Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to an improved track
member adapted to support the wheels of conveyor trol-
leys; and to an improved track consisting of a pair of
the track members mounted in transversely spaced rela-
tion and adapted to support the wheels of con~eyor trol-
leys connected to a longitudinally ex~ending conveyor
chain.
The invention provides a standardized versatile
track member with a configuration which is usable in sev-
eral ways to support conveyor trolleys having wheels ofone diameter or conveyor trolleys having wheels of another
diameter. Various track constructions are obtainable by
employing a paîr of the track rnembers mounted in trans-
versely spaced relation. These track constructions are
usable with trolleys having wheels of one diameter or
with trolleys having wheels of a different diame~er and
in conveyor systems having a conveyor chain connected to
the trolleys either above or below their wheels. A paîr
of the track rnembers is supportable either from above, as
in an overhead type of conveyor systern, or ~rom below, as
in a floor type of conveyor system.
A track member of the invention, adapted to ver-
tically support the wheels of conveyor trolleys, comprises
a first longitudinally extending trackway having a first
vertical web and a first pair o longitudinal track sur-
faces extending transversely from the first ~ertical w~b
in opposed vertically spaced relation; a second longitud-
inally extending trackway joined to the firs~ trackway in
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vertically spaced oppositely facing relation, the second
trac~ay including a second ~ertical web offset vertical-
ly and transversely wit'n respect to the first vertical
web, and a second pair of track surfaces extending trans-
versely from the second vertical web in opposed vertical-
ly spaced relation; the lengths of the first and second
webs being such that the track surfaces of the first
trackway are adapted to be engaged by a trolley wheel of
one diameter and the track surfaces of the second track-
way are adapted to be engaged by a trolley wheel of an-
other diameter.
Preferably, the track member is of integrally
formed unitary construction and includes a transversely
extending rib which connects the first and second verti-
cal webs and which forms one of the track surfaces of the
first and the second pairs of track surfaces; the verti-
cal extremities of a track member are defined by first
and second flanges which respectively extend transversely
oppositely from the first and second vertical webs and
which respectively form the other track surface of the
first and second pairs of track surfaces; and, the first
flange, the second flange and the transversely extending
rib are contoured to provide work-hardened track surfaces.
The track of the invention is adapted ~o verti-
cally support the wheels of conveyor trolleys connected
to a longitudinally extending conveyor chain and comprises
a pair of the track members described above together with
mounting means which supports the pair of track members
in longitudinally parallel relation with one of the track-
3~ ways of one track member facing the corresponding track-
way of the other track member in transversely spaced and
aligned relation~ and with the vertical webs of the other
trackways of the track members in transversely spaced
facing relation, the transversely spaced facing ~ebs form-
ing a channel w'nich is adapted to laterally enclose and
contain the con~eyor chain.
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A pair of the track members is supportable with
either their first or second trackways in facing trans-
verse alignment and the mounting means, which preferably
comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced yokes, can
be a~ranged either a~ove or below the pair of track mem-
bers.
Ot~er features and advantages will appear from
the description to follow of the presently preferred em-
bodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying draw-
ings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a transverse elevation of a track ~em~ber of the invention and illustrates the vertical support
of the wheels of conveyor trolleys by the track member in
one orientation thereof;
Fig. 2 is a transverse elevation similar to
Fig. 1 illustrating the vertical support of conveyor trol-
ley wheels in an alternative orientation of the track mem-
ber;
Fig. 3 is a side elevatîon of a representative
track construction of the invention; and
Figo 4 is a transverse elevation of the track
construction of Fig, 3, and showing the relationship be-
tween the track and a conveyor trolley connected ~o a con-
veyor chain.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the transverse config-
uration of a track member 10 of the invention and the var-
ious orientations in which this track member can be used
to vertically support ~heels 12 or 14 of conveyor trolleys,
which orientations will be further explained after de-
scribing the track member 10 and the representati~e trackconstruction of Figs~ 3 and 4~
The track member 10 comprises a first longitud-
inally extending trackway 16 having a first vertical web 13
and a first pair of track surfaces 19 and 20 which extend
transversely from the web 18 în opposed! vertically spaced
relation. A second longitudinally extending trackway 22
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is joined to the first trackway 16 in vertically spaced,
oppositely facing reIation, and includes a second ~erti-
cal web 24 offset vertically and transversely with re
spect to the first web 18. A second pair of track sur-
faces 25 and 26 extend transversely from the second ~eb 24
in opposed vertically spaced relation. The length of the
first vertical web 1~ is such that the track surfaces 19
and 20 of the first trackway 16 are adapted to be engaged
by the trolley wheel 12 of one diameter, while the length
of the second vertical web 24 is such that the track sur-
faces 25 and 26 of the second trackway 22 are engageable
by the trolley wheel 14 of another, larger diameter.
A transversely extending rib 28, located medial-
ly between the vertical extremities 2~ and 30 of the track
member 10, connects the flrst vertical web 18 with the
second vertical web 24 and forms one track surface 20 of
the first pair of track surfaces and one track surface 25
of the second pair. The other track surface 19 of the
first pair and the other track surface 26 of the second
pair is formed respectively by a first flange 32 and by a
second flange 34. These first and second flanges 32 and
34 extend transversely and oppositely from the respective
first and second vertical webs 18 and 24 and define the
vertical extremities 29 and 30 of the track member.
The track member 10 having the foregoing con-
figuration is preferably of integrally forrned unitary
construction, as shown, and is adapted to be economically
fabricated by roll forming, or other technique, which en-
ables the first flange 32, the second flange 34 and the
transversely extending medial rib 28 to be contoured to
provide work-hardened track surfaces which substantially
conform to the peripheral contours of the trolley wheels
they are adapted to engage.
Each of the first and second flanges 32 and 34
includes a terrninal portion 36 which is disposed in sub-
stantially perpendicular relation to the respective first
5~iL3L
and second vertical web 18 and 24. The track surface 19
of the first flange 32 and th~ track surface 26 of the
second flange 3~ are each located between the terminal
port;on 36 and the respective one of the webs 1~ and 24.
Each of these track surfaces 19 and 2~ is formed in obtuse
angular relation to the terminal portion and the respective
web to enhance the work-hardening of these track surfaces.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate one of the various track
constructio~s obtainable by employing a pair o~ the track
members 10 for vertically supporting the wheels of conveyor
trolleys connected to a longitudinally extending conveyor
chain. This particular track construction employs a pair
of the track members lOA and lOB and mounting means 38,
in the form of a plurality of longitudinall-y spaced yokes
40, for supporting the track members lOA and lOB in a long-
itudinally parallel relation in which:
(a) the first trackway 16 of the track me~ber lOA faces
the corresponding first trackway 16 of the other track
member lOB in transversely spaced and aligned relation; and
(b) the vertical webs 24 of the second trackways 22 of
the track members lOA and lOB are positioned in trans-
versely spaced facin~ relation and form a channel which
laterally encloses and contains a conveyor chain 42 con-
nected to conveyor trolleys 44.
As shown in Fig. 4, each yoke 40 is connected to
the corresponding first flanges 32 and to a portion of the
corresponding first vertical webs 18 of the track members
lOA and lOB; and, the track members lOA and lOB are sup-
ported ~ith their transversely spaced facing second webs
24 disposed vertically above the trànsversely aligned first
trackways 16. This track cons~ruction is particularly
suited for the trolleys and chain of a floor type of con-
veyor system and the yokes 40 are each provided with a
horizontal lower flange 46 which can be attached to a
floor or other structure.
It can be seen that in the track of Figs. 3 and
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4, the left hand track ~e~ber lOA corresponds to the track
member 10 of Fig. 2 and the trolley 44 is provided with
the smaller diameter wheels 12. A similar track for trol-
leys having the larger diameter wheels 14 consists of a
left hand track mem~er corresponding in orien~ation to
the track member 10 of Fig. l, and a rignt hand track mem-
ber reversed end-for~end and mounted sy~metrically to the
vertical track cen~erline 47. Fig~ 1 also illustra~es the
orientation of the right hand track member of a second
type of track for trolleys 44 having the wheels 12 of
smaller diameter. The left hand track member of this se~
cond track is an end-for-end reversal of the track member
10 of Fig. 1 and the mounting means of the second track
supports the track members thereo~ with their transversely
spaced second vertical webs 24 disposed vertically below
their transversely aligned first trackways 16 and in sym-
metrical relation to the vertical track centerline 48.
Such a second track is suitable for overhead types of con-
veyor systems in which the supporting yokes are mounted
above the track members, as illustrated by inverting Fig.
4. A similar second type of track for trolleys having
the larger diameter wheels 14 is illustrated by Fig. 2
wherein the track member 10 forms the right hand track
member.
In each of the various track constructions for
overhead and floor type conveyor sys~ems obtainable by
employing the standardized track members 10, the convey-
or chain 42 is enclosed within a channel defined either
by a pair of vertical webs 18 or by a pair of vertical
webs 24 (as in Fig. 4~ of the track members. '~his chain
channel protects the conveyor chain from contamination
and damage and also contains the chain laterally so that
relative movement between the chain components is sub-
stantially limited to the longitudinal direction. In
some conveyor systems the chain channel provided by the
invention can eliminate the need for a chain tensioning
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device ~r take-up. Any slack in the chain due to t~e
a'osence of a take-up will be contained by the chain
channeI to relative longitudinal movement between the
chain components.
Preferably, the track member 1~ is fabricated
from sheet metal by roll-forming operations which enable
the pairs of ~rack surfaces J 19, 20 and 25, 26 to be ac-
curately shaped and work hardened. The resulting track
member has strength and surface ~inIsh characteristics
superior to those of a comparable size beam of I or chan-
nel section such as commonly used for conveyor trolley
tracks. These superior characteristics can also be ob-
tained in a modified track ~ember I0, roll formed with
one of the first and second trackways 16 and 22 and with
at least a por~ion of the vertical web 24 or 18 of the
other of the trackways.
For e~ample, this modified track member for the
wheels 12 is formed with the longitudinally extending
trackway 16 including the first vertical web 18 and the
pair of track surfaces 13 and 20 which extend transverse-
ly from the vertical web 18 in opposed vertically spaced
relation. Each of the track surfaces 19 and 20 is roll
formed in obtuse angular relation to the first vertical
web 18 to provide a smooth, work-hardened track surface
adapted to be engaged by the trolley wheel 12 and to sub-
stantially conform to the contour thereof. A portion of
the second vertical web 24 extends from the track surface
20, as a continuation of the rib 28, in vertically and
transversely offset relation with the first vertical web
1~ for any distance desired, thereby adding rigidity to
the track surface 2a and forming a guide surface engage-
able by guide rollers of trolleys or by a conveyor chain
as previously described.
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