US 4,060,149 AGranted

Conveyer apparatus

OwnerJames C. Henleyinventor

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Abstract

A conveyer produces translation along the longitudinal axis of a cylindrically shaped body. An endless length of cable forms a tightly wrapped coil around the body and includes a loop displaced from the body. A support frame is supported by the terminal windings of the coil and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the body. A pulley is mounted on the frame for maintaining the loop in a substantially constant position with respect to the coil while a driving means induces relative rotational motion between the loop and the body about the longitudinal axis of the body. This relative rotational motion winds cable onto one end of the coil while simultaneously unwinding cable from the other end of the coil. The cable is maintained under tension so that the coil is wrapped tightly around the outer surface of the body. In this manner the frame and any load attached to it are conveyed along the longitudinal axis of the body.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A conveyer apparatus for producing translation along the longitudinal axis of a cylindrically shaped body, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a. a body having a substantially circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis;
b. an endless length of cable forming a coil around and in contact with said body, said coil having a first and a second end and said cable including a loop displaced from said body;
c. a support frame mounted on the first and second ends of said coil and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said body;
d. loop support means mounted on said frame for maintaining said loop at a substantially constant radial distance from said coil;
e. first means for inducing relative rotational motion between said loop and said body about the longitudinal axis of said body to wind said cable onto the first end of said coil while simultaneously unwinding cable from the second end of said coil;
and
f. tension means for maintaining said coil in tight contact with said body;
whereby said frame is conveyed along the longitudinal axis of said body.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.