Truck In Conduit Patents (Class 104/139)
  • Patent number: 5960717
    Abstract: An electrical power supply and guidance assembly for a wheeled vehicle, consisting of a raisable and pivotable guide member supporting at least one pair of guide wheels which together define a V shape and engage the central web of the rail, the rail being a guiding profile section used as a track. Covering portions forming a linear closure protect the space containing the conductors. Opening mechanisms enable the contact portion(s) to pass through and along the closure to collect the supply current and automatically close the closure. The assembly is particularly suitable for electrically powered urban wheeled transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 5953995
    Abstract: A transport system for passive vehicles which move by way of wheels on treadways of a track includes guide surfaces for guiding the vehicles along the track. Each vehicle includes at least one drive roller propelling the vehicle through contact with rotary tubes. An axis of the drive roller is steerable with respect to the axis of the tubes. The vehicle also includes guide rollers adapted to cooperate with guide surfaces of the track. The track includes a trench containing the rotary tubes and a cover disposed atop the trench and having a lengthwise slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignees: Marc Treviso, Jean-Claude Mourer
    Inventor: Yves C. D. Saillant
  • Patent number: 5931288
    Abstract: A cover for a channel, such as the channel which runs along the top of a section of conveyor track, is disclosed for excluding foreign matter from the interior of the track while allowing a pedestal extending from the interior of the track to traverse the channel. The cover is formed from two cover halves extending inwardly over the channel from supports running alongside of the channel, and the cover halves include resilient outer portions and hard yet flexible inner portions. The inner portions contact the passing pedestal and flex out of the way as the pedestal passes between them. The outer portions provide an inward biasing force against the inner portions for holding them against the passing pedestal and returning them to a closed position after a pedestal has passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Jervis B. Webb Company
    Inventor: Mark J. Avery
  • Patent number: 5778796
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switching system for use in a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system having a personal rapid transit vehicle with an attached chassis operating over a network of interconnected guideways. The electromagnetic switching system comprises an electromagnetic switching unit mounted on each side of the chassis for directing the transit vehicle into a predetermined path at a switch section of the guideway. The electromagnetic switching unit has an electromagnet for exerting magnetic force on a continuous reaction rail which is attached to an internal sidewall of the guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: In Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 5775226
    Abstract: A pair of travel rails (46) each having an upper surface and a lower surface are laid to extend from on the land (44) into the water (45). Main tires (12) are rotatably disposed on opposite sides of a vehicle body (1), so that they are located between the upper and lower surfaces of the travel rails (46), and so that they abut against the lower surfaces of the travel rails (46) during traveling of the vehicle body on the land. Auxiliary tires (13) are disposed on upper portions of the main tires (12) to abut against the main tires (12). The auxiliary tires (13) are adapted to abut against the upper portions of the travel rails (46) under influence of the buoyancy of the vehicle body (1) during traveling of the vehicle body in the water. Thus, the travel vehicle body (1) can continuously travel on the land and in the water by rotatively driving the main tires (12) to move the travel vehicle body (1) along the travel rails (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Koyo Engineering Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Futami, Kenjiro Futami
  • Patent number: 5706735
    Abstract: A system is provided that uses small carrier vehicles that operate along electrified guideways and use standardized connections to automatically carry passenger cabins, freight loads and automobile platforms to desired destinations. Front and rear bogies of the vehicles pivot about front and rear vertical turn axes and carry direction control wheels that cooperate with guide ribs along tracks for selective control of movement to either of two exits from a Y junction. Electric power can be supplied through upper and lower track structures which can be of laminated construction. The guideway provides a protected environment for error-free data transmissions made through closely spaced inductive couplings between monitoring and control circuits along the guideway and control circuits of the carrier vehicles. Control circuitry is provided to obtain highly reliable control of vehicle speed and of starting, stopping and merge operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Autran Corp.
    Inventor: VanMetre Lund
  • Patent number: 5676059
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coordinating the movement of a plurality of oppositely directed trams operating generally simultaneously along a single, dedicated lane, including a plurality of stop-boarding areas, a plurality of corresponding by-pass lanes, sensors along the lane to sense the location of the trams, a central processor to compare the location of the trams and calculate signals to pairs of oppositely moving trams such that they will adjust their speeds to arrive at a common stop-boarding area at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: John Darby Alt
  • Patent number: 5651319
    Abstract: A carrier of car bodies having front wheels and rear wheels mounted from respective front and rear axes, by rolling the car body on the wheels on a floor along a generally horizontal direction of carriage, the carrier having a front wheel direction regulator having right and left deflection preventors adapted for contacting the sides of the front wheels while permitting rotation of the front wheels for regulating the orientation of the front wheels to the direction of carriage; a front wheel holder having a rear holder disposed behind the front wheel for rotatingly pushing the car body forward in the direction of carriage, and a front holder for permitting rotation of the front wheels while preventing the car body from being pushed too far forward and away from said rear holder, the rear and front holders each having a free outer end and an inner end, and; a drive for moving the direction regulator the said holder in the direction of carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Sugahara
  • Patent number: 5615617
    Abstract: A wheel head and rail assembly comprises a contra-rotatable wheel assembly (20) and associated rails (16, 18). Successive wheels (42, 44, 46) on the assembly contact, alternately, the rails (16, 18) on opposite sides thereof. The wheel head can provide a mounting for a carriage which carries, for example, a dropleg (22) with a spray nozzle for use on an agricultural crop sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventor: Roger S. Benest
  • Patent number: 5611282
    Abstract: The method and apparatus includes a single dedicated lane, multiple trams moving in both directions along the dedicated lane, multiple tram stop-boarding areas, each with an associated by-pass lane, disposed at intervals along the dedicated lane, a terrestrial guide which guides bidirectional steering assemble associated with the steerable wheels of the trams, and sensor and communication devices which coordinate the movement of the trams. The multiple trams are disposed along the route so there is always an odd number of tram stop-boarding areas between oppositely moving trams such that, as they approach each other, they can be coordinated to meet, without having to stop or wait, at a common tram stop-boarding area at substantially the same moment, the associated by-pass lane at each boarding area allowing the trams to then pass each other after passengers have disembarked and embarked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: John D. Alt
  • Patent number: 5598783
    Abstract: A system is provided that uses small carrier vehicles that operate along electrified guideways and use standardized connections to automatically carry passenger cabins, freight loads and automobile platforms to desired destinations. The connections may include electrical connections for power and communication and they are made to upper ends of posts that extend from front and rear portions of each carrier vehicle and up through a narrow centrally located slot in the guideway. Transfer vehicles operate to transfer loads between the carrier vehicles and storage positions and may be controlled to move in either of two transverse directions or to rotate in a turntable operation. Control circuitry is provided to obtain highly reliable control of vehicle speed and of starting, stopping and merge operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Autran Corp.
    Inventor: VanMetre Lund
  • Patent number: 5590605
    Abstract: A transport system for moving along a track on a support surface. The system includes a body, a guide system and a powered self-steering caster assembly. The guide system cooperates with the track to apply lateral forces to the body to guide it along a predetermined path when a propulsive force is applied to the body. The powered self-steering caster assembly has a pivot joint and a wheel driven by a motor. The wheel has a center of rotation and is rotatably mounted to engage the support surface and roll in a forward direction. The pivot joint is mounted to the body to allow the wheel to pivot about a predetermined axis intersecting the support surface forward of the engagement between the wheel and the support surface. The wheel drives the body and pivots in response to frictional side slip forces between the wheel and the support surface without restraint from a steering linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Salter, Daniel A. Armstrong, Ted W. Fredrick
  • Patent number: 5590603
    Abstract: A system is provided that uses small carrier vehicles that operate along electrified guideways and use standardized connections to automatically carry passenger cabins, freight loads and automobile platforms to desired destinations. The connections are made to upper ends of posts that extend from front and rear portions of each carrier vehicle and up through a narrow centrally located slot in the guideway. The guideway provides a protected environment for error-free data transmissions made through closely spaced inductive couplings between monitoring and control circuits along the guideway and control circuits of the carrier vehicles. Control circuitry is provided to obtain highly reliable control of vehicle speed and of starting, stopping and merge operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Autran Corp.
    Inventor: VanMetre Lund
  • Patent number: 5590604
    Abstract: A system is provided that uses small carrier vehicles that operate along electrified guideways and use standardized connections to automatically carry passenger cabins, freight loads and automobile platforms to desired destinations. Front and rear bogies of the vehicles pivot about front and rear vertical turn axes and carry direction control wheels that cooperate with guide ribs along tracks for selective control of movement to either of two exits from a Y junction. The guideway provides a protected environment for error-free data transmissions made through closely spaced inductive couplings between monitoring and control circuits along the guideway and control circuits of the carrier vehicles. Control circuitry is provided to obtain highly reliable control of vehicle speed and of starting, stopping and merge operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Autran Corp.
    Inventor: VanMetre Lund
  • Patent number: 5566621
    Abstract: An inclined elevator compreses a traveling chain, rope or cable with one or more push devices fixed to it at intervals.The elevator is intended for bicyclists or similar manned vehicles and is designed for installation in inclined streets, pedes-trian tracks or in separate tracks specially designed for the purpose.The elevator chain, cable or rope is running in a conduit with a slot for extension of the push device. The conduit is permanently installed on the ground. The push device is either running hidden inside the conduit on the ground, or, when in use, running on top of the conduit.During operation the bicyclist is sitting on the bicycle, and the bicycle is rolled, pushed and guided on its own wheels.The push device of the elevator can easily be adapted to wheelchairs, wheel wagons or similar vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventors: Jarle Wanvik, Stein Lovoll
  • Patent number: 5503082
    Abstract: A concrete-embedded, machinery-anchoring floor system includes parallel, accurately-extruded steel rails each having a unique cross-sectional configuration. Vertical loading of the rails improves the load-bearing strength of the concrete, whether the loading is in tension or compression. Each rail includes a pair of spaced angularly-extending, outwardly and downwardly-projecting flanges. When a downward compressive load is applied through the rails from above, the load also applies downward and inward force vectors generally perpendicular to the angular flanges, compressing concrete therebetween. If tension is applied to a rail from a cantilevered load, the angular flanges are fulcrumed toward each other about their connecting joints with the rail, also compressing and strengthening concrete therebetween. The angular flanges are rounded at their distal edges to enable supporting and interconnecting reinforcing bars to be easily welded to the rounded edges, irrespective of the angle of the bars to the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bosma Machine & Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Marinus B. Bosma
  • Patent number: 5463961
    Abstract: A motorized amusement device especially designed for infants is provided. The device includes a truck assembly for securing a pre-existing infant support device such as a car seat. A reconfigurable track assembly is provided so that the device can be used without rearranging existing decor. The device can be operated by remote control and includes aumtomatic safety features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: Jodie B. Graves
  • Patent number: 5456184
    Abstract: A lateral energy absorbing device for an amusement ride vehicle includes a vehicle chassis with a driver for moving the vehicle along a path, and a vehicle body having an area for holding one or more passengers. Appropriate steering mechanisms are provided to permit lateral motion of the vehicle with respect to the path. The lateral energy absorbing device comprises an actuator having one end pivotally connected to the chassis and another end pivotally connected to a follower apparatus adapted to follow a predetermined route along the path. The actuator includes an energy absorber for limiting the lateral travel of the vehicle and for absorbing lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle when its lateral motion with respect to the path reaches or exceeds a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventor: Edward B. Fritz
  • Patent number: 5454328
    Abstract: A transport system installed in a cleanroom where clean air is caused to flow from a ceiling toward a floor. The transport system includes a vehicle for transporting loads, and a guide rail suspended from the ceiling to guide the vehicle. The vehicle has a main body for running along the guide rail, a load supporting deck disposed over the main body, and connecting members for interconnecting the main body and load supporting deck. The guide rail is enclosed in a tubular cover defining an opening extending longitudinally of the guide rail for receiving the connecting members. The cover has a substantially streamline configuration with respect to the direction of clean air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuzaki, Tetsuo Ajimine, Yukio Iizuka, Kenji Itoh, Katsuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 5337676
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for moving an object, such as an entertainment module, between a storage location within a housing location (such as the armrest of a seat) and a user location outside of the housing. The device employs a track with a central slot. A truck assembly is slideably attached to the track. The truck assembly has a load-bearing plate on one side of the track and a backing plate on the reverse side of the track. The load-bearing plate and the backing plate are held to one another by a pair of pins. Around each pin, disposed within the slot, is a bushing, preferably made of polyetheretherketone. It is also preferable that washers be disposed between the track plates and the track to assure smooth movement of the truck along the track. The device is ideally suited for moving an entertainment module, such as a video monitor, in and out of an armrest between two airline seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Nelson Hoffman, Inc.
    Inventor: Munir J. Ahad
  • Patent number: 5253591
    Abstract: A propulsion and stabilization system for an inductive repulsion type magnetically levitated vehicle which is propelled and suspended by a system which includes dividing the superconducting magnets into two types: a strong field magnet which is located vertically below the vehicle for propulsion and guidance and a weak field superconducting magnet located at the ends of the vehicle for levitation and added guidance. Several proposed embodiments exist for the placement of the magnetic field shielding: locating the shielding on the vehicle, locating the shielding on the guideway, and locating the shielding on the guideway and adding shielding to the vertical undercarriage. In addition, the separation between the vehicle and the guideway can be controlled to reduce the exposure of the passenger cabin to magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Donald M. Rote, Jianliang He, Howard Coffey
  • Patent number: 5199358
    Abstract: The invention is a novel transit system in which vehicles are piggybacked onto electrically operated upper sled modules for longer distances or between critical high volume areas such as city centers and airports. The front wheels of the Electric vehicles (EVs) in this system are carried on an upper sled module which is connected by a strut or fin to a lower airfoil wing travelling in a generally below grade duct or conduit. The EV uses its own power to move the articulated unit from co-axial AC and DC motors supplemented by a parallel power supply and signals system. Vehicles mounted on the sled units are automatically spaced in response to central computerized timing and speed controls so as to ensure proper separation of vehicles using the guideway. Piggy backed vehicles can quit the guideway at predetermined nodal points to revert to conventional vehicular travel on the public highway system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventor: Peter J. M. Barratt
  • Patent number: 5138952
    Abstract: A transit system employing multiple modes of operation. The system includes a guideway having a portion over which a vehicle traverses from one location to another, the traverse portion having a longitudinally-extending slot formed generally centrally therewithin. The guideway also includes an entry ramp which directs a traction drive wheel stem to centrally position the vehicle on the guideway. The system also includes a vehicle which is configured for travel over both a roadway and the guideway. The vehicle includes a chassis supported by a plurality of motive wheels. The chassis mounts a stem for pivoting between an upper, retracted position and a lower, extended position. The stem mounts, at its lower end, a traction drive wheel which engages an undersurface of the guideway to accomplish movement of the vehicle during the guideway mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: R. Glen Low
  • Patent number: 5134940
    Abstract: A self-propelled platform car (SPPC) type conveying system for moving a platform car on a running surface along a predetermined path, which comprises a SPPC having at least three steerable wheels disposed respectively at the front and at the back of the SPPC, at least one of the wheels being motor driven, a guide rail disposed below the predetermined path, front and back steering trolleys having steering means engaged with the guide rail for steering the steering trolleys thereby, and front and rear steering transmitting means for transmitting steering from a steering trolley to a corresponding wheel on one side of the car, the steering transmitting means having coupling members extending substantially vertically along a side of the rolling track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Fujita, Kazuyoshi Fukuhara, Shigeyoshi Nishihara
  • Patent number: 5074220
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of an overhead monorail rapid transit system (10) has a tubular enclosed guideway (12) that is supported above ground level by elevational supports (14). At various locations the guideway splits from a mainline guideway (16) to a secondary guideway (18 and a switching segment (20). The system includes a self-propelled transit vehicle (50) having a carriage or trolley (52) that is mounted within the enclosed guideway with a coupling (54) supporting a depending passenger compartment. The carriage (52) includes a central frame with front and tandem rear whel assemblies and an intermediate stabilizing wheel that engages the upper portion of the inside of the guideway for stabilizing the carriage and passenger compartment to minimize lateral movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: Stanley Petersen
  • Patent number: 5016540
    Abstract: A portable amusement ride incorporates a multi-functional trailer which can serve for hauling the amusement ride, when disassembled, and serve as an elevated track portion of the ride, when assembled. Electrically powered vehicles are guided and powered over an electrified track having a main enclosed path, and an alternate loading area for discharge and pick up of passengers. Automatic launch and vehicle exit features between the main path and loading area prevent vehicle collisions, with minimum requisite operator activity. A pick-up assembly carried on the vehicle both guides and electrically powers the vehicle as it moves over the track. The track has an electrified pair of members also forming a guidance channel in which the pick-up assembly from the vehicle is received. The configuration of the pick-up assembly and its interaction with the electrified guidance channel causes proper electrical pick-up substantially regardless of the terrain formed by the track over which the vehicle travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Gerald L. Barber
  • Patent number: 4991516
    Abstract: A transport system having a track made up of rail segments largely enclosing the self-propelled carriage which traverses the track. The track has no moving parts so that switching is effected by selectively bringing guide elements of the carriage into engagement with one or the other of branching rail segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rixen, Gerrit Pies
  • Patent number: 4944230
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus comprising a rail device and automotive carts supported and guided by the rail device to be travelled. The rail device comprises an automotive cart guiding member having a C letter-shaped section provided with an opened portion for travelling the cart therethrough and a duct member communicating with the guiding member through a slit. The cleaning of the inside of the duct member, the installation of various kinds of instrument and the wiring operation within the duct member, the maintenance and inspection after the wiring operation and the like can be carried out through the opened portion and the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Maeda, Masayuki Tsuneda
  • Patent number: 4904153
    Abstract: There is disclosed a robot used in a clean room and adapted to transport a wafer cassette containing semiconductor wafers. The robot includes: a guide rail disposed in the clean room; a robot body slidably connected to the guide rail for movement along the guide rail; and a first drive mechanism for driving the robot body along the guide rail. The robot body includes: a clamping hand for releasably clamping the wafer cassette; an arm assembly, extending between the guide rail and the clamping hand, for controlling the position of the clamping hand; and a wrist assembly, interposed between the arm assembly and the clamping hand, for adjusting the orientation of the clamping hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignees: Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd., Shinko Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Iwasawa, Tsutomu Ishida, Hiroshi Harada, Shintaro Kobayashi, Kenji Okamoto, Takashi Matsumoto, Kiwamu Yamamoto, Toshio Takasu
  • Patent number: 4885996
    Abstract: An apparatus for a handling assembly comprises at least one carrier member and at least one slide unit displaceably arranged on the carrier member. The slide unit is in operative connection via a cable drag member electrically/pneumatically or electrically/hydraulically with an energy and a signal source. The carrier member is a one-piece cellular structure and has an integrated guideway which, has an inclined position within the carrier member, so that a space-saving arrangement of the cable drag member, substantially protected against external action, is obtained. The slide unit comprises a driving unit, which is arranged in a U-shaped head guided with the lateral legs on the carrier member and is operatively connected with a rack arranged on the carrier member, for linear movement. Protective members are provided laterally on the carrier member. The slide unit together with the carrier member forms a closed system protected against external action or intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventor: Gregory C. Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 4881469
    Abstract: A one-directional tunnel system for a high-speed train includes a first tunnel section having a pair of rails for support of a train. A second tunnel section has a pair of rails for support of the train and is generally alignable with and separated from the first tunnel section. A third tunnel section has a pair of rails for support of the train and is horizontally beside the second tunnel section and separated from the first tunnel section. The first tunnel section can be selectively joined to one of the second tunnel section and the third tunnel section by at least one first tunnel switching section which is rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the first tunnel section. The first tunnel switching section has a first tunnel portion including a pair of the rails for support of the train and is alignable with the first tunnel section and the second tunnel section and the pair of rails thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Inventor: Helmut Hirtz
  • Patent number: 4875823
    Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a robot having a swingable arm, a wrist mechanism mounted on the arm, and a running mechanism for displacing the robot in a prescribed direction. The wrist mechanism is coupled to an attachment member by an actuator having a fluid cylinder substantially parallel to the arm. When a component to be attached to a workpiece is held by a jig mounted on the wrist mechanism, the fluid cylinder is actuated to lift the wrist mechanism in order to correct the jig for the distance it is lowered due to the weight of the component. The wrist mechanism includes a bracket mounted on the arm by a support shaft, the bracket and the support shaft having fluid passages for supplying fluid under pressure to a torque actuator disposed in the bracket. The running mechanism is disposed in a pit defined in a floor on which the robot apparatus is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genzo Fuse, Hiroshi Miwa, Yoshinobu Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 4841871
    Abstract: A monorail transportation system utilizing generally inverted channel shaped rail members for supporting personal transit vehicles which are each suspended from the rails by a carriage having traction motor propelled drive wheels engageable with the rail channel and spaced apart vehicle supporting guide wheels. The vehicles have aerodynamically contoured bodies provided with lift surfaces which provide varying degrees of lift in accordance with vehicle speed and angle of attack to reduce mechanical friction in the carriage and structural loading on the rail network. The vehicles are automatically controlled and used by individual user when called up from storage track sections at spaced apart stations along the rail network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventor: Martin N. Leibowitz
  • Patent number: 4784064
    Abstract: A device for moving or positioning an object makes use of a track on a base and a circular groove on the platform. The platform holds the object. Balls are captured between the platform and the base which permit independent translation and rotation of the platform with respect to the base, by the simultaneous rolling and sliding of the balls. A mechanism for preloading and interlocking the base and the platform is also provided. The mechanism includes a shaft passing between the platform and the base and two channels formed in the platform. Elements disposed in the channels urge the shaft in opposite directions or selectively locking and disengaging of the platform and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignees: Robert Nemirovsky, Joseph Deutsch
    Inventors: Robert Nemirovsky, Joseph Deutsch
  • Patent number: 4776282
    Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying articles along a predetermined path of travel having a running rail on opposite sides of the path of travel. A bus bar is below said running rails. A self-propelled carrier has driving wheels to roll on the running rails. The wheels are rotated by a single electric motor which receives power from the bus bar. Cover members overhang the running rails and wheels during operation, and interlock with the rail support member so that the cover may be readily removed by disengaging the interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
    Inventors: Takashi Ishikura, Joji Mino, Takaaki Nagato
  • Patent number: 4739710
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus in which magnetic liquid is provided between a transfer track and a transfer object and a permanent magnet is fitted on the bottom of the transfer object to attract the magnetic liquid to move together with the transfer object thereby serving as a lubricant and permits the transfer object to move on the track afloat or buoyed-up by the magnetic liquid. An edge of a magnetic pole is shaped to have a loft angle in contact with the magnetic liquid to produce an upward component during its movement thereby increasing buoyancy and stability of the transfer object. Dust stir-up is precluded by virtue of the use of a magnetic liquid, as opposed to a conventional pressurized air support method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi Kiden Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Imamura, Makato Yamamura
  • Patent number: 4726464
    Abstract: A carriage of the tiltable plate kind for a sorting apparatus has a carrying structure having idle wheels for running in a feed direction along rails on one side of the carrying structure and a pair of spaced uprights projecting from the opposite side of the carrying structure. A frame is hingedly linked to the one side of the carrying structure, the frame having pairs of wheels for engaging opposite sides of a fixed rail. A motor drives at least one wheel of the pairs of wheels of the frame for self-driving the carrying structure. A plate is hinged to end portions of the uprights for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the feed direction of the carrying structure. A rotatable threaded shaft is between the uprights in the feed direction of the carrying structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: Francesco Canziani
  • Patent number: 4660464
    Abstract: A plurality of air blowers spaced with each other are disposed along a side wall of a clean tunnel, thereby outer air is supplied into a tunnel zone by way of a filter. A clean air produced within the tunnel zone is circulated by disposing air outlets and a suction port in a zone of each blower. Thus, a constant clean air flow can be circulated without raising the temperature of the clean air within the clean tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Sanki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokuni Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4505205
    Abstract: An enclosed floor track system for use with wheeled hand trucks or the like in sanitary liquid treatment chambers. An elongate wheel channel into which the wheels of the truck are disposed includes a cover comprising either a cover plate or inflatable elastomer seals to prevent liquid from entering the contaminated wheel channel. In the cover plate embodiment the wheel channel includes an elongate side slot to accommodate the wheel axle structure. The inflatable seal is split to slidably receive a wheel axle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: DEC International, Inc.
    Inventors: Min N. Huang, David L. Brethorst
  • Patent number: 4440091
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of a non-track machine, such as a tractor used in plowing, fertilizing or mowing, may incorporate a guideway which limits the repetitive closed loop elongate path through which such a slave tractor operates to, electively, increasing or decreasing diametric distances, whereof a trolley, captive to the guideway, electively, pays out or takes in a control tether cable controlling the steering operation of the slave tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Inventor: John A. Burgess
  • Patent number: 4347791
    Abstract: A guideway system for cargo including vehicles is provided wherein a carriage glides on a rail mounted in a channel. The rail has compressed air discharge ports and vacuum intake ports positioned longitudinally therealong. The compressed air ports emit sufficient air to provide an air support cushion under the carriage and to impart positive air pressure behind it while the vacuum ports reduce the air pressure forward of the carriage to create an air pressure differential that propels the carriage along such rail. Vehicles drive onto a carriage, are secured in place and are conveyed to a desired station on such carriage. The vehicle then unloads from the carriage and drives off to its final destination. Similarly, other cargo is loaded onto a carriage and unloaded at its destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Inventor: James A. Mandros
  • Patent number: 4092931
    Abstract: A positive guide system for road vehicles equipped with non-deflectable rear wheels, in which guide elements are arranged at the same distance in front of and to the rear of the rear axle, as viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Wulf, Klaus Niemann
  • Patent number: 4036146
    Abstract: A passenger transportation system includes a transport vehicle which travels in the interior of an elongated tunnel formed from a series of concrete modular conduits. The cross-section of the conduit interior includes a bottom surface on which the vehicle travels, a pair of spaced apart side walls, and a pair of spaced apart upper wall surfaces extending inwardly from the side walls and on opposite sides of an elongated slotted opening extending lengthwise along the top of the conduit tunnel. The transport vehicle is supported by a suspension system which includes a plurality of carrier frames, each having guide rollers traveling along the bottom surface, the side walls, and the upper wall surfaces of the conduit. The guide rollers are supported by respective biasing elements which urge the guide rollers into continuous contact with the walls of the tunnel to keep the vehicle centered in the tunnel during transit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Inventor: Philranzo Tyus
  • Patent number: 3995560
    Abstract: In a rail transportation system, a sensor assembly is mountable on a rail vehicle for detecting, during the travel thereof, a rail obstruction which would inhibit continued and uninterrupted travel of the vehicle and for transmitting such detection to the vehicle speed control for regulating the same to thereby avoid a perilous situation. The sensor assembly includes a leashed sensor element which is guidingly propelled forwardly of the vehicle parallel to the rail at a distance required for a comfortable stop depending on vehicle speed. Travel of the sensor element is retarded upon contacting the obstruction thereby causing a reel to which the leash is connected to rewind and accordingly regulate the vehicle speed control to bring the travelling vehicle to a complete and safe stop if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Inventor: Charles Mackintosh
  • Patent number: 3930450
    Abstract: A boat ride system for an amusement park, which includes a main channel and an auxiliary channel extending under the main channel and isolated from it except along a narrow slot. A boat for carrying people includes a hull floating in the main channel, a pair of paddles lying in the auxiliary channel, and a pair of supports extending through the slot and connecting the paddles to the hull. Pumps are utilized to pump water along the auxiliary channel so that the moving water pushes the paddles and therefore moves the hull along the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Sid & Marty Krofft Productions, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Symons