US3565233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power driven directionally controllable transfer wheel and system
Assignee: Western Gear Machinery Co
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Filing: 1968-09-18
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1988-09-18
Abstract
Abstract Power driven wheel with traction surface suitably mounted in conjunction with a transfer platform for movement of baggage or freight containers, including boxes and pallets, the wheel disposed on an axis generally parallel to the surface of the platform and projecting into a horizontal plane sufficiently high above the platform to frictionally engage the bottom of the container, for propulsion of same, the mounting providing for directional adjustment of the wheel on a vertical axis to change the direction of propulsion of the container. Preferably the mounting embodies means to lower the wheel to disengage it from a container when a power failure occurs and propulsion is accomplished manually, or when a directional change is being made. The term ''''wheel'''' is used in a generic sense, and includes any suitable structure rotatable on an axis, and embodying peripheral means for frictionally engaging the object to be moved.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald C Hinman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:19
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G13/00; B65G13/08; B65G13/10; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/53; B65G47/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A power driven traction element assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having a bottom structure and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a fixed support, a housing within the support, means coacting between the support and the housing to mount the housing on the support for rotational adjustment of the housing on a vertical axis, a rotary traction element mounted on a horizontal axis in the housing, the traction element being engageable with the bottom structure of a container, and power means for driving the traction element, the means to mount the housing on the support comprising a cam race on one and a cam follower on the other, the cam race having a peak and a valley, whereby the housing will be elevated with respect to the support in one position of rotational adjustment and will be retracted downwardly in another position of rotational adjustment, the elevated position bringing the rotary traction element into a horizontal plane for traction engagement with a container, and the retracted position removing the wheel from such traction engagement plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A power driven traction element assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having a bottom structure and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a fixed support, a housing within the support, means coacting between the support and the housing to mount the housing on the support for rotational adjustment of the housing on a vertical axis, a rotary traction element mounted on a horizontal axis in the housing, the traction element being engageable with the bottom structure of a container, and power means for driving the traction element, the means to mount the housing on the support comprising a cam race on one and a cam follower on the other, the cam race having a peak and a valley, whereby the housing will be elevated with respect to the support in one position of rotational adjustment and will be retracted downwardly in another position of rotational adjustment, the elevated position bringing the rotary traction element into a horizontal plane for traction engagement with a container, and the retracted position removing the wheel from such traction engagement plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
185 words
A power driven traction wheel assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having at least a portion of their bottoms flat and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a wheel mounted upon an axle, means mounting the axle horizontally, a power unit coupled to drive the wheel, means to elevate the wheel and axle into an uppermost position and to lower the wheel and axle into a lowermost position, the uppermost position serving to extend a segmental periphery of the wheel into the horizontal plane of a container bottom disposed above the wheel, the lowermost position serving to withdraw the wheel from said horizontal plane, the means to elevate and lower the wheel and axle including structure to angularly turn the wheel and axle on a vertical axis in order to shift the direction of propulsion with the wheel and axle being lowered during one phase of the turning movement, and raised if the turning movement is continued or reversed in another phase of said movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
185 words
A power driven traction wheel assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having at least a portion of their bottoms flat and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a wheel mounted upon an axle, means mounting the axle horizontally, a power unit coupled to drive the wheel, means to elevate the wheel and axle into an uppermost position and to lower the wheel and axle into a lowermost position, the uppermost position serving to extend a segmental periphery of the wheel into the horizontal plane of a container bottom disposed above the wheel, the lowermost position serving to withdraw the wheel from said horizontal plane, the means to elevate and lower the wheel and axle including structure to angularly turn the wheel and axle on a vertical axis in order to shift the direction of propulsion with the wheel and axle being lowered during one phase of the turning movement, and raised if the turning movement is continued or reversed in another phase of said movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
153 words
A power driven traction element assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction loads sustained upon support means enabling movement of the loads in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a rotary traction element mounted upon an axle, means mounting the axle horizontally, a power unit coupled to drive the traction element, means to elevate the traction element into an uppermost position and to lower it into a lowermost position, the uppermost position serving to extend a peripheral portion of the traction element into the horizontal plane of a load disposed above the wheel, the lowermost position serving to withdraw the traction elemenT from said horizontal plane, the means to elevate and lower the traction element including structure to angularly turn the traction element on a vertical axis in order to shift the direction of propulsion with the traction element being lowered and then raised during the turning movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
A power driven traction element assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction loads sustained upon support means enabling movement of the loads in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a rotary traction element mounted upon an axle, means mounting the axle horizontally, a power unit coupled to drive the traction element, means to elevate the traction element into an uppermost position and to lower it into a lowermost position, the uppermost position serving to extend a peripheral portion of the traction element into the horizontal plane of a load disposed above the wheel, the lowermost position serving to withdraw the traction elemenT from said horizontal plane, the means to elevate and lower the traction element including structure to angularly turn the traction element on a vertical axis in order to shift the direction of propulsion with the traction element being lowered and then raised during the turning movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
A power driven traction element assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having a bottom structure and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a fixed support embodying a generally annular cylindrical section, a generally annular housing nesting within said section, means coacting between the support and the housing mounting the housing in the support for rotational adjustment of the housing on a vertical axis, a rotary traction element carried by the housing on a horizontal axis, the traction element being engageable with the bottom structure of a container, and power means for driving the traction element, the power means also being carried by the housing, whereby the housing, traction element and power means may be rotationally shifted as a unit bearing upon the generally annular cylindrical section of the fixed support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
A power driven traction element assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having a bottom structure and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a fixed support embodying a generally annular cylindrical section, a generally annular housing nesting within said section, means coacting between the support and the housing mounting the housing in the support for rotational adjustment of the housing on a vertical axis, a rotary traction element carried by the housing on a horizontal axis, the traction element being engageable with the bottom structure of a container, and power means for driving the traction element, the power means also being carried by the housing, whereby the housing, traction element and power means may be rotationally shifted as a unit bearing upon the generally annular cylindrical section of the fixed support.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A power driven traction element assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the cam race is on the exterior of the housing, and the cam follower is carried by the support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A power driven traction element assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the support has a generally annular inner surface section, the housing has a generally annular external surface section concentric with the inner surface section of the support and contiguous thereto, and there is a plurality of cam followers spaced equidistantly around the contiguous annular surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
175 words
A power driven traction wheel assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having at least a portion of their bottoms flat and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a wheel keyed upon an axle, means including a journal mounting the axle horizontally, a power unit coupled with the axle to drive the same, means to elevate the wheel and axle into an uppermost position and to lower the wheel and axle into a lowermost position, the uppermost position serving to extend a segmental periphery of the wheel into the horizontal plane of a container bottom disposed above the wheel, the lowermost position serving to withdraw the wheel from said horizontal plane, the means to elevate and lower the wheel and axle including structure to angularly turn the wheel and axle on a vertical axis in order to shift the direction of propulsion with the wheel and axle being lowered and then raised during the turning movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
A power driven traction wheel assembly for propelling in selectively different lines of direction cargo or baggage containers having at least a portion of their bottoms flat and resting upon support means enabling movement of the containers in more than one line of direction, the assembly comprising: a wheel keyed upon an axle, means including a journal mounting the axle horizontally, a power unit coupled with the axle to drive the same, means to elevate the wheel and axle into an uppermost position and to lower the wheel and axle into a lowermost position, the uppermost position serving to extend a segmental periphery of the wheel into the horizontal plane of a container bottom disposed above the wheel, the lowermost position serving to withdraw the wheel from said horizontal plane, the means to elevate and lower the wheel and axle including structure to angularly turn the wheel and axle on a vertical axis in order to shift the direction of propulsion with the wheel and axle being lowered and then raised during the turning movement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |