US2865489A - Carrier system - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1958 P. A. OSHANYK 2,865,489

CARRIER SYSTEM Filed Nov. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invento r Peter A. Oshanyk his Attorney Dec. 23, 1958 A. OSHANYK CARRIER SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1955 FIG. 3

- Inve n t o r: Peter A. Oshcmyk wwm his Attorney 2,865,489 CARR SYSTEM Peter A. Oshanyh, Wilton, N. Dali. Application November 4, 1955, Serial No. 545,025 8 Claims. (Cl. wa er This invention relates to carrier systems for transportmg material between spaced stations and more particularly to such a system in which the conveyor member is driven in either direction by a cable.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved carrier system for elevating material and carrying it from ertherside over a passageway or other space without obstructmg the space.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved reversible cable drive for a carrier system whereby the conveyor member can be driven in either direction between spaced stations and will stop automatically on reaching each station.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved reversible cable drive for a carrier system wherein the conveyor member is driven in either direction by a winding drum through flexible cable laid on the drum by level-winding devices synchronized with the drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyor system having a self-leveling conveyor member and utilizing a train of pairs of double idler pulleys for guiding the flexible cable through which the conveyor member is driven in either direction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detail-ed description, be partlcularly pointed out in the appended claims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the carrier system of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken longitudinally of the track, of the drive mechanism of the system;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the drive mechanism of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken transversely of the track showing the interlock between the carriermember and each rail; and

Figure 5 is an end elevational view on an enlarged scale of one of the pulley frames.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts, the carrier system of the present invention is especially designed to transport material from one location to another between which the material must be elevated so as not to obstruct a passageway or other intervening space. It is particularly adapted for use in restaurants, shipping markets or other installations in which the intervening space between the loading stations is either a busy thoroughfare or fitted with equipment which the material being transported must be elevated to clear.

In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier system has been shown mounted on a welded tubular framework 1 transversely through which extends a rectangular passageway or space 2, the framework beingv joined at the bottom across the passageway by side bars 3. While suitable for many installations, it will be understood that the illustrated mounting is exemplary and that, depending 2,865,49 Patented Dec. 213, 1958 .2 on the particular installation, the system may be mounted on other forms of framework. or even on the main framework of a building.

In essence the carrier system is comprised of a track or-trackway 4 extending between horizontally spaced loading and unloading stations or locations 5. When, as usual, both stations are at the same level, the track 4 will have substantially vertical or upright end portions 6 rising from the stations above the intervening passageway 2 and connected over the top of the passageway by a raised, preferably substantially level or horizontal intermediate portion 7, the raised portion 7 for smooth transition being joined to the end portions 6 by arched connecting portions 8. The trackway in turn is comprised of a pair of transversely spaced parallel rails 9 on which rides or runs a carrier or material-transporting member 10. The rails 9 must be of suitable form to lock or interlock with the wheels or rollers 11 of the carrier member 10 and prevent relative movement of the latter other than along the rails. Conveniently, the rails may be formed as angle irons with their instanding flanges 12 embraced by or gripped between the offset pairs of Wheels of the carrier member.

To be self-leveling the carrier member 16 has two main parts, one a carriage 13 bearing the wheels 11 and the other a tray or platform 14, swingably or pivotally connected, as through end-pinned pairs of arms 15 on the ends of each, so that the tray will swing freely through its arc of movement. The stations 5 between which the carrier member runs may be closed or open, an open framework suh'icing in the illustrated embodiment.

For driving. the carrier member 10 in either direction along the track 4, there is provided a reversible drive or drive mechanism 16, later to be described, which drives the carrier member through flexible cabling 17. One end portion or cable 18 of the cabling is arranged to pull the carrier member towards the drivemechanism While the other end portion 19, by running it around a reversing pulley 20 anchored to the frame 1 below the loading station 5 removed from the drive mechanism, serves to pull the carrier member in the opposite direction. A single cable sufiices to pull the carrier member in each direction, each cable being connected to the carriage 13 on either side of its transverse midpoint, as by a flexible bridle or yoke 21, so as to prevent canting and possible jamming of the carriage against the track. The system is further simplified by spring-mounting the reversingpulley 2 so as to take up any slack in the entirecabling 17.

Not only do the cables, through their bridle connec-- tions, prevent canting of the carrier but by a slight transverse ofl-set of one cable relative to the other, as by off-setting the reversing pulley 20, both are enabled to be guided in their paths above the levels of the loadingstations by a single or common train of double guide pulleys 22 arranged in tandem. In order that the main path of travel of the cables may substantially parallel the rails, two sets of double pulleys are provided, one at each side of the passageway 2, and the pulleys of each set are mounted along an arcuate path in a quadrantshaped pulley frame 23.

The driving mechanism 16 may be mounted in a drive box 24 and has a winding drum 25 preferably disposed to rotate about an axis substantially normal to the track 4. On the periphery 26 of the drum 25 the cables 18 and 19 or, if the preferred single cable is used, its opposite end portions, are wound oppositely so that one is payed out as the other is pulled in, the portion of the cable about the drum being wound inone direction, the distance between the projectingendportions thus being maintained-constant as the drumrotates. Preferably made of wood and flanged at either end of its periphery 3 26, to contain the cables, the drum 25 with its shaft or axle 27 suitably journaled in roller or like bearings (not shown) is drivable or rotatable in either direction by a reversible electric motor 28 through reduction gearing 29, the several components being connected for positive drive by roller chains 30. It will be noted that there are two sprockets keyed the axle 27 of the drum, one 31 engaging the rollc chain 38 to the reduction gearing 29. The other s :et 32 engages or meshes with a second roller afn 33 by which the drum is synchronized in driv 11th each of a pair of like-threaded worm shaft through sprockets 35 keyed to the Worm shafts *ach of the worm shafts is disposed parallel to axle 27 of the drum 25 and mounts an inter threaded follower or collar 36. The followeres bei g held against rotation by guide fingers 37 rigidth rewith and each riding in a slot 38 in an associated fixed guide bar 39 extending across the drive box 24 parallel to the worm shafts, are caused to traverse the periphery of the drum axially in the same direction and at a constant transverse spacing, as the drum rotates. It then is only necessary for each of the followers 36 to carry or mount a guide pulley 40 engaging one of the cable ends 18 and 19 for each of the latter to be laid evenly on the drum as the other is unwound. For maintaining the chains and 33, driving and driven, respectively, by the drum, under proper tension, each rides over one of a pair of shiftable-axis idler sprockets 41, the tensioning sprocket for the chain 33 additionally providing a ready means for dismounting the chain and adjusting the positions of the guide pulleys trans versely of the drive box 24 to conform to the positions of the cable end portions 18 and 19. It will be perceived that the tension on the cables would vary as the cable end portions shift from one to the other side of the drum were the several guide pulleys fixed, such variation here being compensated for by the spring mounting of the reversing pulley 20. Additionally, in order that the cable end portions will substantially align with the set of overhead guide pulleys 22 adjacent the drive mechanism 16, despite shifting of the cables on the drum, each cable end, as it enters or leaves the drive box 24, rides on a pair of spaced fixed guide pulleys 42 attached to the top of the box.

With the reversible drive mechanism just described, it remains only to provide the necessary controls for the carrier system to operate in the manner intended. In the illustrated embodiment, as in the usual application, push-button or like control switches 43 are provided at the two loading stations 5 for enabling the operator at each station to start, stop or reverse the direction of travel of the carrier member 10 at will. 7 Additionally, to prevent the carrier member from over-running one of the stations should an operator not be present when it arrives, a push-button or other switch 44, sufficiently sensitive to respond to the carrier member, is mounted at each loading station in the path of the carrier member so as to be tripped or actuated by it and automatically stop the driving motor 28 as the loading member reaches the level at which it is loaded and unloaded. Here the automatic switches 44 are mounted on the open framework serving as the loading stations and disposed to be engaged by the underside of the tray 14 of the carrier member as the tray reaches proper level. Both the manual and the automatic switches preferably are connected with the motor through a contactor 45 mounted in the drive box 24.

From the above detailed description, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved carrier system and driving mechanism therefor by which material can readily be transported between spaced loading stations without obstructing an intervening passageway or like space. It will be understood that the described-and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all modifications are intended to be ini 7 4 eluded which do not depart fro invention or the scope of-the Having described my m ith erthe spirit of the ended claims. ention, I claim:

1. A carrier s t for transporting material between spaced sta' over an intervening space, comprising a tra connecting said stations and offset upwardly V e een for clearing said space, a carrier member locked to and riding on said track, flexible cable means connected to said carrier member for pulling said member in opposite directions, reversible drive means connected and applying force selectively to said cable means for driving said carrier member in either direction, and control means at each station for controlling the movement of said carrier member therebetween.

2. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stations over an intervening space, comprising a track connecting said staticns and ofiset upwardly therebetween fcr clearing said space, a carrier member-locked to and riding on said track, a pair of cables connecting said carrier member to said drive mechanism for selective drive thereof in opposite directions by said mechanism, a single train of guide pulleys fixed in positicn relative to said track for guiding said cables in substantially coincident paths above said stations, and control means for controlling the operation of said mechanism and therethrough the movement of said carrier member.

3. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stations over an intervening space, comprising a track connecting said stations and offset upwardly therebetween for clearing said space, a tubular welded frame containing said space, a pair of horizontally spaced loading and unloading stations on said frame at opposite sides and intermediate the height of said space, a track mounted on said frame and connecting said stations, said track intermediate said stations being oflset upwardly thereof to clear said space, a carrier member having a carriage locked to and riding on said track and a selfleveling tray swingably mounted on said carriage, a reversible drive mechanism on said frame adjacent one of said stations, flexible cable means connecting said drivemechanism to said carriage for driving said carrier member in opposite directions along said track, guide means intermediate said stations and attached and fixed in position relative to said frame for guiding said cable means in a path corresponding in changes of direction to said track, and control means for controlling the operation of said mecheanism and therethrcugh the movement of said carrier member.

4. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stations over an intervening space, comprising a track connecting said stations and offset upwardly therebetween for clearing said space, a pair of loading and unloading stations disposed at opposite sides and intermediate the height of said space, a track connecting said stations and cffset upwardly therebetween to clear said space, a carrier member locked to transversely spaced rails and ridable on said track, a reversible drive mechanism for driving said carrier member in either direction between said stations, a pair of flexible cables drivable by said mechanism and each having a yoke connection to said carrier member, each of said cables being disposed substantially centrally transversely of said track, guide means connected to said track and independent of movement of said carrier member for guiding said cables above the level of said space in a path substantially parallel to said rails, and control means for controlling the operation of said mechanism and therethrough the movement of said carrier member and including means for automatically stopping said carrier member at each of said stations.

5. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stations, comprising a track connecting said stations, a carrier member locked to and ridable on said track, a pair of cables wound oppositely on a winding drum and each arranged to pull said carrier member in one direction on said track, a reversible motor for driving said drum in either direction, a pair of Worm shafts adjacent and extending substantially parallel to the axis of said drum, a follower on and reciprocable axially of said drum by each of said worm shafts, and a guide pulley carried by each of said followers and engaging one of said cables, said worm shafts being drivably connected to said drum and synchronized in drive therewith for causing each of said guide pulleys to lay the associated of said cables evenly upon said drum.

6. A carrier system for transporting material between spaced stations, comprising a track connecting said stations, a carrier member locked to and ridable on said track, a winding drum rotatable about an axis substantially normal to said track, a pair of cables wound oppositely on said winding drum and connected to and arranged to pull said carrier member in opposite directions on said track, a reversible motor for driving said drum in either direction, and a pair of level-winding means driven ofi of and in synchronism with said drum at a predetermined transverse spacing and each engaging one of said cables adjacent thereto for laying said cables evenly thereon.

7. In a carrier system having a track-mounted carrier member for transporting materials between spaced stations, a cable drive for driving said member in either direction between said stations, comprising, a winding drum, a pair of cables wound oppositely on said drum and connected to and arranged to pull said carrier member in opposite directions along said track, a reversible motor for selectively driving said winding drum in either direction, and an idler pulley engaging each of said cables adjacent and being reciprocable axially of said drum, said idler pulleys being reciprocably driven off of and reciprocated in the same direction at a predetermined transverse spacing in synchronism with said drum for laying said cables evenly thereon.

8. In a carrier system having a track-mounted carrier member for transporting materials between spaced stations, a cable drive for driving said member in either direction between said stations, comprising, a Winding drum, a pair of cables wound oppositely on said drum and connected to and arranged to pull said carrier member in opposite directions along said track, a reversible motor for selectively driving said winding drum in either direction, a pair of followers adjacent and reciprocable in the same direction at a predetermined transverse spacing axially of said drum in synchronism with the rotation thereof, and a guide pulley carried by each of said followers and each engaging one of said cables for laying said cables evenly on said drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,984 Pine Jan. 31, 1893 1,128,003 Ketelsen Feb. 9, 1915 1,582,411 Lesser et al Apr. 27, 1926 2,044,391 Lindsay June 16, 1936 2,472,943 Firestone June 14, 1949 2,599,444 Gavin June 3, 1952

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