Under Rolls Patents (Class 105/153)
  • Patent number: 11311440
    Abstract: A stationary type caring lift includes a base plate arranged on a floor part at each of head and foot sides of a bed for a care receiver along each short-side side of the bed, four supports erected on the base plates in the vicinity of four corners of the bed, a pair of guide rails supported above the bed by the four supports and arranged in parallel along both long-side sides of the bed, a longitudinally moving body arranged between the guide rails and capable of being moved in a longitudinal direction of the bed while being guided by the guide rails, a slide rail attached movably, a laterally moving body attached movably in the lateral direction of the bed, and a lifting drive mechanism attached in the laterally moving body for hanging down the care receiver and having a worm reduction gear with a self-lock function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventor: Osamu Yokota
  • Patent number: 10656052
    Abstract: A trolley assembly for overhead track testing is provided. In one example embodiment, a trolley assembly includes an idle roller that rotates about a first axis, a first top roller coupled to a first end of the idle roller via a first trolley upright support, and a second top roller coupled to a second end of the idle roller via a second trolley upright support. The trolley assembly includes a cantilever coupled to the idle roller. The trolley assembly includes a driveshaft coupled to a first end of the cantilever. The trolley assembly includes at least one motor coupled to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Watson, Johnathan Rearick, Anthony Bembic
  • Patent number: 9833909
    Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly that generates a local vacuum using a prime mover that may be an electrical motor or a solenoid. The vacuum cup may have one or more ports to remove and vent air between the cup and the atmosphere. The prime mover drives a piston or a flexible membrane, which may be a diaphragm, through one or more reciprocating cycles to generate the local vacuum. The vacuum cup assembly may be used to form a temporary attachment to a work piece, the act on the work piece, such as by moving the work piece, and then release the work piece from the vacuum cup assembly. The vacuum cup assembly disclosed herein is self-contained inasmuch as the assembly may have a power source, such as a battery, located on a housing. This makes its operation quiet and effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Wolfram Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Joel Michael Vaughn
  • Patent number: 9150264
    Abstract: An assembly line for motor vehicles in which a overhead guide supports a plurality of conveying units, each of which has a longitudinal axis, is provided with a supporting element for a respective body to be assembled, and is mobile in a given direction of advance through one or more rotation stations, in each of which an drive assembly, carried by the rotation station, is designed to engage a driven transmission assembly, carried by the conveying unit, for rotating the supporting element about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Fiat Group Automobile S.p.A.
    Inventors: Denny Monti, Giulio Talarico, Marco Cavaglia, Elio Tordella
  • Patent number: 8262071
    Abstract: A positioning assembly using a pair of rollers elastically connected to a holding base for clamping two cutters received in the holding base. The cutters in the holding base can be adjusted to make different blades contact and align precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 8156874
    Abstract: The rail mounted displaceable device is a ceiling mounted hoist comprising two pairs of carrying wheels (2) arranged to run in the rail (1) and two motion wheels (4) actuated by a motor (7). The motion wheels (4) are rotatably fixed on a hinged bracket (5) which is pivotably connected via a hinge (6) to a chassis (3). The displaceable device is provided with an actionable solenoid (8) for pressing said transport wheels (4) against the rail (1) in order to allow a displacement of the device along the rail (1) when the motor (7) is activated and to allow the carrying wheels (2) to rotate freely along the rail (1) when said motor (7) is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Invacare International SARL
    Inventor: Steen Hansen
  • Patent number: 8082854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chassis (1) for a cable or pipeline trolley (2), for traveling along a carrier rail, the chassis including at least one pair of carrier rollers (3) having a horizontal axis of rotation and at least one pair of guide rollers (4) having a vertical axis of rotation. The disadvantage of known chassis of this type is that they jolt at uneven sections of the carrier rail and a significant supply of replacement parts is required for repairs. The aim of the invention is to develop a chassis with improved driving characteristics, whilst at the same time reducing production and inventory costs. To achieve this, the carrier rollers (3) and guide rollers (4) are essentially arranged symmetrically to a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler AG
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 8056483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable or pipeline trolley (2) for travelling along a carrier rail, comprising at least one chassis (1) and a carrier device (10) for cables or pipelines, in addition to a central plate (9) that connects the carrier device (10) to the chassis (1). Known cable or pipeline trolleys of this type are sensitive to high winds and are frequently derailed from the guides as a result of the large wind-exposure area. The aim of the invention is to develop a cable or pipeline trolley so that it is more operationally secure and the chassis can run more reliably along the carrier rail even when exposed to high winds or other stress. To achieve this, at least two rectangular cavities and two triangular cavities (6, 7) are positioned within the outer boundary of the central plate (9), said cavities being symmetrical in relation to the central axis of the central plate and being separated by a strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler AG
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 7878123
    Abstract: A single rail film dolly and slider includes a substantially V-shaped rail arrangement and a guide arrangement. The V-shaped rail arrangement is adapted to be secured to a tripod. The guide arrangement includes a plurality of wheels, wherein a first portion of the plurality of wheels frictionally engages an interior side of the V-shaped rail arrangement and a second portion of the plurality of wheels frictionally engages an exterior side of the V-shaped rail arrangement. The guide arrangement is adapted to accommodate a camera mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Jason Jackson
  • Patent number: 7789021
    Abstract: A suspension conveyance apparatus has a conveying traveling body movably supported on a traveling guide rail and a hanger suspended from the conveying traveling body, and an anti-swaying guide rail in parallel with the traveling guide rail, the anti-swaying guide rail is engaged with a roller and prevents lateral swaying of the hanger. The anti-swaying guide rail is installed on only one of the right and left sides of the traveling guide rail and includes a horizontal flat rail surface and a circular rail surface curvedly protruding in the vertically opposite direction of the horizontal flat rail surface, and a flat peripheral surface roller adjoining to the horizontal flat rail surface and rolling and an hourglass-shaped peripheral surface roller fitted to the circular rail surface are provided as the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishihara, Tomohiro Sugo
  • Patent number: 6050198
    Abstract: A travelling mechanism for a rail-movable lifting device includes a carrier with running wheels which roll on a longitudinally extending running surface of a rail. A double lever is pivotally mounted on the carrier. A drivable friction wheel that is positionable on a longitudinally extending friction surface of the rail is rotatably mounted on the double lever. An opposing side of the double lever supports the lifting device, whereby the double lever presses the friction wheel against the friction surface of the rail by a force under the weight of the lifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Udo Gersemsky, Alfred Fanger, Ralf Eising
  • Patent number: 5715755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a traveling carriage moveable on a guide rod (14), wherein a traveling body (10) of the traveling carriage partially embraces the guide rod (14) with a gap opening remaining on one side, the gap opening being formed by a fixed projection (16) and a moveable projection (18) and, in the closed and locked operating condition, being smaller than the smallest cross section of the guide rod (14) which can be taken into consideration and, in the opened and unlocked removal condition, being larger than the largest cross section of the guide rod (14) which can be taken into consideration. This traveling carriage serves, for example, to mount a spotlight in a recording studio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sachtler Aktiengesellschaft-Kommunikationstechnik-
    Inventors: Michael Jonischkeit, Karl Maslo
  • Patent number: 5676189
    Abstract: The present invention is a motorized drapery track assembly specially adapted for use in traversing very sharp corners without derailment. The system employs a motorized carrier that is mounted upon a track and a plurality of trolleys to which a drapery is mounted. The carrier is interconnected to at least one trolley and pulls or pushes the drapery along the track. The carrier includes at least one guide wheel and a drive wheel, which are relatively moveable with respect to each other to allow for movement at sharp corners to prevent derailment of the carrier. The track itself is specifically adapted so that it can be easily bent and installed. Special brackets are employed so that the track can be installed in areas with restricted space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Arbor Marketing Limited
    Inventor: Richard Zeeb
  • Patent number: 5657699
    Abstract: A combination including a track arrangement and a vehicle to be operated on the track arrangement. The track arrangement has two sets of laterally spaced apart running faces, each set including an upper running face and a lower running face. The vehicle includes a plurality of steerable axle assemblies, each axle assembly having an axle arrangement, a pair of upper wheels journalled on the axle arrangement and engageable with respective upper running faces; and a pair of lower wheels journalled on the axle arrangement and engageable with respective lower running faces. A steering arrangement urges the axle assemblies to align with the track arrangement. A loss sensing arrangement which senses a loss of adhesion or an imminent loss of adhesion of the upper wheels with respect to the respective upper running faces. A signal arrangement generates a signal indicative of one of the loss of adhesion and the imminent loss of adhesion of the upper wheels with respect to the respective upper running faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Arthur Ernest Bishop
  • Patent number: 5623879
    Abstract: A travelling mechanism for hoisting equipment, especially for hoisting equipment which runs on monorail flange beams that have, along with straight sections, elevated and/or laterally curved sections. The travelling mechanism has side shield members located across from one another and on each of which at least one travelling wheel is mounted as are pairs of side guide rollers between which the travelling wheels are arranged. A travelling drive and curve travelling device, which travelling device can be positioned against the monorail flange beam by springs, are also connected to the travelling mechanism. The travelling device is provided on at least one side shield member as a rotatably-mounted sprung one-armed pivot lever on an end of which an auxiliary side guide roller is rotatably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Udo Gersemsky, Karl Liebig, Thomas Schweflinghaus
  • Patent number: 5601026
    Abstract: A linear drive system has a guide rail and a transport device that is moveable along the guide rail. At least one tubular, flexible hollow body is positioned along the extension of the guide rail. The hollow body consists essentially of an elastomeric material and has a first and a second end. The at least one hollow body is loadable with a pressure medium from the first or the second end. At least one squeezing roller is rotatably connected to the transport device for forcing sealingly the at least one hollow body against a counter element. The guide rail consists essentially of a flexible elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fritz Rothemeyer, Harald Kranz, Stefan Wode, Wolfgang Kleiner, Rainer Alles, Roland Merten, Dieter Landweer
  • Patent number: 5592883
    Abstract: A monorail transportation system has an elongated, overhead monorail (12) with a vehicle (14) having a coupler (16) that movably travels along the upper surface of monorail (12) and a drive wheel (20) that engages the lower surface or underside of monorail (12) to propel vehicle (14) therealong. The coupler (16) and drive wheel (20) are recessed in the top of the vehicle (14) during road travel and extended for travel along the monorail (12). The vehicle includes a movable sled (130) that carries the vehicles batteries (56) to balance the vehicle (14) about its longitudinal centerline during travel along the monorail (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: F. Jay Andress, III
  • Patent number: 5492066
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nozaki, Takasi Kawai
  • Patent number: 5419260
    Abstract: A self-propelled overhead track-mounted moving system includes an elongated support rail attachable to an overhead support structure, a carrier trolley mounted for undergoing movement along the support rail, an actuation unit supported on the support rail and on one side of the trolley, and a drive unit mounted on an opposite side of the trolley and coupled to the actuation unit. The support rail has a pair of top guide tracks and a bottom guide track. The trolley includes a housing having a pair of opposite lateral sides and a pair of front and rear ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: James Hamilton
  • Patent number: 5331900
    Abstract: A trolley, particularly a monorail trolley having a short structural height includes travel wheels which travel on a lower flange of a rail. The trolley further includes a lifting mechanism arranged on a support frame and a driveable friction wheel which can be pressed through a spring element against the lower flange of the rail. One of the travel wheels and the friction wheel are arranged on a rocker member for a load-dependent increase of the frictional engagement between the rail and the travel wheel and the friction wheel. As seen in travel direction, the friction wheel is spaced from the travel wheel. The rocker member is arranged laterally next to the lower flange and is connected to the support frame so as to be pivotable about an axis. Arranged between the support frame and the rocker member is an adjusting member for changing the distance between the axis and the lower flange. The friction wheel and the travel wheel are connected so as to be triable together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Gersemsky
  • Patent number: 5231933
    Abstract: A conveyor system (10) with an overhead rail (11) has trolleys (12) with an upper drive wheel (13) and lower bucking rollers (15,16) of which at least one is fitted with a spring (17) to provide the necessary traction between drive wheel (13) and rail (11) along sloping paths. The rail (11) has a first unvarying thickness in its horizontal sections (20) and a second thickness, greater than the first, in its sloping sections (21), while the radiused sections (22,23) between horizontal sections (20) and sloping sections (21) have a variable thickness sized to hold substantially constant the compression of the spring (17) along the entire radiused sections (22,23) and in particular, at a value substantially equal to that provided by the spring along the sloping sections (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Fata Automation S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gaetano DiRosa
  • Patent number: 5222439
    Abstract: A conveyor system (10) with a suspended rail (11) on which run trolleys (12) having an upper drive wheel (13) and lower bucking rollers (15,16). The wheel and the rollers are rigidly fixed relative to one another. Each trolley (12) has a geometry such as to cause a rotation moment around the upper wheel (13) when the trolley traverses sloped sections of rail to increase the force of contact or traction of the driving wheel (13) on the rail. The rail (11) has a cross section of variable thickness along its length so that the distance between the wheel and the rollers is uniform on the curves between straight horizontal and sloping sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Fata Automation S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gaetano Di Rosa
  • Patent number: 5213045
    Abstract: A bottom flange running gear of a monorail has load-bearing running wheels on both sides of a preferably I-shaped running rail. Such a running gear has front and rear lateral guide rollers mounted on preferably vertical axles and in contact with the running rail. A preferably unilateral or one-sided load may be applied to the running gear, preferably by a traction motor. The invention proposes that at least one supporting roller carrier, preferably on the sidepiece of the running gear opposite the traction motor, can be linked coaxially to the axle of one of the guide rollers. The invention further proposes that a supplemental guide roller can be in contact, preferably under the force of a laterally positioned spring on the running rail, against the edge of the bottom flange of the running rail. Additionally, a supporting roller, mounted on a preferably horizontal supporting roller axle, may be in contact, from below, against the bottom flange of the running rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Gersemsky
  • Patent number: 5174217
    Abstract: A conveyor comprising a plurality of self-propelled carriers adapted to run along a rail, the rail having a first drive wheel bearing surface facing upward and a plurality of downward teeth formed at least at a gradient portion of the rail, each of the carriers having a first drive wheel rollable on the wheel bearing surface of the rail, a first electric motor for driving the first drive wheel, a gear meshable with the teeth of the rail and a second electric motor for driving the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Nakanishi Metal Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 5121695
    Abstract: An overhead cableway is disclosed, in particular a chair lift, with a cable revolving between stations and with transport devices having a traveling gear and connected with the cable via removable clamps. Travel segments are provided at every station which include driven friction wheels, which act on the transport devices via friction surfaces provided on their traveling gear, and forming at least one deceleration and one acceleration section each, and with guide elements associated with the travel segments, which cooperate with the traveling gear. In accordance with the invention, the friction wheels (6,10) define traveling surfaces (20) and the transport devices (50) are supported by their downwardly oriented friction surfaces (88) directly on the friction wheels, and the guide elements (48) are seated rotatably and fixed in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Von Roll Transportsysteme AG
    Inventor: Fritz Feuz
  • Patent number: 5119735
    Abstract: An eyelet of high strength materials is disclosed herein having an upper end equipped with a tapered roller for movably supporting the eyelet on a cable and having a lower end equipped with a similar roller for supporting the end of the lower end of the eyelet from chaff by the cable. The eyelet is composed of stainless steel in the form of an oval-shaped rod in front elevation having a U-shaped upper end joined with a U-shaped lower end by outwardly diverging side members. A selected side member includes a spring-released latch normally biased closed to maintain the load-supporting cable captured within the eyelet between the roller. Lubricating fittings and disassembly construction for maintenance and repair is employed in mounting the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventors: Young H. Jang, Hyang S. J. Park
  • Patent number: 5103739
    Abstract: An apparatus for tracking an overhead line includes a carriage, an arm provided relatively movable on the carriage, a hook assembly provided at both end portions of the arm and for slinging the arm over the overhead line, a vertical/rotational motion shaft provided vertically movable and rotatably on the carriage, a wheel supporting arm provided on the top end portion of the vertical/rotational motion shaft swingably, a pair of wheels provided at both ends of the wheel supporting arm with an extension line of the vertical/rotational motion shaft being between the wheels, and a clamp member for clamping the wheels on the overhead line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignees: The Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Sawada, Yoshinobu Ishikawa, Yoshikata Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5016543
    Abstract: Two embodiments of monorail conveyor systems wherein the conveyor is operated by a drive motor that has its center of gravity positioned between the vertical sides of the monorail so as to improve stability and to permit the use of a single friction driven wheel. A gripping device is carried by the conveyor mechanism by a cable system so that it can be raised and lowered through a wide variety of heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Ohara, Hiroshi Kawashima, Hiroshi Takata
  • Patent number: 5002909
    Abstract: Mixed oxides of alumina and zirconia having a controlled granulometric distribution, consisting essentially of spherical, submicronic particles, wherein zirconia is distributed uniformly in alumina and may reach 38% by weight, said zirconia being in the stabilized form at room temperature in the tetragonal phase, after having subjected the amorphous hydrated composite oxides to thermal treatments, wherein occurs the transition of zirconia to the tetragonal phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Montedison S.p.A.
    Inventors: Franco Montino, Giuseppe Spoto
  • Patent number: 4970961
    Abstract: A good transporting arrangement (1) utilizing a goods transporting path in the form of a guide device (2) and two wheels (4,6) capable of co-acting with opposite sides of the guide device. The two wheels co-act drivingly with the guide device through a drive arrangement. The rotational speed of one driving wheel (4) is adapted independently of the rotational speed of the other driving wheel (6) by co-action of one driving wheel (4) with a first electric motor and by co-action of the other driving wheel (6) with a second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Inventor: Ture Hestrom
  • Patent number: 4716839
    Abstract: A trolley for the overhead transportation of loads on a monorail consisting of a framework comprising: a pair of sides (11) which are rigidly interconnected in their upper portion by a pair of respectively front and rear flanges (12) and, in their lower portion, by a bracket (13) carrying a bar (19) for suspending a load. There is pivoted between the flanges (12) through the intermediary of a pivot (15) a wheel (16) serving to translate the trolley on a monorail (18). It is also possible to pivot guide wheels (20) cooperating with the monorail (18) so as to achieve a stable guidance of the trolley on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Fata European Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Nicola Catena
  • Patent number: 4644873
    Abstract: An electric overhead trolley conveyor is described whereby electric trolleys can drive automatically with reduced velocity in inclining, declining or vertical sections or in selected horizontal sections of the rail without a special control of the electric motor or the drive. For this purpose, chains or racks are provided in sections for reduced speed which mesh with sprocket wheels or gears of the electric trolleys. In the other areas of the rail the electric trolleys are driven by a drive wheel. The circumferential velocity of the drive wheel is greater than the circumferential velocity of the sprocket wheel or gear. In the slow movement sections the circumferential velocity difference is compensated by the drive wheel which has an outer ring, that may rotate relative to an inner hub which is fixedly connected with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Inventor: Georg Uttscheid
  • Patent number: 4602567
    Abstract: A device intended for the conveyance of goods utilizing a guide-rail (2) as a goods-conveying track, and a mechanism (4) driven electrically or in some other way and capable of interacting with the goods. The mechanism (4) exhibits two wheels (8,9) capable of interacting with the opposite sides of the guide-rail (2) in relation to which the area of contact (20') of the weight of the goods is located to the side of the wheels (8,9) and the guide-rail (2). The two wheels (8,9) are connected together so as to be driven in synchronism by a driving motor (14). The distance between the driving surfaces of the driving wheels facing the guide-rail is selected so as to match the shape of the driving surfaces in such a way that the space formed between the driving surfaces matches the profile of the guide-rail (2). One of the wheels is divided into two parts (91,92) and has the parts held together by spring pressure (93).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Tumac AB
    Inventor: Ture Hedstrom
  • Patent number: 4520733
    Abstract: A guide rail and follower wheel construction for a monorail are disclosed. The monorail vehicle follower wheel has a radially directed, circumferential groove shaped to fit over a raised track portion, and the cross sectional shape of the wheel groove and the track over which it fits are such that the uppermost portion of the track contacts the radially innermost portion of the wheel groove. The wheel is mounted on the system comprising: a shaft and wheel includes opposed side-plates mounted for rotation on the shaft and a center disc mounted on the shaft between the side-plates and having a diameter less than that of the side-plates so as to form the groove. The side-plates are shaped to taper in diameter towards the center disc so that the uppermost track portion contacts only the disc. The side plates are rotatable on the shaft independently of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme Dite: Establissements Tourtellier S.A.
    Inventor: Claude Willmann
  • Patent number: 4492168
    Abstract: A self-propelled device prevents any sliding on a track cable, no matter what the slope of the latter, by means of a dynamic clamping action which is self-gripping, self-stabilizing, self-controlled and proportional to the load. The device comprises a device for the automatic coupling and uncoupling of the engine, an end of travel automatic braking device and an automatic control device for lowering the speed in the case of a breakdown on a steep slope. The device can be used for the overhead hauling and transportation of various loads (lifting, handling, lumbering, civil engineering). It could also be used for transporting people (self-propelled ropeway or ski lift), as well as for the installation of small cables during the installation and maintenance of electric power lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Inventor: Stelvio S. Cellai
  • Patent number: 4408419
    Abstract: Apparatus and method is disclosed for abrasively cleaning flanged beams having at least a web and an attached flange. The apparatus includes a carriage mountable on the underside of the flange of the beam to be cleaned, at least one powered wheel rotatably mounted on the underside of the beam flange and articulated structure for varying the angle of attack of a sandblasting nozzle whereby all surfaces of the beam may be sandblasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Inventor: Tom J. Appling
  • Patent number: 4372452
    Abstract: A lightweight hoist for use in living quarters or patient care facilities to transport disabled persons from one location to another. A flat, unitary, easily manufactured mounting plate provides a main frame that permits the hoist to be easily and inexpensively assembled. The hoist is suspended from an overhead rail and is driven along the rail by a motor. A release mechanism disengages the motor drive to permit the hoist to be manually operated. A flexible lift strap is provided to raise and lower the disabled person. The lift strap is attached to the take-up reel of a motor driven winch. A guideway is included to prevent the lift strap from twisting as it winds and unwinds on the take-up reel of the winch. The winch may be manually driven when the drive motor is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Independent Transfer Equipment Co.
    Inventor: Lawless D. McCord
  • Patent number: 4318346
    Abstract: An overhead suspension load transporting trolley which is suspended from a track, such as the flange of an I beam, which has a drive wheel suspended below a carriage, which wheel is biased against the I beam by a counterweight on the opposite end of a lever from the drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Inventor: Charles E. Sessum
  • Patent number: 4274335
    Abstract: A monorail type vehicle which is particularly suited for high speed travel on a street or at various locations above a street. The vehicle comprises a motor driven tandem wheel carriage engaging an overhead monorail and a gondola suspended from the carriage by means of an elongated boom having one end pivotally and hydraulically connected to the carriage and having a free end mounting a series of hydraulic cylinders and links operatively connected to the rear of the gondola for raising and lowering the gondola as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Inventor: Roy Boland
  • Patent number: 4171670
    Abstract: A rail having an upper supporting edge and a lower braking edge, and a traction unit for riding on the rail and adapted to be connected to a carrier so as to suspend the carrier from the rail. This traction unit has a power-driven wheel to ride on the rail upper edge, and a plurality of braking wheels positioned close enough to the lower edge of the rail to prevent the traction wheel from jumping off the upper edge thereof, and a brake system for each brake wheel. A substantially C-shaped arm is pivotally connected to the traction unit near the top thereof and extends downwardly and around the rail and has a lower end extending across the plane of the rail, to which the carrier is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Assignee: H. Arnold Seed
    Inventor: Richard A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4054330
    Abstract: A carrier is suspended and moves on two shafts. The carrier includes a plurality of sealed roller bearings which form openings approximately equal to the dimensions of the shaft. One or more of the bearings is mounted on a leaf spring to provide a predetermined contact pressure between the bearings and the shaft. In addition, damping elements may be substituted for one or more of the sealed roller bearings to minimize interference from vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1977
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Zong S. Luo
  • Patent number: 4015537
    Abstract: A self-propelled car and load-conveying container on the car travel along a track system having horizontal and vertical track runs with bends or curves between such runs, and having inside and outside corner bends or curves between horizontal track runs . The track system also has switches to connect the system between various stations at various locations on the same or different building floors. The track is generally channel-shaped with spaced rail heads at the extremities of the channel legs. The channel web always has vertical orientation for the horizontal and vertical track runs and bends. The track is formed in sections, and the rail heads have replaceable wear strips. The track sections and wear strips have staggered, non-registering joints. Car travel control strips are mounted at desired locations on the track. Spring-pressed, rounded-groove guide wheels support the car on the track. Car movement control brushes are mounted on the car engageable with the control strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Harry T. Graef, Kenneth R. Hansen, Larry A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 3935822
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved trolley truck traveling on a monorail having spaced horizontal surfaces, in which a frame of the truck supports at least one supporting or traction wheel on the upper surface of the rail and a counterwheel on the lower surface of the rail, the separation of the wheels being greater than the vertical spacing of the horizontal rail surfaces to accommodate rapid and easy placement of the truck upon and/or removal of the truck from the monorail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Ernst Kaufmann