IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,428,040
Granted Patent B2
US 12,428,040 · App. 18/400,151 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Overhead transport and route management system

Inventor: J. Michael Meissner (Hinsdale, IL)
Assignee: EagleRail Container Logistics LLC
B61B3/00B60L13/006B61B3/02B65G63/004Y02T30/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,428,040
App. No.
18/400,151
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An overhead transport system includes a suspended railway and a motorized carrier configured to travel along the suspended railway. The motorized carrier includes a motorized trolley configured to move the motorized carrier along the suspended railway, chassis/beam configured to carry an object below the motorized trolley, and a bumper and deflection system configured to prevent the object from contacting another object.

Claims (34)

1. An overhead transport and route management system comprising:

a suspended railway;

a motorized carrier configured to travel along said suspended railway carrying a container; and

a container logistics system configured to control to the movement of said motorized carrier,

wherein said container logistics system is configured to receive a plurality of container information related to a second container, wherein said plurality of container information includes a container location, and a container destination, and

wherein said container logistics system uses said container location and said container destination to plan a path for said motorized carrier.

2. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 1 , wherein said motorized carrier comprises a bumper and deflection system configured to prevent said container from contacting a third container.

3. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 2 , wherein said suspended railway comprises:

an at least one track switch configured to communicate directly with said motorized carrier to selectively direct said motorized carrier to different portions of said suspended railway.

4. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 2 , wherein said suspended railway is multi-tiered and multi-tracked.

5. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 2 wherein said suspended railway further comprises:

an at least one electric power pick-up point.

6. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 2 wherein said motorized carrier comprises:

a motorized trolley configured to move said motorized carrier along said suspended railway, wherein an electric motor is configured to receive power from and deliver power to an a least one electric power pick-up point.

7. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 1 wherein said motorized carrier includes an electric motor with an internal braking mechanism capable of providing regenerative power.

8. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 7 , wherein said suspended railway comprises:

an at least one track switch configured to communicate directly with said motorized carrier to selectively direct said motorized carrier to different portions of said suspended railway.

9. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 7 , wherein said suspended railway is multi-tiered and multi-tracked.

10. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 7 wherein said suspended railway further comprises:

an at least one electric power pick-up point.

11. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 7 wherein said motorized carrier comprises:

a motorized trolley configured to move said motorized carrier along said suspended railway, wherein said electric motor is configured to receive power from and deliver power to an a least one electric power pick-up point.

12. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 1 wherein said motorized carrier comprises at least one spatial sensor for providing information regarding location and movement of said motorized carrier to a remote control system.

13. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 12 wherein said motorized carrier comprises an on-board control system configured to control acceleration and deceleration of said motorized carrier and communicate spatial information detected by said at least one spatial sensor to said remote control system.

14. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 12 , wherein said suspended railway comprises:

an at least one track switch configured to communicate directly with said motorized carrier to selectively direct said motorized carrier to different portions of said suspended railway.

15. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 12 , wherein said suspended railway is multi-tiered and multi-tracked.

16. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 12 wherein said suspended railway further comprises:

an at least one electric power pick-up point.

17. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 12 wherein said motorized carrier comprises:

a motorized trolley configured to move said motorized carrier along said suspended railway, wherein an electric motor is configured to receive power from and deliver power to an a least one electric power pick-up point.

18. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 1 , wherein said suspended railway extends in a longitudinal direction.

19. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 1 further comprising a second motorized carrier configured to travel along said suspended railway.

20. The overhead transport and route management system of claim 19 wherein said second motorized carrier is configured to carry a third container.

Assignments (3)
CORPORATE CONVERSION Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: EAGLERAIL CONTAINER LOGISTICS INC.
To: EAGLERAIL CONTAINER LOGISTICS LLC
Reel/Frame 069230/0934 →
CORPORATE CONVERSION Recorded Jan 2, 2024
From: EAGLERAIL CONTAINER LOGISTICS, LLC
To: EAGLERAIL CONTAINER LOGISTICS INC.
Reel/Frame 066177/0611 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jan 2, 2024
From: MEISSNER, J. MICHAEL
To: EAGLERAIL CONTAINER LOGISTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066178/0010 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 17588233 · Jan 29, 2022
Continuation 16502867 · Jul 3, 2019
Continuation 15335422 · Oct 26, 2016
Provisional Application 62337272 · May 16, 2016
Provisional Application 62337276 · May 16, 2016
Provisional Application 62249086 · Oct 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62246535 · Oct 26, 2015
Related Publication 20240132118A1 · Apr 25, 2024
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