Abstract: The present invention relates to a robotic system useful to unload an object/person from its weight. The robotic system is useful in locomotor rehabilitation programs and allows the manipulation of forces in a three-dimensional space with far lower actuator requirements and a much higher precision than prior-art systems. The apparatus combines passive and active elements to minimize actuation requirements while still keeping inertia to a minimum and control precision to a maximum. It requires minimal actuators and at the same time has a low inertia.

Abstract: In an overhead transport vehicle, an elevator includes shock absorbers attached to belts, and a base including a holder. The shock absorbers each include a support below the base. The base is vertically movable with respect to each of the supports with vibration isolators. The shock absorbers are connected by a link that operates to ensure similarity of respective distances between the base and the support connected to each other in each of the shock absorbers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for positioning and orientating a load includes a support structure movable in a first direction a tendon system having at least six winches mounted on the structure and at least six tendons connected to the winches, and a lifting mechanism mounted on the structure. The lifting mechanism includes another tendon and is movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first. The apparatus includes a component suspending the load from above and is connected to a second end of each of the tendons and to a free end of the additional tendon. The apparatus further includes a control module for translating synchronously and independently an instruction regarding the load in an actuation over the winches, over the lifting mechanism and the support structure, such that at least 51% of the load is sustained by the lifting mechanism and the load is suspended from the further tendon.

Abstract: A patient ceiling lift system including motor units that are attached to independent pivotable support members of a support frame assembly. The motor units are able to pivot on the support frame and relative to one another, which enables the motor units to follow the loading direction on tension support members connectable to a patient sling and eliminate motor unit side loading.

Abstract: A method of reducing computational demand for image tracking includes first receiving a plurality of images of a load hoisted with hanging wire in a preset transitional space, setting at least one monitoring point each at the load and the hanging wire, respectively, providing a tracking frame at the outer periphery of each monitoring point, allowing each tracking frame to track on its corresponding monitoring point that each monitoring point is kept on a relative location within each corresponding tracking frame, and producing the same displacement as that of the monitoring point, and lastly computing the displacement of each tracking frame thus obtaining the displacement of each monitoring point in correspondence to the tracking frame to calculate various displacement of the hanging wire and the load, respectively. With this image tracking method, the processing quantity of whole image data is effectively decreased and computational demand of equipments is reduced.

Abstract: A bridge crane or gantry crane is provided for transferring standard cargo holders, especially ISO containers in port zones. A crane trolley is movable along a crane carrier. A rigid mast is guided on the crane trolley and extends in a raising and lowering direction and can be moved using at least one lifting gear and cables on the crane trolley. A load accepting device for standard cargo holders is fastened to the lower end of the mast. The mast is rotatable about a longitudinal rotational axis. A lifting frame supports the lifting gear and is suspended on the crane trolley by a revolving arrangement that includes a revolving tube. An upper end of the revolving tube rests against the crane trolley using a revolving joint, while the lifting frame is mounted on a lower end of the revolving tube. The mast is arranged coaxially to the revolving tube.

Abstract: A lifting device for replacing dynamic or static components of helicopter-type rotary wing aircraft comprising a lifter capable of moving components between an installation/removal position and a loading/unloading position located near the aircraft, a supporting structure on which the lifter is mounted, and at least one support member is rigidly attached to the supporting structure. The at least one support member can rest on and be directly secured to the airframe of the aircraft.

Abstract: A gripper device for a transport vehicle includes a base plate, a guide rail provided on an upper surface of the base plate, a pair of guide blocks arranged to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction toward and away from each other along the guide rail, and a pair of gripping parts. Each of the gripping parts includes a horizontal portion fixed to an upper surface of one of the guide blocks and arranged to extend substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base plate, a vertical portion arranged to extend downward from the horizontal portion to a position lower than that of the base plate, and a claw section provided on a lower end of the vertical portion and arranged to grip an object.

Abstract: A hoist apparatus including a traveling unit that travels from one place to another, an elevating unit installed in the traveling unit to be lifted up and lowered down from the traveling unit, a grip device which is installed in the elevating unit and selectively grips a stumbling projection formed at one side of an accommodating container accommodating an object, and a separation preventing apparatus which is connected to the elevating unit and selectively closes an open inlet of the accommodating container so that the object accommodated in the accommodating container is not separated from the accommodating container.

Abstract: An overhead conveying vehicle is arranged to contain and convey a suspended FOUP including a lid that is removably provided on a side surface thereof. The overhead conveying vehicle includes a conveying vehicle body, a hoist mechanism, a lid drop preventing member, and a power transmitting mechanism. The hoist mechanism is provided at the conveying vehicle body and is arranged to raise and lower the FOUP. The lid drop preventing member is arranged in close proximity to a front surface of the lid. The power transmitting mechanism retracts the lid drop preventing member away from the front surface of the lid when the FOUP is being raised or lowered.

Abstract: A boat lift apparatus is disclosed. The boat lift apparatus includes a base structure having a first frame section erected over a barrier juxtaposed to a first body of water, the base structure having a second frame section that may be cantilevered over the first body of water and a lift frame operatively coupled with the base structure. The boat lift apparatus further includes a cradle assembly including at least one boat support for receiving a boat and carrying the boat across the barrier, the cradle assembly being moveably coupled to the lift frame. The boat lift apparatus further includes at least one hydraulic cylinder secured to the lift frame and operatively connected to the cradle assembly, wherein activation of the at least one hydraulic cylinder moves the cradle assembly up or down in the vertical direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an intersection navigation system for a hoist to prevent a hoist unit of the hoist from falling when the hoist unit passes an intersection. The intersection navigation system may include a hoist unit including an auxiliary mover and a railway on which the hoist unit travels. The railway may include an intersection having auxiliary rails on which the auxiliary mover moves. Furthermore, the auxiliary mover may be configured to prevent the hoist unit from falling when the hoist unit passes through the intersection.

Abstract: A turning device for a hoist is disclosed, in which a weight thing with a narrow width can be stably turned with a stable support. A rope end unit or an upper sheave unit is easily installed at a hoist frame. A rope end unit or an upper sheave unit is installed in a hoist frame and is freely movable in opposite positions.

Abstract: A gondola tipping system for tipping a pivotally mounted container includes a frame having a substantially horizontal beam, a trolley translatable across the beam, a winch mounted on the beam, and a lower block connectable to the pivotal container, the lower block being reeved to the trolley and winch such that rotation of the winch and translation of the trolley causes the lower block to move both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: A centering member 20 is pressed downward using an elastic member 28; the centering member 20 is provided at the bottom of a platform 14. A plate 26 receiving an upper end of the elastic member 28 is positioned high while the platform 14 is elevating. The plate 26 is positioned low after the platform 14 has been completely elevated. While the platform 14 is elevating or lowering, a pressing force on the centering member 20 is reduced. After the platform 14 has been completely elevated, the pressing force is weakened. The present invention suppresses vibration of the platform having been completely elevated. The present invention also prevents the article from exerting a strong upward force on the platform via a pressing member when the article is loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: A hoist assembly for use in a clean room includes a hoist body which is received in a hoist cover cavity of a hoist cover. A rigging is coupled to a winch of the hoist body and to an attaching member attachable to a load. The rigging is received in a rigging cavity of a rigging cover and the rigging cover is extendable in response to an extension of the rigging from the hoist body and retractable in response to a retraction of the rigging.

Abstract: A cable attachment assembly, a hoist and a transportation system using the cable attachment assembly. The cable attachment assembly including: a plate pivotable about a first axis; first and second pivot assemblies pivotable about respective second and third axes, the first, second and third axes parallel to each other; a first cable retainer in the first pivot assembly, the first cable retainer adapted to rotateably retain an end of a first cable in the first cable pivot assembly, the first cable rotatable about a fourth axis; a second cable retainer in the second pivot assembly, the second cable retainer adapted to rotateably retain an end of a second cable in the second pivot assembly, the second cable rotatable about a fifth axis; wherein the fourth and fifth axes parallel to each other and the fourth and fifth axes are perpendicular to the first, second and third axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for controlling movements of a load lifting device on a horizontal plane whereby the load lifting device (6) comprises a vertically oriented carrier element (14). The vertical orientation of said carrier element is at least due to gravity when the element is in a resting position. At least one motor device (23a, 23b, 23c) is connected in order to execute said movements. Said movements can be controlled by a force impinging in a substantially horizontal direction relative to the carrier element (14), in particular a force which can be applied and which can be detected by a sensor device (25).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for eliminating instability in intelligent assist devices are disclosed. The intelligent assist device includes an overhead motorized moveable trolley, a support that extends downwardly from the trolley to a payload, and a sensor operatively coupled to the support to sense a characteristic of motion imparted by a human operator to the device. A controller is operatively coupled with the sensor and the trolley to control movements of the trolley. The controller estimates an amount of oscillation in the support that does not correspond to the motion imparted by the human operator and adjusts movements of the trolley based thereon.

Abstract: An intelligent assist system having a modular architecture, coordinated by electronic communication links between the modules, is provided. Motion modules provide an assist upon actuation, and are in communication with computational nodes. Communication links between at least two of the computational nodes carry information between the nodes that actuate a motion module.

Abstract: This crane control system with swing control and variable impedance is intended for use with overhead cranes where a line suspended from a moveable hoist suspends a load. It is responsive to operator force applied to the load and uses a control strategy based on estimating the force applied by the operator to the load and, subject to a variable desired load impedance, reacting in response to this estimate. The human pushing force on the load is not measured directly, but is estimated from measurement of the angle of deflection of the line suspending the load and measurement of hoist position.

Abstract: A crane assembly has a bracket, a supporting plate, a crane device, a chain and a chain bag. The bracket has two side plates with wheels connected with each other. Each side plate has a first recess defined in the bottom of the side plate to make the side plate have an inverse U-shape. Two axles are mounted between the side plates and are respectively located at two sides of the first recesses in the side plates to combine the side plates together. The supporting plate is attached to the axles and is mounted between the side plates. The craning device is pivotally attached to the supporting plate and has a top portion received in the first recesses in the side plates. Accordingly, the location of the crane device is heightened, and the craning travel of the chain is prolonged.

Abstract: This crane control apparatus and method with swing control and variable impedance is intended for use with overhead cranes where a line suspended from a moveable hoist suspends a load. It is responsive to operator force applied to the load and uses a control strategy based on estimating the force applied by the operator to the load and, subject to a variable desired load impedance, reacting in response to this estimate. The human pushing force on the load is not measured directly, but is estimated from measurement of the angle of deflection of the line suspending the load and measurement of hoist position.

Abstract: An overhead traveling crane system, wherein at least two locking members (25a) are mounted vertically slidably on a lifting device (15), a stopper (25b) and a contact member are fixed to the upper and lower end parts of each locking member (25a), respectively. A non-contact sensing device is fixed to the underside of the lifting device (15), and a sensor element (27) is fixed to the locking members (25a). The lowering of the locking members (25a) is stopped when the contact means is brought into contact with a reference position, and the lowering of the lifting device (15) is stopped when the lifting device (15) is lowered further so as to move the sensing device on the lifting device (15) side closely to the sensor element on the locking members (25a). Even though a general-purpose overhead traveling crane is used, the vertical positioning accuracy of the lifting device installed on the overhead traveling crane is increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stationary boat lift in which a boat is able to enter and exit with little difficulty. The boat lift allows a boat to bypass various barriers in a efficient and safe manner by vertically lifting the boat out of one body of water, translating the boat horizontally over a desired barrier, and then vertically lowering the boat into a second body of water.

Abstract: A through-hole 14 is provided in a body base 12 of an overhead travelling carriage to guide a roller on an elevating and lowering drive section 6. In addition, a pair of holes are provided at the both running-direction ends of the elevating and lowering drive section 6 to guide rollers on position control sections 16, 16. The pair of position control sections 16, 16 independently move these rollers perpendicularly to a running direction. A simple mechanism can be used to move an elevating and lowering section of the overhead travelling carriage perpendicularly to the running direction and to rotationally move it in a horizontal direction so as to reach a station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stationary boat lift comprised of a housing in which a boat is able to enter and exit with little difficulty. The boat lift allows a boat to bypass various barriers in a efficient and safe manner by vertically lifting the boat out of one body of water, translating the boat horizontally over a desired barrier, and then vertically lowering the boat into a second body of water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stationary boat lift comprised of a housing in which a boat is able to enter and exit with little difficulty. The boat lift allows a boat to bypass various barriers in a efficient and safe manner by vertically lifting the boat out of one body of water, translating the boat horizontally over a desired barrier, and then vertically lowering the boat into a second body of water.

Abstract: A rotatable shuttle transfer unit for transferring a workpiece from a first work station to a second work station along a predetermined path of travel wherein a pair of spaced carriages carry the workpiece along the predetermined path of travel and rotate the workpiece from a first angular orientation to a second angular orientation with respect to an axis of rotation. Preferably, the carriages rotate the workpiece while carrying the workpiece along the predetermined path of travel. The carriages are transported along a guiderail which extends between the first and second work stations. A continuous drive belt reciprocally drives the carriages along the guiderail wherein the continuous drive belt extends from one end of the guiderail to the opposite end of the guiderail. A vertical lift portion reciprocally moves the workpiece in a direction substantially normal to the predetermined path of travel. In addition, the carriages provide releasable power clamps for engaging and securing the workpiece.

Abstract: A hoist assembly is provided for an overhead crane adapted for pivoting wide panels and the like between horizontal and vertical positions. The hoist assembly is supported on an elevated horizontal beam and includes a main trolley, supporting a main lifting cable, and an auxiliary trolley, supporting an auxiliary lifting cable. The main trolley is mounted for positively drivable movement along the horizontal beam, while the auxiliary trolley is freely slidable along the horizontal beam. The freely slidable auxiliary trolley automatically moves along the beam in response to a horizontal force component of cable tension when a load is being pivoted, so that the auxiliary trolley maintains a substantially vertical position over its lifting point on the load. A method for pivoting a load with the hoist assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A lifting and transport apparatus for containers has a fixed rigid horizontal beam on the lower flange of which two wheeled carriages are displaceable either together or separately to allow, in the latter case, a change in the distance between the carriages and, in the former case, displacement of the container. A cross beam on each of the carriages can carry at its ends fixed columns which guide respective lifting elements having claws at their ends engageable with the container. The entire assembly is free from cables or the like which can introduce sway.

Abstract: A log carriage system including a pair of carriages (10, 12) mounted for linear movement along a conveyor track. A pair of linear hydraulic motors (32, 44) each include a piston rod (30, 42) for both clamping and linear transfer of a log. A reversible hydraulic pump (62) transfers oil between working chambers (40, 52) of motors (32, 44) to move the log along a linear path past a cutting station. A three-way, two-position valve (120) connects line (68) to tank (T), and disconnects line (70) from system pump (SP), when pump (62) is operated to move oil from motor (32) to motor (44). Alternatively, linear hydraulic motors (32, 44) can be replaced by rotary hydraulic motors and a cable drive system for both clamping the log and moving the log along the linear path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a load (8) carried by a carrier member (12) between two mutually separate transport paths (3a, b). During transfer, the carrier member switches from being suspended by a device (4a) displaceable in the first carrier path (4a) to being suspended by a device (4b) displaceable in the second carrier path (3b). The carrier member (12) when it is suspended by a first connecting device (9a, 11a) from the displaceable device (4a) of the first conveyor path (4a), is connected to the displaceable device (4b) of the second conveyor path (3b) by a second connecting device (9b, 11b). The length of the second connecting device is reduced and the carrier member (12) is displaced thereby so as to be wholly suspended from the displacement device (4b) of the second conveyor path. A drive mechanism lengthens or shortens at least one of the connecting devices in relation to a housing (14) for modifying the distance between the carrier member (12) and the displaceable devices (4a, 4b).