Abstract: A ball transfer device is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the ball transfer device includes a chamber, wherein a first opening and a second opening extend into the chamber. A ball is located between the first opening and the second opening and is movable within the chamber. The movement extends between a first position and as second position, wherein a portion of the ball is movable into the first opening when the ball is in the first position.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a standard non-knife edge conveyor or power turn into a knife edge conveyor or power turn.

Abstract: A plurality of spiral sidewall sections are provided and are connected to the center support pole of a spiral chute which is used to transport articles from an upper location to a lower location to provide a sidewall located between the original sidewall of the spiral chute and the center support pole.

Abstract: A sortation table having apparatus to gradually slow moving articles to a stop and return the articles to a position for further processing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for facilitating the replacement of an endless conveyor belt having arcuate outer and inner edge portions. During the operation of the endless conveyor belt a plurality of cooperating pairs of guide rollers are in contact with shoulder portions of the endless conveyor belt adjacent to the arcuate outer edge portion to maintain the endless conveyor belt moving in a desired path. One of each cooperating pairs of rollers is mounted for movement between a first location whereat the cooperating pair of rollers are located to contact the shoulder portions and a second location whereat the cooperating pairs of rollers are spaced apart a distance permitting passage of the shoulder portions therebetween.

Abstract: A high-rate portable self-contained combination screening/dosing/mixing plant is mounted on a single tractor trailer for highway travel in most states without requiring travel escort vehicles. The plant has a nominal capacity of about 100 tons of soil or dirt per hour, and includes an apparatus train for preliminary separation of large objects, hopper storage, uniform feed rate, shredding-pulverization, particle size screening, additive dosing, mixing and conveyance to an elevated position for transfer to a dump truck, bin or pile.

Abstract: Apparatus wherein an endless moving conveyor belt is trained around two spaced apart shafts and wherein at least one of the shafts is mounted in a bearing that is resiliently urged in a direction away from the other shaft to provide the proper tension in the endless moving conveyor belt, and shock absorbing apparatus is provided for absorbing excessive forces placed on the bearing with or without the resilient urging of the bearing.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting the guide members for guiding the moving endless chain for moving an endless belt conveyor, and in particular an endless conveyor for a power turn, mounted on a support frame wherein the guide members are mounted on a support member and at least one isolation member comprising a resilient sound and vibration deadening material is provided and the support member and support frame are secured together with the at least one isolation member located therebetween so as to isolate the support member from the support frame.

Abstract: A loading dock range finding system is provided for permitting a driver of a vehicle backing towards a loading dock to determine a distance of the back end of the vehicle from a reference point at the loading dock. An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving transducer is positioned adjacent the loading dock for sending signals towards a back end of the truck, which are reflected and received by the transducer. A display unit is connected to the transducer and is mounted at a location adjacent the loading dock so that a visual display on the display unit can be easily viewed by a driver of the vehicle looking through his rear view mirror. A distance between the back end of the vehicle and the reference point is displayed in reversed image fashion on the visual display so that when the driver views the image through his rear view mirror, it is not a reversed image.

Abstract: Attachments for a power turn which power turn has a frame having arcuate inner and outer sidewall portions and support plates forming extensions of the arcuate outer side wall portion and on which are rotatably mounted a driving roll and an idler roll. An endless belt is journaled around the driving and idler rolls and is moved thereby. A cover is mounted on the arcuate outer sidewall portion to cover the outer portion of the endless belt and an endless chain secured thereto and has a main body portion and two removable end portions. One end portion covers a sprocket of the driving roll and portions of the endless chain and the second removable end portion covers a sprocket of the idler roll and portions of the endless chain so that the removable end portions may be readily removed when it is desired to inspect these portions of the driving and idler rolls.

Abstract: Drive apparatus for driving an endless moving conveyor belt for a power turn to change the direction of movement of articles in a transfer conveying system wherein the plurality of rolls at each end of the power turn over which the endless conveyor belt passes have a diameter less than about one inch. An endless chain is attached to the endless moving conveyor belt for movement therewith. A drive shaft is provided adjacent to each end of the power turn and has a drive roll having a tapered outer surface and a drive sprocket mounted thereon for rotation therewith. A snub roll shaft is provided adjacent to each end of the power turn and has a snub roll integral with the snub roll drive shaft and having a tapered outer surface and a snub roll sprocket mounted on the drive roll snub shaft for rotation therewith. An idler sprocket is mounted on the outer side wall adjacent to each end of the power turn.

Abstract: A hold down device is provided to engage and hold down adjacent ends of containers on a flat bed vehicle. The hold down device includes four twist locks being two longitudinally spaced pairs of twist locks, each pair being two laterally spaced twist locks which hold down each end of a container. The twist locks are spring loaded so that they will be continuously biased into a protruding operative position, yet capable of being automatically recessed when a long container is set down over the hold down device. A connecting apparatus is provided to inter-connect all four twist locks for simultaneous movement between a locked and unlocked position and an over-center spring is provided to hold the twist locks in the currently selected position.

Abstract: Friction applying material in a recess in a portion of the upper surface of a molded fiberglass spiral chute to apply a braking force to reduce the velocity of articles passing over the upper surface of the molded fiberglass spiral chute while still providing a substantially continuous surface for passage of the articles.

Abstract: A wheel and track system wherein the track comprises a base and a pair of spaced apart upstanding sides is provided for guiding movement of a vehicle having four wheels over a controlled path and at least two of the wheels are mounted for rolling movement over the base and between the spaced apart upstanding sides and wherein a scuff plate is provided between the two wheels and the upstanding sides of the track so that there can be relative rotational movement between the scuff plates and the wheel and relative movement between the scuff plates and the upstanding sides of the track in the event of contact between the scuff plates and the upstanding sides of the track so as to minimize any tendency for the wheel to ride up the upstanding side and also to protect the upstanding side and the wheel from damage.

Abstract: A rail fastener assembly includes a rail seat laterally shiftable incrementally to properly position a supported rail. Anchoring of the seat to an underlying foundation is achieved by a clamp ring surrounding the periphery of the seat and including a plurality of fastener-receiving openings having their centers variably spaced from the seat. Rotation of the clamp ring presents at least two fastener-receiving openings in overlying registry with hold-down elements in the foundation to enable the application of fasteners through the clamp ring to secure the seat to the foundation. A pair of symmetrical spring clips engage shoulders on the seat and include a medial hold-down portion biased against the rail flanges and fixed, distal shoulder engaging portions overlying each rail flange but normally spaced thereabove to limit deflection of the clips during vertical movement of the rail.

Abstract: A railway hopper car includes an angular roof having a roof sheet provided with lateral edges each connected to the top of the car side sheet by an elongated top chord. Each top chord includes a substantially rectangularly-sectioned tube member affixed to the exterior of the top portion of the side sheet and includes a top wall inclined inwardly and upwardly and projecting interiorly of the car beyond the top edge of the side sheet. The undersurface of the lateral portion of the roof sheet overlies and is attached to a substantial portion of the upper surface of the top chord top wall. An inside wall on each top chord comprises a vertical member terminating in a top edge abutting the inclined top wall to provide a smooth vertical plane readily admitting installation of the side sheets and subsequent car interior lining.

Abstract: A railcar for transporting coal includes steel sheets metallized with an aluminum coating on the interior surfaces thereof normally engaged by coal lading. A coating thickness of substantially 0.006-0.009 inch significantly extends the service life of the railcar by inhibiting corrosion and abrasion of the steel sheets by the coal. The method includes the steps of cleaning all interior surfaces of the railcar sheets prior to a metallizing operation and followed by application of a seal coat.

Abstract: A railway car adapted to convey cylindrical objects such as coils includes a plurality of fixed trough members and sections of shiftable inclined trough assemblies disposed atop a support deck. By selectively laterally displacing the shiftable trough assemblies the car is alternately configured to provide single/triple or double troughs, or a combination thereof, in order to achieve maximum lading capacity in any one car regardless of the diameters of the coils. Positioning elements on each shiftable trough assembly alternately mate with a fixed trough member or separate positioning elements on the support deck to specifically define the various trough modes. A lock assembly is operable to engage a retainer element carried by each shiftable trough assembly when located in either mode.

Abstract: An elongated impeller shoe assembly 10 is described for a vertical shaft centrifugal impact crushing machine 11 for increasing the effective utilization of the assembly and for substantially reducing the cost to utilization ratio. The assembly 10 includes an elongated supporting base member 28 for attaching to a turn-table bracket 20 in which the base member .Badd..[.20.]..Baddend. .Iadd.28 .Iaddend.is cast of a high strength steel alloy material. The base member 28 has a wide longitudinal female dovetail groove 54 formed in a front face 38 thereof extending between an inner end 32 and an outer end 34. The groove 54 has a shallow taper downward from the inner end 32 to the outer end 34. The assembly 10 includes a wear resistant member 30 mountable to the base member 28 for receiving the material from a central distribution disc 15 and directs the material radially outward along a front face 82.

Abstract: An anvil assembly 10 is described for a vertical shaft centrifugal impact crushing machine 11 for increasing the effective utilization of the assembly and for substantially reducing the cost to utilization ratio. The assembly 10 includes a wedge-shaped supporting base member 22 for attaching to a bracket 20 in which the base member 22 is cast of a high strength steel alloy material. The base member 22 has a wide longitudinal female dovetail groove 46 formed in an inclined front face 36 thereof extending between an upstream face 38 and a downstream face 40. The groove 54 has a shallow taper downward from the upstream face 38 to the downstream face 40. The assembly 10 includes a wedge-shaped wear resistant member 24 mountable to the base member 22 for receiving the particulate material from a central turntable.