Abstract: A gravity conveyor has a train of spaced apart load carriers distributed around a closed circuit trackway. The trackway is inclined downwardly from a loading end to an unloading end. The carriers are connected together into a train by segments of chain, so that removal of a load at the unloading end causes advance of load carriers along a lower track of the trackway. The chains are connected to protruding portions of the carrier to be away from the trackway, avoiding any frictional drag of the chain.

Abstract: A linear guideway arrangement is provided by upper and lower guide bars held in a spaced apart parallel relationship by a series of locator blade pieces having end contours engaging the inside surfaces of the guide bars. Upper and lower rollers sets are mounted to a holder member, the rollers in each set engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the guidebars to provide low friction rolling support for a structure mounted to the holder member.

Abstract: An interlock mechanism connects a movable trackway end-to-end to another trackway to allow rolling transfer of a crane trolley. The bridging trackway assembly is mounted on the movable trackway to be vertically movable to bridge a gap between the trackway ends. Blocking members prevent exit of a trolley from either trackway, which members are moved aside as the bridging trackway assembly descends. A secondary blocker prevents exit of a trolley if the lever system is operated when the trackway end is not positioned opposite the other trackway. Camming surfaces act to accurately align the ends as the bridging trackway assembly descends.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a fluid pressure operated hoist has a load mounted handle assembly including tubular handle portion slidable on a support rod attached to the hoist cable, and a bracket fixed at one end to the handle and extending alongside and offset from said support rod. A three position spring centered valve is mounted to the bracket, with a pair of pins each engaging one end of a valve element and a respective fixed flange on the support rod allowing valve operation by movement of the handle to block, vent, or pressurize a hoist fluid chamber to hold, lower, or raise the load.

Abstract: A lift table of the type having an air actuator bellows raising and lowering a load platform with a scissors linkage has an auxiliary expansible reservoir in fluid communication with the air bellows to improve the load-deflection characteristic. The auxiliary reservoir consists of an auxiliary bellows clamped between plates with an adjustable spring force.

Abstract: A tilt table is supported on one side of a base frame so as to be swung up about rollers allowing movement away from one side of a base frame. A pair of links are pivotally connected to the underside of the table and to the other side of the base frame table to tilt up as its one side rolls away from the base frame one side. A pair of air spring actuators is mounted in a space between cross pieces and fixed to the links and base frame to operate the tilt table.

Abstract: A jib gantry is disclosed which has a connection between the upper end of a mast and a horizontally extending boom which allows tilting adjustment, which is secured in any adjusted position. The boom is hollow and slotted so as to be fixed at any point along the slot to the upper end of the mast. The lower end of the mast is rotatable within an upright pipe to be rotated to swing the boom through complete revolutions.

Abstract: A molded plastic ball stop element is adapted to be clamped to a cable or a chain particularly for an air balancing hoist, the ball formed in two pieces fastened together with flat faces in abutment. Pairs of grooved removable steel inserts grip a cable, while additional grooves form pockets configured to positively engage chain links when the inserts are removed.

Abstract: A hoist is operated by a pair of hydraulic cylinders having output rods engaging a spool drum to selectively axially displace the drum on a ball screw to cause wind up of a load cable. The hoist is mounted on a mast and boom supported by a wheeled cart, with a battery powering a pump motor to raise the load. A selectively disabled check valve allows the weight of the load to lower itself by forcing fluid past the disabled check valve, returning the fluid to a reservoir.

Abstract: A hanger bracket for trolley track rails is constructed of U-shaped formed pieces of sheet metal bolted together to provide both a clamping and a through bolt attachment to a rail mounting flange to simplify installation. The bracket is adapted to a pivot bolt mounting by a removable mounting plate received in slots in the formed pieces. Aligned holes in the formed pieces allow a hanger bar mounting, while the removable plate can also receive a swivel bolt. The formed pieces are interfit to be keyed together to insure shared loading of the rail flanges.

Abstract: A combination of air balancing hoists is described in which two or more hoists are connected end to end each with a load cable connected at spaced locations on the load item to enable raising a bulky load item. Force transmission rods axially interengage axially moving components of the connected hoists to insure that the cables are raised and lowered together to maintain the attitude of the load item as it is raised or lowered.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for driving roller supported trolleys around a radiused track to the upper end of a gravity conveyor, in which one or more rotating members each have a spring-loaded element which is retracted as the member rotates across the top of a trolley and is spring extended into a recess in the top of the trolley to establish a driving contact. The trolley is then swept around the radiused track by rotation of the rotating member. The elements may comprise pivotally mounted inclined dogs which allow overrunning of the trolleys when impacted from the rear by succeeding trolleys. The trolleys may also be controllably lowered at the other end of the conveyor by rotation of a second powered rotary member having similar spring-loaded elements.

Abstract: An air balancing hoist is described having an axially movable drum reel supported on a ball nut and screw with a piston defining a pressure chamber containing regulated air pressure acting on one end of the drum reel to counter the unwinding force of a load supported on a cable wound on the drum reel. A centrifugal brake retards drum rotation when there is a sudden release of the load tending to cause too rapid wind up of the cable by the regulated air pressure applied on the piston.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for driving roller supported trolleys around a radiused track to the upper end of a gravity conveyor, in which one or more rotating rod assemblies each having a spring loaded plunger which is retracted as the rod assembly rotates across a trolley and is extended into a recess in the top of the trolley to establish a driving contact. The trolley is then swept around the radiused track by rotation of the rod assembly.

Abstract: A tilt table is hinged along an unload side and is spring urged to swing up towards the unload side to cause parts on the table to shift against an endwall. Pin and slot connections between fixed side plates and gussets on the table structure cause a roller supported platform to which the table is hinged to shift away from the unload side, carrying the tilt table hinged side away so that as the tilt table swings up, clearance at the unload side with the upper edge of the endwall is maintained to avoid impingement into the workspace which would otherwise occur.

Abstract: An air balancing hoist having one or more activators providing a signal when a load reaches one or more predetermined heights. The activators each comprise spring loaded plungers mounted to be shifted from an axial location by movement of the drum spool to a predetermined axial location.