US3727558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transport system with moving-platform terminal
Assignee: Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei GmbH
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Filing: 1970-10-05
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1990-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A transport system of the continuously-operable, endless type has a succession of interconnected transport vehicles in an endless chain extending to one or more terminals. The or each terminal includes an intermediate rotating platform surrounded over at least a portion of its periphery by the conveyance and surrounding, in turn, an inner rotatable platform, with the platforms and the conveyance operating at identical angular velocities so that at the transitions between the conveyance and the intermediate platform and between the intermediate platform and the inner platform there is no relative movement. The inner platform is shiftable vertically to carry the passengers to another level and, possibly, discharge the passengers at this level whereby the vertically shiftable platform can be stopped or slowed angularly to permit such discharge without difficulty.
Inventors
- 👤 G Winkle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:33
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B29/00; B66B29/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A transport system, comprising: an endless main conveyance having at least one station; a first platform rotatable about a substantially vertical axis at said station and having an inner portion and an outer portion, said outer portion having an outer peripheral edge lying adjacent said main conveyance and moving codirectionally therewith at substantially the speed of said main conveyance; a further platform at another level along said axis than said main conveyance and having a predetermined speed condition with respect to said conveyance different therefrom; mechanism for vertically shifting at least said inner portion of said first platform between the level of said main conveyance and the level of said further platform; and means for varying the rotational speed of at least said inner portion of said first platform between the speed of said main conveyance and the speed condition of said further platform as said inner portion of said first platform is vertically displaced toward the levels of said main conveyance and said further platform respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A transport system, comprising: an endless main conveyance having at least one station; a first platform rotatable about a substantially vertical axis at said station and having an inner portion and an outer portion, said outer portion having an outer peripheral edge lying adjacent said main conveyance and moving codirectionally therewith at substantially the speed of said main conveyance; a further platform at another level along said axis than said main conveyance and having a predetermined speed condition with respect to said conveyance different therefrom; mechanism for vertically shifting at least said inner portion of said first platform between the level of said main conveyance and the level of said further platform; and means for varying the rotational speed of at least said inner portion of said first platform between the speed of said main conveyance and the speed condition of said further platform as said inner portion of said first platform is vertically displaced toward the levels of said main conveyance and said further platform respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein: said outer portion of said first platform comprises an annular intermediate platform and said inner portion comprises an inner platform; said intermediate platform is rotatable at substantially the speed of said main conveyance at the level of said main conveyance only; said inner platform is coaxial with said intermediate platform and rotatable from the angular velocity of said intermediate platform to the speed of said further platform and vice versa respectively; and said inner platform has an outer periphery adjacent the inner periphery of the intermediate platform and is shiftable from the level of said intermediate platform to the level of said further platform and vice versa.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein: said further platform constitutes a further main conveyance at said other level; a further intermediate platform is arranged at the level of said further main conveyance between said further platform and said further main conveyance and rotates at the peripheral speed thereof; and the speed of said first platform at said other level is substantially the speed of said further intermediate platform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein; said further platform constitutes a further main conveyance at said other level; and the speed of said first platform at said other level is substantially the speed of said further main conveyance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system defined in claim 2, further comprising annular partition means axially shiftable relative to said inner platform and axially entrained therewith along the outer periphery of said inner platform for interposing between said inner platform and said intermediate platform, thereby constituting of said inner platform an axially shiftable cabin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system defined in claim 2, further comprising an annular vertically shiftable partition coaxial with said intermediate platform and disposed along the inner periphery thereof for closing the inner periphery of said intermediate platform upon axial displacement of said inner platform.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system defined in claim 2, comprising an axially shiftable annular partition coaxial with said first platform and surrounding the outer periphery of said inner platform at said other level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein said inner platform is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced generally radial railings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein said intermediate platform is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced railings extending generally between its inner and outer peripheries.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein said main conveyance is looped about at least a portion of the outer periphery of said intermediate platform.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein: said further Platform is stationary; and said means for varying the rotational speed of said first platform comprises drive means for said first platform adapted to reduce the angular velocity thereof to zero during shifting said first platform to the other level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein: said further platform is stationary; said system further comprises another endless main conveyance at a third level; said first platform being shiftable to the third level adjacent said other main conveyance; and said means for varying the rotational speed comprises drive means for said first platform adapted to change the speed thereof to the speed of said other main conveyance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
A transport system, comprising: an endless main conveyance having at least one station; a first platform rotatable about a substantially vertical axis at said station and having an inner portion and an outer portion, said outer portion having an outer peripheral edge lying adjacent said main conveyance and moving codirectionally therewith at substantially the speed of said main conveyance; a further platform at another level along said axis than said main conveyance and having a predetermined speed condition with respect to said conveyance; mechanism for vertically shifting at least said inner portion of said first platform between the level of said main conveyance and the level of said further platform; and means for adapting the rotational speed of at least said inner portion of said first platform from the speed of said main conveyance to the speed condition of said further platform as said inner portion of said first platform is vertically displaced toward the levels of said main conveyance and said further platform respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
165 words
A transport system, comprising: an endless main conveyance having at least one station; a first platform rotatable about a substantially vertical axis at said station and having an inner portion and an outer portion, said outer portion having an outer peripheral edge lying adjacent said main conveyance and moving codirectionally therewith at substantially the speed of said main conveyance; a further platform at another level along said axis than said main conveyance and having a predetermined speed condition with respect to said conveyance; mechanism for vertically shifting at least said inner portion of said first platform between the level of said main conveyance and the level of said further platform; and means for adapting the rotational speed of at least said inner portion of said first platform from the speed of said main conveyance to the speed condition of said further platform as said inner portion of said first platform is vertically displaced toward the levels of said main conveyance and said further platform respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |