Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for controlling the vertical adjustment of a levelling and compacting plank drawn by a road-construction machine. During the working procedure the level of the plank, which is in floating contact with the material, is adjusted automatically. The present invention aims at preventing undesirable lifting of the plank caused by material which is located ahead of the plank and the flowability of which was changed due to an interruption in the motion of the machine. Hence, the invention employs the feature that, when the travelling mechanism is switched on, lifting of the plank, which is blocked against lowering when the machine is standing still, is blocked as well and that the blocking is eliminated only after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A terrorist vehicle arresting system includes a crash barrier positioned at a side of a driveway instead of across the driveway; a gate across the entranceway which is dislodged by a vehicle coming through the closed gate; a net pulled out by the dislodged gate which captures the vehicle; a capstan to pivot a captured vehicle into the barrier; and cables from the net looped around the capstan, such that the netted vehicle is swung into the barrier where it comes to rest blocking the driveway. The impact-force is therefore redirected from the direction of the driveway, and the kinetic energy is dissipated upon impact with the offset, rigid barrier, thereby permitting the gate structure to be made light, aesthetically attractive, and quickly closed since the gate does not have to bear any substantial load.

Abstract: A stackable elastomer adjustment ring is provided for the construction of the adjustment courses or manhole chimney portion of a sewer system. The adjustment ring is circular and includes concentric grooves in the upper and lower surfaces. Sealing rings are provided corresponding with the concentric grooves and are positioned between the adjustment rings in the grooves when the rings are stacked one on another. The adjustment rings are stacked one on another with respective sealing rings between them to provide a manhole construction which is resistant to infiltration, chemicals and freeze-thaw cycle damage.

Abstract: A self-propelling agricultural machine, particularly a harvester thresher, comprises a machine unit provided with supporting elements, a front working implement turnable transversely to a traveling direction and having upper receiving elements for the supporting elements, and lower locking elements, and cylinder-piston units each having a cylinder and a piston with a piston rod having a free end, the supporting elements being mounted on the free ends of the piston rods of the cylinder-piston units, while the cylinders being connected with the machine unit.

Abstract: An improved system is provided for elevating and supporting reinforcement rods above an earthen bed upon which concrete is poured. A flat, disk-shaped sand plate is disposed in contact with the earthen bed and has a plurality of channels adapted to receive pedestal feet extending upwardly from its top surface and radially from its center toward the periphery thereof. The height of the channel walls is greater above the periphery of the base than above the center of the base and the interior surfaces of the channel walls converge from the periphery toward the center and from the tops of the walls toward the top surface of the sand plate. A pedestal is disposed atop the sand plate with feet wedged into the pedestal foot channels. The configuration of the pedestal foot channels allows the sand plate to accommodate pedestals of a wide variety of sizes.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for removing structural concrete from a road bed includes a vehicle having a frame on wheels movable along a road bed and mounting a pivotal hood having a lowered use position adjacent the road bed and a raised position. A pressure water manifold upon the frame is connected to a source of pressurized water up to 25,000 p.s.i. A feed carriage is reciprocally mounted within the hood and supports a rotating seal and shaft assembly having a body with a water inlet connected to the manifold and a power rotated tubular shaft journaled upon the body receiving pressure water for delivery to a depending nozzle block connected to and depending from the shaft.

Abstract: An earth boring bit having a cantilevered bearing shaft and a compensator system to equalize the pressure of the lubricant with the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid surrounding the bit. A rigid face seal assembly, positioned between the cutter and bearing shaft of the bit, moves axially in response to, and to compensate for, dynamic pressure changes in the lubricant adjacent the seal. The positioning and sizing of resilient energizer rings in relationship to the geometries of the mating grooves between the cutter and shaft and the rigid sealing rings of the face seal assembly minimize axial seal movement relative to cutter and shaft during drilling to enhance seal life. A threaded bearing lug receives an internally threaded bearing sleeve. The journal bearing surface is approximately midway between the shaft seal groove, a portion of which is on its bearing sleeve and another portion on the cutter seal groove.

Abstract: A paving machine is provided for depositing paving material onto a road surface. The paving machine has a frame mounted for movement along the road and a heater is mounted on the frame. The heater is movable between a first position at which it is capable of heating a width of the road to be paved and a second position at which the heater is stored for movement with the frame and spans a width less than the width of road to be paved.

Abstract: A machine for shredding stalk, particularly that of cotton, is disclosed which comprises a wheeled frame adapted to be trailed along crop rows, a power driven unit, and a stalk puller device. The device comprises a pair of frictionally coupled rollers, at least one of which being rotatably driven by the power unit about an axis forming an acute angle with respect to the vertical. Stalk which becomes engaged between contacting circumferential portions of the rollers is pulled, plucked from the ground and fed in a generally backwards direction by the rollers. A first shredding device is provided comprising a series of cutting knives rotating in a direction away from the rollers. The cut stalk becomes airborne and is conveyed backwards along a first, streamlined shroud member overhanging the first shredding device. A second shredding device of similar construction is installed, operating in tandem with the first shredder, whereby the stalk is cut into small chips and discharged from the machine.

Abstract: A vehicle security barrier (10) for selectively prohibiting a vehicle from accessing a preselected area and for otherwise controlling vehicular traffic. The security barrier (10) comprises a base (12) defining a travelway (14) over which a vehicle can be driven. The base (12) comprises a forward end portion defining an entryway (20) whereby a vehicle enters onto the travelway (14) and a rearward end portion defining a travelway exit (22) whereby a vehicle exits the travelway (14). The security barrier (10) further comprises a security gate (18) pivotally mounted on the base (12) for being selectively raised to obstruct the travelway (14) and prohibit a vehicle for exiting the travelway via the travelway exit (22). Reciprocal actuating means are also provided for selectively raising and lowering the gate (18). In the preferred embodiment, the reciprocal actuating means comprises a first and second fluid actuated cylinder (64A and B).

Abstract: The subassembly comprises a shaft having an eccentrically-weighted portion journalled in a tube which also has an eccentrically-weighted portion. The tube has an abutment therein which prevents full rotation of the tube relative to the shaft. With rotation of the tube in one direction, its abutment, at one side, comes into engagement with the eccentrically-weighted portion of the shaft and, consequently, both portions are in proximity and radially aligned to produce a maximum, oscillatory vibration. Tube rotation in the opposite direction causes the shaft portion to engage the other side of the abutment and, consequently, the portions are in opposite, radial dispositions, and produce a minimum, oscillatory vibration.

Abstract: A weight transfer control for a front mount mower including a foot pedal actuated mechanical linkage to selectively transfer a portion of the mower weight to the drive vehicle. The operator can easily and quickly engage and disengage the weight transfer control as the mowing conditions and terrain dictate. The foot pedal, through a series of control links, actuates or winds a torsion spring which will transfer a large portion of the mower weight to the drive vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to flight conveyers with drag chains running in a closed loop in a horizontal plane.The drag member of the flight conveyor comprises flights connected by vertical studs to straight portions of the vertical links of the chains which are vertically spaced and form a closed loop in a horizontal plane. Each flight is detachably assembled of a central part and yoke-shaped end parts receiving in their openings the central part of the flight, and the stud having heads on the ends thereof, the diameter of those heads being greater than the width of the opening. One of these heads has a through-going slot for joining the stud to the straight portions of a vertical link of the respective chain.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing grooves in plastic concrete bridge decks and the like having a cutter bar supporting a plurality of parallel cutter blades adapted to be embedded in the surface of a deck and a driving mechanism for imparting reciprocal movement of the blades transversely across the deck. The cutter bar is pivotally mounted on a carriage to permit the cutter bar to conform to the surface of the deck.

Abstract: A hydraulic system is provided for a loading dock installation wherein the latter has a plurality of independently operable dock levelers arranged in spaced relation along the loading dock. Each leveler includes a hingedly mounted deck member or ramp and a power unit for actuating the deck member to a predetermined upwardly inclined position from a horizontal cross-traffic position. The hydraulic system is provided with a common source of pressurized hydraulic fluid which is remotely disposed relative to the dock levelers. A primary line extends from the common source to each leveler. An adjustable control valve is provided for each leveler and includes a first port which is adapted to communicate with the primary line; a second port which is adapted to communicate with the power unit, and a third port which is adapted to communicate with a drain line.

Abstract: The invention concerns a suspension bridge comprising an essentially flat main structure, the upper surface of which forms the roadway for the transport means crossing the bridge, and a suspension structure formed of a plurality of catenary wires connected to end piers of the bridge and of a plurality of vertical stays for suspending the main flat bridge structure to the catenary wires. According to the invention, to the bridge structure there are associated wing control surfaces having an aerodynamic lifting and/or negative lifting action, the flutter speed proper to said wing control surfaces being considerably higher than the flutter speed proper to the bridge structure, and furthermore, the bridge structure and the wing control surfaces are stiffly interconnected and interact dynamically in order to shift the flutter speed of the whole at least above the top speed of the wind expected in the bridge area.

Abstract: A concrete finishing apparatus includes a supporting frame having first and second spaced apart end sections engaging first and second guide tracks for advancing the apparatus along the length of an area of plastic concrete. A support element extends between the first and second end sections and includes vertically extending front and rear surfaces and an upper surface interconnecting the front and rear surfaces. A carriage is laterally translatable along the length of the support element and includes front and rear legs which straddle the support element. The carriage includes a concrete finishing device which is coupled to the front leg of the carriage for engaging and finishing the plastic concrete in front of the support element. A power source is coupled to the rear leg of the carriage and is interconnected with the concrete finishing device to energize the concrete finishing device.

Abstract: An adjustable mechanism for picking up, lifting, and laterally displacing a windrow in a field by the use of a toothed conveyor platform traveling at a canted angle with respect to the center line of the windrow being displayed for drying purposes.

Abstract: The operating characteristics of a diverter having a driven article conveying surface of parallel tubes on which article diverting shoes are caused to move across progressively because of contract between a depending drive pin on each shoe and a laterally inclined rail beneath the conveying surface by changing the shape of the rail contacting roller on the pin so that a downward force vector is created tending to hold the shoe down. Also, the shoe is supported on three rollers instead of two to prevent the tendency of the shoe to pivot about one tube due to article resistance to lateral movement. The design of the openings in the shoe through which the tubes pass are such that the shoe will not become bound between two tubes which are not entirely straight.

Abstract: An extensible loading bridge for aircraft having an inboard end connected to a terminal and an outboard end adapted for connection to a parked aircraft. A heat exchanger on the outboard end supplies warm or cold air to the aircraft. Hot or cold liquid is supplied to the outboard heat exchanger from a source at the terminal end of the bridge and extensible supply and return lines convey the hot or cold glycol to or from the outboard heat exchanger.