US3566802A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrically controlled traction device for movable units, especially containers or shelving units
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-09-09
•
Granted: 1971-03-02
•
Expires: 1988-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A device for moving several shelving units to open a gangway between any of them. The units are mounted on rails over a chain and have a solenoid to operate a plunger to engage the chain. A motor is variably coupled to the chain depending on the number of units to be moved and switches mounted along side of the rails control the movement of the units over specific lengths.
Inventors
- 👤 Harald O Lundgvist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:02
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B53/00; A47B53/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
A storage installation comprising a plurality of movable storage units and means for selectively moving said units toward and away from one another to open a gangway between selected units, said means comprising motor drive means, flexible traction means extending in the direction of movement of said units, slip coupling means for coupling said flexible traction means to said motor drive means, individual connecting means for selectively coupling individual ones of said units firmly to said flexible traction means in nonslipping relation thereto, each said connecting means comprising catch means mounted on individual ones of said units and movable between an engaged position in which said catch means is engaged with said flexible traction means to connect the respective unit thereto and a disengaged position out of engagement with said flexible traction means, means biasing said catch means toward disengaged position, electromagnetic means energizable to move said catch means to engaged position to transmit force from said flexible traction means to said respective unit to move said unit, means for holding said catch means in said engaged position even after deenergization of said electromagnetic means as long as force is being transmitted from said flexible traction means to said respective uniT and for releasing said catch means for movement to said disengaged position by said biasing means upon cessation of transmission of said force when said electromagnetic means is deenergized, and control means controlling the operation of said motor drive and the selective actuation of said connecting means to move one or more of said units to open a gangway between designated storage units.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
A storage installation comprising a plurality of movable storage units and means for selectively moving said units toward and away from one another to open a gangway between selected units, said means comprising motor drive means, flexible traction means extending in the direction of movement of said units, slip coupling means for coupling said flexible traction means to said motor drive means, individual connecting means for selectively coupling individual ones of said units firmly to said flexible traction means in nonslipping relation thereto, each said connecting means comprising catch means mounted on individual ones of said units and movable between an engaged position in which said catch means is engaged with said flexible traction means to connect the respective unit thereto and a disengaged position out of engagement with said flexible traction means, means biasing said catch means toward disengaged position, electromagnetic means energizable to move said catch means to engaged position to transmit force from said flexible traction means to said respective unit to move said unit, means for holding said catch means in said engaged position even after deenergization of said electromagnetic means as long as force is being transmitted from said flexible traction means to said respective uniT and for releasing said catch means for movement to said disengaged position by said biasing means upon cessation of transmission of said force when said electromagnetic means is deenergized, and control means controlling the operation of said motor drive and the selective actuation of said connecting means to move one or more of said units to open a gangway between designated storage units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A storage installation according to claim 1, in which said traction means comprises at least one link chain and in which said catch means comprises a pin engageable in a link of said chain and a plunger carrying said pin, said electromagnetic means when energized moving said plunger in a lengthwise direction to engage said pin in a link of said chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A storage installation according to claim 2, in which said biasing means comprises spring means for moving said plunger in a direction to disengage said pin from said chain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A storage installation according to claim 3, in which said holding means includes a cylinder in which said plunger is freely slidable and laterally movable, and a shoulder on said plunger engageable with an end of said sleeve to hold said plunger in chain-engaging position when said plunger is moved laterally by the pull of said chain on said pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A storage installation according to claim 4, in which said motor drive means comprises means for reversing the direction of movement of said chain, and in which said plunger is released for disengaging movement by said spring when the direction of movement of said chain is reversed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A storage installation according to claim 1, in which said traction means comprises a link chain and in which said catch means is engageable with a link of said chain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A storage installation according to claim 6, in which said motor drive means comprises means for reversing the direction of movement of said chain and in which said holding means comprises means for retaining said catch means in chain-engaging position as long as said chain is moving in one direction and for releasing said catch means from said chain when the direction of movement of said chain is reversed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A storage installation according to claim 7, in which said control means comprises means for automatically reversing said motor drive means at the end of movement of said chain in one direction to release said catch means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A storage installation according to claim 1, in which said traction means comprises a plurality of parallel link chains, and in which said motor drive means comprises means for simultaneously driving said chains in synchronism with one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A storage installation according to claim 1, in which said motor drive means and said connecting means are electrically operated and in which said control means comprises electric circuit means for momentarily energizing said electromagnetic means to connect selected units to said traction means and for concurrently energizing said motor drive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A storage installation according to claim 10, in which said motor drive means is reversible to drive said traction means selectively in opposite directions, and in which said control means comprises means for selecting the direction of movement of said traction means depending on the location of said units with respect to the gangway to be opened.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A storage installation according to claim 10, in which said control means comprises individual switch means for each gangway to be opened.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A storage installation according to claim 12, in which said individual switch means is positioned at the location of the respective gangway to be opened.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A storage installation according to claim 13, in which said switch means comprises a single switch pedal at each gangway location and in which said control means comprises means for determining the direction of movement of selected units according to the position of said units with respect to the gangway to be opened.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A storage installation aCcording to claim 14, in which said control means comprises sectionalized contact rails and contacts carried by individual units electrically engageable with said rails.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A storage installation according to claim 10, in which said control means comprises safety means for preventing operation of said drive means to move selected units to close an existing gangway when said gangway is occupied.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A storage installation according to claim 16, in which said safety means comprises a pressure sensitive mat in said gangway.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
220 words
A storage installation, comprising a plurality of movable storage units and means for selectively moving said units toward and away from one another to open a gangway between selected units, said means comprising motor drive means, flexible traction means extending in the direction of movement of said units, sliding coupling means for coupling said traction means to said motor drive means, connecting means for selectively coupling individual ones of said units firmly to said traction means in nonslipping relation thereto and control means controlling the operation of said motor drive and the selective actuation of said connecting means to move one or more of said units to open a gangway between designated storage units, said motor drive means and said connecting means being electrically operated and said control means comprising electric circuit means for actuating said connecting means to connect selected units to said traction means and for concurrently energizing said motor drive means, including individual switch means positioned at the location of each gangway to be opened, said motor drive means being reversible and said individual switch means comprising two switch pedals at individual gangway locations, one of said pedals being operable to operate said motor drive means in one direction and the other of said pedals being operable to operate said motor drive means in the opposite direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
220 words
A storage installation, comprising a plurality of movable storage units and means for selectively moving said units toward and away from one another to open a gangway between selected units, said means comprising motor drive means, flexible traction means extending in the direction of movement of said units, sliding coupling means for coupling said traction means to said motor drive means, connecting means for selectively coupling individual ones of said units firmly to said traction means in nonslipping relation thereto and control means controlling the operation of said motor drive and the selective actuation of said connecting means to move one or more of said units to open a gangway between designated storage units, said motor drive means and said connecting means being electrically operated and said control means comprising electric circuit means for actuating said connecting means to connect selected units to said traction means and for concurrently energizing said motor drive means, including individual switch means positioned at the location of each gangway to be opened, said motor drive means being reversible and said individual switch means comprising two switch pedals at individual gangway locations, one of said pedals being operable to operate said motor drive means in one direction and the other of said pedals being operable to operate said motor drive means in the opposite direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
226 words
A storage installation, comprising a plurality of movable storage units and means for selectively moving said units toward and away from one another to open a gangway between selected units, said means comprising motor drive means, flexible traction means extending in the direction of movement of said units, sliding coupling means for coupling said traction means to said motor drive means, connecting means for selectively coupling individual ones of said units firmly to said traction means in nonslipping relation thereto and control means controlling the operation of said motor drive and the selective actuation of said connecting means to move one or more of said units to open a gangway between designated storage units, said motor drive means and said connecting means being electrically operated and said control means comprising electric circuit means for actuating said connecting means to connect selected units to said flexible traction means and for concurrently energizing said motor drive means, said control means comprising safety means for preventing operation of said drive means to move selected units to close an existing gangway that is occupied, said safety means comprising disconnectable electric cables extending between adjacent units in position to be disconnected to afford entry to a gangway between selected units, said cables comprising part of said control means and incapacitating said motor drive means when one of said cables is disconnected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
226 words
A storage installation, comprising a plurality of movable storage units and means for selectively moving said units toward and away from one another to open a gangway between selected units, said means comprising motor drive means, flexible traction means extending in the direction of movement of said units, sliding coupling means for coupling said traction means to said motor drive means, connecting means for selectively coupling individual ones of said units firmly to said traction means in nonslipping relation thereto and control means controlling the operation of said motor drive and the selective actuation of said connecting means to move one or more of said units to open a gangway between designated storage units, said motor drive means and said connecting means being electrically operated and said control means comprising electric circuit means for actuating said connecting means to connect selected units to said flexible traction means and for concurrently energizing said motor drive means, said control means comprising safety means for preventing operation of said drive means to move selected units to close an existing gangway that is occupied, said safety means comprising disconnectable electric cables extending between adjacent units in position to be disconnected to afford entry to a gangway between selected units, said cables comprising part of said control means and incapacitating said motor drive means when one of said cables is disconnected.
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) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |