367results about "Train hauling devices" patented technology

A public transportation system includes control by highly distributed communications, ultra-light transit vehicles suspended from single or dual rails and powered by electricity. The electric power supplied independently and supplemented by wind generators and solar panels. The transit vehicles, are suitable to transport from one to four persons. The system includes a plurality interconnected rails with main conduits and station conduits to provide non-stop transportation from one station to another station.

A high capacity, multiple-stage railway car switching yard connects together two or more subyards. Each subyard has a fully open arrival / departure end and may have a continuously descending gradient throughout the entire length of its classification tracks. The subyards are positioned opposite one another, so classification tracks of one subyard can serve as receiving tracks for another subyard. Escape tracks are interconnected between the two subyards to provide a higher capacity and more efficiency and flexibility than a single yard by itself.

A high capacity, multiple-stage railway car switching yard connects together two or more subyards. Each subyard has a fully open arrival / departure end and may have a continuously descending gradient throughout the entire length of its classification tracks. The subyards are positioned opposite one another, so classification tracks of one subyard can serve as receiving tracks for another subyard. Escape tracks are interconnected between the two subyards to provide a higher capacity and more efficiency and flexibility than a single yard by itself.

A single-carriage reversing train positioning system which includes an extending spike-type car engaging member for engaging and moving one or more railcars. An extending chuck assembly may be provided with the ability to operate gates in bottom-discharging railcars. The system uses a single self-propelled carriage with an on-board carriage drive system that includes a drive motor which operates the car along a fixed chain situated along a guideway. A generally horizontally disposed, laterally extendable pin car-engaging assembly is mounted on the car-moving carriage for aligning with and engaging a hook loop on a railcar for moving the car. A gate-operating assembly which includes a laterally extendable chuck system which aligns with, engages and rotates gate-operating capstans on bottom discharging railcars may also be provided.

A solution for further automating the identification, processing, and / or routing of rail vehicles is provided. Each individual rail vehicle in a series of rail vehicles is identified and measurement data is acquired for the rail vehicle. The measurement data is analyzed and the rail vehicle is automatically routed based on the analysis. The rail vehicle can be routed to an outbound track based on a destination, to a maintenance shop for repair, and / or to a local track for repair and / or re-measurement. The solution can further incorporate expert systems and data mining to reduce the number of rail vehicles that are unnecessarily routed for repair and / or inadvertently allowed to pass with one or more unsafe conditions.

An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: an optical sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by an optical sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

A personal lift device is disclosed having a motor having an output shaft. A gearing system is operatively connected to the output shaft for increasing torque. A strap for suspending a weight is wound onto a spool and rotating the spool extends and retracts the strap. A drive connection is made between the gearing system and the spool to permit said motor to drive said spool. A brake is associated with said spool to prevent unwanted extension of said strap from said spool, when a weight is suspended by said strap. In a preferred embodiment a clutch is provided between the brake and the drive train, and the greater the weight supported by the spool the greater the braking force. An emergency lift and lower device is also provided in the event of a failure of the motor.

A point-to-point transit system for riders includes an elongate guideway, a plurality of autonomous vehicles disposed in the guideway, a plurality of selectively actuable rider access portals in the side of the guideway, and a control system, configured to automatically guide the vehicles within the guideway. The rider access portals are configured to allow ingress and egress of riders to the autonomous vehicles in the guideway. The control system is configured to allow each vehicle to travel between origin and destination locations that are independently selected by a rider.

A personal lift device is disclosed having a motor having an output shaft. A gearing system is operatively connected to the output shaft for increasing torque. A strap for suspending a weight is wound onto a spool and rotating the spool extends and retracts the strap. A drive connection is made between the gearing system and the spool to permit said motor to drive said spool. A brake is associated with said spool to prevent unwanted extension of said strap from said spool, when a weight is suspended by said strap. In a preferred embodiment a clutch is provided between the brake and the drive train, and the greater the weight supported by the spool the greater the braking force. An emergency lift and lower device is also provided in the event of a failure of the motor.

An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: a sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by a sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

A system for identifying rail weights applicable to worn railroad rails measured along a railroad track system includes at least one track measurement device for recording at least a portion of a profile shape of the worn rails, and, a data processor running a software implement for accepting recorded data as input data from the at least one track measurement device and for processing the input data against known unworn railroad rail data to facilitate selection and application of the appropriate rail weights equated thereto to the worn railroad rails.

A cableway with suspended tram and remote bogie is disclosed. This includes a self-contained motor, traction and support sheaves with provision for adjusting the height of the tram below said cable for limiting vertical acceleration caused by travel along the cantenary curve of the cableway.

The present invention discloses a pulling device for a container inspection system including a pulling vehicle (1) arranged inside an inspection passage, a winch (5) and wire tension mechanisms (6,6′). Front and rear ends of the pulling vehicle are connected to a wire rope so as to drive the pulling vehicle to move back and forth inside the inspection passage. The wire rope connected to front and rear ends of the pulling vehicle is wound around a wire tension mechanism arranged at front and rear ends of the inspection passage and is turned around by a swerving pulley (2) which is positioned at the same horizontal plane as that of the wire rope, the pulling vehicle, and the wire tension mechanisms, then the wire rope passes through the vertical pulley block, and finally it is connected to a single winding drum (4) of the winch (5) and wound around the single winding drum (4) respectively. Compared with the prior arts, the present invention is advantageous in reduction in equipment investment and decrease in area occupied by the pulling device. Further, the inspection operation can be carried out more reliably and safely.

Track anomalies in an automated storage library are detected by transmitting a track health signal from one portion of the track. The presence of a track anomaly is determined based on any reception of the transmitted signal at another portion of the track.

A sorting system includes trolleys traveling along a path between respective stations for loading and unloading items in a direction transversely of the direction of travel of the trolleys. Each station includes an inductor for generating a variable magnetic induction field which is sensed by a detecting mechanism, such as an antenna, disposed on the trolley. In response to the magnetic induction field being detected, a loading / unloading device on the trolley (e.g., an endless belt) is actuated to load or unload items.

The invention relates to a system for supplying very low voltage electrical energy for at least one electric traction vehicle (30) running on a track (20), and comprising: at least one very low voltage electric power system (10) installed directly next to the track (20); two parallel power supply rails (41, 42) or the like, that are adjacent or distant, a first rail (41) being connected to a terminal (11) of said power supply means (10) and the second rail (42) being connected to another terminal (12) of said power supply means (10); at least one onboard means for storing electrical energy (60) in the vehicle; and at least one onboard power supply means (80) that is joined to the means for collecting electrical energy (51, 52), and is connected both to the storage means (60) and the traction chain (70), such that the very low voltage power supply means (10) feeds the onboard power supply means (80) which, in turn, feeds the storage means (60) so that it stores electrical energy, to its full capacity, in the successive rolling phases.

A personal transportation and freight delivery system that can be operated as a fully automated driverless land transportation system consisting of vehicles that move on their own propulsion on a pair of overhead parallel steel rails that form a single track and allows people to go anywhere the tracks can take them and delivery of freight anywhere along the tracks. Passengers and freight are transported inside a module that hangs from a propulsion dolly with in-line wheels to roll along such tracks. Electric motors are used for propulsion with power supplied at the tracks assembly; however, the system is also suited for internal combustion engines. There's no need for track switches to route vehicles to its destination as each vehicle has a steering mechanism. Rubber bumpers at each end of the propulsion dollies allow the vehicles to fit bumper-to-bumper along the tracks.

A station control system for and method of controlling the operation of a driverless vehicle. The system includes a vehicle travel path, a plurality of station tags in readable proximity to the travel path, and a vehicle movable along the travel path. Each of the tags are pre-programmed with a unique and arbitrary tag identifier. The vehicle has a tag reader and a controller communicating with the reader with the tag reader is configured to read tag identifiers from the tags. The controller is configured to receive the tag identifiers from the tag reader and access a correlation table having a function command associated with the tag idendifier. The method includes the steps of reading the tag identifier associated with one of the plurality of tags, accessing the correlation table to identify a command in the function field associated with the tag identifier, and executing any identified command.

A metallic frame member provided for use in a traveling frame assembly, guide rail or receiving rail in a conveyor system. A rear section extends longitudinally of the frame member. A pair of inclined sections are bent in directions in which they extend towards each other from lateral ends of the rear section. A pair of front sections are bent in directions in which they extend from lateral ends of the pair of inclined sections generally in parallel to the rear section. A pair of side sections are bent from lateral ends of the front sections towards the rear section. The rear section and pair of inclined sections define a longitudinal concavity having a generally C-like vertical cross-sectional profile. Each of the side sections are folded back at the free end inside or outside thereof to form a folded portion.

The present invention concerns a device for the suspension and displacement of an object or a person, this device including at least two unaligned cables, a profile borne by the cables and a trolley mobile over the length of this profile, characterized in that the profile links said cables together, in that the profile located between the two unaligned cables defines a curved zone, in that the profile includes at least one rectilinear zone in which the cable is kept in the profile and in that the cable is located outside of the profile in the curved zone and close to this curved zone. This device can be used as a Tyrolean traverse.

A double-acting trolley for a one-cable installation support for chair lifts and cabin lifts, includes a bearing member mounted in a swinging manner to a one-cable installation support, and supporting two equalizers respectively below and above the one cable and with each equalizer having at least two rollers engaged with the cable. Also, above and below the cable the respective two equalizers are articulated centrally and respectively to supports each of which is articulated in an elastically damped manner at one end to the bearing member.

A transport system for providing increased capacity to move individuals and freight while still accommodating the individual needs of passengers and freight movers to travel to unique destinations. The transit system including a car including a set of switching wheels that are designed to engage with a set of switching rails, the switching wheels being moveable to selectively engage with the switching rails to either maintain the car on the track or switch the car off to another track. The car has the capability to travel on the relatively high-speed track and on a conventional surface street.

A system for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard. The system is computer based and has an input for receiving data conveying information about one or more arrival trains arriving at the switch yard and data conveying information about departure trains to depart the switch yard. A processing entity processes the data and computes car switching solutions for the railcars.

An airport terminal (100) has a department area (200) which includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of check-in counters (202), at least one, and preferably a plurality of airplane-loading zones (204), and a track system (110), arranged for the movement of wagons (10). Wagon (10) is for automatically transporting and sorting luggage, responsive to commands from a computerized management system (80). The wagon (10) includes a rigid frame for containing the luggage. The frame includes four sides and a double bottom having an upper plate, a lower plate, and an internal compartment.

The present invention provides a transfer technique that can improve the transfer ability when reinforcing and expanding the transfer system, with effectively using the existing system. The transfer system includes tracks that link a plurality of manufacturing equipments, a plurality of carriers having different performances that run on the tracks to transfer objects between the manufacturing equipments and the like in a factory space having a plurality of manufacturing equipments, and the plurality of carriers having different performances are simultaneously provided and run on the same tracks. The plurality of carriers are composed of old carriers and new carriers that provided together and run depending on their own performances (running performance such as running speed, acceleration / deceleration, and the like and transfer performance such as transfer speed and the like).

A system for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard. The system is computer based and has an input for receiving data conveying information about one or more arrival trains arriving at the switch yard and data conveying information about departure trains to depart the switch yard. A processing entity processes the data and computes car switching solutions for the railcars.

An auto-laundry conveyor of three-tier design using upper, lower and intermediate track rails with a narrow slot between them. Dollies are provided in an endless loop conveyor chain and each dolly comprises a combination of a center link, a pair of reversely similar tire engaging rollers, a pair of reversely similar track engaging rollers outboard of the tire engaging rollers and a pair of reversely similar stabilizing rollers outboard of the track engaging rollers. The stabilizing rollers are effectively larger in diameter; i.e., higher than the track engaging rollers so as to prevent rolling contact between the stabilizing rollers and the track surface and to receive the tread surface of an off-center tire and keep the tread surface from interfering with rolling movement of the track engaging rollers. The conveyor is manufactured in 10-foot lengths except for the entry and exit sections which are of lengths X and Y wherein X plus Y equals 10 feet. An open track structure is used to prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris.

The present invention provides a conveying apparatus for conveying in a predetermined direction loads supported on pallets in a drying furnace or the like. The conveying apparatus comprises a conveying path, a return path, an endless circulating driver and pallet supporting and driving means. The conveying path includes a horizontal inlet path, a horizontal outlet path, and an inclined path connected to at least one of the inner ends of the inlet and outlet path. The circulating driver circulates between the conveying path and return path. The supporting and driving means are mounted at intervals on the circulating driver. The pallet supporting and driving means include a front pallet support for supporting a front portion of the pallet, a rear pallet support for supporting a rear portion of the pallet, and a driving engager for automatically engaging with the pallet near the front pallet support. The pallet includes a front supported part that can be supported by the front pallet support, a rear supported part that can be supported by the rear pallet support movable relative to the pallet in the predetermined direction, and an engaged part for automatically engaging with the driving engager. The pallet conveyed to the inlet path section can be transferred onto one of the supporting and driving means, which conveys the pallet on it along the conveying path to the outlet path section.