AU682874B2 - Track apparatus - Google Patents

Description

"TRACK APPARATUS" This invention relates to a track apparatus.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to track apparatus in conjunction with mobile storage furniture, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as light gauge rolling transport in a broader sense.

Mobile storage furniture of the compactus type generally comprises a track assembly adapted to be fixed to the floor and having a roller engaging track portion adapted to receive, for rolling engagement, rollers mounted to a support structure provided at the base of the mobile storage S" 15 furniture. In general, such apparatus is adapted to be fixed to level floors having a high point loading capacity and, as such have had limited application or utility when used on structures not up to such loadings and/or having an uneven floor.

One approach to overcoming these disadvantages is provided by apparatus as disclosed in Australian Patent No.

613537. This apparatus includes an extruded aluminium track having downwardly depending ribs spread over a wider track area than would usually be used. The wide track spreads the load over a larger area of the floor and the ribs act as stiffeners such that the track may bridge unevenness in the floor. Since conventional roller assemblies may tend to bind and otherwise not roll smoothly, the disclosure of Australian Patent No. 613537 includes the use of a pair of track bearing surfaces disposed in inclined relation to one another and adapted to engage the shoulder of the rollers, which generally comprise a ball bearing assembly. Since the rollers have effectively a line contact with the track bearing surfaces, slight flex or variation in the track does not effect the smooth rolling characteristics of the roller.

However, the apparatus the subject of the disclosure of 613537 has its own disadvantages. Firstly, there is a limit to the unevenness which can be compensated for by the arrangement before permanent deformation of the track may occur. Secondly, the line contact against the hard steel track bearing inserts tends to provide for very high reactive forces tending to twist the roller in the track, thus requiring substantial stiffening/mounting flanges on the generally extruded bearing carriage.

The present invention aims to substantially alleviate at O6 least one of the above disadvantages and to provide mobile storage furniture apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this goes *r invention in one aspect resides broadly in track apparatus including a track body member having a bearing surface adapted to engage a roller of the type having a substantially cylindrical outer rolling surface bounded by a pair of opposed edges, said bearing surface being bounded by wall portions each meeting said bearing surface at a portion _L L I adapted to accommodate said edges.

The track apparatus is preferably supported on a surface by track mounting means, the track body member including engagement means adapted to engage the track mounting means.

The track mounting means may comprise one or more track mounting plates adapted to be secured to the surface by means of conventional screw fixing or the like. For example, the track mounting means may comprise a plurality of plate members, whereby the track mounting means are adapted to be levelled on an uneven surface such as by means of packing or the like. The plurality of plate members may each be provided with interengagement means whereby the plates may be interengaged one to each adjacent other one.

For example, the plates may have stamped or otherwise formed therein a series of notches and tongues being complementary and adapted for end to end engagement of the a.

plates. Preferably, at least some of the tongues are displaced out of the plane of the plates to provide the aforementioned engagement means for the track body member as a.o 0 described hereinafter.

The track body member may comprise an extruded section of aluminium or other extrudable engineering material, roll a 4 formed section or the like. Preferably, the track body member is of wider section than conventional track to provided for spreading of the loads on the track across the track mounting members. The track body member is preferably formed with a plurality of longitudinal ribs, for the purpose of providing stiffening, for the purpose of providing

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II -O on lands bounding the lower edges of the ribs, for transferring the weight loads of the apparatus to the track mounting means. In the case of the extruded aluminium sections which are preferred, the aforementioned ribs are preferably formed integrally into the extrusion.

The engagement means may take any suitable means such as interengaging lugs and recesses on the respective parts, complementary threaded portions and/or members or the like.

For example, the engagement means comprises tongue portions 10 formed in the track mounting means and adapted to engage complementary recesses in the track body member.

In the case of the preferred plurality of mounting plates bearing interengagement tongues and recesses, it is preferred that at least some of the tongues are displaced out 15 of the plane of the plates to provide the aforementioned engagement means adapted to engage complementary recesses provided in the track body member. In the case of the preferred extruded aluminium track body member, the displaced 9 tongues may be adapted to engage valleys between the preferred integrally extruded longitudinal ribs.

Preferably, the vertical weight loads imposed on the track body member are translated to the track mounting means by of bearing surfaces provided on the underside of the track body member and adapted to be supported on a corresponding bearing surface on the track mounting means. For aluminium extruded track members the bearing surfaces preferably comprise lands formed on the material of the preferred longitudinal ribs.

A further disadvantage of particularly the apparatus described in the aforementioned Australian Patent No. 613537 is that the line contact of the rollers on the hard steel inserts of the track assembly bears all of the mobile weight of the compactus apparatus. To overcome this disadvantage it is preferred in the present invention to provide for a roller and track combination which bears the weight on the cylindrical surface of the roller whilst providing a non binding means of encouraging centering of the roller in the track member.

For example, the upper surface of the track member may have formed therein a roller bearing portion comprising a substantially flat bearing surface, bounded by opposed centering wall portions adapted to substantially prevent 15 lateral displacement of rollers on the track member. The oflat bearing surface is preferably selected to be of a width substantially conforming to the width of the flat cylindrical go surface on the outside of the roller.

Accordingly, in a further aspect, this invention lies 20 broadly in mobile storage furniture apparatus including:- 'o roller means having a substantially cylindrical outer *5* rolling surface bounded by a pair of opposed edges, and a track body member having a bearing surface adapted to engage said rolling surface and bounded by outwardly divergent wall portions each meeting said bearing surface at a portion adapted to accommodate said edges.

The centering wall portions may advantageously be outwardly divergent to substantially alleviate binding of the I -e 6 roller and the junction between the flat bearing surface and the wall portions is preferably formed to accommodate the form of the edges of the roller which is generally radiused to avoid a cutting action. The track body member may be of the aforementioned aluminium extrusion having its track bearing -face and outwardly divergent wall portions formed integrally therewith. However, it is envisaged that the extrusion may be formed such that an insert of the harder material may comprise at least the bearing surface and preferably the portion adapted to accommodate the roller edges. For example, there may be provided a roll formed steel section or the like adapted to be pressed or swaged into a corresponding recess provide in the track extrusion and providing a liner therefor including the bearing 6 15 surfaces, the roller edge accommodation portions and S: substantially defining the outwardly divergent wall portions.

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0 In one embodiment there is provided mobile storage o: furniture apparatus including:a track body member having a track surface defined thereon; track mounting means adapted to be mounted to a floor, said track body member including engagement means adapted to engage said track mounting means, and a roller assembly adapted to engage said track portion.

The roller assembly may take any suitable form which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, and may take the form of a conventional ball bearing born furniture assembly. Preferably, the roller assembly includes an L_ 7 extruded or pressed roller section adapted to support a plurality of ball bearing assemblies for engagement with the track surface of the track member. For example the roller section may comprise an inverted substantially U-shaped section having disposed across the arms of the U-shape a plurality of spaced axle assemblies each mounting a ball bearing assembly. Preferably, the axle assemblies include end float limiting means for each said bearing assembly to S substantially alleviate binding of the bearing assembly against the inner walls of the U-shaped section.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- 15 FIG. 1 is a cross section through apparatus in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a track mounting means suitable for use in conjunction with the apparatus of Figure 1.

In the figures there is provided mobile storage e furniture apparatus including a plurality of interlocking levelling plates 10 each adapted to be affixed to a substrate by meania of fixing slots 11 and having provided in the ends thereof, interengagement tags 12 bent up out of the plane of the plates The interengagement tags 12 are adapted to engage the corresponding recesses 13 provided in the adjacent plate and to extend upwardly out of the plane of the plates A track extrusion 14 is provided having laterally 8 extending shoulder portions 15 adapted to spread the footprint of the track and having an underside provided with a plurality of downwardly depending ribs 16 adapted to both stiffen the track extrusion 14 and provide a series of longitudinal channels 17 adapted to be engaged by the interengagement tags 12.

The upper surface of the track extrusion 14 has integrally formed therein a track portion 20 having formed in the upper surface thereof a track channel 21 having a flat bearing surface 22 bounded by outwardly divergent wall al4 portions 23.

A roller carriage assembly 24 is provided having a carriage extrusion 25 having mounted therein a ball bearing roller 26 by means of mounting spindle 27 and thrush washers 15 30, the bearing roller 26 and thrush washers 30 assembly being slidable on the spindle 27 to the limits imposed by the side members of the carriage extrusion The flat bearing surface 22 is selected to be of a width 4 substantially conforming to the width of the flat cylindrical surface on the outside of the ball bearing roller 26, the junction between the flat bearing surface 22 and the wall portions 23 being radiused to conform with the radiused outer rim portions 31 of the ball bearing roller 26. The furniture structure 32 of the mobile storage furniture apparatus is secured to the roller carriage extrusion 25 by means of machine screw 33.

In use, the interlocking plates 10 are established on substrate and secured thereto in a level position whereupon

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9 the track extrusion 14 may be loose laid directly thereover, the interengagement tags 12 locating the track extrusion 14 by means of the channels 17, ribs 16 translating the downward loading of the mobile storage furniture apparatus to the substrate via the interlocking plates The assembly of the furniture structure 32 and the roller carriage assembly 24 is engaged with the track portion the ball bearing roller 26 accommodating any reasonable deviation in straightness of the track by means of its ability to slide on the spindle 27 in response to the radiused outer rim portions 31 of the ball bearing roller 26 reacting with the radiused junction between the flat bearing surface 22 and the wall portion 23, without surrendering its major downward load from the flat bearing surface 22.

15 It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

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Claims (14)

1. Track apparatus including a track body member having 'a bearing surface adapted to engage a roller of the type having a substantially cylindrical outer rolling surface bounded by a pair of opposed edges, said bearing surface being bounded by wall portions each meeting said bearing surface at a portion adapted to accommodate said edges.

2. Track apparatus according to Claim 1, including track mounting means adapted to be mounted to a surface, said track body member including engagement means adapted to engage said track mounting means. o 0.

3. Track apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said track mounting means comprises a plurality of plate members having .9. interengagement means comprising stamped or otherwise formed .9 notches and tongues being complementary and adapted for end to end interengagement of adjacent plate members. 9 .9

4. Track apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein at least some of said tongues are displaced out of the plane of the plates to engage said engagement means. Track apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said track body member comprises an extruded section of aluminium or alloy thereof. IU; I II 11

6. Track apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein said track body member includes a plurality of stiffening longitudinal ribs defining channels therebetween for engagement with the track mounting means, said ribs having lands bounding their lower edges for transferring the weight loads borne by said roller to the track mounting means.

7. Track apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said track mounting means comprises a plurality of plate members each bearing interengagement means comprising notches and tongues being complementary and adapted for end to end engagement of a plurality of said plate members, wherein at least some of be said tongues are displaced out of the plane of the plates to provide said engagement with said channels.

8. Track apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein at least said bearing surface is lined with a oo S. material of greater hardness than said extruded section of aluminium or alloy thereof. a a

9. Track apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said wall portions are mutually outwardly divergent. Track apparatus according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said opposed edges are radiused.

11. Mobile storage furniture apparatus including:- roller means having a substantially cylindrical outer rolling surface bounded by a pair of opposed edges, and a track body member having a bearing surface adapted to engage said rolling surface and bounded by outwardly divergent wall portions each meeting said bearing surface at a portion adapted to accommodate said edges.

12. Mobile storage apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein said opposed edges of the roller are radiused.

13. Mobile storage furniture apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein said roller means comprises an-.assembly of an extruded or pressed roller mounting section adapted to support a plurality of rollers for engagement with the 00 bearing surface of the track. 0 00 **Jo 14. Mobile storage furniture apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein said roller mounting section comprises an inverted substantially U-shaped section having disposed across the arms of the U-shape a plurality of spaced axle assemblies each mounting a roller comprising a ball bearing assembly. S 000

15. Track apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described e with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Mobile storage furniture apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying I, I drawings. DATED THIS nineteenth DAY OF May, 1997. JOHN LEONARD COLE AND JOYCE MARGARET COLE by PIZZEYS 4 4 4**4 4. 4 4 4 4. 4* 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4. 4. 4 4 4 4

44.. 4 .44 4 #4 4 4 4 4 444 4 4 4 4 .4.4 44 4 44 4* 4 4 14 ABSTRACT Mobile storage furniture apparatus and track apparatus therefor are provided. A plurality of interlocking levelling plates 10 are fixable to a floor fixing and have interengagement tags 12. The interengagement tags 12 are adapted to engage the corresponding recesses 13 provided in the adjacent plate and to extend upwardly out of the plane of the plates 10. A track extrusion 14 is provided having shoulder portions 15 to spread the footprint of the track, and has a plurality of downwardly depending ribs 16 adapted to both stiffen the track extrusion 14 and provide a series *.to of longitudinal channels 17 adapted to be engaged by the interengagement tags 12. The track extrusion 14 has formed therein a flat bearing surface 22 bounded by outwardly divergent wall portions 23. The bearing surface 22 is of a width conforming to the flat cylindrical surface of a ball bearing roller 26, the junction between the flat bearing surface 22 and the wall portions 23 being radiused to conform with the outer rim portions 31 of the ball bearing roller 26.