels, a second assembly at one side of said first assembly including an inverted channellike frame, second wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frame and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, a member pivotally connected to said first frame only for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said first wheels, the axis of rotation of said second wheels being offset transversely of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame and means connecting said channellike frame to said member including spring means biasing said second wheels against the underside of said rail.

Claim 8

In a device movable along an overhead rail having oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web: a first assembly including a first frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, first wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said first wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a motor connected to said first frame below said rail, drive means operatively connecting said motor to said first wheels, a second assembly at one side of said first assembly including an inverted channellike frame, second wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frame and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, a member pivotally connected to said first frame only for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said first wheels, the axis of rotation of said second wheels being offset transversely of the pivotal connection of said member with said first frame and means connecting said channellike frame to said member including spring means biasing said second wheels against the underside of said rail.

Claim 9

In an apparatus movable along an overhead rail including oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web: a motor assembly including a frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, drive wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said drive wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a drive motor connected to said frame below said rail, drive means operatively connecting said motor to said drive wheels, guide rollers at the leading and trailing ends of said frame and at opposite sides of said rail pivotally connected to said frame for rotation about axes normal to the axis of rotation of saId drive wheels and engageable with opposite side sides of said projecting flanges of said rail, a pressure assembly at the leading and trailing sides of said motor assembly, each of said pressure assemblies including an inverted channellike frame, pressure wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frames and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, members pivotally connected to said frame only for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels, and means connecting said channellike frame to said members including spring means biasing said pressure wheels against the underside of said rail.

Claim 10

In an apparatus movable along an overhead rail including oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web: a motor assembly including a frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, drive wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said drive wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a drive motor connected to said frame below said rail, drive means operatively connecting said motor to said drive wheels, guide rollers at the leading and trailing ends of said frame and at opposite sides of said rail pivotally connected to said frame for rotation about axes normal to the axis of rotation of saId drive wheels and engageable with opposite side sides of said projecting flanges of said rail, a pressure assembly at the leading and trailing sides of said motor assembly, each of said pressure assemblies including an inverted channellike frame, pressure wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frames and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, members pivotally connected to said frame only for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels, and means connecting said channellike frame to said members including spring means biasing said pressure wheels against the underside of said rail.

Claim 11

In a carrier-type overhead material-handling system having an overhead rail including oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web, a tractor for moving carriers along said rail comprising: a drive assembly including, a frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, drive wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said drive wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a drive motor connected to said frame below said rail, drive means connecting said motor to said drive wheels; traction increasing assemblies at the leading and trailing sides of said motor head assembly, each of said traction increasing assemblies including an inverted channellike frame, pressure wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frames and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, leading and trailing drawbars having adjoining end portions pivotally connected to said drive assembly frame for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels, and means connecting said channellike frames to said leading and trailing drawbars including spring means biasing said pressure wheels against the underside of said rail.

Claim 12

In a carrier-type overhead material-handling system having an overhead rail including oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web, a tractor for moving carriers along said rail comprising: a drive assembly including, a frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, drive wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said drive wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a drive motor connected to said frame below said rail, drive means connecting said motor to said drive wheels; traction increasing assemblies at the leading and trailing sides of said motor head assembly, each of said traction increasing assemblies including an inverted channellike frame, pressure wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frames and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, leading and trailing drawbars having adjoining end portions pivotally connected to said drive assembly frame for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels, and means connecting said channellike frames to said leading and trailing drawbars including spring means biasing said pressure wheels against the underside of said rail.

Claim 13

In a carrier-type overhead material-handling system having an overhead rail including oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web, a tractor for moving carriers along said rail comprising: a drive assembly including, a frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, drive wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said drive wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a drive motor connected to said frame below said rail, drive means connecting said motor to said drive wheels, guide rollers at the leading and trailing ends of said frame and at opposite sides of said rail pivotally connected to said frame for rotation about axes normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels and engageable with opposite side sides of said projecting flanges of said rail, pressure head assemblies at the leading and trailing sides of said drive head assembly, each of said pressure head assemblies including, an inverted channellike frame, pressure wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frames and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, leading and trailing drawbars having overlapping adjoining end portions pivotally connected to one another and to said drive assembly frame for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels, and means connecting said channellike frames to the leading and trailing drawbars including spring means biasing said pressure wheels against the underside of said rail.

Claim 14

In a carrier-type overhead material-handling system having an overhead rail including oppositely extending flanges adjacent to the lower edge of a central web, a tractor for moving carriers along said rail comprising: a drive assembly including, a frame having spaced parts adapted to extend upwardly along opposite sides of said rail, drive wheels at the sides of said spaced parts of said frame facing one another and rotatably connected thereto, said drive wheels being adapted to engage and travel along the top sides of said flanges of said rail, a drive motor connected to said frame below said rail, drive means connecting said motor to said drive wheels, guide rollers at the leading and trailing ends of said frame and at opposite sides of said rail pivotally connected to said frame for rotation about axes normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels and engageable with opposite side sides of said projecting flanges of said rail, pressure head assemblies at the leading and trailing sides of said drive head assembly, each of said pressure head assemblies including, an inverted channellike frame, pressure wheels rotatably connected to the upwardly projecting ends of said channellike frames and adapted to engage the underside of said flanges of said rail, leading and trailing drawbars having overlapping adjoining end portions pivotally connected to one another and to said drive assembly frame for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said drive wheels, and means connecting said channellike frames to the leading and trailing drawbars including spring means biasing said pressure wheels against the underside of said rail.