Gates with transition ramps for overhead lifting rails

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11793702-B2
Application number	US-201916597196-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2019
Priority date	Oct 12, 2018
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

A gate system that includes a first gate that couples to a first rail, the first rail partially defining a travel path for a lifting carriage and the first gate including a first ramp having a slope that is angled relative to the first rail when coupled thereto. The system includes a second gate that couples to a second rail, the second rail partially defining the travel path for the lifting carriage and the second gate including a second ramp having a slope that is angled relative to the second rail when coupled thereto. The first ramp and the second ramp provide a switch location when coupled to the first rail and the second rail where the lifting carriage translates between the first rail and the second rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gate system for an overhead rail lifting system, the gate system comprising:
a first gate that couples to a first rail, the first rail partially defines a travel path for a lifting carriage, the first gate includes a first ramp having a slope that is angled relative to the travel path of the first rail when coupled thereto and a first engagement face; and
a second gate that couples to a second rail, the second rail partially defines the travel path for the lifting carriage, the second gate includes a second ramp having a slope that is angled relative to the travel path of the second rail when coupled thereto and a second engagement face having an opposite polarization than the first engagement face and configured to magnetically couple with the first engagement face such that the first and second engagement faces face each other;
wherein the first ramp and the second ramp provide a switch location when coupled to the first rail and the second rail where the lifting carriage is configured to translate between the first rail and the second rail.

2. The gate system of claim 1 , wherein the first ramp extends downward at an angle relative to the travel path of the first rail when the first gate is coupled thereto such that the first gate defines a first angled travel path relative to the travel path of the first rail, and the second ramp extends downward at an angle relative to the travel path of the second rail when the second gate is coupled thereto such that the second gate defines a second angled travel path relative to the travel path of the second rail.

3. The gate system of claim 2 , wherein the first angled travel path of the first ramp extends between the travel path of the first rail and the second ramp to the switch location.

4. The gate system of claim 1 , wherein a ramp angle of the first ramp is between 1 degree to 45 degrees relative to the travel path of the first rail when the first gate is coupled thereto.

5. The gate system of claim 1 , wherein the first ramp extends between opposing ends of the first gate at a constant slope relative to the travel path of the first rail when the first gate is coupled thereto.

6. The gate system of claim 1 , wherein the first gate and the second gate are sized to suspend the lifting carriage.

7. The gate system of claim 6 , wherein the first ramp and the second ramp are configured to support at least one wheel of the lifting carriage thereon.

8. The gate system of claim 7 , wherein the first ramp and the second ramp are configured to facilitate translation of the at least one wheel through the switch location by extending downwardly from the travel paths of the first rail and the second rail when the first gate and the second gate are coupled to the first rail and the second rail, respectively.

9. The gate system of claim 7 , wherein the first ramp comprises a pair of ledges with a slot formed between the pair of ledges, such that each of the ledges is offset from one another by the slot.

10. The gate system of claim 9 , wherein each of the ledges defines a lateral width that is sized to receive at least one wheel of the lifting carriage thereon.

11. The gate system of claim 9 , wherein the pair of ledges extends between opposing ends of the first ramp along a plane such that the pair of ledges collectively define an angled travel path of the first ramp.

12. The gate system of claim 1 , wherein the first gate comprises an upper ramp that faces the first ramp.

13. A method of traversing a lifting carriage between a first rail portion and a second rail portion through a switch location provided therebetween, the first rail portion is coupled to a first gate of a gate system and the second rail portion is coupled to a second gate of the gate system, the method comprising:
magnetically coupling a first engagement face of the first gate and a second engagement face of the second gate, the second engagement face having an opposite polarization than the first engagement face and configured to magnetically couple with the first engagement face such that the first and second engagement faces face each other;
translating the lifting carriage along a travel path of the first rail portion toward the switch location, the first rail portion is misaligned with the second rail portion such that the travel path of the first rail portion is vertically offset from a travel path of the second rail portion at the switch location;
guiding the lifting carriage along a first ramp of the first gate, the first ramp extends downward at an angle relative to the travel path of the first rail portion such that the lifting carriage translates along an angled travel path of the first ramp;
receiving the lifting carriage at a second ramp of the second gate such that the lifting carriage translates through the switch location;
guiding the lifting carriage along the second ramp and toward the second rail portion, the second ramp extends downward at an angle relative to the travel path of the second rail portion such that the lifting carriage translates along an angled travel path of the second ramp; and
translating the lifting carriage along the travel path of the second rail portion.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the lifting carriage at the second ramp comprises elevating the lifting carriage onto the second ramp at the switch location.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first gate comprises an upper support surface that faces the first ramp.

16. An overhead lifting rail system, comprising:
a first rail for supporting a lifting carriage that terminates at a first end;
a second rail for supporting the lifting carriage that terminates at a second end, wherein the first rail is misaligned with the second rail such that an impediment is formed at a switch location between the first end and the second end; and
a gate system comprising:
a first gate coupled to the first rail, the first rail partially defines a travel path for a lifting carriage, the first gate includes a first ramp having a slope that is angled relative to the travel path of the first rail and a first engagement face; and
a second gate coupled to the second rail, the second rail partially defines the travel path for the lifting carriage, the second gate includes a second ramp having a slope that is angled relative to the travel path of the second rail and a second engagement face having an opposite polarization than the first engagement face and configured to magnetically couple with the first engagement face such that the first and second engagement faces face each other;

wherein the first ramp and the second ramp provide a switch location between the first rail and the second rail where the lifting carriage translates between the first rail and the second rail.

17. The overhead lifting rail system of claim 16 , wherein the first ramp extends downward at an angle relative to the travel path of the first rail such that the first gate defines a first angled travel path relative to the travel path of the first rail, and the second ramp extends downward at an angle relative to the travel path of the second rail such that the second gate defines a second angled travel path relative to the travel path of the second rail.

18. The overhead lifting rail system of claim 17 , wherein the first angled travel path of the first ramp extends between the travel path of the first rail and the second ramp to the switch location.

19. The overhead lifting rail system of claim 16 , wherein a ramp angle of the first ramp is betwee

Assignees

• Liko Res & Dev Ab

Inventors

• Svintozelsky Samuel

Classifications

• A61G7/1042 Primary

  Rail systems (walking aids with suspension devices A61H3/008) · CPC title

• A61G7/1034

  Rollers, rails or other means · CPC title

• A61G7/1046

  Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels · CPC title

• B66C7/12

  Devices for changing direction of travel or for transferring from one runway to another; Crossings; Combinations of tracks of different gauges (transfer devices of general application E01B) · CPC title