Abstract: A materials lifting apparatus for transporting materials, such as pipe between a derrick floor and a pipe rack, which comprises a support frame having a carriage receiving passageway therein, a carriage positionable within the carriage receiving passageway, and a forward linkage assembly pivotally connecting a first end portion of the carriage to the support frame, the forward linkage assembly being movable between a lowered position and a raised position, in the lowered position of the forward linkage assembly the carriage being disposed in a substantially horizontal position within the carriage receiving passageway of the support frame, in the raised position of the forward linkage assembly the first end portion of the carriage being disposed in a raised, longitudinally shifted position.

Abstract: A power translation apparatus for an air-float fixture support system of the type including a table having an upwardly facing upper surface adapted for supporting a workpiece fixture thereon, and a pneumatic system for supplying a cushion of pressurized air between the surface of the table and the workpiece fixture so as to floatingly support the fixture thereon for virtually friction-free movement. The power translation apparatus comprises an elongated slot in the table surface, a carriage mounted in the table below the surface for reciprocal movement parallel to the table surface along the slot, a retractable pin carried by the carriage and protruding through the slot above the surface of the table so as to mechanically engage a slot or opening in the lower surface of the fixture, and a drive mechanism for translating the carriage and pin member carried thereby along the slot so as to cause the fixture to be pushed or pulled to the desired location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for transferring a batch of envelopes that have been arranged in face-to-face relationship. The envelopes are transferred in a substantially horizontal plane from a first location to a second location spaced from the first location. The apparatus includes a pair of downwardly depending spaced-apart members which are each adapted to contact the batch of envelopes along the end edges of the envelopes. One of the paddles is adapted to urge a batch along a guide channel from the first position to the second position. The other of the paddles is adapted to urge a batch along the guide channel in the opposite direction from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus for the self-unloading of dry, particulate bulk material from multiple storage chambers comprising a plurality of aligned holds or the like (12, 14, 16, 18), having aligned discharged gates (46) formed in the bases thereof for discharge onto a longitudinal, tunnel conveyor (50). A pair of scraper conveyors (52) pivotally mounted (54) to a vertical frame (56) are movable into and out of each such hold with the aid of hoists (58) and vertical elevating mechanisms (62). A longitudinally movable support (64) is further provided for transferring the assembly lengthwise of and above the respective holds as well as for traversing the support (64) within each hold to facilitate unloading operations in connection with each such hold.The scraper conveyors may thus be deployed within or removed from the relatively narrow hatchways (22) of the several cargo holds for sequential operation within each.

Abstract: Synchronized hopper gate mechanisms (17) are provided for the hoppers (18) of a bulk cargo vessel (11). Each gate mechanism includes a pair of horizontal closure panels (31, 32) and control means for simultaneously displacing the panels in opposite directions. The control means includes a pair of endless chain means (79, 81), cooperating sprockets (82, 83, 84, 86) and a torque transmitting means in the form of a shaft (101) interconnecting sprockets (83, 86) which forces the corresponding runs of the chain means (79, 81) to move in the same direction at the same speed to effect synchronized translational movement of the closure panels (31, 32).

Abstract: A prop assembly including an elongated prop leg is provided having one end pivotally mounted to an associated vehicle dump bed for swinging movement between a first generally horizontal retracted position when the dump bed is in its lowered position and a second depending operative position with one end of the leg inclined downwardly when the load bed is in a raised inclined dumping position. Structure is provided for limiting swinging movement of the leg toward its lowered operative position with the leg angularly displaced relative to the bed less than that angular displacement from the retracted position of the leg which would allow the leg to depend vertically downwardly from the bed.

Abstract: A self moving landfill refuse compactor for operation in a ditch or trench in the earth having a refuse chamber with a top openable for receiving refuse from a delivery truck and a powered ram slidably disposed in the refuse chamber and defining a movable end wall for the chamber and having a raisable gate across the chamber which defines a discharge end of the chamber.