The invention provides a positioning system for a lifting apparatus. The positioning system comprises a movable support having a longitudinal axis. The system comprises a first positioning member movably mounted to the support, wherein the first positioning member comprises a first axis and a second axis and is configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the support with the first axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support. The system also comprises a second positioning member mounted to the first positioning member and configured to move transversely to the first axis of the first positioning member.

A drive device for a handling trolley, including: a chassis; a wheel carrier; a drive wheel; a steering motor for rotating the wheel carrier relative to the chassis; a reduction gear connecting the steering motor to the wheel carrier, the reduction gear including a planetary gear set including an internal sun gear, at least one planet gear, and a planet carrier on which the planet gear is mounted, a ring gear surrounding the internal sun gear and the planet gear. The shaft of the steering motor is fixed relative to the internal sun gear, the wheel carrier is fixed relative to either the planet carrier or the ring gear, and the chassis is fixed relative to the other one of the two components.

A drive device for a handling trolley, including: a chassis; a wheel carrier; a drive wheel; a steering motor for rotating the wheel carrier relative to the chassis; a reduction gear connecting the steering motor to the wheel carrier, the reduction gear including a planetary gear set including an internal sun gear, at least one planet gear, and a planet carrier on which the planet gear is mounted, a ring gear surrounding the internal sun gear and the planet gear. The shaft of the steering motor is fixed relative to the internal sun gear, the wheel carrier is fixed relative to either the planet carrier or the ring gear, and the chassis is fixed relative to the other one of the two components.

A self-contained hoist device, rail device and hoist system for hoisting building materials, comprising a housing; and lifting beam extending from the housing; wherein a hoist motor for driving a winch provided with a hoisting wire and a battery pack for powering the hoist motor are arranged inside the housing, and a distal end of the hoisting wire is adapted to be attached to a fixing point above the self-contained hoist device, whereby operation of the hoist motor may cause the housing and lifting beam to be raised and lowered, respectively.

A bridge crane assembly includes a crane track that is positioned in a warehouse. A cylinder is included that has a plurality of tracks integrated into the cylinder. A drive unit is integrated into the cylinder and the drive unit has a pair of drive wheels that each engages the crane track. The drive unit rotates each of the drive wheels in a first direction or a second direction. A carriage extends around the cylinder and a plurality of rollers is each rotatably coupled to the carriage. Each of the rollers engages a respective one of the tracks on the cylinder thereby facilitating the carriage to travel along the cylinder. A transport unit is integrated into the carriage and the transport unit engages the cylinder. The transport unit is actuatable to urge the carriage to travel along the cylinder in either a primary direction or a secondary direction.

A bridge crane assembly includes a crane track that is positioned in a warehouse. A cylinder is included that has a plurality of tracks integrated into the cylinder. A drive unit is integrated into the cylinder and the drive unit has a pair of drive wheels that each engages the crane track. The drive unit rotates each of the drive wheels in a first direction or a second direction. A carriage extends around the cylinder and a plurality of rollers is each rotatably coupled to the carriage. Each of the rollers engages a respective one of the tracks on the cylinder thereby facilitating the carriage to travel along the cylinder. A transport unit is integrated into the carriage and the transport unit engages the cylinder. The transport unit is actuatable to urge the carriage to travel along the cylinder in either a primary direction or a secondary direction.

Object is to provide a travel facility in which a travel member, that became incapable of traveling due to a cause other than a power supply failure, can be moved to another location on a travel path. A second travel member, provided separately from the first travel member, includes an external signal generating portion for generating an external travel control signal to be sent to a first travel actuator and a connecting portion which can transmit the external travel control signal. The first travel member includes a first connecting portion which can receive the external travel control signal and can transmit the external control signal to the first travel actuator. A connecting member for receiving and transmitting the external travel control signal is removably connected to, and between, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

Object is to provide a travel facility in which a travel member, that became incapable of traveling due to a cause other than a power supply failure, can be moved to another location on a travel path. A second travel member, provided separately from the first travel member, includes an external signal generating portion for generating an external travel control signal to be sent to a first travel actuator and a connecting portion which can transmit the external travel control signal. The first travel member includes a first connecting portion which can receive the external travel control signal and can transmit the external control signal to the first travel actuator. A connecting member for receiving and transmitting the external travel control signal is removably connected to, and between, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

A hoist support system includes a rail assembly having a rail along which a motor assembly is translatable by actuation of a motor of the motor assembly. The motor assembly is adapted to support a hoist and is communicatively coupled to a control system. The control system is adapted to measure motion of a slung load coupled to the hoist and to determine whether and to what extent the slung load is swinging or otherwise unstable. In response to such measurements, the control system transmits control signals to the motor of the motor assembly to change the position of the motor assembly along the rail and attenuate the motion of the slung load.

A hoist support system includes a rail assembly having a rail along which a motor assembly is translatable by actuation of a motor of the motor assembly. The motor assembly is adapted to support a hoist and is communicatively coupled to a control system. The control system is adapted to measure motion of a slung load coupled to the hoist and to determine whether and to what extent the slung load is swinging or otherwise unstable. In response to such measurements, the control system transmits control signals to the motor of the motor assembly to change the position of the motor assembly along the rail and attenuate the motion of the slung load.