Abstract: A portable frame is supported for vertical movement on a pair of posts adjacent the surface of a table for receiving an object to be marked. A traveling plate is supported for movement on the frame in the horizontal plane above the surface of the object on the table. A ball screw drive connects the traveling plate to the frame for imparting longitudinal movement of the traveling plate in the horizontal plane. A marking head assembly is pivotally mounted on the plate and carries a plurality of impact pins which are reciprocated into and out of contact with the object by operation of programmable solenoid valves. An indexing wheel adjusts the angular position of the marking head assembly to control the size of characters formed by the pins impacting the object. The pins are activated as the traveling table is moved in the horizontal plane to inscribe a desired mark of a preselected character size on the plate.

Abstract: A translucent block includes a pair of parallel upper and lower faces each having a generally irregular hexagonal shape. There are a pair of generally rectangular, opposing sides which are parallel with each other, have a first preselected height and a first preselected width, and are perpendicular and joined to the upper and lower faces. A first pair of generally rectangular, opposing ends are parallel with each other, have the first preselected height and a second preselected width, and are perpendicular and joined to the upper and lower faces. A second pair of generally rectangular, opposing ends are parallel with each other, have the first preselected height and the second preselected width, and are perpendicular and joined to the upper and the lower faces. One of the first pair of ends is joined to one of the second pair of ends with a predetermined angle of ninety degrees therebetween. Each of the first pair of ends and each of the second pair of ends are respectively joined to one of the pair of sides.

Abstract: An improved material gathering device is for a mining machine or the like of the type which includes a mobile body supporting a mining head at a forward end thereof for dislodging material from a mine face. A gathering platform is on the mobile body adjacent and below the mining head for receipt of the dislodged material thereon. An endless conveyor extends longitudinally of the mobile body to convey the dislodged material away from the forward end to the rearward end of the mobile body. A pair of oscillating arms are on transversely opposite sides of the gathering platform and are driven by a gear train including a transversely extending shaft to cause the arms to feed the dislodged material onto the endless conveyor. The endless conveyor includes a sprocket and drive shaft at a forward end thereof to cause the endless conveyor to extend into the gathering platform to terminate near a forward edge thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing window patches from a web of patch material includes a mechanism for applying adhesive to selective portions of the web, a pair of cooperating rolls to feed the web to the adhesive applying mechanism, a vacuum roll engaging successive window patches with adhesive, a severing mechanism cutting successive window patches of a pre-selected length from the web in spaced relation to a portion of the web engaged to the surface of the vacuum roll, a vacuum conveyor positioned between the adhesive applying mechanism and the severing mechanism to advance the web along a path from the adhesive applying mechanism toward the severing mechanism, a discharging end portion of the vacuum conveyor being spaced from the severing mechanism. The vacuum conveyor is constructed and arranged to transport the web from the adhesive applying mechanism, a pre-selected distance through the vacuum roll before the web is transferred to the vacuum roll and from the latter to the severing mechanism.

Abstract: A welding gun of an arc welding machine is mounted for vertical reciprocal movement on a movable frame portion. The movable frame portion is connected to a stationary frame portion by piston cylinder assemblies which upon actuation raise and lower the movable frame portion into an out of position for locating the welding gun in position for welding together a pair of longitudinal sheet metal member edges positioned in a preselected relationship on the stationary frame portion. A pair of clamp plates are carried by the movable frame portion. When the movable frame portion is lowered the clamp plates are positioned oppositely of the pair of sheet member edges respectively to move into and out of clamping engagement with the sheet member edges. Once the sheet member edges are clamped in abutting relationship, the welding gun is advanced downwardly on the frame movable portion in a vertical linear path.

Abstract: A cable supporting structure includes a longitudinally extending channel-shaped support structure having a pair of spaced side walls with free end portions turned inwardly to form opposed longitudinally extending flanges. A locking strap has opposite end portions and an intermediate portion therebetween. A support member is positioned within the support structure to extend between the side walls with opposite ends thereof respectively supported by the flanges. The support member includes a pair of slots for receiving the locking strap to cause the intermediate portion to extend around a central body portion of the support member in overlapping relation therewith. The support member includes resiliently deflectable extensions at the ends thereof for producing frictional contact between the support member and the side walls tending to resist movement of the support member within the support structure.

Abstract: An electric powered vehicle or the like includes a first mechanical drive system for a first side of the vehicle and a second mechanical drive system for a second side of the vehicle. A first DC motor and a second DC motor are respectively coupled to the first mechanical drive system and the second mechanical drive system. A source of DC power is on the vehicle. The first DC motor has a first field and a first armature and the second DC motor has a second field and a second armature. The first field, the first armature, the second field, and the second armature are connected in a series circuit with the source of power. A voltage sensing relay across the first armature can detect a high voltage across the first armature to sense a loss of traction of the first mechanical drive system. A switching circuit is employed to disable the first motor from the series circuit in response to the voltage sensing relay.

Abstract: An improved roof support system for a mine or the like is of the type which includes a pair of plates secured to a roof of the mine at opposite sides thereof adjacent opposing ribs of the mine and an enlongated reinforcing member extending horizontally and transversely of the mine between the pair of plates. The reinforcing member has a first rod and a second rod threadably joined to an adjustable sleeve for joining the first rod and the second rod while being able to vary an overall length of the reinforcing member. Each of the rods has a bolt head thereon including a transversely extending working surface. Each of the plates has an opening therein for respective receipt of the bolt heads of the first rod and the second rod of the reinforcing member therethrough. Each of the plates has a force bearing surface adjacent the opening therein which is capable of respectively making contact at least a part of working surface of the first rod and the second rod.

Abstract: A cellular ceramic insulating body that includes a plurality of rigid cellular ceramic segments adhesively secured to one another by a bonding agent. The cellular ceramic segments are arranged to be positioned adjacent to the surface of a member to be insulated. The bonding agent forms a flexible bond that substantially prevents thermal stress failure in the cellular ceramic insulating body at temperatures up to at least 650.degree. F. The cellular ceramic insulating body is operable to resist thermally induced cracking in the cellular ceramic segments at temperatures up to at least 650.degree. F.

Abstract: This is a method for degumming decorticated plant bast fiber, such as ramie, flax, or hemp bast fiber, to remove pectin-containing material and coloring gums therefrom. The decorticated plant bast fiber is desirably washed with a washing solution containing a surface active agent to penetrate the plant bast fiber and remove water soluble material and other debris therefrom. The washed plant bast fiber is then rinsed. The washed and rinsed plant bast fiber is treated with an aqueous acidic treatment solution of fungal pectinase for a period of time of between 10 and 30 minutes to remove the pectin from the plant fiber. The acidic treatment solution is maintained at an elevated temperature in the range of between 60.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. and has a pH between about 2.0 and 3.5. Thereafter, the plant bast fiber with the pectin removed therefrom, is removed from the acidic treatment solution and a sufficient amount of NaOH is added thereto to increase the pH of the treatment solution to about 11.0.

Abstract: An improved roof support system for a mine or the like is of the type which includes a pair of plates secured to the roof of the mine at opposite sides thereof adjacent opposing ribs of the mine and a horizontal, transverse reinforcing member extending between the pair of plates. The improvement includes the reinforcing member having a first rod with a first end thereof secured to a first of the plates and a second end extending toward the second plate. The second plate includes a vertical portion with a transversely extending opening therethrough. The reinforcing member also includes a second rod in the form of a bolt which has a bolt head located against the vertical portion of the second plate with the threaded second end thereof extending through the opening toward the first plate. The second end of the first rod includes a sleeve mounted thereon having a threaded bore therethrough for receipt of the threaded end of the bolt.

Abstract: A portable frame is supported for vertical movement on a pair of posts adjacent the surface of a table for receiving an object to be marked. A traveling plate is supported for movement on the frame in the horizontal plane above the surface of the object on the table. A ball screw drive connects the traveling plate to the frame for imparting longitudinal movement of the traveling plate in the horizontal plane. A marking head assembly is pivotally mounted on the plate and carries a plurality of impact pins which are reciprocated into and out of contact with the object by operation of programmable solenoid valves. An indexing wheel adjusts the angular position of the marking head assembly to control the size of characters formed by the pins impacting the object. The pins are activated as the traveling table is moved in the horizontal plane to inscribe a desired mark of a preselected character size on the plate.

Abstract: A joint assembly for connecting the ends of a pair of generally rectangular sheet metal duct sections includes a pair of frame members secured to each other and connected to the respective duct end sections. The frame members each include four flange portions. Each flange portion has an upstanding channel shaped leg portion and an angularly extending duct receiving leg portion. A corner piece connects adjacent flange portions and extends into the channel portions of the upstanding leg portions to form the generally rectangular frame. The end portions of the ducts are inserted into longitudinal openings of the duct receiving leg portions. A flowing type gasket material is positioned in a longitudinal pocket of each flange. The end of each duct wall partially displaces the gasket material so that the gasket material extrudes outwardly around the duct wall and between the ends of the flange portion and the corner piece.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine includes a mobile body portion with a cutter drum member rotatably mounted on the front of a boom member which extends forwardly of the body portion. The cutter drum member has an intermediate drum section and a pair of canted end drum sections. Driven input shafts extend through openings between the intermediate section and the end drum sections. Each input shaft is drivingly connected to a first stage of a two stage planetary gear assembly which surrounds an end drum drive shaft that extends the length of each end drum section. A second stage of the planetary gear assembly is drivingly connected to and is axially aligned with the first stage to transmit rotation outwardly to the end of the end drum section. A shearable driving coupling is axially positioned on the end drum drive shaft at the end of the end drum section. An external portion of the drive coupling is connected to the second stage and an internal portion is connected to the end drum drive shaft.

Abstract: A platform supports a shaft assembly that extends upwardly in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the platform and through a disk mounted for rotation on the shaft assembly above the platform. The disk is rotated at a preselected speed and carries on the circumferential edge portion thereof a plurality of liquid filled reservoirs spaced from one another completely around the circumference of the disk. Buoyantly positioned in each reservoir is a hollow piston having a piston rod extending outwardly from the reservoir. Mounted on the shaft assembly is an adjustably movable cam having a cam track eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the shaft assembly. The piston rod end portions are positioned oppositely of the cam track for movement into and out of contact with the cam track upon rotation of the disk which carries the reservoirs.

Abstract: Molten pig iron flows from the hearth of a blast furnace down a runner positioned on the floor of a cast house and into ladles for receiving the iron. The runner is constructed by a plurality of precast refractory side blocks and an interconnecting base of compacted particulate refractory material to form a substantially U-shaped trough extending a preselected distance and along a preselected path from the hearth to one or more ladles for conveying the iron from the blast furnace. The trough has opposed upstanding side walls and a floor extending between the bottom of the side walls. The side walls are formed by individual side blocks positioned in abutting end to end relation on the cast house floor. The compacted base forming the trough floor extends between and interconnects with the side blocks. The adjacent ends of the side blocks are notched to form a joint for receiving castable refractory material which upon setting interlocks the ends of adjacent side blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for leveling a batch of pulverulent constituents in making a vitreous cellular material. A screen structure having at least one substantially flat screen layer is impressed down into and through at least a portion of the batch of pulverulent constituents. The screen structure is vibrated horizontally in a circular orbital motion while impressing the screen structure down into and through at least a portion of the batch of pulverulent constituents.

Abstract: A method for degumming decorticated plant bast fiber, such as ramie flax, or hemp bast fiber, to remove pectin-containing material therefrom. The decorticated plant bast fiber is washed with a washing solution containing a surface active agent to penetrate the plant bast fiber to remove water soluble material therefrom. The washed plant bast fiber is then rinsed. The washed and rinsed plant bast fiber is treated with an aqueous, acidic treatment solution of fungal pectinase for a period of time between about 10 to 20 minutes to degum the plant fiber. The treatment solution is maintained at an elevated temperature in the range between about 60.degree. C. and 65.degree. C. and has a pH between about 2.0 and 3.5.

Abstract: A plurality of flange members are positioned oppositely of one another on the ends of a pair of generally rectangular sheet metal ducts. The flange members are positioned in pairs on the adjacent ends of the ducts. The angular legs of corner pieces extend into the ends of the flange members to connect the adjacent flange members on the end of each duct so that four corner pieces connect the flange members to form a frame around the respective duct end portion. The oppositely positioned flange members on the adjacent duct end portions are sealingly secured together by clamping together the adjacent corner pieces. Each flange member is formed by a thin walled sheet member and includes a pair of legs angularly disposed relative to one another to form a plurality of wall sections. A first wall section terminates in a first leg end portion, and a second wall section terminates in a second leg end portion. The first and second leg end portions are spaced apart.

Abstract: A marking device for printing identification marks on the surface of an object, for example a series of billets conveyed in succession on a roll table, is mounted for vertical and pivotal movement on the end of an upper arm. The upper arm is movable along a first axis in a horizontal plane to extend and retract the marking head assembly into and out of marking position. The upper arm is supported by a carriage which is also movable in a horizontal plane parallel to the roll table along a second axis angularly positioned relative to the first axis. The upper arm is movable relative to the carriage, and the carriage is movable on a beam to carry the upper arm together with the marking device to a preselected position with respect to the objects to be marked on the roll table.