Abstract: A collapsible loading and unloading ramp comprising two substantially parallel spaced longitudinal supports intended to be secured to a vehicle component, for instance a vehicle platform. Each of the longitudinal supports comprises a ramp portion which can be adjusted and locked in position with respect to the plane of the platform and an on-loading portion hingedly connected therewith. The ramp portion comprises three interconnected partial elements, the first partial element provided with a suspension means is hingedly, lockably secured at the second partial element and the second partial element together with the first partial element is secured to be laterally pivotable and fixable at the third partial element. Between both of the longitudinal supports, preferably however only at the region of the third partial element as well as at the on-loading portion, there are provided transverse supports arranged in spaced relationship from one another.

Abstract: An improved gripping member for gripping shoes used on vehicle wheels is disclosed. The cross sectional shape of the gripping member is formed as a U throughout its length whereby substantially improved traction and a substantially stronger gripping member are obtained. In a preferred embodiment, the side legs of the U-shaped gripping member are made wavy in the area which contacts the ground.

Abstract: An auxiliary gripping member for gripping shoes for vehicle wheels is disclosed. The auxiliary gripping members can be affixed to a gripping shoe which is attached to a gripping wheel without disassembly therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary gripping members are attachable without the need for tools and without creating undue stress on the mounting mechanism.

Abstract: A heavy duty pneumatic radial tire having tread patterns divided into a central zone and peripheral zones by two main continuous zigzag grooves spaced apart a distance 25-38% of the overall width of the tread and having a main groove oblique or zigzag angle of 55-78.degree. relative to a radial plane of the tire. Each of the peripheral zones is divided into the form of arrow feathers by traverse grooves having walls tilted through at least 20% of the depth of the traverse groove at an angle within 20-40.degree. to a center line of the traverse groove. The ratio of total areas of the central zone to those of one of the peripheral zones is 1:1.0 to 1:1.5, and the ratio of the total areas of inner and outer peripheral blocks in the peripheral zones divided by a continuous zigzag groove substantially parallel with the main grooves is 1:1.5 to 1:2.

Abstract: Vehicle for receiving, transporting and discharging solid materials, which is provided with a swingable bin. The bin is capable of being withdrawn into an upper position which leaves the discharge opening completely free when discharging is to be carried out. The withdrawal is obtained by releasing the pivoting shaft of the bin and engaging a second shaft, situated at the rear of the bin, in bearings provided on the vehicle, in an upper position. This considerably lightens the vehicle, by dispensing with the conventional gate frame. A particularly advantageous use is for bins for the removal of solid domestic and industrial waste material.

Abstract: A tree harvesting apparatus is provided with at least one movable pocket mounted on a vehicle for collecting cut trees. Each pocket extends parallel to the advancing direction of the apparatus and is movable in a horizontal plane, by means of a lever system, in a lateral direction. The pocket is arranged to move far enough horizontally to a position outside the profile of the apparatus, or, at least, to clear the outer edge of the wheels of the vehicle. In that position the trees can be dropped to the ground at the side of the apparatus.

Abstract: A skid prevention device for tires, which tires are provided with longitudinally- and radially-extending rows of treads separated by discrete, laterally-extending rows of recesses, includes a plurality of elongated, generally U-shaped metal claws disposed within the rows of the recesses of the tire, the outer ends of which have spikes secured thereto, and the inner ends of which are pivotably supportable in the recesses of the tire. The device also includes means for pivotably mounting the inner ends of the claws in the recesses of the tire for movement between an extended position, in which the claws are pivoted upwardly with their spikes extending radially outwardly beyond the upper surface of the treads of the tire, and a retracted position, in which the claws are pivoted downwardly with their spikes lying below the upper surface of the treads of the tire. In addition, the device includes means for pivotably moving the claws between the extended and retracted positions thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel anti-skid attachment having cross chains interconnecting tread portions of inner and outer side wall plates. Rim portions of the plates are interconnected by a tensioning mechanism part of which is threaded through a wheel opening to extend over the wheel rim. The mechanism includes a hand-turned shaft accessible from the outer face of the wheel and operable to apply the required tension to the cross chains.

Abstract: A vehicle traction device for rubber tired vehicular wheels, comprising a traction unit in the form of, for instance, a wire netting or chain equipped with a tightening mechanism for the traction unit and effective at least at one side of the wheel in the circumferential direction in the mounted condition of the vehicle traction device. This tightening mechanism comprises a tensioning element extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel and elastically constructed at least over a part of its extent and a tightening or tensioning wire which likewise extends in the circumferential direction. One end of the tightening wire is fastened to a body member of a tightening lock of the tightening mechanism and the other end is guided through a blocking element arranged in the tightening lock. When the vehicle traction device is mounted, the blocking element allows displacement of the tightening lock relative to the tightening wire only in the sense of shortening the effective length of the tightening wire.

Abstract: A mechanism for loading and unloading a container onto and from a vehicle comprises a member having one end thereof for releasable connection to the container and the other end thereof carrying pivot means movable in an elongated guide means for connection to the vehicle. The guide means so guide the pivot means so that a first actuator means, which acts on the pivot means, is operable to move the pivot means in, and relatively to, the guide means to move the member and the pivot means from a loaded position to an unloading position. A second actuator means which acts on the member is operable, with the member and the pivot means in the unloading position, to pivot the member relative to the guide means about the pivot means.

Abstract: A wheel mounted chassis is provided with a pair of spaced and parallel conveyor chains extending longitudinally from the front to the rear of the chassis. A pair of cylindrical bale, pick-up arms are pivoted forwardly of the chassis and are adapted to be engaged with each end of a bale to be picked up. Fluid operator means pivot the arms and the bale through an arc and deposit the bale onto the conveyor chains. The arms then return to the forward position to pick up the next bale. As the arms move rearwardly through an arc, means are operatively connected to the conveyor chains to move the upper runs thereof rearwardly a predetermined amount and stop clutch or ratchet means prevent forward movement of the upper runs of the conveyor chains when the arms move forwardly. The first bale is thus moved rearwardly as the next bale is picked up and deposited and this continues until the chassis is full or enough bales are loaded thereon.

Abstract: Arrangement for withdrawing material from the bottom portion of a silo having an inclined silo bottom and a discharge funnel at the lowest point of the silo bottom, comprising a conveying screw which is disposed above the inclined silo bottom and which on the one hand is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and on the other hand moves along the silo bottom and which conveys the material in the direction towards a discharge funnel at the lowest point of the silo bottom, and wherein the drive of the screw is disposed outside the silo wall and the bearing of the screw is disposed at the opposite end outside the discharge funnel and on the latter, both the drive and the discharge funnel being rotatably mounted to permit a sweeping movement of the screw over the silo bottom.

Abstract: Loading ramps for a truck having stake rack pockets are dimensioned to extend between adapters registerable with the pockets for non-use storage in a position where they function as side racks or vertical extensions thereof. The ramps are provided with a unique coupling means for engagement with the truck tail gate when in use.

Abstract: A powered dual walkie/rider low lift transporter type truck especially for slip sheet pallet handling in which one tractor portion is supported from a single drive-steer wheel at one end, a second tractor portion is supported from a dual caster wheel at a corresponding one end, and load wheels at the other end of each truck are pivoted from a relatively short length L-shaped platform or frame and are actuatable to lift and lower the platform by actuator-linkage means on each truck. The trucks are coupled together lengthwise of adjacent inner sides thereof. A pair of channel members are located intermediate the drive-steer and load wheels of the one truck and between the caster and load wheels of the other truck, each having stop members secured therein and camming or open portions formed at the bottom of the rear flanges.

Abstract: A rotary retort furnace wherein the retort is supported for rotation at only one end outside of the heated furnace shell such that the retort is cantilevered into the shell. The rotary retort has a charging door mechanism that cooperates with a skip hoist loading mechanism to provide charges of the parts to be heat treated that are of a uniform size and are introduced into the retort so as to minimize the loss of any controlled atmosphere. The skip hoist loading mechanism has a vibrating feed hopper that dispenses a weight controlled charge into a skip hoist bucket which, after receiving the predetermined charge of parts, is held in a ready position until such time as a cam mechanism controlling the opening and closing of a door on the charge end of the retort causes the door to open and the skip bucket to be moved to a position wherein the parts are dumped into the retort for heat treating.

Abstract: An assembly securely mounted to a wheel of an automotive vehicle to provide continual availability of cleats to be fitted around the treads of a tire for use in driving an automotive vehicle through mud or snow. The assembly consists of a cylindrical plate with a series of round through holes for affixing to a range of automotive wheel configurations with elongated lug nuts and bolts, a series of L-shaped brackets securely affixed around the outside perimeter of the mounting plate, a spring-loaded telescoping shaft extending from each L-shaped bracket parallel to the outside of a vehicle tire, a cleat affixed on the outside end of each telescoping shaft, so that each cleat can be locked in position around the tire treads with the telescoping shaft in the telescoping position and with each cleat further being placed in a locked position near the side of the tire when the telescoping shaft is in a retracted position so as to be out of the way when not in use.

Abstract: A ramp wherein a rigid framework supports a first pair of parallel ramp members of equal length to be mounted from the rear of a truck bed downwardly at an angle, clearing the ground. A second pair of ramp members is hinged to the first pair of ramp members and is folded over first pair when the ramp structure is not in use but is brought into substantially parallel alignment therewith when said ramp is used for loading purposes.

Abstract: A vehicle wheelchair ramp for loading and unloading an occupant confined to a wheelchair. The ramp is hingably mounted on the floor of the vehicle and unfolds outwardly from the vehicle for contacting the ground surface, curb, or the like. The ramp includes built-in steps with U-shaped guide channels positioned adjacent both sides of the steps for guiding the wheelchair as a wheelchair attendant uses the steps for loading and unloading the occupant in the wheelchair.

Abstract: A method and train is disclosed for the highway safe transportation of a front loader implement, i.e., a back hoe or a skip loader, with the rear pair of wheels of same cradled above road level between the front and rear axles of a dolly and with the front lip of the scoop of the implement engaging a rearwardly-directed lip hook provided at the fork of a Y-shaped towbar. The two arms of said towbar extend rearwardly under the scoop, each arm with a length of chain and a terminal hook threaded under and behind the scoop, over the lift arms and there secured, each chain to the other, by means of its terminal hook. The forward-directed base of the Y is provided at its terminus with a trailer coupler engaging the trailer hitch of a towing vehicle. The front pair of wheels of the implement are raised above road level by downwardly uncurling the scoop.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for handling and preparation of base plates and the like such as, for example, casting molds, especially after and before casting, in which the arrangement comprises at least two cooperating, crossing transport lines. Each transport line consists of a fixed bed for supporting the base plates or casting molds and there is at least one transport car in each transport line, the transport car being provided with raisable and lowerable means arranged to carry the base plates as they are transported along the transport line and from one transport line to the other.