Abstract: An accumulating roller conveyor for conveying articles including a frame and a plurality of conveyor rollers, means rotatably supporting each conveyor roller on the frame and movable upwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto, each conveyor roller normally being positioned downwardly and forwardly with respect to the frame, a drive belt frictionally engaging the conveyor rollers for driving the same, the drive belt having a projection thereon of limited longitudinal extent disposed toward the conveyor rollers, stopping the movement of an article along the conveyor rollers causing the projection to move the conveyor rollers upwardly and rearwardly and out of contact with the remaining portions of the drive belt, and one-way clutch mechanism holding out of contact with the drive belt the conveyor rollers in contact with a stopped article in the upward and rearward positions thereof so long as the contacted article is stopped.

Abstract: The loadlock and beam of the present invention are for use with a pallet rack structure in which the beam is connected to an upright of an end frame with the loadlock. The loadlock has a right angled-shaped bolt with a shank slidably extending through an aligned hole in the upright and in an end plate of the beam and has a headed handle portion extending through a contoured slot in the beam wall adjacent the end of the beam. The contoured slot defines three separate positions and cooperates with a generally cylindrical spring metal retainer positioned on the bolt handle having diametrically opposed projecting tabs engaging the innerface of the beam wall adjacent the slot and having projections engageable with the edges of the contoured slot to position the loadlock in any one of the three preselected positions.

Abstract: A cast house emissions recycle system for a blast furnace including a housing surrounding and enclosing the lower portion of the blast furnace and the tap holes and runners therefor and the hot metal ladle associated therewith, structure collecting the emissions from the housing, and a blower having an inlet duct communicating with the collecting structure and an outlet duct communicating with the cold air blast inlet to a hot blast stove for heating the air stream flowing therethrough and returning the heated air stream to the interior of the blast furnace; in an alternative construction, the output from the blower is connected to the combustion chamber of an associated hot blast stove as part of the fuel combustion air input thereto.

Abstract: A manually operable combination strapping tool for applying plastic strapping around an object includes a strap-tensioning and gripping mechanism for holding the strap in a tensioned loop around the object with the supply portion of the strap overlapping the leading end thereof, and a heat-sealing mechanism which includes a movable pressure block and a heater movable to and from a heating position between the overlapping strap portions. As the heater is moved between the overlapping strap portions, the pressure block is moved to cooperate with an anvil to press together the heating element and strap portions for melting thereof. After retraction of the pressure block and the heater by separate bias means, the pressure block is moved for cooperation with the anvil to clamp therebetween and bond together the melted strap portions and sever the supply portion of the strap.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for communicating information between a movable rack entry vehicle and a reference station by means of optical radiation, such as infrared radiation. A universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter is located on both the vehicle and the reference station so that information originating in parallel form can be communicated in serial form.

Abstract: Strap feeding and tensioning apparatus is provided for use in a strapping machine to feed steel or plastic strapping in a loop around an object to be strapped and tension the strap loop about the object, providing maximum gripping force on the strap and minimum marring thereof. The apparatus includes a motor-driven drive wheel geared to a feed wheel, the drive wheel and feed wheel respectively having circumferential strap-engaging surfaces which cooperate frictionally to grip the strapping therebetween and move the strapping in a tensioning direction in response to rotation of the drive wheel. The axis of rotation of the feed wheel is shiftable about a fixed axis to accommodate movement of the feed wheel toward and away from the drive wheel, tensioning of the associated strap exerting a resultant force on the feed wheel tending to effect movement thereof about the fixed axis in a direction to increase the frictional gripping force exerted on the associated strap by the feed wheel and the drive wheel.

Abstract: A wire stitching machine includes a head frame carrying a support, a staple former and a staple driver all reciprocally movable with respect to the head frame under the action of a single reciprocating drive bar coupled by crank mechanism to a rotary drive means. Wire feed rolls and a wire-supporting anvil are carried by the support. The support, staple former and staple driver are so coupled to each other and to the reciprocating drive bar that during a first portion of its drive stroke all three are moved to the associated workpiece and during a second portion of the drive stroke the support is arrested while the staple former and staple driver continue moving to form the staple and during a third portion of the drive stroke the staple former is arrested while only the staple driver continues moving to drive the formed staple into the workpiece. The anvil includes a forming shoe and is of integral one-piece construction movable as a unit between forming and driving positions.

Abstract: A load spacing mechanism for a load conveyor in which an actuating member is mounted on the conveyor and pivotable between an extended position and a retracted position. The actuating member is connected by linkage to a support mechanism which in one position thereof supports a stop mechanism in the raised position, thereby to stop a load on the conveyor from advancing toward the actuating mechanism. When a load is lifted from the actuating member, the linkage operates, as the actuating member moves to the extended position thereof, to move the stop support away from the stop thereby permitting the load at the stop mechanism to force the stop mechanism downwardly and pass thereover toward the actuating mechanism. All of the actuating mechanism, the stop mechanism and the support mechanism are pivotly mounted to the conveyor thereby obviating the need for toggle mechanism and enabling the foregoing load spacing mechanism to operate with either heavy or light loads without adjusting the mechanism.

Abstract: Assembly for providing a seal between sealing surfaces on a coke oven door and the associated door jamb includes a high temperature-resistant and resilient seal body extending around the entire periphery of the door and secured between retaining members. A steel bearing strip is disposed beneath the seal body between the retaining members and is engaged at spaced-apart points therealong by a plurality of setscrews threadedly engaged through complementary openings in the door for pushing the bearing strip against the seal body and varying the pressure with which it engages the sealing surface on the door jamb.

Abstract: A method of preparing a stabilized fuel slurry is disclosed wherein a petroleum fuel oil is mixed with "run of the mine" coal and with a polysaccharide emulsifier capable of forming water internal-oil high external phase emulsion. The slurry is mechanically mixed to comminute the coal to produce a stabilized fuel slurry with coal particles having diameters as large as about 1/4 inch. The slurry is injected through lances into a blast furnace, the lances provided concentric streams of slurry and steam. The slurry may also be used in other fuel burning furnaces such as boilers, cement kilns, etc.

Abstract: A mounting clip is adapted for attachment to a deck panel of a storage rack to facilitate assembly of the deck panel with apertured rack beams. The clip has a folded-over flange which cooperates with a cut-out tab to resiliently clamp therebetween an edge of an associated panel with the tab received in a complementary opening in the panel, the clip having a depending finger with a thin and narrow neck portion and an enlarged distal end portion dimensioned to permit insertion of the finger in an aperture of the associated beam but to inhibit accidental dislodgement of the finger from the aperture. An additional projection on the clip inhibits tangling and interlocking of the clips when stored in bulk and also serves to position the clip on an associated panel.

Abstract: A process for producing crystalline silicon having an iron concentration less than about one-twentieth of the iron concentration of the mother liquor. Iron contaminated silicon is introduced into a mold and the mold walls are maintained at a temperature sufficient to cause silicon crystalline growth. The mother liquor is agitated to wash the exposed surfaces of the growing silicon crystals and to prevent the freezing of the top surface of the mother liquor. A hollow crystalline silicon ingot is formed and both the inner zone centrally of the crystalline ingot and the outer zone adjacent to the mold wall are removed leaving an inner zone having an iron concentration less than one-twentieth of the iron concentration of the original mother liquor.

Abstract: A cross bar is provided for interconnecting two parallel spaced-apart beams of a rack construction, wherein each beam has an inner ledge having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart apertures therein. The cross bar is in the form of a rectangular open-bottom channel member with one leg longer than the other, the long leg being integral along the entire lower edge thereof with a laterally outwardly extending flange. Two notches are respectively formed in the flange predetermined short distances from the opposite ends thereof, with the portions of the flange between the notches and the adjacent ends defining tabs dimensioned for insertion into selected ones of the apertures in the beams so that the short leg of the cross bar will rest upon the beam ledges with the top of the cross bar disposed substantially horizontally, the inner edges of the beam ledges being accommodated in the cross bar notches.

Abstract: A nestable shim includes a flat plate having a ridge portion with a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface, adaptable to be received beneath the foot plate of a rack column for adjusting the height thereof, wherein the foot plate has a concave groove in the bottom surface thereof in which the ridge portion of the shim nests in use. The top and bottom surfaces of the ridge portion are complementary to permit nesting of a plurality of the shims. The foot plate and the shim each have three fastener-receiving apertures therethrough. Alternatively, a slot may be used in place of one of the shim apertures.

Abstract: A manually operable combination strapping tool for applying plastic strapping around an object includes a strap-tensioning and gripping mechanism for holding the strap in a tensioned loop around the object with the supply portion of the strap overlapping the leading end thereof, an electric heating element for melting the facing overlapping strap portions, and pressure means for pressing together the melted overlapping strap portions to form a joint therebetween.

Abstract: A system for dispensing steel strapping material from a heavy coil thereof includes a pallet having laterally spaced-apart elongated feet and adapted for supporting the coil on its side with its axis disposed vertically to form a strapping material assembly, the pallet having a positioning hub for preventing horizontal movement of the coil thereon. A horizontal turntable is rotatably driven about a vertical axis by an air motor and it includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart elongated roller conveyor tracks for respectively receiving the pallet feet for rolling the pallet to a dispensing position on the turntable coaxial therewith. The track assemblies engage the sides of the pallet feet and cooperate with positioning bars spanning the ends of the track assemblies for limiting horizontal movement of the pallet, while a hold-down assembly cooperates with the turntable to prevent vertical movement of the pallet.

Abstract: Strap guide apparatus for use in a strapping machine for applying plastic strap in a loop around an object is adapted for guiding the strap to a sealing region both from a strap supply and from the loop about the object to provide overlapping strap portions in the sealing region to be sealed together. The guide apparatus includes a plastic feed track member and first and second plastic guide members which are located adjacent to the sealing region. The first guide member provides a strap channel which is covered by the second guide member to provide a strap passage from an inner track surface of the feed track member to the sealing region. The second guide member has an outer guide surface which cooperates with an outer track surface on the feed track member to guide the leading end of the strap from the loop back to the sealing region in spaced-apart overlapping relationship with the supply portion of the strap.

Abstract: In a storage installation, a load carrier drive for propelling a load carrier longitudinally in the aisles between storage frames includes a rotating coupling member driven by the drive for contacting and driving the drive of a transfer car when the load carrier is positioned for transfer by the transfer car, whereby the transfer car is propelled by the load carrier drive.

Abstract: An elongated shaft with a rotating conical cutting head at one end thereof is driven upwardly from within a coke oven chamber through the exhaust port and ascension pipe of the coke oven for loosening and removing from the inner surfaces thereof material deposited thereon. The shaft, the drive means for rotating the cutting head and for moving the shaft upwardly and downwardly and a cylindrical sleeve for receiving the shaft when retracted from the exhaust port are all mounted on a carriage disposed for rolling engagement into and out of the coke oven chamber along a track carried by a support means and chassis which are in turn adapted for rolling along a railway track adjacent to the coke discharge side of a bank of coke ovens.

Abstract: A method of preparing a stabilized fuel slurry is disclosed wherein a petroleum fuel oil is mixed with run of the mine coal and with an emulsifier, which is capable of forming a thixotropic water external-oil high internal phase emulsion. The slurry is mechanically mixed to comminute the coal to produce a stabilized fuel slurry with coal particles having diameters as large as about 1/4 inch. The slurry is injected through lances into a blast furnace, the lances may provide concentric streams of slurry and steam. The slurry may also be used in other fuel burning furnaces such as boilers, cement kilns, etc.