Inner Wheels Patents (Class 105/154)
  • Patent number: 11702112
    Abstract: A levitated train is propelled by a system including at least a pair of wheels in cotact with a rail head. The rail head has a horizontal top surface and two vertical sides on either side of the horizontal top surface. A wheel of each wheel assembly has a cylindrical side face with flanges at the top and bottom. The cylindrical face of each of the wheels is in contact with the sides of the rail. The wheel assembly is power driven by a corresponding motor to impart motion to the train. The train is provided with a plurality of such wheel assemblies to be propelled along a rail track. The width of the wheels is greater than the width of the rail head. The flanges on the side of the wheels in a wheel assembly limit the freedom of motion of the train during the levitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Kittappa Rayaprolu
  • Patent number: 11565886
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wheel transfer device which can effectively prevent derailment of rolling wheels caused by breakage of a driving chain, to avoid falling of a wheel hub, thereby not only ensuring the finished product ratio of the wheel hub, and more importantly, ensuring the work safety of the workers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CITIC Dicastal Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianfeng Liu, Kebin Wang, Jianwei Chen, Shaodong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11039969
    Abstract: An overhead lift unit includes a carriage, a first wheel assembly, a second wheel assembly, and an actuator. The first wheel assembly includes a first wheel coupled to the carriage through a first support arm. The second wheel assembly includes a second wheel coupled to the carriage through a second support arm. The actuator is coupled to the second wheel assembly and is configured to shift the second wheel assembly in a lateral direction relative to the first wheel assembly between an expanded position and a retracted position. Lift systems including the overhead lift unit and methods of transporting the overhead lift unit to and from an overhead rail are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: LIKO RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Karin Olsson, Daniel Johansson, Katharina Enström
  • Patent number: 10266183
    Abstract: A beam trolley having a width adjustment system includes a first side plate having two or more wheels configured to couple with a beam (which may have an I-beam, wide flange (W-type) I-beam, or standard (S-type) I-beam configuration). A second side plate having two or more wheels coupled thereon is configured to couple with the beam. A main load bar couples with the first and second side plates and includes a threaded shaft having a first alignment surface. A threaded hand wheel couples with the threaded shaft and is configured to move the threaded shaft relative to the first and/or second side plate(s) in response to manual rotation of the threaded hand wheel to adjust a distance between the first and second side plates. An aligner couples with one of the side plates and includes a surface engaging the first alignment surface to prevent rotation of the main load bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: OZ Lifting Products, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Napieralski, Gregory Lucas
  • Patent number: 9953694
    Abstract: A memory subsystem enables a refresh abort command. A memory controller can issue an abort for an in-process refresh command sent to a memory device. The refresh abort enables the memory controller to more precisely control the timing of operations executed by memory devices in the case where a refresh command causes refresh of multiple rows of memory. The memory controller can issue a refresh command during active operation of the memory device, which is active operation refresh as opposed to self-refresh when the memory device controls refreshing. The memory controller can then issue a refresh abort during the refresh, and prior to completion of the refresh. The memory controller thus has deterministic control over both the start of refresh as well as when the memory device can be made available for access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Querbach, Kuljit S. Bains, John B. Halbert
  • Patent number: 9663331
    Abstract: The lifting device according to the invention comprises a carriage (16) and a lifting unit (17), which are connected to each other by means of linear guides (29, 30). The carriage (16) comprises two side parts (19, 20) that can be adjusted in view of their distance relative to each other by means of a distance adjustment device (36). In doing so, they are centered by means of a centering device (45) with respect to the lifting unit (17), in particular with respect to the pulling means originating from the lifting unit (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventors: Reiner Buhlmayer, Jurgen Weingartner
  • Patent number: 9517368
    Abstract: An entry/exit gate assembly for a shuttle based fall protection system is provided. The entry/exit gate assembly includes a rail, a gate and a gate manipulation member. The rail has at least one entry/exit cutaway section. The gate is slidably engaged with the rail and the gate manipulation member coupled to selectively lock the gate in a static position in relation with the rail to block access to the at least one entry/exit cutaway section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Capital Safety Group (Northern Europe) Limited
    Inventors: Steven Eltringham, Robert Hirst
  • Publication number: 20120060718
    Abstract: A sensor head-transporting roller carriage has four pairs of wheels acting around pivot points at the four corners of the carriage, which is advanced along tracks that are supported by vertical structures. The lateral wheel spacing is chosen in correlation with the track support interval distances such that the vertical travel of all the wheels together is averaged, to be zero. As a result, variations in displacement alignment of the sensor are minimized. In addition, the pivot mechanism results in a fifty percent reduction in the effect of random vertical deflections caused by track debris or wheel concentricity etc. versus standard non-pivoting wheel sets. The roller carriage moves the sensor head along the cross direction to monitoring physical characteristics of a web of material that is moving in the machine direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell ASCa Inc.
    Inventor: Ron Beselt
  • Patent number: 8082854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chassis (1) for a cable or pipeline trolley (2), for traveling along a carrier rail, the chassis including at least one pair of carrier rollers (3) having a horizontal axis of rotation and at least one pair of guide rollers (4) having a vertical axis of rotation. The disadvantage of known chassis of this type is that they jolt at uneven sections of the carrier rail and a significant supply of replacement parts is required for repairs. The aim of the invention is to develop a chassis with improved driving characteristics, whilst at the same time reducing production and inventory costs. To achieve this, the carrier rollers (3) and guide rollers (4) are essentially arranged symmetrically to a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler AG
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 8056483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable or pipeline trolley (2) for travelling along a carrier rail, comprising at least one chassis (1) and a carrier device (10) for cables or pipelines, in addition to a central plate (9) that connects the carrier device (10) to the chassis (1). Known cable or pipeline trolleys of this type are sensitive to high winds and are frequently derailed from the guides as a result of the large wind-exposure area. The aim of the invention is to develop a cable or pipeline trolley so that it is more operationally secure and the chassis can run more reliably along the carrier rail even when exposed to high winds or other stress. To achieve this, at least two rectangular cavities and two triangular cavities (6, 7) are positioned within the outer boundary of the central plate (9), said cavities being symmetrical in relation to the central axis of the central plate and being separated by a strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Conductix-Wampfler AG
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 7997207
    Abstract: A joint connector for the lower flanges of adjoining running rails is assembled from two abutment pieces that each is seated in a lower flange of a respective rail that forms the joint. By use of centering devices, the correctly aligned positioning of the two abutment pieces is assured, wherein the abutment pieces transfer their aligned positioning to the lower flanges that meet each other without offset at the joint and the positioning cannot be negatively affected by transverse forces. The connection also provides a positive-fit in a transverse direction of the rails. Another joint connector arrangement connects the two running rails in the region of the top side. Abutment pieces in this case are seated as riders on a support rib and are connected to each other by tension rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Stahl CraneSystems GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Hess
  • Patent number: 7798068
    Abstract: A friction drive trolley conveyor has a conveying traveling body provided with a friction drive load bar having traction purpose engaging means at both ends thereof and allows traction drive to be easily conducted without fail even at the time of conveying a heavy object. The traction purpose engaging means is composed of an engaged shaft arranged in the horizontal direction within a vertical notched portion formed at one end of the load bar, a hook member vertically swingably pivotally supported at an intermediate position in vertical height of the load bar at the other end of the load bar and a holding means holding the hook member in an engaged posture or a disengaged posture, and on a traveling route side, a first switching means switching the hook member from the engaged posture to the disengaged posture and a second switching means switching the hook member from the disengaged posture to the engaged posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishihara, Toshiyuki Iba
  • Patent number: 7789021
    Abstract: A suspension conveyance apparatus has a conveying traveling body movably supported on a traveling guide rail and a hanger suspended from the conveying traveling body, and an anti-swaying guide rail in parallel with the traveling guide rail, the anti-swaying guide rail is engaged with a roller and prevents lateral swaying of the hanger. The anti-swaying guide rail is installed on only one of the right and left sides of the traveling guide rail and includes a horizontal flat rail surface and a circular rail surface curvedly protruding in the vertically opposite direction of the horizontal flat rail surface, and a flat peripheral surface roller adjoining to the horizontal flat rail surface and rolling and an hourglass-shaped peripheral surface roller fitted to the circular rail surface are provided as the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Nishihara, Tomohiro Sugo
  • Patent number: 7775162
    Abstract: A roller for a trolley assembly, which includes at least one track and at least one pin adapted to carry a hanger, includes, in one embodiment thereof, a bearing substantially split to define at least two independent parts of the split bearing. A housing rollingly engages along the at least one track and houses the bearing. A bushing is housed within the housing, carries the pin, supports the bearing about the bushing, and defines at least one shoulder adapted to substantially positively abuttingly engage the at least two parts of the bearing to substantially prevent rotation of the bearing about the bushing during rolling of the housing along the at least one track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Lawrence Cislo
  • Patent number: 7283897
    Abstract: A method and system for compensating for wheel wear uses position and/or speed information from an independent positioning system to measure some distance over which the train has traveled. Wheel rotation information is also collected over the distance. The wheel rotation information and distance and/or speed information are then used to determine the size of the train wheels. The method is performed periodically to correct for changes in wheel size over time due to wear so that the wheel rotation information can be used to determine train position and speed in the event of a positioning system failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Quantum Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edward Kane, James Francis Shockley, Harrison Thomas Hickenlooper
  • Patent number: 6880469
    Abstract: A trolley wheel assembly includes a wheel portion rotatably positioned around a hub portion and at least one sliding member positioned between the wheel portion and the hub portion. The sliding member defines a mating surface for mating with a generally correspondingly formed mating surface of the wheel portion and/or the hub portion. The mating surface of the sliding member defines a radial projection at least substantially circumferentially around the sliding member. The radial projection may slidably mate with the generally correspondingly formed mating surface of the wheel portion and/or the hub portion to facilitate rotation of the wheel portion about the hub portion. The wheel assembly may include one or more inserts that define the correspondingly formed mating surface and that are positioned between the sliding member and the wheel or hub portion to facilitate manufacturing and assembly of the wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Frost Inc.
    Inventor: Charles C. Frost
  • Patent number: 6779076
    Abstract: A DRAM includes a set of secondary sense amplifiers as well as primary sense amplifiers coupled to respective digit lines of a DRAM array. The secondary sense amplifiers are coupled to the digit lines of an array through isolation transistors so that the secondary sense amplifier can be selectively isolated from the digit lines of an array. The DRAM also includes a refresh controller that periodically refreshes the DRAM on a row-by-row basis, and a command decoder that causes the refresh to be aborted in the even a read or a write command is received by the DRAM during a refresh. The refresh is aborted by saving the data stored in the row being refreshed in the secondary sense amplifiers and then isolating the sense amplifiers from the array. The memory access is then implemented in a normal manner. Since the DRAM can be accessed without waiting for the completion of a refresh in progress, the DRAM can be used as a cache memory in a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Shirley
  • Patent number: 6516728
    Abstract: In a travelling trolley assembly, the two side frame bars (6, 7) which extend on either side of the running rail (2) are connected to one another via two connecting columns (8). The connecting columns (8) are smooth and cylindrical on the outside are fitted into receiving or sliding-guidance devices which are formed in the side frame bars (6, 7) below the running rail (2). In order to adjust the distance between the two side frame bars (6, 7) and to fix the distance which has been set, receiving devices, through which a threaded rod (46) which is parallel to the connecting column (8) passes, are situated in the vicinity of the connecting columns (8). The distance is adjusted and fixed with the aid of screw threads (94, 95), preferably lock nuts, which rest on the connecting rod (46). This type of fixing arrangement does not damage the shape of the guide columns (8), so that dismantling is easy to carry out at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: R. Stahl Fordertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Richard MĂ¼ller, Johann Lung, Manfred Finzel
  • Patent number: 6216602
    Abstract: A balance control mechanism for an overhead traveling carrier includes a movable section disposed on a carrier body at a position below the fulcrum of a traveling wheel of the carrier such that the movable section can be moved laterally of the carrier body to thereby displace the center of gravity of the movable section laterally of the carrier body, a gravity center moving unit for moving the center of gravity of the movable section with respect to the carrier body, and a balance control unit for calculating a balancing position at which the center of gravity of the movable section is to be placed so that the moment of a centrifugal force turning around the fulcrum with an axis lying in a direction of travel of the carrier and applied to the carrier in its entirety upon travel of the carrier over a curved portion of the rail is counterbalanced by the moment of gravity, and then controlling the gravity center moving unit to cause the center of gravity of the movable section to be moved to the balancing positi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Daisuke Fukuzaki, Yoshikazu Nakano
  • Patent number: 6205930
    Abstract: A trolley wheel for a load lifting apparatus that is movable along a rail having a horizontal supporting surface. The wheel includes a crowned tread surface for rolling contact with the rail and a flange for stabilizing the tread surface in position on the rail. The flange includes a substantially crowned realigning portion for realignment of the wheels on the rail with minimal contact or binding. The flange also includes an undercut portion for added clearance between the flange and the rail. Preferably, the crowned tread surface and crowned realigning portions are heat treated for improved wear resistance. The undercut may also be heat treated for added toughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Curt J. Waedekin
  • Patent number: 6202566
    Abstract: A high-speed high-capacity transportation system is composed of an elevated inverted U-shaped electrified guideway that provides traction and capture surfaces for wheeled motive modules that ride within. Payloads are suspended below the motive unit using a narrow flange. Motive units use flat wheels which ride on flat surfaces of the guideway. The wheels and electric power pickups constitute the only mechanical contact between the vehicle and guideway. Sensors on the motive unit provide position information to an electronic control subsystem which directs the steering of the motive units wheels so as to maintain the desired path through the guideway. As an option, one or more auxiliary wheels can be brought into contact with running surfaces located at the top of the inverted U for additional traction and stability. The payload unit is connected to a the motive unit by way of a hinge that allows the payload to swing laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Larry Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 6148733
    Abstract: A Type E railway freight car coupler having an expanded gathering range is achieved by attaching or forming an extension wing extending diagonally outward from an outer end of the gathering arm to thereby provide an extension to the angled gathering surface. The extension wing can either be cast as one piece directly with the coupler, or cast separately and welded onto the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: McConway & Torley Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph L. Gagliardino
  • Patent number: 6058849
    Abstract: A traveling mechanism for a lifting device, especially for a lifting device having a laterally cantilevering boom, is movable on rails with at least two running wheels. A connection element for attaching a load to said traveling mechanism is supported in the rail by the running wheels which are arranged on both sides of the connection element. The connection element has, at the region projecting down out of the rail, at least one running roller which is freely rotatable about a horizontal axis and rolls on a horizontal outer running surface of the rail. To effectively divert horizontal forces and uniformly distribute the vertical forces to the running wheels, running wheel axles are rigidly connected with a running wheel carrier, and the running wheel carrier and connection element are swivelably connected by a universal type joint. In addition, at least one support roller is rotatably mounted at the connection element in the interior of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudiger Ostholt, Klaus Becker, Klaus-Dieter Gabriel
  • Patent number: 5983803
    Abstract: An article transport assembly which is particularly designed for the conveyance of articles such as printing products, and which comprises a guide rail, and a plurality of article transport devices mounted for movement along the guide rail. Each transport device comprises a U-shaped transport body having a base leg and the two upright side legs, and with a gripper for engaging a printing product attached to the base leg. The two side legs each mount a pair of guide rail engaging members, with the two pairs of guide rail engaging members being positioned to engage both sides of the guide rail at two longitudinally spaced apart locations, and so as to permit the guide rail engaging members to move along the guide rail essentially free of play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: IPT Weinfelden AG
    Inventor: Jurg Eberle
  • Patent number: 5881650
    Abstract: A running mechanism which travels on a running rail comprising a web and a flange. Running wheels are supported by the flange on opposite sides of the web and are rotatably mounted in frame parts which are connected by an articulation arranged below the running rail such that the frame parts swivel open or closed laterally about a swivel pin. A load acts on at least one of the frame parts at the height of or below the swivel pin and holds the frame parts swiveled closed towards the web on both sides by means of a closing moment generated by the load. Guide rollers, one of which is rotatably supported in the frame part, are supported on opposite sides of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Udo Gersemsky, Hartmut Schutt
  • Patent number: 5809896
    Abstract: A running gear, in particular for chain hoists, load carrying and/or trailing cable, which includes a running rail comprising flange parts and a web part. Running wheels which are located opposite one another are supported on the flange parts of the running rail and guide rollers which are arranged on both sides in front of and behind each running wheel are vertically supported on the web part of the running rail. The guide rollers are rotatably supported in lateral wheel carriers connected below the running rail, at least one of the wheel carriers having a load suspension device connected thereto. Trapezoidally-shaped guide grooves conduct the guide rollers as the running gear moves longitudinally along the rail. The guide rollers have rounded edges which contact only a portion of the guide groove. Thus, the running gear moves steadily along the rail while the pitching and swaying movements which typically accompany the pendulum-like movement of the load are not transferred to the running gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Gersemsky
  • Patent number: 5711228
    Abstract: A driven trolley for suspension from and travel on a rail comprised of a pair of co-axial supporting wheels carried on shafts, one of the supporting wheels being disposed for location on each side of the rail, a driving motor having a driving shaft parallel with the supporting wheel shafts, and the ends of the motor driving shaft being connected by first and second belt drive apparatus to the supporting wheel shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Wampfler GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Itzin, Heiko Bollow
  • Patent number: 5664502
    Abstract: Wheel assembly capable of maintaining engagement with a rail having an uneven portion therein. The wheel assembly includes a frame adapted to pivot about a pivot axis defined by the frame. At least one wheel is rotatably connected to the frame for traversing the rail. The wheel maintains engagement with the rail as the wheel traverses the uneven portion of the rail because the frame pivots about the pivot axis as the wheel encounters the uneven portion of the rail. Service tooling may be suspended from the wheel assembly to service a nuclear reactor pressure vessel located below the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: John J. Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 5592883
    Abstract: A monorail transportation system has an elongated, overhead monorail (12) with a vehicle (14) having a coupler (16) that movably travels along the upper surface of monorail (12) and a drive wheel (20) that engages the lower surface or underside of monorail (12) to propel vehicle (14) therealong. The coupler (16) and drive wheel (20) are recessed in the top of the vehicle (14) during road travel and extended for travel along the monorail (12). The vehicle includes a movable sled (130) that carries the vehicles batteries (56) to balance the vehicle (14) about its longitudinal centerline during travel along the monorail (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: F. Jay Andress, III
  • Patent number: 5465668
    Abstract: A passenger transport installation in urban aeras comprises a wide track, constituted by two parallel, laterally spaced track cables and vehicles having supporting wheels for running on that track cables. The supporting wheels are located above the vehicle roof at a small constant distance thereof, so as to provide a clearance between the vehicle roof and the horizontal plane containing the track cables, wherein are housed the track cable bearing shoes and the vehicle traction cable loops with their return wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Pomagalski S.A.
    Inventors: Serge Tarassoff, Georges Toyre
  • Patent number: 5461985
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a traveling trolley, in particular a single-rail trolley having a compact height. A traveling trolley constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a supporting frame with running wheels that run on the bottom flange of a rail, a hoist arranged at the supporting frame, a lever member arranged at the axle of the driven running wheel so as to swivel or pivot, and a friction wheel supported at the free end of the lever member via an additional axle. The friction wheel and the driven running wheel are each coupled to a respective toothed wheel and these toothed wheels are driven by a driving unit. A spring element arranged between the lever member and the supporting frame urges the friction wheel into contact with the bottom flange of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Gersemsky
  • Patent number: 5372072
    Abstract: A transportation system comprises a continuous stationary track having a pair of opposed rigid bearing surfaces, and a plurality of discrete cantilevered load-carrying vehicle units movable beside said track. Each vehicle is coupled to the track by a bogie having a linear arrangement of bogie wheels running between the bearing surfaces. The bogie wheels are mounted on mutually articulated frames and have a diameter slightly less than the separation of the opposed bearing surfaces to allow limited pivoting movement of the frames within the track. The adjacent articulated frames are forcibly urged to pivot in opposite directions within the track between the bearing surfaces such that bogie wheels carried thereby forcibly and alternately engage the respective opposed bearing surfaces at at least three points to ensure a pro-loaded positive coupling between the bogie and the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventor: Norbert Hamy
  • Patent number: 5351621
    Abstract: In a traveling inspection robot system, two carriages are each provided with one pair of guide rollers for guiding the travel in the vertical direction and two pairs of side rollers for guiding the travel in the horizontal direction. The two pairs of side rollers are arranged such that one pair locates on each of the front and rear sides of the pair of guide rollers as viewed in the direction of advance. The two carriages are interconnected by a coupling plate through parallel steering shafts, and a sprocket and a motor for driving the sprocket are provided as travel driving device on one carriage for giving a traction force to a transversely central portion of the upper inner surface of the monorail. An antenna and a current collector are provided on the other carriage. A control circuit unit and a span and tilt mechanism are attached to the coupling plate with a sensor unit mounted to the span and tilt mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Tanaka, Tatsuyuki Omote, Yutaka Kometani, Masaki Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Kido, Tetsuo Waki, Tomiharu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5339773
    Abstract: A semi-permanent apparatus and a method for tethering and restraining grazing animals, house pets and security dogs comprises a moveable trolley mounted on a track attached to a solid surface, such as the ground. One end of a tether is attached to the animal and the other end of the tether is attached to the trolley. The trolley moves along the track when the animal tugs at the tether, but the track, trolley and tether prevent the animal from roaming to a distance from the track beyond the length of the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventor: Benjamin Van Druff
  • Patent number: 5331900
    Abstract: A trolley, particularly a monorail trolley having a short structural height includes travel wheels which travel on a lower flange of a rail. The trolley further includes a lifting mechanism arranged on a support frame and a driveable friction wheel which can be pressed through a spring element against the lower flange of the rail. One of the travel wheels and the friction wheel are arranged on a rocker member for a load-dependent increase of the frictional engagement between the rail and the travel wheel and the friction wheel. As seen in travel direction, the friction wheel is spaced from the travel wheel. The rocker member is arranged laterally next to the lower flange and is connected to the support frame so as to be pivotable about an axis. Arranged between the support frame and the rocker member is an adjusting member for changing the distance between the axis and the lower flange. The friction wheel and the travel wheel are connected so as to be triable together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Udo Gersemsky
  • Patent number: 4973219
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high productivity, high density container storage yard adjacent to a facility for loading and unloading containers, such as to and from ships, with the individual containers stored therein being stacked up to four containers high. An integrated container handling system is designed to move the containers from the container storage yard to the loading and unloading facility, and includes an overhead grid rail system on which container carrying shuttle vehicles are routed to designated yard locations by a master control system. Passive switching mechanisms are utilized to selectively move the shuttle vehicles through the grid rail network, wherein the actual switch mechanism is carried on the shuttle vehicle rather than on the track. One disclosed embodiment of the loading and unloading facility comprises overhead cranes and associated buffers in a marine terminal for loading and unloading a container ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Sea-Land Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence R. Brickner, Michael D. Chun, Richard C. Chou, Carl von Isenburg, Phillip Radzikowski
  • Patent number: 4881468
    Abstract: Described in a suspension conveyor system suitable for the use of conveyance units having two travelling rollers interconnected by an open yoke. The suspension conveyor system is universally applicable and capable of optimum adaptation to operating and space conditions in a given plant. To this purpose the system comprises changeover means selectively operable to tilt a conveyance unit to a left or right laterally suspended position or a center-suspended position to thereby permit for instance the radii of curved rail sections to be considerably shortened and particularly achieve a less complicated construction of required switches. In a preferred embodiment the switch is formed as an integral shaped member, so that the continuity of the rail circuit has not to be interrupted for guiding a conveyance unit onto selected branch rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Veit GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Josef Hafner, Werner Bergmeier, Rolf Schonenberger, Matthias Fischer
  • Patent number: 4858752
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for an overhead conveyor system is disclosed. The wheel assembly includes a self-lubricating thermoplastic wheel having a central opening with a conical section therein. An internally threaded axle member having a conical head is inserted into the central opening of the wheel, generally mating with the conical section of the central opening. An ordinary bolt is then utilized to secure a suspension member to the wheel and axle member combination. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, The conical head of the axle member includes a slot adapted to receive a screwdriver head in order that a wheel may be removed and replaced without the necessity of disassembling the conveyor system. In conveyor systems utilizing an I-beam suspension, a pair of wheel assemblies may disposed in opposite positions to support a single suspension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Dynamic Conveyor Products
    Inventor: Joe B. Ballard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4715288
    Abstract: An apparatus for the overhead transportation of loads on a monorail, comprising in combination: a tractive trolley (1) connected in an articulated manner to at least one idle truck (11) consisting of a girder (23) carrying a load, the girder being restrained to bars (24) extending downwards from terminal trolleys (25, 26) to which the bars are pivoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Fata European Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Nicola Catena
  • Patent number: 4702175
    Abstract: A trolley is provided as a carriage with rollers running on a rail, and a cable suspension in form of a flexible loop element is suspended from this trolley carriage. The loop element has its end interconnected in the area of suspension, and carries in its lower portion a curved cable supporting platform against which the cable is fastened by means of a flexible clamping band extending through lateral slots of the loop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Brudereck, Klaus-Dieter Gabriel
  • Patent number: 4682547
    Abstract: An amusement ride installation of a closed track figure eight configuration has passenger carriers suspended to swing from a plurality of support rods pivotally mounted to a single carriage. Each carriage has a frame made of transverse and longitudinal members with a lower longitudinal member having a raised middle part wherein the vehicle suspending support rods are pivotally mounted. U-shaped yokes affixed to the frame with universal joints, hold at least two wheel groups, which comprise running rollers and guide rollers riding on rails. Also connected to the frame are V-shaped struts which support drive spars having brake flanges, and damping cylinders which damp oscillations of the pivoting support rods using a toothed rack assembly. Elastic couplings are provided to connect adjacent carriages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignees: Firma Schwarzkopf GmbH, Intamin Corporation
    Inventor: Anton Schwarzkopf
  • Patent number: 4641587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suspended motorized vehicle traveling on a line consisting, in its straight sections, of rails placed on track cables held by suspender cables tied to main cables and comprising, for the curved sections, rigid shapes supported by brackets or crossbeams making it possible to change the direction of the vehicles. The invention proposes mounting of wheel sets supported independently of one another, comprising load equalizing bars, and independent motorizing of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Ateliers de Constructions Mecaniques de Vevey S.A.
    Inventor: Fernand Dalliard
  • Patent number: 4617867
    Abstract: A trolley bracket comprises at least one element (3', 3") which comprises a pivot (8) for receiving a wheel (2) movable along a guide (1) and rotatable by way of a bearing (5), and a member (9) hanging down from the pivot and having an element (10) for connecting the element to an object to be carried by the bracket. The pivot (8) and the hanging member (9) are formed as an integral piece from plastic, e.g. injection-moulded, fibre-reinforced polyamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Stellana Plast AB
    Inventor: Ingemar Arneteg
  • Patent number: 4603638
    Abstract: A train system includes(a) a train car,(b) a support for the car adapted to be guided along a rail having variable angular tilt along its length and relative to horizontal, whereby the support assumes the tilt of the rail, and(c) a gimbal coupled between the car and support to accommodate rotation of the support relative to the car as the car travels lengthwise of and along the rail, whereby the car remains upright despite variable tilting of the rail along which the car travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Charles S. Dozer Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Dozer
  • Patent number: 4569290
    Abstract: A carriage for suspending a load such as a compartment of a vehicle or the like, is basically comprised of a pin, rod or bar from which the load is centrally suspended and which by and in itself is suspended by two wheel carriers, each supporting a wheel for running on opposite flanges of a rail; each wheel carrier has a clamping bore intersecting the bore receiving the load carrying rod and a tension pin-with-wedge is inserted in an intersecting bore for clampingly engaging the load bearing rod upon tightening of a nut on an external thread of the respective tension pin; loosening of the nuts releases a contour fitting engagement and permits the wheel carrier to be adjusted into any desired position on the load carrying rod; the wedges may be constructed as cutting edges for cutting into the load carrying rod upon tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Joachim Hecht, Wilfried Loedige, Friedrich Rohde, Gerhard Rudat, Fred Wiggershaus, Klaus-Juergen Winter
  • Patent number: 4567334
    Abstract: A track for a suspended combined electric current collection and traction system including a base (22) and a resilient shield (26, 28) together defining an elongate space divided into two halves by a resilient beam (32), each of which contains a conductor (33). Spaced contact members in the form of bars (34) forming a rack on each side of the track or two rows of Z shaped contacts (82) extend through the shield and are normally spaced from the conductors. Embedded in the base are two parallel flexible metallic cables (40; 70) connected together by connectors (42; 74) by which the track may be suspended. In use, the reaction wheels (60) of a locomotive engage the tops of the cables (40; 70) thus drawing a current pick-up member (52; 86) into contact with the contact segments pressing them against the conductors (33) to pass electric current to an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas W. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 4552073
    Abstract: A monorail carriage for use with H-beams wherein carriage rollers mounted on frame-cantilevered shafts remain in continuing full-length running engagement with the monorail beam flanges throughout varying downward load deflection of such flanges. Rockable roller bearing elements at opposite ends of each roller include one which is spring loaded so as to force translation or displacement of the roller in response to flange deflection so as to maintain such full-length contact of the roller with the beam flange, although with attendant shift of the center of pressure lengthwise of the roller on the track flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Beebe International, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn S. Smith
  • Patent number: 4531460
    Abstract: A material handling system of the monorail and crane type is adaptable to carry relatively heavy loads and light loads through convenient structural modification using common component parts. The system is comprised of a double track 40 for heavy loads, formed of two track parts 54, 55 that alone are suitable for light-load applications. Carriers 42, 204 are comprised of drive heads 74 and idler heads 78, each with a single load support wheel 70, 71 or 70', 71'. A drive head 74, 74' and an idler head 78, 78' can be releasably interconnected in tandem by a load bar 206 to run along a single track, or in face-to-face opposition with wheels 70, 71 coaxial to form a drive unit 44 adapted to run along a double track. In the latter arrangement two additional heads, such as two idler heads 78b, 78c, are also interconnected in face-to-face opposition to form an idler unit 46 and connected in tandem with the drive unit 44 by a load bar 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl A. Pamer
  • Patent number: 4525893
    Abstract: A curtain runner suited for use with a curtain box comprising a body containing a top wall, side walls, and a bottom wall, a sleeve fitted in a vertical bore of the bottom wall, and a rod fitted in the center hole of the sleeve. The sleeve is formed with top and bottom flanges which are larger than the vertical bore. The walls form a hollow space or chamber which is longer than the sleeve and has an upper portion which is wider than the lower portion, the width of which is slightly larger than the diameter of the top flange. The rod is formed with at least one knob at the top end thereof and a curtain-joint at the bottom end thereof. The center hole has the top portion smaller than the knob and another portion larger than the knob. The sleeve is formed with a plurality of upper and lower radial splits for expanding the top portion wider than the knob and contracting the bottom flange smaller than the vertical bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Toso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroo Fukada
  • Patent number: 4520732
    Abstract: An amusement ride has an endless path defined by a rail from which the vehicle is suspended by a strut which, at its upper end, is swingable in a deformable frame on a yoke which is likewise pivotal on this frame and carries stirrups by which brackets are pivotally mounted in the carriage. The brackets carry the running and guide rollers. A pair of air springs in the form of bellows cylinders is braced between the strut and the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Inventor: Anton Schwarzkopf