Abstract: An unloader for discharging material stored in a silo or similar through an outlet opening in the bottom of the silo has a frame which pivots around a vertical axis and on which is supported a horizontal transport screw rotating around its longitudinal axis. The pivot frame is provided with an upper protecting hood which, in order to prevent arching of material located on top of it, is mounted on the pivot frame so that it does not rotate, as the pivot frame rotates, but continuously is inclined back and forth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor chain intended for use, for example, in wood transporters. In order to be able to securely fasten the sleeves and the trunnions of the chain to their side plates, preferably by welding, projecting edge flanges are formed in the side plates so that the weld in each case is left in the trough formed by the edge parts.

Abstract: A control system for central heating is disclosed which varies the flow rate of the heating medium as a function of remotely sensed outdoor temperature. A power transistor, which is part of the electronic control circuit, also functions as a heat source for a measuring bulb which controls the position of a flow rate control valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and bending lug strips which are to be attached to seed plates in electrolytic refining plants includes a tool structure capable of bending an initially flat lug strip around a supporting rod in preparation for fixing free ends of the bent lug strip to an edge region of a seed plate. This tool structure is carried by an operating structure which operates the tool structure so as to move it between an initial starting position where the lug strip is in a flat condition and an end position where the lug strip is bent into a substantially U-shaped configuration, the tool structure bending the lug strip during movement between the starting and end positions thereof. In addition a suitable structure is provided for moving the tool structure between a working station where the above operations take place and a receiving station where a flat lug strip is received from a suitable supply.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for orienting a plate such as a seed plate in an electrolytic refining plant. While the plate is in a horizontal attitude and connected with a suspending lug which in turn is connected to a supporting rod, the plate is transported by a manufacturing line conveyer to a predetermined location where there is lowered into engagement with the plate a suction structure capable of holding and carrying the plate. The suction structure together with the plate and the supporting rod and suspension lug are raised away from the manufacturing line conveyer to a transfer location where the plate is capable of swinging to an upright attitude while clearing the above conveyer. At the transfer location the suction action of the suction structure is released, and a pair of rod-supporting members are displaced into engagement with opposed ends of the rod to support the latter when the plate is released to swing to its upright attitude, by gravity.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a stack of plates from a series of plates which respectively hang from rods conveyed by a rod-conveyer along a predetermined path. A toothed conveyer receives the rods one after the other from the rod-conveyer and conveys the rods along a plate-turning path. A plate-turning cam structure engages each plate as each rod is conveyed along the plate-turning path for turning each plate from its substantially upright hanging attitude into a substantially horizontal attitude situated over a stack-forming table. As each plate moves beyond the plate-turning cam structure onto a stack at the table, each rod is received in a channel out of which each rod is pushed while being disengaged from the plate received at the stack which forms on the table.