Abstract: A bottle decasing, breaking and separating system and method has a hopper feeder for receiving bottles and cases. The bottles and cases are supplied to a trommel by a conveyor beneath the feeder. A conveyor communicating with the trommel receives the separated and fragmented material. A chute connected to the conveyor transports the fragmented material. Lifting tubes in the trommel are for lifting, tipping and tumbling the cases and the bottles in the trommel when it rotates. Strong screens in the trommel fragment and remove the bottles tumbling in the trommel. The cases remain at upper levels above the fragmented material in the trommel. The trommel may be a drum which slopes downward and rearward from the forward to the rearward ends. A trough below the trommel receives the fragmented material from the trommel and supplies the material to a conveyor. An extension communicating with the conveyor for supplies the fragmented material from the conveyor to recycling bins.

Abstract: A forklift having a frame supported by front and rear wheels is mounted on a carrier by inserting its forks into pockets mounted on the frame of the carrier vehicle and lifting the wheels of the forklift off the ground. A pair of wheel abutments on the underside of the carrier serve as abutments for the front wheels of the forklift to prevent its forward movement. A combined lock and support structure connected to the frame of the carrier prevents separation of the forklift from the carrier after the hydraulic system of the forklift is neutralized and all pressure on the forks, carriage, and mast are relieved of support forces.

Abstract: Screen panels are arcuately distorted and wedged between lifter tubes inside of trommels for varying the orifice size, shape or distribution or repairing drum screen sections in trommel screen separators. In lieu of replacing screens on the drum framework, the drum is ordered with the largest screen opening for the anticipated application. Additional screen panels are inserted or laminated to the original drum screen to reduce or change screen openings and to produce the smaller fines. Because these small screen panels receive structural support from the drum screen, quick change screen panels can be fabricated out of many different frames, screening materials and screen opening sizes. In preferred embodiments, the smaller, lighter, framed screen panels are easily managed and quickly exchanged as required, reducing downtime and loss of production. Quick change screen panels have resilient arcuately bendable semi-rigid frames and are designed to be handled manually.

Abstract: An improved cross-stiffened panel structure, such as used on bridges, load bearing floors, large haulage containers and dump trucks, is composed of a deck plate to which are attached a plurality of spaced apart stiffening ribs. A plurality of transverse beams, each having a cut-out shaped to fit over the external contour of the stiffening ribs, are welded to the deck plate except at the cut-outs. The cut-outs are dimensioned so that a nominal gap is maintained between the cut-outs and the stiffening ribs. In another embodiment, saddles are fabricated to fit over the stiffening ribs and welded to the deck plate while maintaining a nominal gap between the stiffening ribs and the saddles. The transverse beams cut-outs conform to the contour of the saddles and the transverse beams are welded to the deck plate and the saddles.

Abstract: A dual rear axle system for large vehicles in which the vehicle has a frame, and the axle system includes a forward axle housing, a draft arm having one arm affixed to the forward axle housing and the other pivotally affixed to the vehicle frame, a rearward axle housing spaced from and parallel to the forward axle housing, an axle extending through both axle housings having wheels and tires thereon, an upper linkage having one end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the rearward axle housing, lower linkage having one end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the rearward axle housing so that the axle housings are supported in spaced apart relationship with the axle housings independently free to move in vertical planes and compressible strut members extending between the axle housings and the frame for spring supporting the fram

Abstract: A steerable dual rear axle system for large vehicles in which the vehicle has a frame, and the axle system includes a forward axle housing, a draft arm having one arm affixed to the forward axle housing and the other pivotally affixed to the vehicle frame, a rearward axle housing spaced from the forward axle housing, an axle extending through both axle housings having wheels and tires thereon, an upper linkage having one end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the rearward axle housing, a lower linkage having one end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the rearward axle housing so that the axle housings are supported in spaced apart relationship with the axle housings being independently free to move in vertical planes, compressible strut members extending between the axle housings and the frame for spring supporting the frame

Abstract: A dual axle assembly for large vehicles having an elongated vehicle frame, a forward axle housing, a first torque arm rearwardly extending from the forward axle housing, a rearward axle housing having a second torque arm forwardly extending from the rearward axle housing, the first and second torque arms being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, the first torque arm having an outer end pivotally affixed to the rearward axle housing and the second torque arm having an outer end pivotally affixed to the forward axle housing, spring supports extending between the forward and rearward axle housings to the vehicle, and a wheel structure supported at each opposed ends of each axle housing being pivotal in vertical planes about an axis drawn through the points of pivotal attachments of the torque arms.

Abstract: A method of welding a first metal plate to a second metal plate including the steps of affixing a back-up bar by use of spaced welding tacks to the flat surface of a first metal plate, forming an abutting edge on the second metal plate a series of alternating lands and slots, the slots extending through the entire thickness of the second metal plate and the length of the slots being substantially greater than the length of the lands, positioning the formed edge of the second metal plate so that the lands thereof engage the flat surface of the first metal plate and a substantially continuous slot is formed between the plates and in which the second metal plate is in engagement with the back-up bar to form a joint, arc welding with a consumable electrode in the substantially continuous slot to form a weld, the weld penetrating portions of the flat surface of the first metal plate, the entire abutting edge of the second metal plate and a portion of the back-up bar and melting the lands and the welding tacks and

Abstract: A cab for a driver of a large off-road machine in which the machine has a frame with a longitudinal axis in the direction of normal travel, the cab being formed of a superstructure of a generally rectangular box configuration, one lower edge of the cab superstructure being pivotally affixed to the machine frame about an axis of pivotation substantially parallel to the vehicle frame longitudinal axis and a limited displacement shock absorber attaching the cab superstructure other edge to the machine frame so that thereby in the event of rollover of the vehicle, the shock absorber absorbs energy to reduce the possibility of collapse of the superstructure to thereby provide increase safety to the machine operator. The cab is completed by a control instrument module removably attached to the superstructure front, an environment control module removably attachable to the superstructure back, and left and right door modules removably attachable to the superstructure left and right sides.

Abstract: A steerable dual rear axle system for large trucks having a frame with steerable front wheels secured to the frame, a leading rear axle and a trailing rear axle spaced therefrom, a draft arm pivotally affixed to the leading rear axle and to the frame in the direction toward the frame front end, a structural salient having a forward end affixed to the leading rear axle and a rearward end pivotally attached at a point of pivotation to the trailing rear axle, spring support between the salient and the frame to transfer weight from the frame to the leading and trailing rear axles, and a steerage system for pivoting the trailing rear axle about a vertical axis through the point of pivotation with the salient member.

Abstract: A nose cone bearing arrangement for securing an axle box to a frame cross-tube of an off-road machine is provided. The axle box has an internal cylindrical bearing cavity therein. A metal double truncated spherical bearing surface is formed on and encompasses a truck frame cross-tube. A toroidal oil impregnated plastic bearing member having an external cylindrical surface is received within and conforms to the axle box internal bearing cavity. The plastic bearing has an internal concave bearing surface that engages the cross-tube spherical bearing surface.

Abstract: A reduced noise modular cooling system for a large engine powered off-road machine formed of a modular superstructure mountable on and removable as a unti from a machine, air cooled radiator protions affixed to the superstructure front and opposed sides, a floor and hood closing the superstructure top and bottom and a fan panel closing the superstructure rear, the panel having one or preferably two fan shroud openings therein, thereby forming a plenum chamber within the interior of the superstructure, a fan rotatably supported by the superstructure within each of the fan shroud openings and a drive shaft extending from the machine engine for driving each of the fans to evacuate air from the plenum chamber and thereby to cause air to flow through the radiator portions and couplings for connecting fluid circulation through the radiator portions to the vehicle engine.

Abstract: A cab for rollover protection of a driver of a large off-road machine in which the machine has a frame with a longitudinal axis in the direction of normal travel, the cab being formed of a superstructure of a generally rectangular box configuration, one lower edge of the cab superstructure being pivotally affixed to the machine frame about an axis of pivotation substantially parallel to the vehicle frame longitudinal axis and a limited displacement shock absorber attaching the cab superstructure other edge to the machine frame so that thereby in the event of rollover of the vehicle, the shock absorber absorbs energy to reduce the possibility of collapse of the superstructure to thereby provide increase safety to the machine operator.

Abstract: A flexible ladder for use on moving conveyances which provides frontal stability but lateral flexibility, the ladder having a first, a second and a third strut member each formed of flexible material and each supported in a generally vertical plane, the strut members being parallel to each other with the second strut member between the first and third strut members. A first set of steps are secured between the first and second strut members and a second set of steps are secured between the second and third strut members the steps being vertically spaced apart from each other and the upper ends of each of the strut members being affixed to a moving conveyance, the ladder providing for ascent of an operator to the operating position on the conveyance but permitting lateral flexiblity if the ladder engages an obstruction on the surface on which the machine moves.

Abstract: A vehicle stabilizer apparatus having a plurality of hydraulic stabilizer actuators with each actuator having an integral isolation valve effective to enable operation of a sequentially operable device such as a boom cylinder only after ground-engaging feet associated with the actuators have been brought into firm contact with the ground or other supporting surface. Each actuator is mounted for bodily movement between upper and lower positions on an associated vehicle supported mounting pin. The actuator is caused to move to its upper position when the associated ground-engaging foot engages the ground and through a plunger and plunger spring associated with the isolation valve the position of the actuator is sensed. The isolation valve is in a hydraulic circuit to prevent operation of the boom cylinder unless the actuator is in its upper position.