Abstract: This invention provides an improved vibratory storage pile discharger unit for promoting the downward flow of material from a storage pile of a flowable material, such as coal, limestone, woodchips, sulphur and the like, through an opening in a generally horizontal surface on which the pile is supported and into another area located beneath that pile-supporting surface.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for an automatic full voltage start of a polyphase synchronous or induction motor. A full line voltage is employed to start the motor by energizing two tap relays to shunt the tap connections of the coils of an autotransformer and to thereby apply a line voltage to the primary windings of the motor. A strap relay is de-energized to disconnect the coils of the autotransformer when the motor is at rest and when the motor is being started. After the motor is started, the tap relays are de-energized to break the shunt connections and the strap relay is energized to connect the coils of the autotransformer. The taps of the autotransformer apply a preset reduced voltage to operate the motor.

Abstract: This invention provides novel apparatus for accelerating the emptying of railroad hopper cars and the like. The invention comprises: a rigid frame fixedly mountable through a base to a pair of generally horizontally-spaced-apart rails upon which the wheels of a railroad hopper car can be movably supported, with the frame including an upright section from which there generally horizontally extends towards the rails a hollow spool connected to a vented source of pressurized fluid; and an excitor connected to the spool through an inflatable yieldably resilient sleeve that performs dual functions of moving the excitor generally horizontally with respect to the frame into and out of contact with a side of the hopper car and also vibration isolating the excitor from the frame.

Abstract: This invention provides an improvement in a vibratory conveyor of the type including an elongate utilized container, which can be vibrated as a free mass at a selected frequency and stroke by drive means, such as a motor having weights eccentrically mounted on its output shaft, and which container is interconnected by yieldable means to elongate counterbalance means located opposite one long side of the container and with the stroke axis of the container being inclined with respect to the long central axis of the container. Basically, the improvement of the present invention is that the counterbalance means is comprised of plural counterbalance sections which are longitudinally arranged generally parallel to the long central axis of the container.

Abstract: This invention provides novel mechanical work generating means. Basically, the novel mechanical work generating means provided by the present invention comprise: first means for mechanically generating a heat component of work; second means, mechanically interconnected to the first means, for mechanically generating a non-heat component of work; and third means, mechanically interconnected to the first and second means, for combining the heat and non-heat components of work into a resultant mechanical work output.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable drive vibrating device, such as a vibrating conveyor, vibrating feeder and the like. Basically, the device comprises: a container, means mounting the container such that it can vibrate as a free mass, drive means including an electric motor for vibrating the container at a prescribed frequency and stroke, and control means for selectively adjusting voltage applied to the motor and thereby selectively altering the frequency and stroke at which the container is vibrated by the drive means. However, in particular accordance with the present invention, the drive means motor comprises a three-phase A.C. squirrel cage electric motor, and the control means adjust the voltage applied to only two of the three phases of the motor, while a substantially constant voltage is maintained on the third phase of the motor.