Mechanism for varying the distance between cages movable in an endless path

Claim 1

Improvements introduced into wheel transporting cages, with a mechanism for varying the distance between cages, of the type that consists of a supporting structure for a plurality of cages arranged in two super-imposed horizontal rows, very close together in the straight stretches, each cage being joined to a mechanism for varying distances between them, which mechanism produces an increase or a reduction of the separation between the said cages before or after their passage over the end pulleys of the wheel in either of the cases in which a cage begins its ascent towards the upper level, or its descent towards the lower level, following a curved line determined by the rim of the said pulleys, to avoid a cage being contacted by the cage immediately it in a straight line, the cages being hauled by branches of cable that link the respective distance-varying mechanisms constituted in the hangers of the cages, the said improvements are characterized because the distance-varying mechanism of each cage is integrated into a hanger of the cage in question, which hanger consists of a resistant profile arranged at right angles with respect to the direction of forward travel of the cages, and is fitted on the exterior with two cylindrical elements near the ends, designed to be joined to notches made in the rims of the driving pulleys; in the said hanger, provision has been made for two facing longitudinal grooves on the upper and lower zones, which grooves serve as guides for sliding elements constituted by two plates external to the hanger, each pair of plates being linked by two vertical bushing shafts passing through the grooves in such a way that the said plates can slide being perfectly guided by the facing grooves; one of these shafts of each sliding element is extended at both ends, each of which carries a sheave, while in the middle zone there is a pulley over which there passes the end of a branch of traction cable coming from another hanger immediate to it, which cable has previously passed through another pulley fitted on a fixed vertical shaft near the end of the hanger, to which hanger the end of the cable is anchored, so that a movement towards the centre of the sliding element will produce shortening of the branch of the cable fixed to a hanger that is immEdiate to it, while if the sliding element moves towards the end, the said branch will be lengthened, thus producing a greater distance between hangers.