Abstract: A walking beam vehicle is disclosed for supporting a crane or the like which reduces power requirements relative to prior art vehicles. A bi-functional swing drive system is provided for either pivoting the walking beams and a lower frame relative to an upper frame and the ground, or pivoting the upper frame relative to the walking beams and the ground. A power operated lift pad is provided for alternately raising the lift pad and walking beam from the ground. When the vehicle is used as a crane or the like, the walking beams may be extended toward a heavy load to be lifted in order to minimize rollover tendencies of the crane.

Abstract: A synchronized subharmonic controller for a dual coil electromagnetic vibrator, which derives both power and timing from a single phase AC line, having a trigger circuit which operates the coils at one-third the power line frequency. A timing circuit is optically coupled to alternately fire a pair of oppositely-directed SCR's with each SCR connecting one of the coils across the AC line. The optical coupling reduces feedback from the coil circuitry to the timing circuit. A pair of capacitors supply additional power to operate the coils and to reduce the peak values of current supplied by the power line.

Abstract: A multi-section telescopic boom is disclosed having a base section supported for pivotal movement, a manual section telescopically received in said base section, a mid section, and a tip section which sections are progressively lighter from the base section to the tip section when excluding the weight of head machinery connected to the tip section. The heavy manual section is stored in the base section when a load to be transferred between two locations can be reached with the mid and tip sections extended thereby substantially decreasing the turning moment about the pivot axis due to the weight of the boom sections resulting in an increased load carrying capacity of the boom. The boom is preferably supported by a pendant line operatively connected to the outer end of the tip and base sections and trained within the boom to aid a single hydraulic ram to extend and retract selected sections of the boom.

Abstract: The steering control system of the present invention includes a steering gear box mounted on an axle of a vehicle substantially of the midpoint between steerable wheels journaled on and connected to knuckle joints on the ends of the axle. The input shaft of the gear box is connected to the steering wheel shaft by a slip joint. The longitudinal axis of the input shaft, slip joint shaft and wheel shaft are all angled upwardly and rearwardly with the total rearward angle being about 22.degree. and the rearward angle of the input shaft being about 7.degree.. Mounting the gear box on the axle rather than on a sprung portion of the vehicle minimizes impact forces due to rough roads from being transmitted to the operator through the steering wheel and from damaging the gear box.

Abstract: A locating core for sand molds, has a larger diameter frusto-conical upper portion and a smaller diameter frusto-conical lower portion which are joined together at the bases. A mold cope and drag each have two conical depressions therein adapted to receive the upper and lower portions of the locating core respectively and positioned so that the mold cavities in the cope and drag are in proper registration when the depressions are in registration. A step is formed on the core between the diameters of the bases at the junction of the upper and lower cone portions. The step rests on the upper surface of the drag when the core is set in the drag depressions and the cope is then placed so that the cope depressions engage the upper conical portions, whereby the cope and drag mold cavities are in registration.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for selectively extending and retracting a mobile telescoping boom assembly and for independently extending and retracting an articulated pipe service line mounted on the boom assembly. The circuit can be used with a hydraulic ram to extend and retract the boom assembly or a winch and cable arrangement can be used. A pair of winches are used to extend and retract the articulated service line.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for checking a sucker-rod pumped well for defects by weighing the well. A load cell connected between the sucker-rod and a power unit develops a signal representative of the load on the sucker-rod. The sucker-rod load is checked with the rod and an associated downhole pump plunger in a stationary position. The load readings are corrected for load cell drift by a computer, and a corrected load value displayed on a digital display unit. The load readings are updated periodically and any changes in load reading can be used to determine the presence of a defect and to ascertain the type of defect in the pumping apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting problems in sucker-rod well pumps and for determining which type of problem occurs. A first transducer provides a signal representative of the load on a sucker-rod string and a second transducer provides a signal representative of the sucker-rod position. The load signal and the position signal are used to generate a dynagraph of rod load vs. rod position with the pump working normally. A working dynagraph is continually compared with the normal dynagraph and a working load signal is continually compared with a normal rod load signal to detect problems in the pumping system and to determine the type of problem detected if one does develop.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the distance between an electric welding torch and a workpiece especially useful with an aluminum workpiece. A nonconsumable electrode is mounted adjacent the consumable electrode of the welding torch with the nonconsumable electrode electrically isolated from the consumable electrode. A power supply connected to the consumable electrode provides an auxiliary arc and develops a consumable electrode voltage proportional to the distance between the torch and the workpiece. The consumable electrode voltage can be used to develop signals which guide the torch along a groove in the workpiece.

Abstract: A chordal action isolation wheel assembly for reduction of noise in track-laying vehicles by using a pendulous isolation wheel to isolate chordal track forces from a smaller drive sprocket. The drive sprocket is mounted on a drive shaft and one end of a pendulous arm is rotatably connected to the drive shaft. The isolation wheel is rotatably mounted on the other end of the pendulous arm and an endless track is trained about both the isolation wheel and the drive sprocket with only a small portion of the periphery of the drive sprocket contacting the endless track. The larger diameter of the isolation wheel causes a gentle lowering of the endless track onto the drive sprocket to reduce the force transmitted to the sprocket wheel and reduced noise. Chordal impacts of the track shoes occur against the isolation wheel, and the resulting vibrational energy is absorbed by the pendulous action of the isolation wheel assembly.

Abstract: A rotary irrigation system comprises a continuous length of irrigation pipe having sprinkler heads spaced along the length thereof with an inboard end of the irrigation pipe connected to a fixed upstanding water supply pipe and with an outboard end of the irrigation pipe connected to power apparatus for rotating the outboard end of the pipe about the axis of the irrigation pipe. The inboard end of the irrigation pipe is connected so it cannot rotate about the axis of the irrigation pipe, but can move about the water supply pipe. The irrigation pipe is supported at uniformly spaced intervals along its length by a plurality of wheels with the wheels having hubs which receive the irrigation pipe and allow the wheels to rotate in one direction only. The power apparatus applies a torque to rotate the outboard end of the irrigation pipe in a first direction to wind up the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which utilizes modified wheel aligner heads and which accomplishes measurement of individual wheel toe on a vehicle having a pair of non-steerable rear wheels and a pair of steerable front wheels. The apparatus and method provides measurement of a steering or a rolling direction for the front and the rear wheel pair as a result of optical measurements taken relating the orientation of the planes of the wheels to the centerline of the vehicle chassis. Once the steering direction of the front wheels is obtained, individual toe measurements for the front wheels may be made relative to the chassis centerline. Alternatively, once the steering or average rolling direction of the rear wheels is obtained individual toe measurements for the rear wheels may be made relative to the chassis centerline and individual toe measurements for the front wheels may be made relative to the rear wheel rolling direction.

Abstract: A turret is movable in azimuth within a turret support structure and a large caliber cannon is movable in elevation within the turret. An automatic loading mechanism is contained within the turret operating to move fixed ammunition rounds between a turret mounted magazine and the cannon breech. The magazine in one embodiment includes a rotating carousel and a number of rotatable drums mounted thereon. The drums have storage cells for ammunition rounds. A transfer mechanism operates to move the rounds between a transfer position to which each of the cells may be indexed and a loading position aligned with the breech when the cannon is positioned substantially at zero elevation. The transfer mechanism performs magazine load and misfire transfer functions as well. A guide tube is provided, movable between a position aligned with the breech and an out-of-the-way position, for directing spent round cases from the turret upon being ejected from the breech after firing.

Abstract: A dynamic balancing machine having a rotatably driven mounting shaft for articles to be balanced has a fixture upon which known weights are mounted at two known calibration planes ralative to the shaft. Data taken by force sensors coupled to the shaft during two shaft spins with the known weights mounted in each calibration plane are used to calculate sensor output correction factors applied to unbalance data taken during the spin of a mounted unbalanced article for a pair of unbalance measurement planes spaced along the shaft. The unbalance calibration and measurement planes are axially displaced along the shaft from the location of the force sensors. The disclosure is directed toward apparatus and method for obtaining machine calibration.

Abstract: A coupling and latching mechanism for a multisection extensible boom that includes a manual section and is operable from a remote location such as the cab of a crane. The mechanism includes pairs of spaced jaw type couplings secured to adjacent boom sections and adapted to be selectively coupled to the piston rod or the like of an extensible power means for operating the boom either with the manual section extended or retracted. Remotely controlled latch means are provided to latch the manual section in a plurality of extended positions, or in a retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for maintaining a predetermined mast-boom working angle of a pendant supported boom substantially constant during extension and retraction of the boom. One embodiment of the invention includes control means connected between the boom and the mast for detecting slight angular changes and actuating power means for paying out or drawing in sufficient pendant to return the mast-boom angle to a predetermined angle. Another embodiment utilizes electrical controls having a first potentiometer capable of detecting linear changes in the effective boom supporting length of the pendant and another potentiometer for detecting linear changes in the length of the boom, said potentiometer sending output signal ratios which vary from a predetermined output signal ratio for actuating power means that takes up or pays out sufficient pendant to return the boom to the predetermined mast-boom working angle and returns the output signal ratio to said predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A multi-section crane boom is provided with a fly section and a jib section which may be erected and supported by a mast and pendants on the end of the boom to extend the effective length of the boom. When the fly section and jib section are not used they are stored on the boom, the fly section being supported alongside of and generally parallel to the boom and the jib section being supported in position below the fly section. The fly section can be mounted on the end of the boom alone while the jib section remains in stored position, or, alternatively, the fly section can be mounted on the boom and the jib section can be mounted on the outer end of the fly section. A pair of compact hook shaped resilient connectors serve as backstops which prevent the fly from pivoting in excess of 5.degree. upwardly past longitudinal of alignment with the boom axis when the boom is in a near vertical position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling the angle of a pivoted, pendant supported extensible boom and the mast-boom angle between working positions and a transport position. The structure for controlling the angle includes a wire rope driven by a winch and trained over a boom supporting hoist and over a pendant take-up hoist which includes a floating sheave assembly connected to an extensible portion of the boom by a fixed length pendant. Another fixed length pendant determines the mast-boom angle when the boom is in working position, and a floating sheave stop is pivoted to the mast in position to cradle and/or abut a portion of the floating sheave assembly for enabling complete control of the mast when moved between its transport position and working positions relative to the boom.

Abstract: A telescopic boom is disclosed which is pivotally supported by its base section for movement about a horizontal axis. The boom is supported by a live mast through multi-part pendant lines, which pendant lines are each reeved over sheaves attached to the boom at the forward end of the base section and at the forward end of another boom section to support the boom at a plurality of points forwardly of the live mast. The forward end of each pendant is preferably received within the boom over sheaves journaled on the cylinder case of a boom extending ram and on selected sections of the boom. The multi-part pendant supported boom reduces boom droop caused by extension of the boom approximately 50% of that of a boom supported at a single point by each pendant line.

Abstract: A data bus system includes a plurality of interconnected active terminals, i.e., terminals which receive data from one terminal and retransmit it or transmit new data to another terminal. The data is in serial digital form and is transmitted within a continuous series of time frames of predetermined length with each time frame being initiated by a control word transmitted by one of the terminals designated the controller terminal. Each terminal includes a counter which counts the bits between control words, and each control word includes an identification of the controller terminal so that each terminal can synchronize its counter with the counter at the controller terminal in accordance with the propagation time of data from the controller terminal. Logic circuitry is provided at each terminal so that one of a plurality of terminals can assume the function of the controller terminal should the presently designated controller terminal fail to generate control words to define the time frames.