Patent US3845723A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3845723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Highly improved transportation system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is of a transportation system which includes an elongated guidebeam having three spaced apart running surfaces. Two of the running surfaces as substantially vertical to accommodate wheels rotating about vertical axles and the third running surface is substantially horizontal to accomodate wheels rotating on horizontal axles. Wheels which rotate on a normally vertical axle and wheels which rotate on a normally horizontal axle are connected to a rack which is adapted to move along the running surfaces of the guidebeam. The wheels connect the rack on the side of the guidebeam in cantilever fashion. Connecting switch sections are provided at desired locations on the elongated guidebeam to connect two or more guidebeams. The switch sections have no moving parts and cooperate with wheels of the rack which are movable on the guidebeam by self-contained means carried on the rack in a direction normal to the direction of travel of the rack to provide for high speed switching of the rack between an upline guidebeam and one of two or more spaced apart downline guidebeams and between two or more spaced apart upline guidebeams and a single downline guidebeam.
Inventors
- 👤 J Jacobs
- 👤 N Stafford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:51
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00; B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61B13/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam having an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizintal support running surface comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface, at least a pair of horizontally spaced apart support wheels rotatably mounted on normally horizontal axles of said frame and adapted to move on the support running surface and self-contained means carried on said frame for moving said upper and lower guide wheels transversely on said guidebeam between at least two vertically spaced apart positions on the vertical running surfaces of the guidebeam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam having an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizintal support running surface comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface, at least a pair of horizontally spaced apart support wheels rotatably mounted on normally horizontal axles of said frame and adapted to move on the support running surface and self-contained means carried on said frame for moving said upper and lower guide wheels transversely on said guidebeam between at least two vertically spaced apart positions on the vertical running surfaces of the guidebeam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashIon on a guidebeam having an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface, at least a pair of horizontally spaced apart support wheels rotatably mounted on normally horizontal axles of said frame and adapted to move on the support running surface, said pair of horizontal axles for said support wheels being located between said upper and lower guide wheels, self-contained means carried on said frame for moving said upper and lower guide wheels transversely on said guidebeam between at least two vertically spaced apart positions on the vertical running surfaces of the guidebeam and motive means for moving said frame along a guidebeam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashIon on a guidebeam having an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame and adapted to move on the outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface, at least a pair of horizontally spaced apart support wheels rotatably mounted on normally horizontal axles of said frame and adapted to move on the support running surface, said pair of horizontal axles for said support wheels being located between said upper and lower guide wheels, self-contained means carried on said frame for moving said upper and lower guide wheels transversely on said guidebeam between at least two vertically spaced apart positions on the vertical running surfaces of the guidebeam and motive means for moving said frame along a guidebeam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized by means carried by said rack for extending and retracting said support wheels in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack on said guidebeam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said self-contained means carried on said frame for moving said upper and lower guidewheels are means for extending and retracting the axles of said guidewheels in a direction normal to the direction of travel of the rack.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said self-contained means carried on said frame for transversely moving said guidewheels are vertically movable support wheels relative to the guide wheels of said rack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further characterized in that the support wheels are mounted in housings and that said housings are pivotally mounted to said frame and that means are provided to pivot said housings with respect to said frame to raise or lower the guidewheels with respect to the support wheels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably and reciprocably spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably and reciprocally mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably and reciprocably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, at least a pair of horizontally spaced apart support wheels having axles located between said upper guidewheels and said lower guidewheels, means for reciprocating said upper guidewheels and said lower guidewheels while said wheels are rotating and means for moving said frame along a guidebeam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably and reciprocably spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably and reciprocally mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably and reciprocably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, at least a pair of horizontally spaced apart support wheels having axles located between said upper guidewheels and said lower guidewheels, means for reciprocating said upper guidewheels and said lower guidewheels while said wheels are rotating and means for moving said frame along a guidebeam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that sets of said upper guide wheels and said lower guide wheels are linked together for reciprocation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guidewheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guidewheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, a pair of housings pivotally mounted on said frame, a support wheel rotatably mounted on normally horizontal axles contained in each of said pair of housings and located between said upper and lower guidewheels, means for pivoting said housings to thereby raise or lower said guidewheels with respect to said support wheels and means for moving said frame longitudinally along a guidebeam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam comprising a frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart upper guidewheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, at least two horizontally spaced apart lower guidewheels rotatably mounted on normally vertical axles of said frame, a pair of housings pivotally mounted on said frame, a support wheel rotatably mounted on normally horizontal axles contained in each of said pair of housings and located between said upper and lower guidewheels, means for pivoting said housings to thereby raise or lower said guidewheels with respect to said support wheels and means for moving said frame longitudinally along a guidebeam.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of switching a cantilevered rack between a main guidebeam and one of two or more diverging guidebeams comprising simultaniously contacting an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface of a guidebeam with an upper guide wheel of a rack, an outwarDly facing vertical lower guide running surface of said guidebeam with a lower guidewheel of said rack and a horizontal support running surface of said guidebeam with a support wheel of said rack to maintain said rack in cantilevered position on said guidebeam, selecting running surfaces to a downline guidebeam to which to move said rack, cooperatively moving said guidewheels of said rack in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack to move said guidewheels and said support wheel to said selected running surfaces and causing said rack to move over said selected running surfaces to said downline guidebeam.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of switching a cantilevered rack between a main guidebeam and one of two or more diverging guidebeams comprising simultaniously contacting an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface of a guidebeam with an upper guide wheel of a rack, an outwarDly facing vertical lower guide running surface of said guidebeam with a lower guidewheel of said rack and a horizontal support running surface of said guidebeam with a support wheel of said rack to maintain said rack in cantilevered position on said guidebeam, selecting running surfaces to a downline guidebeam to which to move said rack, cooperatively moving said guidewheels of said rack in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack to move said guidewheels and said support wheel to said selected running surfaces and causing said rack to move over said selected running surfaces to said downline guidebeam.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of switching a cantilevered rack between a main guidebeam and one of two or more diverging guidebeams comprising simultaniously contacting an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface of a guidebeam with an upper guide wheel of a rack, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface of said guidebeam with a lower guidewheel of said rack and a horizontal support running surface of said guidebeam with a support wheel of said rack, selecting running surfaces to one of two or more downline guidebeams to which to move said rack, cooperatively moving said guidewheels of said rack in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack to move said guidewheels and said support wheel to said selected running surfaces and causing said rack to move over said selected running surfaces to said one of said two or more downline guidebeams.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of switching a cantilevered rack between a main guidebeam and one of two or more diverging guidebeams comprising simultaniously contacting an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface of a guidebeam with an upper guide wheel of a rack, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface of said guidebeam with a lower guidewheel of said rack and a horizontal support running surface of said guidebeam with a support wheel of said rack, selecting running surfaces to one of two or more downline guidebeams to which to move said rack, cooperatively moving said guidewheels of said rack in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack to move said guidewheels and said support wheel to said selected running surfaces and causing said rack to move over said selected running surfaces to said one of said two or more downline guidebeams.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of switching a cantilevered rack to a downline guidebeam from one of two or more upline guidebeams comprising simultaneously contacting an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface of an upline guidebeam with an upper guide wheel of a rack, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface of said guidebeam with a lower guidewheel of said rack and a horizontal support running surface of said guidebeam with a support wheel of said rack to maintain said rack in cantilevered position on said guidebeam, selecting running surfaces to a downline guidebeam to which to move said rack, cooperatively moving said guidewheels of said rack in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack to move said guidewheels and said support wheel to said selected running surfaces and causing said rack to move over said selected running surfaces to said downline guidebeam.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of switching a cantilevered rack to a downline guidebeam from one of two or more upline guidebeams comprising simultaneously contacting an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface of an upline guidebeam with an upper guide wheel of a rack, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface of said guidebeam with a lower guidewheel of said rack and a horizontal support running surface of said guidebeam with a support wheel of said rack to maintain said rack in cantilevered position on said guidebeam, selecting running surfaces to a downline guidebeam to which to move said rack, cooperatively moving said guidewheels of said rack in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack to move said guidewheels and said support wheel to said selected running surfaces and causing said rack to move over said selected running surfaces to said downline guidebeam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3194179A
Cited
US3777669A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |