Abstract: A gas bearing air slide assembly includes a slide ram movable within a relatively stationary housing. The slide ram and housing have a plurality of mated planar slide surfaces. Pressurized air is supplied between the mated slide surfaces of the slide ram and housing to create a hydrostatic bearing separating said mated surfaces and supporting the slide ram for longitudinal movement with respect to the housing. A counterbalance is provided on the slide ram for movement in direction opposite that of slide ram movement to compensate for slide ram axial displacement as it is extended from the housing. The housing is formed from a pair of identical housing halves joined along a joinder plane which passes through a central longitudinal axis of the slide ram. The slide surfaces of the ram and housing are mated by equalized lapping to a point of zero tolerance.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid spool valve having a bore in the housing and a stationary rod centrally through the bore; a hollow valve spool in the bore and embracing the rod, the spool having main lands and grooves engaging the bore periphery for variously connecting and obstructing fluid passages intersecting with the bore, the spool having control lands at its opposite ends minutely spaced from the bore periphery, and defining band orifices allowing continuous flow of hydraulic oil, and passages at the ends of the bore supplying control hydraulic fluid into the bore, and dual end-to-end springs within the hollow spool, anchored on the rod and also anchored to the spool to return the spool to centered rest position.

Abstract: A trash collecting system, apparatus, and method in which a vehicle approaches, reaches for, grasps, raises along its side, and inverts into its body a sequence of containers conveniently located at ground level, returning each container to its original position. The raising mechanism is hydraulically actuated, and the engagement with the containers is pneumatic.