Car Patents (Class 104/128)
  • Patent number: 10138070
    Abstract: Disclosed is a friction conveying system, comprising a friction driving unit, a clamping unit and a friction driving component, wherein the friction driving unit comprises a rotation driving component, a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, at least one first rollers arranged on the first connecting rod, and at least one second rollers arranged on the second connecting rod, the clamping unit comprises a clamping driving component by which the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are moved towards each other to cause the first rollers and the second rollers to clamp the friction driving component, the first rollers and/or the second rollers are drivable by the rotation driving component to rotate, causing the friction driving component clamped between the first rollers and the second rollers to move by means of frictional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Guangzhou MINO Automotive Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junhui Li, Meng Yang, Hongchen Zhang, Zhencheng Chen, Qing Li
  • Patent number: 9786882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement comprising an energy storage module, a module carrier, particularly a vehicle body, and a ball lock bolt for fastening the energy storage module on the module carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hubertus Goesmann
  • Patent number: 8573890
    Abstract: An offshore structure for deploying and retrieving underwater electrical power generators that converts energy derived from water currents into electrical energy. The offshore structural platform includes a pair of vertical guide rails to guide a propulsion device lowering said generator underwater onto a seabed propulsion device. The seabed propulsion device is engaged on an underwater seabed rail system and transports the generator onto one of many unique frames specifically designed to support underwater generators. Securing devices are utilized to ensure the generators remain anchored to each propulsion device and to the unique frame. Rail transferring elements are also utilized for a smooth and safe transition during the transport process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Donald H Gehring
  • Publication number: 20120174817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for handling and/or transporting work rolls (2, 3) and/or support rolls (4, 5) of a roll stand (6), by which the work rolls (2, 3) and/or support rolls (4, 5) can be brought from the roll stand (6) into a roll workshop (10) by means of a locomotive (9) movable on a track (7, 8). In order to be able to handle and transport different rolls using just one locomotive, without complicated coupling mechanisms, according to the invention at least two tracks (7, 8) disposed at different heights (h1, h2) are provided, on which a roll (2, 3, 4, 5) can be moved by means of the locomotive (9), and a lifting table (11) is available, which is intended and suitable for raising or lowering the locomotive (9) to one of the at least two different heights (h1, h2) in order to bring it onto the respective track (7, 8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Bender, Hans-Jürgen Hanke
  • Patent number: 8113123
    Abstract: A overhead transport service vehicle system includes a carriage frame structured and arranged to carry a user. A hoisting mechanism utilizes at least one lifting device for lifting and lowering the carriage frame and at least one moving device for causing movement of the hoisting mechanism along one of a track or rail. A control controls at least one of the at least one lifting device and the at least one moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Clayton D. Menser, Jr., David J. Pinckney, Uldis A. Ziemins
  • Publication number: 20110218697
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle, system, and method for mass transit transportation, the system according to one embodiment including a plurality of passenger vehicles configured such that each passenger vehicle includes a passenger module (110) for transporting at least one passenger being attachable and detachable from a transport-base (120) and a rail-base (220). At each of a plurality of transport-rail interchange hubs (204) the passenger modules are transferred from transport-bases (120) to the rail-bases (220). At each of a plurality of rail-transport interchange hubs the passenger modules are transferred from rail-bases (220) to transport-bases (120). Each passenger vehicle is adapted to transport the at least one passenger on at least one of transport and rail without exiting the passenger module (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: AUTOMATE LTD.
    Inventor: Netanel Goldberg
  • Patent number: 7913627
    Abstract: An upper and lower path switching device for a traveling body for transportation has an elevating guide rail supported horizontally by an elevating body, upper fixed guide rails which are connected to the elevating guide rail at a lifted position of the elevating body, and lower fixed guide rails which are connected to the elevating guide rail at a lowered position of the elevating body. The elevating guide rail is supported movably vertically in a predetermined range with respect to the elevating body. Receiving members are provided for receiving the elevating guide rail at a level at which the elevating guide rail is connected to the lower fixed guide rails before the elevating body reaches a lower limit of an elevation path of the elevating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Daifuku Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shimizu, Teruaki Nabeta
  • Patent number: 7854202
    Abstract: A overhead transport service vehicle system includes a carriage frame structured and arranged to carry a user. A hoisting mechanism utilizes at least one lifting device for lifting and lowering the carriage frame and at least one moving device for causing movement of the hoisting mechanism along one of a track or rail. A control controls at least one of the at least one lifting device and the at least one moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Clayton D. Menser, Jr., David J. Pinckney, Uldis A. Ziemins
  • Patent number: 7584704
    Abstract: An assembly adapted for aiding the alignment of and interlocking a vertical lift station (VLS) rail and the main rail of an electro-monorail system (EMS), the assembly includes a locator pin, a pin receiver having tapered walls for funneling the pin towards an aligned position, and a clamping device fixedly attached to the main rail and configured to apply a holding force to the pin, so as to hold the rails in a fixed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Schutte, James D. Oakley
  • Publication number: 20090064890
    Abstract: A transport installation comprises a first means for moving a vehicle between a first end terminal and an intermediate terminal and a second means for moving the vehicle between the intermediate terminal and a second end terminal, by loading the vehicle on board an elevator shaft. The first means for moving are formed by a people mover comprising an aerial rope in a closed loop for driving at least one detachable car forming said vehicle, said loop being equipped with a detachment/attachment section of the car situated near the intermediate terminal. The people mover also comprises a transfer track for guiding and transporting the car in the detached position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: POMAGALSKI SA.
    Inventors: Stefano Charrere, Thierry Gayte, Nicolas Revenant
  • Publication number: 20040168605
    Abstract: A transportation system is provided that accommodates varying angles of slope along the path of its movement, while maintaining a level transportation platform without the need of mechanical leveling devices or systems. The platform may be connected to the rail by wheels, the closest of which to the platform is above the rail, and the other below the rail. Accordingly, the platform is torqued downward to maintain contact between the wheels and the rail. As the slope of the terrain, and thus the rail, increases, the rail is widened to maintain the platform at level. As the slope decreases, the rail is narrowed to the same effect. The platform also may be tilted for loading or unloading by this rail-widening method, as may be desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Incline Access, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus C. Minges
  • Patent number: 6666147
    Abstract: A transportation system is provided that accommodates varying angles of slope along the path of its movement, while maintaining a level transportation platform without the need of mechanical leveling devices or systems. The platform may be connected to the rail by wheels, the closest of which to the platform is above the rail, and the other below the rail. Accordingly, the platform is torqued downward to maintain contact between the wheels and the rail. As the slope of the terrain, and thus the rail, increases, the rail is widened to maintain the platform at level. As the slope decreases, the rail is narrowed to the same effect. The platform also may be tilted for loading or unloading by this rail-widening method, as may be desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Incline Access, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus C. Minges
  • Patent number: 6644210
    Abstract: An inclined conveyor for transporting shopping carts between an upper floor and a lower floor. The inclined conveyor includes a continuous conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced drive lugs that engage a shopping cart. The moving conveyor belt transports the shopping cart between the upper and lower floors. The inclined conveyor includes a jam detector that interrupts operation of the conveyor upon detection of a jam along the conveyor. The inclined conveyor further includes a front wheel alignment and turning system for rotating at least one of the front wheels 180 degrees to place both front wheels in a common aligned position so as to prevent unnecessary operation of the jam detector along the conveyor belt. The inclined conveyor further includes a cart travel correction device for maintaining proper engagement between a portion of the cart and one of the drive lugs on the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Pflow Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Pfleger, Michael H. Sohn, Craig S. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6490979
    Abstract: An inclined conveyor for transporting shopping carts between an upper floor and a lower floor. The inclined conveyor includes a continuous conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced drive lugs that engage a shopping cart. The moving conveyor belt transports the shopping cart between the upper and lower floors. The inclined conveyor includes a jam detector that interrupts operation of the conveyor upon detection of a jam along the conveyor. The inclined conveyor further includes sensors that prevent operation of the conveyor assembly if a person is present at either the unloading end or loading end of the conveyor assembly. At least one cart arrester is positioned along the length of the inclined conveyor to prevent uncontrolled descent of a shopping cart along the length of the inclined conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Pflow Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Pfleger, Michael H. Sohn, Craig S. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6027295
    Abstract: A lifting system for moving mobile homes that includes wheeled jack assemblies, jack units assembled from such assemblies and a segmented track for supporting such assemblies and units. Each jack assembly preferably includes a jack rollingly carried on wheels, and a roller head operatively connected to the working end of the jack to move from a lowered position to a raised position. The wheels allow lateral adjustment of the home, while the roller head allows longitudinal adjustment of the home. In the preferred embodiment, each jack unit includes two jack assemblies, with one of the assemblies further including a drive motor operatively connected to its wheels. Furthermore, the assemblies are interconnected by a hydraulic power unit in the form of a housing that encloses and protects the hydraulics for controlling each jack and drive motor. Each segment in the segmented track generally includes a pair of rails structurally interconnected, with a hole formed adjacent each end of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Carl Geppert
    Inventors: Carl Geppert, Kevin L. Wood
  • Patent number: 5964159
    Abstract: A lift for inclined or vertical operation has a pair of guide rails that run parallel to one other, on which guide rollers run that are mounted on swivel plates so that they can swivel and contact the rails from opposite sides. At least one guide roller on each swivel plate is designed as a drive roller. The periphery of the drive roller is pressed against a respective engagement area of the rail by a spring force in such a way that the drive force of the drive roller is primarily transferred to the rail by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Wilfried Hein
  • Patent number: 5713432
    Abstract: A drive frame for a self-propelled elevator travelling on guide rail running surfaces (22) includes a car carrying frame (5,14,16,17,18) on which are mounted driving wheels (1) coupled to a drive unit (24) and supporting wheels (2). The driving wheels (1) are rotatably mounted on axle tubes (3) connected to the drive unit (24) and rocker arms (15) pivotally mounted on frame brackets (5). The supporting wheels (2) are rotatably mounted on an axle (12) mounted on axle carriers (4) extending from the frame brackets (5). The driving wheels (1) and the supporting wheels (2) are drawn into contact with the running surfaces (22) by spring cylinders (8) connected between the axle tubes (3) and the supporting wheel axle (12) and extending through lateral passages (13) formed in a frame crossbeam (14) connected between the frame brackets (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Utz Richter, Christoph Liebetrau, Albrecht Morlock, Ortwin Piper, Helmut Heizmann
  • Patent number: 5572930
    Abstract: A lift for inclined or vertical operation has a pair of guide rails that run parallel to one other, on which guide rollers run that are mounted on swivel plates so that they can swivel and contact the rails from opposite sides. At least one guide roller on each swivel plate is designed as a drive roller. The periphery of the drive roller is pressed against a respective engagement area of the rail by a spring force in such a way that the drive force of the drive roller is primarily transferred to the rail by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Wilfried Hein
  • Patent number: 5570638
    Abstract: A rescue vehicle 1 for a cable railway is conveyed above the passenger cars 2.sub.B, 2.sub.T on cable 4 in the direction of travel F. Its cabin 3 is hung on suspension tackle 5 which rides on the cable 4, and which can swing in the manner of a pendulum (5.sub.1). The rescue cabin 3 can be released from the suspension tackle 5 and lowered on at least three triangulated hoisting cables (6) to a rescue position at the level of a stranded passenger car 2.sub.B in order to pick up its passengers. A cable winch 7 with a single shaft and winches is mounted on the roof of the cabin, to synchronously wind in and pay out the hoisting cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Garaventa Holding AG
    Inventors: Ernst Egli, Maurice Andrey
  • Patent number: 4987834
    Abstract: An accumulating conveyor formed by a series of self propelled pallets (18) running on a track (20), with non-contacting proximity detectors (24A, 24B) located on the front and rear of each pallet (18), and an on board control circuit (26) causing deenergization of the drive motor (22) when a stopped pallet (18) is detected ahead, or when barrier members (28, 30) are positioned ahead. Slow down, stopping and reversing of the drive may be controlled by side mounted photo detector switches (40A, 40B, 52A, 52B) activated by photo emitter devices (42A, 42B, 54A, 54B) mounted along the path of the pallets (18). A bilevel feed and return track (20A, 20B) may be traversed by the pallets (18), reversed to be driven in either direction, and either the forward or rear proximity switch (24A or 24B) activated by the control circuit (26) depending on the direction of travel of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Roberts Sinto Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn L. Peck, Jr., James F. Foster, Kenneth J. Pol
  • Patent number: 4922829
    Abstract: A variable height workstation includes a trolley delivery apparatus for moving a rail section from a gap formed in a subsidiary loop rail to a workstation located remotely from the loop. A pivotal cam moves with the rail section and arrests travel of a trolley on the movable rail section so that rail section may be moved toward the workstation while carrying the trolley. As the rail section moves upwardly toward the gap formed in the subsidiary loop, the cam rotates and accelerates the trolley off the rail section. The trolley delivery apparatus is employed in a subsidiary loop system whereby a first escapement device is located upstream of it to advance selected one of the diverted trolleys onto the moveable rail section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Kuchta, Larry Billings, Vladimir Evenzon
  • Patent number: 4440090
    Abstract: Storage arrangement for truck conveyor trolleys is provided wherein trolley units are designed to run within a conveyance path defined by a trolley rail. The trolley units are engageable with a truck for receiving articles to be carried and can be attached and detached from the truck by positioning the trolley units on segmented rail portions integrally formed as part of the trolley running rail. By raising or lowering the scissioned rail segments with the trolley units positioned thereon, the trolley units will automatically engage with and disengage from the truck. Once disconnected from the truck, the trolley units can be stored in large numbers in a storage place, either on the rail segments or on separate storage rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
    Inventors: Masasumi Murai, Hirokazu Kondo, Shigekatzu Takino
  • Patent number: 4171178
    Abstract: In an apparatus for automatically handling stacks of bags, initially the bags are formed into stacks, each stack is moved onto and along a conveying track and then unloaded from the track to a loading surface. The support surface on the conveying track for the stacks of bags has a number of recesses into which a prong-shaped support member can be inserted for lifting a stack from the track without using a pallet. The prong-shaped support member includes a stripping plate so that by moving the support member transversely of the plate, the stack on the support member can be displaced onto a loading surface. A carriage movable over the conveying track provides the support surface of the stack of bags. The conveying track includes upper rails for moving the carriage from the stack-forming end to the unloading end and lower rails for returning the carriage to the stack-forming end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1979
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik E. Mollers GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Richard Birkenfeld, Werner Thun, Peter Aka
  • Patent number: 4145265
    Abstract: In the electrolysis of an alkali metal chloride in an ion exchange membrane type electrolysis cell the dilute caustic alkali solution produced in the cathode compartment is concentrated in a series of heating and evaporating operations wherein it is heated by heat exchange with the hot dilute metal chloride solution removed from the anode compartment. The caustic alkali solution and metal chloride solutions flow countercurrently through the heat exchange steps of the concentrating operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignees: Asahi Glass Company, Ltd., Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jyoichi Nakata, Yasumasa Chiba, Tetsuhiko Seto, Yoshinori Fukuhara