US3632180A

US3632180A - Carriage, notably for laboratory table

Info

Publication number: US3632180A
Application number: US21236A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francois Hauville
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-30
Filing date: 1970-03-20
Publication date: 1972-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-04
Also published as: DE2025825A1

Abstract

Movable carriage adapted to equip tables, benches and other work or handling surfaces, more particularly laboratory worktables. This carriage comprises two trains of wheels, rollers or casters, one train rolling on the table surface and being so arranged that the other train, rolling along the vertical edge of the table, remains in constant engagement with said edge, thus acting as a guide means, irrespective of the direction in which the carriage is propelled for changing its position on the table. Thus, the carriage may have a constant position in relation to the table edge.

Description

United States Patent 1H13,632,180

[72] Inventor Francois Hauville [56] References Cited 24 rue Lalo, Paris XVP France UNITED STATES PATENTS g Q J- 2 1970 2,964,183 12/1960 Mathews 312/349 x 1 3,292,559 12/1966 Cousins et 111.. 104/246 Patented 1972 3 526 93s 9/1970 Grabber 296/ x [32] Priorities May 30 1969 [33] France I FOREIGN PATENTS {31] 6917754; 737,821 7/1966 Canada 211/162 Dec. 4, 1969, France, No. 6941847 596,554 5/1934 Germany 312/137 Primary ExaminerJames T. McCall 54 CARRIAGE, NOTABLY FOR LABORATORY Attornekwendemthy Llnd & Pollack TABLE n Clams 9 Drawmg Figs ABSTRACT: Movable carriage adapted to equip tables, [52] U.S.Cl 312/209, benches and other work or handling surfaces, more particu- 104/246, 312/ 140.4, 312/210, 312/250 larly laboratory worktables. [51] Int. Cl Boll 1/00 This carriage comprises two trains of wheels, rollers or Field of sml'chw 1 casters, one train rolling on the table surface and being so arranged that the other train, rolling along the vertical edge of /2 246; 308/6; 269/55, 56; the table, remains in constant engagement with said edge, thus 23/259, 1 21 /4 05/ 79, acting as a guide means, irrespective of the direction in which the carriage is propelled for changing its position on the table. 7 Thus, the carriage may have a constant position in relation to the table edge.

PATENTED JAN 4 1972 SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENTED JAN 41972 sum 3 OF 3 [an 11/0 0/5 Hal/m L z, m van/2 z mwx. W M

CARRIAGE, NOTABLY FOR LABORATORY TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known to equip laboratory tables, inter alia, with carriages, static on the table surface and provided with panels of translucent or transparent material used as screens for protecting the operator when performing handling steps or experiments considered as dangerous, notably on account of projections resulting therefrom.

Hitherto known carriages of the type broadly set forth herein above are adapted to travel on the table surface with the interposition of conventional guide means such as rails, guideways, races or the like, disposed above the table, or provided on the table by construction or fitted on existing tables. These systems are attended by various inconveniences. Thus, more particularly, they not only increase the construction or equipment cost of the table proper, but they are cumbersome and interfere more or less with the handlings and operations to be performed on the work table, since they are a permanent fixture thereof.

It is the essential object of this invention to remove completely these inconveniences; to this end, the carriage constituting the subject-matter of the present invention, while being easily movable on the table, remains in a constant position in relation to the table edge, without requiring any insert, accessories or guide means incorporated in or secured to the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a movable carriage adapted to equip tables, benches and other work or handling surfaces, more particularly work tables of laboratories and the like. This carriage is utilized for displacing on the table surface any objects, tools, accessories or other objects which may be necessary for performing the works and handling steps to be carried out on the table. The carriage according to this invention may also advantageously be provided with means adapted to constitute as many devices intended for protecting the operators against possible dangers or risks.

According to an essential feature of the present invention, this carriage comprises two trains of wheels, rollers, casters or equivalent means, one train rolling on the table surface and being so arranged that the other train, rolling against the vertical edge of the table, is constantly urged for engagement with this edge, irrespective of the direction of the impulse applied to the carriage for moving same from one position to another position, whereby the carriage preserves a constant position in relation to the table edge.

According to another feature characterizing this invention, the rollers of the train engaging the top surface of the table are mounted on horizontal shafts pivotally mounted in turn to the carriage so that when an impulse is applied to the carriage for causing its travel in one or the other direction said rollers assume an angular position such that the carriage tends to follow an oblique and inward path in relation to the table edge, whereby, during the carriage movement, the train of rollers normally engaging the vertical edge of the table is constantly urged thereagainst.

According to a further feature characterizing this invention the permissible angular movements, in a horizontal plane, of the trains of rollers engaging the top surface of the table is limited to its optimum value, for example by forming in the carriage elongated slots of predetermined, suitable length, which are engaged by the free ends of the shafts on which said rollers are rotatably mounted.

According to a complementary feature characterizing this invention, the carriage is provided with a panel of translucent or transparent material adapted to constitute a protection screen and formed with semicircular notches, this carriage being also provided with magnetic means for detachably coupling together a plurality of juxtaposed carriages on a common table.

LII

According to an additional feature characterizing this invention, advantage is taken of the mobility and independence of carriages of the type set forth hereinabove, equipped with protection screens, in relation to the surface supporting them, for constituting, by simply adding detachable lateral walls and a top suction box thereto, a safety housing or hood adapted to be set over all types of work surface in any desired position, the length of the front of this housing being variable at will; furthermore, this housing can be used in its open or closed condition, whether wholly or partly, due to the mobility of the protection-screen carriages constituting the front elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a carriage according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plane part sectional view from above of the carriage;

FIG. 3 is a part-sectional front view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carriage and of the table equipped thereby;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing juxtaposed, protection-screen forming carriages;

FIG. 6 is a perspective and exploded view of a safety housing or hood comprised of carriages according to this invention, and

FIGS. 7 to 9 are perspective views of various moduli" of such hoods.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the carriage 10 comprises two trains of rollers, wheels, casters or equivalent means, namely:

a train of rollers 11 having a horizontal axis and arranged in a manner to be described hereinafter, these rollers engaging the top surface of a table 12;

a train of rollers 11a having a vertical axis and in rolling engagement with the vertical edge 13 of table 12.

The rollers 11 are mounted on a horizontal shaft 14 mounted in turn on the carriage so the shaft can pivot about a vertical axis or pin 15. Moreover, the inner end of shaft 14 (in relation to the edge 13 and pivot pin 15) is movable in a slot or like elongated aperture 16 formed in the proper side of the carriage.

When an impulse is applied to the carriage for causing its movement on the table surface, for example in the direction shown by the arrow a (see FIG. 2), the train of rollers 11 having their shafts pivoted at 15 and adapted to pivot through an angle or, assume an oblique position as shown by the axis b, which tends to cause the carriage to travel in a direction 0, i.e., in an oblique direction in relation to the table axis or to the longitudinal vertical edge 13 of the table; as shown, this oblique direction 0 is directed inwards of the table. The resultant of the forces involved tends to urge the rollers Ila against the vertical edge 13 of the table, so as to provide a constant mutual engagement between the rollers 11a and the edge 13. When an impulse in the direction a,, i.e., in the opposite direction with respect to the first impulse mentioned hereinabove, is applied to the carriage, the shafts 14 will pivot through the angle a to a position b, symmetrical in relation to their preceding position, thus impressing to the carriage a movement in the direction 0,, i.e., also directed away from the table edge 13, whereby the rollers Ila will also be urged against this vertical edge 13. Under these conditions it is clear that with the provisions of the present invention and irrespective of the carriage position in relation to the table, that is, even if the rollers 11a are not initially in rolling engagement with the vertical edge 13 of the table, it is only necessary to apply an impulse in one or the other direction to the carriage for causing the complete carriage to assume a position such that the rollers 11a engage said vertical edge 13; thus, the carriage will be constantly kept in the proper position on the table.

In the above-described example the carriage it is used on a laboratory work table and is provided with a panel 17 of translucent or transparent material constituting a protection screen.

This panel advantageously comprises on either side and at the prior level a pair of semicircular notches 18 enabling an operator to work or handle equipments or tools under the best possible conditions, well protected by the screen.

The carriage has fitted to its side faces permanent magnets such as 19. Thus, by using a plurality of carriages it is possible to temporarily assemble or couple them with one another and thus constitute a protection screen consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed carriage-supported screens (see FIG. 5). This screen disposed just beneath a hood constitutes an economical movable hood glass panel. The adjacent, registering semicircular notches 18 will thus form circular apertures permitting the intervention of an operator at any time along the protection screen consisting of the assembled carriages 10.

Finally, the carriage is provided on its front fact with a sliding plate 21 permitting of concealing or on the contrary displaying two inscriptions provided on the carriage, such as: Caution! Do Not Move-Shield in Service and Not in Serivce, thus avoiding any untimely displacement of the carriage and attracting the attention of unexperienced persons on the fact that a dangerous operation is taking place behind the protection screen.

Instead of carrying a protection screen the carriage according to this invention may act as a support to a tray on which miscellaneous articles may be placed, as may be required on all worktables or surfaces where operations, treatments and experiments of any nature may take place.

Now reference will be made to FIGS. 6 to 9 to describe various forms of embodiment of safety housings or hoods comprising a plurality of carriages according to this invention, equipped with front protection screens and means for constructing a safety housing such as a laboratory hood or the like.

The front face of the hood consists of a plurality of carriages 10 according to the present invention, each equipped with a translucent or transparent screen or panel 17 formed with semicircular juxtaposed notches 18 (which are two in number in the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) as shown.

The lateral walls of the hood consist of translucent panels 22 carried by a relatively heavy or solid base member 23 having its underface advantageously provided with suction cups (not shown) for increasing the stability of the assembly.

The front and lateral elements of the hood have fitted thereon a suction box 24, for example by means of front and rear connecting members and 26, respectively. The front member 25 connecting the suction box 24 to the carriages l0 constituting the front section of the hood comprise a groove 25a adapted to be slidably engaged by the edge of the screen equipping each carriage. The rear connecting member 26 is formed with side elements 26a adapted to fit on the side panels 22.

The arrangements illustrated and described herein permit of constructing from standard, ease to assemble elements a hood which, by virtue of the mobility and independence feature of its front component elements, can be moved according to requirements and circumstances in any desired position along the worktable or surface, this table orsurface being of any desired type (for example provided with a backboard, as shown in FIG. 7, or plain as in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9).

On the other hand, clue to the above described features of the front elements and also to the fact that these elements are mounted on the suction box 24 so as to slide therealong, the hood can readily be converted into a wholly or partially open hood by adding or removing these front elements.

As to the lateral elements, they are detachable and therefore adapted to be used either singly or in combination with the front elements for constituting partitions separating adjacent working stations, or isolating a particularly dangerous or delicate piece of equipment or apparatus, or constituting one or more flame-guards or the like.

The same lateral elements disposed within the hood or housing are adapted to constitute one or a plurality of chambers of variable, equal or unequal volume, these chambers being intended for use by several operators each disposing of a cell" adapted to be closed more or less completely by means of front elements consisting of the carriages of the type shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 which constitute a movable protection screen.

Moreover, the length of the suction boxes 24 is equal to one multiple of that of a front element 10, so that by properly varying their number it is possible to obtain hoods having any desired lengths (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

The safety housing, such as a hood, obtained by using the elements according to the present invention is not closed completely at the rear and thus permits the use of any desired equipments or apparatus associated with or incorporated in the work surface or worktable on which this housing is in stalled.

Of course, many modifications and variations may be brought to the forms of embodiment of the invention which are shown and described herein, without however departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A movable carriage for a worktable, surface or the like, notably a laboratory table comprising two trains of roller means, one train rolling on the top surface of the table and the other train engaging the vertical edge of the table being constantly urged thereagainst, thus acting as a guide means, irrespective of the direction of the impulse applied to the carriage for displacing same along the table, whereby the carriage can remain in a constant position in relation to said vertical edge of the table.

2. Carriage according to claim 1, wherein said roller means of said train rolled on the top surface of the table are mounted on horizontal shafts pivoted in turn in relation to the carriage so that when an impulse is applied to the carriage for moving same along the table said roller means assume a direction so that they urge the carriage along an oblique inward path in relation to said vertical edge of the table, whereby during the carriage movement said train of roller means nonnally engaging said vertical edge is constantly urged thereagainst.

3. Carriage according to claim 2, wherein the permissible angular movement of said train of rollers engaging the top surface of the table is limited to its optimum value by means of a slot formed in said carriage and engaged by the free ends of said shafts on which said roller means are mounted.

4. Carriage according to claim 1 which is provided with a panel of translucent or transparent material to constitute a protection screen, said panel being formed with semicircular notches.

5. Carriage according to claim 1 comprising means such as permanent magnets adapted detachably to interconnect a plurality of carriages juxtaposed on a same table.

6. Carriage according to claim 1 wherein movable means are provided on the front of said carriage for concealing or displaying inscriptions provided on said carriage.

7. A plurality of carriages according to claim 1 constituting the front elements of a safety housing, notably a laboratory hood, of which the lateral elements consist of detachable translucent or transparent panels carried by a base member and supporting a suction box.

8. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein a safety housing has the front elements slidably connected to said suction box.

9. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein said suction box is mounted on said lateral elements by detachable connecting members.

10. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein said suction box has a length corresponding to one multiple of the length of the front element to permit the assembling of hoods having any desired length.

11. Movable carriage according to claim 7 wherein the inner space of said safety housing is partitioned by lateral panel elements.

Claims

2. Carriage according to claim 1, wherein said roller means of said train rolled on the top surface of the table are mounted on horizontal shafts pivoted in turn in relation to the carriage so that when an impulse is applied to the carriage for moving same along the table said roller means assume a direction so that they urge the carriage along an oblique inward path in relation to said vertical edge of the table, whereby during the carriage movement said train of roller means normally engaging said vertical edge is constantly urged thereagainst.