MATERIAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM

• US 20200130943A1
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas Gorder
• Original Assignee: Thomas Gorder
• Inventors: Gorder, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US16/172,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130943A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/12 comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/20 comprising load-carriers suspended from overhead traction chains
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 19/025 for suspended articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0202 Agricultural and processed food products
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0217 Elongated
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/047 Articles manipulated as bulk
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 35/00 Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1471 Movement in one direction, substantially outwards
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 9/00 Apparatus for assisting manual handling having suspended load-carriers movable by hand or gravity

Abstract

A method for transporting material using a gravity driven pulley system is described. The method may include moving the material from a first location to a second location using a transport pulley secured to a cable and detaching the transport pulley from the cable at the second location, wherein the transport pulley is detached by a momentum of the transport pulley bringing the transport pulley into contact with a derailer attached to the cable.

Claims

1. A method for transporting material, comprising:

moving the material from a first location to a second location using a transport pulley secured to a cable; and

detaching the transport pulley from the cable at the second location, wherein the transport pulley is detached by a momentum of the transport pulley bringing the transport pulley into contact with a derailer attached to the cable.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

securing the material to the transport pulley; and

placing a pulley wheel of the transport pulley onto the cable such that the pulley wheel may roll along the cable.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting the cable at a first end point and a second end point such that it extends from the first location to the second location; and

adjusting the tension of the cable using a tensioner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first location is at a higher altitude than the second location, and the material is transported by the force of gravity acting on the transport pulley and the material to pull the transport pulley along the cable.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pushing the transport pulley off of the cable using the derailer using a sloped surface of the derailer, wherein the pushing causes the transport pulley to be detached from the cable.

6. An apparatus for transporting material, comprising:

a cable;

a transport pulley comprising a pulley wheel and a frame, the frame extending in a vertical direction and the frame further comprising an attachment end that localizes to a lower position relative to the pulley wheel when the pulley wheel rests atop the cable, and wherein the attachment end is adapted to carry the material; and

a derailer connected to the cable and configured to detach the transport pulley from the cable.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a tensioner comprising a first element, a second element and a locking element.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first element has an elongated body and comprising a pivotable position at an interior location, wherein a first end of the first element is connected to an anchoring device;

the second element has an elongated body, pivotably attached to the pivotable position, and moveably connected to the cable, wherein repeatedly pivoting the second element back and forth about the pivotable position moves the cable in relation to the second element and the first element and increases a tension in the cable; and

the locking element is configured to lock the first element and the second element in a locking position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the tensioner further comprises a third element having an elongated body, wherein a first end of the the third element is pivotably attached to a second end of the first element.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the derailer comprises a longitudinal opening, wherein a first surface of the derailer is connected to a first end of the derailer and has an upward grade towards a second end of the derailer and wherein the longitudinal opening is adapted for passage of the first cable.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the derailer comprises a lock configured to lock the derailer to a fixed point of the cable.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

an impact surface on the transport pulley that extends laterally from the frame and is adapted to strike the derailer.

13. A method of producing an apparatus for transporting material, the method comprising:

providing a cable;

providing a transport pulley comprising a pulley wheel and a frame, the frame extending in a vertical direction and the frame further comprising an attachment end that localizes to a lower position relative to the pulley wheel when the pulley wheel rests atop the cable, and wherein the attachment end is adapted to carry the material; and

providing a derailer connected to the cable and configured to detach the transport pulley from the cable.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

providing a tensioner comprising a first element, a second element and a locking element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first element has an elongated body and comprising a pivotable position at an interior location, wherein a first end of the first element is connected to an anchoring device;

the second element has an elongated body, pivotably attached to the pivotable position, and moveably connected to the cable, wherein repeatedly pivoting the second element back and forth about the pivotable position moves the cable in relation to the second element and the first element and increases a tension in the cable; and

the locking element is configured to lock the first element and the second element in a locking position.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the tensioner further comprises a third element having an elongated body, wherein a first end of the the third element is pivotably attached to a second end of the first element.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the derailer comprises a longitudinal opening, wherein a first surface of the derailer is connected to a first end of the derailer and has an upward grade towards a second end of the derailer and wherein the longitudinal opening is adapted for passage of the first cable.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the derailer comprises a lock configured to lock the derailer to a fixed point of the cable.

19. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

providing an impact surface on the transport pulley that extends laterally from the frame and is adapted to strike the derailer.