US2853954A - Overhead track - Google Patents

Description

W. G. LOWRY OVERHEAD TRACK Sept. 30, 1958 Filed Nov. 16. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ISnventor 6 1.M. f M m w H =5 2 6 0 5 Q M m fl w a w w 6 3 a 1 2 5 a n Y E Q LOW/Q) MZBM/ attorney W. G. LOWRY OVERHEAD TRACK Sept. 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 16, 1953 6. [OM/RY hwy (Ittorneg United States Patent OVERHEAD TRACK William G. Lowry, Altadena, Caiif.

Application November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,089

7 Claims. (Cl. 104-87) This invention relates to an overhead track construction which, while having other uses, is more particularly adapted as a trackway for a car or cars from which an attendant may service light fixtures in or secured to the cliiling or overhead trusses of a factory building or the l e.

The light fixtures above mentioned ordinarily comprise parallel series of fluorescent lights designed and arranged to provide suitably uniform lighting and the same are placed above or interspersed with the overhead girders or trusses of a factory building. Said fixtures, therefore, are spaced above the factory floor so as to suitably clear machines, assembly lines, etc. Servicing such light fixtures from ladders is inconvenient, hazardous and timeconsuming. By providing a car or cage that may be moved beneath the fixtures and above any machinery in the factory, a person in said car or cage, with easy facility and with considerable save of time, may service said fixtures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel overhead trackway for such cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overhead trackway of serpentine form with longitudinal portions beneath and paralleling the light fixtures and with end connecting track portions so that a car, suspended from said trackway, may be moved or propelled longitudinally along the fixtures and transversely from one line of fixtures to an adjacent line.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a serpentine trackway with the longitudinal portions inexpensively formed of cables, with the transverse portions formed of ceiling-suspended structural members, and with novel means interconnecting the adjacent ends of the cables and structural members so that hangers provided on the car may move easily and safely along the serpentine trackway thus provided.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a Working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes, one'embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a broken plan view of a portion of a trackway according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of the trackway that is pointed to by the arrows of line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the trackway portion shown in Fig. 3.

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Fig. 5 is an elevational view as seen from the right of Fig. 4 and showing a fragment of a car in suspended position.

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary side view of a structural detail of the trackway.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of one of several hangers used to support the cable portions of the trackway.

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view, to the scale of Fig. 3, as taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the portion of the trackway that is pointed to by the arrows of line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view thereof.

The present trackway construction comprises a series of parallel track portions 15, track portions 16, at one end, and track portions 17, at the opposite end, that connect to the ends of portions 15, means 18 that connect said portions 15 to the portions 16 and 17, a support structure 19 for each track portion 16, means 20 connected to each track portion 17 to place the trackway in tension, and a plurality of suspenders 21 to hold the track portions 15 in place.

As can be understood, the building to which the present trackway is applied may vary in size, form and construction. The same, however, essentially includes a ceiling 22 and at least two opposed side walls 23 and 24. The ceiling may be open and comprise spaced girders or trusses that serve to mount light fixtures or any other part or parts that require service and/or periodical inspection. The walls 23 and 24 need not be continuous and, as shown, may comprise columns 25 and 26, respectively, and may include members 27 and 28 connecting the columns 25 and 26, respectively.

Each track portion 15 comprises a length of cable 29 or any comparable light elongated element that is capable of withstanding considerable force applied in tension.

Each track portion 16 preferably comprises a length of angle-sectioned track 30 that has curved ends 31 connected by a straight portion 32 and terminating in short straight portions 33 that are parallel to each other and normal to the straight portion 32.

Each track portion 17 is preferably similarly formed to have curved ends 34, a straight connecting portion 35, and short straight terminating portions 36.

The above-described forms of track portions 16 and 17 are intended as exemplary since the same may have the portions 31 and 32 or 34 and 35, as the case may be, formed as a continuous arc of semi-circular extent. Regardless of the form of track portions 16 and 17, it is important that the vertical flange 37 of one be on the outside of the curyatureof one said portion and the vertical flange 38 of the other be on the inside of the curvature. While the outer flange 37 is shown on track portion 16 and the inner flange 38 on track portion 17, the same may be reversed, as can be understood.

The means 18 is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10. As shown best in Fig. 6, the flange 37, in each straight end 33, is provided with a slot 39 that is disposed at an angle directed from the top downward and laterally toward the curved portion 31. Thus a portion 40 of flange 37 is separated from the main portion although retaining integrality with track portion 16 through flange 41 of said portion. In order to restore track portion 16 to at least its original strength, plates 42 are welded to both faces of flange 37 to span across slot 39. The top edge of flange portion 40 is removed to form a seat 43 that is lower than the top edge of flange 37. The amount of material removed depends on the diameter of cable 29 so as to bring the top edge of said cable, when on the seat, into substantial alignment with the top edge of flange 37.

By passing the end of cable 29 through slot 39, training said end angularly across the bottom of flange 41,

and employing suitable clips '44 t fix said cable end to flange 41, a connectionbetween'trackway portions and 16 is effected that is continuous. To insure retention of the cable on seat 43, a thin, metal clamp may be used, as best seen in Figs. 3,4 an'd'S'.

The flanges 38 of trackway'porti'ons 17 and" the endsof cables 29 are connected inthe manner. described above and as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In this manner, the trackway is provided with a, continuoustrack edge that comprises the top edges of flanges37and3'8 of'trackportions 16 and 17 and thetop edges of the cables 29' that interconnect said portions-in the-sepentine form above indicated.

Thereason for the respective onter and inner dispositions of flanges 37-and-38 willbe clear from inspection-of Fig. 5, wherein isshown'a hanger 46 ofcar 4-7'and'by means of which said car is suspended from the abovedescribed trackway. Said hangentwo of-which may be provided, comprises a generally=C-shaped strap'48 thatis connected to car 47, as by a swivel 49 andsuitable grooved trolley wheels 50 that ride-the above desc'ribe'd trackway. The strap 48, being open on one side, can pass around the outside of flange 37 of 'each tr-ack portion 16 and within the-inside of flange 38 of each track portion 17 as the car is moved in the serpentine path defined by the tr-ackway.

The support structure 19 is of rigid form to hold the track portion 16 in place. The same comprises a structural rigid strut 51 that connects each end 33 of track 30 to the ceiling, rod hangers 52 that connect intermediate portions of saidtrack to-the ceiling, rigid struts 53 that tie said structural hangers 51 to the wall 23 or, as shown, to member 27 of saidtwall, and-suitable rod braces 54 applied so as to eliminate lateral'sway of track 30. As shown, said braces extend between brackets 55 in wall 23 and brackets 56 connected to the ends of struts 53. Said rod brackets are arranged as the chords of triangular trusses, as best-seenin Fig. 1.

From the above-described structure, it can be seen that the rigid struts 51, connected by brackets 51a to the ends 33 of the track, resist turning moment of said ends under pull of cable 29. The force thus imparted to strut 51 is, in turn, takenrandabsorbed by the horizontai struts 53 which are connected to struts 51. The struts 51 and 53 cooperate toresist turning'mornentto'f the track ends in a vertical plane. The rod braces 54, being connected to brackets 5,6-which, in turn, are connected to struts 53, counteract turning moment of the track ends 33 in a transverse or horizontal plane.

The means 20 connect thetrack portions 17 to wall 24 to place cables 29 in tension against the resistance of the rigid support structures19. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, said means 20 comprises a tension-applying member 57 that includes a turnbuckle 58 and extends between a plate 59 welded to each end of track portion 17 and a bracket plate 60 aflixed to wall 24. In this case, said plates 60 are welded to wall member 28. A hanger 61 extends from the ceilingto each end of said track portion 17.

In order to eliminate material sag in cables 29, a suitable number of suspenders 21 connects spaced points of the cables 29 to the ceiling. As shown in Fig. 7, said suspenders may be atfixeddirectly to the ceiling trusses or, as suggested, in Fig.2, connected to the ceiling by suspension rods 62sirnilar to rod hangers 52. The cables are connected to suspenders 21 by means of strap clamps 63 similar to clamps 45.

It will be realized that the above-described trackway is light and inexpensive and-attords. smooth trolleypassing connections where the cables connect to the end track portions so-thatapersonin the carsuspended from the trackway may readilypropel said car to any desired position along the trackway.

While I have illustrated and described what I now contemplate to be the -best'mode .of carrying out my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to be secured by LettersPatent is:

1. In a horizontaltrackway, a rigid track member having a vertical flange provided near its end with a slot that slopes downwardly and rearwardly with respect to said flange end to separate the end portion of saidflange ,fromthe main portion'thereof, plate members spanning said separate flange portions and enclosing the slot on both sides, a cable track member extending from said slot and having its upper surface aligned with the top edge of said flange, and means to anchor said cable to said rigid track member.

2. In a horizontal trackway, a rigid track. member having a vertical flange provided near its end with a slot that slopes downwardly and rearwardly with respect to said flange end to separate the end'portion of said flange from the main 'portionthereof, plate members spanning said separated flange portions and enclosing the slot on both sides, said end portion of the'flange being reduced in height with respect tothe main portion of the flange, the top edge of said end portion constituting a seat, a cable track member extending from said end flange portion and'having its uppersurface aligned with the top edge ofysai'd main flange portion, said cable being engagedwith said seat and extending through said slot, and means tozanchor said cable-to said rigid track member.

3. In a track-way according tocl'aim 2: a strap clip engaged over the portion of the cable disposed onsaid' flange .endportion to hold the cable against lateral displacement from said-seat.

4. An overhead trackway comprising, in combination, first and second groups of supporting columns, a series *of parallel cable track portions each having first and second ends, rigid and. curved-end track portions having ends each connected to one ofthe ends of each of the cable track portions to impart a serpentine form to said trackway, rigid connections between the first group of supporting columns and the rigid track portions at the first ends of the cable-track portions and connections between the second group of supporting columns, and the rigid, track portions at the second ends of the cable :track portionsthe-latter connections including adjustable'links for tensioning said cable track portions against the. resistance of said first group of supporting columns.

5. An overhead trackway comprising, in combination, first and second groups of supporting columns, a series of parallel cable track portions each having first and second ends, rigid and curved track portions each having two ends, one connected to an end of one of the cable track portions and the other connected to an end ofanother cable track portion whereby the cable track portions are connected in pairs, each rigid and curved track portion including .an outer flange in continuation of the cable portions at the first ends thereof, rigid and curved track portions each having a pair of ends, one connecting the second ,end of one of the cable portions, and'the other connecting the second end of another cable portion, each of the latter rigid track portions including an inner flange in continuation of the cable track portions at the second ends thereof, the rigid track portions of one'group being rigidly mounted upon the first group of columns at the first ends of the cable track portions, and adjustable tensioning connections between the second group of columns and the rigid track portions of another group at the second ends of the cable trackportions, said tensioning connections tensioning said cab-1e track portions against theresistance of said first group of'columns.

6. An overhead trackway comprising, in combination, first and second groups of supporting columns, a series of parallel cable track portions each having first and second ends, a set of suspenders to support each said cable portion from above, a first group of rigid and curved track portions connecting the cable portions at the first ends in pairs and each including an outer flange in continuation of the first ends of the cable track portions, a second 'group of rigid and curved track portions connecting the second ends of the adjacent cable portions, and each of said second group of rigid track portions including an inner flange in continuation of the second ends of the cable portions, the rigid track portions of one of said groups at the first ends of the cable track portions being secured rigidly to the first group of supporting columns, and adjustable connections between the rigid track portions of the other group at the second ends of the cable portions and the second group of columns for placing the cable portions connected thereto in tension.

7. In combination with a pair of opposite walls, an overhead trackway for connecting said walls, comprising in combination, a plurality of cable track portions extending transversely between the two Walls, said cable track portions having first and second ends at the first and second walls respectively, first and second groups of rigid and curved track portions complementary to said cable track portions, the first group located adjacent the first wall, and the second group located adjacent the second wall, each of the first group of rigid and curved track portions having ends each united to one of the first ends of the cable track portion, and each of the second group of cable track portions having ends each united to one of the second ends of the cable track portions, to provide a continuous and unobstructed trackway, said rigid and curved track portions of one group being rigidly secured to the first wall, and the rigid and curved track portions of the other group having means securing them to the second wall adjustably in relation to the spacing from said second wall, said adjustable securing means having relatively movable parts connected to the second wall and the latter rigid and curved track portions, respectively, and also serving to transmit tension upon said cable track portions by acting against the resistance of the rigidly secured curved track portions when the adjustable securing means is being adjusted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,851 Van Depoele Dec. 8, 1885 571,607 Werner Nov. 17, 1896 608,656 Drew Aug. 9, 1898 836,260 Hyde Nov. 20, 1906 901,984 Meyer Oct. 27, 1908 957,757 Fitzgerald May 10, 1910 1,043,599 Jensen Nov. 5, 1912 1,317,695 Franklin Oct. 7, 1919 1,419,684 Neller June 13, 1922 2,193,687 Flinn Mar. 12, 1940 2,535,541 Le Fiell Dec. 26, 1950 2,562,406 Barker July 31, 1951

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