A maintenance shuttle of modular design for an electric overhead conveyor with a rail system, with a running gear module as well as a maintenance basket module, wherein the running gear module and the maintenance basket module are designed in such a way that the running gear module can be mounted into the rail system of the electric overhead conveyor, the maintenance basket module can be coupled to and decoupled from the running gear module and, in the coupled state, provides protection against falling for an operator, and that the running gear module and the maintenance basket module can be assembled and disassembled at the operating site by an operator by means of manually lockable and releasable bolts.

Among other things, a connection assembly for motion along a rail is disclosed. The connection assembly can include a first plate assembly, a second plate assembly, and a release assembly. The first plate assembly can include a first stop mounted to a first base. The second plate assembly can include a second stop mounted to a second base and a post mounted to the second base. The release assembly can include a rod and a spring. The rod can include an outward extension. The spring can be disposed between the extension and the second stop. The release assembly can be configured to occupy: a first state such that the spring pushes the extension against the first stop and thereby biases the first base away from the second base; and a second state such that the spring pushes the extension against the post.

Among other things, a connection assembly for motion along a rail is disclosed. The connection assembly can include a first plate assembly, a second plate assembly, and a release assembly. The first plate assembly can include a first stop mounted to a first base. The second plate assembly can include a second stop mounted to a second base and a post mounted to the second base. The release assembly can include a rod and a spring. The rod can include an outward extension. The spring can be disposed between the extension and the second stop. The release assembly can be configured to occupy: a first state such that the spring pushes the extension against the first stop and thereby biases the first base away from the second base; and a second state such that the spring pushes the extension against the post.

A support for a trolley, having a running surface that is formed on the support for the trolley, an upper chord, a lower chord and braces that connect said chords together, wherein the braces are designed to be flat, and each brace has a main surface that faces away from the support longitudinally between the upper chord and the lower chord. Two of the braces form a brace pair in each case and are arranged next to one another as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the support, preferably on the outside of opposite longitudinal sides of the support. To provide such a support, the flat braces are releasably secured to the upper chord and/or to the lower chord. The invention also relates to an overhead transport device having such a support and a trolley that can be moved along the support on the running surface.

A support for a trolley, having a running surface that is formed on the support for the trolley, an upper chord, a lower chord and braces that connect said chords together, wherein the braces are designed to be flat, and each brace has a main surface that faces away from the support longitudinally between the upper chord and the lower chord. Two of the braces form a brace pair in each case and are arranged next to one another as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the support, preferably on the outside of opposite longitudinal sides of the support. To provide such a support, the flat braces are releasably secured to the upper chord and/or to the lower chord. The invention also relates to an overhead transport device having such a support and a trolley that can be moved along the support on the running surface.

A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.

A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.

A transport system includes a main cable, a track assembly, and a conveyance assembly, wherein the track assembly is suspended from the main cable to allow unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly. In another aspect according to the present invention, the track assembly has a track changing assembly that includes a track changing section rotatably coupled to a primary track section for selective alignment of the track changing section to any one of a plurality of exit track sections. A method of conveyance along a suspended track includes suspending a main cable between natural or artificial support structures, suspending a track assembly from the main cable, and mounting a conveyance assembly on the suspended track assembly to provide unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly.

A transport system includes a main cable, a track assembly, and a conveyance assembly, wherein the track assembly is suspended from the main cable to allow unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly. In another aspect according to the present invention, the track assembly has a track changing assembly that includes a track changing section rotatably coupled to a primary track section for selective alignment of the track changing section to any one of a plurality of exit track sections. A method of conveyance along a suspended track includes suspending a main cable between natural or artificial support structures, suspending a track assembly from the main cable, and mounting a conveyance assembly on the suspended track assembly to provide unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly.

A conveyance system that prevents conveyance carriages from mistakenly entering an area includes a rail extending across a plurality of areas, a FOUP conveyance vehicle that travels along the rail, a conveyance vehicle that has a width and a height at least one of which differs from that of the FOUP conveyance vehicle, an optical sensor that is provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle, arranged at a position that does not overlap the conveyance vehicle in a traveling direction, and detects an obstacle in front, and a member to be detected that is arranged, in an entry section into a certain area where only the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter, at a position where the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter the certain area, the position being detectable by the optical sensor provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle.