Abstract: A caliper brake adapted to grip the sides of a clamped member and, more specifically, the sides of solid and ventilated discs such as those used in industrial and automotive applications. The present caliper brake includes a base adapted for mounting on a support which is fixed in relation to a movable clamped member. A pair of levers are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends in base lugs. A linear actuator is operatively mounted on one end of the levers and a pair of shoes having shoe lugs are pivotally mounted at the other. Guide surfaces on the shoe lugs are slidably opposed to guide surfaces on the base lugs such that during movement of the shoes toward each other the shoe brake surfaces are maintained substantially parallel with the sides of the clamped member.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a novel self-aligning swivel apparatus which is adapted for attaching a grapple to a manipulating means such as a log loader boom or yarding carriage. The swivel comprises upper and lower portions interconnected by pivot means to provide rotatable freedom therebetween. The upper portion is interconnected to the grapple manipulating means and the grapple is operatively connected to the lower portion in radial spaced relation from the axis of the pivot means. The pivot axis of the swivel is inclined toward the self-aligned position of the grapple with respect to the manipulating means. This position is defined as that which attains when the pivotal axis intersects a substantially vertical axis passing through the center of gravity of the grapple.

Abstract: A fail-safe clamping apparatus adapted to grip the sides of rails such as those used for cranes and railroads. The clamping apparatus includes a frame adapted for primary movement relative to and substantially parallel with the clamped member, and secondary movement substantially perpendicular to the sides of the clamped member. Secured to the frame, in opposed relation to the clamped member, are lateral guide brackets. A yoke assembly comprising a pair of lever pins and a pair of yoke members is slidably mounted in the lateral guide brackets for movement substantially perpendicular to the sides of the clamped member. Each one of a pair of clamp levers, having clamping surfaces in opposed relation to the sides of the clamped member, is pivotally mounted at one end on one of the lever pins. An actuating link is pivotally connected to the other end of each clamp lever.