Circulating latch transport mechanism for overhead cranes

A circulating latch transport system comprising at least one circulating latch transport mechansim for supporting overhead apparata from a plurality of parallel beams, said beams being annexed to an overhead structure, said transport mechanism comprising means capable of moving said mechanism in a longitudinal direction, in a transverse direction, and in a combination of both said directions about said parallel beams, said means for moving said transport mechanism about said parallel beams comprising a system of circulating latches, said circulating latches being attached to each other and comprising trucks which are rotatable about the perimeter of each said circulating latch mechanism and which together form an endless, flexible track system, said transport mechanism further comprising at least one drive motor which is connected to said circulating latch mechanism, said trucks each comprising first and second opposed jaws which move relative to one another to selectively engage and disengage individual ones of said parallel beams as said circulating latch mechanism moves in a direction transverse to said beams, wherein said trucks further comprise wheels for moving said mechanism in a longitudinal direction along said parallel beams.

A circulating latch transport system comprising at least one circulating latch transport mechanism for supporting apparata froma plurality of parallel beams, said system comprising means capable of mvoing said mechanism in a longitudinal direction along said beams, in a transverse direction across said beams, and in a combination of both said directions about said parallel beams, said transport mechanism comprising a plurlaity of independently moveable trucks which are rotatable about the perimeter of said circulating latch transport mechanism and which together comrpise an endless, flexible truck system, said transport mechanism further comprising a drive motor connected to said circulating latch mechanism, wherein said trucks comprise jaws for attaching said mechanism to said parallel beams, said jaws being movable towards and away from each other by a cam system to selectively engage and disengage said beams by opening and closing about said beams, said cam system including cam following rollers and cam races, said cam following rollers being adapted to follow a path created by said cam races.