Trolley wheel tread and flange
OwnerCurt J. Waedekininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trolley wheel for a load lifting apparatus that is movable along a rail having a horizontal supporting surface. The wheel includes a crowned tread surface for rolling contact with the rail and a flange for stabilizing the tread surface in position on the rail. The flange includes a substantially crowned realigning portion for realignment of the wheels on the rail with minimal contact or binding. The flange also includes an undercut portion for added clearance between the flange and the rail. Preferably, the crowned tread surface and crowned realigning portions are heat treated for improved wear resistance. The undercut may also be heat treated for added toughness.
Claims20
A trolley wheel for a load lifting apparatus movable along a rail having a generally horizontal supporting surface and a generally vertical sidewall having an uppermost part, the wheel comprising:
- a radially inner portion including an axis of rotation;
- and
- a radially outer portion including a tread surface for rolling contact with the horizontal supporting surface of the rail, and a flange for stabilizing said tread surface in position on the rail, said flange including a crowned realigning portion which faces the sidewall when the wheel is on the rail and which is engageable with the sidewalk, said crowned realigning portion being spaced from the uppermost part of the sidewall when said tread surface engages the horizontal supporting surface and said crowned realigning portion engages the sidewall.
A trolley wheel for a load lifting apparatus movable along a rail having a generally horizontal supporting surface and a generally vertical sidewall, the wheel comprising:
- a radially inner portion including an axis of rotation;
- and
- a radially outer portion including a tread surface for rolling contact with the horizontal supporting surface of the rail, and a flange for stabilizing said tread surface in position on the rail, said flange including a crowned realigning portion which faces the sidewall when the wheel is on the rail and which is engageable with the sidewall, said crowned realigning portion having a surface with an apex that is nearest to the sidewall, said surface being crowned such that said surface curves away from the sidewall on either side of said apex in the radial direction.
A monorail hoist comprising:
- an overhead rail having a generally horizontal supporting surface and a generally vertical sidewall having an uppermost part;
- a trolley including at least one trolley wheel, the trolley wheel including a crowned tread surface for rolling contact with the horizontal supporting surface of the rail, and a flange for stabilizing said tread surface in position on the rail, said flange including a crowned realigning portion facing the sidewall of the rail, said crowned realigning portion being spaced from the uppermost part of the sidewall when said tread surface engages the horizontal supporting surface and said crowned realigning portion engages the sidewall, and an undercut between said tread portion and said realigning portion for minimizing contact between said flange and said rail;
- a load engaging mechanism for engaging a load;
- and
- a hoist mechanism supported by the trolley for raising and lowering said load engaging mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.