US3898935A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Car turner
Assignee: FKI Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1974-01-28
•
Granted: 1975-08-12
•
Expires: 1994-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A car turner for the cars of a unit transportation system in which a turntable is rotatable by means of at least one sprocket integrally mounted on its pivot shaft, at least one sprocket rotatably mounted on a stationary frame, a chain passing around both sprockets, and a dual-action fluid cylinder mounted on the stationary frame and connected to the chain so that it is driven in one way when the cylinder extends and the other way when it contracts. Preferably, two pairs of sprockets and a double chain are used. Means for releasably retaining a car on the turntable during the rotary motion may be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Norlie
- 👤 Bernard G Bradbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:12
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61J; B61J1/00; B61J1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A car turner for the cars of a unit transportation system, said car turner comprising: 1. a stationary frame; 2. a rotatable pivot shaft mounted on said stationary frame; 3. a turntable mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft; 4. a first sprocket integrally mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft; 5. a second sprocket rotatably mounted on said stationary frame; 6. a first chain passing around said first and second sprockets so that, when one rotates, the other will also rotate; 7. a drive transmission block mounted on said first chain; and 8. a dual-action fluid cylinder mounted on said stationary frame, the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder being connected to said drive transmission block, whereby the linear motion of the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder can be transmitted through said first chain and said rotatable pivot shaft to said turntable, causing said turntable to rotate back and forth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A car turner for the cars of a unit transportation system, said car turner comprising: 1. a stationary frame; 2. a rotatable pivot shaft mounted on said stationary frame; 3. a turntable mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft; 4. a first sprocket integrally mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft; 5. a second sprocket rotatably mounted on said stationary frame; 6. a first chain passing around said first and second sprockets so that, when one rotates, the other will also rotate; 7. a drive transmission block mounted on said first chain; and 8. a dual-action fluid cylinder mounted on said stationary frame, the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder being connected to said drive transmission block, whereby the linear motion of the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder can be transmitted through said first chain and said rotatable pivot shaft to said turntable, causing said turntable to rotate back and forth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
9 words
a rotatable pivot shaft mounted on said stationary frame;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
9 words
a rotatable pivot shaft mounted on said stationary frame;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
a bellcrank lever pivotably mounted on said turntable, one end of said bellcrank lever being connected to the second end of said linkage member and the other end of said bellcrank lever being a cam follower; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
a bellcrank lever pivotably mounted on said turntable, one end of said bellcrank lever being connected to the second end of said linkage member and the other end of said bellcrank lever being a cam follower; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
a latch means movably mounted on said turntable at a distance from said stop, said latch means being positioned to be moved out of the way by a car coming on to said turntable when said turntable is in a fixed position;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
a latch means movably mounted on said turntable at a distance from said stop, said latch means being positioned to be moved out of the way by a car coming on to said turntable when said turntable is in a fixed position;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
a bellcrank lever pivotably mounted on said turntable, one end of said bellcrank lever being connected to the second end of said linkage member and the other end of said bellcrank lever being a cam follower; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
a bellcrank lever pivotably mounted on said turntable, one end of said bellcrank lever being connected to the second end of said linkage member and the other end of said bellcrank lever being a cam follower; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
a latch means movably mounted on said turntable at a distance from said stop, said latch means being positioned to be moved out of the way by a car coming on to said turntable when said turntable is in a first position;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
a latch means movably mounted on said turntable at a distance from said stop, said latch means being positioned to be moved out of the way by a car coming on to said turntable when said turntable is in a first position;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
a fourth sprocket of the same pitch diameter as said second sprocket rotatably mounted on said stationary frame, said fourth sprocket being coaxial with said second sprocket and located the same distance from said second sprocket as said third sprocket is from said first sprocket; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
a fourth sprocket of the same pitch diameter as said second sprocket rotatably mounted on said stationary frame, said fourth sprocket being coaxial with said second sprocket and located the same distance from said second sprocket as said third sprocket is from said first sprocket; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
A car turner as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A car turner as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising a stub axle rotatably mounted on said stationary frame and wherein said second and fourth sprockets are mounted on said stub axle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
a second chain passing around said third and fourth sprockets so that, when one rotates, the other will also rotate, and wherein said drive transmission block is mounted on said second chain as well as said first chain, being carried between them, whereby the linear motion of the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder can be transmitted simultaneously through both said first and second chains to said rotatable pivot shaft and thence to said turntable, causing said turntable to rotate back and forth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
a second chain passing around said third and fourth sprockets so that, when one rotates, the other will also rotate, and wherein said drive transmission block is mounted on said second chain as well as said first chain, being carried between them, whereby the linear motion of the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder can be transmitted simultaneously through both said first and second chains to said rotatable pivot shaft and thence to said turntable, causing said turntable to rotate back and forth.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for biasing said latch means into the path of a car coming on to said turntable; and
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for biasing said latch means into the path of a car coming on to said turntable; and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for biasing said latch means into the path of a car coming on to said turntable; and
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for biasing said latch means into the path of a car coming on to said turntable; and
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
a cam mounted externally to said turntable, whereby said cam can cause said bellcrank lever to pivot, thereby moving said linkage member and causing said latch means to move out of the path of a car leaving said turntable.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
a cam mounted externally to said turntable, whereby said cam can cause said bellcrank lever to pivot, thereby moving said linkage member and causing said latch means to move out of the path of a car leaving said turntable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
a cam mounted externally to said turntable, whereby said cam can cause said bellcrank lever to pivot, thereby moving said linkage member and causing said latch means to move out of the path of a car leaving said turntable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
a cam mounted externally to said turntable, whereby said cam can cause said bellcrank lever to pivot, thereby moving said linkage member and causing said latch means to move out of the path of a car leaving said turntable.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
8 words
a turntable mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
8 words
a turntable mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
10 words
a first sprocket integrally mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
10 words
a first sprocket integrally mounted on said rotatable pivot shaft;
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
97 words
control means for moving said latch means out of the path of a car leaving said turntable when said turntable is in a second position, whereby a portion of a car will be caught between said stop and said latch means when it comes onto the turntable at a first position thereof, the car will be held between said stop and said latch means while the turntable is rotated, and said latch means will be moved out of the way, permitting the car to leave the turntable, when the turntable has rotated to a second position thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
97 words
control means for moving said latch means out of the path of a car leaving said turntable when said turntable is in a second position, whereby a portion of a car will be caught between said stop and said latch means when it comes onto the turntable at a first position thereof, the car will be held between said stop and said latch means while the turntable is rotated, and said latch means will be moved out of the way, permitting the car to leave the turntable, when the turntable has rotated to a second position thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
97 words
control means for moving said latch means out of the path of a car leaving said turntable when said turntable is in a second position, whereby a portion of a car will be caught between said stop and said latch means when it comes onto the turntable at a first postion thereof, the car will be held between said stop and said latch means while the turntable is rotated, and said latch means will be moved out of the way, permitting the car to leave the turntable, when the turntaBle has rotated to a second position thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
97 words
control means for moving said latch means out of the path of a car leaving said turntable when said turntable is in a second position, whereby a portion of a car will be caught between said stop and said latch means when it comes onto the turntable at a first postion thereof, the car will be held between said stop and said latch means while the turntable is rotated, and said latch means will be moved out of the way, permitting the car to leave the turntable, when the turntaBle has rotated to a second position thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A car turner as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first, second, third, and fourth sprockets are all of the same pitch diameter.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A car turner as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second sprockets are of the same pitch diameter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
9 words
a second sprocket rotatably mounted on said stationary frame;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
9 words
a second sprocket rotatably mounted on said stationary frame;
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
a first chain passing around said first and second sprockets so that, when one rotates, the other will also rotate;
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
a first chain passing around said first and second sprockets so that, when one rotates, the other will also rotate;
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
A car turner as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising means for releasably retaining a car to be turned on said turntable while said turntable is being rotated.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
A car turner as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for releasably retaining a car to be turned on said turntable while said turntable is being rotated comprises:
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
10 words
a drive transmission block mounted on said first chain; and
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
10 words
a drive transmission block mounted on said first chain; and
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
A car turner as claimed in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises:
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
58 words
a dual-action fluid cylinder mounted on said stationary frame, the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder being connected to said drive transmission block, whereby the linear motion of the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder can be transmitted through said first chain and said rotatable pivot shaft to said turntable, causing said turntable to rotate back and forth.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
58 words
a dual-action fluid cylinder mounted on said stationary frame, the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder being connected to said drive transmission block, whereby the linear motion of the rod of said dual-action fluid cylinder can be transmitted through said first chain and said rotatable pivot shaft to said turntable, causing said turntable to rotate back and forth.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
19 words
A device for releasably retaining a car on a turntable while the turntable is being rotated, said means comprising:
Claim 49
Independent Claim
19 words
A device for releasably retaining a car on a turntable while the turntable is being rotated, said means comprising:
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said control means comprises:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1087424A
Cited
US1187151A
Cited
US2157404A
Cited
US2244598A
Cited
US2987008A
Cited
US3060865A
Cited
US3081713A
Cited
US3185109A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |