Driverless vehicle traffic control system
AssigneeS I Handling Systems, Inc.
InventorVercoe C. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transfer table is movable to place tracks thereon into and out of alignment with stationary tracks. When a driverless wheeled vehicle is on the tracks of the transfer table, and the transfer table tracks are out of alignment with the stationary tracks, a device automatically stops vehicles adjacent the free ends of the stationary tracks. A discrete rotatable drive shaft is provided between the stationary tracks and between the tracks of the transfer table for causing a driverless vehicle to move therealong.
Claims15
A driverless vehicle traffic control system comprising stationary first and second tracks having free ends, a table having third and fourth tracks, said table being movable from a receiving position adjacent said free ends to a non-receiving position, each track on said table being aligned with one of said stationary tracks when said track is in its receiving position, vehicle stopping means adjacent said free ends of said stationary tracks for preventing vehicles from passing beyond said free ends of said stationary tracks except when said table is in its receiving position, a release means for releasing said vehicle stopping means, a portion of said release means being supported by said table for releasing said vehicle stopping means when the table is in its receiving position, and said portion of said release means supported by said table including an actuator for actuation by a portion of a vehicle during transfer of the vehicle from said stationary tracks onto said table tracks whereby the actuator disengages said release mechanism to re-engage said stopping means.
A driverless vehicle traffic control system for use with vehicles having a drive wheel rotatable between a driving and a stop position relative to associated drive means comprising stationary first and second tracks having free ends and drive means, a table having third and fourth tracks, said table being movable from a receiving position to a non-receiving position, said third track being aligned with and adjacent to said first track and said fourth track being aligned with and adjacent to said second track when said table is in its receiving position, vehicle stopping means adjacent said free ends of said stationary tracks for preventing vehicles from passing beyond said free ends except when said table is in its receiving position, said vehicle stopping means including a cam for controlling the rotative position of the drive wheel of a vehicle to cause the drivewheel to assume the stop position thereby to halt the vehicle while on said first and second tracks, cam release means for disabling said vehicle stopping means when said table is in its receiving position, a portion of said cam release means being supported by said table for movement therewith, whereby a vehicle moves beyond the free ends of said first and second tracks only when said table is in its receiving position for transfer onto the table.
Apparatus for use in a driverless vehicle traffic control system comprising a table mounted for movement from a receiving position to a non-receiving position, a pair of tracks on said table for receiving a vehicle, a drive shaft on said table between said tracks, a motor means on said table for rotating said drive shaft about its longitudinal axis, and an actuator for initiating release of a vehicle stop means when said table is in its vehicle receiving position to receive a vehicle on said tracks, said actuator being supported by said table and projecting beyond the periphery of said table, a portion of said actuator being positioned for actuation by a portion of a vehicle passing said actuator portion to move said actuator from its release initiating position thereby to allow said stop means to return to its normally biased stopping position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.