Electricity: transmission to vehicles – Collectors – Suspended conveyors
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-09-11
Le, Mark T. (Department: 3617)
Electricity: transmission to vehicles
Collectors
Suspended conveyors
C191S050000, C191S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286646
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention under consideration relates to a conductor system for warehouse cranes or transporters servicing warehouse shelving. The shelving is equipped with a conductor rail containing several conductive elements placed in a vertical plane. The system consists of at least one warehouse crane or transporter, with a collector trolley coupled respectively to a warehouse crane or transporter. Each collector trolley comprises of a body containing carbon brushes and wheels.
Such a system which uses an arm on the warehouse crane or transporter with a number of pick-up constructions is in practice known. Each pick-up construction consists of an arm which is hingeable under spring tension coupled to the arm with a tiltable carbon brush at the end. A spring at the end tensions the brush against one of the tilt-sides, to prevent the brush from tilting. A disadvantage of this system is that tilting can only be prevented in one transport direction. An additional disadvantage is that when the warehouse crane or transporter is removed from a conductor, the carbon brushes can tilt downwards, which is a problem when they return to their grip position on the conductor of the next section.
The purpose of the invention in consideration is to provide a conductor system for warehouse cranes or transporters which is not affected by the existing system's problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, the underlying invention provides for a conductor system for warehouse cranes or transporters servicing warehouse shelving. Each shelving unit contains a conductor with conductive elements which have been mounted in a vertical plane. At least one warehouse crane or transporter and an assembly carrier is coupled respectively to a warehouse crane or transporter and a collector trolley is connected by means of opposite and preferably shaped leaf springs to an assembly plate attached to the assembly carrier of the warehouse crane or transporter. Each collector trolley contains carbon brushes and wheels. One end of the leaf springs is attached to the assembly plate and the other end of the leaf springs is attached to a mounting plate carrying the carbon brushes. The leaf springs press the wheels of the collector trolley onto the conductor and the carbon brushes of each collector trolley onto the conductor's conductive elements. When using a trolley with one mounting plate for the assembly of the carbon brushes, only a simple mechanical construction is required to press the carbon brushes against the conductive elements. By using opposite, preferably shaped leaf springs, a stable support for the carbon brushes with respect to a conductor is created, avoiding tilting.
The preferred conductor system configuration based on the invention is that each carbon brush is connected to the mounting plate by its own spring. Since the leaf springs press the trolley against a conductor, the pressure of the carbon brushes' springs can be less than usual increasing the stability of the mechanical construction.
The invention also covers a collector trolley suitable for use in a conductor system according to the invention.
The preferred collector trolley configuration according to the invention is that the assembly plate is mounted to the assembly carrier in a tiltable position. The mounting plate is preferably coupled to the assembly carrier by means of two top and two bottom nut-and-bolt constructions. The assembly plate and assembly carrier have slots for the fixings of the nut-and-bolt construction. These slots in the assembly plate and/or assembly carrier are elongated ovals. In this way, the assembly plate of the leaf springs can easily be moved, tilted and removed with respect to the assembly carrier for inspection or replacement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2018016 (1935-10-01), Frank et al.
patent: 2322640 (1943-06-01), Jackson et al.
patent: 2586414 (1952-02-01), Barkis
patent: 3399281 (1968-08-01), Corl
patent: 5051546 (1991-09-01), Bormann et al.
Van Zaalen Andre Pieter Willem
Van Zijverden Corstiaan Jacob
Emrich & -Dithmar
Le Mark T.
Woodhead Industries Inc.
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