Abstract: A integrated lift gate and hitch system, configured to be secured to a vehicle chassis, includes two support brackets, a cross brace extending between and secured to the support brackets, and a tow hitch secured to the cross brace. The cross brace and tow hitch are positioned such that the tow Lite L is recessed no more than six inches from the rearmost extremity of either the vehicle chassis or the lift gate when the latter is stowed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device for an elevator of the type comprising a cage secured to a frame (16, 18) co-operating with vertical guide means (12, 14). The device comprises: a moving horizontal cross-member (20) that is independent of the frame and that co-operates with the vertical guide means (12, 14); an actuator comprising a cylinder (24) and a vertically movable rod (26), the actuator cylinder being secured to the frame (16, 18) and the end (26a) of the actuator rod being secured to the moving cross-member; first and second sets of pulley wheels (32, 34) mounted to rotate freely about first and second horizontal axes (56, 60) respectively secured to the moving cross-member and to the frame; and a cable (36) passing over said sets of pulley wheels to constitute a pulley block system, a first end (40) of said cable being secured to the top end of the elevator shaft and the other end (38) thereof being secured to one of said two elements.

Abstract: A hydraulic elevator having a hydraulic jack which acts directly on the elevator car. To reduce the amount of building work associated with this elevator concept, the hydraulic jack projects through the car floor into the car. The jack and the car are fastened together at the car floor by a supporting plate attached to the jack cylinder. If the jack is fitted with a mechanical synchronization device, the ends of the ropes or chains which until now have been fastened to the building also pass upwards through the car to a crossbeam to which they are fastened.

Abstract: A drive system for a hydraulic elevator installation (1) without a machine room including an electric motor (15), a hydraulic pump (16), an oil tank (17), valves (18) and a control apparatus (19) mounted in a cabinet (10). The cabinet (10) can be mounted in direct connection with an elevator shaft (2), for example near a shaft door (6), or at any desired location, preferably in the proximity of traffic routes, in work areas or even in passageways, where good accessibility is guaranteed. A double sound insulation of the cabinet (10) and of the oil tank (17) containing the electric motor (15) and the hydraulic pump (16) damps the noise level of the drive system to the extent that the cabinet (10) can be placed at virtually any desired location without the noise developed by the drive system being disturbing in surrounding spaces.

Abstract: A braking device is arranged around a piston of a hydraulic elevator drive and serves for locking of the piston carrying an elevator car or a cable pulley by engaging at least two brake arms, each rotatable around axes. The brake arms are actuated by a brake drive having a brake cylinder with a plunger biased by hydraulic fluid to release the brake arms. In response to a pressure drop in the brake cylinder, or at an unauthorized downward motion of the elevator drive piston, the brake arms are closed by the brake drive and the elevator drive piston is prevented from moving. A brake control circuit connected to a power supply actuates the brake drive and includes a buffer battery backup in case of failure of the power supply and a storage capacitor backup in case of failure of the battery.

Abstract: An elevator escape device comprises a pressure increasing apparatus and a pressure decreasing apparatus, which are located in the emergency window of an elevator cab and can be operated manually to activate an oil pressure cylinder of the oil pressure mechanism to drive an oil pressure cylinder of the oil pressure mechanism to drive the elevator cab to a desired floor at such time when the elevator cab is diabled by an incident, such as a fire, a power outage, and so forth.

Abstract: An elevator is provided with an auxiliary escape device consisting of a manually-operated compression-decompression apparatus located at an emergency window of the elevator cab. The compression-decompression apparatus has a fluid pipe and a compression or decompression valve which is fastened at one end thereof with an oil pressure mechanism. In the event of an accident or power outage causing the elevator to incapacitate, the compression-decompression apparatus is exerted on by the pressure of a person's hand so as to actuate the compression or decompression valve, thereby causing the oil pressure cylinder to move up or down to drive the elevator cab upwards or downwards to a desired floor where the trapped passengers can escape.

Abstract: A high pressure, low volume hydraulic lift system and a method for retrofitting a low pressure high volume lift system are provided. The lift system includes a low pressure high volume (LPHV) casing within which is mounted a high pressure ram. The ram is equipped to move a plunger in an axial direction with respect to the casing, without the need for any further reinforcement of the existing casing. The method for retrofitting is effected by removing the pre-existing structure of the LPHV system, cutting a hole in the upper portion of the pre-existing casing, and draining all hydraulic fluid. Thereafter, the pre-existing gland flange and plunger are removed. A high pressure low volume hydraulic cylinder and associated hydraulic line, are then installed in the casing of the pre-existing system. The bottom of the high pressure hydraulic cylinder is mechanically locked to the base of the pre-existing outer casing.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting a wafer, or other such workpiece, from the surface of pedestal in a semiconductor wafer processing system. More specifically, the apparatus relates to a lift pin that is guided by a guide bushing and a guide pin. Preferably, the lift pin is hollow and is slideably engaged with a guide pin. The guide pin is fixed relative to the pedestal and coaxially aligned with a lift pin bore in the pedestal. An actuator drives the lift pin along the guide pin from a fully retracted lift pin position to a fully extended lift pin position. A guide bushing, located in the pedestal proximate the lift pin, also guides the lift pin as the pin passes through the lift pin bore. The guide bushing forms a lip seal between the lift pin and the pedestal. Furthermore, a bellows surrounding the lift pin and the guide pin, can also be used to preserve the integrity of the chamber environment.

Abstract: A safety brake device (1) for hydraulic elevators acts by arresting the axial movement of the elevator ram (3) with respect to the main hydraulic cylinder (5) of the elevator. The safety brake (1) utilizes two lever acting brake arms (27) lined with an accretable metal (31), for example annealed copper, as the friction material. When actuated, the brake arms (27) contact the ram (3) circumferentially to slow and stop the falling ram. The lining material (31) is machined inside the brake arms (27) to a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the ram (3) and when actuated, the accretable material (31) on the brake arms (27) contacts the ram (3) with sufficient frictional force to stop the downward motion of the ram (3). The safety brake (1) may be actuated by loss of hydraulic pressure, by an electronic signal from a hydraulic pressure detector, by down overspeed or by an uncontrolled down motion detector.

Abstract: A clamping system for selectively keeping a hydraulic elevator stationary at a selected floor level.

Abstract: A structure for mounting an oil-sink motor in an oil tank is disclosed wherein the tank includes a door pivotably connected thereto. The structure includes a hinge fixedly connected to the door. A support is fixedly connected to the hinge and extends to a bottom of the tank. A "T"-shaped motor carriage which is fixedly attached to the motor, is fixedly engaged with a wall of the support defining a slot and an opening cooperatively forming a "T"-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A lead frame magazine fastening structure used with, for instance, a semiconductor bonding machine including raising-and-lowering shafts passing through a magazine setting plate of an elevator device and a positioning assembly comprising pins and a vacuum suction pad provided in the magazine setting plate. A lead frame magazine for accommodating lead frames in a stacked fashion is comprised of a bottom plate and vertical side bars along with a magazine supporting plate placed on the bottom plate and is placed on the magazine setting plate of the elevator device. When the elevator device is actuated, the raising-and-lowering shafts raise only the magazine supporting plate on which the lead frames are placed while the bottom plate of the magazine is held on the magazine setting plate of the elevator device by the positioning assembly.

Abstract: A compact lifter assembly having a base plate and a first intermediate plate rigidly connected by a first pair of shafts. A second intermediate plate is slidably attached on the first pair of shafts to be disposed between the base plate and the first intermediate plate. A second pair of shafts extend from the second intermediate plate, through apertures in the first intermediate plate for rigid connection to a mounting plate. A linear actuator centrally located on the base plate is actuated for lifting the mounting plate and a second intermediate plate relative to the base plate. The shafts are rigidly connected to the respective plates by a retaining ring and split taper plugged shaft retention to provide a zero clearance shaft joint connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension arrangement for a hydraulic elevator. In addition to a normal diverting pulley mounted on the top end of the piston of the hoisting cylinder, the arrangement includes an additional diverting pulley placed at the bottom end of the cylinder. The first ends of the elevator ropes are fixed to a rope anchorage in the car frame of the elevator, from where the ropes are passed over the diverting pulley on the top end of the piston to the additional diverting pulley, from which additional diverting pulley the ropes are further passed to an adapter moving with the top end of the piston, with the second ends of the ropes being attached to the adapter.

Abstract: The surface of a hydraulic cylinder is enclosed with a cylindrical casing. A fluid, preferably a thixotropic dielectric hydrophobic fluid which retains a gel structure when static, has a specific gravity greater than water and inhibits bacteriogenic and aqueous corrosion fills the annular space between the cylinder surface and the casing, preventing water that may be rich in bacteria, from reaching the cylinder surface. A fluid conduit between the annular space and a reservoir is provided and the fluid fills the reservoir to a predetermined level such that water, hydraulic fluid or another fluid in the system may be detected by a rise in the predetermined level. The water or hydraulic fluid can be easily removed as it will float on the top of the fluid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A portable ice cart provides both elevation adjustment and tilt adjustment for the ice hopper. The ice cart includes a support frame that allows the ice hopper to be tilted to any of a plurality of orientations about a horizontal axis, and a scissors linkage for supporting the support frame at an adjustable elevation above the base of the cart. A retractable spring-loaded pin is used to lock the ice hopper in place after the desired orientation has been reached. The elevation of the ice hopper can be raised by pumping a foot pedal that pressurizes a hydraulic cylinder and extends the scissors linkage.