With Hook Patents (Class 105/291)
  • Patent number: 8939088
    Abstract: A bottom door opening-closing mechanism includes a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, a swing rod, a bottom door opening-closing drive cylinder and a transmission shaft. The swing rod is hinged to the second connecting rod and the piston rod of the bottom door opening-closing drive cylinder. One end of the first connecting rod is hinged to the second connecting rod, and the transmission shaft is connected to the second connecting rod. The cylinder body of the bottom door opening-closing drive cylinder is fixedly connected with a first locking hook, and the swing rod is fixedly connected with a second locking hook which can be caught by the first locking hook. A bottom door device and a drop-bottom hopper car are further provided. In the present invention, the first locking hook and the second locking hook are caught with each other to achieve a secondary locking. Such an arrangement has some advantages such as a simple structure and low manufacture and maintenance costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Qiqihar Railway Rolling Stock Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Linghan Yue, Tianjun Zhao, Baichuan He, Shuang Yang, Lei Yu
  • Patent number: 6158666
    Abstract: The present invention relates to vacuum fastened guide that supports and facilitates movements of a machining device along at least one component to be operated upon. The guide includes a primary rail that is vacuum coupled to the component. The primary rail includes a primary tube portion for slideable engagement with the machining device, and a primary contact platform coupled to the primary tube portion for forming a vacuum between the primary rail and the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventors: David P. Banks, James N. Buttrick, Jr., Charles H. Glaisyer, Darrell D. Jones, Russell C. McCrum, Philip M. Wright
  • Patent number: 6098550
    Abstract: A track system for at least one self-driving carrier to run along a streamline guide rail combined with a gear way which comprises a plurality of straight and curving gear way segments molded with reinforced thermosetting resin and connected with each other by the intermediary of straight joint members, each having a pair of opposed parallel set to sides and a pair of opposed parallel gear sides with gear teeth of a given pitch, wherein each curving gear way segment has a curving middle part and straight extensions formed at both ends thereof, the gear teeth of a given pitch being arranged symmetrically on both gear sides along the straight gear way segments, the straight extensions of curving gear way segments and the straight joint members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 6070534
    Abstract: A conveying system for transporting loads utilizes a transport cart that is supported by rollers. The transport cart is supported by the rollers adjacent several serially arranged revolving drives that each have a plurality of spaced recesses. At least one pusher is carried by the cart and engages a recess in the drive. The cart can be halted, if its path is blocked, by disengagement of the pusher from the recess in the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Erwin Paul Josef Lehrieder
  • Patent number: 5924365
    Abstract: A conveyor carriage has running wheels guided in rail parts so as to prevent the conveyor carriage from lifting off transversely to the plane of the rails. Each conveyor carriage contains a driving unit with at least one driving wheel prestressed against the rail. In order to move the conveyor carriage manually, a lifting device allows the driving wheel to be lifted off and disengaged from the rail. In order to simplify the lifting device, the lifting device is equipped with a shaft mounted on the conveyor carriage adjoined to the driving unit by a flexible coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Telelift GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Pircher
  • Patent number: 5735214
    Abstract: A track system for roller-equipped carriers to run along a straight and/or curving guide rail, which includes two pairs of opposed parallel plain lanes, a pair of oppositely directed parallel V edges intermediate the two pairs of plain lanes, and narrow lubricating grooves along each V edge. Each carrier has a frame and roller assemblies, each having a pair of ball bearings mounted on a journal, spaced apart from each other and beveled oppositely on their adjacent outer race corners, so that the base areas of V edges engage between the beveled corners, and the top areas of V edges remain free within the space between the outer races in each pair, the outer races mostly rolling on the plain lanes. Each curving rail segment is provided with straight extensions formed on both ends to be connected to straight rail segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 5709154
    Abstract: A monorail access system for making a boat handicapped accessible. More specifically, a battery powered chair assembly is suspended from an overhead monorail track system, whereby by activating a control mechanism an individual may maneuver anywhere in the boat where the track is installed. Once an individual is seated in the chair assembly, the monorail system allows the individual to travel to the cabins, flying bridge, downstairs to the galley, outside to the rear deck for sunbathing or fishing or over the side to a dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Fred R. Schott
  • Patent number: 5700061
    Abstract: A mineral winning installation employs a shearer which is moved along a scraper-chain conveyor compound of individual pans mounted end-to-end. the shearer extends over the conveyor and is guided by guides provided at both sides of the conveyor. The body of the shearer has a driven chain wheel which meshes with an open-link chain serving as a rack abutment and laid on a bed alongside the side walls of the conveyor pans adjacent the mineral face. The side walls of the pans have upper and lower flanges which have strip-like projections directly outwardly from the pans. The chain is retained by the strip-like projections of the upper flanges of the pan side walls which overlap one side of the horizontal links and detachably hold-down strips which overlap the other side of the horizontal links. the hold-down strips are mounted for swivelling to release the chain links are detachably mounted to the support bars fixed to the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: DBT Deutsche Bergbau-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Merten, Frank Fischer
  • Patent number: 5562043
    Abstract: A system for moving a work element along a work surface for performing work thereon includes an elongated track of flexible plastic material formed with gear teeth along one edge thereof. A carriage having a drive motor and a drive wheel driven thereby, is moved along the track by the drive wheel engaging the gear teeth. The drive wheel is connected to the drive motor by an eccentric cam mechanism. The work element is carried by the carriage and preferably is a high-pressure fluid cutting device. The track is formed of a flexible plastic material such as a linear high density polyethylene, enabling it to bend and conform to the work surface, and has a second elongated strip of plastic material movably secured to the track and extending longitudinally therealong. A series of magnets are mounted on the track for adhering the track to the work surface. The magnets are attached to the track by fasteners extending through slotted openings in the second strip of the track when conforming to the work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Valley Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry D. Gromes
  • Patent number: 5547261
    Abstract: In longwall conveyors 1 with a lantern pinion 10 arranged on the winning face side, an advantageous cooperation with the machine roadway 6 is made possible in that the lantern pinion 10 consists of several racks 21, 22, 23 which are arranged so that each of them bridges the conveyor trough faces 19, 20. These racks 21, 22, 23 consist of a plug-in element 28 with teeth 11, 24 and welded-in bolts 25, 26, which are held so as to be movable in longitudinal direction inside a preceding retaining plate 29. Retaining plate 29 and support plate 44, the latter of which is connected via fastening screw pairs 33, 34 with the vertical roadway flange 8, are associated with a guide slit 45 in which the racks 21, 22, 23 are able to move correspondingly in transport direction 46 according to the tooth pitch, so that a uniform engagement of the gearwheel 9 of the longwall machine 5 is always ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Hans J. Kolbl
  • Patent number: 5547262
    Abstract: A mining apparatus has a longitudinally extending conveyor, a guide-rail assembly secured to the conveyor and forming an upwardly open cruciform passage, a drive chain in the passage, and a mining machine displaceable along the assembly and having a toothed drive wheel engageable in the chain in the passage. The rail assembly is formed by a main rail fixed to the conveyor and forming a portion of the passage and a secondary rail fixed to the main rail and forming the rest of the passage. The secondary rail forms offset from the passage a horizontally outwardly open and longitudinally extending slot and the mining machine has a foot received in and longitudinally displaceable along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: DBT Deutsche Bergau-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Braun, Gert Braun
  • Patent number: 5522322
    Abstract: A system and method for aiding physically-impaired persons in moving between different positions employs a longitudinally-extending elongate track, an upper body support assembly movably mounted on the track, and a motor for driving the support assembly along the track. The support assembly, which preferably comprises a handgrip extending transversely from the track, can be placed adjacent a toilet, chair, bathtub or bed to aid a disabled person in rising or seating himself. Preferably, the support assembly is selectively detachable from the track and transferable matingly to another such track or tracks located elsewhere for similar purposes, or to a similar but longer track located alongside a stairway or level surface such as a hallway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Robert C. Warren
    Inventors: Robert C. Warren, Stanley F. Farmer, Glenn E. Herz
  • Patent number: 5398617
    Abstract: A conveyor system for moving loads, comprises including an overhead rail (11, 211) along which run motor-driven carriages (10), each carriage having a motor-driven wheel (13, 113, 213, 313, 413, 513) resting on the upper part of the rail and a frame (12, 15) ending on the lower part of the rail with a device (16) for supporting a load. The wheel (13, 113, 213, 313, 413, 513) has a rolling surface (22, 122, 222, 330) which rolls over a corresponding rolling surface (25, 129, 225) on the rail and also a gripping surface (23, 123, 223, 330) which grips a corresponding gripping surface (24, 128, 224, 324, 424, 524) of the rail. One of the gripping surfaces (23, 123, 223, 330 or 24, 128, 224, 324, 424, 524) has rigid gripping teeth (23, 123, 224, 330, 430, 530), while the other of the gripping surfaces (24, 128, 224, 324, 424, 524 or 23, 123, 223, 330) is made of elastically pliable material in order to receive an imprint of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Fata Automation S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Deandrea
  • Patent number: 5363771
    Abstract: A portable system for aiding persons in ascending or descending stairways comprises either a motorized portable upper body support assembly or a motorized vehicle for detachably drivingly engaging elongate tracks associated with different stairways. The detachability of the motorized unit from the track, combined with its portability, enables the user to employ the same portable unit interchangeably with any stairway in any location so long as the stairway is equipped with a mating track, thereby enabling an unlimited number of stairways in private or public buildings to be adapted inexpensively for use by physically impaired persons. The portable motorized unit is readily able to adapt to stairways of different slopes and configurations, and to tracks on either the right-hand or left-hand side of the stairway, so as to maximize the versatility of the portable unit for use with virtually any track-equipped stairway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Robert C. Warren
    Inventors: Robert C. Warren, Stanley E. Farmer, Glenn E. Herz
  • Patent number: 5323962
    Abstract: A flexible guide-track system, including a guide track constituted by a leaf spring formed of a plurality of stacked, elastically resilient leaves joined to one another along their longitudinal extent and slidable relative to one another for some distance at other points of the extent. Due to the slidability, the leaf spring is elastically deformable to conform to a non-planar surface. The system further includes a plurality of attachments to fixedly attach the leaf spring to the surface after having been elastically deformed, to make it conform to the non-planar surface, a plurality of clamps to maintain the leaf spring in the elastically deformed state, a plurality of spacers mounted on the leaf spring for maintaining the leaf spring, when so deformed, at a predetermined, substantially uniform distance from the non-planar surface, and a carriage riding on, and guided by, the flexible guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: IRT Inspection Research and Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenneth Jassby, Amir Ziv-Av, Binyamin Naor
  • Patent number: 5269227
    Abstract: A portable system for aiding persons in ascending or descending stairways comprises either a motorized portable upper body support assembly or a motorized vehicle for detachably drivingly engaging elongate tracks associated with different stairways. The detachability of the motorized unit from the track, combined with its portability, enables the user to employ the same portable unit interchangeably with any stairway in any location so long as the stairway is equipped with a mating track, thereby enabling an unlimited number of stairways in private or public buildings to be adapted inexpensively for use by physically impaired persons. The portable motorized unit is readily able to adapt to stairways of different slopes and configurations, and to tracks on either the right-hand or left-hand side of the stairway, so as to maximize the versatility of the portable unit for use with virtually any track-equipped stairway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Robert C. Warren
    Inventors: Robert C. Warren, Stanley E. Farmer, Glenn E. Herz
  • Patent number: 5203265
    Abstract: A self-propelling transport having utility as an elevator system in a high rise building, the transport having a vehicle unit that rides on a track unit that includes a stationary drive chain that is engaged by a sprocket wheel assembly on the vehicle unit, the vehicle unit having a suspended passenger cab and a propulsion unit that engages the chain to retain the vehicle unit against the track during movement with the drive chain being magnetically retained on the track unit by electromagnets that are demagnetized where the drive chain is engaged by the sprocket wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventors: Koichi P. Nii, Shizuo Harada
  • 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: 5165504
    Abstract: An apparatus for displacing an article or a person in parallel with the curvature of and in proximity to a surface of variable profile possessing convex and/or concave parts, as the case may be, comprising a support for the article to be displaced in the vicinity of the surface, having at least two guide rollers, engaged respectively in each of two separate rail-forming grooves made in a structure for bearing on the ground which is moveable and which is located as near as possible to the surface, this structure having a profile corresponding substantially to that of this surface, the two rollers being arranged in their respective grooves in such a way that they are always separated by an invariable distance, a motor being provided for displacing the rollers in their grooves, wherein the grooves receiving the rollers are open outwards and provided on either side of a upright belonging to the bearing structure, these grooves having different profiles which are a function of the curvature of the surface and whic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Polytec
    Inventor: Yves Lecorre
  • Patent number: 5165348
    Abstract: A conveyor comprising a plurality of self-propelled carriers adapted to run along a rail, which is provided with a rack disposed at a gradient portion thereof and having a plurality of downward teeth. Each of the carriers has a gear meshable with the rack teeth and an electric motor for driving the gear. The rail is provided, at a portion of transit to the portion having the rack, with a plurality of combined ratchet pawls arranged longitudinally of the rail at a specified spacing. Each combined ratchet pawl comprises in combination a forward ratchet pawl movable only forward to escape and mesh with the gear of the carrier, and a rearward ratchet pawl movable only rearward to escape and mesh with the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Nakanishi Metal Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 5115747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a free transfer machine equipped with independent motorized carriages. Each carriage comprises a variable speed motor, a rechargeable battery connected to contact blocks, and an individual travelling control system comprising a motor supply and control circuit which is controlled by a switch actuated by a front bumper and by a contactor mounted in series with the switch and carried by the lower face of the carriage in such a way as to be actuated by the retractable stop members. The circuit is also under the control of environment sensors. The trackway comprises, in relation to each work station, reed-contacts connected to an electric charge device and designed to cooperate with the contact blocks. The invention finds an application in transfer machines for production and assembly lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: ADL Automation
    Inventors: Etienne M. Teissier, Bruno A. E. Marie
  • Patent number: 5086705
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Inventors: Bernard Jarvis, Edward L. Dobkins
  • Patent number: 5070792
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a thin flexible track of spring steel having a series of perforations therethrough for use in conjunction with a variable speed travel carriage having a carriage drive sprocket which is studded about the periphery with balls or spherical members adapted to mesh with the track perforations to drive the carriage along. By this arrangement, greater loads may be driven than was hitherto possible with known flexible-track devices requiring the use of a guide and drive track following the contour of workpiece upon which work is being carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Gullco International Limited
    Inventor: Michael F. Harris
  • Patent number: 5060405
    Abstract: A bucket loader wherein the bucket is pivotally mounted at one end of an arm. The other end of the arm is pivotably connected to the locomotive of a multiple-trolley train which is mounted for travel along an overhead monorail in a surface mine or in an underground excavation. The bucket can be tilted by two chains each of which is connected to a winch on a discrete trolley of the train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Walter Becker GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Siffrin, Werner Michaely
  • Patent number: 4966080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a free transfer machine equipped with independent motorized carriages. Each carriage comprises a variable speed motor, a rechargeable battery connected to contact blocks, and an individual travelling control system comprising a motor supply and control circuit which is controlled by a switch actuated by a front bumper and by a contactor mounted in series with the switch and carried by the lower face of the carriage in such a way as to be actuated by the rectractable stop members. The circuit is also under the control of environmental sensors. The carriages travel on trackways which include work stations, reed-contacts connected to an electric charge device and designed to operate with the contact blocks. The transfer machines are suitable for production and assembly lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventors: Etienne M. Teissier, Bruno A. E. Marie
  • Patent number: 4944230
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus comprising a rail device and automotive carts supported and guided by the rail device to be travelled. The rail device comprises an automotive cart guiding member having a C letter-shaped section provided with an opened portion for travelling the cart therethrough and a duct member communicating with the guiding member through a slit. The cleaning of the inside of the duct member, the installation of various kinds of instrument and the wiring operation within the duct member, the maintenance and inspection after the wiring operation and the like can be carried out through the opened portion and the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Maeda, Masayuki Tsuneda
  • Patent number: 4944231
    Abstract: A mobile storage system including a plurality of one-piece track members each defining a guideway and a series of longitudinally spaced holes. The system also includes a carriage rotatably supported on the track members on rollers riding in the guideways. A drive mechanism on the carriage includes a sprocket which directly engages the unitary holes in each track member. In a preferred embodiment for heavy units, the drive mechanism includes a pair of such sprockets mounted on a common shaft driven at a midpoint to reduce carriage canting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Pipp Mobile Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Leist
  • Patent number: 4943120
    Abstract: An improved drum-cutter mining machine design which transmits force exerted upon a drive wheel during translation of the mining machine along a rack structure to the machine. A protective housing encloses gears and a drive wheel in a manner such that feed forces exerted upon a drive wheel are transmitted through the housing to the mining machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Gebr. Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u. EisengieBerei
    Inventor: Hans Groger
  • Patent number: 4936527
    Abstract: An adjustable seating system particularly adapted for use in a passenger aircraft, where there are a pair of tracks mounted in the floor of the aircraft, and a plurality of seating units mounted to these tracks. Each seating unit has a pair of interconnected traction wheels which have positive engagement with the tracks, so as to avoid skewing of the seating units as these are moved along the tracks. Pivotally mounted locking members lock the rear leg portions of the seating units to the tracks at selected locations. Telescoping track cover members cover the track sections that extend between adjacent seating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Frederick J. Gorges
  • Patent number: 4885996
    Abstract: An apparatus for a handling assembly comprises at least one carrier member and at least one slide unit displaceably arranged on the carrier member. The slide unit is in operative connection via a cable drag member electrically/pneumatically or electrically/hydraulically with an energy and a signal source. The carrier member is a one-piece cellular structure and has an integrated guideway which, has an inclined position within the carrier member, so that a space-saving arrangement of the cable drag member, substantially protected against external action, is obtained. The slide unit comprises a driving unit, which is arranged in a U-shaped head guided with the lateral legs on the carrier member and is operatively connected with a rack arranged on the carrier member, for linear movement. Protective members are provided laterally on the carrier member. The slide unit together with the carrier member forms a closed system protected against external action or intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventor: Gregory C. Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 4875823
    Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a robot having a swingable arm, a wrist mechanism mounted on the arm, and a running mechanism for displacing the robot in a prescribed direction. The wrist mechanism is coupled to an attachment member by an actuator having a fluid cylinder substantially parallel to the arm. When a component to be attached to a workpiece is held by a jig mounted on the wrist mechanism, the fluid cylinder is actuated to lift the wrist mechanism in order to correct the jig for the distance it is lowered due to the weight of the component. The wrist mechanism includes a bracket mounted on the arm by a support shaft, the bracket and the support shaft having fluid passages for supplying fluid under pressure to a torque actuator disposed in the bracket. The running mechanism is disposed in a pit defined in a floor on which the robot apparatus is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genzo Fuse, Hiroshi Miwa, Yoshinobu Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 4850648
    Abstract: A gear rack is made up of rack segments arranged end-to-end supported by and extending along face conveyor for meshing engagement with a gear of a drive to propel a mining machine along a mine face. The teeth of each rack segment extend between longitudinal cheek sections. A thicker one of the cheek sections has a downward extending shoulder at each of opposite ends to engage in a cavity of a bracket and secured therein for limited movement by a fastener pin. A wall section of the bracket extends against a bearing surface formed by a cavity in the underside of the gear tooth at the end portion of the rack segment. The width of the wall section corresponds to the width of the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Gebr. Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u. EisengieBerei mbH
    Inventor: Lothar Muller
  • Patent number: 4844548
    Abstract: A haulage unit of a coal-getting machine comprises a drive (1) an output shaft of which is associated with a conveyor (2) through the medium of a kinematic linkage. The kinematic linkage incorporates a sprocket (3) installed on the output shaft and meshing elements (4) coming in mesh with teeth of the sprocket (3). The meshing elements (4) are installed for rotation about the axis thereof and for a limited longitudinal displacement in a guide (5). The guide (5) is essentially presented by links articulated to one another. Each link is installed on a carrying element (7) secured on the conveyor (2) and is formed by two arcuate elements (8,9) facing each other by concave portions thereof, and connected in a diametrical plane by at least two fastening members (10) so that a clearance (11) is formed between the arcuate elements. Each fastening member (10) mounts the meshing element (4) in the form of a rolling body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Gosudarstvenny Proektno-Konstruktorsky I Experimentalny Institut Ugolnogo Mashinostroenia "Giprouglemash"
    Inventors: Felix Z. Masovich, Jury I. Osokin, Alexandr A. Pukis, Nikolai I. Stepanov, Vyacheslav I. Shishlov
  • Patent number: 4836111
    Abstract: A system for moving a robot manipulator being mounted on a carriage over a track system which includes a pair of rail carriers for rails and being interconnected to extend parallel to each other in spaced apart relationship; a carrier carriage runs on these rails with unequally large rollers and the manipulator carriage runs on a rail on the carrier carriage; all of the rails are mounted by means of a plurality of nonstraightness compensating support bars being adjustably bolted to the rail carriers, at least two per carrier, as well as on the carrier carriage and in aligned relationship as to each carrier to establish straight rail mounting facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventor: Karl-Ernst Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 4823704
    Abstract: A conveying system having a cart traveling on a rail. A rail cover strut is disposed along the rail and a rail cover is attached to the rail cover strut. A wheel or wheels of the cart are mounted on a bracket extending to pass under the lower end of the rail cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Fujita, Tomoyuki Sasaki, Kazuyoshi Fukuhara, Hiroshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 4813748
    Abstract: A rack (2) for use with a mining machinery haulage system (1), comprising a plurality of individual segments (16) so located with respect to one another as to define the length of the rack (2), and each segment being provided with at least one formation (17) and each connected to an adjacent segment (16) by a connector (18) articulated to both segments (16) to which it is common, and with the pitch of the segments (16) and hence the pitch of their formations (17), controlled either by adjacent segment-to-segment abutment, or by segment-to-connector-to-segment abutment. The invention also includes a mining machinery haulage system (1) provided with racks (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Mining Supplies (Longwall) Limited
    Inventors: Brian Waddington, Clive O. Hibbert
  • Patent number: 4813747
    Abstract: A rack assembly for allowing movement of a winning machine utilized in underground, long-wall mining operations. The rack assembly is comprised of a plurality of rack sections positioned end-to-end and suitable for attachment to trough sections of a face conveyor. The rack sections correspond in a one to one relationship to the trough sections and have lengths slightly greater than the associated trough sections. Toggles connect adjacent rack sections and maintain the adjacent rack sections such that end faces of the rack sections are maintained contiguous to one another, preventing relative longitudinal movement between the adjacent rack sections. The toggle, however, allows limited, relative vertical and horizontal movement between adjacent rack sections to allow positioning of the rack sections along a mine floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Gebr. Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u. Eisengiesserei mbH
    Inventors: Hugo Klimeck, Volker Knorr, Gerhard Wilken
  • Patent number: 4796458
    Abstract: A forging manipulator for a forging machine is moved longitudinally by a rack and pinion mechanism comprising a pair of longitudinal guide rails on opposite sides of the manipulator, and respective toothed racks associated with these guide rails, the toothed racks being inclined inwards (in cross section), and the manipulator carriage being provided with a respective travel drive for meshing with each rack, the travel drives similarly having their axes inclined to the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: SMS Hasenclever Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schubert
  • Patent number: 4773710
    Abstract: A rack device for advancing a drum cutter mining machine used in underground mining operations. The rack is comprised of a plurality of rack sections positioned end-to-end wherein the discrete sections are held together by brackets which connect two adjacent rack sections. The bracket contains a bracket wall which has a top surface positioned directly beneath the end pins of the discrete rack sections. Force exerted on the rack pins during the translation of the drum cutting mining machine bears upon the bracket wall thereby diminishing damage to the rack structure caused by tilting forces created during translation of the mining machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Gebr. Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u. EisengieBerei ubH
    Inventors: Hugo Klimeck, Lothar Muller
  • Patent number: 4733617
    Abstract: A driving device for rail vehicles having both a friction drive and a cog gear drive has a common drive shaft placed in the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle. The drive shaft is provided with driving worms which mesh with worm gears on the driving axles of the friction drive and the cog gear drive. The worms are axially spaced on the drive shaft and engage the respective drive gears of the friction and cog gear drives which are located under the drive motor so as to obtain greater traction force with the friction drive and a more positive meshing of the cog gear with the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Georg Utz AG.
    Inventor: Hanspeter Boeniger
  • Patent number: 4723732
    Abstract: An adjustable seating system particularly adapted for use in a passenger aircraft, where they are a pair of tracks mounted in the floor of the aircraft, and a plurality of seating units mounted to these tracks. Each seating unit has a pair of interconnected traction wheels which have positive engagement with the tracks, so as to avoid skewing of the seating units as these are moved along the tracks. Pivotally mounted locking members lock the rear leg portions of the seating units to the tracks at selected locations. Telescoping track cover members cover the track sections that extend between adjacent seating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Fredrick J. Gorges
  • Patent number: 4703698
    Abstract: A welding head base to facilitate the mounting of a welding head assembly thereon for the purpose of welding a joint between abutted ends of a pipe. The base is mounted on the edges of a thin, sheet material, continuous band track and is capable of low frictional movement, through a series of wheel assemblies, relative to the track. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel with each wheel including an enlarged flange to facilitate the mounting of the welding head base onto the track. Mounted on the fixed section of the base is a sprocket assembly with a sprocket wheel that is to be rotatably driven by a motor. The sprocket is to engage with a series of gear teeth formed within the track. The sprocket assembly is to be movable from an operating position (in engagement with the track) to a retracted position (spacing the sprocket wheel from the track). Movement of the sprocket assembly is caused through the use of a manually operated cam assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Inventor: Gasparas Kazlauskas
  • Patent number: 4697628
    Abstract: A traction device for use in extracting mired dual wheeled vehicles from a mired condition comprising a block assembly having a plurality of tower members for attachment to and between the wheels of the mired vehicle and a plate assembly for operative engagement by a rotating block assembly to move the mired vehicle to a freed location. The tower assemblies can be quickly dismantled to a transportable size, and readily assembled and installed for needed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Inventor: Robert R. Brown
  • Patent number: 4671186
    Abstract: An automatic, rail-based passenger and cargo transportation system which is particularly well suited for use as a moderate speed people mover is disclosed. The system includes a rail structure on which passive carrier cars are movably supported from opposite sides of the rail. In one aspect a plurality of drive wheels are rotatably mounted to the rail assembly and span across the width of the rail structure so as to drive the carrier cars along the rail in opposite directions on opposite sides of the rail. In another aspect of the invention, the carrier cars are cantilever supported from the sides of the rail so as to cause gravity biasing of the cars inwardly such that a shoe is forced into driving engagement with alternating toothed and smooth drive wheels mounted in the rail framework and sufficiently spaced so that only one toothed drive wheel interengages with the shoe assembly at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Inventor: Jan K. Kunczynski
  • Patent number: 4664590
    Abstract: The transportable robot system comprising a plurality of robot working areas, an unmanned transporter for transporting a robot mounted thereon and moving between the robot working areas and a travel track for the unmanned transporter to provide a communication between the areas. The unmanned transporter provides a base to which to robot is mounted and secured, and a locating station for the base is provided near a machine tool in the working area so that the base may be put on the locating station at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Maekawa
  • 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: 4633723
    Abstract: A chainless feed system of a mining cutter-loader comprises a guiding rack mounted on a conveyer and meshing with gears rotatably mounted on the cutter-loader. The gears are operatively connected through a rotating mechanism with the hydraulic cylinders operable for rolling the gears along the guiding rack. The improvement of the rotating mechanism includes a carrier with a pawl adapted to engage the gear or come out of engagement therewith. For this purpose the pawl is pivotally mounted on the carrier which is operatively connected with the hydraulic cylinders arranged in opposition with respect to the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Gosadarstvenny Proektno-Konstruktorsky I Experimentalry Institut Agolnogo Mashinostroenia
    Inventors: Felix Z. Masovich, Vladimir N. Khorin, Svetlana M. Golubeva, Vyacheslav I. Shishlov