Abstract: A method of handling and identifying luggage, packages, or the like comprising the steps of (1) printing characters conveying information concerning each piece of luggage on one side of a strap segment the other side of which is at least partially coated with a suitable adhesive and (2) affixing each strap segment to a piece of luggage so that the characters appear on three sides of the piece of luggage, permitting the characters to be read regardless of whether the piece of luggage is standing up or has fallen over on one of its two principal sides.

Abstract: A system for moving and unloading articles includes a movable carriage having a container which is pivotably mounted upon the carriage and adapted to carry a plurality of loose articles. As the carriage moves toward an unloading station, the container pivots about its axis. During approximately the same time interval, a door which is pivotably mounted to the container is unlatched and pivots toward its open position. Preferably, the time sequence is such that the door is fully opened prior to the container reaching its maximum pivot angle. The pivot angle of the container is greater than the angle of repose on the articles, thereby causing the articles to slide out of the container across the open door and onto a conveyor which forms part of an unloading station. After the articles are unloaded, the carriage moves away, the door is closed, and the container tilts back to its normal position.

Abstract: An improved apparatus having a carriage and container which is pivotably connected to the carriage. The container has a cam wheel follower which contacts a cam rail positioned along the path over which the apparatus moves thereby causing the container to pivot. The cam wheel follower is selectively retractable into a housing beneath the container.

Abstract: An improved mounting means for the rollers of a roller conveyor apparatus comprising a tubular bushing having a body portion which extends through the polygonal-shaped holes in the adjacent support structure into the polygonal-shaped shaft opening or bore of a bearing assembly sitted within the end of a roller and a tubular pin having a shaft portion extending through the bushing. The bushing has longitudinal slots running from the remote end along the body portion forming a plurality of resilient members and internal radially extending knobs on the resilient members. The circumference of the bushing is sufficiently large within the bearing shaft opening to prevent rotational motion of the contacting element in the bearing assembly. The pin has a complimentary groove circumferentially disposed about the shank portion near the remote end which causes the knobs and therefore resilient members to expand outwardly against the bearing assembly when the pin is fully inserted into the bushing.

Abstract: The specification discloses six embodiments of a torque transmission coupling employing one or more pilot rings each of which has at least one precision-finished radially symmetric surface to align one or more laminar flexing elements in or on one or more complementary precision-finished radially symmetric surfaces on one or more hubs integral with or adapted to be connected to shafts for the transmission of rotary power. The preferred embodiment comprises a relatively inflexible torque transmission member, a laminar flexing element aligned with the torque transmission member at either end thereof via a pilot ring, and a hub aligned with each of the laminar flexing elements via a further pilot ring on the opposite side of the flexing elements from the first pilot ring, but embodiments are disclosed dispensing with the torque transmission member and with one of the pilot rings on each laminar flexing element.

Abstract: A luggage merging device comprising a luggage carrying conveyor belt, two luggage guiding conveyor belts disposed generally perpendicularly to the luggage carrying conveyor belt and defining a converging path for the luggage, and a buck roller. One of the luggage guiding conveyor belts is powered at least generally in the direction of the luggage carrying conveyor belt, the other is powered at least generally in the opposite direction, and the buck roller is located at the upstream end of the latter.

Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrator that is resonant at a frequency below one third of the frequency of an alternating current power source is driven by a linear electromagnetic motor, the airgap of which varies with the vibration of the vibrator, in which motor current flow from the power source is established during the first half cycle of the power line voltage that occurs after the airgap is a maximum, is maintained independently of the power source during at least a major portion of the next half cycle, and is reduced to zero during the next following half cycle of power source voltage. Preferably two electromagnetic motors are employed, one for each direction of relative motion between the vibrator parts.

Abstract: A grease plug adapted to fit into a cross hole in communication with a through-greasing passage and to reduce the effective cross-sectional area of the cross hole. The grease plug comprises (1) a generally cylindrical plug portion having at least one grease passage extending generally axially thereof and (2) a generally hook-shaped mounting portion which functions as a snap lock to retain the plug portion in the cross hole. In one embodiment, the mounting portion itself is long enough to bear against the inner surface of the through-greasing passage to prevent the grease plug from being lost therein; in another embodiment, a spacing portion is provided on the bottom of the mounting portion, and the spacing portion bears against the inner surface of the through-greasing passage. The grease passage can have various shapes.

Abstract: A carrier roller comprising (1) an integral roller tire subassembly comprising a cylindrical bearing, two axial inserts, and a molded resilient roller tire and (2) an inner race. In one embodiment, the carrier roller further comprises (3) a roller bushing seal and (4) a labyrinth ring and may further comprise (5) a roller collar. A second embodiment may comprise only the basic components or may further comprise a roller collar. In both embodiments, the roller tire is preferably molded to include a guiding flange, and it is preferably molded from a synthetic material such as urethane.

Abstract: This is a method and apparatus for removing ties from under railroad track and is specifically concerned with removing ties in one piece and involves removing the high wood from the ties in the area between the rails of the track and on one end thereof so that the tie may be pulled or pushed out the other way.

Abstract: A telescopic drive line includes an inner square drive shaft and an outer drive tube having a square bore at one end. A thin-walled liner in the bore has an inner surface providing a low-friction axial bearing for the drive shaft. The considerably greater coefficient of friction between the outer body of the liner and the bore of the drive tube secures the liner axially in the bore irrespective of the radial force applied to the liner. Only supplementary securement is provided by a key fitted in a keyway. The several liners fit between inward projections of the key. An outward projection fitting a recess in the drive tube secures the key axially. Deflection of the exposed end of the key allows the projecting tab to be disengaged from the recess for insertion and withdrawal of the key along with the several sleeves.

Abstract: The self-counterweighted take-up assemblies disclosed herein are especially adapted for use with endless conveyor systems comprising a headshaft, a footshaft, an endless conveyor trained around the headshaft and the footshaft, and a first frame which is immobile relative to the headshaft. Speaking broadly, two general types of self-counterweighted take-up assemblies are disclosed herein. In the first, a second frame is pivotably mounted about an axis parallel to and spaced from the footshaft, take-up bearings journalling the footshaft are mounted on the second frame, and means are provided for moving the footshaft in the take-up bearings in order to maintain tension in the endless conveyor as it varies in length, permitting the second frame to pivot about its axis. In the second, a wire rope is connected to each end of the footshaft and the wire rope[s] is or are connected to the first frame so as to maintain tension in the endless conveyor as it varies in length.

Abstract: A telescopic drive line includes an inner square drive shaft and an outer drive tube having a square bore at one end. A liner in the bore has a Teflon fabric inner surface providing a low-friction bearing with a low breakaway force. Radial force applied to the liner secures it axially in this bore so that only the simplest means of endwise securement is required.

Abstract: A turntable comprising a plurality of transfer roller assemblies of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,230. The transfer roller assemblies are mounted in two parallel ranks in planar array, and means are provided for controlling the direction of rotation of the cylindrical rollers and stub rollers in selected subsets of the planar array so as to impart rotary and/or translational motion to an object positioned on the array. A center pivot pad and means for selectively urging the center pivot pad upwardly against an object positioned upon the transfer rollers may be provided to provide resistance to unwanted translation by the object.

Abstract: A method of on-the-job installation of a coating having high resistance to wear caused by impact, abrasion, erosion and corrosion and a composition for use in performing the method. The method includes the preparation of a trowelable composition containing high alumina ceramic particles and a co-abrasive filler of smaller particles of inorganic and/or metallic origin in a polymer matrix and the application of this material to the surface to be repaired or protected.

Abstract: Apparatus for the omni-directional movement of objects over a surface which includes a plurality of rotatable elements mounted between adjacent, parallel support members. The rotatable elements comprise a gimbaled ring mounted for rotation to the adjacent supports, a central disc rotatably mounted to the ring along an axis of rotation of the ring, and a plurality of lobes rotatably mounted to the central disc having axis of rotation equally distributed in a common plane and perpendicular to the rotational axis of the central disk. Associated with each rotatable element is a means which restricts the rotation of the gimbaled ring.

Abstract: A continuous moving bed filter arrangement including a generally vertical vessel defining a gas cleaning chamber therein, having granular filter media inlet opening means located in the upper portion thereof, granular filter media outlet opening means located in the lower portion thereof, at least one first gas conduit means communicating with the upper end thereof, at least one plenum means surrounding a portion of the circumference of a segment of the vessel adjacent the lower portion of the vessel; at least one second gas flow conduit means to conduct gas between the plenum means and the gas cleaning chamber defined by the vessel; at least one third gas conduit means communicating with the plenum means; filter media inlet tube means extending downwardly from the media inlet opening a selected distance into the gas cleaning chamber defined by the vessel for selective admission of granular filter media to the chamber defined within the vessel whereby media flows downwardly through the vessel from the filter

Abstract: This is concerned with a crusher clearing system using a plurality of hydraulic jacks disposed with relation to the adjustment ring and main frame of the crusher such that the jacks, as a unit, apply a generally vertical thrust directly between the upper main frame flange and the adjustment ring so that uncrushable material may be removed from the crushing cavity in a stalled or jammed crusher.

Abstract: This is concerned with a liner segment which, when grouped with a plurality of like segments, is usable as a composite wearing element for lining the bowl in a cone crusher or the like. The liner segment may be considered to be generally upright, wider at the bottom than at the top, curvilinear between its sides so as to present a convex surface on one side and a concave surface on the other with integral mounting means projecting from the convex surface.

Abstract: Each side frame of a roll conveyor includes a series of holes in which the projecting ends of the roll axles are selectively mounted according to the desired spacing between rolls. One side frame forms a chain box which partially encloses the chain drive of the roll. Separate plates are provided to fully close the box. They are in certain lengths whereby only several groups need be provided for their use in closing the chain box of any conveyor of whatever roll spacing it may have, within limits.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe rolls of a roll conveyor are spaced according to the length of the articles to be conveyed. Generally their spacing is such that each article always has the support of at least two or three rolls. Accordingly, the term "roll spacing" refers to the center-to-center distance between rolls, rather than the "gap" between rolls which depends on their diameter and "spacing.