Abstract: A thin seam highwall mining machine has a cutter head for mining coal from a seam while advancing forwardly into a mined hole, a power head anchored to a bench at the surface, and multisection pushbeam extending therebetween housing a conveyor therein. The machine is provided with structure for removing fallen roof rock from the hole and preventing jamming of the machine in the hole by rock accumulation. The structure includes a partition which keeps the fallen rock from mixing with the mined coal, and guide members which direct fallen rock onto the conveyor from the partition as the machine is being withdrawn from the hole. A pair of upstanding rearwardly diverging guide members fixed to the partition direct rock onto the conveyor through an opening in the partition overlying the forward end of the conveyor. One of the guide members carries an advancing conveyor surface having rock advancing bits which rotate and crush the rock while advancing it toward the opening.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a frame with a material dislodging head mounted on the end of the frame. Ground engaging tracks propel the machine within a mine along the floor of the mine to advance the dislodging head into the face of the mine to dislodge material therefrom. Roof bolting apparatus is employed for installing roof bolts at predetermined locations in the roof of the mine above the mining machine. The roof bolting apparatus is supported by a drill pit which is positioned within the frame and movable relative to the frame. The roof bolting apparatus is arranged to install roof bolts at predetermined locations above the mining machine while the mining machine is being propelled through the mine to dislodge material from the mine face.

Abstract: In a rotationally driven cutting roll for a machine for cutting ore or other rock material from a drift face, the roll is axially divided into a plurality of roll portions arranged end to end in juxtaposition along the drift face. The roll portions are rotationally driven by a continuous, one-piece straight driving shaft. Lateral ones of the roll portions are supported coaxially with the shaft, but the medial roll portion or portions is or are supported in respective inclined positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the driving shaft. As a result, gearing ribs on the drift face are minimized in width.

Abstract: A rotatable sprocket assembly transmits force from a chain into rotation of a wheel on a bicycle. A plurality of sprocket segments having peripheral teeth are mounted on a pair of sprocket housings so that the combined periphery of the sprocket segments is substantially circular. The sprocket segments are slidable relative to the housing in a substantially radial direction so as to vary the diameter of the combined sprocket segments. Each sprocket segment is formed from a plurality of hinged subsegments, with each subsegment having a single tooth thereon. The sprocket segments of one housing overlap the adjacent sprocket segments on the other housing so that the pairs of overlapping teeth combine to effectively form a single tooth. The sprocket segments are movable angularly relative to the sprocket housings, so that in combination with the radial displacement of the sprocket segments, the total number of effective teeth on the sprocket assembly can be varied in increments of one tooth.

Abstract: A method for staging a fracturing treatment in a horizontal wellbore where solidified gel is used as a diverting medium. A desired section of the horizontal wellbore farthest removed from the angle of deviation from vertical of the wellbore is perforated. Via perforations contained in the horizontal section, the desired interval is fractured hydraulically. The gel is displaced with a "wiper plug" and the gel confined to the fractured interval and wellbore area adjacent the fractured interval. Here the gel forms a solid gel in the interval and a gel plug in the wellbore. Afterwards, another section of the horizontal well is perforated. Thereafter, a second desired interval is fractured. After completion of the fracturing process, the gel plug breaks and the "wiper plug" is pumped to the farthest end of the horizontal wellbore.

Abstract: A shaft coupling construction for a vibratory screed. The screed includes at least two vibratory shafts which are disposed in end-to-end relation and an end of each shaft is secured within a bore in a sleeve or connecting member. Each shaft is mounted for eccentric motion to impart vibration to the screed. Each adjacent pair of connecting members are secured together by a flexible tubular coupling, and to transmit rotation between the shafts, the connecting members are provided with external splines which mate with internal splines on the tubular coupling. The spline connection is not symmetrical and is arranged so that the connecting members can be engaged with the tubular coupling only in one circumferential position, thereby insuring that the eccentricity of one shaft is circumferentially aligned with the eccentricity of the other shaft.

Abstract: A wheel compaction unit for use on the articulated arm of heavy excavation equipment comprises a frame mounted to the equipment arm, the frame including support arms mounting a hub and axle assembly including three independently rotatable bearing mounted hubs. At least one compaction wheel is mounted to each hub, and auxiliary compaction wheels including angled spokes and an offset periphery are provided for mounting to the outside hubs to increase the working width of the wheel compaction unit. The hubs and axle assembly is sealed with ground metal seals and end plates. The periphery of the compaction wheels include spaced-apart presentation supports having angled leading/trailing edges, the presentation supports each supporting a compaction foot integral with the wheel. A removable wear collar closely surrounds the compaction foot and receives the primary impact and abrasion during use of the compaction unit, the wear collars being readily replaceable.

Abstract: A flowing crosslinked polymer gel is employed as a kill fluid or as an additive to a kill fluid in a process for preventing the intrusion of formation fluid into a wellbore while minimizing wellbore fluid leakoff in the formation during conventional oil field operations in the wellbore. The gel comprises a carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The conditioner for agricultural harvesting machines, in particular for rotary mowers, comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow shaft, which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the machine and which - when seen in the direction of movement of the machine - is arranged behind the mowing discs, said hollow shaft having secured thereto a plurality of V-shaped pairs of fingers extending radially outwards. The surface of the hollow shaft is provided with a plurality of spaced, peripheral, outwardly projecting hollow ribs, which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft and substantially throughout the whole length of said hollow shaft, whereas each V-shaped pair of fingers is fixedly connected to a supporting base, the longitudinal axis of which extends in the connection direction of the two fingers and the underside of which has a shape adapted to the hollow rib and to the surface of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: An axial flow harvesting machine having at least one generally cylindrical rotor rotatably mounted within a casing and operable in conjunction with the casing to thresh and separate grain from straw material, and a plurality of mounting members provided on the periphery of the rotor to mount crop operating members for engagement with the straw material is disclosed wherein each of the mounting members have mounting surfaces oriented in a predetermined manner to orient the crop operating members in a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: A baler includes a bale chamber and a plunger movable relative to the chamber between a retracted position and an extended position. The plunger is provided with at least two crop engaging elements spaced from one another by a distance defining a clearance opening therebetween, and a drive crank assembly including a drive arm operates to shift the plunger between the retracted and extended positions in a series of operating cycles. A clearing assembly is included for clearing crop materials from at least a portion of the clearance opening in the plunger. The clearing assembly includes a clearing member mounted on the plunger for pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot axis, and a drive link for effecting pivotal movement of the clearing member during shifting of the plunger between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A highway traffic barrier of the New Jersey style is made from semi-rigid plastic material so that it has some elasticity and will act as a shock absorber, while weighing considerably less than the present day New Jersey style barrier made from concrete. The barrier is hollow and contains interior baffles to provide compartments within the barrier. When in use the barrier is filled with a liquid through filling openings at the top of the barrier and has a weight about equal to the present New Jersey style barriers made of concrete. When the barriers are not filled with a liquid, they weigh considerably less than the present New Jersey style barriers made of concrete. When not in use, the liquid is discharged through discharge openings near the bottom of the barriers. Each barrier has a groove at each end which is adapted to receive a key so that the barriers may be joined together to form a highway barrier of the required length.

Abstract: A grass cutter carriage is set forth wherein a conventional lawn mower is securable within an adjustable rectangular framework. A pair of laterally positioned wheels to said framework are pivotally mounted wherein the noted wheel height locations can be readily changed through the use of a unique hinged support. The intent of this improved design carriage is to extend the use of existing commercially available rotary grass mowers to enable their use to cut tall grass, weeds and other vegetation in open rock strewn field with terrain not compatible to existing rotary grass lawn mowers.In addition, the carriage is configured to accommodate a wide range of mower and mower wheel sizes without demanding modification of the existing mowers.

Abstract: A heavy duty brush cutting machinery having vehicle mounted brush cutters mounted on a boom extending outwardly from the vehicle. The cutter head assembly is comprised of a generally circular rotary cutter blade, a blade-rotating motor and drive shaft, and a semi-circular cutter blade shroud mounting the motor and the drive shaft. The shroud is comprised of a top deck mounting the blade, motor and drive shaft. The top deck has a first peripheral edge encompassing an obtuse arc, a second segmental edge lying radially outwardly from the first edge and non-radially across the plane of the underlying cutter blade, and a third segental edge extending from the first edge and intersecting the second edge at an obtuse angle. The shroud includes an anvil cutting edge provided at the leading edge of the top deck's third segmental edge to sever or dislodge oversized objects from the blade before the object can be carried into the shroud enclosure.

Abstract: A dock leveler control system for positioning a dock leveler at selected positions relative to or adjacent loading dock platform. The control system includes a switch responsive to the position of the lip member for activating the control system.

Abstract: A machine is provided for constructing, in particular, redeveloping, the constructional layers of roads, preferably by re-using the old material removed from the road; wherein a receiving silo for the old material, which is mounted on a chassis of a motor-driven running gear, is feedable, preferably in regulatable quantities, to a horizontal stream crusher; said crusher being in connection, via a dosaging conveying device, with a mixer, also mounted on said chassis, whereto additional material components from at least one additional tank or silo, supported on said chassis, may be fed and wherefrom the prepared material ready for distribution is fed, by way of a conveyor worm, to a screed drawn along behind said chassis. Such a machine permits, in addition to the cold recycling of asphalt, also the construction of cold-mix foundation layers as well as a stabilization and a direct distribution of practically any supporting-layer materials.

Abstract: A reversible connector and method of connection between a large road making machine and the fifth wheel of a tractor to facilitate towing of the machine. The connector has a downwardly projecting king pin which is adjustable between a retracted, operating position and an extended, towing position. It can be either slid or pivoted between those positions. The connector can be used on an apparatus having a chassis, a downwardly extending conveyor pivotally attached to an end of the chassis and a hydraulic cylinder to pivot the conveyor relative to the chassis. The hydraulic cylinder can lift the inlet end of the conveyor off the ground to put the fifth wheel connector in a position such that it can engage the fifth wheel of a tractor. The hydraulic cylinder also can be used to pull the front portion of the chasis up off the ground.

Abstract: A portable device is shown for transporting asphalt repair materials for use in repairing potholes in asphalt pavements. The device has a body with a hopper compartment for transporting and dispensing asphalt mix materials. A separate tack oil tank is provided with an internal circulation system for maintaining liquid tack oils in an emulsified state.

Abstract: In order to overcome problems associated with drum cutter-loader mining machines having a cutting drum mounted at one or both ends of the machine on pivotable support arms and further having cutting drum drive motors positioned outside of the machine body, there is provided a unique support arm system for adjusting the height of the cutting drums and their associated drive motors which neither reduces the debris pass-through cross-section of the machine bridge nor impairs the height adjustability of the cutting drums. The support arm system for each cutting drum and drive motor includes a first support arm section pivotally mounted at one end thereof to an end of the machine body and a second support arm section pivotally mounted to an opposite end of the first arm section. The second support arm section carries at least the cutting drum drive motor at one end thereof and the drive motor of each support arm is positionable inside the coal seam winning track.

Abstract: A vibratory roller is journalled from a frame portion of a vehicle of the compaction-type an the roller includes a generally cylindrical outer face. A plurality of circumferentially extending lug bands are carried by the roller outer surface and are disposed in laterally spaced zones of the outer face spaced longitudinally of the roller and in which diametric planes of the roller lie. The lug bands are comprised of lugs including outer surfaces disposed at least substantially normal to intersecting radii of the roller and generated about the axis of rotation of the roller. The outer surfaces are at least substantially circumferentially continuous about the roller and extend in zig zag paths contained in the aforementioned zones.