Patent US4636144A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3613867A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3613867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor having twisted track sections
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-14
•
Granted: 1971-10-19
•
Expires: 1990-09-14
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for the balanced conveyance of liquid and related containers. The present system comprises a substantially rigid, universally directional and graded track upon which is mounted a plural carriage system having track-engaging and material-carrying complements, one of which is adapted to horizontal and vertical positioning relative to the ground and the other of which, by virtue of a substantially universal mounting on the former, is adapted to level flight from the point of embarkation to deposit and return. There are novel means for impelling the combined carriage elements to and fro, along the path defined by the track, the track having unique bends and twists to insure level or balanced flight of the carriages and contents. One unique feature of the invention in a preferred modification resides in the definition of track bends and twists, such that the driving cable pulleys for the carriage may be disposed orthoganally relative to the track flange portion of the fixed track conveyor. In this way, the track of rigid construction may contain a drive system whose traverse may pass through numerous distinctive different planes of motion defined by said track. In effect, the plane of rotation of pulleys used in supporting the motive means, retains a constant relationship to the cross section of the track, irrespective of its disposition relative to the starting and terminal points thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A Kroeger
- 👤 Juel G Sweattie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B65G21/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A conveyor system comprising in combination: A. a rigid track hAving a flange component, suspended above the ground, defining vertical and horizontal transitions in altitude and direction, said track being partially twisted upon itself at portions therealong for the transitional altitude and direction changes of a carriage complement; B. a carriage complement in operative connection with the track comprising: B1. a primary carriage engageable with said flange component of said track, said carriage complement including at least two track-engaging wheels, the respective wheels having flexure connection between each other; B2. a secondary carriage having articulated dependent connection with the primary carriage, whereby upon movement of said carriage component along the path defined by said track, the secondary carriage is maintained substantially in balance and parallel to the ground, irrespective of azimuthal or altitude deviations of said track from a horizontal reference to the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A conveyor system comprising in combination: A. a rigid track hAving a flange component, suspended above the ground, defining vertical and horizontal transitions in altitude and direction, said track being partially twisted upon itself at portions therealong for the transitional altitude and direction changes of a carriage complement; B. a carriage complement in operative connection with the track comprising: B1. a primary carriage engageable with said flange component of said track, said carriage complement including at least two track-engaging wheels, the respective wheels having flexure connection between each other; B2. a secondary carriage having articulated dependent connection with the primary carriage, whereby upon movement of said carriage component along the path defined by said track, the secondary carriage is maintained substantially in balance and parallel to the ground, irrespective of azimuthal or altitude deviations of said track from a horizontal reference to the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 including an endless propulsion strand secured along its length to the carriage and engaging supports therefor, strand supports mounted upon the track and motive means for paying in and reeling out portions of said strand to impel and return the carriage complement along the path defined by the track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The conveyor system of claim 2 wherein the track defines a continuous flange which is adapted to substantially horizontal plane disposition at zero inclination and to variant degrees of angularity with respect to the horizontal at inclinations thereof defining reflex curves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The conveyor system of claim 3, the primary carriage mounting strand lifting means, fixed to the strand and secured to the primary carriage to lift the strand free of the strand supports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The conveyor system according to claim 3, the primary carriage having a side-load support, adjacent the uppermost of the track engaging wheels, said side-load support being in bearing contact with the flange upon horizontal flight of the carriage complement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The conveyor system according to claim 4, the primary carriage having a side-load support, adjacent the uppermost of the track-engaging wheels, said side-load support being in bearing contact with the flange upon horizontal flight of the carriage complement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The conveyor system according to claim 3, in which the strand supports comprise plural traverse and return pulleys, the plane of rotation of said pulleys having constant angular relationship with the flange of said track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The conveyor system according to claim 4, in which the strand supports comprise plural traverse and return pulleys the plane of rotation of said pulleys having constant angular relationship with the flange of said track.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The conveyor system of claim 5 in which the strand supports comprise plural traverse and return pulleys, the plane of rotation of said pulleys having constant angular relationship with the flange of said track.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The conveyor system of claim 7 wherein the traverse and return pulleys are coaxial and mounted in orthogonal relationship to the flange.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The conveyor system of claim 7 a portion of the flange being broken away, opposed track intercept strand-bearing pulleys and track intercept drive means connected to the intercept bearing pulleys by the strand.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The conveyor system according to claim 10, a portion of the track flange being broken away, opposed track intercept strand-bearing pulleys and track intercept drive means connected to the intercept bearing pulleys by the strand.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1294813A
Cited
US2404885A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |