Abstract: A wheel lift head assembly is pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end of a truck frame and is hydraulically operated for raising and lowering one end of a vehicle to be towed behind the truck. The wheel lift head assembly includes a crossbar member having a pair of hollow tubes pivotally mounted at opposite ends thereof with a pair of J-shaped wheel engaging members slidably mounted therein. A retainer is secured to an end of each J-shaped arm to prevent the withdrawal of the arm from the pivoted guide tube and a J-shaped arm provides engagement on opposite sides of the wheels of the vehicle to be towed to prevent lateral slipping of the wheels. A tiltable truck bed is mounted on the truck for pivotal movement between a horizontal position and an inclined position. At least one support post is provided at the rear of the tiltable truck bed for supporting the end of the tiltable truck bed on the ground and notches are formed in a forwardly facing surface of the support post.

Abstract: A vacuum loadlock is provided for housing a pair of wafers in proper alignment for concurrent processing. In one embodiment, a single chamber loadlock is provided with a gas diffuser disposed therein to decrease venting times within the loadlock. In another embodiment, a dual chamber loadlock is provided having first and second isolatable regions disposed adjacent a transfer region to increase throughput of the system.

Abstract: A wheel lift apparatus for tow vehicles includes a boom extending from a tow vehicle and a cross arm connected with the boom. The wheel lift apparatus also preferably includes a pair of receivers including an inclined face mounted on opposite end portions of the cross arm and a pair of pivot members mounted on the end portions. A pair of swing arms, each of which preferably has a swivel leg, a wheel support leg and a distal leg, is mounted on the pivot members. The swing arms are pivotally movable between a storage position in which the wheel support legs each extend between the boom and one of the pivot members and towing position in which the distal legs are spaced apart from the cross arm such that the cross arm, wheel support leg and distal leg, and preferably the inclined face, define a receptacle for receiving and supporting a wheel of a vehicle for lift towing. Methods of wheel lift towing are also provided.

Abstract: A vacuum loadlock is provided for housing a pair of wafers in proper alignment for concurrent processing. In one embodiment, a single chamber loadlock is provided with a gas diffuser disposed therein to decrease venting times within the loadlock. In another embodiment, a dual chamber loadlock is provided having first and second isolatable region disposed adjacent a transfer region to increase throughput of the system.

Abstract: A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. From the bulk supply, multi-compartment catalyst charging hoppers are individually filled in rapid and accurately measured fashion by mechanized filling equipment having a predetermined sequence of operation that ensures accuracy of volumetric catalyst measurement. The charging hoppers are used for delivery of measured volumes of catalyst of a reactor tube loading mechanism which may take the form of a mobile cart framework being selectively positionable relative to the upper tube sheet and reaction tubes of a catalytic reactor to be charged with catalyst pellets.

Abstract: Pallet stops are provided for blades of a forklift truck. The pallet stops have elongated bodies of a predetermined length, and are easily placed on or removed from forklift blades in predetermined locations. For retrofitting existing forklift blades, the elongated bodies include magnets for removably securing the pallet stops to the blades, while for new forklift blades, the blades may have threaded openings formed in predetermined locations, and elongated pins may be selectively inserted into one of the threaded openings on each blade.

Abstract: A dumping device is disclosed comprising a container rotatably connected to a support structure, so that the axis of rotation of the container is rearward and/or below the center of gravity of the container. A releasable stop prevents the container from rotating forward. At least one actuator is provided which exerts a force forward and above the center of gravity of the container, whereby the speed of rotation of the container may be controlled and the container may be maneuvered between its upright and dumping positions.

Abstract: A cargo truck is provided having a loading ramp assembly to aid in loading and unloading items from a cargo box on the truck. The loading ramp assembly is adjustable between a loading position wherein a ramp is provided between a deck of the cargo box and the ground, and a storage position to allow transport of the cargo truck. The loading ramp fits within a pocket between the truck frame and the cargo box when in the storage position. The pocket is formed by long C-shaped box sills that support the cargo box. The ramp is formed by two side rails, a ramp floor between the side rails, and support braces between the ramp floor and the side rails to prevent buckling of the side rails upon application of a load to the ramp. The braces extend below the bottom of the box sills when the ramp is in a storage position. The braces allow for lower profile side rails, thereby reducing the amount the cargo box must be raised above the truck frame to accommodate the ramp assembly.

Abstract: A fork for a fork lift truck is attached to the typical mast mounted carriage by means of upper and lower hangers. Lateral adjustment of the position of the fork relative to the carriage involves engagement and release of a pin structure carried by the upper hanger. The upper hanger incorporates a pin which is vertically movable between a first position in which the pin engages slots in the upper mounting bar of the carriage and a second position in which the pin is recessed permitting lateral, relative movement between the fork and the carriage. A spring urges the pin to the first position where the pin engages slots in then carriage mounting bar. By lifting and turning the pin can be held in a second position so that the fork is slidable laterally along the carriage mounting bar.

Abstract: An improved container having caterpillar mechanism for loading/unloading of cargos comprises a bottom plate formed with caterpillar mechanism and left/right side walls with two lateral openings. During loading/unloading cargos, a conveyor having the same level height as the caterpillar belt is used to quickly accept the whole cargos being moved out on belt by means of pushing/pulling force exerted on the cargos.

Abstract: A High-rise Automated Garage (HAG) for offstreet parking consists of up to 40 stories (levels) car storage structure and a bank of elevators in the middle of this structure. Elevators are oriented along the garage and can pick-up cars from a flat driveway along the garage. Car handling carriages of the elevators can lift cars as cargo, using their wheels as the pick-up points, and move them horizontally into elevator's platform. In the case of one elevator failure, cars parked in the zone served by this elevator can be relocated by attendants into the zone served by an operating elevator, thus providing the capability of returning cars to the owners in a reasonable time. HAG has two loading (unloading) lanes. This allows an increase in the driver time for arriving and releasing the car to two elevators' cycles.

Abstract: A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. A pair of electronic vibrators are mounted to the cart framework and provide for support and vibratory movement of a vibratory tray having a catalyst feed hopper adapted to feed catalyst pellets to a plurality of generally parallel catalyst transfer troughs along which catalyst pellets are moved by vibration of the vibratory tray to a plurality of drop tubes. A compartmented hopper is fixed to the vibratory tray and controllably feeds catalyst pellets into respective catalyst transfer troughs.

Abstract: A dump truck having a dump body which includes a rotatable feedgate for adjusting the size of a passageway through a rear opening at the rear of the dump body. The rotatable feedgate is rotatably mounted within the rear opening to provide for improved control of the flow of materials within the dump body which pass through the rear opening when the feedgate is positioned into an open position. A side guide is incorporated into the rotatable feedgate to provide additional control of the flow rate of materials through the rear opening especially at low feed rates. The rotatable feedgate design includes a rotatable feedgate position for open mode hauling whereby the feedgate is repositioned in the rear of the dump body. An opening plate is also provided to be used to provide an alternative arrangement for sealing the tailgate opening while the rotatable feedgate is attached or detached from the dump body.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting strips of metal into stacks and transfering the stacks to a hopper of a press includes a stack accumulating and blocking pocket at an output of a cut-off shear, a stack lift, rotate and turn-over mechanism to reorient the stack prior to input to the hopper, and a gripper head on a transfer gantry to move the stack from the lift, rotate and turn-over mechanism to the hopper. The gripper head is movable to an angle in alignment with the feed angle of the hopper to deposit the stack on the top strip in the hopper in alignment therewith.

Abstract: A system for automatic loading of wafer boats onto a cantilever paddle for insertion of the wafer boats into a furnace tube includes an end effector carriage moving on a track and supporting an end effector having spaced, parallel pads to engage opposed outer side portions of a wafer boat. The end effector receives a wafer boat from a robotic arm of an elevator. The robotic arm moves transversely relative to the track to position the wafer boat over the track on which the paddle carriage moves. The end effector carriage moves the end effector pads under the wafer boat, lifts it from a pair of elevator tines, moves the wafer boat over a desired part of the paddle, and lowers the wafer boat onto the paddle. The end effector carriage then returns the end effector to an initial location.

Abstract: A powered cart for moving heavy objects. The cart has a container portion that is elevated and lowered under power with a floor of the container portion capable of being lowered onto a surface supporting the cart. The floor has an inclined edge that provides a ramp for loading items onto the cart. The cart is propelled by a steerable wheel and the wheel is provided with a braking system. A removable gate is provided for securing the open side of the chassis and is provided with an automatic latch mechanism that locks the gate in position when the container portion is elevated off the supporting surface.

Abstract: A system includes an interface for receiving a pod having a carrier that receives wafers, and that is initially enclosed within a base and a pod cover. The system also includes a mechanism that transfers an exposed carrier between the interface and a platform of a mass-transfer machine included in the system. The machine includes a gantry arm for transferring the carrier between the platform and a transfer station. A retainer assembly is positionable over the carrier at the transfer station, and over a process carrier that is used in a processing tool. Moveable retainers of the assembly receive and hold wafers. The machine includes an elevator that moves between the transfer station and the process carrier. The elevator extends and retracts for transferring wafers between the retainers and either the carrier or the process carrier. A turntable, that receives the process carrier, permits automatically reorienting wafers.

Abstract: A vehicular transport apparatus for use with a carrier to transport other vehicles as cargo. The vehicular transport apparatus includes a support frame, a rotary mount on the support frame, a rotatable deck mounted on the rotary mount, a deck lock beside the rotatable deck that is pivotably attached to the carrier frame by a pin, a biassing means associated with the deck lock for biassing the deck lock into the lock position, and a ramp for loading the carried vehicle onto the rotatable deck, which can be secured to the rotatable deck or the support frame. The support frame is secured in a fixed position on the carrier by an attachment beam that mates with brackets attached to the carrier.

Abstract: An integrated container depot (10) comprises a first transit sector (11) with a cellular structure (13) having cells superimposed and adjacent to one another to form columns and rows of cells designed to receive containers; a second storage sector (12) consisting of a storage yard structure with areas for stacking containers; first devices (14, 18) for transferring containers to and from a container arrival and departure area (19) and cells of the cellular structure (13); second devices (15, 16, 17) for transferring containers to and from cells of the cellular structure (13) and areas of the storage yard structure, (12). Upon arrival of containers they are rapidly inserted into the cellular structure, from where they are extracted in a desired order for efficient stacking in the storage yard structure.

Abstract: A method of moving a refuse collection vehicle from a first location to a second location, the refuse collection vehicle of a type having a towing vehicle, a semi-trailer and a hoist mechanism interconnecting the towing vehicle to the semi-trailer and operative for moving the semi-trailer between a normal lowered position and a hoisted position, the method including the steps of securing the towing vehicle in a first towing vehicle location, moving the semi-trailer from the normal lowered position to the hoisted position thereby moving the rear wheels of the semi-trailer from a first semi-trailer location to a second semi-trailer location, securing the semi-trailer in the second semi-trailer location, and moving the semi-trailer from the hoisted position to the normal lowered position thereby moving the towing vehicle in the forwardly direction from the first towing vehicle location to a second towing vehicle location thereby resulting in the movement of the refuse collection vehicle from the first location t