Abstract: An improved boom section has top and bottom walls formed of sloping plate sections or flanges which define peaks between the side walls. The peaked configuration of the bottom wall increases the buckling strength of the bottom wall over the bucking strength obtained with a flat bottom wall. The sloping flanges of the top and bottom walls are disposed at acute angles of between 12.degree. and 19.degree. to horizontal planes. If the slope of the flanges is increased to an angle significantly greater than 19.degree., the peaks in the top and bottom walls would be disposed relatively far from the central axis of the boom section and would be subjected to excessive stresses upon loading of the boom section. The boom section is advantageously formed with a height-to-width ratio which is greater than 1 and less than 3.

Abstract: An improved grinding machine loader assembly includes a rotatable wheel upon which a plurality of workpiece supports are mounted at equally spaced apart locations. After a latch member has been moved into engagement with the wheel and a locking member has been disengaged from the wheel, an index motor is operated through a loading stroke to pivot an index arm on which the latch member is disposed. This pivotal movement of the index arm and latch member rotates the wheel through an arcuate distance equal to the distance between the workpiece supports. As the wheel rotates, a workpiece on one of the supports is moved into a work area where it is engaged by the headstock and footstock of the grinding machine. The locking member is then moved back into engagement with the wheel and the latch member is disengaged from the wheel. After the latch member has been disengaged, the index motor is operated through a return stroke without moving the wheel.

Abstract: An improved boom includes a slider assembly for use in supporting telescoping sections of the boom for movement relative to each other. An articulated slider assembly embodying the invention includes a rocker member which is pivotally mounted on one section of the boom. A pair of slider block assemblies are pivotally mounted on the rocker member and slidably engage a supported section of the boom at spaced apart locations. Deflection of the supported boom section is compensated for by pivotal movement of the slider block assemblies relative to each other. A spring type slider assembly forms another embodiment of the invention and has a flexural rigidity such that the deflection of the spring type slider assembly matches the deflection of a supported section of the boom under the influence of an operating load to provide for the transmittal of a uniform bearing load between the supported boom section and slider assembly.

Abstract: An improved chuck actuator assembly includes a fluid motor which is utilized to open and close a chuck. The actuator motor is effective to apply forces to the chuck to hold it closed during rotation of a workpiece. In the event of an accidental loss of fluid pressure to the actuator motor, a check valve is closed to prevent the exhausting of large quantities of fluid from the motor. However, as the check valve closes, a small quantity of fluid is discharged from the actuator motor. The loss of even a small quantity of fluid could tend to cause the chuck to relax its grip on the workpiece. To prevent this from happening, a compensator assembly is provided to maintain the fluid pressure in the actuator motor chamber substantially constant by making up for the small quantity of fluid which is lost upon closing of the check valve. The compensator assembly includes a piston which is moved under the influence of a biasing spring.

Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) is disclosed which can be used in a microprocessor and which has a relatively simple architecture enabling it to perform rapid data processing operations. The CPU has a plurality of registers, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), and a multiplexor which selects one of the ALU operands. A relatively large scratchpad is included in the CPU to eliminate time-consuming addressing of memories outside the CPU. A parallel architecture and the ability to perform simultaneous operations also enhance the CPU speed. The CPU control unit has a read only memory (ROM) for storage of micro control instructions and a program counter capable of addressing the ROM either sequentially or in accordance with a specific address for execution of jump instructions.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes an improved force transmitting assembly which is utilized to rotate a base boom section relative to a cradle and to retain the base boom section against axial movement relative to the cradle. The force transmitting assemby is advantageously disposed between an inner end portion of the base boom section and an upstanding end portion of the cradle and includes a gear drive arrangement which is operated by a relatively high speed motor to rotate the base boom section about its central axis at a relatively low speed. The gear drive arrangement includes a stator or internally toothed ring gear which is fixedly connected with the cradle. A rotor gear or wheel has an external diameter which is less than the internal diameter of the ring gear and has external teeth which are disposed in meshing engagement with the internal teeth of the ring gear. The central axis of the rotor gear is offset from the central axis of the ring gear.

Abstract: An improved material handling apparatus includes a base boom section which is rotatably supported in a cradle and a second boom section which is telescopically received within the base boom section and is movable axially relative to the base boom section. A force transmitting assembly is provided to transmit rotational drive forces from a tilt motor to the base boom section to effect rotational movement of the two boom sections about their longitudinal axes. This force transmitting assembly also retains the base boom section against axial and radial movement relative to the cradle. The force transmitting assembly includes a single force transmitting member or body which is fixedly connected at one end portion to an end wall of the base boom section and is rotatably supported by a cradle mounted thrust bearing assembly. The thrust bearing assembly holds the single force transmitting member against axial movement to thereby retain the base boom section against axial movement.

Abstract: An improved grinding machine includes an energy absorbing device which harmlessly dissipates the energy released in the event of a failure of a grinding wheel during a grinding operation. The energy absorbing device includes a plurality of cutters which are mounted on a common actuator plate. In the event of a breaking up of the grinding wheel, the fragments of the grinding wheel inpact against the actuator plate and move the cutters to cut away metal from blocks mounted on the base of the machine. As the metal is cut away, energy is dissipated and the kinetic energy in the fragments of the grinding wheel is harmlessly absorbed.

Abstract: An improved crane boom structure for telescopic boom sections. The conventional, generally rectangular cross-sectional shape is modified to provide central guiding of the boom sections to locate the bearing forces transmitted between sections at or near the neutral axis where bending stresses are minimal for greater load carrying capacity for a given boom weight. The boom side walls are provided with channel shaped projections, the top and bottom channel legs being located on either side of the neutral axis of the beam section, preferably symmetrical therewith. Bearing surfaces are interposed between top and bottom channel legs of contiguous boom sections.