Multi-directional radial wheel trolley and track for operable walls

Abstract

A multi-directional track and trolley system for movably supporting wall panels in which the track includes spaced track flanges forming a track slot and at least one track intersection having a curved track element with a curved edge and the trolley includes radial support wheels rotatably mounted in laterally spaced tandem pairs on a plate, frame or rigid trolley body for rotation about spaced parallel horizontal axes. The trolley is provided with guide rollers adjacent each end thereof and a centrally disposed panel supporting member which depend from the trolley body and are positioned in the track slot with the guide rollers mounted for rotation about generally vertical axes to guide the trolley. The diameter of and distance between the guide rollers, the radius of the curved edge of the track intersection and the diameter of the supporting member are related to prevent the supporting member from coming into contact with the curved edge of the track intersection when the trolley moves through the track intersection whereby the trolley entering the intersection from one direction can exit from the intersection in any of at least two directions without stopping while changing its direction of travel. To combine the multi-directional track and trolley system with a preprogrammed system, diverter pins are provided on the trolley and are associated with diverter blades at diverter intersections to assure that the trolleys and thus the wall panels will always follow the same route through the diverter intersections.