Material handling apparatus
United States Patent [191 Pamer 51 Apr. 29, 1975 Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 261,529, June 9, 1972, Pat. No.  
 [52] US. Cl..... 104/123; 105/148; 267/153 [51] Int. Cl. EOlb 25/14 [58] Field of Search 104/89-95. 104/107-110,123,124;105/148-156, 453; 267/153 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,718,852 9/1955 Cacciatore 105/153 E 3+ F J0 J0 l4 3,669,028 6/1972 Joy 104/25 3,692,325 9/1972 Goolrand 105/199 3,751,024 8/1973 Pineau 267/153 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.  
 Assismnt Examiner-D. W. Keen Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Watts, Hoffmann, Fisher &amp; Heinke [57] ABSTRACT Overhead monorail material handling devices having parts supported by resilient, flexible closed vessels or containers having liquid therein. In some applications a plurality of such vessels or containers are connected by conduit means so that the liquid therein can flow from one to another.  
 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEEAFR291B75 SHEET 10? 2 PATENTEDAPRZQIQB SHEET 2&#39; OF 2 FIG.2  
 FIG.3  
 M ATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division of application Ser. No. 261,529, filed June 9, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,827,366.  
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularly to the support of a part thereof on a resilient, flexible closed vessel or container having fluid therein.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Material handling apparatus having a part thereof supported by springs, ball and socket devices and the like, are known but such devices are not entirely satisfactory for various reasons. Springs, for example, are typically not of the correct strength and/or resiliency for the applications in which they are used and ball and socket devices are friction devices. Typical prior art devices are shown in US. Pats. to Nelles, No. 2,228,034 and Dehn, et al., No. 3.095,l74.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a novel and improved material handling apparatus, especially of the overhead, permanent installation type, such as, overhead monorail, suspended or underslung trolley systems, top running cranes including overhead bridge cranes, etc., in which parts are supported by one or more resilient, flexible, closed containers or vessels having fluid therein or a gelatinous substance, preferably, a liquid which provides limited universal relative frictionless movement between the parts in contact therewith. Where more than one vessel is employed the vessels are preferably filled with fluid and connected by conduit means to provide for the flow of fluid from one to the other.  
  The invention further provides novel and improved crane and monorail material handling apparatus easy to install. reliable and quiet in operation, resistant to transmission of shock loads between different parts, in which loads are equalized between multiple supports and incorporating numerous safety features not present in prior systems.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of an overhead monorail material carrier system embodying the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, with parts in section, of a portion of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, with parts in elevation, approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure and FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view with parts in elevation, approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 1.  
 DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is susceptible of embodiments in innumerable material handling applications, but has especial utility in overhead monorail material handling systems and bridge cranes, and is shown herein as embodied in such equipment or apparatus.  
  Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference character A designates generally an overhead, monorail, material handling system comprising an I-shaped overhead monorail B along which a trolley C is movable. The trolley C, illustrated, is ofthe hand-propelled, carrier type. The term trolley as herein employed refers to any monorail equipment supported by and movable along the rail B such as hand and/or powerpropelled carriers, tractors, crane trucks, etc. The rail B is suspended from an overhead support D such as an I-beam girder of a building by suspension supports E, F.  
  Because of the relatively low ceiling or overhead clearance in many buildings in which overhead monorail material handling systems are installed, it is highly desirable, if not a necessity, to install the overhead track closely adjacent to the underside of the overhead building structure with suspension supports connected to the overhead support above the lower side thereof and preferably by the use of suspension supports or suspensions at both sides of the overhead support, as illustrated in the drawings.  
  The suspension supports E, F, illustrated, are duplicates of one another and only the support E is shown and described in detail. Where corresponding parts of the support F are identified and/or referred to, the same reference character is employed as for the support E, but having a prime mark applied thereto.  
  The support E comprises a hanger assembly including a hanger member in the form ofa bolt having its head 12 located within a channel-shaped bracket 14 suitably secured to the upper flange 16 of the l-shaped rail B and its shank 20 projecting upwardly through a suitable aperture 22 in the bracket 14 and through a similar aperture 24 in a horizontal flange 26 of an angle bracket 30, the vertical flange 32 of which is secured. as by bolts, to the web of the I-beam 34 of the overhead support D. The hanger assembly also includes a resilient, flexible ring-like closed container or vessel member 50 having fluid therein interposed between two 7 spaced devices, for example washers 40, 42 positioned on the shank 20 of the bolt 10 between the web of the bracket 14 and the bearing surface of the head 12 of the bolt. The facing sides or surfaces of the washers 40, 42 have annular depressions 46, 48 therein, respectively, for locating and centering the resilient, flexible ring-like closed container or vessel member 50 therebetween. The depressions 46, 48 in the members 40, 42 provide annular abutment surfaces surrounding at least parts of the circumference or circumferential wall of the vessel member 50. The upper threaded end 58 of the shank of the bolt 10 is provided with a nut 60 threaded thereon between the bearing face thereof and the upper surface of the horizontal flange 26 of the bracket 30 are washers 62, 64, similar in construction to the washers 40, 42, respectively. A resilient, flexible vessel or member 70, similar to the members 50, is located between the recessed facing sides of the washers 62, 64. The I-beam 34, bracket 30 and washer 62 form the overhead support member for the supported rail member or assembly including the rail B, bracket 14 and washer 40. The apertures in the bracket 14, bracket flange 26 and washers 40, 62 are larger than the shank of the bolt extending therethrough as are the apertures in the resilient members 50, 70. The resilient, flexible members 50, are hollow, that is, they have ring-like closed chambers 72, 74 in the interior thereof. These chambers are filled with fluid, preferably liquid.  
  The construction is such that the load or weight of the rail B and any trolleys C traveling therealong is transferred to the overhead support D through the members 50. 70. The members 50, 70 are flexible and resilient. and with the clearance between the shank of the bolt 10 and the apertures 22 in the bracket 14 and washer 40 and the apertures 24 in the flange 26 of the bracket 30 and washer 62 provide limited universal movement of the washers 42, 64 relative to the washers 40, 62, respectively. thus permitting the bolt 10 to selfcenter and transmit the load vertically and uniformly and reduces any tendency to bend the bolt. The members 50. 70 also reduce the transmission of vibrations and sound between the rail and the overhead supporting structure. thus reducing shock loading of the bolt 10, bracket 30 and building structure due to travel of carriers along the rail B. thus extending the fatigue life of the bolt. etc. The members 50. 70 also eliminate lateral and longitudinal shock loadings of the building structure.  
  In applications where a plurality of closely spaced supports are employed. the closed fluid containing vessel or container members. preferably have two or more of their respective interior chambers connected by a conduit so that they are in communication with one another and the fluid therein can flow from one to another. ln the embodiment illustrated, the interior chambers ofthe members 50, 50 are connected by a conduit 80 so that fluid can flow back and forth from one chamber to the other. The interior chambers of the members 70. 70&#39; are similarly connected by a conduit 82 extending through a suitable opening in the overhead support D. Either of the connections 80. 82 equalize. between the two bolts of the supports. the load or weight of the rail. etc.. thereon. This reduces shock loading of the bolts due to rail deflection incident to the movement of a trolley therealong. results in low impact transfer of the load from one support to the other in the event one support fails. and provides a rail leveling function as the rail is subjected to changing load conditions. etc.  
  The carrier-type trolley C illustrated. comprises a load bar 100 carried by a plurality of trucks 102, 104. I06. 108 having clevis-like or U-shaped frame members 110. 112, 114. 116, respectively. The distal end of the truck frame members are provided with wheels which engage and travel along parts of the lower flange of the l-shaped rail B at opposite sides of the web of the rail. The load bar 100 is supported in the truck frame members by resilient, flexible ring-like members 120, 122. I24. 126 similar to the members 50, 70 previously described. The load bar shown is channel-shaped in cross section and a single resilient member 120 is interposed between the underside of the web of the load bar and the horizontal part of the frame of the truck therebelow. In the trolley illustrated the four trucks are arranged in pairs adjacent to opposite ends of the load bar and the interior chambers of the members 120, 122 and 124, 126 at opposite ends of the trolley are connected to one another by conduit members 130, 132, respectively. Washers similar to the washers 40, 62, previously referred to. are employed at opposite ends of the members 120, 122, 124, 126 between the lower side of the load bar 100 and the upper side of the truck frame. The construction is simple. inexpensive and reliable and distributes the load equally between the trucks at opposite ends of the trolley.  
  The trolley C. shown, has a load grab or support G attached to the load bar 100 midway between its ends by an l-bolt 140 which is connected to the load bar through a member 144 similar to the members 50,  
 so as to reduce and/or eliminate the transmission of vi- I brations. shock load. etc.. between the load grab and the load bar. The washer or washer-like members 146, 148 located at opposite ends of the container member 144 are so constructed that they substantially enclose the member 144. For this purpose the lower member 146 includes an upwardly projecting skirt or annular flange 150 extending adjacent to or. if desired. slightly above the lower surface of the member 148. The flange 150 provides an abutment surface surrounding the container 144. Adequate area is provided between the members 146, 148 for the necessary expansion of the member 144. The enclosing or partially enclosing of the member 144 permits the member to be made smaller and/or constructed with side walls of less tensil strength and greater resiliency and flexibility for any given design load than would otherwise be the case. The apertures in the load bar and the washer 146 through which the shank 142 of the I-bolt project are larger than the shank of the l-bolt thus permitting the l-bolt to center itself in the load bar and have limited universal movement with respect thereto.  
  The fluid filled vessel members need not necessarily be ring-like in configuration but may be of any suitable shape. for example. cubical. and if ring-like they need not be circular. The preferred configuration. however. is one which provides end surfaces for engagement by the oppositely facing abutment surfaces of the members between which they are employed. The extent to which the vessel members are compressed by any given load will be a function of their size. wall thickness. and the tensil strength and elasticity of the material of which they are made. etc. Obviously. the fluid-filled vessel or container members must be of a construction such that the load to which they are subject will not compress them sufficiently to allow facing surfaces of the washers or other members engaging opposite ends thereof to contact one another. Where the fluid-filled closed container members are of ring-like configuration their transverse cross-sectional configuration may be of any suitable shape. Because of the flexibility and resiliency of the closed vessel or container members and the fluid therein. the force or thrust transmitted thereby from one member engaged therewith to another at the opposite end will be uniformly distributed throughout the members.  
  One of the important advantages of the present invention is the fact that it provides an overhead material handling apparatus which is far safer than prior systems because the supports for the rail are less liable to failure. This is particularly important because personnel is often working underneath such installations.  
  As a further safety feature, where liquid is employed within the closed resilient vessel members, the liquid can be colored so that in the event of rupture of a member such failure will be quickly detected and identified because of the dripping of colored liquid therefrom over the equipment and/or objects beneath the system.  
  From the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention it will be apparent that the objects and advantages of the invention heretofore mentioned and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and improved overhead material handling apparatus which has many features. safety and otherwise, not incorporated in prior apparatuses.  
  While certain&#39;embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, described and referred to, as previously mentioned, the invention may be otherwise embodied, and while a single closed vessel or container member filled with fluid has been employed between the spaced abutment surfaces of the different support and supported members shown, it will be obvious-that any number of such members may be employed, stacked one upon another, connected by conduit means, as desired.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. ln material handling apparatus having a first member providing an abutment surface. a second member spaced from said first member and providing an abutment surface opposed to said abutment surface of said first member and a connection between said first member and said second member comprising: at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like, closed vessel having liquid therein between said abutment surfaces and means on at least one of said members encircling said vessel to substantially enclose the same whereby said second member is supported by said first member and has limited universal movement relative to said first member and expansion of said vessel is limited.  
  2. ln material handling apparatus having a first member, a second member, and a connection supporting said second member from said first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from said first member providing an abutment surface facing in the direction of said first member; and at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like, closed vessel having liquid therein between said first member and said abutment surface. and means on one of said first member and said hanger-like member encircling said vessel to substantially enclose the same whereby said hanger-like member has limited universal movement relative to said first member and expansion of said vessel is limited.  
  3. ln material handling apparatus having a first member, a second member, and a hanger assembly supporting said second member from said first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from and extending through said first member providing an abutment surface facing in the direction of said first member; and at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like, closed vessel having liquid therein between said first member and said abutment surface and surrounding said hanger-like member whereby said hanger-like member has limited universal movement relative to said first member.  
  4. ln material handling apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the resilient, flexible vessel is substantially enclosed to limit its expansion.  
  5. In material handling apparatus having a first member, a second member, and a hanger assembly supporting said second member from said first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from said first and second members providing abutment surfaces facing in the directions of said first and second members; and at least one resilient. flexible, ring-like member between each of said first and second members and said abutment surfaces facing in the direction thereof whereby said hanger-like member has limited universal movement relative to said first and second members.  
  6. ln material handling apparatus having a first member, a second member, and a hanger assembly supporting said second member from said first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from said first and second members providing abutment surfaces facing in the directions of said first and second members; and&#39;at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like, closed vessel having fluid therein between each of said first and second members and said abutment surfaces facing in the directionthereof whereby said hanger-like member has-limited universal movement relative to said first and second members.  
  7-. ln material handling apparatus having a first mern ber,-a second member, and a hanger assembly support ing said second member fromsaid first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from said first and second members providing abutment surfaces facing in the directions of said first and second members; and at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like, closed vessel having liquid therein between each said first and second members and said abutment surfaces facing in the direction thereof whereby said hanger-like member has limited universal movement relative to said first and second members.  
  8. ln material handling apparatus having a first member, a second member, and a hanger assembly supporting said second member from said first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from said first and second members providing abutment surfaces facing in the directions of said first and second members; and at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like member between each said first and second members and said abutment surfaces facing in the direction thereof and surrounding said hanger-like member whereby said hanger-like member extends through said first and second members and said ring-like members and has limited universal movement relative to &#39;said first and second members.  
  9. ln material handling apparatus having a first member, a second member, and a hanger assembly supporting said second member from said first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from said first and second members providing abutment surfaces facing in the directions of said first and second members: and at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like, member between each of said first and second members and said abutment surfaces facing in the direction thereof. one or both of said first and second members and said hanger-like member having abutment surfaces surrounding said flexible members whereby said hangerlike member has limited universal movement relative to said first and second members and the expansion of said flexible members is limited.  
  10. In material handling apparatus having a first member, a second member. and a hanger assembly sup porting said second member from said first member comprising: a hanger-like member spaced from said first and second members providing abutment surfaces facing in the directions of said first and second members; and at least one resilient, flexible, ring-like, closed vessel having fluid therein between each of said first and second members and said abutment surfaces facing in the direction thereof and surrounding said hangerlike member, one or both of said first and second members and said hanger-like member having abutment surfaces surrounding said flexible closed vessels whereby said hanger-like member extends through said first and second members and said vessels and has limited universal movement relative to said first and second members and the expansion of said flexible closed vessels is limited.  
 hanger-like member. one or both of said first and second members and said hanger-like member havingabutment surfaces surrounding said closed vessels whereby said hanger-like member extends through said first and second members and said vessels and has limited universal movement relative to said first and second members and the expansion of said closed vessels is limited.