Abstract: A manual pallet exchange system for exchanging a pallet on a work table of a horizontal machining center with another pallet from a storage rack or an optional set-up station. The system comprises a pallet shuttle cart which travels along a guideway that is positioned adjacent to the storage rack, the set-up station and the horizontal machining center. Receiving devices are provided on the horizontal machining center, the shuttle cart, the set-up station and each pallet storage location on the storage rack for receiving and supporting the pallet. A mechanically activated locking device provides for safely securing the pallet to the receiving devices of the storage rack, the set-up station and the shuttle cart.

Abstract: A lightweight, remote-controlled, self-propelled equipment support and transport system is stabilized against unwanted angular deviation in each of three perpendicular axes and adapted for motion at high speed along a simple tubular monorail. The system can be quickly and efficiently ground-mounted on stands, suspended horizontally from brackets or from a variety of overhead supports, or vertically mounted alongside a mast or wall. The system includes an elongated drive car running on and partly surrounding a rail, and an equipment support associated with the drive car and configured so that the supported equipment is transversely and longitudinally spaced and balanced about a point just below the center of the rail. The equipment support is mounted in angular isolation relative to the drive car by a system of damped pivots about pitch and yaw axes.

Abstract: A carrier cell is provided for use in a high-speed sortation system having an I-beam monorail with vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal plates connected by a web. The carrier cell includes a cover having a horizontally-extending top surface above the rail, and a downwardly extending, tapered side panel with a lower edge which extends adjacent to the lower plate of the rail. A pair of upper wheel assemblies are mounted in the cover. Each upper wheel assembly includes a load wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis to provide driving support for the cell along a top surface of the upper plate, a semi-spherical housing for each load wheel, and a support associated with each housing. The supports are mounted to the upper cover surface and shaped to allow the housings to rotate within the supports. A plurality of upper guide wheels are mounted for rotation about vertical axes in contact with a side of said upper plate.

Abstract: A linear motor driven transport system of an improved design is presented. The conventional roller configuration for holding the transport vehicle on the rail track has been replaced with a spring-loaded design so as to maintain the contact between the roller and the rail surface regardless of the curvatures in the routing track. Weighing device of an improved direct-loading design is adopted to improve the ruggedness of the device. Devices for controlling the positioning of the transport vehicle, including the carrier, have been simplified and the number of component pieces reduced to lower the cost of manufacturing the transport system. The container and track configurations have also been modified to enable efficient track set-up and loading/unloading of goods in complex track routing in a limited space.

Abstract: An automated material handling system including one or more train assemblies moving along a rail with each train assembly including a locomotive pulling a plurality of trolley cars. The locomotive includes a front truck adapted for movement along the rail; a rear truck adapted for movement along the rail in spaced trailing relation to the front truck; a body structure mounted on and extending between the front and rear trucks; a tractor positioned between the front and rear trucks, disassociated from the body structure, and including a motor and a traction drive wheel driven by the motor and adapted to drivingly engage the rail; and a link pivotally interconnecting the tractor and the rear truck. The body structure defines a central downwardly opening compartment between the front and rear trucks and the tractor is positioned in the compartment. The tractor is thus free to essentially independently perform the pulling function for the train without concern for the carrying function of the locomotive.

Abstract: A magnetic levitated vehicle, including a linear rotor connected thereto, runs on a tubular track having a circular cross-section and a tubular linear induction motor stator mounted therein. The rotor is movably mounted within the stator and the vehicle is positioned above the track. The rotor is connected to the vehicle by a riser extending through longitudinal slots of the track and stator, and by an actuator mechanism, which includes a transversely curved saddle movably connected to drive members, for enabling the vehicle to be banked at curve sections of the tubular track. Further, vehicle banking is also accomplished by constructing the track and stator with the slots laterally offset at the curved sections of the track.

Abstract: In a traveling carriage for the transporting of workpieces, material, or the like, particularly in a longitudinal transfer system on a rail against which travel rollers (3, 4) which move at least one support plate (7) rest. The support plate (7) is connected turnably around a swivel shaft (12) on the one hand to the travel rollers (3, 4) and on the other hand to a mounting plate (11) for the workpieces, material, or the like. In this connection, straight-line guide rollers (13) are arranged, offset from the swivel shaft (12), on the support plate (7) on both sides of the rail (2).

Abstract: A conveying system is provided for moving a pallet along straight and curved paths. The conveying system includes a track on which the pallet is mounted for movement by means of a motor driven roller pivotally mounted on the pallet which engages a stationary shaft mounted on the track. Depending on the position of the drive roller in relation to the shaft, the pallet is driven forward, rearward, or remains stationary. The drive roller is resiliently urged into contact with the shaft and is pivotally mounted on the pallet so as to be movable between a forward drive position, a rearward drive position, and a stationary position. A resilient bias urges the drive roller to the forward drive position. A cam mechanism is provided to move the drive roller to the stationary position when desired.

Abstract: A semi-permanent apparatus and a method for tethering and restraining grazing animals, house pets and security dogs comprises a moveable trolley mounted on a track attached to a solid surface, such as the ground. One end of a tether is attached to the animal and the other end of the tether is attached to the trolley. The trolley moves along the track when the animal tugs at the tether, but the track, trolley and tether prevent the animal from roaming to a distance from the track beyond the length of the tether.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a travelling mechanism of automatic service carriages for spinning or twisting machines. The invention includes a travelling mechanism having a supporting wheel mounted in a pivot bearing, the guiding axis of the pivot bearing coinciding with the central vertical axis of the supporting wheel. The pivot bearing is connected via a connecting link to a swivel bearing installed on the travelling gear. The connecting link is arrested on either side by a fixed stop and a swivelling latch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device to convey parts towards one or more processing stations and to remove them therefrom. This device includes a rail forming a continuous closed circuit and supporting a series of supports which are in contact with the rail by rollers, at least one of which is elastically biased against the rail. Each support is provided, at least at one of its ends, with a ball bearing or roller bearing, by which each support comes into contact with the support that precedes it or follows it. Preferably, the rail has a section with two opposite cants, and it is elastically gripped between rollers having a groove with a shape that matches the cants. Thus, precise positioning is obtained in the transversal direction of each support with respect to the rail, and the ball bearings provide precise contact, with low wear and tear, between two successive supports. This provides for accurate positioning also in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A linear motor transportation system is constituted by a movable member 11A in the form of a ring and a plurality of cylindrical stationary portions 3B-3E arranged in series to form a cylindrical guide. The movable member has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical guide and is slidably fitted on the cylindrical guide. A transportation table 14 is fixedly secured to the movable member to transport an article 15. A plurality of parallel grooves 3a are formed in an outer surface of the cylindrical guide and the movable member is provided on its inner surface with a corresponding number of rollers 11a, 11b engaged with the respective grooves to stably guide the movable member therealong.

Abstract: The present invention is a positioning system providing precise linear and arcuate movements of the carriage along either straight or curved sections of rail comprising a pair of pivoting bogies attached to the carriage which have a pair of oppositely-directed ball bearing assemblies rigidly mounted to journal shafts on the bogies for retention and contact of the roller bearings with opposing sides of the rail running surfaces in a preloaded condition on the rail.

Abstract: A space transport vehicle including a body movably mounted on an elongated guide member disposed in outer space and driven therealong. A drive wheel is mounted on a drive shaft in rolling engagement with the elongated guide carrying the vehicle. A brake member on the drive shaft moves into and out of engagement with an adjacent surface of the drive wheel. An actuator on the body manually moves back and forth between spaced positions in an arc of movement. A rachet-and-pawl mechanism operates upon movements of the actuator in one direction between first and second positions for coupling the actuator to the drive wheel to incrementally rotate the wheel in one rotational direction and to operate upon movements of the actuator in the opposite direction for uncoupling the actuator from the wheel.

Abstract: A monorail vehicle support system for supporting a vehicle body along a monobeam rail having top and side running surfaces. An attachment frame is secured to opposed ends of the vehicle chassis. A single steerable load carrying wheel is supported in a vertical plane by the attachment frame for support engagement with the top running surface of the rail. A pair of side wheels, having pneumatic tires, are supported spaced-apart in parallel horizontal planes below the carrying wheel and on one side thereof for frictional engagement with one of the side running surfaces of the rail. A load arm secured at one end to an axle of the carrying wheel is provided with an air bag and a levelling system for maintaining the vehicle chassis at a substantially constant level with respect to the beam by compensating for vertical displacement of the pneumatic suspension element (airbag) caused by the load variations.

Abstract: A method for on-site maintenance of a guardrail consisting of a continuous strip of metal section segments supported on posts at joints between adjacent segments, the guardrail is split at one of joints and the segments of one of the resulting two portions of the guardrail are detached successively from the posts and fed, still connected to adjacent segments, into an apparatus traveling along the strip and inside which the segments are subjected continuously to cleaning, metal facing and protective processes. Once processed, the segments come out successively from one end of the apparatus, as the latter travels along the guardrail, and are reconnected successively to the posts.

Abstract: A welding and/or cutting machine 1 is provided for use on a workpiece 2 formed by a pair of metal sheets 3 in face to face contact. The machine comprises a movable carriage 4 mounted on a pair of drive rollers 5 operable to grip the sheets 3 of the workpiece in the nip of the rollers. The axes of rotation 6 of the rollers 5 are disposed so that as the rollers rotate, forces are generated which cause the carriage 4 to be pulled on to the workpiece 2. The carriage 4 is capable of transporting welding means 7 as shown in FIG. 1, for lip-welding the sheets of the workpiece together, or, alternatively, transporting cutter means 10 for subsequent removal of weld material.

Abstract: The workability during fabrication of an underfloor construction of a monorail vehicle is improved by reducing the steps of fabrication. An underfloor construction of a monorail vehicle comprises truck enclosures detachably mounted at positions where trucks are mounted in the undersurface of the underframe to enclose the periphery of the trucks, and an enclosure for underfloor equipment for enclosing the sides and lower surface of the underfloor equipment. A method of assembling an underfloor construction of a monorail vehicle comprises mounting a wiring duct and underfloor equipment on the undersurface of an underframe, conducting wiring work between the wiring duct and the underfloor equipment, and thereafter mounting an enclosure for underfloor equipment.

Abstract: A portable drive for coaction with a band is provided with a motor driven drive roller for transporting the drive along the band. The drive roller with coacting structure for maintaining operative coaction with the band are settable to two main positions, viz, an operative and a neutral position, the band in the neutral position running freely while the drive roller with coacting structure being cantilevered so that the band can be freely taken aside for disengagement of the band from the drive, or for inserting the band from the side over the drive roller to coact therewith after resetting to the operative position. The inventive drive is primarily intended to be attachable to a skier allowing him to be towed up a hill along a band which is anchored at its upper end to a tree, for example.

Abstract: A golf cart propelling system includes a rail formed by a plurality of channel members, each having a U-shaped cross section defined by spaced side walls joined at lower ends thereof by a bottom wall. The side walls have at upper ends thereof flanges extending inwardly toward each other and defining therebetween a longitudinal groove. The channel members are buried in the ground to define a rail extending through selected locations of a golf course with portions of the flanges flush with the ground surface and with the longitudinal grooves of the channel members defining a continuous rail groove. A golf cart has front and rear wheel members running on the flange portions of the rail. Each wheel member has a width no greater than the width of the exposed flange portions. The golf cart is prevented from falling sideways from the rail by at least one vertical shaft attached to the golf cart and extending downwardly therefrom through the groove into the interior of the rail.

Abstract: A cart type conveying apparatus comprising a guide rail having a substantially U-shaped section and including upper and lower horizontal extensions, and a conveyor cart including trolleys guided by the guide rail. The upper and lower extensions define guide grooves, respectively. Supporting wheels and centering rollers attached to lower positions of the trolleys are fitted in the guide grooves defined in the lower extension, and retaining wheels and centering rollers attached to upper positions of the trolleys are fitted in the guide groove defined in the upper extension.

Abstract: A roller attachment to facilitate precise running of an article along a guide line in automation processes when it is fixed to the article, having an angular frame which is formed by layering punched angular thin members in the longitudinal direction of frame, and which is provided with peripheral recesses including rollers in a way to rotate freely in the longitudinal direction of frame in relation to the frame, the frame being attachable to the article with bolts either through hollow rivets uniting the angular thin members together or through elongated bolt holes in bracket members.

Abstract: A monorail vehicular system is provided, which uses an elevated track of multipiece construction, with a central electrically insulated panel having a supporting lower metal rail, which acts as one side of an electrical supply system, and with an upper metal rail on top of the central panel for support, and to provide the other side of the electrical system. The lower rail is supported at intervals by clips, carried on spaced vertical poles which rest on bases on the ground or other supporting surface. A car used in the system rides on wide roller type wheels on top of the upper metal rail, has a resiliently urged collector in contact with the upper rail, and a pair of contacts which engage the lower metal rail, with a pair of horizontal stabilizing wheels extending downwardly from the car on each side of the central panel and in contact with it, and which wheels are unequally spaced from the upper rail.

Abstract: A novel wind or water powered generator apparatus is provided for generating substantial quantities of electricity. The apparatus includes a plurality of sail-driven cars connected to form a continuous chain and suspended from a monorail loop. The car suspension system has two horizontal guide wheels and one vertical carrier wheel. Substantially the entire weight of each car is carried by its vertical wheel, which is located near the car's center of gravity. Further, all three suspension wheels are located inside the monorail, thereby rendering car derailment virtually impossible.Two sails are attached to each car, one being directed upwardly and the other being directed downwardly. The surface areas of the two sails are such that the average, total current force on each sail is approximately the same. Additionally, the novel sails are free to rotate 360 degrees about their support poles, but they are biased to a preferred orientation.

Abstract: A system for transporting heavy cylindrical objects such as cable drums or spools on a carriage guided along a pit dug in the floor includes a channel rail (2) lining the bottom and sides of the pit, a central upstanding rail (3) leaving a longitudinal gap between itself and the channel rail and having a plane top surface (3A) level with the ground. Two longitudinal girders (4A, 4B) integral with the carriage fit into the longitudinal gaps, and the carriage is raised and lowered the longitudinal girders so that they have a high position above floor level for holding a cylindrical object.

Abstract: A track guided vehicle is provided which includes laterally projecting transverse guide rollers mounted on support arms extending in a direction parallel to a direction of travel of the vehicle. The guide rollers are adapted to be retractable and extendable to an operating position through a guide arrangement which is directed diagonally upwardly and inwardly with a bilaterally effective operating element being disposed concentrically within the guide arrangement. The transverse guide rollers are elastically flexible in a transverse direction and are adapted to utilize an on board compressed air system to displace the transverse guide rollers and fluidic operating or working element which is constructed for pneumatic pressure application.

Abstract: An improved monorail guideway assembly including unencumbered running surfaces that are supported by a truss. Electrical bus bars are attached to the underside of the running surfaces and a protective skirt is attached to the edges of the running surfaces along their entire length. The skirt is bent so as to form a smoothly curved shoulder that shields the bus bars and guideway surface from snow or rain.

Abstract: A monorail system having a rail surface that is provided for small vehicles traversing an incline or slippery areas, with the surface having a plurality of spaced recesses positioned in those areas to form gripping edges for the drive wheels of the vehicles. The recesses may be of a variety of shapes and positioned in different ways to provide the proper grip. The recesses may be mechanically punched into a separate elongated flat bed riveted in appropriate locations to the rail. The punching may be done in such a way so as to form raised ramp-like edges adjacent the recesses to help with the gripping action. The ramp faces face downwardly in inclined areas. The drive wheels of cooperating vehicles may have elastic treads to help with the gripping action.

Abstract: An underwater trenching machine comprising a carriage and a pair each of fore and aft pivotal frames, each of which carries a drive roller means for intimately contacting the pipeline, said front and rear frames being adapted to mutually exclusively pivot outwardly upon command so that the frame carrying the roller means resting at that time on the pipeline takes over the drive function performed by the roller means on both pair of frame means theretofore, and further including improved jet legs each divided into multiple sections for enabling differential water velocity while minimizing water pressure loss through the length thereof, all while the machine is maintained at a predetermined buoyance and attitude.

Abstract: An elongate formable drive rail for carrying a working apparatus having a toothed drive gear and support elements is provided in the form of a narrow elongate strip of metal having a regular series of corrugations extending lengthwise of the strip intermediate its edges and adapted to be engaged by the toothed drive gear while the edges of the strip engage the support elements.

Abstract: A vehicle is supended on a pair of slotted rails of tubular shape. The vehicle has a plurality of support members sloping downwardly from the sides of the car and having running gear thereon engaging within the rails through the slots. The vehicle is preferably of light weight materials and provided with some form of aerodynamic means to provide lift as the vehicle passes through the air along a right of way. The running gear includes rolling friction means designed to function in any event from low speed with maximum weight to negative gravity at high speeds.

Abstract: Apparatus for roll-stabilizing a vehicle broadly includes a compound physical pendulum operatively arranged to sense the lateral and angular acceleration of the vehicle attributable to an applied disturbance torque, and an inertia wheel arranged to be accelerated in the appropriate angular direction to exert a reaction torque on the vehicle to oppose the disturbance torque. The compound physical pendulum has a rigid dumbbell-shaped member mounted for frictionless pivotal movement between opposing discharge nozzles of a hydraulic amplifier. The hydraulic amplifier produces a differential control pressure in response to the acceleration forces acting on the pendulum, and this control pressure is used to operate a servovalve. The servovalve produces a drive pressure which is supplied to a hydraulic motor to accelerate the inertia wheel in the appropriate angular direction.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for transporting heavy equipment such as welding current generators, a prime mover therefor, and associated devices or supplies, on and along a pipeline, the pipeline serving as a monorail. The apparatus, of elongated construction along the pipeline, is supported at one end and propelled along the line by power driven traction means engaging the top part of the pipeline. The opposite end of the apparatus is supported on a pair of laterally spaced swivel mounted wheels which engage the sides of the pipeline laterally away from and somewhat below the top of the line. The latter wheels give lateral support and stability to maintain the apparatus in a substantially upright position on the pipeline. Sensing means, such as a pendulum, mercury switch means, or equivalent, detect incipient tilting or motion towards instability and are used to steer the swivel mounted wheels, either directly or indirectly.

Abstract: A traveler assembly adapted to hold a line under tension while being movable on a track as on a sailing craft. The assembly comprises a main car section having parallel, spaced apart side portions and a connecting portion with apparatus to retain the line under tension. Fixed to the inner surface of each side portion is a generally oval shaped race filled with ball bearings specifically sized and positioned to be located close to but having some clearance with the surfaces of the track. At any lead angle of tension force applied to the main car section at least some of the ball bearings of either one or both races will contact and transmit the main tension forces to the track so that the traveler assembly can move along the track with a minimum of friction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a monorail transport apparatus for transport of golf equipment in golf links, comprising a transport vehicle body provided with a caster wheel rollable on a monorail, a driving vehicle body equipped with a prime mover and partly received in and pivotally connected to the front portion of the transport vehicle body so as to be swingable around the axis of a transverse shaft, a driving wheel and a driven wheel disposed on both sides of the transverse shaft, an endless driving belt entrained around the driving and driven wheels and pressed against the upper surface of the monorail, and an auxiliary wheel pivotally connected to the driving vehicle body so as to be swingable around the axis of the transverse shaft and pressed against the lower surface of the monorail, the arrangement being such that the transport apparatus travels while holding the monorail from above and below between said driving belt and the auxiliary wheel, thereby achieving increased hill climbing ability and increased trav

Abstract: A transportation system includes a pair of rails spaced transversely of an elongated track on which flanged support wheels of a vehicle are adapted for travel along the sides, top or bottom of the track. The support wheels are transversely spaced apart by at least one-half the width or one-half the height of the vehicle and are sloped to respectively lie in planes intersecting at the center of gravity of the vehicle. Accordingly, horizontal forces acting on the vehicle during travel around curves produce no stresses on the wheel flanges but increase direct stress on one set of wheels and decrease direct stress on the other set of wheels.In another embodiment, the wheels are designed to tip parallel to the resultant forces acting on the wheels during horizontal force changes acting on the vehicle.

Abstract: The specification discloses a transport system comprising a track including a horizontal top rail with a vertical web extending below the rail. A canted surface extends between one edge of the horizontal rail and the web. A support member extends angularly from the vertical web opposite the canted surface of the track. A transport unit is mounted on the track and includes motorized wheels rotationally supported on the unit for tracking along the surface extending angularly from the web. Counterbalance wheels are rotationally supported on the unit for tracking the canted surface of the track. The unit has its center of gravity outside the contact surfaces between the motorized and counterbalance wheels and the track and to the side of the web face on which the motorized wheels track. The transport unit is adapted to channel air between the underside of the main body of the unit and the horizontal rail of the track to lift the transport unit thereby relieving the loading of the unit on the track.

Abstract: Bending beam arrangement for use in supporting elevated trains and the like, and method of making same. The profile member beam is formed as a composite structure having steel profilemember and a concrete profile member connected thereto. The concrete profile member is disposed and configured so as to maximally absorb the compression forces experienced by the bending beam while minimizing the total cross sectional area of the concrete so that the overall weight of the bending beam is maintained at a minimal level. By absorbing the compressive forces on the composite beam and thereby preventing buckling of the steel beam, a thin walled steel beam construction can be utilized hence substantially only significant tensile forces need be accommodated thereby. Various preferred geometrical embodiments are included with means being provided in each embodiment to accommodate supporting and guiding of an elevational or suspended train vehicle for movement therealong.