Abstract: A vehicle washing aid for positioning underneath a vehicle tire to elevate the tire relative to a ground surface for washing and dressing of the tire and for precluding the catching of a water hose between the tire and the ground surface.

Abstract: A cargo tie-down device in one embodiment includes hooks and/or loops for connection to the vehicle, a buckle assembly comprising a pair of buckles, and straps which extend through the buckles and interconnect the hooks and/or loops. The straps extend a plurality of times between the buckles to provide a mechanical advantage for the tie-down device. Loops or handles on the straps allow the user to easily pull a take-up strap to initially take in the slack in the strap, and then to pull a winch strap to tightly secure the tie-down device over the load. Releasable cam locking mechanisms on the buckles normally engage the straps during the tightening process, but can be manually manipulated to release the straps to remove the tie-down device from the vehicle. In a second embodiment, the tie-down device comprises a pair of hooks for connection to the vehicle, a single buckle, and a strap which extends through the buckle and interconnects the hooks.

Abstract: A grave marker lifting and setting device for either initially placing grave markers or for resetting the same following displacement thereof, The unit includes a pivotal crane structure carried on a wheeled framework with the wheels being retractable such that the frame may be positioned directly on the ground for stability.

Abstract: This invention covers self loading-unloading of containers or pallets in a lateral motion, avoiding lifting, applying particularly to rail cars, trucks, and fixed platforms. The railway embodiment includes a central power control unit, unique platform cars with gripper-equipped arms, and scanning devices for monitoring operation plus reading indicia on the containers. The crew in the power control unit, which includes a novel driving arrangement, operates the train and the on-off loading equipment, either manually or automatically, remotely. By integration with similarly equipped trucks, freight handling can be fast, shock-free, door-to-door, and superior to existing modes.

Abstract: A system for automatically loading and unloading bottles, vials, or other containers into and out of a freeze dryer or other material treating apparatus includes a loading station and a conveyer for bringing bottles to the loading station. A transfer vehicle movable between the loading station and one or more freeze dryers includes a horizontally arranged platen for supporting an entire dryer shelf of bottles. When the vehicle is aligned with the loading station, a pusher bar slides bottles from the loading station onto the vehicle platen. The vehicle then moves to a dryer where the platen aligns itself with one of the dryer shelves. A guide bar at the rear end of a rectangularly shaped lasso or transfer cage moves forwardly pushing the bottles onto the shelf. The forward end of the cage is then raised above the height of the bottles and removed from the dryer. To unload a dryer shelf, the cage enters the dryer above the bottles and the forward end drops down behind them.

Abstract: A container handling apparatus having a mounting platform a lifting arm extending from the mounting platform and terminating in a gripper mechanism, mounted on top of a body of a refuse collection vehicle and configured to include three four-bar linkages which interact to produce a reach cycle and a hoist cycle.

Abstract: A bed partition arrangement for a utility vehicle such as a pickup truck in which a flat panel has laterally opposed side edges and a bottom edge. A pair of latches are disposed at the respective side edges of the panel, with each latch including a latch bar for engagement with opposed longitudinally spaced openings in a pair of rails mounted along opposed sidewalls of the vehicle bed. The latch bars are urged by coil springs laterally outwardly of the panel for releasable locking engagement with openings in the side rails, and the latch bars are movable by handles inwardly against the springs for selective positioning of the panel lengthwise of the vehicle bed. Resilient feet are carried along the bottom edge of the panel for compressive frictional engagement with the floor of the vehicle bed when the panel is mounted between the side rails to hold the panel in position and prevent the panel from swinging about the axis of the latches.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus that can be operated by one person to move an article such as a pool table, vending machine, and the like, from place to place over a floor surface. The apparatus is made of a planar base and planar platform with a structure for slidably moving the apparatus across the floor. The apparatus includes a mechanism for pivotally connecting the base and platform attached at opposing sides of the apparatus. The pivotal connecting mechanism is operable to raise and lower the platform relative the base to selectively move the apparatus between a retracted position and an elevated position. The invention further provides a method of moving an article using the apparatus. In use, an operator positions the apparatus in the retracted position underneath the article and pushes downward on the handle of the movement actuating structure to elevate the platform which then contacts the article and raises it off the floor.

Abstract: A material handling adjustable conveyor comprising an adjustable boom, and front-end material handling device with four degrees of freedom to allow loads to be lifted and rotated into position and placed or removed from an over-the-road vehicle or unloaded from such a vehicle. During the loading or unloading procedure, the load is only supported by the front-end material handling device. Some of the load is borne by the floor of the cargo vehicle when more than minimal torsion forces are applied to the front-end material handling device. The material handling device is computer controlled based upon the dimensions of the vehicle being loaded and unloaded and further comprises sensors for fine adjustment of front-end handling device motion during the course of the loading or unloading. Other senors can be used to measure and record the internal dimensions of a cargo vehicle.

Abstract: A grain spreader apparatus for use with a silo that has a top and side walls includes a housing with an inlet portion for receiving grain to be stored in the silo and an exit portion communicating with a plurality of chutes. The spreader apparatus has a housing that includes a rotating and a non-rotating portion. The non-rotating portion is affixed to the top of the silo. A motor drive rotates the rotating portion of the housing about a vertical axis of rotation. The plurality of chutes include radially positioned chutes that are arranged along a common radial line, with each lower chute being of a smaller thickness than the previous chute. In this fashion, grain falling from the highest chute is divided into one portion that is received by the lower chute and another portion that falls freely to the floor of the silo.

Abstract: A support frame essentially provided for goods in the form of a container having corner pieces, for the attachment of which the support frame includes on a vertical portion, two locking devices for cooperation with the upper front corner pieces; and on a horizontal portion two locking devices for cooperation with the lower rear corner pieces, whereby the container attached to the support frame rigidifies the vertical portion and the horizontal portion with respect to each other.

Abstract: A truck trailer includes a push plate extensible and retractable relative to a front wall of the trailer structure employing hydraulic ram structure to project the plate along the trailer floor, that in turn includes a row of rollers operative through a drive chain to simultaneously rotate the rollers to direct workpieces from the rollers employing the push plate to direct workpieces along the roller structure.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable void filler for separating cargo during transit in trucks, railroad cars, airplanes and the like includes an outer tubular housing having a diamond-shaped tubular core. The housing and core are collapsible into a generally flat configuration along score indentations. In one embodiment, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a plurality of collapsible wall portions along the outer housing that collapse inwardly from the periphery of the housing and engage the core. In other embodiments, the void filler is held in an expanded configuration by a cord or elastomeric bands which are tightly stretched around the periphery of the housing and is held in a series of aligned notches.

Abstract: Discloses is a castable, pedestal-type support apparatus to support a cargo shipping container on a transportation vehicle in a position to be secured thereto by a particular style locking mechanism. The apparatus includes an elongated body portion with a pivot pin receiving portion and a counterweight portion at one end, and a cargo shipping container engaging apparatus at the other end. The cargo shipping container engaging apparatus includes a three-sided rectangular cavity against a rectangular floor wall portion with a four-sided rectangular opening thereto at the outermost end.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for deploying a wheelchair ramp at the door of a vehicle, especially a bus, the ramp being of the kind which rotates between a stowed position at which it is flush with the vehicle floor and a deployed position in which it slopes downwardly and outwardly from the vehicle. The mechanism provides a "float down" feature which permits the ramp to move downward under gravity without the need for operator control and prevents crushing of obstacles that get in the downward path of the ramp. The mechanism includes a transmission for translating a single hydraulic cylinder stroke into more than 180.degree. of rotation of the ramp.

Abstract: A material handling adjustable conveyor comprising an adjustable boom, and front-end material handling device with four degrees of freedom to allow loads to be lifted and rotated into position and placed or removed from an over-the-road vehicle or unloaded from such a vehicle. During the loading or unloading procedure, the load is only supported by the front-end material handling device. Some of the load is borne by the floor of the cargo vehicle when more than minimal torsion forces are applied to the front-end material handling device. The material handling device is computer controlled based upon the dimensions of the vehicle being loaded and unloaded and further comprises sensors for fine adjustment of front-end handling device motion during the course of the loading or unloading. Other senors can be used to measure and record the internal dimensions of a cargo vehicle.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for emptying a load of multilayer container columns is disclosed. An improved multilayer container column construction includes a plurality of vertically aligned and stacked containers connected to one another by hinges along their lower front edges. The containers have lift arms connected to their back sides so that they can be lifted forward about their hinged edges for emptying their contents through discharge gate sides. Automated gate opening apparatus is provided for selectively opening the container gates. Automated lifting apparatus, generally located at a processing plant, is configured to sequentially tilt the containers of the container column load while still on the transport truck, to systematically gently unload the container contents, one level at a time into an accompanying discharge collector.

Abstract: A container manipulating method and apparatus which includes at least one vertically disposed pedestal assembly (12); a tubular column assembly (14); a container support assembly (16); and a container retaining device (18). This method and apparatus houses all of the independently controlled and powered drives for the lifting, turning, and tilting actions completely interior of the column assembly (16). The column assembly (14) may include at least one end seal and a slot closure for minimizing unwanted materials entering or leaving the column assembly. The container (22) retained on the container support assembly (16) may be manipulated from a first position to a subsequent position by lifting, lowering, turning, and tilting movements in series or in combination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plurality of posts and tracks for placement within a freight carrying vehicle in different locations to accommodate the mounting of an unique support frame therein. The support frame in combination with the posts and tracks can be utilized horizontally or vertically to deck or brace articles of freight placed in the vehicle.

Abstract: For the enclosed compartment space of a truck type of automotive vehicle rearward of the cab seating section, particularly herein with reference to a mail delivery truck, a movable shelf supported on rollers running on ledges formed by the internal wheel wells of the body of the truck, the shelf carrying mail baskets therein, both the shelf and baskets thereon being easily reachable by the operator seated in the cab section by use of a hook equipped rod whereby the operator can move forwardly the shelf and baskets thereon to be readily reachable for access thereto without the operator being required to step down to have access to the same by an approach through the rear of the truck.