Abstract: An improved cable following apparatus especially suitable for use in replacing an existing underground cable is disclosed herein. This apparatus utilizes a telescopically configured main body disposed around a cable in question and front and rear cable gripping mechanisms which alternatively grip the cable so as to cause the telescopic body to slide along the latter in a forward direction. The cable following apparatus also includes a technique for releasing both of the gripping mechanisms from the cable at the same time in order to be able to pull the entire apparatus rearwardly in the event it becomes necessary or desirable to do so.

Abstract: A movable aisle storage system is provided having rail and panel connector units which perform the dual functions of forming the rails and interconnecting the deck panels of the system track and deck assembly. Each connector unit has a substantially cylindrical rail portion and a depending support portion having a pair of upwardly and outwardly extending flange sections which support and secure the sides of the deck panels. Levelling screws threadedly engaging the unit support portion are seated in a channel to facilitate system installation and prevent floor damage. Flexible seal strips are used between the rails and panels thereby reducing system maintenance and permitting access to the levelling screws after system installation. Rail sections are joined to form an extended track by a self-tightening rail section joiner having a pair of tapered head machine screws which threadedly engage holes in abutting rail sections. A joiner member overlies the rail section holes and has openings to receive the screws.

Abstract: A movable storage cabinet includes a plurality of saddles, in the form of inverted channels, and each provided with holes in its opposite lateral sides which receive the shafts of wheels. The saddles extend in the direction of depth of the cabinet, and the front and rear ends of adjacent saddles are connected together by a connection member, thus forming an underframe of the cabinet.

Abstract: For use in a modular cabinet or the like system wherein one or more cabinet modules of unit width have rolling mobility along parallel rails which extend normal to the module-width dimension and at module-width spacing, the invention contemplates a floor-mountable track system of rigid interconnected modular rail and spacer members adapted to provide permanent guided support of one or more modules without anchorage to the supporting floor, whereby the system can be readily moved, rearranged, expanded or otherwise modified, without damage to or modification of the supporting floor. The invention also contemplates novel modular rollable base structure particularly applicable to the tiered support of cabinet modules on such a track system.

Abstract: An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.

Abstract: A locking and unlocking device for a manually movable wheeled storage rack or the like is disclosed wherein a toothed locking wheel is operatively connected to wheels of a storage rack, and a pair of locking and unlocking leverages each including a catch are disposed symmetrically about the axis of the locking wheel so that the catches may selectively engage with or disengage from the teeth of the locking wheel by the operation of operating knobs exterior of the storage rack. When one of the catches is made into engagement with the toothed locking wheel while the other is out of engagement therefrom, the rotation in one direction of the locking wheel is locked while the rotation in the other direction is unlocked, and vice versa.

Abstract: A belt conveyor transportation system includes a plurality of belt conveyor units each having an endless belt whose main constituent element consists of a magnetic material so as to be magnetically attractive with magnets, and the conveyor units are continuously arranged lengthwise along a desired transportation network layout to form a conveyor line. The conveyor units of the conveyor line drive their magnetic belts separately or in groups each including a number of the units at an independent speed. A moving body or bodies are arranged to move along the conveyor line, and the moving member includes a magnet system. By virtue of the magnetic attraction between the conveyor units and the magnet system, the moving member travels along the conveyor line while being hauled by the magnetic belts of the conveyor units at their respective speeds.