An overhead rail system includes a hollow tube having a channel running longitudinally along a bottom surface of the overhead rail. A stopper for use in the overhead rail, includes a base having a thickness less than a width of the channel of the overhead rail, a base length, a base width, and first and second countersunk threaded holes. The base further includes a pair of wings having a length greater than a width. The wings are rotatably attached to ends of the base and are rotatable approximately 90 degrees between a first position and a second position. Bolts may attach a stopper portion including a stopper base, and bumper base, and a bumper. The bolts further prevent rotation of the wings, thus securing the stopper in the overhead rail.

A lift unit docking system includes a docking rail, a docking rail adapter, and a locking mechanism. The docking rail is configured to provide ingress and egress of a lift unit to and from an overhead rail, and includes a body defining a channel and an adapter receiving opening within the body. The docking rail adapter is repositionable relative to the adapter receiving opening of the docking rail and is configured to transport the lift unit into and out of the channel of the docking rail. The locking mechanism is repositionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locking mechanism extends into the channel to block movement of a mounted lift unit toward the adapter receiving opening of the docking rail when in the locked position.

A lift unit docking system includes a docking rail, a docking rail adapter, and a locking mechanism. The docking rail is configured to provide ingress and egress of a lift unit to and from an overhead rail, and includes a body defining a channel and an adapter receiving opening within the body. The docking rail adapter is repositionable relative to the adapter receiving opening of the docking rail and is configured to transport the lift unit into and out of the channel of the docking rail. The locking mechanism is repositionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locking mechanism extends into the channel to block movement of a mounted lift unit toward the adapter receiving opening of the docking rail when in the locked position.

A lift assist and transfer assembly for lifting and moving a component through a travel distance is described. The assembly includes an overhead rail mounted to a ceiling of a work environment. The rail has a first end and a second end, corresponding to a loading area and a work area defining the travel distance. A carriage is slidably attached to the rail for supporting the component and a pneumatic cylinder element at the second end of the rail is attached an overhead fixture of the ceiling. The pneumatic cylinder element is biased into a retracted position and extends to an extended position upon actuation to move the second end of the rail downward. The carriage slides along the rail from the first end to the second end upon actuation of the cylinder to displace the second end of the rail such that the rail has a downward slope.

Personnel working at elevated positions use safety lines to prevent falls. Equipment being used in proximity to the personnel may interfere with the safety lines presenting a potential hazard. A fall protection monitor provides an automated and wireless sensor system for avoiding interactions between equipment and safety lines. The fall-protection monitor includes a first sensor for monitoring whether a safety line is in operation. A second sensor monitors a location of a moveable device being used in the vicinity of the safety line. A controller determines the location of the moveable device and whether the safety line is in operation. The controller prevents movement of the moveable device within a predetermined distance from an operational safety line.

A motor controller detects the speed at which a driven member is travelling when it enters a slow-down region of a material handling system. Using this speed and a deceleration rate, the motor controller determines a required slow-down distance to reach a desired slow speed. A traverse distance is determined as a difference between the length of the slow-down region the slow-down distance. The traverse distance extends for a first portion of the slow-down region and the slow-down distance extends for the second portion of the slow-down region. While the driven member is located within the traverse distance, the driven member may continue operating at the speed at which it entered the slow down region. When the driven member reaches the slow-down distance, the motor controller begins decelerating the driven member.

The shoe derailment device for use in derailing a conductor shoe assembly of a bridge crane from a conductor rail assembly generally has a wedge head provided at a longitudinal end of a body made of an electrically insulating material, the shoe derailment device being securable to the conductor rail assembly in a derailment position in which the shoe derailment device is positioned outside an operating zone of the bridge crane, with the wedge head facing the operating zone in a manner that if the conductor shoe assembly is moved outside the operating zone, into the area occupied by the shoe derailment device, the conductor shoe assembly is derailed from the conductor rail assembly as the conductor shoe assembly engages the wedge head and is maintained in a derailed state by the electrically insulating material when the conductor shoe assembly is engaged with the body.

The shoe derailment device for use in derailing a conductor shoe assembly of a bridge crane from a conductor rail assembly generally has a wedge head provided at a longitudinal end of a body made of an electrically insulating material, the shoe derailment device being securable to the conductor rail assembly in a derailment position in which the shoe derailment device is positioned outside an operating zone of the bridge crane, with the wedge head facing the operating zone in a manner that if the conductor shoe assembly is moved outside the operating zone, into the area occupied by the shoe derailment device, the conductor shoe assembly is derailed from the conductor rail assembly as the conductor shoe assembly engages the wedge head and is maintained in a derailed state by the electrically insulating material when the conductor shoe assembly is engaged with the body.

Personnel working at elevated positions use safety lines to prevent falls. Equipment being used in proximity to the personnel may interfere with the safety lines presenting a potential hazard. A fall protection monitor provides an automated and wireless sensor system for avoiding interactions between equipment and safety lines. The fall-protection monitor includes a first sensor for monitoring whether a safety line is in operation. A second sensor monitors a location of a moveable device being used in the vicinity of the safety line. A controller determines the location of the moveable device and whether the safety line is in operation. The controller prevents movement of the moveable device within a predetermined distance from an operational safety line.

Personnel working at elevated positions use safety lines to prevent falls. Equipment being used in proximity to the personnel may interfere with the safety lines presenting a potential hazard. A fall protection monitor provides an automated and wireless sensor system for avoiding interactions between equipment and safety lines. The fall-protection monitor includes a first sensor for monitoring whether a safety line is in operation. A second sensor monitors a location of a moveable device being used in the vicinity of the safety line. A controller determines the location of the moveable device and whether the safety line is in operation. The controller prevents movement of the moveable device within a predetermined distance from an operational safety line.