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US 11,597,563 B2Granted
Bundle-drop roller
AssigneeArizona Arsenal L.L.C.
InventorsDennis Sterling Becklin, Steve Curtis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to improving transportation of tubular structures. A roller may have a housing having a vertical axis and one or more upper flanges. The one or more upper flanges may have an upper surface that is transverse and non-perpendicular to the vertical axis of the housing. Optionally, the upper surface may be curved. The roller may have one or more wheels that are rotatably coupled to the housing and that extend downward from the housing.
Claims18
A system comprising:
- a container having an outer surface conforming to a cylindrical shape defining an axis of symmetry;
- and
- a plurality of roller assemblies mounted to the container, each of the roller assemblies having one or more wheels, the plurality of roller assemblies being mounted such that the container is supported on the one or more wheels of the plurality of roller assemblies when rested on a flat surface,
- wherein
- each roller assembly defines at least two surfaces that are tangent to the container at at least two angular positions about the axis of symmetry, and
- each roller assembly of the plurality of roller assemblies includes a plurality of wheels that are distributed in a row parallel to the axis of symmetry.
3 more elements
A roller assembly comprising:
- a plurality of wheels;
- a roller housing having the plurality of wheels mounted to the roller housing;
- and
- a first flange and a second flange mounted to the roller housing, the first flange defining a first surface and the second flange defining a second surface, the first surface and second surface being angled such that both of the first surface and the second surface are positioned in contact with a cylinder defining an axis of symmetry,
- wherein
- the plurality of wheels are distributed in a row parallel to the axis of symmetry, and
- each wheel defines an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a cylindrical concrete form defining an axis of symmetry;
- providing a plurality of roller assemblies, each roller assembly comprising:
- a plurality of wheels;
- a roller housing having the plurality of wheels mounted to the roller housing;
- and
- a first flange and a second flange mounted to the roller housing, the first flange defining a first surface and the second flange defining a second surface, the first surface and second surface being angled such that both of the first surface and the second surface are positioned in substantially tangential contact with the cylindrical concrete form;
- and
- (a) fastening the first flange and the second flange of each roller assembly to the cylindrical concrete form such that a first portion of the roller assemblies are on one side of a vertical plane intersecting the axis of symmetry and a second portion of the roller assemblies are on a second side of the vertical plane opposite the first side and such that the rollers of the first portion of the roller assemblies are substantially aligned parallel to the axis of symmetry and the rollers of the second portion of the roller assemblies are substantially aligned parallel to the axis of symmetry.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.