US1791527A - Supporting device for overhead tracks - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1931. P. L. HOFFMAN SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS Filed Feb. 21. 1927 I ||||1 III atented Feb. 3%, 1931 irnszv PETER L. HOFFMAN, OF AURGRA, ILLENOIS, AFJSIGNOR TO RiCHABDS-WILGOX MANU- FAGTURING COMPANY, 015 AURORA, IL

LINOES, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SUPPORTING-DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,791.

My invention relates to devices for supporting door hanger and similar overhead tracks, and particularly tracks of inverted U-shape, such as are commonly used as runways for trolleys from which sliding doors are suspended. Track of such design is usually made lI1 "'SCtl0I1S of convenientlength, and a plurality of these sections are mounted with their adjoining ends abutting, so as to make up a continuous track of the required total length. It is therefore important to hold the several sections against endwise movement that would open up spaces at the joints, as the opening of such-gaps wouldobviously interfere with the smooth running of the trolleys or-door hangers,and would cause jolts that would tend to loosen the track supports as well as to jar the door'and the hangers, resulting in their more rapid deterioration. The object of my present invention is to provide improved means tor supporting a track made up of a plurality of sections, by which the several sections will be firmly supported, and also Wlll be held against endwise movement relatively to each other; also to provide supporting means of this character that will be of simple and inexpensive design. accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawings, and as v hereinafter described. YVhat I regard as new will be set forth in the claims. V L

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of parts of twoadj oining track sections of inverted U-shape, supported and connected by my improved supporting means.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the yoke member that constitutes a part of the connecting means, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings 6, 7 indicate two track sections of like cross sectional contour,

which in the illustrations is somewhat like an inverted U, although, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3., inwardly extending flanges 8 are provided at the lower side margins of the sections, said flanges being spaced apart, as

proximate ends of adjoining sections abutting against each other, so as to make a continuous runway. The track is supported opposite such joints by a two-part bracket comprising an inner member or plate 11, which for the most part is fiat, as shown in Fig. 3, but is provided at its lower end with an outturned flange or lip 12 that extends under the inner flan e or channel of the track sections, the inner wall of such sections bearing against the fiat surface of said plate, which extends upward some distance above the track sections, for conveniently attaching it to a wall or other support, as by a bolt 13.

The track supporting bracket prises an outer member 14, which is approxi mately Z-shaped, as it has a vertical porticn 15, that fits against the upper portion of the plate 11; a horizontal intermediate portion 16, that extends over the upper surface of the track sections; and a vertical portion that bears against the outer vertical face of the track sections and overlies the oint between them. At the lower end of he portion 1-. is an inturned flange 18, that extends under the outer flange 8 of the track sections, which therefore rest upon ant are supported by the flanges 12, 18, as shown in 3. The memalso comher H is so proportioned that the horizontal portion thereof lies a. chi distance above he upper surface of the track sections. as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, an the upper portion is firmly secured to the 1 e ll by the bolt 13, which p. thro ed holes 111 both, and also by on ten .9 struck up from the plate ll into or notches 19 formed in the part 15 at on, c sides of the bolt 13. Thus the two members of the bracket are firmly connected together bracket is secured in place by the bolt The track sections lies preferabiy midway be. en the end margins of the bracket, and said s ctions are l secured together and to the br cket bymeans of a U-shaped yoke 20, compi a substantially flat intermediate portion anddownturned end portions 22' provided with tongues 23 and shoulders 24 at oppi "ite sides of said tongues, as best shown 1n F1 4. The yoke is of such length that it is adapted to embrace the bracket members 14' at its horizontal portion'16, with the shoulders 21- bearing on the upper surface of the track sections, and the tongues 25? projecting into "lots 6 formed in said track sections as best nvn Fi 2 and A bolt zesecures e yoke to the horizontal'portion 16 tl. e head of said bolt bearing against the under surface of said portion 16, While a nut 28 screwcdon the up Wardly extending shank of the bolt, which passes throughsuitable holes in the bracket member and yoke.

Manifestly the bolt 26 holds the yoke lirmly in place on the bracket member a, yoke holds the track sections against endwise movement tending to open up the jo'nt. By removing the nut 28 the yoke-may be detached to permit the track sections to be do mounted.

In Fig. 5 I havoshoWn a modified arrange ment in which in tead of employing ton ues formed on the yoke, I provide upturned lips 29 struck up from the upper portions of the track sections 6, T, at such points that they abut'against' the inner faces of the downturned portions 22 of the yoke, and so prevent endwise movement of the track sections.

This form is substantially a reversal of that shownin the other figures. In both forms the yoke holds the track sections down firmly on the flanges 12, 18, and in both it forms an interlocking connection between the bracket and the track sections that holds the latter against endwise movement with respect to the bracket, or to each other, and yet permits them to be easil assembled or lisconnectedu So far as this feature of my invention is concerned, it may be used in connection with a single piece bracket, although the tv'o piece bracket is a more advantageous con. 'uction. What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is is and the 1(The combination of an overhead track, and means for supporting it in place, said means comprising a bracket extending over and partially beneath the track, a, yoke extending over and secured to the bracket above the track and having down-turned ends provided with ton ues projecting into slots in the track, and a bolt securing the yoke to the bracket.

2. The combination of an overhead track, and means for supporting it in place, said means comprising abracket extending over and partially beneath the track, a yoke extending over and secured to the bracket above the track and having downturned ends provided Withtongues projecting into slots in the track, and a shoulder bearing on the track, and a bolt securing the yoke to the bracket In combination, anroverhead track, a separable two part bracket extending over andjmrtially securing the bracket to a supporting structure and for releasably securing the tivo parts of the'bracket together-and holding them against relative movement, a yoke straddling the upper horizontal arm of the bracket and bearingfon the-top wall of the track, and

means'for detachably securing the yoke to'the bracket and for forcing said yoketoward the track, theyoke and'the track having coendwise" movement with respect to the bracket. W

4. The combination of an'overhead track comprising a number of sections, and means for supporting the track in place; said means comprising a bracket'extending over and partially underneath-the track, a member on the bracket extending longitudinally of the track and adaptedtobridge a pair of abutting operatingmeans holdin the track-against track section ends in the bracket and having means adapted to be forcibly urged into engagement-With the track, and means-to fasten said member-to the bracket.

5. The combination of an overhead track,-

and means for supporting it in place, said means comprising a bracket extending over and partially beneath the track, a yoke embracing a portion of the bracket above the track and having'projections' near the ends thereof, said track having means cooperating with said projections to prevent endwise movement of the track in the bracket, and means securing the yoke to the bracket.

6. The combination of an overhead track,

and means'for supporting it in place, said beneath the track, means for to end, a bracket extending about and partially beneath the adjacent end portions of tWo successive track sections, a securing and pressure applying member bridging said adjacent end portions of the track sections, said member and the track sections having cooperating means for securing the track sections together and for exerting pressure upon the track sections, and means for securing said member to the bracket and for exerting downward pressure upon the securing and pressure applying member and upward pressure upon the bracket.

PETER L. HOFFMAN.

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