Steel wheel and steel rail system for a moveable wall panel system

Abstract

A track and trolley system for a movable wall system including a plurality of wall panels, including a track mounted to a ceiling with the track including a pair of rails, and a trolley operatively engaging said track. The wall panels are disposed in an open space and are capable of being moved into one of a variety of positions to separate the open space into smaller spaces. The trolley includes at least four wheels and an elongate member projecting downwardly between the wheels and coupled to one of the wall panels; each wheel includes a circumferential groove having an arcuate cross-section sufficiently larger than the rails to define a lubrication zone between the rails and the wheels. The wheels and rails comprise a metallic material such as steel, for increased strain tolerances.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A track and trolley system for a movable wall system including a plurality of wall panels, comprising: 
 a track adapted to be mounted to a ceiling, said track including a pair of rails; and    a trolley operatively engaging said track, said trolley including a plurality of wheels and an elongate member projecting downwardly between said wheels, said elongate member adapted to be coupled to one of the wall panels, said wheels including a circumferential groove having an arcuate cross-section larger than said rails to define a lubrication zone between said rails and said wheels.    
     
     
         2 . The track and trolley system of  claim 1  wherein said wheels and said rails comprise a metallic material.  
     
     
         3 . The track and trolley system of  claim 2  wherein said metallic material is steel.  
     
     
         4 . The track and trolley system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of trolleys, each one of said plurality of trolleys associated with a corresponding wall panel.  
     
     
         5 . The track and trolley system of  claim 1  wherein said lubrication zone is structured and arranged to retain a fluid lubricant.  
     
     
         6 . The track and trolley system of  claim 1  wherein said rails have an arcuate cross-section.  
     
     
         7 . The track and trolley system of  claim 6  wherein said arcuate cross-section of said wheels is different from said arcuate cross-section of said rails.  
     
     
         8 . The track and trolley system of  claim 1  wherein each said wheel includes a pair of outer circumferential edges, said circumferential groove structured and arranged so that said outer circumferential edges does not contact said rails.  
     
     
         9 . In combination: 
 at least one movable wall capable of being positioned in an open space, said movable wall capable of being moved into one of a variety of positions for separation of the open space into smaller spaces;    at least one trolley having a plurality of wheels and an elongate extending member, said elongate member being attached to said movable wall whereby said trolley carries said movable wall, each said wheel including a circumferential groove having an arcuate cross-section; and    a track adapted to be mounted to a ceiling in the open space, said track including at least a pair of rails, said circumferential grooves being larger than said rails to define a lubrication zone between said grooves and said rails.    
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein said wheels and said rails comprise a metallic material.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10  wherein said material is steel.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein said at least one trolley comprises a plurality of trolleys.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein said at least one moveable wall comprises a plurality of moveable walls, one of said plurality of trolleys being attached to one of said plurality of moveable walls.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein said rails have an arcuate cross-section.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein said arcuate cross-section of said wheels is different from said arcuate cross-section of said rails.  
     
     
         16 . A movable wall system comprising: 
 a plurality of wall panels capable of being positioned in an open space, each said wall panel being structured and arranged to move into one of a variety of positions for separation of said open space into smaller spaces;    a track adapted to be mounted within said open space, said track including at least a pair of rails, each said rail comprising steel and having an arcuate cross-section;    at least one trolley having a plurality of wheels comprising steel, said trolley further including an elongate extending member disposed between said wheels and fixed to a said wall panel whereby said trolley carries said wall panel, each said wheel having a circumferential groove with an arcuate cross-section, said circumferential grooves being larger than said rails to define a lubrication zone between said grooves and said rails.    
     
     
         17 . The movable wall system of  claim 16  wherein said at least one trolley comprises a plurality of trolleys, one of said plurality of wall panels associated with each one of said plurality of trolleys.  
     
     
         18 . The movable wall system of  claim 16  wherein a first one of said trolley wheels engages a first one of said pair of rails and a second one of said wheels engages a second one of said pair of rails.  
     
     
         19 . The movable wall system of  claim 16  wherein said trolley includes at least four of said wheels.  
     
     
         20 . The movable wall system of  claim 16  wherein said lubrication zone is structured and arranged to contain a fluid lubricant.