Abstract: A forklift truck blade cover constructed of a resilient compressible material that encloses and pads the toe of the forward extending lift blade of an industrial type forklift truck is provided. The blade cover provides protection from damaging pallets, piercing barrels, piercing trailer walls and creating sparks. The blade cover can be sized according to the type or brand of forklift truck being used and can be mounted on existing lift blades without modification. If the operator desires to secure the cover to the blade all that is required is drilling one or two holes in the blade for mounting bolts. The blade cover can be sized so as to prevent entry into certain types of openings in pallets, etc.

Abstract: Two tray-supporting racks are located on opposite sides of an elevator carriage which carries a mechanized retrieving system for withdrawing trays from either rack and delivering them to a work area. The elevator carriage is vertically driven by a motor, sprockets, and chains. A transport chain travels on sprockets mounted on end plates of the elevator carriage. Transport rollers on the chain engage transport blocks on selected trays to produce lateral movement of the trays onto and off of their respective racks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the protection of a load receiving plane, such as the platform of a handling pallet, as well as to a device for implementing the process. It will find an application most especially with the constructors of automatic handling equipment, such as automated palletizing installations.The surface of the receiving plane (7) is covered with successive deposits of modular protective sheets (8, 10, 11 and 12) which overlap one another in varying degrees.

Abstract: A cargo binding device includes a net member, a plurality of intermediate cargo strap members, and a plurality of strap tensioners. The net member is formed of a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending and intersecting cargo straps whose intersection areas are secured each to the other. Each end portion of the individual longitudinally and transversely extending cargo straps of the net member is formed into a loop. Each strap tensioner includes a spring-loaded push plate member. The push plate member is provided with a plurality of teeth for grippingly engaging an intermediate cargo strap members.

Abstract: The apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of sheet material has a unit for the removal and transfer of stacks of sheet material which are arranged mutually side by side on supports and are individually wrapped by respective bands. The removal and transfer unit has a head which is vertically and horizontally movable and has grip elements for removing individual stacks from the supports and for transferring them to a feeding station of the packaging machine. A station for cutting the band is arranged ahead of the feeding station.

Abstract: A cargo docking device according to this device has a frame body with at least two rows in breadth, two rows in depth, and two stages in height, and multiple entrance sections arranged in the full length in the front side of the frame body. The device comprises a transfer frame arranged in the frame body and movable sideways, a first forklift hung via a wire from the frame body in a manner allowing free movement thereof in the vertical direction, having a pair of right and left forks and located above the transfer frame at a position on the upper stage, a second forklift having a pair of right and left forks hung via a wire from the aforesaid transfer frame in a manner allowing free movement thereof in the vertical direction, self-propelled trucks arranged on each of the entrance sections respectively and being capable of going into each longitudinal row. The first forklift is provided within each of multiple spaces formed by the lateral rows and longitudinal rows respectively.

Abstract: A remote release mechanism is disclosed which permits restraints such as flat straps placed around a load and placed in tension by a winch to be released by an operator positioned on the same side of the transportation structure as the winch. Thus, the present invention permits the hook end of a load restraint to be released from the winch side of the transportation structure, thereby eliminating the need to perform separate operations on either side of the restraint mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides apparatus comprising a hook bar connected to a rotatable drum which is held from rotation in one direction by a ratchet and pawl. Upon release by the application of force to a remote release rod, the hook bar is released and permitted to rotate, thereby causing the hook which connects the restraint to the hook bar to fall away, releasing the restraint. Methods of remotely releasing a load restraint are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wheelchair security system particularly useful with vehicles used to transport individuals with ambulatory handicaps is shown having a pair of pincer elements for each wheel to be secured. The pincer elements are movable between an open wheel receiving position and a closed wheel securing position. The system is either manually or electrically actuated and can be controlled either at the wheelchair station or the driver's station.

Abstract: A latch for securing a ladder to a ladder rack mounted on a vehicle having a cross brace is formed by a latch body rigidly secured in depending relation to the cross brace. A sleeve pivotally mounted in the ladder latch body slidably receives the rod shaft portion of a J-shaped hook gripping a rung of the ladder when in a first position and releasing the ladder rung when pivoted to a second position. A lever and handle, pivotally supported by the latch body is pivotally connected with the rod shaft of the hook for manually positioning the hook in its first and second positions. The latch body receives the shackle of a lock for preventing unauthorized manual movement of the handle and releasing the rung of a ladder mounted on the rack.

Abstract: An expandable void filler which includes a plurality of expandable hollow, elongated, box-like tubes which can be stacked one on the other and joined together along their common surfaces. Separate interface panels can be sandwiched between the individual tubular members to provide additional lateral compressive strength. The individual tubes are held in the expanded position by individual folding panels which extend inwardly across the interior opening within and have sufficient size to wedge against the opposite sidewall as well as the top and bottom of the structure. These panels alternate from one side of the tube to the other and are staggered so as to not be vertically aligned between the stacked tubular members. A flange member can be attached to the uppermost tube to support the void filler in proper position between the cargo loaded within a transporting vehicle.

Abstract: A three-dimensional manufacturing and assembly plant for installing assembly lines three-dimensionally. The plant comprises a three-dimensional high-rise rack having a plurality of shelves multilayeredly arranged for storing articles and a plurality of multilayered assembly units and provided at least on one side of the three-dimensional rack for supporting assembly lines. The assembly unit includes a plurality of frame members arranged lengthwise and crosswise and a floor detachably placed on the frame members. The floor comprises a plurality of panel members made of transparent and ventilative material. Further, the plant comprises a three-dimensional high-rise rack and having a plurality of shelves multilayeredly arranged for storing articles and an assembly line supporting structure provided at least on one side of the three-dimensional rack for supporting assembly lines.

Abstract: A process for supporting a railway track installation is proposed, in which vehicle tires, preferably used tires, completely filled with ballast, are embedded under each tire in a ballast layer, forming the lateral embankment with their outer sections. These embedded vehicle tires form a hold for the ballast layer in the embankment area, so that lateral yielding of the corresponding ballast is prevented in this area, to a great extent. In addition, such a process offers the possibility of using the extremely large number of used tires which come from road vehicles.

Abstract: An expandable load spacer having a suspension strip fixedly attached to a generally honeycomb, cellular void filler is disclosed for use between stacks of articles of freight in, for example, rail cars and other shipping vehicles or containers. The load spacer substantially eliminates the hour glass effect generally experienced in suspended dunnage devices, while at the same time significantly reducing the amount of sheet material required in the manufacture of those load spacers.

Abstract: An adjustable switch point guard rail assembly for use adjacent the switch point of a railway switch. The adjustable guard rail assembly is comprised of a plurality of support chairs and an adjustable guard rail. The sdjustable guard rail includes a surface for engaging and laterally urging the wheels of rolling stock in a direction toward the centerline of the trackwork. Also disclosed is an apparatus for laterally adjusting and fastening the wheel engaging surface of the adjustable guard rail to a variety of positions toward or away from the switch point within a given range of lateral movement.

Abstract: Improved wheel and tire handling apparatus or structure including a base member adapted for movement on relatively level surfaces by the use of rollers and casters. A vertically moveable second section is adapted for movement up and down on uprights of the base member and a jack is mounted in between the base member and the second section to raise and lower the second section relative to the base member. The second section is further provided with an elongated axle extending across the second section on which are axially slideably mounted two tines. The tines can be restricted as to axial movement by the use of manually fixable slideable collars on the axle to prevent the tines from moving away from each other when a wheel and tire are received thereon. Rollers are provided for the tire receiving surfaces of the tines to facilitate rotational movement of the wheel and tire to align the wheel with lug bolts when remounting the wheel and tire.

Abstract: A vehicle having a fluid-powered rotary dipper stick assembly including a boom attachment head and a bucket attachment head with a body extending therebetween. An axle extends from the boom attachment head into the body and is in sliding engagement with an inward wall of the body to provide lateral support thereto. The axle extends to a midportion of the body. The body is rotatable relative to the axle, and is rigidly connected to the bucket attachment head for rotation together as a unit. A linear-to-rotary transmission mechanism including a piston is disposed within the body and is operable to produce rotational movement of the body relative to the non-rotating axle. The piston is operated by the application of pressurized fluid to produce linear movement of the piston which is translated into rotational movement of the body, and provides rotation of a bucket or other work implement attached thereto about the body longitudinal axis independent of the boom attachment head.

Abstract: A remote release mechanism is disclosed which permits restraints such as flat straps placed around a load and placed in tension by a winch to be released by an operator positioned on the same side of the transportation structure as the winch. Thus, the present invention permits the hook end of a load restraint to be released from the winch side of the transportation structure, thereby eliminating the need to perform separate operations on either side of the restraint mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides apparatus comprising a hook bar connected to a rotatable drum which is held from rotation in one direction by a ratchet and pawl. Upon release by the application of force to a remote release rod, the hookbar is released and permitted to rotate, thereby causing the hook which connects the restraint to the hook bar to fall away, releasing the restraint. Methods of remotely releasing a load restraint are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is (i) a method for reinforcing pallet board loads having internal ventilation channels and (ii) a pallet board brace useful in such method. The method comprises:(a) stacking each tier of the pallet board load in a preselected configuration such that the sides of the boxes on each tier form at least two open channels in fluid communication with one another, wherein at least one end of each channel is open to the exterior of the tier and wherein each channel is at least one inch wide; and(b) bracing the boxes to prevent them from shifting laterally into the open channels by interposing spacing elements between the boxes on opposites sides of the channels, the spacing elements being disposed in fixed relationship to one another by a suitable rigid structure.

Abstract: A coupling is used for releasably connecting tools to the articulated arm of excavators and other heavy duty equipment. The coupling includes a first coupling member, a second coupling member, a locking member provided on the first coupling member and movable between lock and release positions, a spring arranged between the first coupling member and the locking member for urging the locking member into the lock position, and a hydraulically operated release mechanism provided on the first coupling member for moving the locking member into the release position in opposition to the force of the spring. Hydraulic fluid at a pressure relief pressure level is applied through a first non-return valve to release the locking member and permit detachment of one tool and attachment of another tool; the pressurized hydraulic fluid is then returned through a second non-return valve to return the locking member into the lock position, thereby retaining the newly attached tool under pressure of the spring.

Abstract: A railroad tie 10 is described. The tie includes elongated side surfaces 23 with a plurality of ballast locking indentations 34 formed therein. The indentations converge from open upward ends 35 to reduced bottom ends 36. The configuration of the locking indentations at the bottom ends is such that the indentations will receive the maximum aggregate size within the ballast. The tie body, provided with the indentations, and relationship of the sides 23 to the indentations 34 is such that maximum resistance is offered by the tie to longitudinal movement of the tie in the ballast with respect to the tie length dimension.