Vertical transport systems and methods
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc.
InventorsLloyd L. ELLISON, Timothy S. Smith, Kenneth A. Comeau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides for a transport system and method of using the transport system. The transport system may include a transport track; and a platform assembly that transports along the transport track, the platform assembly including (1) a cargo platform; and (2) a pair of drive pinion trucks mounted on opposing sides of the cargo platform, each drive pinion truck engaged with the transport track for movement along the transport track. The drive pinion trucks may be provided with a leveling system to provide leveling of the cargo platform during operation.
Claims28
A transport system comprising:
- a transport track comprising:
- a primary gear rack comprising multiple sections with at least one gap between one or more sections of the primary gear rack:
- a secondary gear rack comprising multiple sections with at least one gap between one or more sections of the secondary gear rack, with the secondary gear rack having gaps between sections of the secondary gear rack at about locations corresponding to each gap in the primary gear rack;
- and
- a platform assembly adapted to move along the transport track, the platform assembly including:
- a cargo platform;
- and
- a pair of drive pinion trucks mounted on opposing sides of the cargo platform, each drive pinion truck comprising a primary drive pinion assembly and a secondary drive pinion assembly with the primary pinion assembly adapted to engage with the primary gear rack and the secondary drive pinion adapted to engage with the secondary gear rack for movement along the transport track, wherein the primary pinion assembly and secondary drive pinion assembly are positioned to allow the secondary pinion assembly to engage the secondary gear rack at about the location where the primary pinion assembly is at about a gap in the primary gear rack.
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A method of transporting a platform assembly along a transport track, the method comprising:
- providing a transport track having one or more gaps in the transport track with the transport track comprising a primary gear rack and a secondary gear rack at about both sides of each gap in the transport track;
- and
- providing a platform assembly that transports along the transport track, the platform assembly including:
- a cargo platform;
- and
- a pair of drive pinion trucks mounted on opposing sides of the cargo platform, each drive pinion truck engaged with the transport track for movement along the transport track;
- and
- wherein the drive pinion truck includes a primary drive pinion assembly and a secondary drive pinion assembly, each of the primary drive pinion assembly and a secondary drive pinion assembly engages with the transport track;
- and
- wherein the drive pinion truck further includes an idler pinion assembly, the idler pinion assembly engages with the transport track;
- and
- engaging the primary drive pinion assembly and the idler pinion assembly with the primary gear rack, of the transport track, while the platform assembly is not positioned adjacent the gap;
- and
- engaging the secondary drive pinion assembly with the secondary gear rack, of the transport track, while the platform assembly is positioned adjacent the gap, during a portion of which each of the primary drive pinion assembly and the idler pinion assembly are disengaged from the primary gear rack.
A transport system comprising:
- a transport track comprising at least two sections of track oriented with each section of track being within a vertical plane and comprising at least one of substantially vertical, substantially horizontal, and inclined sections of track such that a cumulative change in direction of the transport track is within ±90° of a vertical direction with smooth transitions between the track sections;
- and
- a platform assembly adapted to move along the transport track, the platform assembly including:
- a cargo platform;
- a pair of drive pinion trucks mounted on opposing sides of the cargo platform, each drive pinion truck engaged with the transport track for movement along the transport track;
- and
- an active leveling assembly maintaining the cargo platform level during transport of the cargo platform along the transport track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.