Friction drive material handling system including composite beam and method of operating same
First Claim
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1. A material handling system, comprising:
- a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members, the lower track defining two parallel channels;
a trolley having an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels, the lower set of wheels received within the two parallel channels;
a drive tube positioned between the upper rail and the lower track such that the upper set of wheels are in frictional engagement with the drive tube; and
a drive system configured to rotate the drive tube.
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Abstract
A material handling system includes a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members. A trolley includes an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels. The lower set of wheels is received within two parallel channels defined by the lower track. A drive tube is positioned between the upper rail and the lower track such that the upper set of wheels are in frictional engagement with the drive tube. A drive system is configured to rotate the drive tube.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A material handling system, comprising:
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a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members, the lower track defining two parallel channels; a trolley having an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels, the lower set of wheels received within the two parallel channels; a drive tube positioned between the upper rail and the lower track such that the upper set of wheels are in frictional engagement with the drive tube; and a drive system configured to rotate the drive tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a material handling system, comprising:
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transporting a trolley having an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels along the material handling system, at least in part, by; supporting the lower set of wheels of the trolley within two parallel channels defined by a lower track; frictionally engaging the upper set of wheels of the trolley with a drive tube; rotating the drive tube to move the lower set of wheels within the two parallel channels; and supporting a weight carried by the trolley with a composite beam including an upper rail and the lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse support members. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification