Trolley for movable wall panels

Claim 2

A trolley for supporting a wall panel for movement along a system of tracks in which track sections are formed with parallel, spaced trolley-wheel supporting flanges defining a slot and spaced track walls and in which tracks are formed with intersections, comprising a trolley body, a pair of wheels mounted on for rotation on said body on a common axis and adapted to run on said track flanges, a panel-supporting pendant bolt, means supporting said bolt substantially on the axis of said wheels while restraining said bolt against relative fore and aft movement and rotational movement with respect to said body, said trolley body having portions which extend forwardly and rearwardly of said axle, a plurality of rolling balls carried on each of said portions having their lower portions substantially in a common plane including the rolling contact line of said wheels, the fore and aft spacing of said balls being less than the width of the track walls to provide for sideways movement of the trolley on said balls along an intersecting track, and spacing of said balls from said wheels being greater than the width of the track slots at an intersection providing rolling support for the trolley body when traversing an intersection.

Claim 3

The trolley of claim 1 in which there are three balls on each said forward and rearward portion, means mounting said balls on the circumference of a common circle which circle includes the rolling points of the wheels, the balls arcuately nearest said wheels normally engaging the track flanges simultaneously with said wheels providing fore and aft stability to the trolley when running on the wheels, and all six of the balls being positioned to engage the track flanges and support the trolley when running sideways in an intersecting track section.

Claim 4

The trolley of claim 1 further comprising a circular guide plate carried by said body over said wheels having a peripheral edge in close running relation to the track walls to prevent jamming of the pendant bolt when the trolley and panel are negotiating a turn about an intersection.

Claim 5

The trolley of claim 1 in which there are three said balls on said forward portion and three balls on said rearward portion mounting on the circumference of a common circle which circle passes through the rolling points of the wheels.

Claim 6

In a system of wall panels in which a plurality of rigid panels are each suspended on a pair of trolleys for movement along a system of tracks, in which the track sections are formed with parallel, spaced trolley wheel-supporting flanges defining a slot therebetween and spaced track walls, and in which said tracks are formed with intersections, the improvement in trolley construction comprisiNg a body, a pair of wheels mounted on a common axis for rotation on said body and adapted to run on said track flanges, a panel-supporting pendant bolt, means supporting the upper end of said bolt substantially on said axis while restraining said bolt against relative fore and aft movement as well as rotational movement with respect to said body, said body having portions which extend both forwardly and rearwardly of said axle, three rolling balls mounted on said forwardly extending portion and three rolling balls mounted on said rearwardly extending portion, said balls being arranged in a circle which circle includes the rolling points of said wheels with the fore and aft spacing of said balls being less than the spacing of the track walls to provide for sideways movement of the trolley exclusively on said balls along an intersecting track, the fore and aft spacing of the balls arcuately nearest said wheels being greater than the width of the track slot at an intersection to provide rolling support for the trolley body when the trolley wheels are at the intersection, guide means on said body including a circular plate in overlying relation to said wheels, and said plate having a diameter which exceeds said circle and which is somewhat less than said wall spacing to prevent jamming of said pendant bolt in said track slot when said trolley and panel are negotiating a turn through an intersection.

Claim 7

In a system of wall panels in which a plurality of rigid panels are each suspended on a pair of trolleys for movement along a system of tracks, in which the track sections are formed with parallel, spaced trolley wheel-supporting flanges defining a slot therebetween and spaced track walls, and in which said tracks are formed with intersections, the improvement in trolley construction comprisiNg a body, a pair of wheels mounted on a common axis for rotation on said body and adapted to run on said track flanges, a panel-supporting pendant bolt, means supporting the upper end of said bolt substantially on said axis while restraining said bolt against relative fore and aft movement as well as rotational movement with respect to said body, said body having portions which extend both forwardly and rearwardly of said axle, three rolling balls mounted on said forwardly extending portion and three rolling balls mounted on said rearwardly extending portion, said balls being arranged in a circle which circle includes the rolling points of said wheels with the fore and aft spacing of said balls being less than the spacing of the track walls to provide for sideways movement of the trolley exclusively on said balls along an intersecting track, the fore and aft spacing of the balls arcuately nearest said wheels being greater than the width of the track slot at an intersection to provide rolling support for the trolley body when the trolley wheels are at the intersection, guide means on said body including a circular plate in overlying relation to said wheels, and said plate having a diameter which exceeds said circle and which is somewhat less than said wall spacing to prevent jamming of said pendant bolt in said track slot when said trolley and panel are negotiating a turn through an intersection.

Claim 8

The trolley of claim 5 further comprising a layer of sound deadening material on said plate.