Material transport system

1 . A material transport system comprising

a plurality of pedestal structures, a plurality of rotating gantry mounts, and a gantry structure;

wherein the plurality of rotating gantry mounts secures the gantry structure to the plurality of pedestal structures;

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures forms the load path the transfers the loads of the gantry structure and the plurality of rotating gantry mounts to the supporting surface;

wherein the material transport system is a cart;

wherein the gantry structure is configured to suspend a carried load;

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures comprises a collection of individual pedestal structures;

wherein there is a one to one correspondence between the plurality of pedestal structures and the plurality of rotating gantry mounts;

wherein each individual pedestal structure selected from the plurality of pedestal structures is associated with an individual rotating gantry mount selected from the plurality of rotating gantry mounts;

wherein each individual pedestal structure selected from the plurality of pedestal structures is a rolling structure;

wherein the plurality of rotating gantry mounts is configured to rotate both the gantry structure and the carried load around a horizontally oriented center of rotation.

2 . The material transport system according to claim 1

wherein the material transport system is configured for use in carrying the carried load;

wherein the material transport system transports the carried load over a supporting surface;

wherein the material transport system elevates the carried load above the supporting surface;

wherein the material transport system is an adjustable system that adjusts the position of the center of mass of the combined structure formed by carried load and the material transport system.

3 . The material transport system according to claim 2

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures forms a load bearing structure;

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures contains at least two individual pedestal structures;

wherein the plurality of rotating gantry mounts attach to the plurality of pedestal structures;

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures forms the load path that transfers the loads of the plurality of rotating gantry mounts and the gantry structure to the supporting surface;

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures is a rolling structure;

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures is an adjustable structure;

wherein by adjustable is meant that the elevation of the gantry structure above the supporting surface can be changed using the plurality of pedestal structures;

wherein the center of mass of the combined structure formed by the carried load and the material transport system is adjusted in the vertical direction by using the plurality of pedestal structures.

4 . The material transport system according to claim 3

wherein each individual pedestal structure selected from the plurality of pedestal structures forms a portion of the load path that transfers the loads of the plurality of rotating gantry mounts, the gantry structure, and the carried load to the supporting surface;

wherein each individual pedestal structure selected from the plurality of pedestal structures is identical;

wherein each selected pedestal structure is an adjustable structure;

wherein by adjustable is meant that the elevation of the associated individual rotating gantry mount above the supporting surface can be changed using the individual pedestal structure.

5 . The material transport system according to claim 4

wherein the plurality of rotating gantry mounts is a fastening device;

wherein the plurality of rotating gantry mounts secures the gantry structure to the plurality of pedestal structures;

wherein the plurality of rotating gantry mounts allows for the lateral movement of the gantry structure relative to the plurality of pedestal structures in a horizontal direction;

wherein the center of mass of the combined structure formed by the carried load and the material transport system is adjusted in the horizontal direction by using the plurality of rotating gantry mounts;

wherein the plurality of rotating gantry mounts comprises a collection of individual rotating gantry mounts;

wherein each individual rotating gantry mount selected from the plurality of rotating gantry mounts is a fastening device;

wherein each individual rotating gantry mount fastens the gantry structure to the stanchion structure of the individual pedestal structure associated with the individual rotating gantry mount;

wherein the individual rotating gantry mount attaches to the superior end of the associated individual pedestal structure.

6 . The material transport system according to claim 5

wherein the individual rotating gantry mount is a rotating structure;

wherein the individual rotating gantry mount attaches to the gantry structure such that the gantry structure rotates relative to the individual pedestal structure;

wherein the individual rotating gantry mount attaches to the gantry structure such that the gantry structure rotates around a horizontally oriented center of rotation;

wherein the individual rotating gantry mount is a locking structure;

wherein by locking structure is meant that the individual rotating gantry mount locks the gantry structure into a fixed position once the gantry structure has been rotated into the desired orientation relative to the force of gravity;

wherein the rotation of the individual rotating gantry mount adjusts the center of mass of the combined structure formed by the carried load and the material transport system in a horizontal direction;

wherein the rotation of the individual rotating gantry mount further adjusts the center of mass of the combined structure formed by the carried load and the material transport system in a vertical direction.

7 . The material transport system according to claim 6

wherein the gantry structure is a rigid structure;

wherein the gantry structure forms a framework that suspends the carried load above the supporting surface;

wherein the gantry structure forms an openwork structure;

wherein the gantry structure forms a load path that transfers the load of the carried load to the plurality of pedestal structures.

8 . The material transport system according to claim 7

wherein each selected pedestal structure comprises a stanchion structure and a caster structure;

wherein the stanchion structure is a vertically oriented structure;

wherein the stanchion structure is a load bearing structure;

wherein the stanchion structure transfers a portion of the loads of the plurality of rotating gantry mounts and the gantry structure to the caster structure;

wherein the stanchion structure forms the extension structure that elevates the associated individual rotating gantry mount above the caster structure;

wherein the stanchion structure is an adjustable structure;

wherein by adjustable is meant that the elevation of the associated individual rotating gantry mount above the supporting surface can be changed using the stanchion structure;

wherein the caster structure is a load bearing structure;

wherein the caster structure forms the inferior structure of the individual pedestal structure;

wherein the caster structure forms the final link of the load path that transfers the loads of the carried load and the load of the material transport system to the supporting surface;

wherein the caster structure is a rolling structure that allows the material transport system and the carried load to be rolled over the supporting surface.

9 . The material transport system according to claim 8

wherein each individual rotating gantry mount further comprises a horizontal gantry slide;

wherein the horizontal gantry slide is a bracket;

wherein the horizontal gantry slide permanently attaches to the individual rotating gantry mount;

wherein the horizontal gantry slide attaches the gantry structure to the individual rotating gantry mount;

wherein the horizontal gantry slide attaches to the gantry structure such that the position of the major axis of the gantry structure relative to the individual rotating gantry mount is adjustable;

wherein by adjustable is meant that the major axis of the horizontal gantry slide can move in the horizontal direction relative to the individual rotating gantry mount;

wherein by adjustable is meant that the major axis of the horizontal gantry slide can move in the vertical direction relative to the individual rotating gantry mount;

wherein the horizontal gantry slide is a locking structure;

wherein by locking structure is meant that the major axis of the horizontal gantry slide can be maintained in a fixed position relative to the individual rotating gantry mount.

10 . The material transport system according to claim 9

wherein the gantry structure comprises a gantry structure, a plurality of cross braces, and a gantry extension structure;

wherein the plurality of cross beams attach to the gantry structure;

wherein the gantry extension structure attaches to the gantry structure.

11 . The material transport system according to claim 10

wherein the gantry structure has a ring shape;

wherein the gantry structure is a load bearing structure;

wherein the gantry structure is further defined with a major axis and a minor axis;

wherein the major axis and the minor axis are defined elsewhere in this disclosure;

wherein the plurality of pedestal structures elevates the gantry structure above the supporting surface;

wherein the proper elevation of gantry structure is elevated by two individual pedestal structures selected from the plurality of pedestal structures;

wherein the gantry structure attaches to the individual rotating gantry mount associated with each selected pedestal structure elevating the gantry structure;

wherein the gantry structure transfers the loads of the gantry structure and the carried load to the selected individual pedestal structures elevating the gantry structure.

12 . The material transport system according to claim 11

wherein the gantry structure further comprises a first gantry perimeter beam, a second gantry perimeter beam, a first gantry perimeter cross beam, and a second gantry perimeter cross beam;

wherein the first gantry perimeter beam is a load bearing structure;

wherein the first gantry perimeter beam is a rigid structure;

wherein the first gantry perimeter beam forms a portion of the perimeter of the rectangular structure of the gantry structure;

wherein the center axis of the first gantry perimeter beam aligns to be parallel to the major axis of the gantry structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter beam is a load bearing structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter beam is a rigid structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter beam forms a portion of the perimeter of the rectangular structure of the gantry structure;

wherein the center axis of the second gantry perimeter beam aligns to be parallel to the major axis of the gantry structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter beam is the segment of the perimeter of the gantry structure that is distal from the first gantry perimeter beam;

wherein each cross brace selected from the plurality of cross braces attaches to the lateral face of the first gantry perimeter beam;

wherein each cross brace selected from the plurality of cross braces further attaches to the lateral face of the second gantry perimeter beam;

wherein the first gantry perimeter cross beam is a load bearing structure;

wherein the first gantry perimeter cross beam is a rigid structure;

wherein the first gantry perimeter cross beam forms an anchor point used to anchor the carried load to the gantry structure;

wherein the first gantry perimeter cross beam forms a portion of the perimeter of the rectangular structure of the gantry structure;

wherein the center axis of the first gantry perimeter cross beam aligns to be parallel to the minor axis of the gantry structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter cross beam is a load bearing structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter cross beam is a rigid structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter cross beam forms an anchor point used to anchor the carried load to the gantry structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter cross beam forms a portion of the perimeter of the rectangular structure of the gantry structure;

wherein the center axis of the second gantry perimeter cross beam aligns to be parallel to the minor axis of the gantry structure;

wherein the second gantry perimeter cross beam is the segment of the perimeter of the gantry structure that is distal from the first gantry perimeter cross beam;

wherein the first gantry perimeter cross beam attaches to a subsequent individual rotating gantry mount selected from the plurality of rotating gantry mounts that is associated with a subsequent individual pedestal structure selected from the plurality of pedestal structures;

wherein the second gantry perimeter cross beam attaches to a subsequent individual rotating gantry mount selected from the plurality of rotating gantry mounts that is associated with a subsequent individual pedestal structure selected from the plurality of pedestal structures.

13 . The material transport system according to claim 12

wherein each selected cross brace is a rigid structure;

wherein each selected cross brace is identical;

wherein each selected cross brace permanently attaches the lateral face of the first gantry perimeter beam of the gantry structure to the lateral face of the second gantry perimeter beam of the gantry structure;

wherein each selected cross brace forms a bracing structure that transfers transient forces between the first gantry perimeter beam and the second gantry perimeter beam.

14 . The material transport system according to claim 13

wherein the gantry extension structure is a u-shaped structure;

wherein the gantry extension structure is a rigid structure;

wherein the gantry extension structure is a load bearing structure;

wherein the gantry extension structure attaches to the gantry structure;

wherein the gantry extension structure attaches to a cross beam selected from the group consisting of the first gantry perimeter cross beam and the second gantry perimeter cross beam;

wherein the gantry extension structure attaches to the selected cross beam such that the gantry extension structure extends the reach of the major axis of the gantry structure;

wherein the gantry extension structure forms one or more anchor points used to secure the carried load to the gantry structure;

wherein each gantry extension structure further attaches to an additional individual pedestal structure selected from the plurality of pedestal structures;

wherein the gantry extension structure transfers a portion of the carried load to the selected pedestal structure through the associated individual rotating gantry mount.