Systems and methods for providing a track for an industrial cart

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10913622-B2
Application number	US-201815902564-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2018
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A track system for a cart includes a plurality of curved modular track sections for the cart. Each of the plurality of curved modular track sections includes one or more rails configured to engage with the cart on the track, and one or more reservoir sections configured to receive liquid from the cart. Each of the plurality of curved modular track is tilted relative to ground by a predetermined angle such that the one or more reservoir sections are configured to direct the liquid to a predetermined area. Each of the plurality of curved modular track sections includes a gear system configured to engage with a gear of the cart.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track system for a cart, comprising:
a plurality of curved modular track sections for the cart, each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprising:
one or more rails configured to engage with the cart on the track system; and
one or more reservoir sections configured to receive liquid from the cart,

wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track is tilted relative to ground by a predetermined angle such that the one or more reservoir sections are configured to direct the liquid to a predetermined area;
wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprises electrically conductive portions configured to provide electric power to the cart; and
wherein the electrically conductive portions are configured to extend along the one or more rails.

2. The track system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprises a gear system configured to engage with a gear of the cart.

3. The track system of claim 2 , wherein the gear system is configured to extend along one of the one or more rails.

4. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive portions are periodically segmented with a non-conductive portion.

5. The track system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprises a vibrating device.

6. The track system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprises connection mechanisms configured to couple with connection mechanisms of another curved modular track.

7. The track system of claim 6 , wherein the connection mechanisms include snap-in tabs.

8. The track system of claim 1 , wherein a first set of the plurality of curved modular track sections are coupled to form an ascending portion wrapping around a first axis perpendicular to the ground, and the ascending portion has a predetermined radius of curvature.

9. The track system of claim 8 , wherein a second set of the plurality of curved modular track sections are coupled to form a descending portion wrapping around a second axis perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the first axis, and the descending portion has a predetermined radius of curvature.

10. The track system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lighting devices or one or more watering devices.

11. The track system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of straight modular track sections, each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprising:
one or more rails configured to engage with the cart on the track; and
one or more reservoir sections configured to receive liquid from the cart.

12. The track system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track sections includes one or more location markers.

13. The track system of claim 1 , wherein one or more reservoir sections are positioned proximate to the one or more rails.

14. A method for providing a track for a cart, the method comprising:
providing the track for the cart by coupling a plurality of curved modular track sections;
engaging one or more rails of the track with the cart;
receiving, by one or more reservoir sections of the track, liquid from the cart; and
directing the liquid to a predetermined area,
wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track is tilted relative to ground by a predetermined angle such that the one or more reservoir sections are configured to direct the liquid to a predetermined area;
wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprises electrically conductive portions configured to provide electric power to the cart; and
wherein the electrically conductive portions are configured to extend along the one or more rails.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a first set of the plurality of curved modular track sections are coupled to form an ascending portion wrapping around a first axis perpendicular to the ground, and the ascending portion has a predetermined radius of curvature.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a second set of the plurality of curved modular track sections are coupled to form a descending portion wrapping around a second axis perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the first axis, and the descending portion has a predetermined radius of curvature.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of curved modular track sections comprises a vibrating device.

18. A track system for a cart, the track system comprising:
a plurality of modular track sections, each of the modular track sections comprising:
one or more rails configured to engage with the cart;
a gear system configured to engage with a gear of the cart; and
connection mechanisms configured to couple with connection mechanisms of another modular track section,

wherein at least one of the plurality of modular track sections is tilted relative to ground by a predetermined angle;
wherein each of the modular track sections includes one or more reservoir sections configured to receive liquid from the cart, and
wherein the one or more reservoir sections include a vibration device.

Assignees

• Grow Solutions Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stott Mark Gerald
• Millar Gary Bret
• Tueller Todd Garrett
• Hurst Michael Stephen
• Bentley Alan Ray
• Woodbury Taylor John

Classifications

• B65G67/22 Primary

  Loading moving vehicles · CPC title

• B62B5/0076

  Remotely controlled · CPC title

• B61C11/04

  tractive effort applied to racks · CPC title

• B61B13/02 Primary

  Rack railways · CPC title

• B60P1/02

  with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element (in combination with tipping B60P1/34; devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes, movable on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/06 {; suspensions with electronic levelling control during loading or unloading B60G17/0157}) · CPC title