Abstract: A motor driven drive roller (34) frictionally engages the lower surface (32) of a pallet (30) moved along a conveyor path. A drive motor (38) is disposed within the roller (34) and rotates the roller (34) through a multi-stage planetary gear transmission (40) disposed within the roller (34). The roller (34) is moved between a raised operative position and a retracted inoperative position by a lift motor (100) which is independent of the drive motor (38). A steering motor (132), independent of both the drive motor (38) and the lift motor (100), rotates the roller (34) about a vertical steering axis (B) to steer the pallet (30) onto or off the conveyor path. A compression spring is provided between the lift motor (100) and the roller (34) for allowing the roller (34) to move up and down with an irregular lower surface (32) of a pallet (30) to continuously maintain frictional engagement between the roller (34) and the lower surface (32) of the pallet (30).

Abstract: An aircraft cargo control system (12) controls powered rollers (24, 26) for moving pallets (28) in the cargo area of an aircraft (30). The control system (12) includes a joy stick (60) for controlling longitudinal movement on the right side (46), left side (48), or both sides, and lateral movement into and out of the aircraft (30). The motor (51) of each roller (24) includes a sensor (90) and switch (76) for sensing a pallet (28) thereover and powering the motor (51) only when a pallet (28) is sensed and the joy stick (60) is appropriately selected. Therefore, only powered rollers (24) moving the pallets (28) are powered, while the remaining rollers (24) remain unpowered.

Abstract: A low profile steerable power drive unit assembly (10) comprises a cylindrical frame member (22) having an annular ledge (42) extending inwardly therefrom. The ledge (42) includes a flat upper race (46), a frustoconical lower race (48) and gear teeth (82) disposed along the ring-like interface between the upper (46) and lower (48) races. A support bracket (24) is rotatably supported in the frame member (22) about a vertical axis (A) by a plurality of outwardly extending wheels (34, 36) freely rollable along the upper race (46) and the lower race (48). A motor (52) is supported in the support bracket (24) and, through a gear train, operatively engages the gear teeth (82) on the ledge (42) to rotate the support bracket (24) within the frame member (22). The support bracket (24) receives two modular power drive units in side-by-side orientation.

Abstract: A low profile power drive assembly (10) for conveying articles along a conveyor path includes one cylindrical roller (22) supported on an eccentric shaft (32). A first drive motor (26) and a second drive motor (26') are operatively connected to the roller (22) for synchronously rotating the roller (22). The free state position of the roller (22) is in a lower retracted position. When the first (26) and second (26 ') drive motors apply simultaneous driving torque to the roller (22), the roller (22) rises vertically to a lifted operative position to engage the underside of an article to be conveyed. A clutch (38) is disposed inside the roller (22) for controlling the upwardly normal force applied to the underside of the article being conveyed. The assembly (10) is disposable within a standard rollerway (12) in a conventional aircraft cargo conveyor system.

Abstract: Viscous oil is recovered from a subterranean formation by (a) establishing flow communication between an injection well and a production well in a flow path along the lower portion of a formation pay zone containing the viscous oil, (b) heating the flow path and adjacent portions of the pay zone with hot water or low quality steam, (c) injecting alternating slugs of hot water and steam through the injection well and into the pay zone overlying the heated flow path to cause the oil to liquify and drain into the heated flow path and to be displaced toward the production well, (d) displacing substantially all of the oil in the heated path by hot water, and (e) recovering produced fluids through the production well. The flow path is conveniently created by placing a horizontal well from the vertical injection well into the pay zone.

Abstract: An energy storage and release system (10) in combination with an aircraft (11) for ejecting an ordnance from the aircraft, the system (10) including a housing (22) mounted in the aircraft (11) and a drive shaft (24) having an outer end (26) and inner end (28) supported within the housing (22) for reciprocating axial movement of the outer end (26) into and out of the housing (22). An energy storage system including a flywheel (30) rotatably mounted within the housing (22) and operatively connected to the drive shaft (24) moves the outer end (26) of the drive shaft (24) axially out of the housing (22) to eject an ordnance (18). A linear induction motor (16) powers the flywheel (30).

Abstract: A magnetic linear motor is movable over a planar surface defined by laminations of alternately magnetic and nonmagnetic materials in the direction of movement of a head disposed thereover. The head includes four pluralities of laminations paired by a winding extending therethrough with laminations of each pair aligned transversely and the two pairs of laminations being offset whereby when one pair of laminations is aligned with the laminations in the reactive platen surface, the other pair of laminations overlap magnetic and nonmagnetic laminations. The laminations extend perpendicularly to the direction of travel and each have two legs, one shorter than the other, so that magnetic coupling occurs between each pair of grouped laminations transversely along the magnetic laminations in the platen with the energization of the winding associated therewith determining the direction of movement.