Abstract: The present invention is a device for moving people or items on the Jewish Sabbath and certain Jewish holidays in a manner that is widely acceptable within Jewish Law through powering and controlling this invention with municipal water. The invention includes applying this technology to elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, conveyors, stair lifts, porch lifts, and more. Within the invention are certain components and groups of components that are unique in their arrangement and purpose.

Abstract: A pressurized fluid powered cabin-management system for an elevator system with a cabin and drive system is provided. The cabin-management system is configured to direct operation of the elevator system upon arrival of one of the cabins at a floor, and comprises a floor detector configured to detect when the cabin is located at a floor and to activate a timer. The timer is configured, when triggered, to activate a timing arrangement and to pass pressurized fluid to a control valve being in a first position. The timing arrangement is configured to direct the control valve to assume a second position after a predetermined amount of time. The cabin-management system performs, when pressurized fluid is passed to the control valve in its first position, actions for opening a door, and, after the control valve has assumed its second position, actions for travel of the cabin.

Abstract: A pneumatic vacuum elevator cylinder has a cabin inserted therein. A structural plate of the cabin has a liner attached thereto. This liner has an integral bumper formed on an external surface thereof for impact the inner surfaces of the pneumatic vacuum elevator cylinder. The bumpers have a variety of features that facilitate the smooth ride of the cabin within the elevator cylinder.

Abstract: A pneumatic system with multiple air reservoirs is connected to the bellows of a load elevator. A plurality of valves enables the optional pneumatic connection of different combinations of reservoirs so as to change the range of operation of the elevator to meet the self-adjusting weight requirements of a particular job at hand. In the preferred embodiment, the air actuator is pneumatically connected to a main air reservoir, which in turn can optionally be coupled in series with one or two additional reservoirs of different capacities. As a result of this configuration of its pneumatic system, the elevator can be switched between and operated at three different load levels, at the convenience of the operator, without changing the amount of air in the system.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an elevator assembly for placing an elevator within a structure is provided. The elevator assembly may include elevator housing, such that the elevator housing may have a metal frame to secure a movable elevator cab. The metal frame may be formed using at least one of steel or aluminum or a combination thereof or the like. The metal frame may be reinforced material such that the metal frame is a self-supporting structure.

Abstract: An escape and rescue device used in a multistory building during a terrorist threat or a fire to: a) evacuate a person or persons attached to an expandable disc support with an attachment that is lowered from an upper level of a building through a vertical tube, by using a lesser pressure at the top of the tube and a higher pressure at the bottom of the tube, using a door at the top or a door at the bottom to maintain pressure or by artificial air pressure, thereby permitting the fast evacuation of many people in a short time, b) it can be used by firemen in training in its use and benefits, c) also at amusement parks, where there would be a ride that would teach the users about its reliability and safety, and d) to transport firemen in a fast way from the ground to the upper floors without interfering with the evacuation in process at the congested stairways of the building.

Abstract: An anesthesia equipment lift which couples to a table to provide an anesthesia equipment mount surface coupled to a lift element which travels from a first location to a second location to position mounted inhalation anesthesia equipment proximate to a patient located on the table surface to perform inhalation anesthesia.

Abstract: The present application finds application in the technical field of the devices for hoisting and transporting loads and relates to a balanced actuator device for lifting and transporting apparatus comprises a bearing frame (3), means (4) for supporting an external load (L), substantially vertical guide means (5) associated with said frame (3) to guide said support means (4), drive means (6) operating on said support means (4) to move them along said guide means (5) by a predetermined stroke (c) between a lower end position (A) and a upper end position (B). The drive means (6) include at least one preloaded elastic actuator element (7) which is designed to exert a sufficient balancing force (F) on said support means (4) to hold the load (L) in an intermediate equilibrium position (C) between the upper (B) and lower (A) end positions thereby allowing minimization of the size of the drive means (6).

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for driving the raising and lowering of a lift for a tower type storehouse so as to supply a force for vertically operating the lift carrying goods to storerooms on every floor of the storehouse, and more particularly to an apparatus for driving the raising and lowering of a lift for a tower type storehouse, in which a plurality of hydraulic cylinder units are connected to each other along a vertical axial line so that the raising and lowering of the lift is achieved by the expansion and contraction of the connected hydraulic cylinder units due to the supply of hydraulic pressure, thereby uniformly supplying the hydraulic pressure to every hydraulic cylinder unit and assuring stability in the raising and lowering of the lift.

Abstract: An integrally poured concrete rail guidance system enables the elimination of traditional metal rails by pouring the concrete rail at the same time as the hoistway is poured. Time and expense is avoided in the construction and the concrete rails are durable.

Abstract: An integrally poured concrete rail guidance system enables the elimination of traditional metal rails by pouring the concrete rail at the same time as the hoistway is poured. Time and expense is avoided in the construction and the concrete rails are durable.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated elevator has a pair of elongated vertical tubular cylindrical shafts and horizontally extending cross-over shafts extending between the vertical shafts adjacent their upper and lower ends to provide a substantially closed system. A cab is disposed within one of the vertical shafts, and a fan in at least one of the cross-over shafts moves air between the ends of the shafts to produce a pressure differential above and below the cab to cause the cab to move upwardly and downwardly in the one shaft. At least one vent is provided to admit air into at least one of the shafts to compensate for leakage from the shafts.

Abstract: A wafer lifter basket assembly includes a wafer lifter basket and a base, the base including a bracket and a bracket holder. The wafer lifter basket is mounted to the bracket, and the bracket holder is releasably connected to the bracket holder via spring-loaded plungers, which release upon the wafer lifter basket encountering a force of at least a predetermined level.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus including a base, a load platform, a vertically expandable actuator linkage mechanically coupled between said load platform and said base, and a glycol operated actuator chamber having a compressible bellows. Means are provided for mechanically coupling the compressible bellows between the base or platform and the linkage. This provides an extremely stable platform, and one which remains rock solid once it is set in position, because glycol is a non-compressible fluid and is not affected by normal temperature variations found in industrial settings.

Abstract: A grain elevator auger uses a hydraulic cylinder incorporating a checkvalve. This checkvalve enables the volume of hydraulic fluid required to raise the elevator to be reduced to that required to replace the extended piston rod, instead of the full volume of the cylinder. The necessary capacity of the tractor hydraulic system reservoirs which are used to raise the elevators are similarly lessened. The checkvalve prevents hydraulic pressure retracting the piston, pressure is equalized on both sides of the cylinder piston, which then retracts slowly under the weight of the elevator, rather than rapidly under hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: An automated working platform is supported by an air cylinder to a specified air pressure of lift. The work product on the pallet provides an opposing force to the air pressure to achieve a desirable height of the work product within a specified range. The level is maintained as the work product is removed by decreasing the opposing force exerted by the work product.

Abstract: The invention is an improved membrane press, and method of elevating a workpiece above the supporting surface of a work base. The membrane press includes a work base having a supporting surface for carrying the workpiece, and a foil-pressing frame positioned above the workpiece for heating and applying the laminating foil to the workpiece. The improvement in the membrane press includes a plurality of workpiece-lifting pedestals residing substantially beneath the supporting surface of the work base. A piston is located beneath each pedestal, and responds to the placement of the workpiece onto the supporting surface of the work base. The piston imparts an upward force on certain ones of the pedestals residing adjacent to and beneath the workpiece to raise the pedestals and workpiece upwardly above the supporting surface of the work base. The raised pedestals permit the top surface, corners, and peripheral borders of the elevated workpiece to be laminated.

Abstract: An aircraft maintenance elevation system comprising a plurality of elevator platforms and a plurality of electro-mechanical drive assemblies which are coupled to and operable to selectively raise and lower respective ones of the elevator platforms. The elevation system further includes a control device which is electrically connected to the drive assemblies and is operational in a first mode wherein the elevator platforms may be raised and lowered independently of each other and a second mode wherein the elevator platforms may be simultaneously raised and lowered.

Abstract: Pneumatic vacuum lift elevator, in which the vertical shaft is a tube with smooth interior surface, preferably cylindrical, with straight axle, and the transport cab or vehicle moving inside such tube is a piston with vertical movement, with minimum play inside the tube, equipped with air suction devices at the upper end of the tube, capable of causing a sufficient pressure differential to displace such piston in controlled ascending and descending movement; completed with an air entry or intake in the lower end of the tube, and the access doors with which the tube is equipped, and which are hermetically closed on the various stopping levels.

Abstract: A workcart is provided for containing and handling parts or objects which includes a movable platform to assist the user in loading and unloading during use. A pneumatic mechanism controls the platform movement by use of a bellows and allows the platform to vertically adjust in any of a variety of selectable positions by a three-way control valve mounted on the cart. A pneumatic source such as an air compressor is connected to the pneumatic mechanism by a quick connect coupling. The cart may include wheels to allow it to be easily rolled from workstation to workstation as required.

Abstract: The lifting and tilting device includes fluid actuated bellows type of lifting motors which lift and tilt a container with respect to a base. The lifting motors are supported by pairs of scissor mechanisms which pivot with respect to one another when the lifting motors expand and contract. The scissor mechanisms are partially slidable with respect to the base and the container to permit raising and lowering of the container. The container is designed to receive material at a certain level and then dispense of the material at the same or different level. The fluid preferably used is air.

Abstract: The invention is an improved membrane press, and method of elevating a workpiece above the supporting surface of a work base. The membrane press includes a work base having a supporting surface for carrying the workpiece, and a foil-pressing frame positioned above the workpiece for heating and applying the laminating foil to the workpiece. The improvement in the membrane press includes a plurality of workpiece-lifting pedestals residing substantially beneath the supporting surface of the work base. A piston is located beneath each pedestal, and responds to the placement of the workpiece onto the supporting surface of the work base. The piston imparts an upward force on certain ones of the pedestals residing adjacent to and beneath the workpiece to raise the pedestals and workpiece upwardly above the supporting surface of the work base. The raised pedestals permit the top surface, corners, and peripheral borders of the elevated workpiece to be laminated.

Abstract: The invention is an improved membrane press, and method of elevating a workpiece above the supporting surface of a work base. The membrane press includes a work base having a supporting surface for carrying the workpiece, and a foil-pressing frame positioned above the workpiece for heating and applying the laminating foil to the workpiece. The improvement in the membrane press includes a plurality of workpiece-lifting pedestals residing substantially beneath the supporting surface of the work base. A piston is located beneath each pedestal, and responds to the placement of the workpiece onto the supporting surface of the work base. The piston imparts an upward force on certain ones of the pedestals residing adjacent to and beneath the workpiece to raise the pedestals and workpiece upwardly above the supporting surface of the work base. The raised pedestals permit the top surface, corners, and peripheral borders of the elevated workpiece to be laminated.

Abstract: An air driven amusement ride propels a passenger vehicle upward along a guide cable out of an acceleration tube by a blast of pressurized air within the tube under the vehicle. Passengers experience a feeling of weightlessness and free fall from the time the vehicle exits the tube until it later re-enters, which can exceed ten seconds. The source of pressurized gas for the tube preferably includes a gas reservoir, a pump that raises the gas pressure in the reservoir at a predetermined pump rate, and a release that allows gas to flow from the reservoir into the tube at a rate substantially faster than the pump rate.