Abstract: Adjustable side shoe assemblies are provided on respective side walls of adjacent movable boom sections of a crane boom assembly to maintain alignment between the sections. A boss provided on each side wall at the upper end of a movable boom section of a crane boom assembly has a tapped hole passing through the section. A threadable member, preferably composed of a phenolic or other abradable material can be inserted into the threaded opening provided in the side wall of the boom section, the member being threadably rotated into the opening to engage the side wall of the next adjacent boom section. Respective aligned openings provided in the side walls of the boss and the threadable member receive a retaining member, such as a cotter pin, to hold the threadable member in place on the boom section.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for use in a vehicle, such as an industrial truck or the like, in which a two-way power steering actuator cylinder having a piston rod extending from both ends is supported from and above a steering axle by pivot tube and pivot shaft members which enable universal movement of the steering cylinder, the piston rod functioning also as a tie rod which is connected at each opposite end to a modified four-bar steering linkage which is in turn connected to a dirigible wheel. King post assemblies are secured to opposite ends of the steer axle which connect the four-bar linkages to the wheels. Each such linkage includes a steering link extended in length to connect the adjacent end of the actuator piston rod. One end of a guide link of the four-bar linkage is connected to the steering link intermediate the ends thereof.

Abstract: A two-stage regulator valve, particularly for regulating the operation of single acting hydraulic lift motors in lift trucks, which embodies a spool valve controlling first and second ports in the valve body and responsive at one end to lift motor fluid pressure. At the opposite end the valve is responsive first to the force of a first spring which closes the spool on one port when lift motor fluid is below a predetermined pressure, and secondly, following predetermined compression of the first spring during which both ports are opened to exhaust pressure fluid from the lift motor, to the added combined force of a lift motor pressure responsive piston and a second spring. The piston forms with the spool valve a differential area response to said fluid pressure and together with the second spring regulates the position of the spool valve so as to variably restrict the other port to control the exhaust from the lift motor inversely as a function of the fluid pressure therein.

Abstract: A powered dual walkie/rider low lift transporter type truck especially for slip sheet pallet handling in which one tractor portion is supported from a single drive-steer wheel at one end, a second tractor portion is supported from a dual caster wheel at a corresponding one end, and load wheels at the other end of each truck are pivoted from a relatively short length L-shaped platform or frame and are actuatable to lift and lower the platform by actuator-linkage means on each truck. The trucks are coupled together lengthwise of adjacent inner sides thereof. A pair of channel members are located intermediate the drive-steer and load wheels of the one truck and between the caster and load wheels of the other truck, each having stop members secured therein and camming or open portions formed at the bottom of the rear flanges.

Abstract: At least three elongated flexible elements bonded together lengthwise to form constraint means arcuate in cross-section for forcing said elements to move in a predetermined path in which the flexible elements are bent longitudinally to form a loop of substantially uniform radius intermediate the ends thereof so that at least a portion of the loop is forced into a flat cross-section while the straight portions or trailing lengths of said elements on opposite sides of the loop are self-constrained in relatively stiff and straight runs whether either straight portion is pulled or pushed in relation to the loop, such that the flexible elements move as if reeved on a reel, sheave or the like.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for use in a vehicle, such as an industrial truck or the like, in which a two-way power steering actuator cylinder having a piston rod extending from both ends is supported from and above a steering axle by pivot tube and pivot shaft members which enable universal movement of the steering cylinder, the piston rod functioning also as a tie rod which is connected at each opposite end to a modified four-bar steering linkage which is in turn connected to a dirigible wheel. King post assemblies are secured to opposite ends of the steer axle which connect the four-bar linkages to the wheels. Each such linkage includes a steering link extended in length to connect the adjacent end of the actuator piston rod. One end of a guide link of the four-bar linkage is connected to the steering link intermediate the ends thereof.

Abstract: A powered walkie/rider low lift transporter type truck especially for slip sheet pallet handling in which a tractor portion is supported from a single drive-steer wheel at one end and load wheels at the other end are pivoted from a relatively short length L-shaped platform or frame and are actuatable to lift and lower the platform by actuator-linkage means. A pair of channel members are located intermediate the drive-steer and load wheels having stop members secured therein and camming or open portions formed at the bottom of the rear flanges. A load supporting relatively long L-shaped platform or frame is mounted in the channel members by pairs of upper and lower guide rollers; it overlaps, extends forwardly of and is elevatable in a horizontal plane with the short platform to transport a load.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for operator pre-selection in one exemplary embodiment of the extension of a lift truck upright which utilizes a fixed displacement hydraulic motor operating to adjust either a rotary switch or a potentiometer which is connected to a valve for interrupting the flow to the lift cylinder of the upright at the pre-selected height. The adjusted position of an operator's lift height selector is coordinated with the rotary switch or potentiometer or to effect the selected extension of the upright.

Abstract: A device for removing and inserting traction drive batteries in lift trucks, the device being supported upon the floor aside the lift truck and engageable with a body portion thereof for maintaining a fixed position in relation to the truck during operation of the device. A handle bar lever arm is pivoted from the base and connectible by means of a ratchet bar to a side of the battery for extracting or inserting the battery from or in a truck compartment by a succession of movements in which the lever arm is successively adjusted about its base pivot to engage different ones of a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches in the ratchet bar for moving the battery in or out of the compartment.

Abstract: A load back rest for industrial vehicles having a pair of spaced hollow multi-sided members. Each hollow member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches through one side in alignable and facing relation with corresponding notches in one side of the other hollow member so that a guard bar may be fitted in each facing pair of notches. Side rails connect the respective ends of the hollow members. The load back rest is supported from the fork carriage in a vertical plane at the front of the vehicle.

Abstract: Material storage frames or rack assemblies in warehouses are set up in long parallel spaced rows which form narrow aisles therebetween. Each rack assembly has vertical columns and horizontal rows of bins for the storage of material. A pair of Z-rails confront each other from opposite sides of each aisle having oppositely extending bottom flanges secured rigidly to the floor and upper flanges extending inwardly of the aisle which form guide tracks with the web of the Z and the floor. Vertical support posts of the rack located adjacent the aisle are spaced longitudinally of the aisle and rest upon the adjacent floor mounted Z-rail flange, whereas the lowermost row of stored material units, usually palletized, are adapted to be supported by the respective upper flange portion of each Z-rail between the pairs of vertical posts or each storage rack.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder assembly in which cylinders are separated into two coaxial cylindrical portions sealed hydraulically one from the other, one having an extensible piston therein and the other being extensible together with the extensible piston on a fixed supporting piston. In an exemplary embodiment two such cylinder assemblies are mounted to operate in opposite directions within various predetermined fixed limits of extension to control the extension of a telescopic spreader frame for handling containers to selected ones of such fixed limits. For different combinations of such fixed limits of extension in one or more selected installations, different length spacers are used at the time of assembly in the cylinder assemblies to establish various fixed and predetermined intermediate extensions between full extension and full retraction thereof.

Abstract: A fixed displacement fluid motor or pump of the ball or roller piston type in which a plurality of axially or radially extending reciprocating pistons co-act with a cam track to produce output motion or to generate pressure fluid output, respectively. Permanent magnets are secured either to the pistons or in or adjacent the cylinders for holding the pistons in fixed retracted positions beyond one end of the normal stroke of the pistons under certain conditions of relatively low fluid operating pressure in the cylinders which occur in modes of operation during which no motor or pump output is desired.

Abstract: An inverted generally U-shaped overhead protective guard for industrial vehicles in which the overhead guard canopy or bridge includes a pair of parallel spaced hollow multi-sided members. Each hollow member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches through one side in alignable and facing relation with corresponding notches in one side of the other hollow member so that a guard bar may be fitted in each facing pair of notches. Side rails connect the respective ends of the hollow members. The bridge structure is supported from the vehicle by front and rear pairs of legs which together provide an overhead guard which extends over the operator's station.

Abstract: A power steering system for electric vehicles in which an electric drive motor for the supply pump of a power steering system is controlled by a motor control which is in turn controlled by the steering demand of the operator. The motor and pump are operated only during steering operations and only at the power level required for any steering demand.

Abstract: A spreader frame for van carriers for engaging, lifting and transporting freight containers which is chain supported at both ends from a carrier mounted lifting arch and which is connected to the carrier frame by a guide beam at one end only. At the said one end there is connected between the guide beam and the spreader frame three hydraulic cylinders, one of which extends generally transversely of the frame for side shifting it on the guide beam, and the other two of which extend generally longitudinally at opposite sides of the frame for skewing it on the guide beam.

Abstract: A fixed displacement fluid motor or pump of the ball or roller piston type in which a plurality of axially or radially extending reciprocating pistons coact with a cam track to produce output motion or to generate pressure fluid output, respectively. A mechanical locking device, preferably in the form of an expansible retaining ring, is secured to each piston, being adapted to lock the piston in a fixed retracted position and out of contact with the cam in a tapered portion of the cylinder bore in modes of operation during which no motor or pump output is required.

Abstract: A closed recirculating hydrostatic transmission system suitable for driving a traction vehicle. The system includes a pair of hydrostatic engine driven variable displacement pumps either of different displacements or engine driven at different speed ratios and each pump being operative to drive hydrostatic motors at the various wheels and in separate closed loop drive circuits such that accurate flow division as between the circuits is effected for driving the vehicle in four-wheel drive or, at the operator's selection, for driving the motors in the one closed loop circuit at a higher speed in two-wheel drive by means of the pump of larger discharge volume. An operator's control operates both pumps together within the limits of the smaller discharge pump in four-wheel drive, and operates the larger discharge pump within the limits thereof while rendering ineffective the smaller discharge pump in two-wheel drive. Valve means enables smooth transition and shifting between two and four-wheel drive at any time.

Abstract: Self-locking latch device especially for hood and side panels of industrial trucks having a lock bolt and an adjustable spring loaded latch cooperable therewith to automatically engage and lock the latch to bolt in closing of the hood or side panel, while requiring manual actuation of latch to disengage and open the latter. The device is constructed to self-lock with an increasing force as any unintended force tending to open the latch increases.

Abstract: A light reference system for generating .[.a collimated beam of light and converting.]. and projecting .[.the same as.]. a relatively intense fan-shaped or diverging plane of light from an operator manipulatable device on a machine or a vehicle to an object or opening which may be positionally referenced to the device in a selected predetermined relation by operator control of the machine or vehicle and manipulatable device, thus enabling the operator to observably locate a sharply defined resulting line of light so as to establish such selected relation. The light reference system is capable of a number of different embodiments or forms, a few of which are disclosed herein. An exemplary embodiment of the machine or vehicle with which such a system is combined herein is of a fork lift truck vehicle on which the light reference system in various forms is mounted on the elevatable load handling device or fork carrier for generating .[.a collimated beam of light and for converting the same into.].