Abstract: A shovel including a dipper for gathering material from a bank. The shovel further includes a hoist motor operating control for operating a hoist motor, a speed sensor for monitoring the hoist motor speed, a torque sensor for monitoring the hoist motor torque, and a mechanism communicating with a crowd motor control, the torque sensor and the speed sensor for moving a dipper handle toward a boom when the hoist motor speed is below a low-speed value while under high torque, and for permitting movement of the dipper away from the boom when the hoist motor speed is above the low-speed value or not under high torque.

Abstract: A shovel including a dipper for gathering material from a bank. The shovel further includes a hoist motor operating control for operating a hoist motor, a speed sensor for monitoring the hoist motor speed, a torque sensor for monitoring the hoist motor torque, and a mechanism communicating with a crowd motor control, the torque sensor and the speed sensor for moving a dipper handle toward a boom when the hoist motor speed is below a low-speed value while under high torque, and for permitting movement of the dipper away from the boom when the hoist motor speed is above the low-speed value or not under high torque.

Abstract: A bucket arch, used on dragline buckets, has a pair of side sections and an arch center section disposed therebetween. At least one lug is attached to the arch center section and exerts a force on the center section along a force axis. In the improvement, the center section is angled with respect to the side sections and has an axis generally coincident with the force axis. Such angled center section at least greatly reduces the twisting forces imposed on the arch by the lug. Such center section also greatly reduces the wear or friction on the center section of the arch resulting from the drag chain rubbing thereon during tipping of the bucket.