Abstract: A high mobility wheeled vehicle for transporting long loads, such as trimmed tree trunks or whole trees, over roadless terrain. The vehicle has front and rear quad wheel assemblies pivotally connected to a centrally disposed elongated bed frame so as to permit lateral rotation of these assemblies about a roll axis disposed below and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed frame. A linkage type roll control interconnects the quad wheel assemblies and the bed frame to proportionately control the relative angular movement of the bed frame with respect to the quad wheel assemblies. The roll control includes a plurality of interconnected links plus a pair of power extensible links for selectively adjusting the steady state position of the vehicle bed relative to the quad wheel assemblies in either direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grinding a split piston ring having at least one inwardly converging top or bottom wall member by bringing such wall into engagement with a rotating grinding member having a spherical segment working surface, the path of such relative movement being along a line which is coincident with the axis of the piston ring and also coincident with a radius of the spherical surface of the grinding member, whereby all of the inwardly converging surface of the split piston ring is concurrently ground to conform to the curvature of the spherical segment surface of the grinding member.

Abstract: Colored and/or transparent, low-expansion, crystallized glass-ceramics formed by thermal in situ crystallization from a differently colored crystallizable base glass and having lithium-containing crystals as the predominant crystalline species. The products have coefficients of thermal expansion of less than about 12 x 10.sup.-7 per .degree.C. over the range of 0 to 300.degree. C. Telescope mirror blanks can be made from the transparent, low-expansion, crystallized glass-ceramics.

Abstract: In a backhoe of the type having an outreach boom horizontally pivotally mounted relative to a vehicle and an hydraulic cylinder therebetween, a downreach boom horizontally pivotally mounted on the free end of the outreach boom and an hydraulic cylinder therebetween, and a digging bucket horizontally pivotally mounted on the free end of the downreach boom and an hydraulic cylinder therebetween, apparatus is provided for respectively generating signals proportional to the angle between the outreach boom and the horizontal, the angle between the outreach boom and the downreach boom, the angle between the downreach boom and a line drawn to the digging teeth of the bucket, and an angle equal to the desired slope of the bottom of the excavation relative to the true horizontal.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a plurality of selected lengths from a rod-like workpiece. A plurality of annular saws or mills have cutting teeth formed on the inner annuli which have diameters greater than the diameter of the workpiece. The workpiece is passed through the annuli such that the distance between one saw and the end of the workpiece defines one selected length while the distances between each pair of adjacent saws define the other selected lengths. The saws and the workpiece are relatively rotated in opposite directions, while concurrently the saws are moved transversely to bring the teeth of the saws into cutting engagement with the workpiece. If the apparatus comprises two annular saws, the annular saws are moved in opposite transverse directions so that the saws are concurrently engaging opposite sides of the workpiece. The transverse movements of the saws are controlled such that the saw nearest the end of the workpiece completes its cut first.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digging bucket for a backhoe or similar excavating machine, wherein the effective forward digging edge of the bucket may selectively comprise a transverse row of digging teeth for use in the primary phases of an excavation or a blade-type edge used for smoothing the bottom of the excavation. The backhoe bucket structure permitting this instantaneous choice by the operator comprises a conventional bucket having digging teeth secured thereto to the forward edge of the bottom but the medial portion of the bottom of the bucket is movably mounted relative to the remainder of the bucket so that the forward edge of the movable bottom portion can be dropped to a position below the digging teeth to function as a smoothing blade.

Abstract: The cutting depth of an endless chain type trencher is normally determined by the angle of the frame carrying the endless chain relative to the horizontal. In accordance with this invention, the angular position of the digging frame, hence the depth of the trench is controlled by the angular relationship of a trailing shoe carried by the digging frame relative to the digging frame. The trailing shoe has an elongated horizontal bottom surface that normally rides along the bottom of the formed trench. An upstanding mast is secured to the shoe at a point forwardly of the bottom surface and means on the top of the mast are utilized to indicate and control the depth of the trench.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved motion translation mechanism for use in transferring workpieces from one station to the next in a multi-station forming press. Essentially, the improved mechanism converts a continuous rotary motion into a reciprocating motion with a dwell period at each of the two extreme limits of the reciprocatory motion.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the elevation of the working tool of an earthworking machine, or the pavement distributor head of a mobile road-paving machine, in predetermined relationship to a fixed horizontal plane, as set by a laser beam which is periodically swept across the working area, such apparatus comprising a tape-dispensing device carried by the machine and arranged to intermittently advance the tape past a tape reader; the tape carrying two sets of indicia, one set indicating whenever a change in the height of the tool is required at a particular point in the travel of the machine, and the second set of indicia indicating the distance between such points, there being a ground-engaging wheel measuring the travel of the machine and connected to the tape-dispensing device to advance the tape to the next set of indicia whenever the machine arrives at the next one of said predetermined points.