Chain for a trolley conveyor system
OwnerRoman Gorelikinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trolley conveyor system chain for pulling trays of the conveyor through horizontal turns and climbing and descending grades. A link of the chain has a single pair of vertical and a single pair of horizontal wheels mounted thereon. A Y or vertical axis of the vertical wheels and an X or horizontal axis of the horizontal wheels intersect at a point and a link mechanism maintains the horizontal wheels in an ideal position relative to a chain rail assembly on which the wheels rotate and also aligns the chain to prevent collapse of the chain under tensile and compressive forces.
Claims17
An endless chain adapted for three-dimensional movement along a predetermined path, comprising in combination:
- a plurality of elongated arms and connecting members, each of said arms leading a following connecting member and trailing a previous connecting member, each of said connecting members being operably connected to the rearward end of a leading arm and the forward end of a trailing arm, said connecting members including first and second guide means for guiding said connecting members along said predetermined path, said first guide means having an axis extending generally along an X axis, and said second guide means having an axis extending generally along a Y axis which is perpendicular to and intersects said X axis;
- and
- a linkage system having a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, said linkage system operatively interconnecting said leading arm, said trailing arm and said connecting member, whereby the axis of said first guide means is always positioned so that an angle between said leading arm and said trailing arm, within a plane containing the X axis and lying perpendicular to the Y axis, is always bisected by the axis of said first guide means.
An endless chain adapted for three-dimensional movement along a predetermined path comprising, in combination:
- a chain rail assembly having four separate rails, each of said rails being parallel to the other rails and said chain rail assembly defining said predetermined path;
- a plurality of elongated arms and connecting members, each of said connecting members including a frame having an opening therein, each of said connecting members further being positioned so as to be at least partially enclosed by the rails of the chain rail assembly, said opening being maintained in alignment with said predetermined path, one of said arms leading each connecting member and another of said arms trailing each connecting member, each of said connecting members being operably connected to the rearward end of a leading arm and the forward end of a trailing arm;
- a first pair of wheels having an axis of rotation coaxial with an X axis extending transversely to said predetermined path, said first pair of wheels being rotatably mounted on a pair of stub axles extending integrally away from said frame of said connecting member, said stub axles being coaxial with said X axis;
- and
- a second pair of wheels having an axis of rotation coaxial with a Y axis, which Y axis is perpendicular to and intersects said X axis, said second pair of wheels being rotatably mounted on an axis coaxial with the Y axis, said axle being rotatable relative to said frame of said connecting member.
An endless chain adapted for three-dimensional movement along a predetermined path comprising, in combination:
- a plurality of elongated arms and connecting members, said connecting members including a frame having an opening therein and positioned so at least to be partially enclosed by a chain rail assembly having four separate rails, each of said rails being parallel to the other rails, one of said arms leading each connecting member and another of said arms trailing each connecting member, each of said connecting members operably connected to the rearward end of a leading arm and the forward end of a trailing arm, said connecting member including a first guide means having a first pair of wheels with an axis of rotation coaxial with an X axis, said first pair of wheels being rotatably mounted on a pair of stub axles extending integrally away from said frame, one of said leading and trailing arms being universally connected to said connecting member and the other of said leading and trailing arms being pivotably connected to said connecting member, said connecting members further including second guide means having a pair of wheels with an axis of rotation coaxial with a Y axis, said second pair of wheels being rotatably mounted on an axle, said Y axis being perpendicular to and intersecting said X axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.