Grippers Patents (Class 188/43)
  • Patent number: 11691854
    Abstract: A bidirectional anti-slipping apparatus includes a vehicle following stabilizing mechanism, a track, and two front and rear sets of locking mechanisms with opposite directions. The vehicle following stabilizing mechanism includes a protective shell, a middle vehicle capable of sliding and a hydraulic cylinder configured to control the middle vehicle to slide are arranged in the protective shell, a front vehicle and a rear vehicle are respectively fixed at two front and rear ends of the protective shell. Each locking mechanism includes two left and right groups of ratchet devices, each of the ratchet devices includes a fixing rod, a plurality of inner ratchet wheels capable of rotating unidirectionally are respectively fixed at two ends of the fixing rod on one side of the fixing rod proximate to the track, the inner ratchet wheels on the two front and rear sets of locking mechanisms rotate in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY, XUZHOU LIREN MONORAIL TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Lu, Zhencai Zhu, Yidong Zhang, Yuxing Peng, Mai Du, Hengzhen Hu, Fuping Zheng, Yu Tang
  • Patent number: 11565909
    Abstract: A stabilizing device of an elevator car and an elevator system. The stabilizing device include a first frame body, a second frame body, a left electromagnetic block, a right electromagnetic block, a left damper and a right damper, wherein the left electromagnetic block and the right electromagnetic block are mounted within the second frame body in a limiting manner in an up-down direction and are moveable in a left-right direction, and the left damper and the right damper are arranged in the up-down direction. The fixed end of the left damper and the fixed end of the right damper are mounted within the second frame body in a limiting manner in the up-down direction, and the movable ends of the left damper and the right damper are connected to the first frame body and are moveable upwardly and downwardly together with the first frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Xingang Gou
  • Patent number: 11498803
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator car parking brake. An operating fork is configured to move within a housing in a direction perpendicular to an end surface of a guide rail in response to operating an actuator. When the actuator is operated to move the operating fork within the housing towards the guide rail to achieve a braking state, the operating fork is configured to push braking wedges towards side surfaces of the guide rail to contact the side surfaces. When the actuator is operated to move the operating fork within the housing away from the guide rail to achieve a brake release state, detaching means are configured to pull the braking wedges away from the side surfaces of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Koskinen, Jani Renvall
  • Patent number: 11447162
    Abstract: A rail brake system that may be attached to the undercarriage of a hirail vehicle or other rail vehicle or rail equipment and that includes one or more braking calipers that can be deployed downwardly and used to releasably clamp the heads of one or more rails of a railroad track in order to dynamically brake or statically secure the vehicle or equipment in place in relation to the railroad tracks on which the vehicle or equipment is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: John Gibel, Daniel Spaulding, Karsten Farley
  • Patent number: 11420850
    Abstract: A retracting rail clamp for braking or anchoring a rail-mounted machine such as a crane by clamping opposite sides of a longitudinal rail member, the retracting rail clamp comprising: a load transfer frame rigidly secured to the crane, such as by bolting; and a clamp mechanism suspended within the load transfer frame by at least one lateral pair of pivotally mounted lift levers, and operable through a first and second stage of motion between a raised, brake release position, in which the entirety of the rail clamp is disposed substantially vertically clear of the rail, and a lowered, brake set position wherein at least one opposed facing pair of main levers of the clamp mechanism engage the side surfaces of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: PORTAL CRANE PARTS LTD.
    Inventors: Allan Roy Murdoch, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 11292356
    Abstract: Reactive spoilers for aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment, a wing of an aircraft includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an upper surface and a lower surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The wing further includes a reactive spoiler disposed on the upper surface between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The reactive spoiler comprises one or more turbines configured to raise in relation to the upper surface into an airflow passing over the upper surface, and to reduce lift of a wing section behind the turbines. The turbines are configured to convert kinetic energy from the airflow into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jeff S Siegmeth
  • Patent number: 8794393
    Abstract: A disc-brake unit (10) for vehicles on rails, comprising a brake pincer consisting of a pair of jaws (14), provided with relative friction gaskets (16), intended to rub on the two opposite surfaces of a disc (12). The jaws (14) are hinged at one of the ends of a pair of levers (18). The levers (18) are pivoted on respective hinges (20) fixedly connected to the main body of the braking unit (10), and are actuated by a braking force motor (22) provided with at least one first piston (26) that moves with alternate motion along an axis (A). The braking unit (10) also comprises a group (68) for automatically regulating the clearances between the friction gaskets (16) and the disc (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: POLI Costruzione Materiali Trazione S.R.L.
    Inventor: Vasil Argirovski
  • Publication number: 20140158475
    Abstract: The rail clamp includes a carriage having an actuator frame mounted to its base so as to extend upwardly from the base. Springs are mounted in the actuator frame at the upper end of the carriage. An actuator is mounted between the base and the springs. A wheel is mounted on a wheel support. The wheel engages the rail. At least one suspension frame is pivotally mounted to the carriage and at an opposite end, to the wheel support. The actuator operates on the suspension frame so as to elevate the carriage. A pair of clamping levers is pivotally mounted to the base of the carriage. Brake shoes mount on the lower-most ends of the levers. The levers are pivotable so as to clamp their lower-most ends together when their upper ends are moved apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Hillmar Industries Limited
    Inventors: Ian W. Bourhill, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 8662264
    Abstract: A catch device, for example in a safety device of an elevator mechanism, includes at least one first force store element and one second force store element having different force storage rates, and a displacement limit for the first force store element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Benoit Legeret
  • Patent number: 8650675
    Abstract: A suspended patient-carrier/transport apparatus of the type including an overhead rail forming a horizontal track terminating at a track-end, and a carrier device supported by a carriage having a plurality of aligned rollers rideable along the track. The inventive suspended transport apparatus has a locking safety mechanism including a track-end detector and a locking device. The locking device is operatively connected with respect to the track-end detector which actuates the locking device to engage the rail thereby stopping the carriage on the track upon sensing an absence of the track beyond the track-end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Karl Imhoff
  • Patent number: 8646582
    Abstract: The rail clamp includes a carriage having an actuator frame mounted to its base so as to extend upwardly from the base. Springs are mounted in the actuator frame at the upper end of the carnage. An actuator is mounted between the base and the springs. A wheel is mounted on a wheel support. The wheel engages the rail. At least one suspension frame is pivotally mounted to the carriage and at an opposite end, to the wheel support. The actuator operates on the suspension frame so as to elevate the carriage. A pair of clamping levers is pivotally mounted to the base of the carriage. Brake shoes mount on the lower-most ends of the levers. The levers are pivotable so as to clamp their lower-most ends together when their upper ends are moved apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hillmar Industries Limited
    Inventors: Ian W. Bourhill, Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20130306406
    Abstract: A lift includes a mast and a brake module. The mast is for disposing on a working surface and has at least one track. The brake module is connected to a lift module mounted on the mast and includes at least one friction member and at least one forcing member. The friction member has a pressing portion and an axle oppositely arranged. The pressing portion is substantially shaped to engage the track. The forcing member is rotatably disposed on the axle for pivoting axially between a first position and a second position. At the first position, the pressing portion can be moved along the track and stopped by the lift module. At the second position, the forcing member displaces the friction member to force the pressing portion tightly against the track. Thus, the brake module is held in position relative to the mast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: SYNCMOLD ENTERPRISE CORP.
    Inventors: DER-WEI LU, CHUNG-CHENG HU
  • Patent number: 8511437
    Abstract: An elevator car braking apparatus includes a gear drive assembly for compressing one or more springs which are coupled by a cam follower to one or a pair of brake shoes. When the springs are released from a compressed state, the brake shoes engage and grip hoisting ropes, part of the hoisting apparatus or the car guide rails, within a predetermined time from the start of a brake application cycle. During a brake application cycle, the springs move the cam follower along cam surfaces shaped and disposed to cause the cam follower to move at least one of the brake shoes toward the other brake shoe. The gear assembly includes clutch means for disengaging from and engaging with a gear or axle of the gear assembly during decompression and compression of the springs, respectively. A resilient material in the braking apparatus initially accelerates movement of the cam follower when the springs begin to decompress, and may protect gears of the gear assembly from damage at the end of a brake release cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corp.
    Inventor: Walter Glaser
  • Patent number: 8499900
    Abstract: A retarder for controlling the speed of a railcar is provided. The retarder includes a brake and a brake actuator that includes a hydraulic piston-cylinder and a spring. One of the piston and the cylinder acts on the brake and the other of the piston and the cylinder acts on one end of the spring. The other end of the spring acts on the brake. In this arrangement, supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the piston-cylinder causes both the piston-cylinder and the spring to move the brake towards a closed position in which the brake will apply braking pressure on the wheel of the railcar. The spring resiliently biases the brake into the closed position to maintain a substantially constant braking pressure on the wheel of the railcar as it moves through the retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Gregory P. Reitz, Kurt J. Penney
  • Publication number: 20130047334
    Abstract: A suspended patient-carrier/transport apparatus of the type including an overhead rail forming a horizontal track terminating at a track-end, and a carrier device supported by a carriage having a plurality of aligned rollers rideable along the track. The inventive suspended transport apparatus has a locking safety mechanism including a track-end detector and a locking device. The locking device is operatively connected with respect to the track-end detector which actuates the locking device to engage the rail thereby stopping the carriage on the track upon sensing an absence of the track beyond the track-end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Karl Imhoff
  • Patent number: 8365876
    Abstract: An air bladder actuator for a railroad car retarder utilizes a simplified stroke limiting arrangement that can be used in new actuator construction or applied as a retrofit assembly to an existing air cylinder actuated retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: AAA Sales & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Mazur, Robert B. Zimmer, Thomas J. Heyden
  • Patent number: 8312972
    Abstract: Brake equipment for holding and braking an elevator car in an elevator installation, which is arranged to be movable along a brake track in two directions of travel, includes a mount with a brake lining which automatically adjusts under friction couple with the brake track on movement of the elevator car relative to the rail and in that case tightens a first tightening means, which can be released by an actuator. The first tightening means tightens the mount together with the brake lining against the brake track by a biasing force. The brake equipment produces, with unmoved brake equipment and an unreleased state of the actuator, a holding force acting in both directions of travel. The holding force is determined substantially by the biasing force acting on the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Mathis Baur, Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 8296878
    Abstract: A suspended patient-carrier/transport apparatus of the type including an overhead rail forming a horizontal track terminating at a track-end, and a carrier device supported by a carriage having a plurality of aligned rollers rideable along the track. The inventive suspended transport apparatus has a locking safety mechanism including the carriage having a main carriage portion and a forward carriage portion. A track-end detector is at the forward carriage portion and movably secured with respect thereto such that the track-end detector moves downwardly when it runs beyond the track-end. A locking device is operatively connected with respect to the track-end detector such that downward movement thereof causes the locking device to engage the rail thereby stopping the carriage on the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Karl Imhoff
  • Publication number: 20120241262
    Abstract: The rail clamp includes a carriage having an actuator frame mounted to its base so as to extend upwardly from the base. Springs are mounted in the actuator frame at the upper end of the carnage. An actuator is mounted between the base and the springs. A wheel is mounted on a wheel support. The wheel engages the rail. At least one suspension frame is pivotally mounted to the carriage and at an opposite end, to the wheel support. The actuator operates on the suspension frame so as to elevate the carriage. A pair of clamping levers is pivotally mounted to the base of the carriage. Brake shoes mount on the lower-most ends of the levers. The levers are pivotable so as to clamp their lower-most ends together when their upper ends are moved apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Ian W. Bourhill, Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 8157060
    Abstract: An elevator installation has an elevator car that moves in a vertical direction along guide tracks and is braked or held at standstill by a braking equipment. The braking equipment includes at least two brake units, at least one of the brake units, but preferably each of the brake units, is provided with a wear-compensating device which, when the brake unit is opened or released, sets a clearance distance between a brake lining and an associated brake surface, which clearance arises on opening of the brake unit, in correspondence with a substantially constant value. Thereby, use may be made of customary and thus economic brake materials which may wear during braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Gremaud, Hans Kocher, Josef A. Muff
  • Publication number: 20120031713
    Abstract: In a frictional engagement arrangement for a carriage supported on, and guided by, at least one guide track and provided with a friction engagement mechanism actuated by a slide wedge drive which includes a pressure member which is engageable with the guide track, the slide wedge drive includes an operating mechanism which is arranged in a multistep through bore extending in parallel with the longitudinal extent of the guide track with the pressure member and a slide wedge cage movably disposed in a bore extending normal to the multi-step through bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Günther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8020671
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a guide rail and brake equipment for guiding, holding and braking the elevator installation. The brake equipment has a brake lining which co-operates with a brake surface, advantageously with the brake surface of the guide rail, for the purpose of the braking and holding. The brake surface has at least one longitudinal wedge groove or wedge elevation which is oriented in the braking direction and on which the brake lining acts in case of need. An amplification of the braking force is achieved by the longitudinal wedge groove or wedge elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Hans Kocher, Josef A. Muff
  • Patent number: 7975811
    Abstract: A rail clamp comprises a frame and a pair of levers. Each of the levers has a brake pad at a first end thereof, a cam follower at second end thereof, and is mounted to the frame by a pivot disposed between said first and second ends. A cam is disposed between the levers and a spring biases the cam in a first direction. A clamp release actuator is operable to displace the cam in a second direction. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. A pair of variably sloped cam surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the cam. Each of the variably sloped cam surfaces is in contact with the cam follower of a corresponding one of the levers, and each of the variably sloped cam surfaces has a slope which varies to counteract variations in a spring force of the spring as the cam is displaced, thereby maintaining a constant clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hillmar Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Igor Berliant
  • Publication number: 20110072580
    Abstract: A suspended patient-carrier/transport apparatus of the type including an overhead rail forming a horizontal track terminating at a track-end, and a carrier device supported by a carriage having a plurality of aligned rollers rideable along the track. The inventive suspended transport apparatus has a locking safety mechanism including the carriage having a main carriage portion and a forward carriage portion. A track-end detector is at the forward carriage portion and movably secured with respect thereto such that the track-end detector moves downwardly when it runs beyond the track-end. A locking device is operatively connected with respect to the track-end detector such that downward movement thereof causes the locking device to engage the rail thereby stopping the carriage on the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: Karl Imhoff
  • Publication number: 20090183956
    Abstract: A rail clamp comprises a frame and a pair of levers. Each of the levers has a brake pad at a first end thereof, a cam follower at second end thereof, and is mounted to the frame by a pivot disposed between said first and second ends. A cam is disposed between the levers and a spring biases the cam in a first direction. A clamp release actuator is operable to displace the cam in a second direction. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. A pair of variably sloped cam surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the cam. Each of the variably sloped cam surfaces is in contact with the cam follower of a corresponding one of the levers, and each of the variably sloped cam surfaces has a slope which varies to counteract variations in a spring force of the spring as the cam is displaced, thereby maintaining a constant clamping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Igor Berliant
  • Patent number: 7392887
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a low-maintenance bladder actuator for a low-profile railroad retarder. The actuator has an internal guide mechanism and internal limit stops. The guide mechanism has a concentric, telescoping guide rod and guide sleeve that are removably bolted to upper and lower plates. An integral cast head forms the upper plate and a stop sleeve that absorbs the cyclical 20,000 pound loads of the actuator. This enables the guide rod to remain concentricly aligned. The guide mechanism has sufficient stroke length (SL) and includes a long internal bushing with a low wear rate. The stop sleeve engages the lower plate to form the lower limit stop. The stop sleeve includes an inwardly extending flange that engages an outwardly extending flange of the guide sleeve to form an upper limit stop. The stop sleeve and guide sleeve form a cam lock connection for easy assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: AAA Sales + Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Heyden, Richard Bohme, Mark Zawlocki
  • Patent number: 7131517
    Abstract: A bi-directional safety mechanism used in an elevator safety device and which produces a gradual catch on a guide rail. The bi-directional safety device has a roller and two hinged rectangular frames, each having a friction element. One hinged rectangular frame is disposed above the roller and the other hinged rectangular frame is disposed below the roller with both hinged rectangular frames on the same side of the guide rail. In addition, a set of fixed brakes are disposed on the other side of the guide rail and opposite to the hinged rectangular frames, preventing this system from marking the guide rail during the braking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Dynatech Dynamics & Technology, S.L.
    Inventor: Francisco de Asis Mateo Mur
  • Patent number: 7029214
    Abstract: There is provided a linear guide apparatus which, owing to the use of a gap-free braking device in a rolling guide, has a sufficiently high damping capacity. The linear guide apparatus for guiding a linear motion of a movable body along a guide rail on a fixed structure in a machine tool, includes: a rolling guide section including a rolling element for rolling on a rolling element-rolling surface of the guide rail; and a brake section for enhancing the damping capacity of the rolling guide section, the brake section including a pair of brake shoes, having a flexible structure, for sliding on the rolling element-rolling surface of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shiba, Yoshiaki Kai, Takao Date
  • Patent number: 6915881
    Abstract: A linear drive comprising a housing and a rail, which is mounted on the housing such that they can move relatively. Drive elements on the housing and on the rail to produce relative movement between the housing and the rail. The housing has a braking device to interact with a brake track provided on the rail. The brake track is in a groove in the rail. Anti-friction elements between the housing and the rail ride in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Jörg-Oliver Hestermann
  • Patent number: 6629584
    Abstract: A clamping and/or braking device with a basic body (3) has a clamping and/or braking region for pressurizing an element (9). Basic body (3) has an actuating mechanism which, upon actuation, causes a substantially elastic deformation of the basic body (3), so that the clamping and/or braking region is moved into or out of a pressurizing position or that the pressurizing force which the clamping and/or braking region exerts on the element (9) is changed. The actuating mechanism comprises a minimum of one chamber (15), which can be pressurized and which is located on or incorporated in the basic body (3) and which is bounded at least in part by a minimum of one wall (13), at least partial regions of which are flexible but tension-proof and/or pressure-resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: InnoTech Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Willy Müller
  • Patent number: 6578677
    Abstract: A braking device of a linear guide comprises a braking slide seat which is mounted on the guide. The braking slide seat is provided with a braking rod which is provided in the mid-segment with an insertion slot having a tapered bevel and in the rear end with a disk spring for pushing the front end of the braking rod to make a frictional contact with the guide. An urging rod is powered by a hydraulic or a pneumatic source to enter the insertion slot to cause the braking rod to move away from the guide. In the event of a power outage, the urging rod is retreated from the insertion slot, the braking rod is urged by the spring to make a frictional contact with the guide, thereby exerting a braking force on the guide to bring the slide seat to an abrupt halt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chin-Mou Hsu, Ching-Yuan Lin, Hsi-Hung Hsiao
  • Patent number: 6561049
    Abstract: The linear guide apparatus includes a guide rail 3 including a rolling body rolling groove 8 and a friction apply unit 6 assembled to the guide rail 3. The friction apply unit 6 includes a unit main body 15, a brake member 16, an oil pressure cylinder 17 and a plate spring 32. The brake member 16 is disposed so as to face the side surface 3a of the guide rail 3 and can be contacted with the other portions of the side surface 3a than the rolling body rolling groove 8 thereof. The oil pressure cylinder 17 includes a piston member 20 which is structured to be driven in a positive direction to thereby press the brake member 16 against the side surface 3a of the guide rail 3 and also the piston member 20 can be driven in the opposite direction to thereby remove the pressure of the brake member 16 from the side surface 3a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Akiyama, Soichiro Kato, Shinya Nakamura, Shiroji Yabe
  • Patent number: 6354406
    Abstract: In a safety arrangement of a cable-supported component of a medical device that can be adjusted via a cart at a column, a force acts on the cable via at least one clamping lever that is adjustably supported at the cart, and the cart is free for purposes of adjustment along the column given action of the force, and the clamping lever is moved such that it blocks displacement of the cart relative to the column when the force is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mario Ring, Peter Rauh, Alfred Ott
  • Patent number: 6336528
    Abstract: A brake device for a linear guide comprising a carrier body (1) which is movable on a guide rail (2) and incorporates brake shoes (10) which act on the guide rail (2), and a brake piston (8) which is arranged for displacement by a pressure medium in a brake cylinder (9) of the carrier body (1), the brake device further comprising an energy reservoir in form of a compression spring (11) which acts on the pressure medium that is limited by the brake piston (8), a piston/cylinder assembly is arranged between the compression spring (11) and the brake piston (8), which assembly comprises a unitary control element comprising a displaceable, larger diameter control piston (5) arranged in a control pressure chamber (4) to act on the compression spring (11) and a displaceable, smaller diameter high pressure piston (6) arranged in a high pressure chamber (3) to act on the brake piston (8), a pressure connection (13) for supply of pressure medium into the control pressure chamber (4) being disposed on the carrier body (
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventor: Dietmar Rudy
  • Patent number: 6227336
    Abstract: A linear guide having a carrier body that can be moved along a guide track is provided having a brake device with brake shoes acting upon the guide track and a piston which is located in a pressure chamber which can be displaced by a pressure medium in the carrier body. The brake device has a spring acting upon the piston. Pressure plates are provided in the carrier body which are pressed against the brake shoes located on the guide track by the spring when the piston is not being subjected to the pressure medium. This results in a linear guide whose carrier body can be mechanically and reliably locked on the guide track in case of emergencies such as pressure medium outages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventor: Dietmar Rudy
  • Patent number: 6220400
    Abstract: A low-profile railway car retarder system comprising a fulcrum pin, an upper and a lower lever, and two braking assemblies, is disclosed. The levers are located beneath a horizontal plan drawn from the top of the rail, thereby preventing inadvertent contact with a passing car. The braking actuator comprises an air-tight bladder which is filled with fluid or drained of fluid to cause the frictional braking members to move between closed and opened braking positions, and provides greater control than prior art systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Trackside Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg F. Kickbush
  • Patent number: 6155176
    Abstract: A racing-type amusement ride utilizes a self-propelled vehicle which has guide wheels to move along a track having a beginning end, a finish end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a top, a rail along which a guide wheel of the self-propelled vehicle runs situated on the top of the track, and attached to at least one lateral side of said track between the beginning end of the track and the finish end of the track a frictional strip. Deceleration of the self-propelled vehicle is accomplished by having at least one brake pad so attached to the self-propelled vehicle that such brake pad will come into contact with a frictional strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Stanley J. Checketts
  • Patent number: 6053287
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving a car along a travel path along guide rails includes a linear drive having a fixed first platform attached to the car and connected by springs with a movable second platform. Holding-units are attached to both platforms for engaging the guide rails and operating-units are connected between the platforms for relative movement. The holding-units and the operating-units include piezoelectric actuators that are selectively energized to move the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Invento AG
    Inventors: Karl Weinberger, Gert Silberhorn, Jean Marie Rennetaud
  • Patent number: 5950768
    Abstract: Safety equipment, in the form of an arresting device with triggering equipment for an elevator cage, which runs in rail guides and is for the conveying of persons and/or goods, which safety equipment stops the elevator cage when the permissible speed of travel in upward direction and in downward direction is exceeded, wherein a trigger lever connected the limiter cable is effective in both directions of travel. Known arresting devices are arranged functionally mutually opposite on support brackets and a double arresting device for both directions of travel is formed in this manner. The triggering of the corresponding arresting device separately in direction of travel takes place by way of some new parts which are incorporated between the arresting devices and the known triggering system consisting of speed limiter, limiter cable with tensioning weight and trigger lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Karsten Gensike, Peter Mori
  • Patent number: 5816167
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a playground carriage (10) is provided for moving people (100) from one play area to another. The playground carriage comprises a rotatable support pipe (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16). The support pipe extends between a first vertical column (18) and a second vertical column (20). A manually-operated crank extends between the first vertical column and a third vertical column (48). The first end of the crank is coupled to the first end of the support pipe so that manually turning the crank rotates the support pipe. A carriage (28) for carrying people is mounted to the support pipe. The carriage is advanced along the support pipe by a carrier assembly (102). The carrier assembly comprises a carrier (30) which propels the carriage and a brake (104) which is capable of bringing the carriage to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Kompan, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Danforth, Daniel York, Russell Keeler, John Underbrink
  • Patent number: 5785155
    Abstract: The present invention provides a linear motion clamping unit capable of reliably holding the casing unit at an arbitrary position on the track rail with a small force. In this linear motion clamping unit, when the actuators are deenergized, the rollers arranged in the openings of the retainers are pushed by the spring force through the retainers to engage with the lock portions formed between the inclined surfaces of the wedge members and the side wall surfaces of the track rail. The resulting wedge action locks the casing unit on the track rail in one axial direction. When the actuators are energized, the rollers are released from the lock portions by the action of the retainers, thus unlocking the casing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Geka, Kazunari Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 5246081
    Abstract: Method for loading and unloading semitrailers on a train of flat cars by coupling the semitrailers to power driven stanchions respectively, providing the power driven stanchions with automatic control in the form of proximity sensors for governing movement of the semitrailers in accordance with proximity of adjoining semitrailers and automatically steering the stanchions along a guide path to load and unload the train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Knorr Brake Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. Engle
  • Patent number: 5180036
    Abstract: This invention is a cam operated rail clamping device for preventing movement of a structure on a rail comprising a base, a vertically disposed post secured to and projecting upwardly from the base, a tube rotatably and slidably mounted on the post, an air (or hydraulically) operated lift cylinder for raising the tube, a vertically disposed beam extending upwardly from the base and secured thereto, a horizontally disposed flange secured to the lower end of the tube, a clamping jaw carried by the flange and provided with a high point and a plurality of teeth for engagement with a first side of a rail, the flange being mounted for rotation about the post to bring the high point of the jaw into wedging action with the first side of the rail when the flange engages a top portion of the rail, a wearing shoe carried by the base for engagement with a second side of the rail, and a microswitch for indicating the position of the clamping jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Inventor: Ronald J. Boben
  • Patent number: 5176228
    Abstract: A self-containing brake assembly adapted to be mounted on a strip feeding device to apply an adjustable frictionally braking force to the strip includes a first braking element mountable upon a feed table. A second braking element having spaced opposed webs located at opposite sides of the first element is guided by guide pins fixed to one element and received in bores in the other for movement between a braking position wherein a work piece strip is frictionally gripped between one side of the first braking element and the opposed web of the second and a release position in which the opposed web is disengaged from the strip. An adjustable spring resiliently biases the elements towards the braking position an eccentric release cam may be manually operated to shift the elements to their release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Diamond Die & Mold Company
    Inventor: Joseph Baldyga
  • Patent number: 5121695
    Abstract: An overhead cableway is disclosed, in particular a chair lift, with a cable revolving between stations and with transport devices having a traveling gear and connected with the cable via removable clamps. Travel segments are provided at every station which include driven friction wheels, which act on the transport devices via friction surfaces provided on their traveling gear, and forming at least one deceleration and one acceleration section each, and with guide elements associated with the travel segments, which cooperate with the traveling gear. In accordance with the invention, the friction wheels (6,10) define traveling surfaces (20) and the transport devices (50) are supported by their downwardly oriented friction surfaces (88) directly on the friction wheels, and the guide elements (48) are seated rotatably and fixed in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Von Roll Transportsysteme AG
    Inventor: Fritz Feuz
  • Patent number: 5096020
    Abstract: An elevator safety apparatus is disclosed which is designed to be mounted on an elevator car, which car moves along guide rails; said apparatus comprising a frame, an area for wedge housings formed in the frame, and wedges placed in the wedge housings on each side of a guide rail; the wedges gripping the guide rail when the safety apparatus is activated, the wedges being placed relative to each other such that the wider end of one wedge points upwards while the wider end of the second wedge points downwards. To allow safety apparatus action in both an upward and downward direction, the apparatus is provided with an activating mechanism connected to and moving both wedges, and an overspeed governor, or the equivalent, for controlling the activating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Kone Elevator GmbH
    Inventor: Helge Korhonen
  • Patent number: 5014828
    Abstract: The electromagnetic brake comprises an electromagnet and a movable armature attracted by this electromagnet when the latter is energized and separated from the latter by spring means when the electromagnet is not energized. The electromagnet and the armature are each mounted hingeably between two pivoting arms carrying jaws intended to clamp an element to be braked. The brake comprises, moreover, a damping device offering resistance to the movements of the armature relative to the electromagnet so as to control and slow down the speed at which the brake is applied and released. The damping device is integrated inside the assembly consisting of the armature and the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Moteurs Leroy-Somer
    Inventor: Ferdinand Baldassarre
  • Patent number: 4961241
    Abstract: A brake mechanism for a vertically storing dock leveler mounted on a carriage for lateral movement on rails relative to a dock surface. The brake is automatically actuated by means of an arm that bears against the leveler. When the leveler is lowered the arm rotates to urge a brake member into engagement with a rail thus preventing lateral movement of the carriage and leveler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: The Serco Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 4926982
    Abstract: A braking device in an arrangement for linear movement comprising an elongated part and a part movable in relation thereto. Along substantially the entire stroke of the movable part of a piston there is at least one first braking surface movably arranged in relation to the central axis of the elongated cylinder, the braking surface being adapted for co-action with a second braking surface arranged in association with the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Inventor: Bo Granbom
  • Patent number: 4819765
    Abstract: An arrester device, e.g. for an elevator cage or counterweight, has a wedge housing, an active wedge acting on one side of an elevator guide and activated by a separate transmission member, such as a rope, and a counterwedge acting on the elevator guide from the opposite side. The movements of the wedge and the counter wedge are directed to pass along inclined guide surfaces, the distance between the top margins of the guide surfaces being equal to or larger than the distance between their lower margins. The angle of inclination of the guide surfaces equals the wedge angles of the wedge and the counterwedge, respectively. Furthermore, the wedge housing comprises a force member, such as a spring, which exerts on the counterwedge a force substantially parallel to the respective guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Kone Elevator GmbH
    Inventors: Hugo Winkler, Johannes De Jong