Abstract: A carrier conveyor system wherein carriers are disengaged from the main conveyor in advance of a work station and re-engaged beyond the work station and a transfer conveyor is positioned such that it receives the carriers as they are disengaged, transfers them as required to the work station, removes them from the work station after the work is performed and returns them to the main conveyor. The transfer conveyor comprises a plurality of transfer assemblies positioned along each side of the path of the carriers from the area where the carriers are disengaged from the conveyor through the work station and to the area where the carriers are re-engaged with the conveyor. Each transfer assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels mounted with their axes transverse to the path of the carriers. The rollers are driven continuously when it is desired such that the carrier is moved by each transfer assembly to the succeeding transfer assembly or position.

Abstract: Chairlift or gondola lift with a carriage supporting a gondola or a chair and having a detachable grip for coupling on a continuously moving cable. In the terminals the carriage is uncoupled from the cable and it runs on a transfer rail. This transfer rail is equipped with friction drive wheels disposed along the carriage travel path for engaging the friction face of a running plate rigidly secured to the carriage so as to brake, accelerate or drive the carriage on the rail. During the night or bad weather periods a cover plate covers the friction face of the carriages disposed on the line and this cover plate is raised away in the terminals to clear the friction face. For removing the snow or ice which covers the friction face and hinders the correct friction drive of the carriage a brushing or rubbing device may be disposed along the carriage travel path so as to brush the friction face.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement useful in an assembly machine for conveying an element in a conveying direction, the element having a guide member arranged thereon and defining a lateral side face, and the conveyor arrangement comprising a track for laterally guiding the element and rollers for advancing the element in the conveying direction associated therewith, the guide track being constituted by the rollers associated with the lateral side face of the element and a lateral guide track for the guide member, the guide track being spaced transversely to the conveying direction from the rollers and extending oppositely thereto in relation to the lateral side face of the element, and the guide member being arranged for guidance along the guide track without play.

Abstract: A transportation system for rapidly loading people from a platform into and from a plurality of cars. The system includes an elongated trackway which extends along a platform. Trolleys extend between the trackway and the cars supporting the cars on the trackway. The cars have side doors extending along the length thereof which open towards the platform to provide access to a single row of seats carried in the vehicles facing the doors. The doors can be automatically opened and closed upon reaching the platform. The trackway includes upper lower and intermediate rails upon which upper, lower and intermediate wheels, carried by the trolleys, engage to provide an interlocking relation therebetween. A vertically extending keel is carried by at least some of the vehicles for engaging power driven wheels that are positioned along the trackway.

Abstract: A pneumatic pipeline transportation system for solid, containerized cargo. Cargo carrying vehicles are propelled within a hollow guideway adapted to hold movable vehicles of substantially similar cross-section. Kinetic energy is applied to the vehicle intermittently, causing the vehicle to set a trapped column of air in the guideway in motion. The air column acts on adjacent vehicles, and in combination with the applied force, propels the vehicles through the guideway.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement incorporated in a continuous oven comprises a plurality of support rails, one mounted in each oven chamber, and load-carrying frames suspended from the rails and arranged to move through the chambers. Each chamber has at least one drive pinion assembly comprising two pinions drivingly coupled by a chain drive, and each pinion can mesh with a rack to advance the load-carrying frames through the oven chamber. Each rack is secured to a respective load-carrying frame.

Abstract: An amusement ride has rails defining a longitudinal travel direction along which a car is displaceable. A longitudinally extending drive member secured to this car is engageable by drive members which rotate to displace the car along the rails in the longitudinal direction. This member comprises at least two generally parallel, longitudinally extending, and vertically spaced chains each formed of a longitudinal succession of links and a plurality of longitudinally succeeding rigid segments each having a pair of transversely bolted-together halves flanking the chains. The halves of each segment are complementarily formed to and encase a respective plurality of the chain links.

Abstract: Improvements are provided in a rapid transit system which employs a guide line network including a main line and an interconnected side line, a car moveable throughout the network and interconnected thereto by an overhead tow bar, car drive means, and switch means for diverting the car to and from the main line and side line. The improvements include an overhead main line guide bar at and around intersections of the main and side lines, a main line guide finger vertically moveable from within the car into and out of sliding engagement with the main line guide bar, an overhead side line guide bar at and around said intersection, and a pair of turn-off guide fingers vertically moveable as a unit from within the car for sliding engagement with the side line guide bar to divert the car to the side line. These fingers are spaced lateral of both sides of the main line guide finger. Lever means in the car alternately raise and lower the turn off guide fingers and main line guide finger.

Abstract: Transporter or material handling apparatus for the controlled movement of goods includes two pairs of intersecting rails, a pallet for supporting the goods, a first group of wheels mounted on the pallet for rolling on one pair of intersecting rails, a second group of wheels mounted on the pallet for rolling on the other pair of intersecting rails, and a directional interchange in each of the intersecting rails permitting movement of the pallet in two angularly disposed directions therefrom. The movement of the pallet may be effected by a drive which engages the pallet for selectively propelling it in either of the two directions.

Abstract: A passenger loading method and installation is provided by means of which passengers are mechanically propelled and accelerated to a velocity substantially the same as that of a main transport structure onto which they can be loaded without the necessity of stopping or slowing movement of the main transport structure. The invention is particularly applicable to ski-lifts and enables an increase in hourly carrying capacity of such lifts.

Abstract: Substrate transfer apparatus for a vacuum coating or processing system of the multiple compartment type, comprising a rectangular platform for carrying substrates to be coated, the platform being moveable through the compartments over and between supporting and guide rollers respectively, and having a gear rack on one side extending in the direction of motion, and driving means for the platform including an electric variable speed d.c. motor connected respectively, through individual one-way running clutches to a plurality of pinion gears, each pinion gear being independently biased for separately meshing with the rack, and limit switches positioned within the compartments and operable by the platform for controlling the electric motor.

Abstract: A speed control device for controlling the speed of a transport vehicle rolling on a rail track, especially for use in a shelf storage system in which a pair of spaced apart rails form part of the structure of a warehouse shelf and constitutes the supporting and guiding track for the vehicle, the transport vehicle being supported on the rails and wherein a rotating braking and accelerating member is provided for the vehicle. The speed control device for driving the braking and accelerating member drives at a predetermined speed. The braking and accelerating member consists essentially of a spring-tensioned endless belt, a fixed subframe, bracket support member, and a spring member. The belt is resiliently supported on the fixed subframe and is able to move from a rest position which is out of engagement with the driving member but in the path of said vehicle to a working position which is in engagement with the driving member and in frictional engagement with the vehicle.

Abstract: Combination barge positioning and propelling apparatus utilizing a plurality of powered, reversible traction devices in frictional contact with the vertical sides of the barge is disclosed. Several embodiments of the apparatus are shown to accommodate various widths of barges and variations in the water level and/or draft of the barges.

Abstract: A docking mechanism for watercraft such as barges and the like which is readily secured to a mooring pile and is floatable, the mechanism including a driving apparatus which is engageable with and drives the watercraft and apparatus for effecting the driving engagement. A method of controlling the direction of travel of a watercraft such as barges and the like between particular points from preferably an on-shore control station according to which the driving apparatus of the docking mechanism mentioned above is controlled in its driving relationship to the watercraft.