Patent US943366A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3830160A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3830160A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turntable for trackless air bearing vehicles
Assignee: Rohr Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1974-08-20
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A turntable for vehicles provided with a pair of vehicle guideway sections. A hollow center post is positioned on a support surface intermediate the sections, and provided with two bearings, each of the bearings being connected to one of the sections, thus allowing each section to move along and around the post independently of the other. The sections are secured to each other by spring dampeners which limit such independent movement but allow the sections to move as a unit. Each of the sections is provided with a plurality of air bearings on its underside which allow the section to rise on a film of air when the bearings are supplied with air under pressure whereby one section, if loaded with a vehicle, will not transmit bending or twisting movements into the other unloaded section. A motor and wheel assembly is secured to one of the sections for rotating the turntable about the center post to selected positions opposite other guideway portions. Indexing toothed wedges are provided on the bottom sides of the sections which mate with similar toothed wedges positioned on the support surface when the sections are lowered to ensure perfect alignment of the sections with the other vehicle guideway portions so that vehicles can move on and off the turntable from and to the other portions as desired. Additionally provided is apparatus on the motor and wheel assembly which, when actuated, increases traction between the wheel and the support surface thus facilitating movement of the turntable.
Inventors
- 👤 R Maison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/02; B60V3/025; B61; B61J; B61J1/00; B61J1/02; B61J1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A turntable for vehicles comprising: a turntable having an axis for rotation, a vertically extending pivot assembly having a vertical axis, said turntable being mounted on said pivot assembly with the axis of said turntable being coincident with the vertical axis of said pivot assembly, said turntable comprising a plurality of horizontally extending vehicle guideway sections each having its longitudinal axis laterally offset from the vertical axis of said pivot assembly, each one of said plurality of vehicle guideway sections being mounted for movement about and along the vertical axis of said pivot assembly independent of the movement of any of the other vehicle guideway sections about and along the vertical axis of said pivot assembly, and wherein each one of said plurality of said guideway sections is capable of movement independent of any of the other vehicle guideway sections about the vertical axis of said pivot assembly when all of said guideway sections lie in the same horizontal plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A turntable for vehicles comprising: a turntable having an axis for rotation, a vertically extending pivot assembly having a vertical axis, said turntable being mounted on said pivot assembly with the axis of said turntable being coincident with the vertical axis of said pivot assembly, said turntable comprising a plurality of horizontally extending vehicle guideway sections each having its longitudinal axis laterally offset from the vertical axis of said pivot assembly, each one of said plurality of vehicle guideway sections being mounted for movement about and along the vertical axis of said pivot assembly independent of the movement of any of the other vehicle guideway sections about and along the vertical axis of said pivot assembly, and wherein each one of said plurality of said guideway sections is capable of movement independent of any of the other vehicle guideway sections about the vertical axis of said pivot assembly when all of said guideway sections lie in the same horizontal plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The turntable of claim 1 further comprising means securing said vehicle guideway sections for limiting the independent movement of said sections about and along the axis of said pivot assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The turntable of claim 2 wherein said securing means comprises spring dampener means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The turntable of claim 1 further comprising means secured to said vehicle guideway sections for moving said sections along the axis of said pivot assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The turntable of claim 4 wherein said moving means comprises: a plurality of air bearings secured to each of said vehicle guideway sections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The turntable of claim 1 further comprising means secured to said vehicle guideway sections for rotating said sections about said axis of said pivot assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The turntable of claim 6 wherein said rotation means comprises: a frame pivotally connected to one of said vehicle guideway sections; wheel means supporting said frame for movement about the axis when rotated; and motor means carried by said frame and connected to said wheel means for rotating said wheel means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The turntable of claim 7 further comprising means connected to said frame and one section for pivoting said frame in a direction to regulate traction between said wheel and the support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The turntable of claim 8 wherein said connections means comprises: a plurality of rods pivotally connected to each other and said frame and one section; and actuator means connected to said rods to rotate said frame in a direction to regulate traction between said wheel and the support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The turntable of claim 1 further comprising means secured to said vehicle guideway means and a support surface vertically spaced beneath said vehicle guideway section for aligning said sections with other vehicle guideways in predetermined positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The turntable of claim 10 wherein said alignment means comprises: a first plurality of toothed indexing wedge elements carried by said vehicle guideway sections; and a second plurality of toothed indexing wedge elements adapted for positioning on the support surface space beneath the vehicle guideway section at the predetermined positions and for engagement with said first plurality of elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The turntable of claim 1 wherein said pivot assembly comprises: cylindrical means having a vertical axis mounted on a support surface; and a plurality of bearing members positioned in tandem on said cylindrical means, said bearing members each being attached to one of said vehicle guideway sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
A turntable for vehicles comprising: a pair of vehicle guideway sections, an upright member positioned on a support intermediate said sections; a pair of bearings mounted in tandem on said upright member, each of said Bearings being secured to one of said sections; means securing said sections for limited independent movement of said sections about and along said upright member; means secured to said sections for moving said sections along said upright member; means secured to said sections for rotating said sections about said upright member; and means secured to said sections and the support for aligning said sections with other vehicle guideways in predetermined positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
A turntable for vehicles comprising: a pair of vehicle guideway sections, an upright member positioned on a support intermediate said sections; a pair of bearings mounted in tandem on said upright member, each of said Bearings being secured to one of said sections; means securing said sections for limited independent movement of said sections about and along said upright member; means secured to said sections for moving said sections along said upright member; means secured to said sections for rotating said sections about said upright member; and means secured to said sections and the support for aligning said sections with other vehicle guideways in predetermined positions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |