US3693392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile conveyor
Assignee: MONARCH WESTERN EQUIPMENT Ltd
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Filing: 1971-06-03
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-06-03
Abstract
Abstract Automobile conveyor apparatus having a continuous chain running beneath a slotted car supporting platform, the chain having pushing assemblies mounted at spaced intervals thereon normally passing beneath the platform and selectively movable on passage of a front wheel and rear wheel of the automobile over an advance end of the platform to a tire engaging position supported on top of the platform. A ramp, spring urged to, and releasibly locked in, a horizontal supporting position at an opening in the platform spaced from the advance end thereof a distance a little greater than a car length is released by operation of a lever disposed in the path of an automobile approaching the opening to permit the ramp to swing to a sloping non-supporting position so that a pushing assembly pushing the front wheel of the automobile can descend through the opening to an inoperative position. The lever is positioned so that it clears the automobile before a rear wheel of the automobile reaches the opening so as to lock the ramps in a horizontal supporting position so that a pushing assembly pushing the rear wheel passes over the opening and pushes the automobile the length of the platform.
Inventors
- 👤 John Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:20
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B10/00; B61B10/04; B61B10/046; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
In an automobile conveyor of a type having an automobile supporting platform, a continuous conveyor chain disposed beneath the platform and wheel pushing assemblies mounted in spaced intervals along the chain normally passing in inoperative positions beneath the platform and elevatable through an opening at an advance end of the platform to operative tire pushing positions on top of and supported by the platform for pushing an automobile tire and moving the automobile along the platform: a. an intermediate opening in the platform spaced at least one automobile wheel base length from the opening at the advance end of the platform through which an elevated assembly moving along the platform can pass through to an inoperative position, b. supporting means at the intermediate opening movable between a support position bridging the opening in which position an elevated assembly can move across the opening and a non-support position in which position an elevated pushing assembly can pass through the opening, c. latching means at the support means for releasably locking supporting means in a supporting position, d. release means for moving the latching means to an unlatching position before a front wheel of an automobile passing along the platform reaches the intermediate opening and for returning the latch means to a latching position before a rear wheel of the automobile reaches the intermediate opening so that a pushing assembly moved into an operative position behind a front wheel of the automobile moves the automobile along the platform until said pushing assembly reaches the opening and descends to an inoperative position and a following pushing assembly elevated to an operative position behind a rear wheel of the automobile travels over the opening so as to move the automobile the length of the platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
In an automobile conveyor of a type having an automobile supporting platform, a continuous conveyor chain disposed beneath the platform and wheel pushing assemblies mounted in spaced intervals along the chain normally passing in inoperative positions beneath the platform and elevatable through an opening at an advance end of the platform to operative tire pushing positions on top of and supported by the platform for pushing an automobile tire and moving the automobile along the platform: a. an intermediate opening in the platform spaced at least one automobile wheel base length from the opening at the advance end of the platform through which an elevated assembly moving along the platform can pass through to an inoperative position, b. supporting means at the intermediate opening movable between a support position bridging the opening in which position an elevated assembly can move across the opening and a non-support position in which position an elevated pushing assembly can pass through the opening, c. latching means at the support means for releasably locking supporting means in a supporting position, d. release means for moving the latching means to an unlatching position before a front wheel of an automobile passing along the platform reaches the intermediate opening and for returning the latch means to a latching position before a rear wheel of the automobile reaches the intermediate opening so that a pushing assembly moved into an operative position behind a front wheel of the automobile moves the automobile along the platform until said pushing assembly reaches the opening and descends to an inoperative position and a following pushing assembly elevated to an operative position behind a rear wheel of the automobile travels over the opening so as to move the automobile the length of the platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 in which the supporting means includes a pair of ramps swingably mounted at forward ends for movement between horizontal supporting positions and sloped non-supporting positions and tension springs connected to the ramps normally urging the latter to said supporting positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 2 in which the latching means includes a pair of latch elements spring urged into latching engagement with the ramps when the latter are in a supporting position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
146 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 3 in which a release means includes a normally vertically extending wand pivotly mounted adjacent the platform ahead of the intermediate opening and in the path of an automobile proceeding along the platform so as to be moved to, and be maintained in, a sloped release position during passage of the automobile thereover and means connecting the wand and the latching means for operating the latching means to an unlatching position when the wand is moved to a release position, the wand being located so that it is moved to a release position by engagement with a front bumper of an automobile before the front wheel of the automobile reaches the intermediate opening and clears a rear bumper of the automobile so as to return to a vertical position before a rear wheel of the automobile reaches the intermediate opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1740014A
Cited
US3554132A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |