Abstract: An illustrative example elevator brake device includes a housing that supports a brake member. The brake member has a braking surface. The brake member is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A plurality of buckling beams are situated to urge the brake member to apply a braking force.

Abstract: A method of absorbing energy from a moving object upon impact, where the method includes utilizing at least two types of energy absorbing elements to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact in an energy absorbing apparatus. A first type of energy absorbing element absorbs the majority of the energy absorbed by the apparatus and subsequent types of energy absorbing elements continue to absorb energy after the first type of energy absorbing element has ceased operation and can no longer absorb energy.

Abstract: A hand-or voice-operated controller system for a driven loadable construct has a plurality of control circuit receiving inputs from a directional control and connection circuitry for communicating signals from the control circuit to at least one motor disposed on the loadable construct and to which at least one drive wheel disposed on the loadable construct is electrically coupled.

Abstract: A crash absorbing guardrail panel assembly including rail panels overlapping at adjacent end portions, an end terminal moving one of the rail panels along the other rail panel when impacted by a vehicle, and braking structure on one of the rail panels engaging an edge of the other rail panel to dissipate kinetic energy during relative sliding movement between the rail panels and absorb impact forces on the end terminal.

Abstract: A guardrail crash absorbing assembly including two relatively slidable rail panels, each having top and bottom edge portions, and a braking structure attached to one of the rail panels engaging and deforming an edge portion of the other rail panel to dissipate kinetic energy and absorb impact forces.

Abstract: The invention relates to an in-house track-bound transporting system with self-propelling carriages that move on rails. The system has stoppers to prevent said carriages from crossing over open rail ends or track borders, and the system is provided with stops. The stoppers collide with the stops in order to prevent a crossing-over, said stops having first and second fixed stop elements. The stoppers can be moved between a first crossing-over position and a second crossing-over position such that the first stop elements can be crossed over in the first crossing-over position of the stoppers, and the second stop elements can be crossed over in the second crossing-over position of the stoppers, wherein the first stop elements cannot be crossed over in the second crossing-over position of the stoppers, and the second stop elements cannot be crossed over in the first crossing-over position of the stoppers.

Abstract: A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable relies on a brake to control velocity and net downhill acceleration of the trolley. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. At the downhill end of the ride, the lever actuating the brake is caught and lifted by a capture ring, thus relieving the braking load on the trolley. Also, the trolley engages a comparatively modest, second resistance mechanism, such as, for example, a system of springs, that gradually increases in resistance with distance of motion of the trolley thereagainst, bringing the trolley to a gradual halt.

Abstract: A device and system for controlling travel of a railcar along a set of rails is provided. In one example, a railcar stop is coupled to the set of rails and is selectively movable between a first position wherein the railcar is free to travel along the set of rails and a second position wherein the railcar stop engages the treads of the wheels to thereby prevent travel of the railcar in at least one direction along the rails.

Abstract: A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable relies on a brake to control velocity and limit net downhill acceleration of the trolley. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. At the downhill end of the ride, the lever actuating the brake is caught and lifted by a capture ring, thus relieving the braking load on the trolley. Also, the trolley engages a comparatively modest, second resistance mechanism, such as, for example, a system of springs, that gradually increases in resistance with distance of motion of the trolley thereagainst, bringing the trolley to a gradual halt at a rate to improve comfort of a rider and reduce acceleration forces (loads) on the trolley.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a material handling system (100) and method (200) for isolating a carrier mechanism (110) from the system. The system (100) comprises a track (103) having a channel (105), a turntable (115), and a carrier mechanism (110) coupled to the track structure via the channel. The system (100) further comprises a maintenance station (125), comprising a stub track (130), wherein the stub track is operably coupled to the track structure (103) via the turntable (115). The maintenance station (125) further comprises a power supply (135) and one or more connectors (140) operable to electrically couple the carrier (110) to the power supply (135). One or more stop blocks (145) are provided which are removably coupled to the stub track (130), wherein the stop blocks each comprise a body (155) having a rod (160) extending therefrom.

Abstract: A railroad bumping post with coupling mechanisms which form a box about each rail and permit wedging of the rail within the box to secure the bumping post to the rails.

Abstract: The invention relates to an impact protection device for rail vehicles, comprising one or more energy absorbing elements (25) mounted on the main frame of the rail vehicle and having a box-like structure. The invention is characterized in that from the box end in the direction of the main frame (29) a reverse-drawn recess (20) and a buffer rod (21) are provided and the buffer rod can be displaced along the interior wall of the reverse-drawn recess (20). Elastically deformable energy absorbing elements (32) such as a friction spring (33) or a hydraulic capsule (34) are mounted in the hollow space formed by the buffer rod (21) and the reverse-drawn recess (20). The invention provides a greater active length for energy absorption in case of impact than a sequential box arrangement and a standard sleeve buffer.

Abstract: Apparatus for limiting a travel path of running gears, in particular hoists, traveling along a running rail of a type having at least one flange and a web, includes a pair of side elements which are securable to opposite sides of the flange and provided with at least one buffer, and a clamping unit in the form of a tie element, for bracing the side elements together and pressing the side elements against the sides of the flange.

Abstract: A cushioned braking system for cushioning the impact of a moving vehicle for amusement for children. The braking system comprises a double ended air cylinder having a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end. A first head member and a second head member close the first and second cylinder ends, respectively. A first piston rod extends axially outward from the cylinder through the first head member. A first piston is on the first piston rod within the cylinder. A second piston rod extends axially outward from the cylinder through the second head member. A second piston is on the second piston rod within the cylinder. A spring assembly resiliently connects the first piston to the second piston within the cylinder. The spring assembly serves to bias the first and second pistons toward a reference position. The cylinder also has a vent for controlling air flow within the cylinder.

Abstract: A latch for a crane travelable along a pair of generally parallel rails and having an overhead frame and a plurality of wheels engaging both of the rails for supporting the crane during its travel on the rails. The latch comprises a latch arm mounted on the crane and having a path of movement substantially in the direction of travel of the crane. The latch arm also includes a transversely projecting hook. A latch block is stationarily mounted and has a lip member projecting into the path of movement of the latch arm. The hook on the latch arm moves with the latch arm into engagement with the lip member and the lip member and hook have an engaged position in which the lip member is positioned between the hook and the crane whereby the crane is held from traveling away from the latch block. The latch may also include a compressible bumper mounted on the crane and engaging the latch block compressively in the direction of the crane travel toward the latch block.

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.

Abstract: Self propelled pallet vehicles (12a) are guided along a track network (10) by downwardly projecting guide pins (350, 352) carried by each pallet vehicle (12) which engage slots (354, 358) in the track network and steer the pallet vehicle (12) along the track network (10). The track network has main (20) and branch (22) track sections, and selective delivery of the vehicles to various destinations along the track network (10) is achieved by controlling the position of the guide pins (350, 352) between alternate rotated raised and lowered positions. In the lowered position the guide pins (350, 352) interact with the track network (10) to guide the pallet vehicle (12) into a branch section (20) of the track. In the raised position, the guide pins (350, 352) cause continued movement of the vehicle (12) along the main track section (22) and past a junction (38). The guide pin position may be controlled by a photoemitter (364) at the junction (38), or by various other alternatives.

Abstract: A hand-operated work pallet changer for changing work pallets to be fed onto a pallet mounting portion of a machine tool, comprises a turntable (58) rotatably supported on a base unit and having at least two supporting portions (62, 63) for supporting thereon work pallets (2), respectively, and a table-indexing unit (67) for stopping a rotational movement of the turntable and locking the turntable when each of the supporting portions of the turntable arrives at a predetermined position (C) in which each of the supporting portions is in alignment with the pallet mounting portion of the machine tool. A movable hook (68) is provided on the base unit to prevent a rebound of the work pallet fed from the pallet mounting portion of the machine tool onto one of the supporting portions located at the predetermined position.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus is provided to dissipate the energy of the impact force of a vehicle. A plurality of energy absorbing sheets are arranged in a stacked relation to resist the impact force and to thereby dissipate the energy of the force. Each sheet has a honeycomb structure of hexagonal cells that are filled with a deformable material such as polyurethane foam and that are defined by walls of relatively rigid material. In operation, an impact force is applied to the stack of energy absorbing sheets and each sheet is thereby caused to cut or shear into its abutting sheet so that at least a portion of the energy of the impact force is dissipated. As the stacked sheets cut into one another, the energy of the force is further dissipated by the compression of the polyurethane foam of the sheets.

Abstract: A device for stopping a wheeled vehicle which runs on a guide rail, comprises a scotch block connected to the rail, against which the front wheel of the vehicle can strike. The scotch block in this position fits a part of the outer circumference of the wheel up a certain height. The scotch block is formed by two distinct parts, namely a lower part and an upper part, the lower part being fixed rigidly to the rail and the upper part being retractable from a high position to a low position and vice-versa by rotation about an axis. Movement from the low position to the high position is controlled by an operating component situated upstream from and immediately adjacent the lower part of the scotch block, which component is actuated by a front wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A car impact shock absorbing and coupler centering device for use in connection with railroad track bumping posts, which device comprises a block shaped body formed of resiliently compressible material that is of parallelepiped configuration which is adapted to be mounted against a fixed abutment defined by the post at the level of the center line of draft. The resilient body extends transversely of the track and is formed with a longitudinal bore through which extends a leaf spring assembly that has its ends projecting to either side of the body and which is proportioned transversely of the body bore to engage the body bore upper and lower sides. The ends of the leaf spring assembly are each equipped with a follower plate structure between which and a fixed support on the bumping post a compression spring assembly is interposed. Carried by the leaf spring assembly is a centering device for centering the car coupler relative to the resilient body.

Abstract: A braking device for buffer stop assemblies comprises a buffer rail which is displaceably guided on a buffer stop construction, there being provided at least one friction element and bolts for clamping the friction element in braking frictional engagement with the buffer rail. The buffer rail is formed as a circular cross section tube having a smooth outer surface and the friction element by brake blocks engaging opposite sides of the tube and pressed against the tube by the bolts.