Abstract: A first-in first-out controlled environment warehousing system including a series of sloped modules having a controlled environment therein through which products to be stored traverse. The products line up at the lower end of each module for ready removal therefrom on a first-in first-out basis, and only the product enters the controlled environment. Fork lifts and other loading or unloading devices remain out of the controlled environment. Earth, in addition to a passage for empty product containers, serves as insulation for the product passage in each module.

Abstract: A steering head for a bicycle comprises a mounting shaft having a lower end secured to the forward end of the main bicycle frame, the mounting shaft projecting upwardly from the forward frame end. A bearing sleeve is rigid with the fork head of the front wheel fork of the bicycle and is rotatably mounted on the mounting shaft.

Abstract: A refuse bunker of the kind having a horizontal open-topped pressing box disposed beneath a filling hopper and a pressing plunger which is movable longitudinally in the pressing box to feed refuse through an outlet opening of the bunker and, in use, into a container, is provided with a closure which is situated on the outlet side of the outlet opening. The closure includes three passage openings for the passage of refuse from the outlet opening, the passage openings being disposed in two spaced-apart vertical planes. One passage opening, which is in a plane furthest from the outlet opening, is in a stationary member and is aligned with the outlet opening and the other two of the passage openings are vertically movable, are spaced apart one above the other, are of different heights from each other and are situated in a plane between the plane of the stationary opening and the plane of the outlet opening.

Abstract: Article packing or unpacking apparatus, including two correlated driven conveyors one for articles and one for moving cases through a fixed course having a horizontal section and with both conveyors having fixed orbits, the article conveyor being in a vertical plane above the one conveyor horizontal section; and article grippers are positioned by carrier bars engaged with the article conveyor, which grippers depend from the carrier bars in a lower reach of such article conveyor. A pair of control arms are individually secured to each carrier bar at different ends thereof to engage guides as the article conveyor is moved downwardly towards an inflection area so that the article grippers are presented on vertical axes as they are moved into, along with, and lifted from cases moving through the horizontal section of the case conveyor fixed course.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a roller conveyor, a platform at one end of the conveyor, and a wheeled vehicle. The platform facilitates positioning the wheeled vehicle so that the bed thereon is aligned with a load support surface defined by rollers on the conveyor whereby the apparatus may be used for loading or unloading of trailer vans.

Abstract: Metal cables of improved fatigue strength, which are particularly suitable for use in an oblique folded ply of metal cables for tire tread reinforcement, comprise a visible outer layer of strands with each strand being formed of at least two elementary wires, the pitch of the strands being less than the pitch of the elementary wires, these two pitches being of the same direction (S or Z).

Abstract: A lift crane in which the upper works is mounted on a platform that rides on a large diameter ring which is fixed to a generally square, planar and rigid frame. The frame is rigidly secured directly to the cross members which interconnect the crawlers of a crawler-transporter, with the securement being releasable by pin connections to permit the ring and its frame to be removed from the crawler-transporter and used as a fixed crane mounting pad.

Abstract: An arrangement in a hydraulically operated crane of the type having a supporting crane section and a movable crane arm system supported thereby and comprising support and guide means, telescopically extendable boom means including a first boom movably supported and guided by the support and guide means and a second boom supported by and telescopically movable in relation to the first boom; and drive means for moving the first boom in relation to the support and guide means and for moving the second boom in relation to the first boom; the drive means comprising an elongated flexible drive transmission means fixed to the support and guide means and extending into the first hollow boom through one end thereof and fixed to the second boom, the flexible transmission means being arranged such that a movement of the first boom in relation to the support and guide means will be transmitted by the flexible transmission means to the second boom for moving the latter in relation to the first boom a distance equal to the

Abstract: The invention is an anti-theft system for motor vehicles and incorporates an electronic key which by virtue of a pre-coded shift register contained therein, and with the aid of an electronic clock contained within the vehicle can deliver this code as a series of impulses through a single output line to a decoder which is housed together with a disenabling gate inside the distributor or the starter motor casing to prevent circumvention of the electronic disenabling system.

Abstract: Rails are laid out between a kitchen or food preparation area and a dining room in a restaurant and a number of tables are arranged along and on opposite sides of the rails. At least one vehicle for carrying food and pulled by a model locomotive runs on the rails to convey food prepared in the kitchen or food preparation area to a specific one or ones of the tables. Travel of the dish carrier on the rails is controlled by a control device installed in the kitchen or food preparation area. The food carrying vehicle has doors which are operable from both sides thereof to permit access from both sides of the rails, and the doors are preferably interlocked with a slidable tray in the vehicle to cause the tray to automatically slide at least partially out of the vehicle upon opening of a door.

Abstract: A mud-flap supporting assembly is provided that allows pivotal movement of a mud flap mounting arm about a vertical axis adjacent to the vehicle to which the arm is mounted, but prevents movement of the arm in a vertical direction. A vertical pin passes through an arm portion and a support portion to define the vertical axis about which the mounting arm is pivoted, and a spring is operatively connected between the arm and arm portion for centering the arm so that it is normally in intermediate position but may pivot against the spring bias about the vertical axis out of the intermediate position yet will be automatically returned by the spring to the intermediate position. The arm may be mounted so that it is horizontally movable with respect to the arm portion; or the arm and arm portion may be fixed together and a pair of pivotal levers mounted to the arm portion which are engaged by the spring.

Abstract: A section insulator for insulating adjacent sections of contact wire of overhead power supply systems for electrified railway lines and the like is disclosed. The section insulator is interposed between separated ends of adjacent sections of contact wire. Strain plates are secured to the opposed ends of the sections and a strain insulator is secured to the strain plates above the level of the contact wires to maintain the tension in the contact wires. Spaced runners supported by the strain insulator extend between the contact wires, there being air gaps between the ends of the contact wires and the runners. A pair of diverging glider arms is secured to each contact wire section adjacent its end. The glider arms extend toward each other beyond the ends of the contact wire sections and overlap the ends of the runners, there being transverse air gaps between the diverging glider arms and the runners.

Abstract: A portable hoist mechanism which is configured for temporary installation proximate the cargo opening of an aircraft to facilitate the loading and unloading of a cargo ramp is disclosed. The hoist mechanism includes a rectangular base unit that is placed on the floor of the aircraft cargo compartment and structurally interconnected with the aircraft sill fittings and end locks of the aircraft cargo handling system. An A-frame, having a cable sheave mounted at the apex thereof, is pivotably attached to the forward portion of the base unit upper surface in an orientation which permits the upper end of the A-Frame to be swung outwardly through the aircraft cargo opening. A ball screw actuator, extending angularly from the central region of the A-frame to the rear portion of the base unit upper surface, is operable to selectively position the A-frame during loading and unloading of a cargo ramp.

Abstract: A check-out counter formed of a forward check-out module, having a conveyor belt for transporting merchandise along the top thereof, and a rear bagging module having an upper merchandise receiving deck. The two modules are spaced apart and a stowable second conveyor unit is provided to bridge the space when desired to carry merchandise from the check-out module to the bagging module deck. The conveyor unit is formed of a pair of spaced apart rollers mounted upon opposite ends of a support frame and carrying an endless conveyor belt. One end of the unit is pivotally connected to the bagging module and the other end is releasably latched to a rear edge of the check-out module. Thus, the unit may alternatively be extended between the modules for conveyor use or may be stowed, hanging downwardly from its pivots in a non-use position.

Abstract: A tractor unit for wheeled vehicles having fixed draft tongues, the tractor unit including a frame supported at its front end by a pair of laterally spaced steerable drive wheels, and having a supporting leg at its rear end movable between an operative frame supporting position and an inoperative raised position. A support arm extends rearwardly from the frame and is disposed to underlie and support the draft tongue of a vehicle. A locking pin releasably locks the draft tongue to the support arm. The support wheels have generally vertically extending pivot shafts and a generally vertical steering shaft is rotatably carried by the frame intermediate the pivot shafts on a fixed axis. Power transmission mechanism operatively connects the steering shaft with the pivot shafts, and is responsive to rotation of one of the pivot shafts in either direction of steering movement away from a neutral position to rotate the other pivot shaft in the same direction but to a different angular extent.

Abstract: A product conveying assembly for installation, for example, in a market check out stand receives products selected for purchase and brought by a customer in a buggy or cart and orderly end delivers them to a checker in the immediate location of a product code scanner, a key-in cost entry register, a scale, and/or bagging location. The customer places the products being purchased on a circular rotation product receiving and delivering belt, which has its central portions rotatably supported for rotation about a vertical support, rotatably mountable on a market check out stand. Over half but not all of this circular rotation product receiving and delivering belt is slidably guided on a support mountable on a check out stand.

Abstract: A supermarket counter construction in which an upper surface of the counter is provided with an elongated slot. A cooperating cart includes a slideably mounted vertical side wall which when lowered for unloading the contents of the cart enters the slot which confines subsequent movement of the cart to a straight line parallel to the principal axis of the counter, and constrains the cart adjacent the edge of the counter so as to facilitate re-loading of the contents after checking and bagging.

Abstract: A motorized bicycle which features a removable fuel tank. The fuel tank may be selectively secured within a housing mounted on the frame of the bicycle. The housing and tank include means which cooperate upon insertion of the fuel tank to permit fuel to flow from the tank to the fuel line for the engine of the bicycle. Removal of the tank from the housing automatically seals the tank against spillage of fuel and permits the bicycle to be safely transported. The fuel tank also features an air vent which is automatically opened when the tank is secured in the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and improved method of unloading dry particulate matter in containers wherein the containers are positioned in an enclosed drum and rotated. Thereafter, a releasable spout mounted with the drum enables the dry particulate matter to be dumped or released from the drum without danger to workmen or dangerous spreading of the dust from the dry matter.

Abstract: A steering system for a personnel carrier of a relatively slow moving type, useful for carrying farmers through grain fields performing manual weed-removal functions. The steering system utilizes a foot movable pallet conveniently positioned for engagement by feet of a seated, carried person. Drive cables from a shaft supporting the pallet to anchor positions connecting with the carrier frame are provided so that turning the pallet may turn a steerable wheel or wheels of the carrier.