Abstract: An idler recoil device (10) is utilized for track-type vehicles. The idler recoil device (10) protects a crawler track system (11) from damage when some foreign object, such as a rock, is trapped between an endless chain link assembly (28) and a chain supporting element (20,22,24,26) of the crawler track system (11). An idler link (30) is pivotally connected to a track frame (12) of the crawler track system (11) and a recoilable rear idler (24) is rotatably positioned on an idler hub (54) itself pivotally connected to said idler link (30). An increase in tension on said endless chain link assembly (28) causes said idler hub (54) to rotate away from said endless chain link assembly (28) decreasing track path length and, consequently, tension. This rotation is resiliently resisted by a recoil pad (66) mounted between said idler hub (54) and said idler link (30). A tensile link (68) prevents any recoil up to a preselected endless chain link assembly (28) tension.

Abstract: A lift fixture (10) for holding and centering a workpiece (93) includes a handling ring (16) defined by a yoke (17) and a clamp slide (20) mounted on the yoke, means (48) for closing the clamp slide (20), a support apparatus (12) for positioning the handling ring (16), and a plurality of angularly spaced holding mechanisms (33,34,40,41) for gripping the workpiece (93). The holding mechanisms (33,34,40,41) are movably mounted to the handling ring (16) so as to move relative to the ring along a line generally tangent to the workpiece (93). The holding mechanisms (33,34,40,41) are biased to a centered position, as by springs (87,88), so that when the workpiece (93) is lifted, it is urged to a centered position within the ring (16).

Abstract: Multiple, interconnected shielding portions (26,28,30) constitute a protection structure (22) which may be arranged relative to a console (10) in an obstructing position so as to shield instruments contained in the console (10) from damage. The multiple shielding portions (26,28,30) are relatively displaceable to permit common occupation of all the shielding portions (26,28,30) in an envelope formed by one of the shielding portions (26). Such common occupation or self-storing design permits the protection structure (22), when removed from the console (10), to be stored in a minimum of space. The protection structure (22) may be assembled in obstructing relationship with the console (10) by displacing the individual shielding portions (26,28,30) to predetermined positions prior to interconnecting the console (10) and one of the components (28) with tabs (38) connected to the component (28) into slots in the console (10).

Abstract: Apparatus for raising the temperature of internal combustion engine exhaust gases high enough to burn collected particulate material from particulate filter means (27/56) in the exhaust system. An electrical resistance heating element (37/71) which confronts only a small part of the inlet surface of particulate filter means (27/56) is moved relative to said inlet surface so as to progressively and cyclically burn the particulates from the filter means.

Abstract: An apparatus (16) is provided for winding inextensible flexible elongate material, such as cable (15), on a carcass (10) of a body while maintaining the tension on the elongate material (15) substantially uniform. A shuttle (20) carries at least one compensator arm assembly (30,130) resiliently supporting a housing (44,144) having a sheave (50,150) in line with an energy-dissipator (80,180) on the side of the sheave (50,150) closest to the carcass so that the elongate material (15) being fed from a spool (28) under tension and passing over the sheave (50,150) as the shuttle (20) is rotating around the torus-shaped body will apply the elongate material to the carcass (10) under substantially uniform tension as the arm assembly (30,130) stores up elongate material (15) during periods of low material demand and pays out elongate material during periods of high material demand.

Abstract: A scrap removal apparatus (35) for retrieving scrap material (32,33) from a two-piece table (19) includes a programmed lift arm assembly (37) movable between the table (19) and scrap accumulating areas (82,83) and has remotely actuable mechanical gripping devices (45) for positively clamping onto the scrap material (32,33). One form of gripping device is a clamp (50) having a finger (57) and an enlarged pad (54), the fingers (57) of the respective clamps (50) movable through slots (70) defined in the outer table edge (21) to grip the overlying outer scrap (32). Another form of gripping device includes a blade (80) for pinning the inner scrap (33) against a stop (73) near the table center.

Abstract: A drive assembly (20) has a planetary gear assembly (27), driven member (22), and first housing element (28). The assembly (20) is, for example, part of a final drive (12) of a work vehicle (10) or pulley drive for a material handling system. A first bearing element (30) supports the driven member (22) in rotatable relationship relative to the housing element (28). A second bearing element (32) supports the housing element (28) in rotatable relationship relative to the gear assembly (27). On the vehicle (10), gear reduction taken inside of a tandem housing (14) has heretofore resulted in an overturning reaction force on the housing (14) which creates unequal wheel loads.

Abstract: An axle suspension system wherein shock-absorbing members (31,32) allow vertical movement of an axle (25) relative to a frame (16). Unequal vertical movement of the ends of the axle (25) is restrained by a torsion bar (40) spaced from and parallel to the axle and mounted (41,42) on the frame for axial rotation and by rods (46-49) extending between the ends of the torsion bar (40) and the axle (25), the rods each having a non-rotatable connection (53a-d) with the torsion bar (40) and a universal connection (58a-d) with the axle (25). Unequal vertical movement of the ends of the axle (25) imposes a torque on the torsion bar (40) which resists such axle movement. The axle suspension system has particular utility in single-axle tractor units of tractor-scraper vehicles.

Abstract: A roadable track shoe grouser is provided for track-type vehicles, for example, tracked farm tractors, to prevent damage to finished road surfaces when driving such tractors upon such road surfaces. The grouser includes a rubber grouser bar which is bonded to a mounting plate to facilitate replacement of the grouser after the rubber grouser bar is worn out by use. Owing to interruptions in the bond provided to accommodate the heads of track shoe retaining bolts underlying the grouser, the bond is subject to premature failure, resulting in the loss of the rubber grouser bar from the track shoe. The grouser 10 described herein solves this problem by using a mounting plate 32 having an aperture 45, the aperture 45 is of a size to receive a head 28 of a track shoe retaining bolt 25. A plug 50 is of a size and construction to be press fitted into and close the aperture 45 and to provide a continuous, uninterrupted bond interface across the mounting plate 32.

Abstract: A compact planetary differential (10) is provided including first and second planetary sets (16,18) individually having ring, sun, and carrier elements (26,28,30,34,36,38), a rotary input member (12), first and second output members (20,22) individually connected to a preselected first one of the elements of the respective planetary sets, and with preselected second ones of the elements of the respective planetary sets being connected for joint rotation. A multi-speed unit (14) desirably always drives the output members at equal torque levels while imparting multi-speed capability thereto. The multi-speed unit is driven by the input member and drives the remaining third one of the elements of the second planetary set in at least one speed. The multi-speed unit (14) preferably includes a third planetary set (44), one brake assembly (54) and a clutch assembly (102), or two brake assemblies (54,56) connected to preselected ones of the ring, sun, and/or carrier elements thereof.

Abstract: A control arrangement comprises a pivotal control member having a pair of arms and a pivotal lever disposed between the arms. The stop member is secured on the lever to engage a snubber upon relative pivoting between the control member and lever. The control arrangement is adapted for connection to a control valve to alert the operator when the control lever has over-travelled a "run" condition of operation when the stop member engages the snubber.

Abstract: A load check valve is normally employed in association with a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, such as the type used to raise and lower the boom of a construction vehicle. Conventional check valves of the poppet type are difficult to modulate whereas check valves of the spool type generally do not insure leakage control at an acceptable rate during normal operation. The spool-type load check valve (20) of this invention, used in conjunction with additional check valves (60,61), overcomes the latter problem by providing a series of interconnecting passages and chambers (36) for communicating equalized fluid pressure from a cylinder (11) to either end of the spool (27) thereof to provide for minimal leakage.

Abstract: A "load-plus" valve (34) is oftentimes utilized in the servo-system (20) for a variable displacement pump (11) to maintain pump discharge pressure (P.sub.D) above a minimum pressure level and above a load pressure signal (P.sub.L) generated in a fluid actuator (13). Valves of this type normally include a margin spring (39) for biasing a modulating spool (36) against the opposing force of pump discharge pressure (P.sub.D) to maintain a constant margin over the load pressure signal (P.sub.L) throughout the working range of the system. When the load pressure signal (P.sub.L) exceeds a maximum pressure level, it is normally vented to tank (12), or continuously bled to tank across an orifice, resulting in horsepower losses. The control package employed in systems of this type are also somewhat bulky.

Abstract: A radiant heating apparatus of the type that has a heating tube (13) with ends (14, 15) opening outside the furnace chamber (12), has first and second regenerator cores (33, 34) in opposite first and second tube ends (14, 15) and first and second fluid fuel burners (37, 38) in the tube (13) at the inner ends of the respective first and second cores (33, 34). A cycling control (30, 299) causes inlet air to be admitted to the first end (14) of the tube (13) while the first burner (37, 38) operates and to be exhausted through the second end (15) of the tube (13), thus heating the second core (34). Thereafter the cycling control (30, 299) causes inlet air to flow through the heated second core (34) while the second fluid fuel burner (37, 38) operates, thus heating the first core (33); and the unit continues to heat the regenerator cores alternately.

Abstract: An impulse turbine system (10) includes a rotatably mounted turbine wheel (12) and a speed sensing system (40) to sense the speed of the turbine wheel (12). A flow diversion nozzle (14) normally provides a jet of driving fluid to power the turbine wheel (12). This nozzle (14) includes an internal flow diverter (30, 38, 58, 74, 76, 88, 90, 94, 104, 110, 118) which operates under the control of the speed sensing system (40) when the turbine wheel (12) reaches an overspeed condition to angularly divert the jet of driving fluid issuing from the nozzle opening (26).

Abstract: A gear pump (10) is disclosed having a housing (12) defining first and second gear cavities (38,40) and inlet and outlet ports (42,44). A pair of intermeshing gears (20,22) having a plurality of teeth (32) and teeth roots (36) are positioned in the cavities. A pair of bleed slots (50) are provided for directly communicating with the gear tooth roots and permitting entrained air and fluid thereat to be delivered away from the inlet and outlet ports. Advantageously, the bleed slots are located generally adjacent the breakaway points (46) of the respective cavities, and a pair of charging slots (62) are provided for communicating pressure from the outlet port with the gear teeth and encouraging movement of entrained air radially inwardly toward the bleed slots.

Abstract: High pressure fluid systems, such as fuel injection systems for an engine or hydraulic controls, often experience high pressure fluctuations which can cause cavitation in the system components plus secondary fuel injection in the fuel systems. Apparatus (10) is provided for dampening the pressures in such systems, as well as filtering the fluid. The apparatus (10) has a filtering element (36) which does not substantially restrict fluid flow but is movable in response to pressure waves in the fluid which are directed onto the filtering element (36). The filtering element (36) thereby filters the fluid and tends to dampen the effects of the pressure waves, which create the pressure fluctuations, by resisting their movement through the fluid system.

Abstract: The pedal effort required to change the setting of a governor (13) of an engine increases sharply with increased engine speed. Booster controls have been provided in the art for applying a boost force (F.sub.B), additive to an operator input force (F.sub.L), for opposing the force (F.sub.S) of a governor spring (42) to thus reduce pedal effort at high engine speeds. The improved booster control (15,15a) herein includes an actuating chamber (53,53a) and a control arrangement (51,51a) for controlling fluid pressure in the chamber (53,53a) when the setting of the governor (13) is changed by the operator and in a predetermined ratio to the operator's input force. The booster control (15,15a) has wider application wherein a boosting force (F.sub.B) is desired to supplement an input force (F.sub.L) for controlling movement of a member (23) having an opposing force (F.sub.S) applied thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for the continuous casting of hollow articles (12) provides for the removal of liquid metal (49) from a mold (20) concurrently with the withdrawal of the solidified article (12). Undesirable reaction products, such as oxides, sulfides, and ceramic compositions, are commonly included in cast articles, reducing the mechanical and physical properties of the article and producing a product of inferior quality. The problem is solved by continuously casting molten metal (16) in a vertically oriented mold (20) and draining the contaminate enriched liquid (49) from an upper end (24) of the mold (20), thereby washing undesirable impurities from the freezing zone resulting in a clean, dense hollow article (12) having superior properties. Seamless mechanical tubing suitable for oil field and hydraulic cylinder applications can be produced by this process.

Abstract: Earthmoving vehicles commonly employ hydraulic systems (12) to control raising and lowering the operating implements. Hydraulic systems (12) of this type normally include a pilot control valve (34) having a spool (64) shiftable in response to a shifting force resulting from selectively directing pilot pressure thereto. Problems are encountered when hydraulic systems (12) are used to perform additional functions by shifting the spool (64) to positions requiring additional spool (64) travel. This additional spool (64) travel requires a considerable increase in shifting force, which results in a considerable reduction in the pilot pressure range available for raise and lower modulation.