Abstract: A trolley stop assembly is provided for use with an inverted power and free conveyor system having a trolley member driven along a track. A depending trolley dog is engaged by drive dogs on a drive mechanism for pushing the trolley along the track and is movable between upper and lower positions for disengagement and engagement with the drive dogs. The assembly includes a stop arm pivotally mounted within the conveyor system for pivoting about a horizontal axis. Provisions are made for lifting the stop arm into an upper position to engage a portion of a trolley dog on a trolley to be stopped to lift the trolley dog out of possible engagement with the drive dogs. The stop arm includes an upper cam surface with an abutment portion for braking the trolley by mating with a portion of the trolley dog. An actuator mechansim includes a cam engageable with the stop arm to pivot same between upper and lower positions. The cam member is actuated by a piston and cylinder arrangement positioned on a side of the assembly.

Abstract: A bomb handling system includes a plurality of mobile frames, each having a pair of rails and carrying members on the rails. Each pair of carrying members supporting corresponding ends of a bomb and there being locking mechanisms with separate, common actuators at particular locations along the lengths of the rails selectively to arrest a pair of carrying members in transversely aligned positions at a location and to allow such pair to travel past a location. The mobile frames may be attached in a train with their pairs of rails in end-abutting relation and including blocking mechanisms which releasably prevent transfer of a pair of carrying members from one frame to the next. A mobile frame may include a mechanism to elevate its rails so that loaded and positioned bombs may be raised for attachment to an aircraft.

Abstract: A linear drive unit having a carriage reciprocal along a path of travel and having a plurality of pairs of angularly adjustable drive wheels engaging opposite sides of a rotatable drive tube whereby rotation of the drive tube imparts linear motion to the carriage. The angle of the drive wheels is controlled by a remotely-operable air motor mounted directly on the carriage. A plurality of cams provide controlled acceleration and deceleration of the carriage adjacent the ends of its path of travel. A selectively operable inching control is remotely operable to provide for a reduced speed of travel of the linear drive unit. The linear drive unit is easily associated with the mass to be moved, such as a travelling hoist, and the forces generated by opposed drive wheels compressively engaging the drive tube are self-contained within the carriage. Additional control cams can be provided along the path of travel, if additional stopping locations are desired.

Abstract: The device controls the speed of a driverless vehicle by way of a cam having an acceleration surface and a deceleration surface for contact with a cam follower on the driverless vehicle. The cam is mounted for reciprocation in a horizontal direction between an operative position wherein the deceleration surface will cause a driverless vehicle to stop and an inoperative position wherein the cam will not cause such vehicle to stop.

Abstract: A conveyor has vertically spaced carrier and power tracks respectively supporting carriers and primary pushers, each carrier being propellable by a driving dog movable between retracted and extended positions and drivingly engageable only in the extended position by one of the primary pushers. Carriers are also advanceable along a portion of the carrier track from engagement of their driving dogs by secondary pushers movably connected to a reciprocatable transfer member supported alongside of the power track and driven on forward and return strokes by a linear motor. When operational, the secondary pushers are moved to a driving position, each driving dog engaged by a secondary pusher is held thereby in retracted position, and carriers are advanced by a forward stroke of the transfer member. When non-operational, the secondary pushers remain in a non-driving position, the driving dogs remain in extended position, and carriers are propelled by the primary pushers.

Abstract: A power-and-free trolley conveyor comprising carriers adapted to run on a free line and each including a free trolley provided with a pair of opposite pivotable engaging dogs. Each of the engaging dogs has a downwardly projecting engaging projection and a disengaging wing. A power line is disposed immediately below the free line or toward one side thereof to bring a pusher dog on a power trolley into engagement with the engaging projection of at least one of the pair of engaging dogs, whereby the carrier is transferred to another line for joining or diversion.

Abstract: An improved rail lock for the meat transportation industry has a pair of legs which extend below the rail. The inner surface of one of the legs is substantially flush against a side of the rail. A first clamping means is carried by the other leg and bears against the other side of the rail, thereby exerting a force tending to spread the legs apart. A second clamping means is carried by the one leg, just below the rail, and exerts a counterforce tending to bring the legs together. As a result, the rail lock is rigidly retained on the rail and will not vibrate loose during transportation, thereby solving a vexatious problem in the meat industry.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for controlling the angular position of a drive wheel on a driverless vehicle. The apparatus includes a speed control device movable between two positions and having a lost-motion coupling to a shock absorber so that the device moves rapidly toward the second position for part of its movement and then moves slowly for the remainder of its movement.

Abstract: Rail interlocking and hoist stop apparatus for material handling systems of he type wherein a hoist travels between a movable rail and a stationary rail comprising a master stop assembly located on the movable rail and a slave stop assembly located on the stationary rail. The apparatus is manually actuated through a mechanical linkage which pushes a master pin in the master stop assembly toward the slave stop assembly. If the rails are in proper alignment, the end of the master pin is inserted into a bore in the slave assembly where it displaces a slave pin. The movement of the slave pin causes a crossover pin in the slave assembly to be partially inserted into a bore in the master assembly where it displaces a locking pin. The movement of the slave pin and the crossover pin in the slave assembly is rigidly coupled to stop pins located in the slave assembly and which are disposed in the path of the hoist when the stop system is unactuated.

Abstract: A conveyor for moving a number of goods carriers (22) along a track has a drive device provided with a driver member (59) operating with a reciprocating movement which can entrain the goods carriers in the desired transport direction and move freely in the return direction. The track consists of a hollow profile (1) with a groove (11) which in the longitudinal direction of the track firstly has fully closed sections and secondly is provided with sections having a side aperture (62). Plugs (26, 32) are inserted in the fully closed sections and between the plugs cylindrical spaces (40) are formed which enclose a piston (36) with a piston rod (38) which extends beyond the cylindrical space. In the open sections members (24) which can move along the groove are provided, these members being combined with piston rod (38) and provided with the carrier devices (59) which are accessible through the side aperture (62).

Abstract: A trolley stop device for use in an overhead track and trolley system in which there is a track switch such as those frequently used in slaughter houses and the like. Such systems include a main track and a branch track with a track switch by which a trolley may move along the main track in one direction and pass through the switch when it is in one position and the trolley then reversed and passed through the switch when in its other position for movement of the trolley onto the branch track as is well known in this field of endeavor. The trolley stop is a spring biased stop pivotally mounted on the main track adjacent the portion thereof which has a notch or cut-out receiving the track switch elements so that at any time one or the other of the switch elements are not in their operative or closed position, the trolley stop will prevent the trolley from rolling off the main track at the open end thereof defined by the notch or cut-out.

Abstract: In an apparatus for preventing runaway of carriers in a power-and-free conveyor, each of the carriers has a runaway preventing stopper rotatable about its center portion in a substantially vertical plane parallel with the direction of advance of the conveyor, and a restraining member engageable with one end of the stopper for usually preventing the other end thereof from turning forward. The stopper is biased always by weighted arm to turn the other end forward. Runaway preventing contact members are arranged at a spacing in each of rising and falling gradient sections of the conveyor along the path of movement of the stopper other end. When the carrier runs out of control in the falling gradient section, the stopper other end collides with one of the contact members and is thereby turned rearward into engagement with the restraining member against the weighted arm while bringing the one end of the stopper into engagement with another contact member to prevent the carrier from running away.

Abstract: The speed of a driverless vehicle is controlled along the length of the module from an incoming high speed to an outgoing low speed or vice versa. The module includes first, second and third aligned drive tubes between tracks adapted to support a vehicle. A first motor is coupled to the first drive tube for driving the same at a first high speed. A second drive motor is coupled to the third drive tube for driving the same at a second low speed. Clutch means are provided for enabling only the first motor to drive said first and second tubes and then enable only the second motor to drive the second and third tubes.

Abstract: A precision stop assembly is provided for causing a driverless vehicle to stop at a predetermined location with an accuracy .+-.0.005 inches in three planes. The assembly includes structure for slowing a vehicle down and then elevating the vehicle so that its support wheels lose contact with tracks while simultaneously guiding the vehicle to a precise orientation.

Abstract: A method of processing articles through successive operations requiring access to their top and sides comprises placing each article on a platform of a conveyor carrier, supporting the carrier on a carrier track positioned below the platform, and propelling the carrier through the processing operations by providing the carrier with a driving dog which is engageable by a pusher member of a driven endless chain located below the carrier, and which is disengageable from the pusher for the stopping and accumulation of carriers, as desired. Engagement between supporting wheels and guide rollers of carrier trolleys and the carrier track maintains the platform in proper position. Each carrier includes a driving trolley connected to at least one load carrying trolley by a tow bar located above the carrier track. The driving trolley is provided with a one-piece driving member having a holdback dog and a driving dog which includes a forwardly projecting cam formed with an abutment notch.

Abstract: A cable car type vehicle arrester features a pair of trumpet bars which are interconnected by a link which either maintains the distance between the bars constant or reduces same upon one of the bars being deflected outboard of its home or rest position. This reduces the free swinging time of the vehicle between bars and increases the distance through which the bars subsequent to the initial deflection are deflectable by the vehicle. This accordingly increases the stroke of shock absorbers associated with the bars increasing the conversion of the kinetic energy of the vehicle. Casters can be provided to support the bars to allow longer lighter bars with less robust bearing and structural members. The casters can be run on a corrugated surface to cam the bars vertically further increasing the kinetic energy conversion and endow a self-centering action on the arrester.

Abstract: Cargo loading and unloading systems, particularly for military aircraft such as helicopters, including right and lefthand restraint rail assemblies having longitudinally spaced lock mechanisms which are adapted to provide lateral and forward and aft restraint of load-supporting pallets. Operating controls for each lock to enable the locks to be closed individually, and further include control rod assemblies to permit all such lock mechanisms to be closed simultaneously or to be opened either sequentially or simultaneously. Other lock mechanisms are operable to secure non-palletized types of cargo and are closed and opened sequentially by one of the control rod assemblies. A ramp structure is also provided, including guide structure for proper guidance of the pallets as they are loaded into or unloaded from the aircraft, and pallet supporting rollers facilitating the loading and unloading of vehicles.

Abstract: The speed of loaded and unloaded driverless vehicles traveling along an inclined path is controlled by a hydraulic retarder mechanism which dissipates the kinetic energy of the vehicle. The retarder mechanism is velocity sensitive and projects into the path of part of the vehicle. The retarder mechanism slows down fast moving vehicles but has little or no effect on slow moving vehicles.

Abstract: A rail system of the type in which a vehicle runs along a track to carry articles such as goods from one location in an industrial plant or other installation, to another location. At some point along the path an arm is provided for engagement with the vehicle and is swung with an angular velocity determined by the vehicle speed. A centrifugal clutch, effective when the angular velocity exceeds a predetermined level equivalent, say, to the maximum safe speed for the vehicle, can operate a cam to control a spring-loaded stop for the vehicle or car so that the stop can be rendered effective to bring the vehicle to standstill when the sensor detects the excessive speed.

Abstract: A power and free conveyor system comprising a power track, a power conveyor movable along the track, the conveyor having a plurality of depending pusher dogs thereon, a free track extending along the power track, and a plurality of carriers movable along the free track. Each carrier has at least one trolley with a pusher normally in the path of the depending pusher and holdback dogs. Each pusher and holdback dog is deflectable laterally into and out of the path of the pushers on the trolleys. A combined cam and stop member is provided with means for moving the cam and stop into the path of the pusher on the carrier. The cam and stop member includes a cam portion operable to depress the pusher dog and a cam portion operable to deflect the depending pusher and holdback dogs out of the normal path of the pusher. Stops are provided in advance of and to the rear of the carrier and are operable to maintain the carrier in stopped position.

Abstract: In devices, such as overhead conveyors which have a main track and one or more spur tracks where carriers hold objects to be treated at the spur track stations, the carriers are towed or pushed along the main track by a chain tow means running in a guide which parallels the main track and are switched to the spur tracks for treatment. To save on costs, the spur tracks usually have an inclined portion so that the carriers move thereon to a treating station by gravity once they have been disconnected and switched from the main track. Here pusher means are provided on the tow chain to push the carriers out of the area of the switching zone, to thereby avoid collision with oncoming carriers and to push the switched carriers far enough that the force of gravity takes effect to cause the carriers to continue their movement.

Abstract: In a coupling apparatus for a circulating tow conveyor in which the carriages are held on a track with a portion running parallel to circulating tow chain and in which a coupling finger on the tow chain cooperates with coupling means on the conveyor, the coupling finger of the tow chain is pivotally mounted in a housing and is normally held in its vertical position by means of a locking lever which prevents the finger from pivoting out of contact with the cooperating coupling on the carriage but does not prevent pivotal movement of the finger in the opposite direction so that carriages pushed faster than the tow chain moves can be moved past one or more fingers on the tow chain. A releasing lever is provided to release the locking lever and, therefore, the carriage when the release lever is operated.

Abstract: A safety stop for overhead track switches prevents a trolley on the track from rolling off an open end if the switch malfunctions. An additional feature of the safety stop are beveled portions thereof which help align the tracks being switched with the stationary portion of the track.

Abstract: A power and free conveyor has a stop lug on the carrier body adapted to abut a stop member movable into the path of the carrier along the conveyor track to arrest movement of the carrier, the stop member serving to disengage the driving dog from the power chain prior to abutting the stop lug. The stop lug is spaced rearwardly of the driving dog a distance exceeding rebound of the carrier whereby accidental re-engagement of the driving dog with the power chain is avoided. The stop lug is positioned to engage the power chain pusher lug on a decline in the conveyor system should the hold-back dog fail to do so, thereby preventing a runaway.

Abstract: A conveyor comprising a track, at least one carrier movable along the track, and a conveyor for driving the carrier along the track. A device is provided along the track and is responsive to the speed of the carrier along the track to stop the carrier when the speed exceeds a predetermined value.