Trolley with tractor drive for use in curved enclosed tracks and system including the same

Abstract

An enclosed track system comprising an enclosed track having at least one curve and a trolley for negotiating the curve. The trolley includes an externally located drive section and a rolling section having first and second roller portions located within the track. The first roller portion includes rollers for rolling on flange portions of the track. The second roller portion includes a driven wheel and a pair of support rollers. The driven wheel rolls on an inner surface of the top of the track. The pair of support rollers roll on flange portions of the track and are mounting on respective rods for pivoting action about vertical axes. The drive section includes a motor, a drive sprocket and associated chain for positively driving the driven wheel. The drive section also includes an articulated joint coupling the first and second roller portions together.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of Invention[0005]This invention relates generally to overhead conveyor systems and more particularly to systems making use of an enclosed track in which a trolley is arranged to roll to support something from the trolley.[0006]2. Description of Related Art[0007]Enclosed track conveyor systems are commonly used to support and carry items from a wheeled trolley located within the interior of an enclosed track. As is known enclosed tracks are hollow members having a top-wall, a pair of sidewalls projecting downward from the top wall and a pair of marginal flanges extending horizontally from respective ones of the sidewalls. The flanges are spaced from each other to form a slot therebetween. The trolley is located within...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]FIG. 5A is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing more of the

Problems solved by technology

As a result such tractors are not suitable for use in systems wherein the enclosed track includes a relatively small radius curve, since the drive wheel would engage or bind in the slot.

While some enclosed track systems make use of tractors having drive wheels that engage and ride on the bottom of the track, i.e., the inner surface of one or more of the flanges, such systems are not practical due to splices used on the track, which results in an uneven drive surface, and make it difficult to keep a constant pressure on the drive wheel.

In particular, one is potential slippage of the driven wheel, since it is a floating member driven by frictional engagement from the driving wheel.

Such a side load torque could result in accelerated wear of the guide rollers.

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