US 4,401,033 A · Counter-rotating trolley and track suspension system

Abstract

A self-plumbing, counter-rotating trolley and track suspension system for supporting an operable wall panel is disclosed. The suspension system comprises a trolley assembly, including a pendant bolt to provide a common axle on which a pair of counter-rotating discs are rotatably mounted in spaced apart alignment. The track-contacting surface of each disc is spherically formed, with each surface generated from a common centerpoint but having unequal radii so that the surfaces generated by the radii have curvatures which are similar but are not congruent. The suspension system also includes a track having a pair of vertically spaced and diametrically arranged rails, each rail defining a cylindrical surface which is generated from the same common centerpoint of that of the discs, the locus of which lies above the rail-contacting surface of the upper disc. When the trolley is mounted for movement along the track, the discs of the trolley will always maintain mating contact with their respective rails, even when the center line of the trolley and track are in misalignment.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A self-plumbing, counter-rotating trolley and track suspension system for supporting an operable wall comprising:

a counter-rotating trolley operably mounted in a track for movement therealong;
said track, including a pair of vertically spaced and diametrically formed rails, each rail having a cylindrically formed surface and each surface being generated from a common centerpoint but having unequal radii so that the surfaces generated by said respective radii have curvatures which are similar but are not congruent;
said trolley assembly having a pair of counter-rotating discs which are rotatably mounted in vertical spaced alignment on a common axle;
each of said discs having spherically formed surfaces generated from said common centerpoint whereby said contacting surfaces between said rails of said track and said counter-rotating discs of said trolley which, when mated together, make, respectively, an arcuate line contact, the respective arcs being generated from a common centerpoint but having unequal radii so that the arcs generated by the radii have curvatures which are similar but are not congruent;
and
said trolley assembly having means for coupling a panel thereto so that when said trolley assembly and panel are mounted, the discs of the trolley assembly will always maintain mating contact with said respective rails even when the axial center line of the trolley and track assemblies are in misalignment.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Counter-rotating trolley and track suspension system

Life of this patent

Counter-rotating trolley and track suspension system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5