Tow truck conveyor system

Claim 2

In a tow truck conveyor system wherein a plurality of tow trucks are provided, each having a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in the floor, the combination comprising a chain track adapted to be positioned beneath said slot, a conveyor chain extending and driven along said chain track, said chain having tow pin engaging means thereon, a section of said chain track being movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal movement of the chain along said track, tow pin directing means associated with said movable track portion and movable therewith to and from positions into and out of the path of the tow pin as it approaches the movable portion, and means for moving said movable section to and from said positions, said tow pin directing means comprising cam means mounted on said track section in the path of the tow pin, said cam means being movable with said track section to bring it into and out of the path of said tow pin, said cam means when in the path of said tow pin being engaged by said tow pin to move said tow pin upwardly, and latch means for locking said movable track section and, in turn, said chain out of its normal path, means for interconnecting said cam means and said latch means, and means for disabling said latch means when it is desired to have said tow pin move in its normal path.

Claim 3

For use in a tow truck conveyor system including a plurality of tow trucks each having a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in the floor, a chain track adapted to be positioned beneath said slot, and a conveyor chain extending and driven along said chain track, said chain having tow pin engaging means thereon, a stop mechanism comprising a housing, a track section, cam means mounted on said track section in the path of the tow pin, said cam means being movable with said track section to bring it into and out of the path of said tow pin, said cam means when in the path of said tow pin being engaged by said tow pin to move said tow pin upwardly, and latch means for locking said last-mentioned means in position to hold said movable track section and, in turn, a chain out of its normal position, means interconnecting said cam means and said latch means, and means for disabling said latch means when it is desired to have said tow pin move in its normal path.

Claim 4

For use in a tow truck conveyor system including a plurality of tow trucks each having a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in the floor, a chain track adapted to be positioned beneath said slot, and a conveyor chain extending and driven along said chain track, said chain having tow pin engaging means thereon, a stop mechanism comprising a housing, a track section, cam means mounted on said track section in the path of the tow pin, said cam means being movable with said track section to bring it into and out of the path of said tow pin, said cam means when in the path of said tow pin being engaged by said tow pin to move said tow pin upwardly, and latch means for locking said last-mentioned means in position to hold said movable track section and, in turn, a chain out of its normal position, means interconnecting said cam means and said latch means, and means for disabling said latch means when it is desired to have said tow pin move in its normal path.

Claim 5

In a tow truck conveyor system wherein a plurality of tow trucks are provided, each having a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in the floor, the combination comprising a chain track adapted to be positioned beneath said slot, a conveyor chain extending and driven along said chain track, said chain having tow pin engaging means thereon, a section of said chain track being movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal movement of the chain along said track, tow pin directing means associated with said movable track portion and movable therewith to and from positions into and out of the path of the tow pin as it approaches the movable portion, and means for moving said movable section to and from said positions, cam means mounted on said track section in the path of the tow pin, and latch means for locking said movable track section and, in turn, said chain out of its normal path, means for interconnecting said cam means and said latch means, and means for disabling said latch means when it is desired to have said tow pin move in its normal path, said interconnecting means comprising a toggle mechanism comprising a Pair of levers pivoted to one another at one end, the other end of one of said levers being pivoted to said track portion, the other end of the other said lever being pivoted to a fixed portion, and said cam means being connected to said one lever.

Claim 6

In a tow truck conveyor system wherein a plurality of tow trucks are provided, each having a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in the floor, the combination comprising a chain track adapted to be positioned beneath said slot, a conveyor chain extending and driven along said chain track, said chain having tow pin engaging means thereon, a section of said chain track being movable transversely with respect to the longitudinal movement of the chain along said track, tow pin directing means associated with said movable track portion and movable therewith to and from positions into and out of the path of the tow pin as it approaches the movable portion, and means for moving said movable section to and from said positions, cam means mounted on said track section in the path of the tow pin, and latch means for locking said movable track section and, in turn, said chain out of its normal path, means for interconnecting said cam means and said latch means, and means for disabling said latch means when it is desired to have said tow pin move in its normal path, said interconnecting means comprising a toggle mechanism comprising a Pair of levers pivoted to one another at one end, the other end of one of said levers being pivoted to said track portion, the other end of the other said lever being pivoted to a fixed portion, and said cam means being connected to said one lever.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said one first mentioned lever is L-shaped.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said cam means is mounted on said L-shaped lever.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said cam means comprises a cam plate projecting into the path of the tow pin.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said latch means comprises a latch member engageable with said other lever.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said latch member has a notch therein, said other lever having a member engageable by said notch in one position of said other lever.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 8, said means for disabling said latch means being operable on said latch member.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said disabling means comprises a solenoid.

Claim 14

For use in a tow truck conveyor system including a plurality of tow trucks each having a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in the floor, a chain track adapted to be positioned beneath said slot, and a conveyor chain extending and driven along said chain track, said chain having tow pin engaging means thereon, a stop mechanism comprising a housing, a track section, cam means mounted on said track section in the path of the tow pin, and latch means for locking said last-mentioned means in position to hold said movable track section and, in turn, a chain out of its normal position, means interconnecting said cam means and said latch means, and means for disabling said latch means when it is desired to have said tow pin move in its normal path, said interconnecting means comprising a toggle mechanism comprising a pair of levers pivoted to one another at one end, the other end of one of said levers being pivoted to said track portion, the other end of the other said lever being pivoted to a fixed portion, and said cam means being connected to said one lever.

Claim 15

For use in a tow truck conveyor system including a plurality of tow trucks each having a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in the floor, a chain track adapted to be positioned beneath said slot, and a conveyor chain extending and driven along said chain track, said chain having tow pin engaging means thereon, a stop mechanism comprising a housing, a track section, cam means mounted on said track section in the path of the tow pin, and latch means for locking said last-mentioned means in position to hold said movable track section and, in turn, a chain out of its normal position, means interconnecting said cam means and said latch means, and means for disabling said latch means when it is desired to have said tow pin move in its normal path, said interconnecting means comprising a toggle mechanism comprising a pair of levers pivoted to one another at one end, the other end of one of said levers being pivoted to said track portion, the other end of the other said lever being pivoted to a fixed portion, and said cam means being connected to said one lever.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said one lever is L-shaped.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said cam means is mounted on said L-shaped lever.

Claim 18

The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said cam means comprises a cam plate projecting into the path of the tow pin.

Claim 19

The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said latch means comprises a latch member engageable with said other lever.

Claim 20

The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein said latch member has a notch therein, said other lever having a member engageable by said notch in one position of said other lever.

Claim 21

The combination set forth in claim 16, said means for disabling said latch means being operable on said latch member.

Claim 22

The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said disabling means comprises a solenoid.