Traction wheel turn for power and free conveyor
AssigneeAutomatic Systems, Inc.
InventorRaymond H. Kurek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A traction wheel turn for a power and free conveyor employs a single rotary unit to effect a complete, 180.degree. reversal of the course of the conveyor. A circular track component forms a part of the free track at the inside of the turn and is carried by the traction wheel and rotates therewith. The inside wheels of the free trollies transfer from a standard, straight track section to the circular component at the turn, are carried thereby through the turn, and are delivered to the next stationary track section at the end of the turn. The horizontal space occupied by the turn is therefore, no greater than the diameter of the traction wheel.
Claims8
In a power and free conveyor:
- a power track having an arcuate section therein defining a turn,
- a free track spaced from said power track and having a circular component aligned with said arcuate section of the power track at said turn,
- said power track being adapted to support a series of power trolleys interconnected by a flexible propelling member extending along and between said tracks, and said free track being adapted to support free trolleys and associated load-bearing carriers,
- a traction wheel between said tracks having a radially outwardly facing, circumferential surface,
- means rotatably mounting said wheel at said turn with said surface aligned with said arcuate section and said circular component for tractional engagement by said propelling member, and
- means mounting said circular component on said wheel for rotation therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.