Abstract: A dock leveler comprises a deck pivotally mounted at one end thereof for movement and having a lip mounted at the other end thereof. A safety leg assembly is pivotally mounted to an underside of said the and is biased into an extended position. A cam structure is carried by the safety leg assembly and pivotal therewith. A spring biases the cam in a direction to maintain the safety legs in the extended position. The cam structure has a slot into which a pin mounted on the safety legs engages. If the deck falls rapidly a surface on the cam engages a member on a stop block. This causes the cam to rapidly move but the spring attached to the pin cannot cause the legs to move as rapidly and it shifts in the slot. This exposes the safety leg supporting surfaces which contact a surface on the stop block to limit travel of the deck.

Abstract: A bridge section made of light metal including a vertical web, an upper chord section connected to an upper end of the vertical web and a lower chord section connected to a lower end of the vertical web. The upper chord includes a thick-walled horizontal part with a weld seam connection and a thin-walled flange. The thin-walled flange has a wall thickness which is less than the thick-walled horizontal part. The vertical web has a wall thickness which is greater than the thin-walled horizontal part and the lower chord has a wall thickness which is greater than the thin-walled horizontal part. A residual wall is formed by machining the lower chord section and the vertical web over a length area. The residual wall has a residual wall thickness with two planes arranged at right angles to one another over the length area. A T-shaped insert is provided including two legs. A connection device is provided for connecting the two legs of the T-shaped insert to the residual wall portions.

Abstract: A light-weight, corrosion-resistant, readily installed bridge deck is formed of modular deck panels spliced to each other on site. Each of the deck panels is shop-fabricated by longitudinally welding flanges of adjacently placed multi-void extruded aluminum alloy structural elements. Transfer splices of longitudinally adjacent elongate elements are made by providing shear elements connecting individual elongate structural elements of each deck panel end-to-end prior to longitudinal welding of adjacent elongate elements, with the end joints between the elongate elements being arrayed in a staggered manner. A safety rail system is mounted to run alongside and above outer edges of the finished bridge deck mounted to a system of support girders.

Abstract: An adjustable, combination floor tile mortar and grout spreading device for applying bonding material at a predetermined thickness in a straight-combed manner, and for spreading grout between floor tiles. The device comprises a telescopically adjustable rectangular frame having a leading edge and a trailing edge and a pair of downwardly extending sides for containing bonding material. The rectangular frame is telescopically adjustable to various widths and can be fixed at a particular width depending upon the size tile for the given installation. In the mortar spreading configuration, the trailing edge incorporates a resiliently mounted downwardly extending trowel blade having a conventional trowel blade edge with either a saw-tooth or square-toothed shape. The trowel blade is adjustable such that the device may be used for spreading various thicknesses of bonding material.

Abstract: A lightweighted weldless grating comprising a plurality of substantially parallel, longitudinally extending primary load bearing members, a plurality of secondary load bearing members, and a pan member positioned between the primary load bearing members and supported on the flanges adapted to contain wet concrete, the pan member having a portion thereof extending upwardly against the lower edge of the secondary load bearing member to maintain the secondary load bearing members in web slots in the primary load bearing members, thereby forming the weldless grating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ground cover mat that protects the terrain from a vehicle or the like. The ground cover mat is manufactured by molding recycled polyethylene plastic into a sheet-like mat, which is inexpensive, relatively light in weight, durable in harsh conditions and easy to cut. The ground cover mat includes a pattern of lugs on its upper and lower surfaces to provide a traction surface for the vehicle and to provide friction between the terrain and the ground cover mat.

Abstract: A system and method for the installation of prefabricated composite structural members is disclosed. The system utilizes deck panels which have a plurality of structural member pairs attached to the underside such that a series of channels are formed. Bored through each deck panel is a plurality of access holes that project through the panel and into one of said channels. Thus, installers can access underlying bridge girders from the surface of the deck panels thereby allowing for top-side installation. The system also provides a top-side vertically adjusting device for raising or lowering the deck panels to allow for the top-side installation of shimming devices.

Abstract: A dock leveler including a ramp having a rear edge movably interconnected with a loading dock, an intermediate member movable relative to the ramp, and an inflatable assembly positioned to cause relative movement between the ramp and the intermediate member upon inflation of the inflatable assembly, thereby resulting in movement of the ramp. The intermediate member is movably mounted to either a pit floor, a support structure or the ramp. A roller member is mounted to an end of the intermediate member. The inflatable assembly can be operatively associated with a vacuum device to allow for selective removal of gas from the inflatable assembly.

Abstract: A dock leveler comprising a ramp movable between a lowered position and a raised position, an inflatable member positioned to move the ramp to its raised position upon inflation of the inflatable member, and an inflating device operatively connected with the internal cavity. The inflatable member includes upper and lower portions at least partially defining an internal cavity. An insert member is positioned in the internal cavity for maintaining a volume of gas between the upper and lower portions. Preferably, the insert member functions to maintain the inflatable member in engagement with a downwardly facing surface of the ramp, thereby inhibiting the presence of debris between the inflatable member and the ramp, and further expediting inflation of the inflatable member.

Abstract: A power trowel handle has controls that permit electronically operating the functions of an engine on the power trowel from the handle. The engine includes a servo controlled carburetor which will permit injecting, upon initial closing, a circuit for starting a quantity of fuel for starting a two cycle engine, which normally has to be done manually, as well as permitting control of a throttle using a trigger switch on the handle. The power trowel further has an elongated pole braced with a slider to prevent twisting under torque and to permit better control of the power trowel from a remote handle. The handle grip is usable in either the elongated pole position, or directly on a shroud for the power trowel.

Abstract: A powered concrete screed apparatus comprising a roller rotatably attached to a chassis. The chassis includes an elongated member that extends in spaced, parallel relation to the roller, and is of substantially the same length as the roller. The elongated member is attached to the roller at one end by a motor removably mounted thereto and which includes gears extending therefrom which are operatively attached to the roller, and at its opposite end by a plate which extends between the tubing and roller. A pair of handles are mounted to and extend upwardly from the tubular member, and are independently, slidably adjustable along the length of the tubular member. The handles are also telescopically adjustable, thereby permitting their lengths to be selectively controlled. A throttle is removably attached to one of the handles and electrically connected to the motor, thereby permitting selective control of the power output from the motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for pretreating a pothole preparatory to filling thereof including determining the size and/or path of revolution of a treatment member responsive to determining the location and size of the pothole to be repaired; lowering the treatment member into the pothole; selectively revolving said treatment member and/or rotating said treatment member to abrade, compact and densify the portion of the pothole surrounding the surface thereof. Debris or other particulate in the pothole or developed by the abrading operation may be removed by a vacuum member. The pothole may be sprayed with a fluent material to either harden the surface or reduce the porosity of or render the sticky the surface of the pothole to provide a better bond between the pothole and the filler material. The force applied by the treatment member to the pothole surface is sensed and used as feedback information to control the abrading/compressing/densifying force.

Abstract: Dynamic soil packing can be achieved by a procedure and device whereby the vibratory motion of the roller or one of the parts attached to it is determined, and whereby the vertical component of the vibratory force is diminished in the event of a disturbance (e.g., bouncing) of the basic roller vibration. The packing device is one having at least two exciter shafts synchronously rotating in opposite directions and arranged parallel to or in alignment with the roller axis for generating a vibrating motion, the exciter shafts being adjustable in their position and/or phase relationship so that the resulting centrifugal force electively exerts horizontal shearing forces and/or vertical compressive forces in the soil. A motion sensor determines the vibratory motion, such as amplitude, acceleration or periodicity thereof, and in connection with a control loop and adjustable pivot bearing adjusts the horizontal and vertical components of the motion to eliminate the disturbance.

Abstract: A wheel for a powered vehicle operating along a hard brittle surface is equipped with cleats 21 having non-metallic wear tips 31 mounted upon a metallic base 36 welded to the wheel circumference 10. The material forming the wear tips 31 has density and hardness insufficient to chip or erode the brittle work surface but of sufficient toughness for demolition of solid wastes. An elongate bracket in a medial portion 26 of the wear tip and base have complimentary portions for attachment of tip to base in a twist resisting connection. An adhesive bond unites the tip and base in one embodiment, FIGS. 4-7, and mechanical couplings unite the parts in others, FIGS. 7-13. Certain embodiments, FIGS. 8-13, have provisions for readily releasable locking of the parts for field replacement of worn cleats.

Abstract: A ramp for loading and unloading snowmobiles and other vehicles from a load bed such as a trailer or transport vehicle. The ramp comprises a pair of longitudinal tracks joined by a plurality of transverse members. Such transverse members are adapted to receive the wheels of the objects being transported or, in the case of snowmobiles, the belt grip thereof. In the case of snowmobiles, the skis of such vehicle are received on the longitudinal tracks. The ramp includes a pair of wheels for use in moving the ramp across the load bed. The wheels are positioned at a location on the ramp corresponding to the center of mass of such ramp when supporting the snowmobile or other such vehicle. The tracks of the ramp are preferably angled upwards to avoid contact with the load bed when being moved across same. The spacing of such tracks is adjustable so as to permit transport of the vehicles having a variety of widths.

Abstract: A road resurfacing device has a frame on which is mounted a ripper bar for ripping the road surface, to a controlled depth, and behind it a separator for separating coarse and fine material in the road surface such the coarse material is deposited on fine material. The frame is supported by rollers extending across the frame. The ripper bar has depending teeth in rows on both sides of the ripper bar and is rotatable so that either sets of teeth, which may be at different heights, rip the road surface. The separator is formed of ground turning discs mounted on angled shafts to direct material first to one side and then to the other. The ground turning discs rotate counter to the direction of movement of the frame. A method of resurfacing a gravel road includes ripping the surface of the gravel road to break up fine and coarse material near the surface of the gravel road; and separating coarse material from fine material such that coarse material is deposited on top of the fine material.

Abstract: A concrete finishing machine includes a surfacing unit having two finishing cylinders and two augers mounted in line with the two cylinders, a pair of compacting rollers located on either side of the augers and suspended by a frame which is attached to the surfacing unit by a mounting assembly which allows adjustment in the vertical height of the compacting rollers relative to the surfacing unit for setting the compacting rollers relative to the surface being finished. The frame is adapted to be vibrated for vibrating the compacting rollers in use. The compacting rollers each have an outer peripheral planar surface extending about the periphery of the roller and a plurality of recessed planar surfaces spaced equally about the periphery of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for variably elevating passenger boarding bridge platforms includes a tunnel (11) having a pivoting end (21) adjacent a fixed platform (7) and a free end (52) adjacent a variable platform (42). The tunnel has a ceiling (15) and a floor (13). The apparatus also includes a lift (102a, 102b, 103a, 103b) for raising and lowering the tunnel (11). The free end (52) of the tunnel is moved vertically by a tilt mechanism (104a, 104b), which has two ends. A cradle (10) is connected to the lift (102a, 102b) and to one end of the tilt mechanism. The apparatus also include a guide structure (14a, 14b) aligning the cradle and a plurality of guidepads (502a, 502b) adjacent the guide structure (14a, 14b) fixed to the tunnel solely at the ceiling (15) for aligning the tunnel (11), leaving the floor (13) to move freely with respect to the guide structure (14a, 14b).

Abstract: A shock absorbing wall construction makes it possible to prevent the car from rolling over and protect the car occupant's head and neck in case of car crashes. The shock absorbing wall construction has a main shock absorber part or portion having an elastic and solid body and sub-shock absorber part or portion which is mounted on the upper front surface of the main shock absorber part. The lower front surface of the main shock absorber part curves concavely upward and forwardly outward from a lower end to its center to prevent the car from rolling over. The sub-shock absorber part projects forwardly along the length of the lower front surface and includes one or more air rooms or chambers inside it and piercing air vent holes which extend through the air chamber sidewalls so as to protect the passenger's head and neck.

Abstract: A device to assist in the opening of a manhole cover has a biasing member such as a spring and a pivot rod or rods. The rods and spring are each pivotably attached to first and second mounting brackets. The first mounting bracket is attached to a skirt for seating the manhole cover and the second mounting bracket is attached to the underside of the cover. The spring acts to rotate the manhole cover in a reverse direction to which the cover is intended to be opened until the cover contacts the rod or rods. Then, the cover is rotated in an opposite direction, preferably with manual assistance, using the rods as pivot arms.