US3568825A

US3568825A - Cargo moving shuttle conveyor

Info

Publication number: US3568825A
Application number: US740621A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald F Munger
Original assignee: Boeing Co
Current assignee: Boeing Co
Priority date: 1968-06-27
Filing date: 1968-06-27
Publication date: 1971-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-09

Abstract

A shuttle conveyor for moving articles fore-and-aft on a track on a floor, such as baggage in an aircraft cargo compartment, comprises a shuttle bar pivotally mounted in a carriage movable on the track and a link pivotally connected to the shuttle bar and cooperative with suitably positioned spring loaded plungers and stop members both (1) for erecting the bar for pushing the article on the floor in one direction, and (2) for lowering the bar for passing under the articles to again rise and push the articles in the other direction at the option and control of a distant operator.

Description

United States Patent "u u o u n h mm m .m m WT m y mm m mH mAM ow m m "P nn f n en U H CST m 1 a yum a e h w u SKRS ob O Db 45 7 mw 66 6 r 99 9 W6 11 1 "."H 45 l ml mi .14 0 EES 00 6 Wm 71 8 arm 28 2 m u 4 nm& 33 FAA V. h. u as new m m i 8 0 a 9 .3 .w t:m 82 1 u d .Bm wwm m MF7JMT r. de m N mm H L ng & 6 9 v flm h AFPA 1111]] 2 1253 7 2247 .l. [,lrlrl ABSTRACT: A shuttle conveyor for moving articles fore-andaft on a track on a floor, such as baggage in an aircraft cargo compartment, comprises a shuttle bar pivotally mounted in a carriage movable on the track and a link pivotally connected to the shuttle bar and cooperative with suitably positioned spring loaded plungers and stop members both (1) for erecting the bar for pushing the article on the floor in one direction, and (2) for lowering the bar for passing under the articles to again rise and push the-articles in the other direction at the option and control of a distant operator.

PATENTED MAR 91911 3,568,825

sum

1 or 6 VIINI'UK DONALD HUNGER AGEN T PATENTEUHAR QISTI SHEET 2 0F 6 AGE/YT CARGO MOI/DIG SLE CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l 1. Field ofthelnvention This invention is classified in Class 244, subclass -l 18, Arrangements on "Aircraft Particularly Designed to Improve the Convenience or Efficiency with Which Passengers or Cargo are Carried"? 1 2. Summary of the Invention z The disclosed cargo moving shuttle conveyor system for moving and. storing cargo, or the like, fore-and-aft on an elongated storageroom, as an aircraft cargo compartment, comprises a fl'ooritrack mounted shuttle carriage'having an erectable cargo pusher, a bar pivotally mounted in the carriage and .r'esponsiveto a pivotally connected link whereby with an erected shuttle bar, the carriage can push cargo from one end to the other endof the cargo compartment, and with the shuttle bar lowered, the-carriage, in its track; passes, under the cargoas controlled bya distant operator, inithe doorway, for example. Suitably positioned spring-loaded plungers and stop members are utilized inthe tracksfor'tripping the links'for iaising or lowering the shuttle barn r t I a Accordingl'y a principal-object of this invention is to provide a shuttle having a bar responsive to a pivotally connected link for being erected and lowered for moving articles to-andfro. Another object of "this invention is to provide a'shuttle hav- 'ing' pivotally iiitrddiinec'ted bar and link responsive to a spring l'oaded plunger and sto'pineans for being raised and lowered for moving articles across a floor. 1 7 A further object of this invention isto provide a shuttle in an aircraft deck having a shuttle bar responsive to a pivotally "connected link for being erected for pushing cargo to either end of a cargo compartment in the aircraft and for being lowered for passing under the desired cargo. Other objects and various advantages of the disclosed cargo moving-shuttle will be apparent from the following'detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings, subinitted for purposes of illustration,- reference being made for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS .flhe drawings diagrammatically, illustrate by way of example, not Lby'way of limitation, one form :of the invention wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding "parts in the several views in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cargo moving shuttle with the shuttle bar lowered;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of theshuttle of FIG. lwith the shuttle bar erected in cargo moving position; i 1.

FIG. 3 isa schematic plan view of the shuttle longitudinal transversing system;

FIG. 4. is a longitudinal sectionalview of the shuttle of FIG.

2;illustrated withcables attached toieach end, with the shuttle bar erected, and in ,broken lines. is shown the shuttle bar in .lowered position; Q I I FIG. 5 is a side view of the manual and automatictripping mechanismwithparts in section; v

FIG. 6., a sectional view taken at 66 on FIG. 7, illustrates an Jend of the shuttle with the shuttletrack and floor shown in section and with the cargo and raisedshuttle bar shown in -b k n ine t FIGS. 7 19 are longitudinal sectional views with parts cut away foi clarity of disclosure showing the sequence of movements for erecting the shuttle barat the right end of the track,

FIG7 being asection taken at 77 on FIG. 6; i FIG. Ml is a side view, with parts cut away, of the shuttle having its bar erected and pushing an article of cargo to the left{ .1

FIGS. 11-15'are side views of the shuttle, with parts in section,.illustrating the.. ,sequence of rnovements to retract the shuttle bar at the right end of the tracks for passing under the cargo;

. FIGS. 15-17 are side views of the shuttle, with parts in section, showing the sequenceof movements to erect the shuttle bar at the track left end for pushing the cargo;

FIGS. 17-19, side views of the shuttle with parts in section, illustrate the sequence of movements for retracting the shuttle bar at the track left end;

FIG. 18, a side view of the shuttle with parts shown in section, illustrates continued right hand movement of the shuttle from the position of FIG. 17 for pushing the cargo to the right; and

FIG. 19, a side view of the shuttle with parts illustrates in section, shows movement of the shuttle against and over the spring urged stop for lowering the shuttle bar-for returning to theright when so desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a shuttle 10 for use on a track in a floor for pushing and pulling articles thereon. This shuttle is particularly useful in moving cargo about in the cargo hold of an aircraft, for example, both when loading and unloading the cargo, as controlled by 'an operator standing in the door. Shuttle 10 comprises a carriage 11 riding on wheels 12 and having pushing and pulling bar 13 mounted on'the carriage with pivot pin 14. Two identioal links 15 are each pivotally connected at one of their ends to the intermediate portion of the bar 13 with pivot pin 16, the other end of each link being pivoted on shaft 17 which is slideable in inverted V-shaped slots 18 in

enantiomorphic sides

19 and 20 of the carriage 11. FIG. 1 illustrates the shuttle with the bar in the down position for permitting the shuttle to pass under any cargo on the floor, and FIG. 2 illustrates the shuttle with its bar in up position for pushing articles of cargo in either direction.

FIG. 3 discloses a typical longitudinal transversing system or means for moving the shuttle 10 comprising a cable 21 with each cable end 22 and 23, FIG. 4, connected to the shuttle in respective slots 24, 25, a plurality of conventional cable tensioners and pulleys 26, FIG. 3,

conventional drums

27, 28 and *operators conventional crank and

chain

29 and 30, respecposition for pushing articles of cargo or the like, 31, in either direction, as illustrated, pin l6'pivotally connects the other end of the link iS to the bar 13 and pin 14 pivotally connects the bar to the carriage 11. In broken lines are shown shaft 17 in the right end of V-slot 18 for retracting bar 13 below the bottom surface of the cargo 31.

FIG. 5 discloses the tripping pin mechanism 32 for rising and descending through the lower surface of track 48 for .tripping the shuttle bar 13, FIG. 4. Pin mechanism 32. comprises vertically slideable upwardly spring-biased pin 34 pivotally attached with pin 35 to bellcrank 36 pivotally mounted on lower surface of track 48 and actuatable by manually actuated cable 37 connected to the bellcrank with pin 38. While spring 39 urges the bellcrank clockwise and the pin 34 upwardly, lever 37 lowers the trip pin 34 as desired so that the shuttle may pass over the trip pin 34 and the shuttle bar thus would not be raised or lowered, or actuated in any manner.

FIG. 6, a sectional view taken at 6-6 on FIG. 7, is an end view of the shuttle 10 illustrating rigid carriage guide at) protruding through a slot 41 in the floor 33 and the positions of the shuttle bar and cargo to be pushed thereby, shown in broken lines, relative to the floor. Shuttle wheels 12 operate in track 458.

FIG. 7, a sectional view taken at 7-7 on FIG. 6, FIG. 3, and FIG. 9, illustrate the sequence of movements of the links 15 and bar 13 as the shuttle 10 moves to the right. As link 15 abuts a spring-urged pin 44 and the shaft end of the links is stopped, the shaft 17 is moved aft, relatively in the inverted V- slot 18 as the carriage with the slotted sides continues to the right. While pin 44 merely utilizes a single spring, if so desired, a bellcrank like that of FIG. 5 may be added.

In FIG. 9 the shuttle bar 13 has reached its erected position for pushing or pulling cargo to the left and is locked in position by the shaft 17 of link 15, it having been urged into the left end of the inverted V-slot 18 by the pin 44, and, forward movement of the carriage has been arrested by contact thereof by the spring-loaded stop 42. Shaft 17 has a roller bearing 43 there around. The shuttle, with erected shuttle bar 13 having cargo contacting surfaces 47a and 47b, FIG. 9, is now ready to be reversed in direction and push the cargo 31 to the left as illustrated in FIG. 10.

Accordingly, FIG. 10 shows how the shuttle bar 13 is now in position for pushing the cargo 31 to the left across the floor 33 after having been raised as illustrated in the proceeding three FIGS. by the actuating means as spring-urged pin 44, FIG. 9.

FIGS. 1114 illustrate the sequence of steps for lowering the shuttle bar 13 at the right end of the track and/or storage area. While movement of the shuttle 10 to the right is stopped by its contact with spring-loaded stop 42, FIG. 11, additional movement of the shuttle to the right against the spring-loaded stop causes the lower right end of link 15 to compress and pass over spring-biased pin 44 to the other side thereof as shown in FIG. 12.

Then with reversal of movement of the shuttle 10 to the left, FIG. 13, the pin 44 urges the lower end of link 15 rearwardly, thereby raising shaft 17 and its bearing 43 out of their locking position in slot 18.

The bearing 43 of link 15, FIG. 14, rolls down to the far right end of slot 24 to pull shuttle bar 13 completely down to the retracted position to enable the shuttle 10 to pass under the cargo 31, particularly as illustrated in FIG. 15.

Further, FIGS. 1517 disclose how the shuttle bar 13 is raised at the left end of the storage area and/or track. As shown in FIG. 15, leftward movement has caused the lower end of the shuttle bar 13 to contact pin 44, and additional lefthand movement gradually raises the bar, FIG. 16, the bar pressing pin 44 down as it passes to the FIG. 17 position, which bar pulls links 15, and accordingly roller 43 is moved from the right end of the slot 18 to the slot left end where the links are locked in position, FIG. 17, to accordingly lock shuttle bar 13 in erected position. Left-hand movement of the shuttle is stopped by a left spring-loaded stop 45, and pushing of the cargo 31 to the right may now be accomplished, as illustrated in FIG. 18. I

FIG. 19 discloses how additional leftward movement of the shuttle 10 against spring-loaded stop 45 of FIG. 17 results in lowering of the shuttle bar 13, FIG. 19, whereby right-hand movement of the lower end of links 15 occurs relative to the inverted V-slot 18. Likewise, a spring 46, FIGS. 2 and 19, is rigidly connected to bolt on pin 14 and protrudes over shaft 17 to constantly spring urge the shaft downward into either end of the inverted V-slot 18. Movement of the shaft 17 to the far right in the slot 18 completely retracts the shuttle bar 13 so that the shuttle may pass under the cargo.

In summary, FIGS. 79 disclose how the shuttle bar 13 is erected at the right end of the track; FIGS. 11l5 illustrate how the shuttle bar is retracted at the right end of the track; FIGS. 15-17 show how the shuttle bar is erected at the track left end; and FIGS. 17 and 19 disclose how the shuttle bar is retracted at the track left end. Likewise, the manually extendible and retractable tripping pin mechanism 32 may be positioned at any convenient and suitable location, to facilitate control of the shuttle bar for pushing cargo in either direction from in front of the main loading door, for example.

Accordingly, a shuttle has been disclosed having a push bar responsive to a link for being erected and retracted for moving articles to-and-fro on a floor. Also a shuttle has been disclosed having a bar and links responsive to a spring-loaded plunger or trip pin for being erected and retracted in the movement of cargo across the floor. And particularly, a shuttle has been disclosed for use in an aircraft deck having a shuttle bar responsive to a pivotally connected link for being erected for pushing articles, as cargo, to either end of the aircraft deck and for being lowered for passing under the particular article, as desired.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been shown in the accompanying specification and drawings, it will be evident that various other modifications are possible in the arrangement and construction of the disclosed cargo moving shuttle without departing from the broad principles of the invention as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A track on a floor comprising, in combination therewith, a mechanism for moving an article to-and-fro over said track:

a. carriage means on said track, said carriage means comprising an elongated housing having two sidewalls and two ends, one of said housing walls having an elongated slot therein;

b. a transverse shaft operable in said slot;

c. means for moving said carriage-means to-and-fro on said track, said moving means being connected to each of said housing ends for moving said housing to-and-fro on said track;

d. retractable shuttle bar means for said carriage means;

e. link means pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means, said link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means and a second end pivotally connected to the lower portion of said housing, said link second end being connected to said transverse shaft;

f. a spring-urged pin adjacent said track and projecting sufficiently to contact said link second end when said shuttle bar passes over said pin;

g. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said springurged pin for being erected for contacting said article;

h. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said springurged pin for being retracted for passing under said article;

. said link being responsive to said projecting pin for moving from one end of said slot to the other end of said slot as said shuttle bar means passes over said projecting pin;

. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link for being erected for contacting said article; and

k. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link for being retracted for passing under said article.

2. A mechanism for moving an article to-and-fro over a track on a floor comprising:

a. carriage means on said track;

b. means for moving said carriage means to-and-fro on said track;

c. retractable shuttle bar means for said carriage means;

d. link means pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means;

e. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link means for being erected for contacting said article;

f. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link means for being retracted for passing under said article;

g. said pivotal link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means and a second end pivotally connected to the lower portion of said carriage mean;

h. 'a spring-urged pin adjacent said track and projecting sufficiently to contact said link second end when said shuttle bar passes over said pin;

i. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said springurged pin for being erected for contacting said article; and

j. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said springurged pin for being retracted for passing under said article.

3. A track on a floor comprising, in combination therewith,

a mechanism for moving an article to-and-fro over said track:

a. carriage means on said track;

b. means for moving said carriage means to-and-fro on said track; retractable shuttle bar means for said carriage means;

d. a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle 4. the articles from one position on the floor to another position I comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 1@),

carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction;

retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted;

links means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means;

. actuating means comprising a spring-loaded pin mounted in the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means;

. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articlesand for passing under said articles; and

said link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means and a second end pivotally connected to a lower portion of said carriage means so that said link second end contacts said springloaded pin when said shuttle bar means passes over said On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on-the floor to another position comprising: (in a mechanism for claim retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means moving articles as recited in carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction;

for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted;

. links means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means;

actuating means comprising a spring-loaded pin mounted in the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means;

. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles;

said carriage means comprises a housing having sidewalls and an elongated slot in one of said walls;

a transverse shaft operable in said slot; and

. said link means being connected to said transverse shaft in said carriage means so that said transverse shaft moves from one end of said slot to the other end when said link means contacts said spring-loaded pin.

On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (in a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 13),

b. retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted;

c. links means between said shuttle bars means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means;

d. actuating means comprising a spring-loaded pin mounted in the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means;

. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles; said carriage means comprises a housing having sidewalls and an elongated slot in one of said walls, said elongated slot being an inverted V-slot having two lower ends;

. a transverse shaft operable insaid slot;

. said links means being connected to said transverse shaft in said carriage means so that said transverse shaft moves from one end of said slot to the other end when said link means contacts said spring-loaded pin; and

'. spring means for urging said transverse shaft into one of the lower ends of said inverted V-slot for holding said shuttle bar means erected when said shaft is in one slot end and for holding said shiittle bar means retracted when said shaft is in the other slot end.

7. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 7),

a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction; retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted;

. said retractable shuttle bar means comprising an elongated bar pivoted at one end to said carriage means for being pivoted to a substantially horizontal position when in said retracted position and for being pivoted to a substantially vertical position when in said erected position, and the other end of said elongated bar having a surface for contacting said articles when in said erected position;

d. pivotal link means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means;

said pivotal link means comprising a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the second end connected to a transverse shaft;

. actuating means on the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means;

. said transverse shaft being operable in an inverted V-slot in a side of said carriage means; and

. said actuating means comprises a pin positioned on said floor and projecting upwardly from said floor sufficiently to contact said link second end for moving said link and said shuttle bar as said carriage means passes over said pin for pivoting said shuttle bar to said moving in the other direction.

8. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (in a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 17),

a. carriage means 'on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction;

c. said retractable shuttle bar means comprising an elongated bar pivoted at one end to said carriage means for being pivoted to a substantially horizontal position when in said retracted position and for being pivoted to a substantially vertical position when in said erected position,

and the other end of said elongated bar having a surface for contacting said articles when in said erected position;

d. pivotal links means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means;

. said pivot link means comprising a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the second end connected to a transverse shaft;

actuating means on the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means;

said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles;

h. said transverse shaft being operable in an inverted V-slot in a side of said carriage means;

said actuating means comprising a pin positioned on said floor and projecting upwardly from said floor sufficiently to contact said link second end for moving said link and said shuttle bar as said carriage means passes over said pin for pivoting said shuttle bar to said erected position when said carriage is moving in one direction and for pivoting said shuttle bar to said retracted position when said carriage is moving in the other direction; and j. said pin on said floor being spring urged upwardly so that upon initial contact of said link second end with said pin as said carriage means moves in one direction, said link end is pushed by said pin from one end of said inverted V- slot to the other end, and additional movement of said carriage means in the same direction causes said springurged pin to depress until said link end passes over said pin and to the other side of said pin where a similar return movement may be accomplished in the other direction.

9. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 13),

a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction;

c. said retractable shuttle bar means comprises an elongated bar pivoted at one end to said carriage means for being pivoted to a substantially horizontal position when in said retracted position and for being pivoted to a substantially vertical position when in said erected position, and the other end of said elongated bar having a surface for contacting said articles when in said erected position;

d. pivotal link means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means; I

e. said pivotal link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the second end connected to a transverse shaft;

f. actuating means on the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means;

g. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles;

i. said actuating means comprising a pin positioned on said floor and projecting upwardly from said floor sufficiently to contact said link second end for moving said link and said shuttle bar assaid carriage means passes oversaid pm for pivoting said shuttle bar to said erected position when said carriage is moving in one direction and for pivoting said shuttle bar to said retracted position when said carriage is moving in the other direction;

j. said pin on said floor being spring urged upwardly so that upon initial contact of said link second end with said pin as said carriage means moves in one direction, said link end is pushed by said pin from one end of said inverted V- slot to the other end, and additional movement of said carriage means in the same direction causes said springurged pin to depress until said link end passes over said pin and to the other side of said pin where a similar return movement may be accomplished in the other direction; and

k. spring-urged stop means adjacent to said spring upwardly urged pin for permitting enough additional movement of said carriage means as to permit said link lower end to pass over said pin.

Claims

1. A track on a floor comprising, in combination therewith, a mechanism for moving an article to-and-fro over said track: a. carriage means on said track, said carriage means comprising an elongated housing having two sidewalls and two ends, one of said housing walls having an elongated slot therein; b. a transverse shaft operable in said slot; c. means for moving said carriage means to-and-fro on said track, said moving means being connected to each of said housing ends for moving said housing to-and-fro on said track; d. retractable shuttle bar means for said carriage means; e. link means pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means, said link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means and a second end pivotally connected to the lower portion of said housing, said link second end being connected to said transverse shaft; f. a spring-urged pin adjacent said track and projecting sufficiently to contact said link second end when said shuttle bar passes over said pin; g. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said spring-urged pin for being erected for contacting said article; h. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said spring-urged pin for being retracted for passing under said article; i. said link being responsive to said projecting pin for moving from one end of said slot to the other end of said slot as said shuttle bar means passes over said projecting pin; j. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link for being erected for contacting said article; and k. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link for being retracted for passing under said article.

2. A mechanism for moving an article to-and-fro over a track on a floor comprising: a. carriage means on said track; b. means for moving said carriage means to-and-fro on said track; c. retractable shuttle bar means for said Carriage means; d. link means pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means; e. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link means for being erected for contacting said article; f. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link means for being retracted for passing under said article; g. said pivotal link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means and a second end pivotally connected to the lower portion of said carriage mean; h. a spring-urged pin adjacent said track and projecting sufficiently to contact said link second end when said shuttle bar passes over said pin; i. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said spring-urged pin for being erected for contacting said article; and j. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said spring-urged pin for being retracted for passing under said article.

3. A track on a floor comprising, in combination therewith, a mechanism for moving an article to-and-fro over said track: a. carriage means on said track; b. means for moving said carriage means to-and-fro on said track; c. retractable shuttle bar means for said carriage means; d. a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means and a second end pivotally connected to the lower portion of said carriage means; e. a projecting pin adjacent said track and projecting sufficiently to contact said link second end when said shuttle bar means passes over said pin; f. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link for being erected for contacting said article; and g. said shuttle bar means being responsive to said pivotal link for being retracted for passing under said article.

4. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 10), a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction; b. retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted; c. links means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means; d. actuating means comprising a spring-loaded pin mounted in the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means; e. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles; and f. said link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar means and a second end pivotally connected to a lower portion of said carriage means so that said link second end contacts said spring-loaded pin when said shuttle bar means passes over said pin.

5. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 10), a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction; b. retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted; c. links means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means; d. actuating means comprising a spring-loaded pin mounted in the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means; e. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles; f. said carriage means comprises a housing having sidewalls and an elongated slot in one of saiD walls; g. a transverse shaft operable in said slot; and h. said link means being connected to said transverse shaft in said carriage means so that said transverse shaft moves from one end of said slot to the other end when said link means contacts said spring-loaded pin.

6. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 13), a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction; b. retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted; c. links means between said shuttle bars means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means; d. actuating means comprising a spring-loaded pin mounted in the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means; e. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles; f. said carriage means comprises a housing having sidewalls and an elongated slot in one of said walls, said elongated slot being an inverted V-slot having two lower ends; g. a transverse shaft operable in said slot; h. said links means being connected to said transverse shaft in said carriage means so that said transverse shaft moves from one end of said slot to the other end when said link means contacts said spring-loaded pin; and i. spring means for urging said transverse shaft into one of the lower ends of said inverted V-slot for holding said shuttle bar means erected when said shaft is in one slot end and for holding said shuttle bar means retracted when said shaft is in the other slot end.

7. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 7), a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction; b. retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted; c. said retractable shuttle bar means comprising an elongated bar pivoted at one end to said carriage means for being pivoted to a substantially horizontal position when in said retracted position and for being pivoted to a substantially vertical position when in said erected position, and the other end of said elongated bar having a surface for contacting said articles when in said erected position; d. pivotal link means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means; e. said pivotal link means comprising a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the second end connected to a transverse shaft; f. actuating means on the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means; g. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles; h. said transverse shaft being operable in an inverted V-slot in a side of said carriage means; and i. said actuating means comprises a pin positioned on said floor and projecting upwardly from said floor sufficiently to contact said link second end for moving said link and said shuttle bar as said carriage means passes over said pin for pivoting said shuttle bar to said moving in the other direction.

8. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 17), a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction; b. retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted; c. said retractable shuttle bar means comprising an elongated bar pivoted at one end to said carriage means for being pivoted to a substantially horizontal position when in said retracted position and for being pivoted to a substantially vertical position when in said erected position, and the other end of said elongated bar having a surface for contacting said articles when in said erected position; d. pivotal links means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means; e. said pivot link means comprising a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the second end connected to a transverse shaft; f. actuating means on the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means; g. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles; h. said transverse shaft being operable in an inverted V-slot in a side of said carriage means; i. said actuating means comprising a pin positioned on said floor and projecting upwardly from said floor sufficiently to contact said link second end for moving said link and said shuttle bar as said carriage means passes over said pin for pivoting said shuttle bar to said erected position when said carriage is moving in one direction and for pivoting said shuttle bar to said retracted position when said carriage is moving in the other direction; and j. said pin on said floor being spring urged upwardly so that upon initial contact of said link second end with said pin as said carriage means moves in one direction, said link end is pushed by said pin from one end of said inverted V-slot to the other end, and additional movement of said carriage means in the same direction causes said spring-urged pin to depress until said link end passes over said pin and to the other side of said pin where a similar return movement may be accomplished in the other direction.

9. On a floor for storing articles, a mechanism for moving the articles from one position on the floor to another position comprising: (In a mechanism for moving articles as recited in claim 18), a. carriage means on said floor and means for moving said carriage means in either direction; b. retractable shuttle bar means on said carriage means for contacting said articles when erected and for passing under said articles when retracted; c. said retractable shuttle bar means comprises an elongated bar pivoted at one end to said carriage means for being pivoted to a substantially horizontal position when in said retracted position and for being pivoted to a substantially vertical position when in said erected position, and the other end of said elongated bar having a surface for contacting said articles when in said erected position; d. pivotal link means between said shuttle bar means and said carriage means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means; e. said pivotal link means comprises a link having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle bar intermediate the ends thereof and having the second end connected to a transverse shaft; f. actuating means on the floor for contacting said link means when said carriage means passes over said actuating means; g. said link means being responsive to said actuating means for erecting and retracting said shuttle bar means for respectively pushing said articles and for passing under said articles; h. said transverse shaft being operable in an inverted V-slot in a side of said carriage means; i. said actuating means comprising a pin positioned on said floor and projecting upwardly from said floor sufficiently to contact said link second end for moving said link and said shuttle bar as said carriage means passes over said pin for pivoting said shuttle bar to said erected position when said carriage is moving in one direction and for pivoting said shuttle bar to said retracted position when said carriage is moving in the other direction; j. said pin on said floor being spring urged upwardly so that upon initial contact of said link second end with said pin as said carriage means moves in one direction, said link end is pushed by said pin from one end of said inverted V-slot to the other end, and additional movement of said carriage means in the same direction causes said spring-urged pin to depress until said link end passes over said pin and to the other side of said pin where a similar return movement may be accomplished in the other direction; and k. spring-urged stop means adjacent to said spring upwardly urged pin for permitting enough additional movement of said carriage means as to permit said link lower end to pass over said pin.