Abstract: Disclosed is an automated guided vehicle system including at least one AGV for following predetermined magnetic paths on a ground surface to carry cargo to selected points on the paths. The AGV includes a chassis, top plate mounted on the chassis for receipt of cargo, a pair of driving wheels coupled to driving motors, and plural passive omni-wheels. Control and navigation circuitry is provided to operate the motors to drive the driving wheels to cause the AGV to follow a desired one of the paths. The AGV provides illumination indicating its direction of travel and status. It also includes laser scanners for obstacle detection.

Abstract: An autonomous guided vehicle includes a drive having a high power density, a high sustainable wheel load density, and sufficient moment of inertia. The drive includes a single pass gear set, a preload system for roller bearings, a flywheel, an integral motor, and encoders.

Abstract: A motor housing with integrated gears includes a motor having a first shaft, the motor configured to actuate the first shaft, a dowel, the dowel rotatably coupled to the first shaft, an encoder configured to surround the dowel, the encoder being configured to measure an angular velocity of the first shaft, a gear system in meshed communication with the first shaft, and a second shaft in meshed communication with the gear system such that the motor is operable to transmit power to the second shaft. The housing further includes at least one seal, the seal located on the dowel between the first end and the second end of the dowel and creating a barrier such that the dowel is rotatable within the seal while preventing migration of lubricant on the at least one gear into the encoder.

Abstract: An air curtain doorway for preventing cross-filtration of air at a doorway between a relatively warm area and a relatively cool area has duct work and an air mover. The duct work includes a supply air duct and a return air duct at opposite sides of the doorway joined by an intermediate air duct at the top of the doorway. The intermediate air duct houses the air mover, which creates an air stream circulated through the duct work that blows an air curtain from the supply air duct to the return air duct. The return air duct has an enlarged collector chamber upstream of an adjustable return air inlet aperture into which the downstream end of the air curtain is drawn. The supply air outlet aperture is at the base of a nozzle that has an upper portion that directs the air curtain toward the warm side and a lower portion that directs the air curtain toward the cold side of the doorway.

Abstract: An industrial sliding door has one or more panel assemblies, each panel assembly having a track panel secured to a header and a swinging panel hinged at the inner edge of the track panel to pivot in either direction about a vertical axis if the swinging panel is impacted by a vehicle such as a fork lift. Both panels can also pivot in at least one direction about a horizontal axis. A rail mounted stationary relative to the doorway at the lower edge of the door holds the lower edge of the door in proximity to the doorway and is disengagable if the door is hit from the opposite side, to permit the door panel assembly to swing about the horizontal axis away from the doorway. The swinging panel is held by a detent in the plane of the track panel in a normal position.

Abstract: A gear drive system including a housing having a cavity and first and second opposed, axially aligned output shafts, the first and second output shafts having first and second gears, respectively, mounted thereon. At least one of the first and second output shafts has a predefined range of travel in the longitudinal direction of the first and second output shafts. A gear assembly is in operative engagement with the first and second gears. A spacer is positioned between the housing and one of the first and second gears. The spacer is configured to preclude movement of the at least one of the first and second output shafts through at least substantially all the predefined range of travel. A cover covering the cavity retains the spacer in position between the housing and the one of the first and second gears.

Abstract: An air curtain providing an air stream across a doorway between areas of relatively cool and warm air masses and continuously monitoring the condition, e.g., temperature, pressure and flow rate, of one or both air masses and the air stream. The air curtain has a control system including an electronic controller operating a heater and fan and receiving air characteristic inputs from temperature, pressure and flow rate sensors. The controller monitors these inputs continuously and processes them to operate the heater and fan according to algorithms designed to minimize air cross-filtration and energy consumption while maintaining the temperature and humidity of the air stream at a point substantially along a line representing the mixing of anteroom air and the air stream that is substantially tangent to the psychrometric saturation curve.

Abstract: A gear drive assembly includes an elongated housing with a cavity and a pair of opposed apertures in communication with the cavity. At least one output shaft extends through the apertures. A drive gear is positioned in the cavity and fixedly connected to the at least one output shaft for rotation therewith. The drive gear and the output shaft have a predefined range of travel in a direction of the longitudinal axis to facilitate assembly of the gear drive assembly. A spacer is located within the cavity between the housing and the drive gear and is configured to preclude movement of the drive gear and the output shaft through the predefined range of travel after assembly. A drive motor can be mounted on the housing for transferring power to the at least one output shaft.

Abstract: A gear drive system including a housing having a cavity and first and second opposed, axially aligned output shafts, the first and second output shafts having first and second gears, respectively, mounted thereon. At least one of the first and second output shafts has a predefined range of travel in the longitudinal direction of the first and second output shafts. A gear assembly is in operative engagement with the first and second gears. A spacer is positioned between the housing and one of the first and second gears. The spacer is configured to preclude movement of the at least one of the first and second output shafts through at least substantially all the predefined range of travel. A cover covering the cavity retains the spacer in position between the housing and the one of the first and second gears.

Abstract: A hydraulic door opener provides a simplified mechanism for two-speed operation and for controlling the release of a brake that normally holds the door against movement. The mechanism includes a bypass valve between a fluid reservoir feeding the pump and the close control line running between the pump and the hydraulic motor. Fluid flow is directed from the close control line so that the door can be closed at slower rate than it is opened using a single speed motor. A brake control valve releases the brake when the control lines are pressurized.

Abstract: A hydraulic door operator includes a reversible hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor and connected in a closed loop to a reversible hydraulic motor which operates the door. A bypass valve assembly is connected across the loop between the pump and hydraulic motor. The bypass valve assembly is operative when fluid is delivered by the pump to drive the motor in one direction so that a portion of the fluid flow is bypassed from reaching the motor. When the pump is operated to deliver fluid to drive the motor in the opposite direction, the bypass valve assembly is inoperative. When operative, the bypass assembly will cause the motor to be driven at a slower speed than it will be driven when the bypass valve assembly is inoperative.

Abstract: A roll-up door has a bottom bar attached to the flexible curtain of the door. The bottom bar has transverse openings at each end adjacent to the jambs of the door frame. A breakaway shaft travels in a track in each jamb and has one end normally seated in a respective transverse opening by the interaction of spring loaded ball detents and detent recesses in the shaft and bar. The opposite ends of the shafts are connected to a counterforce mechanism that urges the shaft downwardly and are also connected to a strap wound with the curtain drum to urge the shafts upwardly against the counterforce. The breakaway shafts will separate from the bar upon impact to free the bar from engagement with the jamb and prevent damage to the door. The breakaway shafts may then be reconnected with the bottom bar and reset by unwinding the curtain to an overtravel position that is beyond the normal closed position of the door.

Abstract: A roll-up door has a bottom bar attached to the flexible curtain of the door. The bottom bar has transverse openings at each end adjacent to the jambs of the door frame. A breakaway shaft travels in a track in each jamb and has one end normally seated in a respective transverse opening by the interaction of spring loaded ball detents and detent recesses in the shaft and bar. The opposite ends of the shafts are connected to a counterforce mechanism that urges the shaft downwardly and are also connected to a strap wound with the curtain drum to urge the shafts upwardly against the counterforce. The breakaway shafts will separate from the bar upon impact to free the bar from engagement with the jamb and prevent damage to the door. The breakaway shafts may then be reconnected with the bottom bar and reset by unwinding the curtain to an overtravel position that is beyond the normal closed position of the door.

Abstract: A roll-up door in which the bottom bar is attached to the flexible door curtain has a transverse opening at an end adjacent to a jamb of the frame of the door. A breakaway shaft travels in a track in the jamb and has one end that normally seats in the transverse opening and provides a link between the bottom bar and the jamb. The other end of the shaft is restrained so that the shaft is held in a generally horizontal attitude. The opening in the bar and the breakaway shaft have cooperating means to normally retain the shaft in the opening but which are releasable upon a force striking the curtain or bottom bar. The breakaway shaft will separate from the bar upon impact thereby freeing the bar from engagement withthe jamb and preventing damage. The breakaway shaft may thereafter be reinserted into the opening in the bar to reconnect the bottom bar to the track and permit continued operation of the door.

Abstract: A door operator having a fluid drive motor and a manual override. The bidirectional hydraulic motor connects to a drive shaft through a power train including a shiftable --quill--type manual clutch mechanism which allows an alternate connection of the drive shaft to a manually-operated wheel. When the cable which shifts the clutch for manual drive is pulled, a switch disables the control for the hydraulic motor. When the motor is not provided with pressured fluid from the pump a hydraulic brake engages the motor.