Abstract: The removable seats system has a first vertically movable platform defining opposite upper and lower sides, a seat member comprising at least one seat and first and second complementary male-female engagement members respectively provided on the first platform and on the seat member. The seat member may be removably installed in an operative position on the upper side of the first platform through a releasable engagement of the first and second male-female engagement members with one another.

Abstract: The linear actuator comprises an elongated first band wound in helical form about a central axis and capable of taking a retracted position and an extended position with its turns spaced from one another in the direction of the central axis, and first fasteners carried by the first band and longitudinally disposed therealong. The linear actuator also comprises an elongated second substantially flat band wound on itself, with its turns substantially transversely parallel to the central axis, and capable of taking a retracted, spiral position with its turns nested within one another and an extended position with its turns forming a helix around the central axis and generally equally radially spaced therefrom to form a telescopic column, the first and second bands, when in retracted position, in respective locations so as to clear each other.

Abstract: A removable seats system includes a number of vertically movable platforms supported by a platform support and displacement device which engages the platforms and which positions the platforms in a horizontally successively spaced configuration defining a gap between each two successive platforms having selective independent vertical displacement of the platforms. The removable seats system further includes a number of seat elements each associated with a corresponding platform and each including: a row of seats including at least one seat; and a seat supporting structure carried by a platform and supporting the row of seats. Each one of the seat members is movable relative to its corresponding platform between an operative position in which the row of seats is located above its corresponding platform, and a concealed position in which the row of seats is located under a platform.

Abstract: The push actuator has a fixed base which rotatably carries a selectively rotatable rotor. A horizontal band has a lower portion stacked in a helical pattern and has an upper portion engaged by the upper portion of a vertical band, to form a telescopic column. The lower portion of the vertical band is stacked in a spiral, separately from the horizontal band, the horizontal band is supported on the rotor with a helical ball support track along which a number of balls can roll and slide, to allow substantially frictionless rotation of the rotor member while the horizontal band remains rotatably stationary. A ball re-circulation unit allows the balls to circulate between the top of the track and the bottom of the track.

Abstract: A conveyor conveys palletized articles to a loading dock. A bogie movable along rails between different loading docks, supports an independently movable carriage, which may roll out of the bogie once the latter reaches a desired loading dock. The carriage then loads with a forklift provided on the carriage, the articles from the conveyor into a semi-trailer located at the loading dock. The carriage is provided with a linkage pivotally installed on its main frame, the linkage carrying four lateral guide wheels which protrude laterally beyond all other structural elements of the carriage. The linkage integrally links the guide wheels into a common pivotal displacement, with the guide wheels remaining symmetrically disposed relative to the carriage frame. A hydraulic piston biases the guide wheels towards an outer limit position at all times, and the guide wheels are forcibly pivotable, against the bias of the piston, towards an inner limit position.

Abstract: A pair of spaced, parallel beams are designed to hold a group of aligned, contiguous article carrying pallets. Each beam has a web of uniform width with a lower, inturned flange to extend under the side edges of the aligned pallets and an upper outturned flange to be picked up by the pivoted jaws of a crane. These jaws together with a pusher/puller carriage are mounted on a long frame suspended from the crane which travels across one face of a rack in which pairs of parallel tracks are arranged in a grid. The pair of jaws, carrying the beams or pallet holders are closed to position the latter under the sides of a group of aligned, contiguous, article carrying pallets assembled at a pick-up station. The pallet carrying holders are aligned by the crane with any selected pair of tracks. One end of the frame latches to the rack and the pusher-puller carriage latches to one end of the pallet holders and pushes the same and their load off the jaws and onto the tracks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tray for carrying a plurality of pallets loaded with several concrete blocks. The tray is a rectangular frame defining an upper surface, front and rear ends and upwardly-projecting flanges at both front and rear ends. The tray is adapted to receive the loaded pallets on its upper surface between the flanges. The invention further relates to a system adapted to carry the loaded tray through a block curing kiln. The kiln is composed of a plurality of longitudinal cells, as is already known, and the pallet-loaded trays are inserted in a consecutive linear abutment fashion in the cells. The relatively high flanges of each tray thus abut on one another, which prevents the overlapping of the trays, and thus prevents the damaging in this way of the concrete blocks.