Abstract: A machine for heavy loads comprising a rope support sheave mounted on a boom between upper and lower ends of the boom for movement between a raised position wherein the sheave supports a hoist rope above the boom and a lowered position wherein the rope support sheave is accessible for maintenance.

Abstract: A dragline comprising a main housing, a moving mechanism for moving the main housing over the ground, and a planetary transmission driving the moving mechanism, the planetary transmission including a transmission housing, a sun gear, a ring gear and planet gears centered on a center axis, the planet gears meshing with the ring gear and the sun gear so that the planet gears rotate about the center axis, the planet gears drivingly connected to a carrier, the carrier including a low-friction coating on a carrier annular surface and a carrier cylindrical surface, the low-friction coating reducing friction between the carrier and the transmission housing.

Abstract: A rope clamp for clamping a rope to a winch drum surface comprises first and second bolts, each of which has a head and a threaded end, an upper clamp having two opposed ends and a first hole receiving the first bolt near the one end thereof and a second hole receiving the second bolt near the other end thereof. The clamp further includes a lower clamp having two opposed ends and a first indentation open from the one end thereof and receiving the first bolt, and a second indentation open from the other end thereof and receiving the second bolt. The lower clamp further has a bottom adapted to be secured to the surface and having first and second bolt head receiving slots, each of which is wider than its respective one of the first and second indentations, the first and second slots each being open at its respective lower clamp end and receiving a respective bolt head and preventing the respective bolt head from rotating.

Abstract: A pilot operated check valve is provided for use in controlling the hydraulic leg 14 of a hydraulic mine roof support, the valve having means 23 to connect a leg extension port 18 to a return port 17 within the valve, when the valve is used to lower the leg 14. This provides more rapid operation than with prior art arrangements in which released pressure from the leg has to return from an extension port back to a remote spool valve controlling leg extension before reaching a return line.

Abstract: A crawler track guide rail having an upper elongated surface engagable with the shoes of a crawler track, a lower surface engagable with a crawler track support frame, and a foot which extends downward into the frame to transfer load resulting from the engagement of the shoes with the guide rail to the frame. The guide rail has at least one elongated lower surface and may have two elongated lower surfaces which are engageable with the frame. Where there are two elongated surfaces of the guide rail in engagement with the frame, the foot of the guide rail is positioned between the two elongated surfaces. The guide rail has a plurality of fasteners for retaining it on the crawler frame extending through the guide rail and the frame The fasteners have a selected tolerance fit with the frame and the foot of the guide rail has a smaller tolerance fit with the frame than that of the fasteners.

Abstract: A method of welding together a motor vehicle structural assembly is available. The vehicle structural assembly includes a boxed member including an outboard wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and an inboard wall spaced from the outboard wall. The inboard wall has an opening therein. The motor vehicle structural assembly also includes a cylindrical support including a first end and a shoulder spaced from the first end at least the distance the boxed member inboard wall is spaced from the boxed member outboard wall. The method comprises spinning the support and advancing the support through the inboard wall opening so that the support first end is friction welded to the outboard wall and so that the support shoulder is friction welded to the inboard wall.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a first member including first and second member engagement surfaces, a second member, a pin pivotally connecting the first and second members, the pin having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, and a retainer for retaining the pin in position relative to the first and second members, the retainer having a center of gravity and including first and second retainer engagement surfaces, the retainer being movable relative to the first member between a retaining position and a non-retaining position so that, when the retainer is in the retaining position, the first and second member engagement surfaces respectively engage the first and second retainer engagement surfaces to limit axial movement of the retainer relative to the first member, the retainer covers one end of the pin and thereby limits axial movement of the pin relative to the first member, the retainer has a point of engagement with the first member, and the position of the center of gravity relative to the point of engagement

Abstract: A draglined bucket having first and second contoured dumping rails respectively supported on first and second spaced apart opposite sidewalls and a rear wall. Each dumping rail extends from above the sidewall on which it is supported to the rear wall on which it is also supported. Rollers are connected to a hoist rope and support the bucket in a suspended manner. The rollers engage the first and second dumping rails and are movable along the dumping rails from a forward position in which an open end of the bucket faces substantially horizontally, to a rearward position in which the open end of the bucket faces downwardly to dump material in it. The dumping rails adjacent to the rear wall of the bucket are preferably spaced from the rear wall of the bucket. The rollers include first and second rollers which respectively engage the undersides of the first and second dumping rails.

Abstract: A controller for a motor having at least one stator phase and a method for controlling the motor, the controller including a drive signal generator for producing an electrical drive signal in the stator phase, the drive signal resulting in a current flow in the stator phase such that the current flow varies in response to varying load conditions for the motor, a current sensor for monitoring the current flow in the stator phase, an error detector for producing an error signal related to changes in the current flow, and a manipulation circuit electrically connected to the error detector and to the drive signal generator for changing the electrical stimulus in response to the error detector.

Abstract: A vehicle including a structural member treated with a coating, the coating having imbedded therein refractory materials in areas where the structural member is subjected to high temperatures greater than 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the refractory materials being greater than 400 wire mesh in size and comprising 65 to 90 percent of the combined coating and refractory materials by weight.

Abstract: A method for forming a structural member, the method comprising the steps of placing a first sheet member having a length dimension greater than a width dimension in a press, placing a second sheet member having a length dimension greater than a width dimension in the press, the second member only partially overlapping the first member, the first member only partially overlapping the second member, and the direction of the length dimension of the second member being angled relative to the direction of the length dimension of the first member, and closing the press to shape the first member and the second member.

Abstract: A dual pipe installation comprising a sump including a wall having inner and outer surfaces, and an opening extending there between, a pipe assembly extending into the sump and comprising an outer flexible pipe extending lengthwise and being defined by an endless wall which includes a plurality of corrugations in serially adjacent lengthwise relation, and a lengthwise inwardly open channel, and an inner flexible pipe which extends within the outer pipe, which is defined by an endless wall defining an interior and including a plurality of corrugations in serially adjacent lengthwise relation, and a projecting end portion extending axially outwardly beyond the end of the outer pipe and having an outer end, and which defines, with the outer pipe, an annular space.

Abstract: A metal clad article comprising:a cured layer of fiber-reinforced plastic; and a metal facing on the plastic layer, the metal facing having a length, a width and a thickness such that the length and the width are substantially greater than the thickness, and the metal facing being formed into a three-dimensional pattern repeating in the direction of the length and in the direction of the width and having a period of repetition in said length and width directions of at least twice the thickness, and the pattern having a depth, in the direction of the thickness, of at least twice the thickness.

Abstract: An electric vehicle comprising a body, an axle rotatably supported by the body, a rotor supported by the body for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a gearing assembly for selectively drivingly connecting the rotor to the axle, and a stator supported by the body. The stator includes a stator core which has a longitudinal opening housing the rotor and which has an outer surface. The outer surface includes upper and lower longitudinally extending recesses oppositely disposed relative to the axis. The stator also includes upper and lower cleats respectively mounted in the upper and lower recesses, the cleats and the longitudinal axis defining a common vertical plane.

Abstract: A switched reluctance motor includes a rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor shaft axis and a stator surrounding the rotor and having at least three electrically independent stator phases. The motor includes an electronic circuit for selectively energizing the phases in succession with a run current to generate a torque on the rotor and thereby rotate the rotor. The circuit includes switch operating means for selectively operating switches connecting an energy source to the phases. The circuit also includes current sensing means for sensing the amount of current in each of the phases, and timing means for determining the amount of time for the current in each phase to reach a predetermined current level threshold.

Abstract: Combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, a forced draft mixer and burner assembly extending into the combustion chamber, the assembly including a mixing tube having an open end, an opposed closed end, and a generally cylindrical, foraminous side wall extending between the ends, and a plurality of generally circular disks supported in the tube in spaced-apart relation over the length of the tube, the diameters of the disks increasing in the direction from the open end to the closed end, a blower for supplying air to the to the open end of the mixing tube, and a heat exchanger located in the combustion chamber adjacent the mixer and burner assembly.

Abstract: A switched reluctance electronic motor includes a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis and including a plurality of rotor poles. A stator surrounds the rotor and includes at least three stator phases. The motor also includes a circuit for controlling the motor, the circuit includes a pulse generator for supplying a seek current to each of the phases of the motor without causing rotation of the rotor. The seek currents in the phases each have a respective seek current rise time. The rise time is a function of the proximity of the rotor poles to the respective phases.

Abstract: A method for the mass production of squirrel-cage rotors for electric motors includes the step of die casting-in-place rotor bars within the slots formed by stacked steel laminations. The molten metal alloy utilized in the method is high conductivity aluminum. Before introduction of the molten aluminum, the steel laminations are treated in a solution of sodium nitrite, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, and a wetting agent to prevent soldering of the aluminum to the steel.

Abstract: A box section frame member includes an upper channel-shaped member having the flanges partially telescoped into the flanges of a lower channel-shaped mender. A weld connection is made at the upper edge of the lower channel-shaped member. The flanges of the lower channel-shaped member are formed with integral struck out T-shaped tabs which project inwardly and are longitudinally spaced. The upper channel-shaped member is provided with correspondingly spaced T-shaped openings located to mate with the tabs in the assembled relation. The tabs and opening are made during the formation of the channel members which are pre-assembled by press fitting of channel-shaped members with the flanges and web portions thereof deflecting to permit the movement of the openings past and into locking engagement with the tabs.

Abstract: A method of corrosion protecting steel structural components, such as motor vehicle structural frames and engine cradles, the method comprising: a steel shot blast mechanical cleaning of the steel structural component to remove scale, rust, and other oxidation residues, then an aluminum oxide shot blast mechanical cleaning of the steel structural component to remove any residual ferrous material, to flatten any undesirable metal peaks, and to leave a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the component, then the application of a powder paint, and then baking the steel structural component.