Abstract: A hinge for pivoting a flap, and in particular, to a hinge for pivoting a flap on a motor vehicle. The hinge aids the closing of the flap and includes two linkages or legs which are arranged rotatably around at least one axis of rotation and are connected with one another. A transmission is arranged for transmitting a torque formed during a closing movement of the hinge to a flywheel mass for the accumulation and subsequent aiding and continuation of the closing movement.

Abstract: A machine for controlling and eventually eradicating cactus and other succulent plants in farm and ranch pastures and other lands and land uses. This apparatus for mechanically controlling and eradicating cactus and other succulent plants uses a cutter deck on the machine to break off cactus pads near ground level. The tool uses a crushing rail to crush and mangle cactus pads and large portions of other succulents increasing the probability that the plant parts will not reroot. The machine in its preferred embodiment is towed by a tractor or other vehicle. A preferred embodiment includes a ballast rail to increase the weight of the tool and enhance the crushing action and a chain tow bridle to attach the tool to the towing vehicle. Another preferred embodiment includes a loop forming bolt to hold the bridle.

Abstract: A marker support for use on a ground surface utilizing a base member having a flexible body. The base member includes a first surface with a plurality of flaps which extend outwardly from the same. The second surface is intended to contact the ground. An upright member is positioned to extend outwardly from the first surface and includes an area for accommodating the plurality of flaps. The plurality of flaps are linked to the base member by an element located within the recess.

Abstract: A screed where the installation is laid out with hollow ended pointed rods. The rods have markings on them to indicate the proper excavation depth for application s such as patio/walkway or d driveway. A grade pin or a jackhammer pin is inserted into the hollow ends of each rod to vertically position the rods to the proper elevation determined by surveying techniques. The pins are then replaced with U shaped rail supports. Rails are then inserted between supports. A screed board notched to ride on each rail is then used to smooth the surface of sub-base materials.

Abstract: A roller device for compacting the ground comprising a rotatably driven first roller facing, whose speed can be modified, at least within a certain range. Device includes a unit for determining the vertical distance between a surface of a compacted ground lying behind the first roller facing and a lowest point of the first roller facing, and by a speed regulating device for modifying the speed of the first roller facing, based on said distance. The speed regulation device allows the speed of the roller facing to be adjusted in such a away that slip is prevented without determining the actual slip between the roller facing and the ground.

Abstract: A safety barrier transition, comprising partially deformable elements, pivoted by quickly disengageable coupling elements to a fixed barrier, specifically designed for closing, under safety conditions, and quickly re-opening road gaps provided in superhighway traffic dividers.

Abstract: A compactor tooth has a replaceable wear tip mounted to a mounting block carried on the cylindrical exterior surface of a landfill-compactor wheel of a compactor machine. The mounting block has an external surface formed to engage a complementary internal cavity of the wear tip and includes a pair of circumferentially spaced sides oriented not more than 5 degrees from perpendicular to the cylindrical exterior surface of the wheel. The replaceable tip has a body with an exterior ground-engaging surface, a mounting end and a mounting-base receiving cavity opening through the mounting end. The cavity is configured to receive the mounting block thereinto and has a pair of circumferentially spaced side surfaces configured to be in close abutting relationship to a respective one of the circumferentially spaced sides of said mounting block.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM) to roadway surfaces comprises primary and auxiliary conveyors wherein an upstream end portion of the primary conveyor is able to extend, for example, over the rear bed portion of a roadwork truck so as to permit an operator, stationed upon the bed portion of the truck, to deposit pavement markers upon the primary conveyor. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a slide mechanism is disposed adjacent to a downstream end portion of the primary conveyor and adjacent to an upstream end portion of the auxiliary conveyor for transferring pavement markers from the primary conveyor to the auxiliary conveyor when the absence of a pavement marker upon the auxiliary conveyor is detected. When pavement markers are present upon both conveyors, the pavement markers are conducted to applicator mechanisms for application to the roadway surface.

Abstract: An adjustable compactor roller having a roller such as sheepsfoot roller mounted directly rearward of an earth leveling blade, wherein the blade is housed in a frame. The roller is mounted between roller support arms that extend forwardly and are pivotally combined with frame support arms that extend rearwardly from the frame. Hydraulic cylinders or other force assist members extend between the frame and a pivot point intermediate to the frame and the roller. In this manner, the elevation and/or the ground engagement angle of the blade may be adjusted and the compacting roller may compress leveled earth behind the blade without intervening ground engaging members disturbing the graded earth.

Abstract: A fabric gripper for securing a fabric or covering to a surface comprises an elongate body and a plurality of upwardly protruding barbs on the upper surface of the body. The gripper is formed as one piece and can either be manufactured from a single thermoplastic material or else the body and barbs can be manufactured of first and second thermoplastic materials, respectively, where the second material is harder than the first material. Where the gripper is to be made of first and second materials, a method of manufacture is provided where the second material is injection molded into channels in the body to form the barbs.

Abstract: A field marker attachable to an outer end of an agricultural implement comprises an arm pivotally attachable to the implement extending perpendicular to the travel direction. A marking device is attached at a distal end of the arm. An extendable hydraulic cylinder is attached to the arm and implement and moves in one direction to a stopped position where the arm is in the operating position. An active hydraulic source supplies hydraulic fluid at an operating pressure such that the cylinder remains at the stopped position until a rearward force on the arm causes the pressure in the cylinder to exceed the operating pressure and the arm moves rearward. Where the marking device scores the field, a wheel can be mounted on the arm such that its axis of rotation is removed from the center of the wheel so that the scoring device moves up and down scoring an intermittent line.

Abstract: A work machine having a frame, a work tool and an articulation apparatus so as to pivot at least one support wheel mounted at the frame from a projecting position to a retracted position and vice versa.

Abstract: A system and method for inserting pre-cast concrete pile caps under wooden railroad bridges without removing essential load bearing rails, cross-ties, and stringers is disclosed. The system and method minimizes the time that the track is closed to normal rail traffic. The system and method uses recycled oil well drill pipes that are cast into pile caps so that female-threaded ends are flushed with an upper surface of the pile caps. Lifting rods have male threaded ends that are used with a multi-point lifting device that allows the pile cap to be slipped under the existing bridge in a number of small incremental steps utilizing the spaces between wooden bridge stringers.

Abstract: A device for restraining the upward movement of a dock comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a fixed end; a piston slideably disposed in the cylinder so as to define opposed first and second chambers; a rod having one end connected to the slideable piston, extending through the first chamber and having another end adapted for connection to the dock; hydraulic reservoir containing hydraulic fluid communicating with the first chamber; valve means disposed between the reservoir and the first chamber, the valve means having open position permitting the hydraulic fluid to flow from the first chamber to the reservoir and extending the rod in response to the upward movement of dock; a closed position stopping the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the first chamber to the reservoir and restraining the upward movement of the dock.

Abstract: A course-grooming vehicle with a rear tool carrier, to which a course-grooming device can be detachably connected, where the height and/or the angle of the rear tool carrier and/or of the course-grooming device can be varied by means of at least one adjusting element, and with an electronic control unit, which actuates the minimum of one adjusting element, is known. At least one sensor for the direct or indirect detection of an actual state of the surface of the course to be groomed by the course-grooming device is provided, which sensor is connected to the control unit, the control unit comprising a memory for storing at least one characteristic diagram and an evaluation unit, which compares the actual values detected by the sensor with corresponding nominal values of the characteristic diagram and which, as a function of the result of the evaluation, actuates the minimum of one adjusting element accordingly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for in situ rejuvenation of asphalt pavement. The apparatus and method provide for heating the underlying surface to form a preheated surface, passing a mill over the preheated surface and milling the preheated surface to loosen the preheated surface to a desired depth and discharging the milled material from opposite ends of the respective windrows of known breadth. Windrow height is measured as is rate of advance of the transport structure to determine a volume throughput. Rejuvenating fluid is added to each windrow at a dosage rate based on a desired weight percentage and the volume throughput. A mixer is passed over the windrows and receives the windrows through respective openings at either end thereof. The mixer also blends the rejuvenating fluid with the milled material and forms a blended mixture which is discharged from the mixer. The mixer may be a pug mill operated in an inverted arrangement utilizing the road surface as a bottom thereto.

Abstract: A system for reclaiming displaced road surface material from along side a road. More specifically, the instant invention is a road material reclamation device including a movable fame capable of being attached to another machine. At least one cylinder drive mechanism attached to the frame and configured to rotatably support a cylindrical rotary screen. The rotary screen has an interior, a front section and a rear section, a side rolling surface located adjacent the front section and the rear section, each side rolling surface being configured to engage the drive mechanism. Located adjacent the front section is a flange section. A cylindrical end frame supports at least one cylindrical end roller, the end frame and end roller being configured to engage the flange section and prevent axial displacement of the rotary screen. Additionally, a feed chute is located adjacent the rear section and is configured to direct material into the interior adjacent the rear section.

Abstract: A method of constructing catwalks and building scaffolds without cutting slopes, and without damaging mountainous areas, comprising the steps of 1) dropping at least two vertical ropes along a slope; 2) joining the vertical ropes by a set of upper and lower horizontal ropes, at a predetermined spaced interval; 3) joining these horizontal ropes to bar-like base structures; 4) erecting at least one pillar on the first base structure joined to the lower rope; 5) and placing and fixing plate-like structures on the second base structure joined to the upper horizontal rope and joined on the pillar or pillars.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of providing a retrofit dowel to maintain adjacent concrete structures in alignment. The dowel is received in a longitudinal groove cut across the structures, and supported in spaced relationship to the bottom of the groove by feet on caps engaged over the ends of the dowel. The feet are positioned so as to be disposed to either side of the dowel. Wings extending laterally of the end caps engage the sides of the groove to center the dowel within the groove and secure it in place. The end caps include structure to secure them from inadvertent displacement from the dowel and stops to provide expansion space to the ends of the dowel, and are translucent to enable the position of a dowel received therein to be visually observed.

Abstract: A grader vehicle has a vehicle body mounted on two drive tracks. A boom is mounted on the front of the vehicle and extends to the front of the body. A third drive track is mounted on the leading end of the boom by a steering mechanism for rotation about an upright steering axis. The three tracks are driven by separate hydraulic motors. The use of a steering, driven track on the boom provides a tractive force pulling the vehicle forwards in the desired direction of travel and positively driving the leading end of the boom in the direction of a turn. The track also provides a degree of packing at the center of the vehicle's path that can not be achieved with a ski gliding on the surface. This is of particular importance when packing ski trails with the vehicle. For grading purposes, the vehicle has a grader blade across the front of the vehicle and a second blade leading the front track.