Abstract: A brake includes a rotor rotatably coupled to a rotating body for rotation about a rotational axis. A brake plate and an armature are disposed on opposite sides of the rotor. A spring and an electromagnet urge the armature in opposite directions into and out of engagement with the rotor to move the rotor into and out of engagement with the brake plate and engage and disengage the brake. The brake plate and electromagnet each define a central bore configured to receive the rotating body. The brake is characterized by a target supported on a radially extending face of the rotating body or the rotor and a sensor aligned with the target through the central bore of the brake plate or the electromagnet. The sensor generates, responsive to the target, position signals indicative of a rotational position of the rotor and rotating body.

Abstract: A brake includes a rotor rotatably coupled to a rotating body for rotation about a rotational axis. A brake plate and an armature are disposed on opposite sides of the rotor. A spring and an electromagnet urge the armature in opposite directions into and out of engagement with the rotor to move the rotor into and out of engagement with the brake plate and engage and disengage the brake. The brake plate and electromagnet each define a central bore configured to receive the rotating body. The brake is characterized by a target supported on a radially extending face of the rotating body or the rotor and a sensor aligned with the target through the central bore of the brake plate or the electromagnet. The sensor generates, responsive to the target, position signals indicative of a rotational position of the rotor and rotating body.

Abstract: An electromagnetic braking device for braking a rotary shaft includes a friction disk mounted to the shaft and movable in translation and rotation, an outer part, and an intermediate part movable in translation between the friction disk and the outer part. At least one of the outer and intermediate parts is magnetic. At least one electromagnetic actuating member and at least one mechanical actuating member are housed in the other of the outer and intermediate parts. The intermediate part moves in a first direction toward the friction disk under the action of the mechanical actuating member and in a second direction toward the outer part under the action of the electromagnetic actuating member. A plurality of independent magnetic sheets move in translation between the intermediate and outer parts under the action of the mechanical actuating member and/or electromagnetic actuating member.

Abstract: There is provided an autonomous vehicle for pushing feed lying on a floor, comprising a frame; a skirt rotatably connected to the frame, wherein a bottom portion of the skirt continuously contacts the floor to push the feed. The vehicle comprises a sensor assembly for detecting a magnetic field emitted from a magnetic guiding element inserted in the floor and a control unit mounted for directing rotation of the skirt and for guiding the vehicle along a predetermined path formed by the magnetic guiding element. Also provided is an autonomous vehicle with a skirt drive mechanism mounted to the frame for driving rotation of the skirt, and an autonomous vehicle comprising a prism-shaped skirt rotatably connected to the frame. There is also provided methods for installing a magnetically guided autonomous vehicle and for pushing feed using an autonomous vehicle, as well as systems and kits comprising said vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided an autonomous vehicle for pushing feed lying on a floor, comprising a frame; a skirt rotatably connected to the frame, wherein a bottom portion of the skirt continuously contacts the floor to push the feed. The vehicle comprises a sensor assembly for detecting a magnetic field emitted from a magnetic guiding element inserted in the floor and a control unit mounted for directing rotation of the skirt and for guiding the vehicle along a predetermined path formed by the magnetic guiding element. Also provided is an autonomous vehicle with a skirt drive mechanism mounted to the frame for driving rotation of the skirt, and an autonomous vehicle comprising a prism-shaped skirt rotatably connected to the frame. There is also provided methods for installing a magnetically guided autonomous vehicle and for pushing feed using an autonomous vehicle, as well as systems and kits comprising said vehicle.

Abstract: An inclined hearth combustor which generally includes a primary combustion chamber having a plurality of stepped hearths, a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary combustion chamber and a boiler having an inlet in communication with the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary combustion chamber includes a refractory-lined cyclone separator for removing fly ash from combustion gases exiting the primary combustion chamber and the boiler inlet is surrounded by the cyclone separator. The primary combustion chamber may further include an ash transfer ram movably disposed between two stepped hearths, wherein the ash transfer ram includes a top layer of refractory material extending rearwardly from a leading edge thereof. The ash transfer ram may further include a plurality of V-shaped wheels attached to a bottom surface thereof, a replaceable wear plate disposed on a side surface thereof and/or a wiper blade fixed on a forward face thereof.

Abstract: An inclined hearth combustor which generally includes a primary combustion chamber having a plurality of stepped hearths, a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary combustion chamber and a boiler having an inlet in communication with the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary combustion chamber includes a refractory-lined cyclone separator for removing fly ash from combustion gases exiting the primary combustion chamber and the boiler inlet is surrounded by the cyclone separator. The primary combustion chamber may further include an ash transfer ram movably disposed between two stepped hearths, wherein the ash transfer ram includes a top layer of refractory material extending rearwardly from a leading edge thereof. The ash transfer ram may further include a plurality of V-shaped wheels attached to a bottom surface thereof, a replaceable wear plate disposed on a side surface thereof and/or a wiper blade fixed on a forward face thereof.

Abstract: An inclined hearth combustor which generally includes a primary combustion chamber having a plurality of stepped hearths, a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary combustion chamber and a boiler having an inlet in communication with the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary combustion chamber includes a refractory-lined cyclone separator for removing fly ash from combustion gases exiting the primary combustion chamber and the boiler inlet is surrounded by the cyclone separator. The primary combustion chamber may further include an ash transfer ram movably disposed between two stepped hearths, wherein the ash transfer ram includes a top layer of refractory material extending rearwardly from a leading edge thereof. The ash transfer ram may further include a plurality of V-shaped wheels attached to a bottom surface thereof, a replaceable wear plate disposed on a side surface thereof and/or a wiper blade fixed on a forward face thereof.

Abstract: An inclined hearth combustor which generally includes a primary combustion chamber having a plurality of stepped hearths, a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary combustion chamber and a boiler having an inlet in communication with the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary combustion chamber includes a refractory-lined cyclone separator for removing fly ash from combustion gases exiting the primary combustion chamber and the boiler inlet is surrounded by the cyclone separator. The primary combustion chamber may further include an ash transfer ram movably disposed between two stepped hearths, wherein the ash transfer ram includes a top layer of refractory material extending rearwardly from a leading edge thereof. The ash transfer ram may further include a plurality of V-shaped wheels attached to a bottom surface thereof, a replaceable wear plate disposed on a side surface thereof and/or a wiper blade fixed on a forward face thereof.