Abstract: A crane has an upperstructure that is mounted on a carrier by a quick-disconnect turntable mounting. The upperstructure can be transferred from the carrier to a transport, and back to the carrier, by a system that does not require an auxiliary crane. A live mast on the crane is used for positioning a front lift assembly and a rear lift assembly for attachment to the upperstructure. The front lift assembly is connected to the upperstructure frame by boom foot pins, and the rear lift assembly is connected to the frame by the counterweight mounting mechanism. These lift assemblies enable vertical movement of the upper structure, and outrigger jacks on the carrier enable vertical movement thereof. Air pad assemblies are provided between the outrigger jacks and the surface supporting the carrier. These air pad assemblies can also be provided between the lift assemblies and the surface supporting the upperstructure.

Abstract: A muffler system positioned within the engine housing of the vehicle such as a garden tractor, includes a muffler surrounded by an open ended tubular heat shield having a venturi tube on its outer end which receives and accelerates the exhaust gases to create a flow of cooling air through the engine housing and between the muffler and the tubular heat shield for extracting heat from both the engine housing and the muffler.

Abstract: A rotary irrigation system comprises a length of irrigation tubing formed by interconnected pipe sections and having sprinkler heads spaced along the length thereof, which tubing is connected at one end to a fixed upstanding water supply pipe and which is connected at the other end to a pulling tractor that is powered by the irrigation water under pressure in the tubing. The length of tubing is provided at spaced positions along its length with hydraulic cylinder powered support struts. The activation of the struts and the tractor is controlled by a timing mechanism at the central water supply pipe which periodically shuts off the flow of water to the tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a carton into a thermoplastic bag includes a table for supporting the bag, a pusher assembly for transferring a carton into the bag, and a guide assembly for first opening the bag mouth and for thereafter guiding the carton into the mouth of the bag while supporting the carton above the table until after it has been fully inserted into the bag. A vacuum is applied through apertures formed in the table to initially hold the bottom panel of the bag against the table, and a reciprocatable suction cup assembly is mounted above the suction apertures for engaging the top panel of the bag and for partially opening the mouth of the bag so that the guide assembly may be inserted therein.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve of the diaphragm type having a condensate recovery device. The condensate recovery device is connected to the disc of the relief valve and provides means for moving condensate from an upper control chamber to either an inlet chamber or to a discharge chamber depending upon the relative pressures of the inlet and discharge chambers. Condensate from the control chamber enters a passageway in the recovery device through an inlet check valve and flows from the passageway through one of two inlet check valves into another chamber having a pressure higher than the pressure in the passageway. Each of the check valves includes a valve seat connected to one of the chambers and a ball which sits on the seat during the absence of any condensate in the passageway. Any condensate in the control chamber causes the ball at the inlet valve to float off the inlet seat and allows the condensate to enter the passageway.

Abstract: A continuous cooking or sterilizing process employs apparatus wherein particulate foods are cooked under pressure in and by the cooking sauce with which the food is eventually packed in containers. The sauce is externally heated in a heat exchanger to the sterilizing temperature, and the food and sauce are cooled under pressure by injecting cooled sterile sauce into the hot mixture of cooked product and sauce before the mixture is released to atmosphere. By cooking the product directly in the sauce, product flavor is enhanced and upon cooling, the absorbed sauce is cooled below the flash temperature preventing damage to the cellular portions of the food particles on pressure release. Thus during the canning operation, only a relatively short reheat of the sealed containers and possibly the product is necessary to resterilize the outer portions of the food particles, the cooking sauce, and the interior of the containers.

Abstract: An adapter especially suited for transferring petroleum fluids from a single large-diameter loading arm to a plurality of smaller tanker manifolds, including a generally T-shaped connector having a large-diameter inlet housing at one end and a plurality of smaller diameter outlet housings at the other end thereof. The inlet housing of the connector is connected to the outboard end of the loading arm by a pair of large-diameter swivel joints and a pipe elbow. A plurality of eccentric fluid couplers are each connected to a corresponding one of the smaller outlet housings by one of a plurality of smaller swivel joints. These eccentric fluid couplers can be rotated into various positions to adapt to differences in spacings between the manifolds of various marine tankers.

Abstract: A multiple speed hoisting system has a first fluid circuit, with a maximum effective cross-sectional area for hoisting heavy loads at low speed, and a second fluid circuit, with a smaller effective cross-sectional area for hoisting lighter loads at higher speed. These circuits are separately actuated by a valve that is responsive to a regulating means for selectively positioning the valve. A pressure operated control, that is in flow communication with the second fluid circuit, automatically cancels the influence of the valve regulating means, in response to a predetermined pressure level in the second fluid circuit, and allows the valve to revert to a position actuating the first fluid circuit. Undesirable oscillations within the system between the pressure operated control and the valve regulating means are avoided.

Abstract: A high speed tracked vehicle has a sprocket extending from each side thereof coupled to an engine through which driving power is supplied to each of a pair of driving tracks. The driving tracks are supported on either side of the vehicle hull by an idler wheel and the driving sprocket. A plurality of ground wheels distributes the vehicle weight over that portion of the tracks in contact with the surface underlying the vehicle. The tracks include a plurality of interconnected shoes each of which includes an inner elastomeric insert disposed to contact the idler wheel at the rim. Idler wheel rim and track shoe contact being a source of mechanical vibrations causing internal hull noise, one or more continuous peripheral ridges or crowns are formed on the rims so that the area of contact between the rims and the elastomeric inserts is reduced and the compliance of the system is increased.

Abstract: An expandable and retractable fluid conduit is disclosed for conveying fluid between a fixed point and a movable point. A plurality of rigid pipe sections are pivotally connected in end-to-end relation by swivel joints to form an articulated fluid conveying pipe. A plurality of rigid support sections are pivotally connected in end-to-end relation to form an articulated support member. The articulated pipe member and the articulated support member criss-cross, and are pivotally connected at their intersections, to form a lazy tong configuration. Universal swivel joints are provided at each end of the conduit, and means is provided to render each pipe section and each support section buoyant in underwater installations. In another embodiment of the invention, two articulated fluid conveying pipes criss-cross for pivotal connection at their intersections.

Abstract: A maneuverable surface sweeper has a framework supporting a hopper configured to receive dust and debris swept from an underlying surface. A broom chamber is mounted within the framework overlying the surface to be swept and in communication with the hopper. The broom chamber may move vertically relative to the framework. A rotary driven broom is mounted in the broom chamber and has limited vertical movement capability relative to the chamber. A resilient tubular seal is disposed between the broom chamber and the hopper so that dust control is obtained therebetween while the broom chamber undergoes vertical movement. A bump encountered on the underlying surface elevates the broom chamber permitting the sweeper to pass thereover while allowing the broom to descend and continue in sweeping contact with the surface.

Abstract: A method for measuring the length of segments of moving chain includes the steps of measuring the velocity of the chain by timing the interval a point on the chain moves a known distance and timing the interval between the sensing of one end of the segment at one point and the sensing of the opposite end of the segment at another point a known distance from said one point. A method is disclosed to track each carrier in a conveyor system by continuously measuring segments of the chain and maintaining a running total of the chain length between each carrier and a reference point. Apparatus in the conveyor system, including a chain length measuring station, is disclosed.

Abstract: A seat suspension system includes a rigid support plate angled downwardly and pivoted to a supporting vehicle at the plate's forward end. A bucket seat is connected to the plate by hand screws that extend through slots in the plate to provide leg room adjustment. One end of the coil spring is adjustably attached to the seat support plate by a connector extending through a slot in the plate to provide forward and rearward adjustment, independent of the seat adjustment, thereby comfortably supporting operators of different heights and weights between about 100 and 400 pounds. A safety interlock switch prevents operation of the tractor unless an operator is in the seat, and a latch is provided to latch the seat in an inclined position when the tractor is not in use.

Abstract: Feeding a longitudinally extending lane of regularly spaced articles to a horizontal form, fill and seal wrapping machine is disclosed. To insure regularity of spacing and that no gaps are created, in-line operatively integrated storage and transferring conveyors and an infeed wrapper lug conveyor are provided. Articles in abutting relation on the storage and transferring conveyors are dispensed to the lug conveyor so that each successive article is engaged and fed by each successive lug of the infeed conveyor. In being transferred to the infeed lug conveyor longitudinal spacing of the articles is effected. Also according to the disclosed concept more than one article may be simultaneously transferred to the infeed lug conveyor.

Abstract: A pipe coupler for releasably connecting two flanged pipes together in end-to-end manner, and with a means for positively disconnecting the pipes when the cpupler's grip thereof is released. A plurality of the couplers are mounted on and spaced around one of the pipe flanges, and each coupler has an arm with a jaw for gripping the opposing pipe flange and a stem slip-fitted into a housing so as to be rotatable and translatable relative thereto for effecting clamping and unclamping movement. A drawbolt is threaded into a bore in the stem to move the stem forward or backward with respect to the housing. A radially extending finger connected to the stem applies force against the opposing pipe flange to push the two flanges apart and positively separate the pipes as the stem moves outward from the housing.

Abstract: A crane is operable in either a regular mode or a heavy duty mode. In the regular mode, an upper works is rotatble, through a turntable bearing, on a lower works. A boom is pivotally connected to one end of the upper works and a counterweight is connected to the opposite end thereof. In the heavy duty mode, a support ring surrounds the lower works and is connected thereto. An auxiliary frame is mounted on the support ring, surrounding the upper works, for rotation on the ring in unison with rotation of the upper works. The boom used in the regular mode is pivotally connected to the auxiliary frame for use as a gantry, and a heavier boom is pivotally connected to the auxiliary frame adjacent the gantry. The counterweight of the machine in the regular mode is shifted to the auxiliary frame opposite the boom and gantry, and an auxiliary counterweight is added to the auxiliary frame.

Abstract: In a down-the-row type of tree shaking apparatus, a support frame is pivotally mounted to a carrier vehicle for rotation about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a suspension frame, from which a tree shaking and clamping assembly depends, is pivotally mounted to the support frame for rotation about an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The shaking and clamping assembly includes a housing and a pair of clamping arms which are pivotally mounted to the housing for rotation about parallel axes which are perpendicular to the transverse axis of rotation of the suspension frame. Each clamping arm is retractable from the position it assumes during shaking through an arc of approximately 90.degree., and each arm is operated by a separately controllable hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve operating circuit for providing positive opening and closing of a downhole safety valve includes shut-off valves which prevent leakage of fuel to the outside environment if a leak should occur in the hydraulic lines which are connected to the hydraulic actuator of the downhole safety valve. A hydraulic control line is connected to the actuator of the safety valve through a normally-closed shut-off valve and the hydraulic control line is also connected to the actuator of the shut-off valve to hold both the shut-off valve and the downhole safety valve open when the hydraulic line is pressurized. Another valve moves to a position to direct the flow of fluid from the safety valve to an accumulator when the pressure in the control line falls below a predetermined value to insure that the downhole safety valve will close properly.

Abstract: A normally non-contacting rotary seal is disclosed which prevents fluid from leaking from one zone, or compartment, to the next through an opening in the compartment separating wall, or bulkhead, through which a rotating shaft passes. The passage of fluid through the wall opening is prevented regardless of which side of the wall becomes flooded. An annular resilient seal, having spaced apart radial flanges, is secured around the shaft for rotation therewith in an annular chamber at the separating wall. No part of the seal normally contacts the stationary walls of the chamber. In the event one compartment becomes flooded, liquid flows past the seal flange adjacent that compartment into the chamber, forcing the other seal flange into sealing contact with the wall of the chamber to block the flow of the liquid into the adjacent compartment. In another embodiment, a stabilizing ring is mounted between the flanges.

Abstract: A hybrid type chain having a low wear pivot joint between inner and outer links has been provided. Both the inner and outer links of the chain are pin links with the pins tightly received, respectively, in the sidebars of the links. Each pin of an inner link is engaged with the adjacent pin of the adjacent outer link in linking engagement to form a pivot joint. All pins have convex, arcuate faces for rocking engagement between the pins at the pivot joint between links.