Patent ID: 6036427
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: B61B,B65G

Abstract:
A guided-vehicle transport system for transporting a load comprising:a self-propelled transport vehicle including at least first and second guide trucks cooperating with a guide rail shaped to guide said vehicle along a travel path;each of said at least first and second guide trucks has at least one pair of guide rollers opposed across and contacting said guide rail in a lateral direction:each of said at least first and second guide trucks movable in unison with said at least one pair of guide rollers to a position where said at least one pair of guide rollers is clear of said guide rail thereby disengaging a respective guide truck from said guide rail;said vehicle supported solely by a plurality of wheels on a supporting surface, at least one of which is a drive wheel;said at least one drive wheel contacts said supporting surface at a location substantially on a line defined by a locus of points equidistant from a center of said at least first and second guide trucks; andloading and unloading stages, located at respective points along said travel path, each having a respective mounting surface to support said load carried by said vehicle.