Abstract: Systems and methods for vertical pipe handling include telescopic arm structures that move between retracted and extended positions in a horizontal plane, a cross arm structure connected to each telescopic arm structure, and a gripper head connected to the cross arm structure. The gripper head may be positioned at a desired location to receive, grip, position, and release a vertically oriented drill pipe or other tubular, and may include jaws that can be positioned to accommodate different sizes of drill pipe or tubulars. Means for raising and lower the gripper head, extending or retracting the gripper head in a horizontal plane, and tilting or pivoting the gripper head may also be provided. The vertical pipe handler may be housed below the drill floor and attached to the drill floor support structure.

Abstract: RailPods are an alternative personal rapid transit system that operate on and utilize existing railroad infrastructure. RailPods are one to two passenger vehicles that travel on one rail of a traditional railroad track. RailPods provide on-demand transportation to cities and towns where rail exists or can be built.

Abstract: A monorail bogie assembly for supporting at least one monorail car over a monorail track that has a running surface and two side surfaces. The monorail bogie assembly comprises a first monorail bogie for supporting a first monorail car. The first monorail bogie comprises at least one load-bearing wheel, two inboard guide wheels and two outboard guide wheels. The monorail bogie assembly further comprises a second monorail bogie for supporting a second monorail car. The second monorail bogie comprises at least one load-bearing wheel and two inboard guide wheels. The monorail bogie assembly further comprises a linking member for interconnecting the first monorail bogie and the second monorail bogie, such that when connected the second monorail bogie is absent any outboard guide wheels.

Abstract: A high-speed transportation mechanism on rail track, wherein sleepers 4 are laid out on gravel 5 on the ground. A first rail (mono rail) 3 for supporting the weight of a vehicle 1 is laid down on the sleepers 4. A second rail (guide rail) 7 is suspended from an upside-down L sectional shape column 8 at an upper position opposed to the lower position of the first rail 3, the vehicle 1 will not fall on its side because a wheel of a lower side carriage 2, is fitted closely to the first rail 3, and a wheel of an upper carriage 6 is fitted closely to the second rail 7. A plurality of vehicles 1 are connected to each other through couplers 9, whereby the vehicle 1 can be run safely and stably at high speeds on a centrifugally forced curved line because it can run at any inclination angle. Thus, risks such as yawing, rising, and derailing of the vehicle 1 can be reduced.

Abstract: A sliding dolly that is particularly adapted to loading and unloading awkward and heavy packages, mattresses, or box springs from a truck. There is a, a dolly back frame, and a dolly shelf. There is also a means for supporting the dolly over a floor or other surface. This support means may be a slider and or roller assembly. In the preferred embodiment, both the back frame and the roller assembly are joined to the shelf. The back frame is joined to and depends from the slider. The slider permits the attached back frame, shelf, and roller assembly to move along the slider. The slider is typically fastened along one of the sides of a truck near the comer where the top and sides meet. The roller assembly has one or more casters that reduce the friction of moving the sliding dolly along the side of the truck by holding the dolly back frame and shelf away from the side of the truck.

Abstract: A monorail system for passenger and light freight transportation provides a support structure with an essentially planar top surface and a stabilizer guide rail having a vertical web portion supporting a head portion. The head guides a vehicle along the top surface while conductors secured to the web portion transmit electrical current to the vehicle through a current collector secured to the vehicle. A portion of the stabilizer guide rail may be flexible providing a simple, inexpensive device for switching the vehicle between a plurality of tracks. The system operates equally well with a variety of vehicle propulsion and suspension systems including electro-mechanical, magnetic levitation or linear electric motors.

Abstract: A vehicle travels along a rail and, driven by an onboard motor. The vehicle includes an auxiliary guide wheel mounted in a floating arrangement on a component acted upon by a helical spring. A shaft on which the wheel is mounted is disposed in an elongated slot in a lever. The lever is articulated at a place on the vehicle body and its other end is acted upon by a second spring. Rotation of the lever is limited by a stop which is secured to the vehicle. When the auxiliary guide wheel makes contact with the guide rail, the two springs are compressed, so that the two wheels touch. Consequently, contact between the outer peripheral surfaces of the two wheels occurs only when the vehicle is moving underneath the guide rail. At other times during operation, there is no contact and no wear on the material forming the outer peripheral surfaces of the two wheel.

Abstract: A track guided transportation system for shelf servicing within warehouses. A lower guide track provides a narrow channel defined between a track bottom face and a pair of track side faces, and an upper guide track extends above and parallel to the lower guide track. A transportation vehicle with a plurality of mounting assemblies is mounted to and between the lower and upper tracks for travel therealong. Each mounting assembly of the lower guide track includes a single supporting wheel for rolling centrally along the track channel on the bottom face to support the vehicle and at least one stabilizing element is provided in the track channel extending generally between the inner side faces and engaging one or other of the side faces at any one time in order to laterally stabilize the vehicle.

Abstract: On one ground rail only, a vehicle containing upper and lower bogies is rolling. The vehicle is guided from above at a ceiling rail. Each lower bogie contains a bogie wheel which is provided with lateral flanges. The ground rail includes a head profile, the upper side of which is interrupted at branch points of the rail by slots to guide the flanges of the bogie wheel. The depth of the slots is substantially less than the height of the head profile. Guide rollers, which can be lifted individually under control to determine the travel direction at the branch points, laterally engage the head profile.

Abstract: In an elevated railway system having a track comprising upper and lower rails extending longitudinally along one side of a beam structure, and passenger cars traveling on the track having doors on their sides adjacent the beam structure, a passenger station comprising an elevator shaft structure, including an elevator car, which extends up from ground level through a gap in the beam structure. A track section with upper and lower rails in continuity with the rails on the beam structure extends alongside the elevator shaft structure at the bottom and top of the door of a car stopped at the station, permitting passenger egress from and ingress to the passenger car and the elevator car between the rails at the station.

Abstract: A monorail driverless vehicle for use on an assembly line includes a vertically disposed frame having a drive wheel on the upper end of the frame and biased downwardly for contact with a drive shaft. Aligned support wheels on the frame are adapted for contact with a track therebelow. A fixture may be mounted on either side face of the vehicle for removably supporting the workpiece to be worked on by persons or apparatus along the assembly line.

Abstract: A storage/retrieval machine (10) is provided with equipment to adapt the machine for use in fighting fires in a warehouse in which the machine is installed. A plurality of platforms (26, 30) and access ladders (28, 32) are provided along the length of the machine mast (14). A standpipe (34) having a connection (36) to a central fire extinguisher fluid source extends along the mast, and hose and nozzle assemblies (38) are provided at each platform. To provide power to the machine to move it to the location of the fire, an auxiliary drive motor (61) is mounted on the storage/retrieval machine, and an auxiliary power supply (46) mounted in a waterproof housing (48) and supported on its own wheels (50, 52), is engageable with the storage/retrieval machine for movement therewith.

Abstract: An integral and rapid device in which means are arranged for permitting both to support a stud tightening machine and the lids and to accurately position the tightening machine relative to each manhole and the studs. This device is particularly useful for removing and re-installing manhole lids in a nuclear apparatus.

Abstract: A rail vehicle is disclosed for use on an elevated electric rail system having a lower rail below the vehicle and an upper rail above the vehicle. The vehicle includes a pair of lower wheels having independently rotatable flanges rollably carrying a vehicle cab along the lower rail and an upper wheel having independently rotatable flanges rollably engaging the upper rail. Electric motors, energized through contacts carried on the vehicle by an electric circuit associated with the upper rail, are drivingly connected through drive belts to the respective lower wheel to propel the vehicle along the rail system. The vehicle also includes a clamping rail brake carried by a vehicle which is engagable on the lower rail, and a vertically and laterally extendable servo system secured to the vehicle and carrying the upper wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a coke oven having a carriageway for a quenching car along a side thereof, which apparatus comprises a hood for covering a quenching car on the carriageway, and a supporting structure which supports the hood solely from that side of the carriageway which is remote from the coke oven.

Abstract: An overhead transportation system comprises one or more roller tracks joined in a superimposed manner to one or to both sides of a plurality of pillars or columns which form the supporting assembly of the system. Each of the roller tracks is formed of two U-shaped elements arranged parallelly to each other and whose cavities face each other. Each pair of U-shaped elements are connected to the supporting assembly parallel to the vertical axis thereof or slightly inclined thereto. A movable vertebrated or segmented train element includes a series of interconnecting compartments which are pivotally joined to each other in an alternate manner, about vertical axles at the surface thereof nearest to the roller tracks, and about horizontal axles at the base thereof.