Abstract: An expandable vibrator bracket for attaching a car-shaker vibrator to a female receptacle attached to a railroad car to be vibrated. The expandable bracket includes: a vibrator mounting member, a leg member, and a wedge base member. The vibrator mounting member supports the vibrator. The wedge base member further includes a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side. The wedge plate includes an attaching end, a distal end, an interior side and an exterior side. The attaching end is coupled to the first end of the wedge base member for allowing the distal end to selectively move with respect to the second end of the wedge base member when acted upon by a spreading or expanding force. The second side of the wedge base member and the exterior side of the wedge plate simultaneously abut opposite interior surfaces of the female receptacle during selective urging by the spreading force for holding the expandable vibrator bracket in the female receptacle.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for a car shaker vibrator that includes a vibrator mounting member that is pivotally connected by a pivot pin, in a hinged or clevis arrangement, to a wedge member. The wedge member includes the male portion of a Gardner type bracket that is adapted for engaging a mating female portion that is mounted on a railroad car. The vibrator mounting member may be selectively rotated between a first position and a second position. The vibrator mounting member is retained at the first position by a locating pin during the emptying of a railroad car during the selective operation of the car shaker vibrator. The vibrator mounting member is retained at the second position by the locating pin when the dislodgement of the male portion from the female portion is desired together with the selective and subsequent operation the car shaker vibrator. An intermediate position may be provided between the first position and the second position and used when needed.

Abstract: A compressed air or gas operated vibrator that has a cylindrical housing with a raceway located and formed therein. The raceway is sized and shaped for guiding a rolling member along an orbital path. The vibrator also includes at least one removable end cap for closing any open ends of the housing. The cylindrical housing has an inlet port for directing a flow or jet of the compressed gas to and towards a selected point of the raceway. The vibrator also has an outlet port for exhausting gas from the housing. The vibrator further includes a turbine wheel that rotates inside of the housing with a predetermined clearance. The turbine wheel has a plurality of blade members formed along its outer diameter and a recess portion that is formed into its outer diameter for allowing the rolling member to reside therein while also allowing the rolling thereof.

Abstract: A manually guided roller-type compactor having a roller, a vibrator assembly, compactor frame, a drive assembly and a directional control assembly. The vibrator assembly is selectively positioned by the directional control assemble along a radial path for propelling the compactor in a forward direction or a reverse direction while simultaneously providing compacting forces. The center of the radial path is coincident with the axis of the roller rotation. The vibrator assembly may be mounted interior of the roller or alternatively exterior of the roller.

Abstract: An image receptor for an X-ray apparatus including a lead glass panel laminate that is directly coupled to at least one lens assembly with an optical adhesion material. Each lens assembly is directly coupled to an associated solid state image sensor by an optical adhesion material. Each solid state image sensor is in electrical communication with an integral mother board by way of a removable daughterboard. The motherboard includes through apertures for allowing the servicing of each lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a focus adjustment that allows a linear adjustment of the lens assembly while maintaining the electrical communication with the motherboard. The lead glass panel laminate further includes light directing properties in the form of at least one partitioning mask that is formed in its second surface. Each partitioning mask cooperates with light directing coatings that are applied to a top surface of a lead glass panel of the lead glass panel laminate.

Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for connecting a single rotary vibrator to a vibratory feeding device that includes an elastomer spacer member retained and sandwiched between a base plate and a vibrator mounting plate. The mounting plate assembly converts sinusoidal forces exerted by the rotary vibrator to predominantly linear impelling pulses that are in a direction that is perpendicular to a first surface of the base plate. The base plate may be attached to the vibratory feeding device directly or by an adjustable pivot assembly. The direction of movement of items carried on a surface of the vibratory feeding device is directly related to the direction of rotation of the rotary vibrator. The mounting bracket assembly may also include at least one isolation member for minimizing contact of the vibrator mounting plate and retaining members used therewith.

Abstract: At least one conductive circuit 46 is formed on a substrate 12 that has a conductive layer 28 and a cover layer 40 bonded thereto. The conductive circuit 46 is formed by the severing of the conductive layer 28 into a conductive circuit 46 and a remaining portion 48 by a cutting edge of a cutting tool 50. The edge of the tool also causes the severed edges of the conductive path and the remaining portion to form a gap 52. An electrical insulating coating 54 covers the cover layer while filling the gaps 52. The insulator coating 54 is allowed to set for maintaining separation and integrity of the conductive path 46. The method of the present invention lends itself to manual, semi-automatic and/or automatic production of discrete articles.

Abstract: A compressed gas or pneumatically actuated turbine-type vibrator having an outer housing 12, a rotor assembly 14 that is freely rotatable within a cylindrical chamber 16 formed in the outer housing 12. The rotor assembly 14 includes a plurality of V-shaped blades for driving the rotor assembly when and as a propelling surface 36 of the rotor assembly is acted upon by a compressed gas flowing through an inlet port to and towards the propelling surface 36. The outer housing further includes at least one exhaust port for exhausting spent gas from the cylindrical chamber. The V-shaped blade members provide an efficient use of the compressed gas for the vibratory forces developed.

Abstract: A clamp assembly that is mounted to a carriage assembly of a lifting apparatus. The carriage assembly is adapted for linear and rotational movement with respect to a column of the lifting apparatus. The carriage assembly includes a pair of lifting forks that are spaced for mating with a pair of apertures formed in a support frame assembly of an article to be lifted. The clamp assembly includes an L-shaped locking arm that is arrayed for both angular movement and a biased linear movement with respect to the carriage assembly. The angular movement being selectively moved between an engaged position and a disengaged position by a manual or powered actuator. The engaged position retains the support frame assembly on the carriage assembly when and while the lifting forks are mated with the pair of apertures. The disengaged position allowing removal of the support frame from the forks.

Abstract: A tool 10 and method for its use with a vibratory car shaker mounting bracket 40 that includes a cross bar member 12, a pair of first bar members 14, an engaging means 22, a pin member 24, a retaining means 26 and at least two threaded jacking means 34. each of the threaded jacking means being carried by the cross member 12, A male blade portion 52 of the mounting bracket 40 being removably seated in a female pocket portion 50.

Abstract: A power assisted roll handling attachment for a lifting apparatus. Its support frame includes a gearmotor assembly and guides and is adapted for attachment to the lifting apparatus. A movable roll support assembly includes a support beam, a roll core mandrel assembly and a rack member having a curved portion. The rack member is adapted for being driven by a drive member carried on the output shaft of the gear motor. The support beam has a cross section defined by a flanged portion and a web portion. The support beam is formed in an L-shape having a first end, a second end and a radial portion formed therebetween. The rack member is positioned in a spaced parallel relationship with the flange portion. The roll support assembly is supported by the guides.

Abstract: A knife assembly 10 for transversely severing at least one elongated web of material including: a sharpened blade member 12, a blade holder 14, a blade holder support assembly 16, an adjustable biasing member 18, a carriage assembly 20, and a backing member 44. The blade member 12 and the blade holder 14 are removably retained in the support assembly 16 by a quick release pin 26. The support assembly 16 is attached to the biasing member 18 by way of a swivel connection 32, The biasing member maintains abutment of the sharpened edge of the blade 12 with the backing member 44 during the cutting operation. A self-orienting assembly maintains the blade 12 in a preferred orientation with respect to the carriage assembly 20 during any period that the blade 12 is not abutting the backing member 44. The cutting assembly 10 is also capable of cutting moving material and simultaneously winding the leading end of the severed material on a cylindrical core that also acts as the backing member 44.

Abstract: An image acquisition system that uses multiple cameras or image sensors in a redundant camera array. The cameras or sensors are arrayed in rows and columns so that a viewing area of each camera overlaps a viewing area of an adjacent camera. At least one camera is positioned in the array so that all edges of its viewing area abuts the viewing area of an adjacent camera. The image is displayed or stored in seamless and continuous form in high resolution. The system may also be used in low light conditions for image acquisition. Multiple cameras or sensors may be arrayed on modular panels that mates with and adjacent modular panel. The system is adaptable to image acquisition for X-rays, scanning, photocopying, security systems and the like.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for use with an expandable performance platform that allows relative independent pivotal movement between its first or extension panels and its adjacent second or base panel. The hinge assembly allows the extension panels to lay atop the base panels for storage or transport by providing movement of the pivot axis as the extension panel is pivoted. The hinge assembly also provides a flat performance area with a minimum of gaps along its abutting edges when the extension panels are in a performance mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the on-demand seating of a lid on pre-formed containers that are carried on a continually moving conveyor. A lid press plate (20) is connected to a linear actuator (36) by a mounting assembly (17). The mounting assembly (17) transmits a seating force from the linear actuator (36) to the lid press plate (20) for seating the lid while simultaneously allowing the horizontal movement of the lid press plate (20) from a first position to a second position by a driving force resulting solely from the application of a seating pressure between the lid press plate (20) and the lid (46). The lid press plate moves at the same velocity as the pre-formed container during application of the seating pressure. The lid press plate (20) is returned to the first position by a biasing assembly (18), after removal of the seating pressure.