Abstract: A support structure is provided including elevated front and rear support portions from which a pair of depending tension members are supported. An elongated horizontal lift member is supported at its opposite ends from the lower ends of the tension members and motor structure is provided and operatively connected between the support structure and tension members for selectively elevating and lowering the lower ends of the tension members relative to the support structure support portions and thereby elevating and lowering the lift member. The lift member is adapted to rest upon a horizontal support surface and to have the front and rear wheels on one side of a side dumping wagon rolled thereonto and thereoff when the lift member is disposed at least substantially at the level of the support surface.

Abstract: An agricultural wagon has a frame which carries an enclosure. An unloading assembly on one end of the enclosure has a power source, and end axles have an endless unload conveyor trained thereabout. The axles are chain and sprocket driven from the power source, by reversible direction drive assembly. A pipe is journaled across the assembly and is selectively engaged for rotation by a variable speed drive which includes speed regulating means, the pipe serving to actuate floor webs which move material to be unloaded forwardly in the enclosure to the unload conveyor.A series of beaters are mounted between the sides of the unloading assembly, and are actuated from the power source.

Abstract: A vehicle for operation on both road and railroad track is provided with a wheeled chassis comprising a steered front wheel axle and a rear wheel axle, both with road or rubber tire wheels. A front and a rear wheel axle are provided with rail wheels, the rear rail wheel axle being pivotable around a vertical axis relative to the wheel chassis. The rail wheel axles are vertically displaceable to be moved into engagement with the railroad track during the lifting of adjacent rubber tire wheels out of engagement with the ground. The rear rail wheel axle is located behind the rear wheel axle for road or rubber tire wheels of the vehicle and is turnable at least 180.degree. around the vertical axis. Preferably two parallel rear rail wheel axles are mounted on a bogie, which is turnable or rotatory relative to the wheeled chassis.

Abstract: A compact, sealable ladle transport for conveying material from a supply to a chamber, such as a combustion chamber, consists of an elongated ladle member longitudinally moved in a conduit to the combustion chamber by a power driven flexible tape attached to the ladle at one end and having its other end moving out from or back into a storage housing at the end of the conduit. In one position of the ladle material from a supply magazine is loaded onto it; the ladle is then moved forward to carry the material into the combustion chamber. After combustion, as the ladle is drawn back from the chamber, a wiper blade pivotted in the conduit sweeps the combustion residue into a receiving cavity at the bottom of the conduit. A port and passage, with a valve therein, opens into the conduit to provide means for applying purge gas through the conduit and chamber, and generally for controlling the pressure and composition of the atmosphere therein.

Abstract: A rail fastener includes a rail plate, a layer of elastomeric material between the plate and a support structure, and a pair of posts for laterally and longitudinally restraining the rail plate, with elastomeric material mounted between the posts and cooperating surfaces of the rail plate. The rail plate, the layer of elastomeric material, and the support structure on which it is mounted form a shear pad. The posts are partially embedded in the support structure and extend through respective openings in the rail plate, the inner peripheries of which are covered with elastomeric material, to provide lateral and longitudinal restraint to the rail plate. Each of these posts is preferably formed of two parts, one of which is embedded in the support structure, and the other of which is an eccentric which is releasably attached thereto.

Abstract: Railroad sleepers are replaced by removal of old sleepers over a track length corresponding to the length of a sleeper while ballast is removed to a depth corresponding to the height of new sleepers and is placed beside the track whereafter one or more new sleepers are lowered between the rails and rotated into correct transverse position followed by packing the ballast under the sleeper(s), and the space between adjacent new sleepers is packed with ballast.

Abstract: A convertible passenger seat headrest for a railway sleeping compartment having a convertible seat and bed arrangement. The headrest is pivotally supported from the compartment wall at its lower end and includes a stowable ladder folded within it when the headrest is in the raised position. When it is desired to make up the upper berth of the sleeping compartment, the headrest can be pivoted outwardly from the wall and the ladder unfolded to form a ladder and step which a passenger can use to climb into the upper berth.

Abstract: A truck for the pivotal support of two car bodies, particularly of articulated rail motor cars, comprises a truck frame having a vertical pivot for each car mounted in spaced longitudinal locations on the truck frame. A transversely extending swiveling bolster is centrally mounted for pivoting movement on each vertical pivot and each bolster includes a spring support adjacent each respective end for resiliently supporting the associated car body. The truck also carries slide means, such as interengaged slide plates on the truck and the bolster underlying the spring supports for slidably supporting the respective ends of the bolster on the truck.

Abstract: A mobile track tamping machine has a vertically movable tamping tool assembly with pairs of tamping tools for tamping ballast under the track ties and an additional tamping tool reciprocable in the direction of the tie ends to box in the tamped ballast, as well as a vibratory surface tamper for tamping the ballast adjacent the tie ends. The additional tamping tool and the surface tamper are associated with each other in closely adjacent relationship next to the tie ends, the vibratory force of the surface tamper reaching at least to, preferably over the entire, reciprocatory path of the additional tamping tool.

Abstract: A driverless turntable system is disclosed and includes two turntables coupled together for simutaneous rotation in opposite directions. A driverless vehicle enters the first turntable, is transferred to the second turntable, and then exits from the second turntable in a direction parallel to that when it entered the first turntable. Stationary tracks are provided adjacent the turntables for guiding the vehicles thereonto and therefrom.

Abstract: In a vehicle guidance system, a circular-section guidance rail is embraced y a detector on a vehicle. At a fork, where the rail progressively broadens prior to dividing, the rail height is reduced so that a detector, when tilted to select one branch of the fork, has its lowered side between the rail and a side wall of a channel in which the rail is mounted and its raised side riding over the broadened rail.

Abstract: A highly maneuverable utility vehicle has a relatively narrow chassis that includes a frame overlying a ground-engaging, direction controllable running gear which permits the vehicle to be driven through narrow passages such as through the gates of residential fences for the purpose of transporting transformers or the like to areas otherwise inaccessible to powered, load-bearing vehicles. An engine mounted at one end of the frame is operably connected with the track-type running gear and to a hoist mechanism for raising transformers for installation on power poles. Control means interconnecting the engine with the running gear and the hoist are adapted to selectively permit operation of either the running gear or the hoist mechanism.

Abstract: A frame for a back pack having lateral, parallel upright fiberglass laminate braces curved to conform to the wearer's back and having a flat undersurface, the braces being sufficiently flexible to move conformably to the back in response to changes in the wearer's position. Additional cross and diagonal pieces are provided having curvatures conformable with adjacent portions of the wearer's back.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement for towing conveyors comprising a towing chain having catchers, a track disposed below the towing chain, running carts equipped with two running mechanisms rolling on the track, said catchers having movable coupling parts and said running carts having coupling elements securely disposed on said running mechanisms cooperating with said coupling parts, where the coupling parts disposed on the catchers of the towing chain comprise a housing in which a catcher finger and a setting lever which is in operative relationship thereto are pivotally mounted for movement in opposite directions about horizontal axes in a manner that the setting lever normally holds the catcher finger in its position of engagement and for a raised position of a run up part provided at the rear running mechanism of each running cart with a local running mechanism as seen in the direction of feed causes a pivoting upwardly of the catcher finger, while the roller carriers' supports of the running cart are designed as co

Abstract: A child carrier adapted to be conveniently borne by an adult and readily adjustable to conform to the body of any child. The carrier is fabricated from a piece of flat, flexible material contoured to define a back section provided with a pair of outstretched wings and joined by a Venturi-shaped crotch section to a flap section. In assembling the carrier, the child's body is placed with his back resting on the back section, the flap section being then folded over the abdomen, with the child's legs extended through the openings formed by the crotch section, thereby creating a diaper-like pouch. The pouch is completed by overlapping the wings on the folded-over flap section and fastening the wings thereto at positions determined by the dimensions of the child's body, whereby the child is snugly held.

Abstract: Means for extending and retracting the telescoping boom assembly of a rotatable mobile crane wherein the boom assembly comprises a plurality of telescoping parts, slidably received one into the other. The boom extension and retraction means is operable at any angular displacement of the boom assembly, the operating angle of the boom assembly being maintained during the extension or retraction thereof. Means for extending and retracting the boom assembly include a single fluid driven linear motor or hydraulic cylinder suitably attached at one end portion of the motor to a base portion of the boom assembly. An opposite end portion of the linear motor is selectively securable to the telescoping sections of the boom assembly to permit extension thereof. A cylinder guide is mounted on the fluid driven linear motor, both the cylinder guide and motor contained within the boom assembly, the cylinder guide providing support for the linear motor and maintaining the alignment of the extension and retraction means.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dual-mode bus which is operable on a guideway under automatic control and also operable on ordinary surface streets or highways under the control by a bus driver. The dual-mode bus comprises a rear axle having at both ends thereof traction wheels, a frame supported on the axle and a current collector. A floating support is connected between a differential gear housing of the rear axle and the frame and has two spaced portions, first one of which is disposed nearer to the axle than second one of the two spaced portions thereof. An arm having two spaced portions is provided, first one and second one of which are connected to the first and second portions of the floating support, respectively. The arm carries the current collector at a third portion spaced on the same side as the first portion of the arm, from the second portion of the arm. The third portion is spaced, further than the first portion of said arm, from the second portion of the arm.

Abstract: An end fitting for a cargo bar of the type formed for use with a belt rail to restrain or support cargo against shifting in a truck, railroad car, etc. is disclosed. The improved end fitting is formed for coupling to three of the most commonly used belt rails in the trucking industry. The end fitting includes two coupling apparatus and a pair of spaced apart flanges which are formed for cooperative coupling to a first belt rail structure, reciprocation of part of one of the coupling apparatus to a withdrawn position, and cooperative coupling to a second and a third belt rail. Two forms of end fittings are disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor system including a first load supporting track and a second load supporting track with an intermediate transfer portion. A powered conveyor is provided in association with each of the first and second tracks. A plurality of carriers are provided. Each of the carriers has a first dog that is in position for normal engagement with the pusher member of the conveyor and longitudinally spaced second and third dogs that are normally urged to an operative carrier pushing position but are held by the track out of operative position. The second and third dogs include cam projections thereon that engage portions of the track which hold the second and third dogs out of operative position. The cam projection on the second dog extends oppositely to the cam projection on the third dog. At a transfer point, an appropriate portion of the track is cut away to permit either the second or third dogs to move to operative carrier transferring position.

Abstract: Disclosed are receptacles, such as shaft furnaces illustrated by a blast furnace and an upright oil shale retort, embodying rotatable charge distributor means for distributing particulate charge material in the furnace, which charge distributor means can provide a high uniformity of distribution of various sizes of particles and also can provide and maintain a stock line of desired contour and heighth in the receptacle. The distributor means includes a hopper having rigidly fixed to it a plurality of downwardly extending chutes with lower discharge portions that discharge in concentric circular zones at the stock line. The distributor means includes a segmented portion at the juncture of the hopper and the chutes that divides the charge material discharged into the hopper in proportion to the area of the circular zone at the stock line that is fed by the chute.