2087results about "Wagons/vans" patented technology

An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting an image of a pattern of a reticle onto an object, via a fluid that is filled in a space between said projection optical system and the object, a vibrator part for vibrating at least one of the fluid, the object, and the projection optical system, and a controller for controlling the vibrator part so that the vibration of at least one of the fluid, the object, and the projection optical system becomes a tolerance during a processing of the object.

A freight container (10) has a base (20) or a portion thereof that can be opened to discharge its contents. This container (10) has a top which can be opened in similar manner as the base. Another container having at least one compartment, each compartment having a lower section with a reducing cross-sectional area and a pivotably operable closure assembly, with several such closure assemblies being linked together by means of bars. Such a container is used to contain raw building materials for stockpiling of these materials at a container port. It is also used to supply materials to a concrete production plant whee pollution control containers are provided below the supply container and above the scaling and mixing stations to reduce particulate pollution. A pair of slewing apparatuses is also provided to engage both ends of a container and turn the container over about its longitudinal axis, thereby emptying its contents.

The invention relates to a rack for supporting cask-type containers. The rack comprises a plurality of modular structures each suitable for receiving a single container, each modular structure presenting a back vertical mean plane and a substantially parallel front vertical mean plane, and having top fixing points, bottom fixing points, and support means close to said bottom fixing points, said support means being substantially contained in a horizontal plane so as to support a container. The modular structures are connected to one another via their fixing points on a horizontal axis and on a vertical axis so that each upper modular structure straddles two lower modular structures.

Load transport and retraining devices and methods for restraining industrial machines or heavy machinery, such as, turbines, to prevent displacement during adverse environmental conditions, such as, pitching and rolling seas, are provided. The devices include support structures adapted to support loads and having wheels positioned and adapted to engage rails. The wheels include a first set of wheels adapted to ride on top of the rails and a second set of wheels adapted to engage the sides of the rails and thereby retain the support structure to the rails. The devices may also include a third set of wheels adapted to also engage the sides of the rails. The devices may include brake and drive assemblies to facilitate handling. Aspects of the disclosure are uniquely adapted to turbines, but other aspects of the disclosure may restrain any industrial machine that may be exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

An actuating system for manually operating the doors of a railroad hopper car. An operating shaft having a handle is rigidly coupled to an actuating lever. A door opening lever, which is rotatably coupled to the actuating lever, is rotatably coupled to the door for a hopper chute. To operate the system, an operator rotates the handle of the operating shaft, rotating the actuating lever and the door opening lever, shifting the door from the closed to the open position.

A mounting system includes a plurality of adjacent railcars including a first railcar that includes spaced first and second wheel assemblies each including at least one wheel pair. The mounting system also includes a first and second frames coupled to the first railcar. The first frame includes a space defined between at least two portions of the first frame and at least one cushion selectively positionable within the first frame space. The second frame includes a space defined between at least two portions of the second frame and at least one cushion selectively positionable within said second frame space. The first and second frames are spaced to facilitate at least one of partially containing and partially supporting the load. The first frame is substantially centered over at least one first wheel assembly wheel pair, and the second frame is substantially centered over at least one second wheel assembly wheel pair.

A railcar with discharge control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a railway car includes an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading. The railway car further including the underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car. A discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper. A respective door assembly pivotally mounted adjacent to the discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper. The door assembly operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the discharge opening. A discharge control system operable to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The discharge control system operably moves generally longitudinally along the axis of the railway car to move the door assemblies between the first, closed position and the second, open position.

A hopper car discharge section may be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Outflow is controlled by closure members, at least one of which is movable. The closure members come together to a closed condition or position for retaining lading. When apart, in an open position or condition, lading may be discharged. A seal member or seal member assembly is mounted to one or both of the closure members. The closure member may have a lading discharge encouragement feature, which may be in the nature of a tine, or blade, or knife that extends upwardly through the throat of the discharge section. Movement of the door may tend to move the blade, thereby tending to dislodge lading that may be otherwise reluctant to move.

A railroad hopper car discharge gate is assembled from unitary stacked frames that provide unimpeded flow of lading during discharge. A low-wear glide system minimizes friction between the gate panels and other components of the apparatus, and an improved sealing system protects lading from contaminants such as rain, dust and insect infestation and provides enhanced vacuum sealing for greater efficiency during vacuum discharge.

A method of transporting and storing a wind turbine blade (1) including a blade root (10) and a blade tip (4), where the wind turbine blade curves in the unloaded state in such a manner that the blade (1) presents a substantially concave face (30) and a substantially convex face (12), and such that said blade tip (4) is spaced apart from the longitudinal central axis (28) of said blade root (10). By the method, the wind turbine blade (1) is prestressed by means of prestressing means (2, 5, 6, 9, 13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33) at a distance from the blade root (10) in such a manner that the blade tip (4) is brought closer to the longitudinal central axis (28) of the blade root (10). The invention also relates to a curved wind turbine blade (1) being provided with inner ballast tanks (21) at a distance from the blade root (10), whereby the blade is prestressed by filling said ballast tanks in such a manner that the blade tip (4) may be brought closer to the longitudinal central axis (28) of the blade root (10). The invention further relates to an apparatus including prestressing means for loading a curved blade at a distance from the blade root (10) in such a manner that the blade tip (4) is brought closer to the longitudinal central axis (28) of the blade root (10).

The invention is a device for securing a wheelchair to a vehicle. The invention incorporates a pair of belts disposed near a wheelchair station in a vehicle, the belts being remotely operable between tension and release positions. When not in use, the belts are stowed in compartments beside and underneath the floor of the vehicle to eliminate potential obstacles. The rear of the wheelchair is secured to the vehicle using remotely lockable anchor elements which are also retractable when the wheelchair station is not in use.

The present invention relates to an apparatus, system, and method of using the same for connecting and spacing grating and the like. Specifically, the present invention relates to connecting and spacing wire gratings, for example wire gratings used as vehicle tire support material or for mounting wheel chocks thereon in the transportation of automobiles. Even more specifically, the present invention may be used to connect a plurality of wire gratings together and to space in a first direction the plurality of gratings apart from each other at multiple selectable distances in one configuration. In a second configuration, the present invention may be used to space in a second direction the plurality of gratings from other objects, such as a wall or guard rail. The second configuration may be used in multiple orientations in order to provide multiple different spacing distances.

An identity preserved container for storage, transportation, and segregation of a flowable cargo is provided. The container comprises a frame supporting an enclosure with a top, bottom, side walls, front wall, and a back wall. A liner is provided and secured to an interior of the enclosure, comprising side panels and funnels panels forming a bin terminating in a centrally located opening in said bottom of the enclosure. The container also includes a belly door located in the opening in the bottom of the enclosure wherein the belly door moves between a closed and an open position.

An integrated shipping and alignment fixture for shipping and aligning a jointed multi-section wind turbine blade is provided. The fixture includes a first shipping fixture supporting a first end of a section of the multi-section wind turbine blade; a second shipping fixture supporting a second end of a section of the multi-section wind turbine blade; supports on the the first shipping fixture and the second shipping fixture for retaining one end of the section of the wind turbine blade; an aligning device for aligning a detached section of the multi-section wind turbine blade with a retained section of the wind turbine blade; and a clamping device for clamping a detached section with a retained section.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a switch for a powered pallet conveyor is provided. The switch comprising (a) a turntable and (b) rail portions which are arranged upon the turntable and define at least a first travel pathway and a second travel pathway, whereby the first travel pathway is defined by straight rail portions and a second travel pathway is defined by curved rail portions, so that the central line of the first travel pathway and the departure lines of the second travel pathway respectively pass through the fulcrum of the turntable.

A system for transporting an airfoil having a root end, a tip end, and a midsection over a railroad, utilizing a first railcar coupled to a second rail car. The system includes a bracket fixed to the root end of the airfoil and also connected to the first railcar, where the bracket is oriented to align the tip end of the airfoil toward the second rail car. A sling stand is connected to the second railcar, and a sling is hung from the sling stand and aligned to engage and support the midsection of the airfoil, and thereby accommodates misalignment during transport over the railroad. A pair of rollers are disposed on either side of the airfoil to limit lateral movement thereof.

A horizontally extending body or base member includes a forward portion and a rearward portion and has downwardly projecting teeth for engaging a wire grid mounted on a bed or floor. The forward portion of the base member supports a wheel engaging head member for relative horizontal movement between extended and retracted positions, and compression springs bias the head member to its extended position. A lock member is supported by the rearward portion of the base member for pivotal movement between released and locked positions and also has downwardly projecting teeth for engaging the wire grid. The head member carries a wheel engaging extension member for pivotal movement between retracted and extended positions. A side paddle member is also carried by the head member to resist lateral movement of the wheel, and preferably all of the members are each molded of a liquid thermoset plastics material.

A low elevational profile of each of a pair of first and second wheel chocks for restraining a current “low-drag” motor vehicle in a carrier, such as a railway car, is derived from each wheel chock having an internally webbed, elongated stepped-box body terminated with a relatively short rectangular box having its inner wall integrally formed with the stepped-box body. The body of the first chock is essentially a mirror-image of the second chock body. The low profile of a wheel chock allows each to be positioned under a vehicle the rocker panel of which has its lower edge only 148 mm (5.82 inches) above the surface upon which the vehicle's tire rests, so that the installed chock height is reduced to 47.6 mm (1.87″) under the components of the vehicle's body. The assembly may include a pair of “active” chocks; or, one active chock and one anchor chock. A single window in the upper portion of the stepped-box provides access for a strap of a wheel harness, which strap is wrapped around a torque tube in an active chock. The torque tube in one chock is rotatable in a direction opposite to that of the torque tube of the other chock. With a pair of active chocks, hooks on straps of a prior art harness are eliminated because it is difficult and time-consuming to manipulate a tire harness with its straps and hooks to secure the tire between the wheel chocks. When one chock is an anchor chock, one end of the strap is provided with a hook which is anchored to a rod or tube which is substituted for the rotatable torque tube.

The invention relates to a transportation method and a package system for transporting a set of large longitudinal items such as blades for a wind turbine (1) or a tower for a wind turbine. Taking wind turbine blades (1) as an example, the advantages of the invention reside in packaging a tip (3) of one blade and a base (2) of a second blade in the one and same package (5) such that two blades (1) may be transported in packages (5, 16) having an overall lateral extension, approximately the same as the base of only one blade (1) for the wind turbine. Thereby a very compact but also a very easy means of transportation of large longitudinal items such as wind turbine blades (1) is provided.

The methods and apparatus for transporting compressed gas includes a gas storage system having a plurality of pipes connected by a manifold whereby the gas storage system is designed to operate in the range of the optimum compressibility factor for a given composition of gas. The pipe for the gas storage system is preferably large diameter pipe made of a high strength material whereby a low temperature is selected which can be withstood by the material of the pipe. Knowing the compressibility factor of the gas, the temperature, and the diameter of the pipe, the wall thickness of the pipe is calculated for the pressure range of the gas at the selected temperature. The gas storage system may either be modular or be part of the structure of a vehicle for transporting the gas. The gas storage system further includes enclosing the pipes in an enclosure having a nitrogen atmosphere. A displacement fluid may be used to offload the gas from the gas storage system. A vehicle with the gas storage system designed for a particular composition gas produced at a given location is used to transport gas from that producing location to a receiving station miles from the producing location.

A method and system using a compressed display mode list is disclosed. In particular, the compressed display mode list includes a plurality of data representing the display modes. The data is formatted according to a plurality of compression format rules. The compression format rules reduce and minimize the size of the compressed display mode list. A driver controls a graphical processing unit that renders an image for displaying on a display device according to a selected display mode from the compressed display mode list. Moreover, a computer-readable medium can store the compressed display mode list.

A cobalt-chromium-boron-platinum sputtering target alloy having multiple phases. The alloy can include Cr, B, Ta, Nb, C, Mo, Ti, V, W, Zr, Zn, Cu, Hf, O, Si or N. The alloy is prepared by mixing Pt powder with a cobalt-chromium-boron master alloy, ball milling the powders and HIP'ing to densify the powder into the alloy.

A modularly extendible container system for transporting wind turbine blades is disclosed. The extendible container system includes at least one module (50, 52) configured to be connected to other modules. The module includes a box-shaped frame and corrugated side walls attached to the frame. The extendable container system further includes a connecting member positioned at each end of the module for connection between the module and the other module to extend the length of the container system.

A multilength tubular transporter is provided, comprising a base frame, including at least two main beams, wherein the main beams are connected by a plurality of cross members, a floor substantially covering the areas defined by the main beams and cross members; a plurality of substantially vertical guide members connected to each of the main beams; a lifting arrangement operatively connected to the base frame for enabling the transporter to be lifted to and from a vehicle; a stacking device operatively connected to the base frame for engaging the guide members of a second transporter, wherein the transporters may be securely stacked; and wherein the base frame includes one or more winches for securing tubulars within the transporter.

The Personal Mass Transit (PMT) system utilizes a removable vehicle conveyance apparatus and method for conveying transit vehicle car-pods and their contents from one transit station to another autonomously. Vehicle conveyance apparatus are stored off-line in storage silos and other areas awaiting on-demand transit system instruction to pickup vehicles at loading points and convey them to different stations as requested by occupants or pre-programmed instructions. The PMT system further utilizes a number of transmitter-receivers nodes and control computers to manage all aspects of operation of the transportation system. Any number of different types of PMT vehicles could ride the transit system when equipped with the correct coupling points and remain under the maximum combined curb weight of any particular area or type of transit track in order to be transported on the PMT system.

An apparatus for restraining a mobility aid in the interior of a vehicle includes two or more retractor spools contained within a common housing. The retractor spools carry flexible webbed belts, and are operated by common actuator mechanism having a direct mechanical attachment to the spools. The various elements of the apparatus are contained within a common housing which is easily mounted to a bulkhead or under a foldable seat. A third retractor is mounted in opposition permitting both the front and rear of the mobility aid to be easily secured by the occupant of the mobility aid without assistance of the operator of the vehicle. The operative portions of the retractor are designed to be positioned so as not to present an obstacle to other users of the vehicle in which the apparatus may be installed. A timing mechanism is provided for at least one of the retractor spools to allow at least one of the retractor spools to be freely manipulated during a predetermined time interval.

The invention provides a reconfigurable patient support pallet system for transporting patients on litters. The patient support pallet system includes a pallet mounted to the floor of a vehicle. The pallet has a plurality of track rails and attachment points for attaching a litter stanchion set, capable of holding a patient in a litter, and / or for attaching a seat to the surface of the pallet. The pallet also includes a plurality of pallet lips and cargo rings on the periphery which provide locations to attach one or more pallet extensions, pallet spacers and / or pallet ramps to increase the usable surface area of a pallet, as well as facilitate safe passage on, off and between pallets by reducing tripping hazards inherent in cargo aircraft.

A tie-down (9, 38) includes two straps (12, 21) with hooks (17, 24) secured to their ends, the other end (29) of a first strap (21) being workable with a buckle (15, 39) to provide tension. The buckle is captured in a loop (13) formed in the second strap (12), along with a soft loop (10), into which the hook (17) can be engaged so as to avoid damaging an article being restrained by the tie-down. The soft loop (10) is fashioned by stitching (33) of three contiguous layers of strap in a region (32) between the two loops, adjacent to the buckle; the stitching being perpendicular to the direction of tension (35) in the strap.