Abstract: A rotary broom assembly is provided for use with a vehicle to reduce the accumulation of ice and snow on the rotary broom assembly when clearing paved surfaces, such as airport runways. The rotary broom assembly includes one or more wiper assemblies that are mounted for reciprocating movement along a broom hood. The broom hood includes a generally flat top surface and the wiper assemblies move along the top surface to clear snow and ice from the top surface of the broom hood. During forward movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade contacts the top surface of the broom hood to remove accumulated ice and snow. During the reverse movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade is lifted from the top surface to reduce removal of accumulated ice and snow during the reverse movement.

Abstract: A rotary broom assembly is provided for use with a vehicle to reduce the accumulation of ice and snow on the rotary broom assembly when clearing paved surfaces, such as airport runways. The rotary broom assembly includes one or more wiper assemblies that are mounted for reciprocating movement along a broom hood. The broom hood includes a generally flat top surface and the wiper assemblies move along the top surface to clear snow and ice from the top surface of the broom hood. During forward movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade contacts the top surface of the broom hood to remove accumulated ice and snow. During the reverse movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade is lifted from the top surface to reduce removal of accumulated ice and snow during the reverse movement.

Abstract: A rotary broom assembly is provided for use with a vehicle to reduce the accumulation of ice and snow on the rotary broom assembly when clearing paved surfaces, such as airport runways. The rotary broom assembly includes one or more wiper assemblies that are mounted for reciprocating movement along a broom hood. The broom hood includes a generally flat top surface and the wiper assemblies move along the top surface to clear snow and ice from the top surface of the broom hood. During forward movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade contacts the top surface of the broom hood to remove accumulated ice and snow. During the reverse movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade is lifted from the top surface to reduce removal of accumulated ice and snow during the reverse movement.

Abstract: A rotary broom assembly is provided for use with a vehicle to reduce the accumulation of ice and snow on the rotary broom assembly when clearing paved surfaces, such as airport runways. The rotary broom assembly includes one or more wiper assemblies that are mounted for reciprocating movement along a broom hood. The broom hood includes a generally flat top surface and the wiper assemblies move along the top surface to clear snow and ice from the top surface of the broom hood. During forward movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade contacts the top surface of the broom hood to remove accumulated ice and snow. During the reverse movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade is lifted from the top surface to reduce removal of accumulated ice and snow during the reverse movement.

Abstract: An apparatus including a main housing including a generally horizontal platform, a boom extending from the platform, a bucket suspended from the boom, and a mast extending from the platform. The apparatus further includes a boom support strand extending between and attached to the mast and the boom, and a boom support strand oscillation dampening mechanism. The boom support strand oscillation dampening mechanism comprises a left brace and a right brace spaced apart from the left brace, and a polyester rope extending between each of the braces and the boom. Each of the ropes is attached to the boom. A device attaches the rope to the brace, and a boom support strand clamp mechanism is connected to the brace and includes a first clamp block, a second clamp block, and a flexible enclosure placed between the first clamp block and the second clamp block.

Abstract: A fitting for a wire rope with a diameter, the fitting including a stiff support and being adapted to hold and to attach the wire rope to the stiff support, the fitting further comprising an elongated flexible enclosure adapted to surround the wire rope, the flexible enclosure having a length more than 2 times longer than the diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus including a main housing including a generally horizontal platform, a boom extending from the platform, a bucket suspended from the boom, and a mast extending from the platform. The apparatus further includes a boom support strand extending between and attached to the mast and the boom, and a boom support strand oscillation dampening mechanism. The boom support strand oscillation dampening mechanism comprises a left brace and a right brace spaced apart from the left brace, and a polyester rope extending between each of the braces and the boom. Each of the ropes is attached to the boom. A device attaches the rope to the brace, and a boom support strand clamp mechanism is connected to the brace and includes a first clamp block, a second clamp block, and a flexible enclosure placed between the first clamp block and the second clamp block.

Abstract: A fitting for a wire rope with a diameter, the fitting including a stiff support and being adapted to hold and to attach the wire rope to the stiff support, the fitting further comprising an elongated flexible enclosure adapted to surround the wire rope, the flexible enclosure having a length more than 2 times longer than the diameter.

Abstract: An end fitting for a wire rope with a diameter, the fitting being adapted to securely hold and to attach the wire rope to a structure, the end fitting comprising a stiff support having a support first end adapted to be connected to the structure and a support second end adapted to securely hold the wire rope end. The end fitting further includes an elongated flexible enclosure surrounding the wire rope, the flexible enclosure having a length more than 2 times longer than the diameter. The flexible enclosure has a first enclosure end and a second enclosure end, the enclosure being attached to the stiff support by the first enclosure end surrounding and holding the support second end.

Abstract: More particularly, this invention provides an excavating lip assembly including a lip. The lip has a surface, and the lip assembly further includes a wear member placed over the lip surface, the wear member having an inner surface, and the inner surface having a bolt securing indentation therein. The lip assembly further includes a holding element in the lip surface, the holding element having an opening there through. The lip assembly also includes a connecting bolt having an end received and held in the indentation, the connecting bolt also being received in the holding element opening. The lip assembly also includes a nut removably received on an end of the bolt to retain the bolt in the holding element opening. More particularly, the connecting bolt is a U-bolt, and wherein the indentation is formed by a half circle element extending from the shroud inner upper surface. The half circle element is cast in the wear element upper surface, and the holding element is a rectangular bar welded to the lip.

Abstract: More particularly, this invention provides an excavating lip assembly including a lip. The lip has a surface, and the lip assembly further includes a wear member placed over the lip surface, the wear member having an inner surface, and the inner surface having a bolt securing indentation therein. The lip assembly further includes a holding element in the lip surface, the holding element having an opening there through. The lip assembly also includes a connecting bolt having an end received and held in the indentation, the connecting bolt also being received in the holding element opening. The lip assembly also includes a nut removably received on an end of the bolt to retain the bolt in the holding element opening. More particularly, the connecting bolt is a U-bolt, and wherein the indentation is formed by a half circle element extending from the shroud inner upper surface. The half circle element is cast in the wear element upper surface, and the holding element is a rectangular bar welded to the lip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clevis of the type used with a digging bucket. The clevis is of the type having a pivot pin and a pin locking assembly. In the improvement, the pivot pin is cylindrical, has first and second opposing ends and at least one hole traversing the pin diameter. A first boss is affixed on the clevis around the first end and such boss has a plurality of key slots formed therein. A retaining ring is seated in each of the key slots and a first retaining pin extends through the hole and the retaining rings. Most preferably, the clevis has another boss at the pivot pin second end and another retaining pin extends through the pivot pin second end. A new method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digging implement (such as a dragline bucket) having a trunnion link connected to the implement by a pin secured in place by a retention device. Such device is coupled to the pin along the pin longitudinal axis. The pin has a first portion engaging the implement and having internal threads and the retention device has a stop member and an exteriorly-threaded stem extending therefrom. The stem is threaded to the internal threads of the first portion. Preferably, the stop member is recessed in a protective pocket which helps protect the retention device from damage otherwise caused by material being handled by the implement.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a digging bucket has a clevis device pivotably connected thereto by a pin held in place by a pin-retaining structure. The clevis includes a plurality of arcuate, lip-like, outwardly-radially-projecting first retention members and the structure includes a cap portion having a plurality of arcuate, lip-like, inwardly-radially-projecting second retention members. Each second retention member engages and "locks" to a separate first retention member. The cap portion, which interferes with free axial travel of the pin, is well secured so that the pin is retained in engagement with the clevis without welding the pin. Avoiding pin welding permits using a substantially-harder pin, resulting in significantly better wear characteristics. A new method for retaining a pin is also disclosed.