Patent US3769915A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3769915A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Switching apparatus
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-27
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A conveying system has a plurality of trucks which are towed about an area by a chain beneath the surface of the floor. The floor has slots through which a tow pin on the truck depends for engagement with the chain. Switch plates in the floor are movable to permit diversion of a truck from an upstream slot to a selected one of two downstream slots. A resilient member on the downstream side of the switch plate extends into the path of a tow pin traveling past the switch plate in the selected downstream slot. Engagement of the resilient switch member by the tow pin urges the switch plate into the opposite position to connect the upstream slot with the other downstream slot.
Inventors
- 👤 H Swartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B61; B61L; B61L23/00; B61L23/002; B61L23/005; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In a conveying system having a truck with a depending tow pin in the floor and having a network of slots with a drive member therein to engage the tow pin, said network including an upstream slot and two downstream slots joined at a junction having a switch member pivotable about a pivot axis between two extreme positions to divert the truck tow pin at the junction from the upstream slot to a selected downstream slot, the improvement comprising a resilient member connected at one end to the switch member downstream of said pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in one of said slots when the switch member is in one of said extreme positions for engagement by the tow pin to urge the switch member toward the opposite extreme position, said resilient member increasingly deflectable as it extends outwardly from its connected end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a conveying system having a truck with a depending tow pin in the floor and having a network of slots with a drive member therein to engage the tow pin, said network including an upstream slot and two downstream slots joined at a junction having a switch member pivotable about a pivot axis between two extreme positions to divert the truck tow pin at the junction from the upstream slot to a selected downstream slot, the improvement comprising a resilient member connected at one end to the switch member downstream of said pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in one of said slots when the switch member is in one of said extreme positions for engagement by the tow pin to urge the switch member toward the opposite extreme position, said resilient member increasingly deflectable as it extends outwardly from its connected end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said resilient member is a leaf spring which extends across and beyond said one slot when the switch member is in said one extreme position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said resilient member is a leaf spring which extends across said one slot and beyond the downstream end of said switch plate when the switch member is in said one position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said resilient member extends across and beyond said one slot when the switch member is in said one extreme position and in which said resilient member extends along one side of said one slot when the switch member is in the opposite extreme position and the resilient member engages the tow pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 4 in which said resilient member is a leaf spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a conveying system having a truck with a depending tow pin and having a network of drive slots in the floor to receive the tow pin, said network including an upstream slot and two downstream slots joined at a junction having a switch plate pivotable about a pivot axis between two extreme positions to divert the truck tow pin at the junction from the upstream slot to a selected downstream slot, said switch plate having a cam surface downstream of the pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in one of said downstream slots when in one extreme position for engagement by the tow pin to urge the switch member toward the opposite extreme position, the improvement comprising a resilient member connected at one end to the switch member downstream of said pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in said one slot downstream from said cam surface for engagement by the tow pin after the tow pin passes the cam surface to urge the switch plate into the opposite extreme position, said resilient member increasingly deflectable as it extends outward from its connected end to facilitate passage of the tow pin after the switch is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a conveying system having a truck with a depending tow pin and having a network of drive slots in the floor to receive the tow pin, said network including an upstream slot and two downstream slots joined at a junction having a switch plate pivotable about a pivot axis between two extreme positions to divert the truck tow pin at the junction from the upstream slot to a selected downstream slot, said switch plate having a cam surface downstream of the pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in one of said downstream slots when in one extreme position for engagement by the tow pin to urge the switch member toward the opposite extreme position, the improvement comprising a resilient member connected at one end to the switch member downstream of said pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in said one slot downstream from said cam surface for engagement by the tow pin after the tow pin passes the cam surface to urge the switch plate into the opposite extreme position, said resilient member increasingly deflectable as it extends outward from its connected end to facilitate passage of the tow pin after the switch is closed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said resilient member is a leaf spring which extends down-stream from said cam surface and across and beyond said one slot when the switch member is in said one position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a conveying system having a truck with a depending tow pin and having a network of slots in the floor to receive the tow pin, said network incLuding an upstream slot and two downstream slots joined at a junction having a switch plate pivotable about a pivot axis between two extreme positions to divert the truck tow pin at the junction from the upstream slot to a selected downstream slot, said system including latching mechanism to secure the switch plate in an extreme position when the switch plate is urged into said extreme position, said switch plate having a cam surface downstream of the pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in one of said downstream slots when in one extreme position for engagement by the tow pin to urge the switch member toward the opposite extreme position, the improvement comprising a resilient member connected to the switch member downstream of said pivot axis and extending across said one slot in the path of a tow pin downstream from said cam surface for engagement by the tow pin after the tow pin passes the cam surface to urge the switch plate into the opposite extreme position for latching therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a conveying system having a truck with a depending tow pin and having a network of slots in the floor to receive the tow pin, said network incLuding an upstream slot and two downstream slots joined at a junction having a switch plate pivotable about a pivot axis between two extreme positions to divert the truck tow pin at the junction from the upstream slot to a selected downstream slot, said system including latching mechanism to secure the switch plate in an extreme position when the switch plate is urged into said extreme position, said switch plate having a cam surface downstream of the pivot axis and extending into the path of a tow pin in one of said downstream slots when in one extreme position for engagement by the tow pin to urge the switch member toward the opposite extreme position, the improvement comprising a resilient member connected to the switch member downstream of said pivot axis and extending across said one slot in the path of a tow pin downstream from said cam surface for engagement by the tow pin after the tow pin passes the cam surface to urge the switch plate into the opposite extreme position for latching therein.
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) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |