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US 4,509,429 AGranted
Transportation system utilizing a stretchable train of cars and stretchable bandconveyors
OwnerAxel de Broquevilleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a transportation device comprised of a series of load carrying components connected together so that the distance between the components vary thereby allowing the components to move in a closed loop path. Rotatingly driven endless screws are positioned along the closed loop path and are engaged by a projection associated with the component as a particular component moves along a screw. The thread pitch of the screws is arranged to control the distance between adjacent component and the speed of the components.
Claims36
A transportation device, comprising:
- a plurality of successive load carrying components, each of said components being connected to adjacent components by means which permit the distance between said adjacent components to vary from a mininum distance to a maximum distance and permit said components to move in a closed loop path;
- a plurality of endless screws with grooves of predetermined thread pitch patterns and means for rotating said screws;
- means associated with said components for engaging said components with said grooves when said components move along said screws, said patterns being arranged whereby the distance between adjacent components varies between said maximum distance and said minimum distance and the speed of said components varies between a maximum speed and a minimum speed as said means moves along the grooves of said endless screws.
A transportation device, comprising:
- a plurality of successive load carrying components arranged in groups, said groups being connected, at least one component of each of said groups being adapted to slide within an adjacent component of said group from a fully extended position to a fully contracted position;
- means for moving said components along a closed loop path;
- and
- means for controlling the speed of said components and their distance apart along substantially said entire closed loop path, said controlling means including endless screws positioned at locations along said path and operable to move said components along said path without rotation of said components in a direction transverse to said closed loop path.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.