Abstract: A rail connection for use in an overhead suspended rail system comprises a plate bolted to the webs of the rails and upper and lower connecting structures with undercut portions for engagement with a suspension element.

Abstract: A track clamp assembly for supporting or splicing tracks of I-shaped cross-section formed by a vertical web with horizontal parallel flanges at the opposite ends of the web and having a pair of oppositely facing grooves formed in the flanges on each side of the web. The track clamp assembly comprises upper and lower clamp members respectively having upper and lower edges insertable in a pair of track grooves, and having interengageable ramp surfaces disposed between the upper and lower edges and extending obliquely thereto. Outwardly projecting tabs on the clamp members are engageable by a connecting bolt which when tightened moves the ramp surfaces into interengagement, increasing the dimension between the upper and lower edges and forcing the clamp members into locking engagement with the track.

Abstract: A cable way for transporting suspended vehicles or cars includes a moving pulling cable and a guide element defining a long travel axis and formed at least in part as a support cable. The cable way at certain locations is adjustable in height and to both sides along the long travel axis. At the certain locations, the support cable is replaced by rigid rails. Each vehicle is supported on the guide element by a roller mechanism including a grip secured to the pulling cable with the grip connected by an articulated rocker member to travel rollers contacting the guide element. The rocker mechanism includes two guiding or steering elements pivotally displaceable relative to the long travel axis for effecting the adjustment at the certain locations. The grip generally engages the pulling cable from below and permits travel over diversion rollers located on both sides of the pulling cable.

Abstract: A girder support for a girder having a web and a top flange, the support is formed of extruded aluminium and is of a "T-shaped" configuration with a recess which encompasses the web and top flange, the support includes two legs between which the web is located, with the legs being resiliently movable away from each other to facilitate installation of the support.

Abstract: A track and trolley system that allows wall panels to be moved with a minimum amount of friction is disclosed. The system includes a track having a first rail, a second rail which is higher than the first rail, and a trolley having two drive wheels that engage the rails via annular track engaging surfaces of different diameters. Each drive wheel is independently rotatable in opposite directions. The system further includes a wall panel mount assembly haivng a housing integral with a movable wall panel and slide pads at track intersections to reduce the vertical elevational drop of a trolley when it moves across a track intersection.

Abstract: A running rail has a double T profile formed by two chords connected with a web. Grooves extend parallel to the web, in the inner sides of both chords. On a lower end, the suspension arm has a suspension plate with an upper edge that engages into the groove in the upper chord. A securing claw is provided that engages the lower groove with one end, and engages the side of the suspension plate remote from the web, with the other end. At the upper end of the suspension arm is a roof flange which is horizontally adjustably connected by using a nut and bolt cooperating with a bush.

Abstract: A rail suspension arrangement including suspending member and a rail of I beam configuration, the I beam having a web and upper and lower cross bars, one side of the web having claws for connection with conductor holders, and claws on the other side of the web that have portions facing each other to define a channel with internal overhung portions against which fastening screws are clamped. The suspending member has projecting surfaces bearing against support surfaces of the web, and has a plate from which the fastening screws extends. A supplemental rail may be interposed between the web and the suspending member.

Abstract: A coupler for structurally joining opposing ends of overhead support rails is disclosed herein having a pair of elongated splice plates carried on opposite sides of the rail ends so as to overlap the abutment of the ends. Each splice plate of the pair is of substantially uniform cross section having a U-shaped channel section including a central, upright web terminating in transverse, parallel flanges. The upper flange is integrally formed with an upwardly extending flange parallel to but spaced apart from the upright web. Trapezoidal ribs extend externally of the channel section in parallel spaced relationship along the upper flange immediately adjacent to the web and along the web midway between the transverse flanges. Threaded bores provided in the ribs insertably receive fasteners for bearing against the respective rails. The configuration of each splice plate is conformal with the external configuration of the overhead support rails.

Abstract: Rails supporting vehicles are suspended under utilization of a mounting plate being laterally adjustable by means of a detent structure and oblong slots secured to a lowermost portion of support tower or the like and having four bores threadedly receiving four suspension bolts for a C-shaped bracket member having an uppermost suspension plate with arc-shaped bores for receiving the suspension bolts; a plurality of nuts threadedly secure the suspension plate to the suspension bolts from above and from below in an elevationally adjustable manner; the rail is secured to the lower portion of the bracket member.

Abstract: A reinforced track section for a power and free conveyor system utilizes a conventional power rail with a free trolley track suspended therefrom. A uniform rail cap is superiorly attached to the power rail so as to provide a continuous, uninterrupted reinforcement thereto. The rail cap includes a continuous mounting flange in cooperation with hanger clamps which suspend the rail cap and underlying power and free tracks from overhead support structure at user-selectable points along the flange.

Abstract: A monorail conveyor system having an inverted plastic T-bar monorail track suspended from supporting structural members conjoined by conventional bolt and nut fasteners, a plurality of plastic conveyor trolleys operatively movable on the T-bar monorail by a drive chain comprising a plurality of plastic chain links articulatedly connected together, the drive chain being driven by conventional conveyor drive chain power mechanism. Each plastic T-bar monorail track section comprises an upstanding stem having a laterally extending pendant lobe on each side thereof and a pair of laterally outwardly directed flanges at the distal end of said stem for both horizontal and inclined travel of the conveyor trolleys.

Abstract: A load moving apparatus for moving loads such as tools, fixtures or parts in a linear path comprising an elongated channel-shaped frame member having a pair of rod-like guide members which support a carriage member for the movement in a reciprocating path longitudinally of the frame for all possible positions of the frame.

Abstract: A self-plumbing, counter-rotating trolley and track suspension system for supporting an operable wall panel is disclosed. The suspension system comprises a trolley assembly, including a pendant bolt to provide a common axle on which a pair of counter-rotating discs are rotatably mounted in spaced apart alignment. The track-contacting surface of each disc is spherically formed, with each surface generated from a common centerpoint but having unequal radii so that the surfaces generated by the radii have curvatures which are similar but are not congruent. The suspension system also includes a track having a pair of vertically spaced and diametrically arranged rails, each rail defining a cylindrical surface which is generated from the same common centerpoint of that of the discs, the locus of which lies above the rail-contacting surface of the upper disc.

Abstract: To permit attachment of a suspended track without drilling of holes lfor installation and connection to support elements (25), the track has an upper hollow structural section (2), for example in essentially semi-circular shape with depending vertical sections (10), a similar lower hollow structural section (2) joined by a connecting web (3), the sections in the web are unitary, the web being of generally horizontal C-shape in cross section, with a generally vertical back portion (11), mutually converging or approaching forward portions (5) which are bent over themselves to form diverging wing portions (6) leaving a groove-like gap (4) therebetween, the ends (7) of the portions (5) and the diverging wing portions (6). Hanger elements (25) can be longitudinally positioned by clamping the hanger elements against internally positioned clamping bars or plates (27), permitting longitudinal alignment by relative sliding of the clamping bars within the C-shaped chamber.

Abstract: The suspension cable of a suspended railway lies in a vertical plane above the elongated track thereof. Hangers interconnecting the suspension cable and the track each have an upper part connected to the suspension cable, a lower part connected to the track, and an intermediate part pivoted on the upper and lower parts about respective horizontal upper and lower pivot axes. The lower pivot axis is perpendicular to the plane of the suspension cable and to the direction of elongation of the track, and is relatively close to the upper surface of the track. The upper pivot axis is generally parallel to the track and lies in the plane of the suspension cable, but is spaced from the upper surface of the track by a distance equal at least to the width of the track in a direction perpendicular to the plane thereof. Between these two pivot axes the intermediate part is completely rigid.

Abstract: A system for supporting an overhead trolley rail which requires a minimum of simple parts and wherein the trolley rail is supported from washer-like elements each having a centrally-disposed opening therein and at least one curved portion depending downwardly from the element. A bolt extends across the curved portion and supports two L-shaped keepers each having one leg through which its associated bolt extends and a second leg which underlies a flange on a trolley rail, which in most cases comprises an I-beam. A single roof bolt extends through the centrally-disposed opening of the washer-like element and into a mine roof or the like, the single roof bolt comprising the sole support for the washer-like element.

Abstract: An improved roof or ceiling fitting for a monorail system, particularly useful in low seam coal mines. Rail suspension assemblies are each secured in a single counterbored roof hole and are adjustable vertically and laterally for alignment. A bolt is anchored in a hole and supports a collar-end of a crank-shaped suspension unit within the counterbore. A suspension-pin end offset from the collar axis extends below the roof to support a cleat for attachment to a rail. A roof plate is threaded on the collar and bears against the roof.

Abstract: A controllable distributing conveying system for transporting people or goods is provided with stations which are arranged on a passive rail network and which include container loading-on positions, container off-loading positions, and container depots. Self-propelled controllable conveying units are movable between the stations and are fitted with pairs of running wheels for normal travel and for travel when being switched in and out and also have container-carrying surfaces separate from the drive section which are coupled by a universal joint member. Containers are loadable onto and off-loaded from the conveying units by means of loading and off-loading arrangements which have active locking members and unlocking members. These containers are held secure in all directions during travel, and are conductable to their destination by the shortest path by means of passive switching-in and switching-out arrangements, and these latter arrangements comprise rails, which the conveying units hold onto.

Abstract: A suspended rail assembly, especially for monorail vehicles, comprises a plurality of support masts bridged by a suspension cable from which a rail is supported by suspenders. In an unloaded state, an upward bow is imparted to the rail and each mast is provided with a beam elastically mounted therein and pivotal about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the rail for rounding out the rail.

Abstract: A pneumatic transport plant in which a plurality of aligned pneumatic tubes define a transport path, the tubes being spaced apart with an overhead rail in the form of an I-beam extending continuously along the path and through each tube, in which it is mounted by brackets flanking the rail and engaging the underside of the upper flange thereof, the brackets being bolted to the walls of the tubes.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle system comprises a load-carrying vehicle formed by two bogies each of which has two co-axial rollers, the two bogies being connected by an articulating spindle carrying a centering roller arranged to bear against the internal sides of the track. Each bogie preferably carries a steering roller rotatable about a vertical axis and situated substantially in the same plane as the centering roller.

Abstract: An overhead suspended monorail type material handling system or apparatus comprising a rail having a web and a transversely extending flange on each side along its upper edge and a wider flange on each side along its lower edge, a plate-like member or cleat for attachment to an overhead structure and provided wth a through aperture enlarged at one end, a bolt-like load supporting stud shaft or hanger member having a head at one end and a nut at the other end with the nut located in the enlarged part of the aperture through the cleat and the shank of the bolt-like hanger member extending to the other side of the cleat member, and a pair of clamp plates bolted together, the clamp plates providing an inverted T-like aperture therebetween enclosing the head of the bolt-like hanger member and the narrower flanges on a part of the rail. As an alternative construction the headed stud or hanger member may be incorporated into the cleat.

Abstract: A unitary hanger is provided for supporting from the lower web of a single, overhead I-beam support the trolley rail, the advancing reach, and one or more returning reaches of a drop finger conveyor.