A drive for a material hoist system can include a housing configured to be slidably coupled to a track of the system; a motor positioned inside the housing; a gearbox positioned inside the housing and coupled to the motor; and a spool positioned inside the housing between the motor and the gearbox, the spool configured to: selectably wind and unwind a flexible connecting element coupled to the track; and drive movement of the drive along a longitudinal direction of the track.

A lift system comprises a rail (1) and a carriage assembly (2) comprising a seat (21) or platform (21) for supporting a person to be conveyed along the rail (1), drive means arranged to engage the rail (1) and controllable to drive the carriage assembly (2) along the rail (1), energy storage means arranged to power the drive means, input means operable by a user to provide an input signal indicative of a desired movement of the carriage assembly (2) along the rail (1), and control means arranged to receive the input signal and control the drive means in response to the input signal. The system includes charging means arranged to charge the energy storage means when the carriage assembly (2) is at a first charging position on the rail (1). The control means is arranged to monitor at least one voltage (VI, V2) characteristic of the energy storage means and/or at least one operational characteristic of the stair lift, and generate an alert signal in response to one or more of those characteristics, or a difference between one or more of those characteristics, fulfilling a defined criterion, criteria, condition, or conditions.

A portable lift is provided. The portable lift includes a top frame assembly, a carriage frame, a base frame, and a hoist mechanism. The top frame assembly is secures top ends of a pair of stringers together. The base frame assembly secures bottom ends of the pair of stringers together forming the portable lift frame. The carriage frame includes a plurality of wheel assemblies each having a plurality of wheels. The plurality of wheels releasably retain to and slidably engage with a stringer of the pair of stringers. The hoist mechanism includes a motor, a spool rotatable by the motor, a pulley secured to the top frame assembly, and a hoist cable wrapped around the spool and running from the spool through the pulley and secured to the carriage frame.

A portable lift is provided. The portable lift includes a top frame assembly, a carriage frame, a base frame, and a hoist mechanism. The top frame assembly is secures top ends of a pair of stringers together. The base frame assembly secures bottom ends of the pair of stringers together forming the portable lift frame. The carriage frame includes a plurality of wheel assemblies each having a plurality of wheels. The plurality of wheels releasably retain to and slidably engage with a stringer of the pair of stringers. The hoist mechanism includes a motor, a spool rotatable by the motor, a pulley secured to the top frame assembly, and a hoist cable wrapped around the spool and running from the spool through the pulley and secured to the carriage frame.

An L-shaped track has a vertical part configured to stand on the ground, a horizontal part configured to span over a roof, and a curved part in between. A motor-driven winch moves a carriage up and down the track. The carriage engages a skylight, which can be quickly and easily hoisted from the ground to the roof up the track to the roof to install the skylight.

An L-shaped track has a vertical part configured to stand on the ground, a horizontal part configured to span over a roof, and a curved part in between. A motor-driven winch moves a carriage up and down the track. The carriage engages a skylight, which can be quickly and easily hoisted from the ground to the roof up the track to the roof to install the skylight.

Various lifting systems are described that use one or more of the following features. A method for setting an adjustable height upper pulley on a tall structure; load transfer from a suspended load to a tall structure; fan-based stabilizer; stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism using a closed loop of cable and taction winch for a crane application; crane-based lifting system that uses a closed loop of lifting cable looped around a traction winch; and a stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism that does not need a closed loop of cable. Other embodiments are also described and claims. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Various lifting systems are described that use one or more of the following features. A method for setting an adjustable height upper pulley on a tall structure; load transfer from a suspended load to a tall structure; fan-based stabilizer; stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism using a closed loop of cable and taction winch for a crane application; crane-based lifting system that uses a closed loop of lifting cable looped around a traction winch; and a stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism that does not need a closed loop of cable. Other embodiments are also described and claims. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

An apparatus that permits a wheelchair to traverse stairs. A carriage platform supporting the wheelchair is housed in an inclined ways assembly and moves by means of a rotated threaded rod supported in the ways and traveling nuts fixed to the carriage; a debarkation ramp hinged to the carriage, spans the distance and elevation difference between the carriage and the desired landing point.

A rail transport system comprising at least two runners having a shaped profile, a transport rail, and a transport carriage, the runners with a shaped profile being extended over a staircase or over a flat section and the transport carriage being moved along the transport rail. The transport carriage is provided with at least one electric motor. The runners having a shaped profile and the transport rail are stored in the transport carriage. A method for constructing a rail transport system and for transporting at least one container for loading or unloading the galley of an airplane, and a system for simultaneously loading and/or unloading the galley of an airplane.