Wheel stop for an overhead vehicle

Railways – Car stops – Releasable feed

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C104S257000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06308638

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to devices for preventing movement of vehicle on a rail. Specifically, the invention relates to devices which permit an operator to selectively prevent movement of a vehicle on an overhead rail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wheel stops are used widely in rail transportation systems for safety purposes. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,420,190 and 229,100, portable wheel stops for overhead cranes provide a means for engaging the wheels of an overhead crane to prevent movement of the crane past a certain point on the rail. Such portable crane stops are required by OSHA regulations which mandate that cranes on overhead rails which are in operation on the same runway shall be isolated by rail stops or other suitable means to prevent interference with an idle crane. These known devices are provided as portable units which require a operator to be located at an overhead position. Such devices do not permit selective engagement or disengagement safely from a ground location.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a wheel stop device for an overhead vehicle which facilitates actuation from a ground location and which offers enhanced safety and manufacturing features compared to prior art devices. It would also be desirable to provide a wheel stop system which includes an actuator that is operable from a ground location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates a new and improved wheel stop for an overhead vehicle that overcomes the above mentioned problems and others and provides a safe dependable device for selectively prohibiting the movement of an overhead rail vehicle. In accordance with the present invention, a wheel stop is provided with a base for securing the wheel stop to a rail and the pivotable wheel block assembly connected thereto. The wheel block assembly is provided with an actuator connector positioned on the wheel block assembly such that a downward force on the actuator connector tends to move the wheel block assembly from a wheel engaging position towards a retracted position.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an actuator assembly is provided for cooperating with the wheel block assembly to permit an operator to move the wheel block assembly from a wheel engaging position to a retracted position from a ground location.
A principal advantage of the invention is that it provides a wheel stop that may be disengaged from its wheel-engaging position with a downward force on the wheel block assembly. Another principal advantage of the invention is a wheel stop that permits an operator to move the wheel block assembly with an actuator disposed at a ground location. Yet another advantage of the invention is that it permits a wheel stop assembly to be mounted on either a right or left handed orientation on an overhead rail system without requiring separate right and left hand configurations of the wheel stop assembly and actuator. Still another advantage of the invention is that it provides a wheel stop assembly which is protected against damage by shock absorbing elements.
Other advantages novel features, and the further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 998638 (1911-07-01), Rink
patent: 1850446 (1932-03-01), Camerota
patent: 2067694 (1937-01-01), Clarke
patent: 2175286 (1939-10-01), Finch
patent: 2207329 (1940-07-01), Nelms
patent: 2569858 (1951-10-01), Kirtner et al.
patent: 3332358 (1967-07-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 3897735 (1975-08-01), Watts
patent: 5562041 (1996-10-01), Ellens
patent: 2043007 (1980-10-01), None

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