US3880085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportation system
Assignee: JACOBS JUSTIN M JUN
•
Filing: 1972-04-28
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Granted: 1975-04-29
•
Expires: 1992-04-28
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 are substantially vertical to accommodate wheels rotating about vertical axes and the third running surface is substantially horizontal to accommodate wheels rotating on horizontal axes. Wheels which rotate on a vertical axis and wheels which rotate on a horizontal axis 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 movable means, such as extendable and retractable wheels, of the rack to provide for selective high speed switching both in horizontal and vertical modes of a rack between an upline guidebeam and one or more spaced apart downline guidebeams and between two or more spaced apart upline guidebeams and a single downline guidebeam.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Justin M Jacobs
- 👤 Neil S Stafford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:53
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01B; E01B25/00; E01B25/08; E01B25/12; B; B61; B61B; B61B13/00; B61C; B61C13/00; B61C13/04; B61F; B61F9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
A transportation system having non-moving connecting switch or merge sections comprising a main guidebeam, a first spaced apart guidebeam, a second spaced apart guidebeam, all of said guidebeams having an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface formed thereon, a connecting guidebeam switch or merge section extending between said main guidebeam and each of said spaced apart guidebeams, first non-moving connecting running surfaces on said switch or merge section between said main guidebeam and said first spaced apart guidebeam, said first running surfaces comprising an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface, each of said first running surfaces being connected between the counterpart running surfaces of said main guidebeam and said first spaced apart guidebeam, second non-moving connecting running surfaces on said connecting switch or merge section between said main guidebeam and said second spaced apart guidebeam, said second running surfaces comprising an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface, each of said second running surfaces being connected between the counterpart running surface of said main guidebeam and said second spaced apart guidebeam, a rack for cantilevering on a guidebeam having wheels for use in moving on the running surfaces of said guidebeams, said wheels including a support wheel for running on said support surface, and upper and lower guide wheels for running on said upper and lower guide surfaces, and movable means on said rack for selectivity moving on one of said connecting running surfaces to selectively move said rack through said switch or merge section between said main guidebeam and one of the said spaced apart guidebeams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
A transportation system having non-moving connecting switch or merge sections comprising a main guidebeam, a first spaced apart guidebeam, a second spaced apart guidebeam, all of said guidebeams having an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface formed thereon, a connecting guidebeam switch or merge section extending between said main guidebeam and each of said spaced apart guidebeams, first non-moving connecting running surfaces on said switch or merge section between said main guidebeam and said first spaced apart guidebeam, said first running surfaces comprising an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface, each of said first running surfaces being connected between the counterpart running surfaces of said main guidebeam and said first spaced apart guidebeam, second non-moving connecting running surfaces on said connecting switch or merge section between said main guidebeam and said second spaced apart guidebeam, said second running surfaces comprising an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface, an outwardly facing vertical lower guide running surface and a substantially horizontal support running surface, each of said second running surfaces being connected between the counterpart running surface of said main guidebeam and said second spaced apart guidebeam, a rack for cantilevering on a guidebeam having wheels for use in moving on the running surfaces of said guidebeams, said wheels including a support wheel for running on said support surface, and upper and lower guide wheels for running on said upper and lower guide surfaces, and movable means on said rack for selectivity moving on one of said connecting running surfaces to selectively move said rack through said switch or merge section between said main guidebeam and one of the said spaced apart guidebeams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the main guidebeam is an upline guidebeam and the spaced apart guidebeams are diverging downline guidebeams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the downline guidebeams are horizontally spaced apart.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the spaced apart guidebeams are diverging upline guidebeams which merge downline into the main guidebeam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the upline guidebeams are horizontally spaced apart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the movable means on said rack are extendable and retractable support wheels movable between at least two positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the support wheels are located near the lower part of said rack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the support wheels are located near the top of said rack.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that an auxiliary support wheel is located adjacent to each support wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the rack has a pair of dual vertically spaced apart lower guide wheels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that each of the support wheels is located between each set of dual lower guide wheels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the connecting running surfaces of the connecting guidebeam sections contain gaps to pass Portions of a rack.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that the dual lower guide wheels cooperate to bridge such gaps as the rack is moved through the connecting switch section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The transportation system of claim 1 further characterized in that said first or said second running surface of said connecting guidebeam switch section includes an inwardly facing vertical upper guide running surface formed by a depending wall of said connecting guidebeam switch section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
A rack for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam comprising a frame, at least two upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis on an overhanging arm of said frame, at least two lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis on said frame, at least two support wheels rotatably and reciprocally mounted on a normally horizontal axis on said frame and means for extending and retracting at least two of said support wheels in a direction normal to said frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
A rack for use in cantilever fashion on a guidebeam comprising a frame, at least two upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis on an overhanging arm of said frame, at least two lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis on said frame, at least two support wheels rotatably and reciprocally mounted on a normally horizontal axis on said frame and means for extending and retracting at least two of said support wheels in a direction normal to said frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized in that the support wheels are located near the lower part of said frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that the frame has power means attached thereto for rotatably driving at least one of said support wheels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized in that the support wheels are located near the top of said frame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further characterized in that the frame has power means attached thereto for rotatably driving at least one of said support wheels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus comprising a frame, at least three types of wheels rotatably mounted on said frame, said types comprising at least a pair of spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis, at least two spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis and at least two spaced apart support wheels rotatably mounted on a normally horizontal axis, means for driving at least one of said wheels and means for extending and retracting the wheels of at least one of said types in a direction normal to the direction of the plane of rotation of the wheels of one of said types.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus comprising a frame, at least three types of wheels rotatably mounted on said frame, said types comprising at least a pair of spaced apart upper guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis, at least two spaced apart lower guide wheels rotatably mounted on a normally vertical axis and at least two spaced apart support wheels rotatably mounted on a normally horizontal axis, means for driving at least one of said wheels and means for extending and retracting the wheels of at least one of said types in a direction normal to the direction of the plane of rotation of the wheels of one of said types.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further characterized in that the support wheels are the extendable and retractable wheels.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of moving a rack cantilevered on three running surfaces of a guidebeam between a main guidebeam and one of two or more spaced apart guidebeams comprising moving said rack along one of said guidebeams in cantilevered position, determining which of the other of said guidebeams to move said rack, moving a means movable on said rack to select a running surface for said rack, and moving said rack to said selected guidebeam.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of moving a rack cantilevered on three running surfaces of a guidebeam between a main guidebeam and one of two or more spaced apart guidebeams comprising moving said rack along one of said guidebeams in cantilevered position, determining which of the other of said guidebeams to move said rack, moving a means movable on said rack to select a running surface for said rack, and moving said rack to said selected guidebeam.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 further characterized in that the rack is switched horizontally.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22 further characterized in that the rack is switched from an upline guidebeam to one of two or more diverging downline guidebeams.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22 further characterized in that the rack is merged from one or more diverging upline guidebeams to a downline guidebeam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 22 further characterized in that wheels of said rack are moved in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said rack to select a running surface for said wheels.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 22 further characterized in that a portion of said rack is passed through a gap in said running surface causing said rack to move on said running surface to the selected guidebeam while bridging said gap with wheels of said rack.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 27 further characterized in that the rack is switched horizontally.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of switching a rack cantilevered on a guidebeam to another guidebeam comprising moving a rack longitudinally along a guidebeam, moving said rack transversely on said guidebeam to a new running surface on said guidebeam and directing said rack on said new running surface to another guidebeam.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of switching a rack cantilevered on a guidebeam to another guidebeam comprising moving a rack longitudinally along a guidebeam, moving said rack transversely on said guidebeam to a new running surface on said guidebeam and directing said rack on said new running surface to another guidebeam.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The metHod of claim 29 further characterized in that support wheels are connected to the rack and are extended or retracted normal to the direction of travel of the rack to selectively engage the new running surface to move the rack to another guidebeam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3659529A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |