Abstract: A roller drive assembly comprises a frame on which is mounted a rotatable drive roller which has a rotatable outer shell and which can pivot about an axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of the outer shell between a retracted position and a drive position. A drive motor mounted on the frame outside the drive roller is provided to power the drive roller. Located in the drive roller is a planetary gear system which comprises a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planet carrier bearing planet gears, the ring gear being rotational about the planet carrier and defining at least a part of said outer shell. The planet carrier also defines axle stubs offset from the axis of rotation of the outer shell which are located in bearings mounted in the frame to enable the drive roller to pivot with respect to the frame. A gear train is operationally connected to the drive motor to drive the sun gear and a pinion is located at one end of an output shaft of the gear train.

Abstract: Conventionally, a container is secured in the cargo hold of an aircraft by a latch comprising a frame having a floor part to which are attached two upwardly extending side parts. At least one latch-arm is mounted on an axle set between the side parts so that it can rotate from a lower, inoperative position into an upright, locking position. Restraining means are used to fasten the latch to a floor of the cargo hold. The present invention proposes the provision of at least one resiliently deformable section in the floor part of the frame so that in use when a force is applied to the latch-arm, the side parts of the frame can move relative to the floor part as the floor part is deformed. A latch of this kind is intended to ensure increased operational reliability with no increase in weight over a conventional latch.

Abstract: A roller drive assembly comprises a drive roller mounted in a frame in such a way that the roller can be pivoted by a drive such as an electric motor from a lower retracted position when the drive roller is stationary to one of two, upper operating positions when the drive roller is rotating, dependent on the direction in which the roller is pivoted. An outer shell forming part of the drive roller for engaging an object to be conveyed defines a first larger-area frictional surface projecting above which is a plurality of second smaller-area frictional surfaces.

Abstract: A conveyor ball unit comprises a conveyor ball resting on mounting balls in a mounting shell. A retaining ring is provided to hold the conveyor ball on the mounting balls in the mounting shell. The mounting shell can be set into an opening in a supporting structure and rests on the supporting structure by way of a shell rim. The unit is fixed in place by resilient first locking elements comprising in a first embodiment of the invention resiliently deformable projections which also define radial recesses in the interior of the mounting shell into which recesses projections formed on the retaining ring can be inserted in order to fix the ring within the mounting shell.

Abstract: A conveyor ball unit comprises a conveyor ball mounted on a plurality of mounting balls in a mounting shell. A spring arrangement is provided to support the mounting shell resiliently in a housing and the conveyor ball is retained on the mounting balls by a retaining ring. A first holding device is provided to keep the housing substantially perpendicular to the surface of a supporting structure for the conveyor ball unit against a force acting on the conveyor ball. A second holding device is provided to hold the housing within an opening defined in the supporting structure and is located at an upper end of the housing. To simplify installation and removal of the unit in the supporting structure, the outer periphery of the second holding device is larger than that of the housing and locking elements are provided to fix the unit in the supporting structure.

Abstract: A roller drive unit includes a frame, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, and a gear mounted on the drive shaft for engaging a drive motor. A pivot support is mounted on the drive shaft and is pivotable from lower rest position to an upper working position. A drive roll is rotatably mounted on the pivot support, and an internal gear is attached to the drive roll. A drive gear is mounted on the drive shaft, and an intermediate gear is rotatably mounted in the pivot support and is engaged between the drive gear and the internal gear. A spring is connected for biasing the pivot support to the lower rest position.

Abstract: The roller drive unit displays a drive roller (1), which is drivable by a motor (3) and rotatably borne in a guide equipment (5), by which it is pivotable with respect to a base (2) between a lower rest setting and an upper rest setting over a circularly arcuate movement path. A control equipment for the pivotation of the drive roller (1) is provided, which comprises a clutch device constructed for the transmission of a torque between a gear arrangement (50) driving the drive roller (1) and the guide equipment (5). The gear arrangement displays a first gear wheel which is driven by the motor and in opposite sense drives a second gear wheel mounted secure against rotation on the drive shaft of the drive roller (1).

Abstract: A ball unit (10), in particular for conveying devices (1), possesses a load ball (12), which by a part (14) of its surface can bear against a load object, a bearing unit (24), which so bears and encloses the load ball to be freely rotatable that a free part (14) of the load ball surface projects out of the bearing unit through a circular passage opening (61), and a holder (20), which for fastening of the ball unit at a carrier frame of the conveying device displays a fastening portion (31), which can be borne on the carrier frame. The bearing unit (24) is so linearly movable to and fro relative to the holder (20) that the free load ball surface in an advanced end position protrudes further beyond a surface (3) of the carrying frame than in a withdrawn end position.

Abstract: An improved locking mechanism for securing cargo units and the like during transport has first and second complementary locking pawls carrying oppositely directed locking dogs, each pawl being pivotally mounted between spaced side supports for movement from a retracted position to a generally upright locked position. While the first pawl only is biased by spring means towards an upright position, it is held down in a retracted position by retaining portions of the second pawl. As the second pawl is lifted from the retracted position to the generally upright position, its retaining portions disengage from the first pawl permitting the first pawl to pivot upwardly to the generally upright position under the urging of the spring means simultaneously causing both the first and second pawls to move into mutually locking engagement. The spring means biasing the first pawl only is located in a sheltered non-exposed out-of-the way position between the spaced supports and below the upper edges of the spaced supports.