Abstract: A construct can include an access drift; a length of rail disposed in the access drift; a pair of raise climbers, each adapted to be supported by the rail; a turntable to which the rail is mounted, the turntable being adapted to support the rail, and a raise climber supported thereby, for movement about an axis; a nest disposed adjacent the turntable; and a plurality of rails, each extending from the turntable such that, when the turntable is operatively positioned, the rail of the turntable is aligned therewith, the plurality including at least a pair of curve rails and a nest rail, the curve rails each being adapted to develop a raise and the nest rail being positioned in the nest.

Abstract: An article carousel may be configured for use with a track system. The article carousel may include a frame and a plate configured for movement with respect to the frame. The plate may include one or more carriers configured to receive one or more trolleys. Movement of the plate may enable each carrier to be aligned with the track system. During alignment, one or more trolleys may be transferred between each carrier and the track system.

Abstract: Provided herein are transit systems for travel overhead of streets, having: at least a first vehicle and a second vehicle; a main track on which the vehicles travel, the main track having a suspended overhead rail over the streets by a support structure, such that the vehicles travel at an elevated level overhead of street level; docking stations for the vehicles to lower to the street level for loading and/or unloading passengers and/or cargo; a two-position switch at each docking station, having cables enabling vertical movement of the vehicle, and a replacement track; wherein the two-position switch allows for docking of the first vehicle while the second vehicle passes the docked first vehicle, by enabling lowering of the first vehicle from the elevated level to the street level, and the replacement track providing a track portion for the second vehicle on which to pass the first vehicle.

Abstract: A switch system for rail-guided vehicle-based transport systems includes a turntable provided with a single straight rail and a single curved rail integral with said turntable, said turntable being rotatable about a rotating shaft, said rotating shaft being arranged such that it is shifted with respect to said straight rail and said curved rail. The switch system is simple and economical and prevents vehicles from stopping as they approach the switch system when the switch system changes its position, and allows the free passage of the vehicle, without the rails hindering the passage of the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: The article transport facility includes a plurality of article transport vehicles which can travel on a travel path defined by rails installed in the ceiling. The travel path includes a loop-shaped primary path, and secondary paths each arranged to extend along and by at least one article transport location, a first connecting path that connects the primary path and the secondary path, and a second connecting path, provided independently from the first connecting path, with one end portion connected to the secondary path located on one side of the primary path, and the other end portion connected to the secondary path located on the other side of the primary path.

Abstract: A path switching facility for crossed paths comprises: at least one article transport vehicle configured to travel along a first path and a second path that crosses the first path; a guide rail for guiding a guided roller of the article transport vehicle; a travel rail for guiding and supporting travel wheels of the article transport vehicle; a rotatable guide rail and a rotatable travel rail both located in a crossing area; a push operating portion provided to the article transport vehicle to push one of the rotatable guide rail and the rotatable travel rail; and, an operatively connecting device for coupling a rotation of the rotatable guide rail with a rotation of the rotatable travel rail.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a material handling system (100) and method (200) for isolating a carrier mechanism (110) from the system. The system (100) comprises a track (103) having a channel (105), a turntable (115), and a carrier mechanism (110) coupled to the track structure via the channel. The system (100) further comprises a maintenance station (125), comprising a stub track (130), wherein the stub track is operably coupled to the track structure (103) via the turntable (115). The maintenance station (125) further comprises a power supply (135) and one or more connectors (140) operable to electrically couple the carrier (110) to the power supply (135). One or more stop blocks (145) are provided which are removably coupled to the stub track (130), wherein the stop blocks each comprise a body (155) having a rod (160) extending therefrom.

Abstract: A suspension conveyor and sorting installation for the sequential sorting of individually conveyed objects. The installation includes two parallel conveyor paths arranged side by side and driven in opposite directions. Independent roller devices carry objects to be sorted and are conveyed by getting coupled to pushing members. Stop members stop the roller devices on associated conveyor paths, so that the roller devices can be uncoupled from the pushing members. A transfer apparatus is provided between the conveyor paths at a distance from their respective ends, for transferring the objects conveyed along the conveyor paths, from one conveyor path to the other conveyor path. Finally, a sorting controller, connected to the transfer mechanism and the stop members, controls the sorting of the conveyed objects such that the objects are sorted while remaining on the conveyor paths.

Abstract: A bypass for a car of a circuit cable railway system, which is positioned at a turn-about station of the system between the incoming and outgoing lines of at least one revolving conveying cable. The bypass includes coupling points, disposed on incoming and outgoing tracks of the station, at which the car is decoupled from the conveying cable when entering the station and coupled to the conveying train cable when exiting the station. A conveying apparatus drives the car, which has been decoupled from the conveying cable, at a feeding velocity around the station on a station track, and accelerates movement of the car on the station track to enable the car to recouple with the conveying cable at the coupling point when exiting the station. The station track has an incoming portion at the location where the car enters the station and an outgoing portion at a location where the car exits the station.

Abstract: A trolley-type power supply means and a turntable switch for moving apparatuses such as mining equipment. The switch is provided with two coupling portions installed in parallel with each other and reversely symmetrical with respect to a turning axis. By using coupling portions, a trolley can be turned in a desired direction or shunted from the trolley track to allow another trolley to pass by.

Abstract: A turntable for moving railcars is adapted to be concentrically positioned among a plurality of radially aligned, outer railways. The turntable has an azimuthally rotatable, annular frame having a spaced plurality of radially disposed, intermediate railways that selectively align with different ones of the outer railways. Also included is a platform having at least one central railway that can be aligned with at least one of the intermediate railways. This platform is mounted concentrically within the annular frame.

Abstract: An electrically driven self-propelled truck having at least one electrically driven wheel guidable along a rail on a floor, an article lift table mounted on the upper side of the truck body, a work space provided around the lift table, and an adjacent truck coupling provided at least one side edge portion of the truck body. At an intersection of truck guide rails on the floor, a rail segment rotating mechanism is provided which has a rail segment for changing the course of the wheel. A truck orientation changing turntable is provided on a floor portion where the orientation of the truck is to be changed.

Abstract: In a conveyor system for conveying a carrier member supporting a workpiece among working stations, provided are course changing units for changing the course through which the carrier member is conveyed, each of the course changing units being formed with a plurality of connecting portions, a pair of first conveying devices for conveying the carrier member between two of the course changing units, one and the other ends of each pair of first conveying devices being connected with ones of the connecting portions of different ones of the course changing units, respectively, each one of the pairs of first conveying devices conveying the carrier member in reverse direction with respect to each other, and second conveying devices for conveying the carrier member between one of the working stations and the course changing units.

Abstract: Diversion-type switches and cross-type switches are provided for inclusion in suspended rail conveyor arrangements to form a rail conveyor system. Each of said switches includes at least one shiftable rail section movable between a first position of cooperation with spaced rails of one conveyor pathway and a second position of cooperation with a spaced rails of another conveyor pathway. Rail alignment and load transmitting means, in the configuration of coacting fingers and seats, are disposed at the respective ends of the shiftable rail section and fixed rail section and coact therewith so that load forces acting on the shiftable rail section act to align the shiftable rail section with the spaced rails of the respective conveyor pathways and so that load forces applied to the shiftable rail section are transmitted directly to the fixed rail section.

Abstract: Apparatus for passively exercising the human extremities includes an elongate track (16) comprising a tubular housing (46) having a slot formed in the bottom thereof. A lead screw (62) is longitudinally disposed in the housing and a carriage (26) is threadably engaged with the lead screw (62). The carriage (26) is connected to the extremity to be exercised, so that upon movement of the carriage (26) back and forth along the elongated track (16) the extremity is moved through a pre-determined range of motion. Stop members (28) are positionable on the housing in the path of movement of the carriage (26). Engagement of the carriage (26) with the stop member (28) effects longitudinal shifting of the lead screw (62). Longitudinal shifting of the lead screw (62) actuates switches (110) which reverse the direction of rotation of the lead screw (62) thereby reversing the direction of movement of the carriage (26).

Abstract: A circulating aerial ropeway for conveying material such as loose or bulk goods has individual cars for conveying the material, each car being pivotally borne between two longitudinal carrying beams for swinging movement about a transverse, substantially horizontal axis which is above the center of gravity of the car, the car thereby being free-hanging and arranged always to assume a substantially horizontal position, each carrying beam mounting running wheels, the ropeway also having at least two laterally-spaced, parallel track ropes, a track rope being on each side of each car so that the running wheels run on the track ropes, and at least two laterally-spaced, parallel hauling ropes, a hauling rope being on each side of each car the cars having jaws for coupling the hauling rope to the car.

Abstract: This invention relates to a suspension railroad in mines, including a monorail having an elongated friction section and an elongated rack section located above the friction section, a car suspended on the monorail and driven for moving the car along the rail including a friction wheel in frictional engagement with the friction section, a gear wheel coaxial with the friction wheel, and a shiftable device for moving the gear wheel into and out of engagement with the rack section.

Abstract: A track switching device for selectively coupling a first track to one of second and third tracks. The switching device comprises a plurality of movable members, one of which has two parallel rails which operate such that when it is moved, the two rails are moved between the outer rails of the second and third tracks so that a selected one of the rails on the movable member is coupled to a selected one of the inner rails of the second and third tracks.

Abstract: A driverless turntable system is disclosed and includes two turntables coupled together for simutaneous rotation in opposite directions. A driverless vehicle enters the first turntable, is transferred to the second turntable, and then exits from the second turntable in a direction parallel to that when it entered the first turntable. Stationary tracks are provided adjacent the turntables for guiding the vehicles thereonto and therefrom.