Abstract: A forklift truck has front and rear wheeled sections coupled by a central pivot. The wheels of the rear section are driven independently of one another. In order to prevent tire scrub when the two sections are in an extreme position in which the center of turning lies under or close to one of the driven wheels, the driving of the rear wheels controlled to stop or reverse the drive of the wheel closer to the turning point.

Abstract: A wood-polymer composite is prepared by impregnating a wood substrate with a liquid dicyclopentenyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, R' and each R" are independently hydrogen, chloride or bromide, n is 0 or 1, and the dashed line is an optional chemical bond with the provisoes that when the dashed line is present, n is 0, and when the dashed line is absent, n is 1, and curing the resulting monomer-impregnated wood substrate by either heating same in the presence of a catalytic amount of a thermal initiator, such as a peroxide, or by exposing same to high-energy radiation, such as .gamma.-rays. The wood-polymer composite is relatively hard and shows good resistance to hydrocarbon attack.

Abstract: A wood-polymer composite is prepared by impregnating a wood substrate with a liquid dicyclopentenyl acrylate or methacrylate monomer of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, R' and each R" are independently hydrogen, chloride or bromide, n is 0 or 1, and the dashed line is an optional chemical bond with the provisoes that when the dashed line is present, n is 0, and when the dashed line is absent, n is 1, and curing the resulting monomer-impregnated wood substrate by either heating same in the presence of a catalytic amount of a thermal initiator, such as a peroxide, or by exposing same to high-energy radiation, such as .gamma.-rays. The wood-polymer composite is relatively hard and shows good resistance to hydrocarbon attack.

Abstract: Veneer is dried by passing a veneer sheet by at least one set of spaced orifices or nozzles through which jets of superheated organic solvent vapor are directed against one or both of the bottom and top sides of the sheet. After impinging on the wood surface, the spent solvent vapor plus moisture and other volatile substances from the wood passes to a condenser where the solvent is separated and passed to a vaporizer and superheater for recycle to the process. In an optional variation, a preliminary extraction of the entering veneer by condensing solvent is achieved by adjusting the flow rate or temperature of the solvent vapor in the fore part of the drying apparatus. Apparatus for carrying out the veneer drying process with means for recovering and recycling spent solvent is shown.

Abstract: Leaching of a fire retardant salt, such as a mixture of ammonium phosphates, impregnated into a wood substrate is inhibited by a process comprising:A. impregnating the wood substrate with an aqueous solution of a cyclic sulfonium zwitterion (CSZ), exemplified by structural formula (I), andB. curing the resulting CSZ-impregnated wood substrate. ##STR1## CSZ impregnation of the wood substrate can be either concurrent with or subsequent to the fire retardant salt impregnation of same. This process provides a significant degree of leach protection to otherwise very leachable fire retardant salts.

Abstract: Cellulosic substrates, e.g. wood, textiles or paper, have increased fire resistance when treated with an aqueous solution of a polyalkylenepolyamine (e.g. polyethylenimine) and a mixture of mono- and diammonium phosphate.