Abstract: A wheel for a relatively slow vehicle used in industrial applications and incorporating a solid tire formed of dense elastomer material such as cast polyurethane, having a relatively large radial depth, for example six inches, a relatively large width, for example twelve inches, and a deep slot extending circumferentially around the tire and dividing the tire into sections separated by the slot with the ratio of the depth of the slot to the lateral width of each section being in the range of 0.65 to 1.75. The tire is bonded to the wheel rim and includes sidewalls containing concave surfaces terminating in relatively thin lips bonded to the outer edges of the rim, keeping stress in the edge of the tire relatively low which helps reduce tire failures from beginning in the edges of the tire along the rim edges.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump including a cup-shaped housing closed by a casing cover having inlet and outlet ports and enclosing a pump impeller mounted on a shaft driven by an external driver. The centrifugal pump impeller discharges fluid into a helical passage as it travels from the periphery of the impeller to the discharge port and with the passage being confined to a cylindrical envelope extending axially relative to the impeller and slightly larger than the periphery of the impeller. The helical passage is defined by a part of the pump housing that is separate from the main portion of the housing.

Abstract: A bearing system including a pair of axially spaced bearing sleeves supporting a shaft extending through the sleeves with the bearing sleeves located and retained in the bore of a bearing holder. Each bearing sleeve contains a flat extending across its periphery and a Woodruff key is seated in an undercut slot formed in the bore of the holder. The Woodruff key contains a flat top engaging the flat on the periphery of the bearing sleeve to lock the bearing sleeve against rotating in the bore in the holder and the side of the Woodruff key prevents the bearing sleeve from moving axially toward the Woodruff key.

Abstract: A sealless pump including a casing carrying an inner rotor that carries magnets mounted on a shaft connected to the pump impeller. A thin can-shaped shell is mounted over the inner rotor and an outer frame is mounted over the shell. The outer frame includes an outer rotor carrying magnets adapted to couple magnetically with the inner rotor to drive the pump through the shell. A pair of guide posts are anchored to the casing and extend through holes in the outer frame for guiding the outer frame into and from an assembled position. Bolts are threaded into the guide posts and have suitable abutments for engaging and moving the outer frame between assembled and disassembled positions.

Abstract: A lift vehicle for moving mine roof supports has a main drive section with a forward lift platform and a rearward articulated battery section. The articulating connection between the main section and the battery section has a clevis and pin assembly and a rotatable sleeve bearing connection. The sleeve bearing is rigidly connected to the clevis and pin assembly and rotatably connected to the battery section. The lift platform is rotatable about a horizontal axis to give it a tilting capability and is rotatable about a vertical axis to assume angled positions to either side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump of the type specially adapted to be used as a boiler feed pump and including a bearing system at the driven end of the pump comprising a bearing chamber housing a flexible bearing supporting the pump shaft and being cooled by the fluid that is being pumped which is fed to the bearing through passages in the pump casing. The pump further includes controlled leakage seals located at each end of the bearing and adapted to leak the cooling fluid at controlled rates into both the chamber housing the pump impeller and a fluid collection chamber. The leakage into the fluid collection chamber is withdrawn and reused in the usual manner. The pump shaft engages additional seals which serve to prevent the pump cooling fluid from leaking to the outside of the pump.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump mounted in a pipeline with its driven shaft extending vertically and a driving motor spaced above the pump on a support frame attached to the pump body and supporting the motor. The shafts of the motor and pump are vertically aligned and interconnected by a coupling that enables the end portion of one shaft to be swiveled in the coupling to adjust the alignment of the shaft axis with the axis of the other shaft and threaded screws for forcing the shaft end to an adjusted position and locking it in the adjusted position during use of the pump.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle including two wheeled sections hinged together in the middle of the vehicle by a universal movement joint enabling relative pivoting about three axes extending at right angles to each other through the center of the vehicle. A hydraulically operated strut extends between the two vehicle sections and is universally pivoted at its ends to the two vehicle sections to control the relative pivoting of the two vehicle sections about a transverse axis while enabling the middle of the vehicle to be raised or lowered for various reasons. The vehicle is steered by a pair of hydraulically operated steering struts extending between the two vehicle sections on the opposite sides of the universal movement joint.

Abstract: For a device having first and second, centrally-bored conduits in substantially collinear alignment along a longitudinal axis, the method checks collinearity of the conduits. Each conduit has a discrete inside diameter, and the method comprises directing light through the conduit which has the greatest inside diameter and displaying the light on a planar surface, downstream thereof, as a circular image. Then, light is directed through a second of said conduit create an emerging beam, and displaying the beam on the planar surface to ascertain its central, or offset, impingement relative to the circular image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a scraper assembly, and a method of forming same, for mounting forwardly of a padfoot-type, earth-compactor drum for scraping earth, mud and clay accretion from between rows of the padfeet, as well as for scraping the same from the faces of the padfeet, and in an embodiment thereof, the assembly comprises an array of longitudinally disposed and parallel rows of teeth arranged with diverging angles therebetween for efficiently cleaning the padfeet in both rotatable directions of the drum. The teeth are secured firmly to an I-beam which extends across the front of the drum, and a mounting assembly, for a fluid-pressure cylinder, is fixed to the I-beam to control a dozer blade.

Abstract: In the first embodiment, the invention comprises an imperforate turbine wheel having a hub of polygonal cross-section engageable with a hollow shaft of polygonal conformation, and a thrust collar and bolt for fastening the shaft and wheel together.

Abstract: The stabilizer comprises a generally tubular, metal body, the leading end of which has been hardened to rock-cutting strength in order that the stabilizer, according to the method of invention, can be impacted with a high frequency, low-blow actuator to cause the stabilizer to bore its own hole in the earth structure, this to eliminate a pre-boring, stabilizer installation step.

Abstract: The invention comprises an Accessory for use with a driver for forceably inserting friction rock stabilizers into bores formed in earth structures (such as mine roofs). In the depicted embodiments, the Accessory comprises an elongate body having a pin or socket at one, "lower", "driven" end for engaging and supporting an end of a stabilizer, and a limb or socket at the opposite, "upper", "drive" end for receiving a driver. The latter limb or socket is offset, to accommodate an angled, unobstructed address of the driver to the upper end of the body, and to enable a linear insertion of a lower-end-supported stabilizer into a bore. In accommodating a driver at the upper end of the body, to forceably insert a stabilizer which has its termination supported on the lower end of the body (the insertion force, therefore, being applied through the body), the Accessory facilitates bore insertion of lengthy stabilizers, by means of conventional drivers, in low headroom, subterranean openings.

Abstract: A rotary compressor, expansion engine, or the like. Two interengaging rotors rotate in a casing structure. The optimum number of lobes per rotor is two for pressure ratios up to about three. The first rotor has end plates thereon which open and close larger ports in the end walls. Low pressure dump pockets are formed twice per rotation and these have now been determined to have negligable loss. The first rotor has lobes of small angle so as to reduce a precompression loss. The second rotor has lobes of larger angle so as to improve performance. An interchamber throttling loss has now been reduced. When operating as a compressor machine, the discharge ports start to be uncovered about 15 degrees early for better performance.

Abstract: The stabilizer, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, comprises a generally tubular body which is axially slit, according to the prior art. According to the invention, the surfaces of the body immediately adjacent to the slit have ribs formed thereon which define bearing surfaces for clamping together, to draw the surfaces together, closing the slit, and thereby contract the stabilizer to facilitate its insertion into an undersized bore. The novel method, then, comprises contracting an axially slit friction rock stabilizer by engaging the aforesaid ribs (formed thereon) with a tool, to contract the stabilizer to a reduced and constrained cross-sectional dimension, inserting the stabilizer into an undersized bore, and releasing it therein, in order that it may engage and stabilize the surface of the bore (of the earth structure).

Abstract: The method aspect of the invention comprises stabilizing an earth structure by forming a plurality of concentric boreholes therein, and inserting, in each of the boreholes, a friction rock stabilizer. A friction rock stabilizer, so defined as to be useful in the method, comprises another aspect of the invention, the stabilizer having a plurality of concentric, tubular bodies. In this novel friction rock stabilizer, one of the tubular bodies defines an axial extension of another thereof. In addition, then, the invention further embraces the definition of a novel axial extension for a friction rock stabilizer.

Abstract: Broadly, the invention comprises defining a friction rock stabilizer with a configuration which will allow its insertion into an earth structure bore with minimal thrust force, and then deforming the inserted stabilizer, for instance, by forcing an insert thereinto to cause radial expansion of the stabilizer to increase its frictional engagement with the bore surface and produce a high anchorage thereof. The stabilizer set of the invention comprises a stabilizer and at least one oversized expansion insert therefore.

Abstract: According to an embodiment thereof, the stabilizer has a generally axially-extending lip projecting therefrom for engagement (of the latter) by a powered, rotary, thrusting apparatus. The method, then, comprises forceably thrusting a stabilizer into an earth structure bore and rotating the stabilizer during the thrusting thereof, particularly with the aid of apparatus of the aforesaid type.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a door-latching and -unlatching device includes a thumbturn, a barrel cam, a shaft for coupling the thumbturn to the barrel cam to cause rotation of the barrel cam in response to movement of the thumbturn, a follower for the barrel cam and apparatus attaching the follower to the latch bolt to cause the latch bolt to move in response to actuation of the barrel cam. The illustrative barrel cam includes two generally diametrically opposed cam lobes such that rotation of the thumbturn either clockwise or counter-clockwise retracts the latch bolt. The follower includes a bar which lies against the cam surface of the barrel cam, and the latch bolt moving apparatus includes an actuator arm which is pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends, the follower pin being mounted intermediate the actuator arm ends, the follower pin being supported adjacent the barrel cam, and the actuator arm further including a roller retractor actuator adjacent its other end.

Abstract: According to the embodiment shown, the novel body assembly, for use as a principal component for a fluid cooler, comprises a body of annular configuration formed from a pair of mirror-image halves which are fastened together to form a fluid-conducting channel therewithin. Each of the mating halves has a multiplicity of heat-radiating fins or ribs on the surface thereof which defines an outer surface of the body assembly. Additionally, the halves of the body have fins on their opposite surfaces and, on assembly together, these latter are interleaved, and define an undulating channel through which the fluid to be cooled is conducted.