Lift systems with continuous in-rail charging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9796168-B2
Application number	US-201514606705-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2010
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

Rail-mounted lift systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, the lift system includes a rail having at least one conductor positioned on an upper interior surface of the rail. A carriage may be slidably disposed in the rail for relative movement to the rail. The carriage generally includes a carriage body, at least one pair of support wheels rotatably coupled to the carriage body and slidably engaged with the rail, and a conductor truck comprising at least one conductive roller rotatably attached to the conductor truck. The conductor truck may be mounted to the carriage body with a biasing member upwardly biasing the conductive roller into rolling engagement with the at least one conductor. A lift unit may be coupled to the carriage body and includes a motor paying out and taking up a lifting strap. The lift unit is electrically coupled to the at least one conductive roller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator tool comprising:
a spindle;
an applicator frame assembly including a support arm assembly coupled to the spindle; and
a dolly portion coupled to the support arm assembly, the dolly portion comprising:
a pair of flange engagement wheels for engaging support flanges of a rail;
a contact roller mechanism for impinging a conductor against an upper portion of the rail; and
a biasing member coupled to the contact roller mechanism and the dolly portion, wherein the biasing member applies a force to the contact roller mechanism in a direction away from the applicator frame assembly.

2. The applicator tool of claim 1 , wherein the contact roller mechanism further comprises a follower mechanism coupled to the applicator frame assembly and a contact wheel coupled to the follower mechanism, wherein the contact wheel impinges the conductor against the upper portion of the rail.

3. The applicator tool of claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning mechanism coupled to the applicator frame assembly, the tensioning mechanism comprising a reversing wheel that separates a backing tape from the conductor.

4. The applicator tool of claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning mechanism that includes a plurality of roller elements and pins that apply tension to the conductor.

5. The applicator tool of claim 1 , further comprising a tensioning mechanism and wherein the dolly portion further comprises a dolly portion shoe and a normalizing plate positioned opposite the dolly portion shoe, wherein the dolly portion shoe and the normalizing plate are configured to guide the conductor through the tensioning mechanism.

6. A method for applying a conductor to a rail, the method comprising:
positioning an applicator tool that comprises an applicator frame assembly in the rail;
contacting support flanges of the rail with a pair of flange engagement wheels of the applicator tool;
directing a conductor laminate from a spool to a dolly portion of the applicator tool;
separating a backing tape from the conductor of the conductor laminate;
impinging the conductor between a contact wheel of the applicator tool and an upper portion of the rail; and
translating the applicator tool along a length of the rail, thereby applying the conductor to the length of the rail.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein impinging the conductor comprises applying a force to the contact wheel in a direction away from the applicator frame assembly.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a biasing member applies the force to the contact wheel.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein separating the backing tape comprises directing the conductor laminate over a reversing wheel.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising directing the conductor laminate through a tensioning mechanism comprising a plurality of roller elements and pins that apply a tension to the conductor laminate.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising directing the conductor laminate over a dolly portion shoe into a tensioning mechanism.

12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising directing the conductor through a tensioning mechanism and directing the conductor over a normalizing plate subsequent to directing the conductor through the tensioning mechanism.

13. A method for assembling a rail-mounted lift system that includes a lift unit and a rail, the method comprising:
positioning an applicator tool that comprises an applicator frame assembly in the rail;
contacting support flanges of the rail with a pair of flange engagement wheels of the applicator tool;
directing a conductor laminate from a spool to a dolly portion of the applicator tool;
separating a backing tape from a conductor of the conductor laminate;
impinging the conductor between a contact wheel of the applicator tool and an upper portion of the rail;
translating the applicator tool along a length of the rail, thereby applying the conductor to the length of the rail; and
inserting a carriage of the lift unit into the rail such that conductive rollers of the carriage are in contact with the conductor.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein impinging the conductor comprises applying a force to the contact wheel in a direction away from the applicator frame assembly.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a biasing member applies the force to the contact wheel.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein separating the backing tape comprises directing the conductor laminate over a reversing wheel.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising directing the conductor laminate through a tensioning mechanism comprising a plurality of roller elements and pins that apply a tension to the conductor laminate.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising directing the conductor laminate over a dolly portion shoe into a tensioning mechanism.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising directing the conductor through a tensioning mechanism and directing the conductor over a normalizing plate subsequent to directing the conductor through the tensioning mechanism.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising inserting a connector card into the rail such that the connector card is coupled to the conductor, and connecting the connector card to a power port to provide power to the rail-mounted lift system.

Assignees

• Liko Res & Dev Ab

Inventors

• Bergenstråle Robert
• Andersson Mattias

Classifications

• B66C7/02

  for underhung trolleys or cranes · CPC title

• B66C11/00

  Trolleys or crabs, e.g. operating above runways (runways, tracks or trackways therefor B66C7/00; winch mechanisms B66D) · CPC title

• B66C19/00

  Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries (B66C17/00 takes precedence; base supporting structures with legs B66C5/00; jib cranes B66C23/00) · CPC title

• B60L5/40

  for collecting current from lines in slotted conduits · CPC title

• B32B37/0046

  characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus · CPC title