Importance

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Abstract

A conveyor system for transporting wheeled trucks along a roadway that has straight and curved portions, in the center of which lies a chain conveyor. The trucks selectively engage the chain so as to be impelled thereby to move along the roadway and are supported on four wheel casters that traverse the roadway. The trucks have an upper turntable surface which can rotate in 90.degree. segments as the trucks follow around a corner of the roadway. The turntable is rotated by a four arm cross-lever connected to the turntable below the truck and non-rotatable with respect to the turntable. Turntable turning assemblies located adjacent the roadway, extend upward from the roadway to engage an arm of the four arm cross-lever to rotate the turntable as the truck encounters the turntable turning assembly. A tow pin hangs from the trucks and can be actuated to separate it from the chain to stop the truck by two different lifting mechanisms. One mechanism is located at the rear of a truck so as to stop the truck behind it if it gets too close. The second is a pivoting arm located in the roadway which can be powered to disconnect the tow pin. The truck has a tail pin that rides in the roadway to steer the truck as it turns corners. The chain has a roller guide on the inner side of the curves for support.

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First Claim