Apparatus for producing a fluid-flow connection between relatively movable stationary and mobile conduit systems

Claim 2

Apparatus for producing successive fluid-flow connections between a stationary conduit system having a plurality of outlet couplings spaced along a course accommodating a connection with the system and a mobile conduit system supported in a frame traveling in one direction relative to said stationary system along another course adjacent and generally paralleling said first-mentioned course, said frame having a travel axis which at any given time substantially parallels said other course, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable inlet couplings operatively connected to said mobile system, each adapted to be coupled releasably to an outlet coupling in said stationary system with said frame traveling along said other course, mounting means for each inlet coupling mounting the same on said frame for reciprocal movement along a path substantially paralleling said other course, the mounting means for the two inlet couplings comprising a pair of elongated tracks, and carriages supported for movement therealong, such mounting means accommodating adjustment of the inlet couplings to two different spaced-apart conditions, with the inlet couplings in said two different conditions occupying reversed positions, and interconnecting means mounted on said frame operatively interconnecting said inlet couplings, and constructed to produce related movement thereof, whereby movement of an inlet cOupling in one direction relative to said frame results in movement of the other inlet coupling in the opposite direction relative to the frame, said interconnecting means permitting adjustment of the inlet couplings to said two different spacedapart conditions.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each carriage is above said outlet couplings in said stationary conduit system with said frame traveling along said other course, and the mounting means for an inlet coupling further comprises suspending means suspending the inlet coupling from the carriage associated therewith.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said suspending means comprises an elongated flexible conduit section attached to and extending between the inlet coupling and said carriage accommodating fluid flow between such coupling and said mobile conduit system.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said flexible conduit section extends from the inlet coupling toward one end of said carriage, and said suspending means further comprises elongated support means attached to, and extending between the inlet coupling and the other end of said carriage.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the carriage''s said one end is spaced from its said other end in said one direction.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said support means is constructed to accommodate movement of said inlet coupling toward and away from said other end of said carriage.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said support means comprises bias means operatively interposed between said inlet coupling and said carriage''s said other end urging said inlet coupling toward said other end.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said support means further comprises adjustable limit means limiting movement of said inlet coupling toward said other end of said carriage.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said bias means comprises elongated tensioning means having one extremity fastened to said inlet coupling, and spring means operatively interconnecting the other extremity of said tensioning means and said other end of said carriage.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said elongated tensioning means is reelable, and said spring means comprises a reel mounted for rotation adjacent said other end of said carriage and attached to said other extremity of said tensioning means, and a spring acting on and urging rotation of said reel in one angular direction.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said support means further comprises adjustable limit means limiting movement of said inlet coupling toward the other end of said carriage.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein there is a lug joined to said elongated tensioning means intermediate its extremities, and said adjustable limit means comprises a movable stop which is adjustable to different positions for releasably engaging said lug.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said adjustable limit means further comprises power-operated means operatively connected to said stop and operable to adjust the position of the same.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said power-operated means comprises a reversible electric motor, and said apparatus further comprises switch means operatively connected to said motor having one position wherein it effects operation of the motor in one direction to shift said limit means away from said other end of said carriage, and adjustable to another position wherein it effects a reverse operation, and cam means mounted on said frame for adjusting the position of said switch means with movement of said carriage on said track.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said switch means has a movable arm, and said cam means comprises an element having a pair of cam surfaces spaced along said track engageable with said arm, said element being positioned adjacent the end of the track which is the lead end with said frame moving in said one direction along said other course.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein operativeLy interposed between each inlet coupling and said mobile conduit system there is an elongated flexible hose having one extremity fastened to the mobile conduit system and its other extremity mounted on the carriage for the inlet coupling, said hose permitting fluid flow between the inlet coupling and mobile conduit system, and accommodating movement of the carriage on said track.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each hose is disposed in a reverse bend between its said extremities and with the bend in the hose spaced from the hose''s extremities toward the side of said frame which is the lead side thereof with the frame traveling along said other course in said one direction.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each hose has its said one extremity disposed adjacent one side of a track and its said other extremity disposed adjacent the other side of the track, and movable guide means is mounted on the track guiding the bend in the hose with movement of the hose''s said other extremity along the track.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, considering a movable guide means and the hose and track associated therewith, the movable guide means comprises a carriage, separate from the first-mentioned carriage, supported for movement along said track, and a sheave supporting the bend in the hose mounted on said second-mentioned carriage for rotation about an upwardly extending axis.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said upwardly extending axis slopes upwardly and toward the hose''s extremities.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19, which further comprises a catch mounted on said frame intermediate the ends of said track, and a latch on said second mentioned carriage, said latch and catch engaging with movement of the second mentioned carriage in a direction opposite said one direction relative to said frame to a given position on said track, and when engaged yieldably resisting movement of the carriage from said given position in said one direction relative to said frame.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each track comprises a pair of elongated laterally spaced substantially parallel rails disposed in side-by-side relation, with one rail in a track having an elongated groove extending along it facing the other rail in the track, and said other rail having an upwardly projecting elongated ridge extending along it.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said tracks are disposed in side-by-side relation with the one rails in the tracks located inwardly of the other rails.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the longitudinal axes of said tracks substantially parallel one another.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, considering a hose and the track associated therewith, means is provided defining a first channel extending along said one side of said track adapted freely to receive and support the reach of said hose which extends from the hose''s said one extremity toward the bend in the hose.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said first channel is constructed to accommodate lateral shifting of such a reach from the channel toward said track, and to inhibit such shifting in the opposite direction.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 25, which further comprises means defining a second channel extending along said other side of said track adapted freely to receive and support the reach of said hose which extends from the hose''s said other extremity toward the bend in the hose.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein, adjacent each track, the means defining a second channel comprises a plurality of rollers distributed along the length of the track for supporting the base of a reach in said second channel.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said interconnecting means comprises an elongated cable extending between and having opposite ends joined to said second-mentioned carriages, and training means training said cable between its said ends.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said training means comprises a pulley disposed against said cable, and said interconnecting means further comprises shock-absorbing means interposed between said pulley and said frame.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said cable and training means are disposed whereby movement of one of said second-mentioned carriages in a direction opposite said one direction relative to said frame tends to tense the cable.

Claim 33

Apparatus for producing a continuous fluid-flow connection between a stationary conduit system having a plurality of outlet couplings spaced along a course accommodating a connection with the system and a mobile conduit system supported in a frame traveling in one direction relative to said stationary system along another course adjacent and generally paralleling said first-mentioned course, said frame having a travel axis which at any given time substantially parallels said other course, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable inlet couplings operatively connected to said mobile system, each adapted to be coupled releasably to an outlet coupling in said stationary system with said frame traveling along said other course, mounting means for each inlet coupling mounting the same on said frame for reciprocal movement along a path substantially paralleling said other course, the mounting means for the two inlet couplings comprising a pair of elongated tracks, and carriages supported for movement therealong, such mounting means accommodating adjustment of the inlet couplings to two different spaced-apart conditions with the inlet couplings in each of said conditions spaced by at least the maximum distance existing between adjacent outlet couplings in said stationary system, and in the two different conditions occupying reversed positions, and interconnecting means mounted on said frame operatively interconnecting said inlet couplings, and constructed to produce related movement thereof, whereby movement of an inlet coupling in one direction relative to said frame results in movement of the other inlet coupling in the opposite direction relative to the frame, said interconnecting means permitting adjustment of the inlet couplings to said two different spaced-apart conditions.

Claim 34

Apparatus for producing a continuous fluid-flow connection between a stationary conduit system having a plurality of outlet couplings spaced along a course accommodating a connection with the system and a mobile conduit system supported in a frame traveling in one direction relative to said stationary system along another course adjacent and generally paralleling said first-mentioned course, said frame having a travel axis which at any given time substantially parallels said other course, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable inlet couplings operatively connected to said mobile system, each adapted to be coupled releasably to an outlet coupling in said stationary system with said frame traveling along said other course, mounting means for each inlet coupling mounting the same on said frame for reciprocal movement along a path substantially paralleling said other course, the mounting means for the two inlet couplings comprising a pair of elongated tracks, and carriages supported for movement therealong, such mounting means accommodating adjustment of the inlet couplings to two different spaced-apart conditions with the inlet couplings in each of said conditions spaced by at least the maximum distance existing between adjacent outlet couplings in said stationary system, and in the two different conditions occupying reversed positions, and interconnecting means mounted on said frame operatively interconnecting said inlet couplings, and constructed to produce related movement thereof, whereby movement of an inlet coupling in one direction relative to said frame results in movement of the other inlet coupling in the opposite direction relative to the frame, said interconnecting means permitting adjustment of the inlet couplings to said two different spaced-apart conditions.