A bearing device comprising a hook, housing, and latch and release mechanism for locking and unlocking the hook, the lock and release mechanism having a pivot latch with a lower cavity capable of receiving one end of the hook, a lever and a locking cam. The lever is pivotally mounted in the housing and has first roller and second rollers on the ends thereof, the latch has an upper cavity in which the first roller can rest and roll, the cam has at least one locking arm on which the second roller can rest and roll. A rotation of the cam in one direction causes the lever to tilt in the other direction, releasing the first roller from the latch, and causes the latch to pivot under the weight of the hook until the end of the hook is released from the lower cavity in the latch.

A bearing device comprising a hook, housing, and latch and release mechanism for locking and unlocking the hook, the lock and release mechanism having a pivot latch with a lower cavity capable of receiving one end of the hook, a lever and a locking cam. The lever is pivotally mounted in the housing and has first roller and second rollers on the ends thereof, the latch has an upper cavity in which the first roller can rest and roll, the cam has at least one locking arm on which the second roller can rest and roll. A rotation of the cam in one direction causes the lever to tilt in the other direction, releasing the first roller from the latch, and causes the latch to pivot under the weight of the hook until the end of the hook is released from the lower cavity in the latch.

A hook gate or hoist hook having a hook gate that is designed to prevent dynamic rollout. The lockable gate includes one or more release mechanisms that allow the gate to unlock and open upon actuation of the release mechanisms. The release mechanisms reside within a circumferential guard that extends outwardly from the gate. The guards preferably extend at least as far as the release mechanism or beyond the extension of the release mechanism. The hook gate further includes anti-snagging flanges extending generally in the vertical direction from both the top and bottom portions of the guard. The circumferential guard and the anti-snagging flanges in combination make it nearly impossible for an attachment mechanism to become improperly oriented under a load and effectively eliminate the possibility of dynamic rollout.

A hook gate or hoist hook having a hook gate that is designed to prevent dynamic rollout. The lockable gate includes one or more release mechanisms that allow the gate to unlock and open upon actuation of the release mechanisms. The release mechanisms reside within a circumferential guard that extends outwardly from the gate. The guards preferably extend at least as far as the release mechanism or beyond the extension of the release mechanism. The hook gate further includes anti-snagging flanges extending generally in the vertical direction from both the top and bottom portions of the guard. The circumferential guard and the anti-snagging flanges in combination make it nearly impossible for an attachment mechanism to become improperly oriented under a load and effectively eliminate the possibility of dynamic rollout.

The disclosure provides a delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicle may be automated for delivering one or more containers to a delivery location and unloading the one or more containers at that location. The vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a bay therein. The vehicle also includes a plurality of container hangers mounted within the bay and an automated unloading arm movable between a retracted arm position and an extended arm position. The arm is at least partially received in the bay in the retracted arm position and extends from the body in the extended arm position. The unloading arm comprises at least one container carrying member, such as at least one hook, longitudinally movable along the unloading arm for selective longitudinal alignment with each of the plurality of hangers.

A positive locking latch assembly for a hook having an open saddle. The latch assembly includes a latch body having a latch face and a pair of opposed sides. The latch body rotates between an open position and a closed position. A torsion spring urges the latch body toward the closed position. A lock plate retained within the latch body is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. A compression spring urges the lock plate toward the locked position. A tab extending from the lock plate extends into an opening in the latch face. A lip extending from the tab is manually movable to engage the latch face in order to retain the lock plate in an unlocked position.

A positive locking latch assembly for a hook having an open saddle. The latch assembly includes a latch body having a latch face and a pair of opposed sides. The latch body rotates between an open position and a closed position. A torsion spring urges the latch body toward the closed position. A lock plate retained within the latch body is movable between a locked and an unlocked position. A compression spring urges the lock plate toward the locked position. A tab extending from the lock plate extends into an opening in the latch face. A lip extending from the tab is manually movable to engage the latch face in order to retain the lock plate in an unlocked position.

A safety load hook with a lower part having a hook throat to which a pivotable upper part is fastened, which, in an open position, allows a load to be suspended on the hook throat and, in a closed position, blocks the hook throat. The upper part is blockable in the closed position by a locking arrangement which includes a locking lever that is pivotable into a release position and a locked position, is pre-tensionable into the locked position by a tensioning spring, is fastened to the lower part with the tensioning spring via the support bolt and, in the locked position, engages in a receiver on the upper part by way of a shaped projection. The locking lever includes a lever on its side opposite the shaped projection, with a center of mass on the lateral surface of the receiving bore for the support bolt.

A safety load hook with a lower part having a hook throat to which a pivotable upper part is fastened, which, in an open position, allows a load to be suspended on the hook throat and, in a closed position, blocks the hook throat. The upper part is blockable in the closed position by a locking arrangement which includes a locking lever that is pivotable into a release position and a locked position, is pre-tensionable into the locked position by a tensioning spring, is fastened to the lower part with the tensioning spring via the support bolt and, in the locked position, engages in a receiver on the upper part by way of a shaped projection. The locking lever includes a lever on its side opposite the shaped projection, with a center of mass on the lateral surface of the receiving bore for the support bolt.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, and a winch mounted to the chassis. The winch includes a reel and a motor. The reel has a line wound thereon, the line having a free end. The reel includes a circumferential channel in which a wound portion of the line is wound onto the reel. The circumferential channel includes an inner portion, an outer portion, and a passage connecting the inner portion and the outer portion. The motor is operable to rotate the reel under control of the control system to thereby cause the line to wind onto and off of the reel, thereby causing the free end of the line to raise and lower.