Abstract: A compact and simple elevator system is provided which requires no counterweight and no machine room, and which is most suitable for installation in small buildings such as private homes. The elevator system comprises: a hoistway; an elevator car accommodated in the hoistway and movable in the vertical direction; a screw shaft vertically disposed in the hoistway and having a screw thread formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof; a rotary element mounted on the elevator car and adapted to be threadedly engaged with the screw shaft; a drive source mounted on the elevator car for driving the rotary element to rotate; and a mechanism for restraining the rotation of the screw shaft at least in the normal operating condition of the elevator system, whereby when the rotary element is driven to rotate by means of the drive source, it is caused to displace vertically along the screw shaft thereby to move the elevator car in the vertical direction.

Abstract: The spreading apparatus has a main hopper and at least one extension hopper, each having a discharge roller for flowable material such as chippings for road surfacing. The extension hopper is mounted adjacent the main hopper and movable longitudinally to enable variation of the combined width of the hoppers. A baffle cuts off communication between the discharge roller of the extension hopper and the major part of the interior of the extension hopper over a width corresponding to the longitudinal overlap between the main hopper and the extension hopper.

Abstract: A manipulator for engaging a pouring tube (11) with a discharge gate of a pouring ladle comprises a post (3) and a boom (4), which is adjustably mounted on the post (3) and adapted to carry the pouring tube (11). To provide for a simple sequence of movements and a simple control, the post (3) is pivoted to a base (1) on a horizontal axis (2), the boom (4) is pivoted to the post (3) on an axis (5), which is parallel to the pivotal axis of the post (3), and the post (3) and the boom (4) are pivotally movable about their respective pivotal axes by respective torque cylinders (6).

Abstract: A slide unit for use in a sliding closure unit includes two partial movable refractory plates having respective planar surfaces. Each partial plate is surrounded circumferentially by a respective metal band. The two plates are assembled together in a frame to abut along a butt joint so that the two partial plates can be moved together with the planar surfaces thereof contacting a stationary refractory plate of a sliding closure unit. The metal bands at the area of the butt joint between the two partial plates is spanned by a refractory shoulder extending integrally from at least one of the partial plates. Such shoulder thereby extends the planar surfaces of the two plates to the butt joint so that the two planar surfaces form a continuous sealing surface.

Abstract: A refractory plate assembly includes a refractory plate having therethrough at least one discharge opening and a sheath tightly fitted around the periphery of the plate. The plate is formed of separate plate portions separated along planar surfaces extending outwardly from the discharge opening at positions where cracks would be formed during use of the plate if the plate were of unitary construction. The planar surfaces are separated by compressible refractory packing material, thereby forming expansion joints. The sheath compresses the packing material of the expansion joints.

Abstract: A lifting device, for vehicles, has two support platforms. Scissor mechanisms connect these platforms, to bases, and are actuated by hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies. A combiner and divider valve supplies fluid to the two hydraulic cylinders. A single cross brace can be provided between the two support platforms. This ensures the two platforms operate uniformly, even for an uneven load distribution, while giving a clear working space.

Abstract: An annular cooling chamber extends around the periphery of a ladle nozzle over at least some of the nozzle length, a hollow ring being so disposed in the annular chamber as to extend coaxially of the runner (casting channel), the ring wall being pierced with orifices along ring length. The ring interior communicates with a cooling fluid supply line, the wall of the annular chamber being formed with an aperture for removal of the cooling fluid distributed by the distributor ring in the annular chamber.

Abstract: A machine for causing discharge of plastic material from a bag-like container having flexible walls. The machine includes a first plate-like member pivotally mounted on the framework and a second plate-like member pivotally mounted on the framework. A spring urges the plate-like members together to grip the bag-like container therebetween. A free edge of the second plate-like member is urged toward the first plate-like member to squeeze the bag-like container. A spout receives contents of the bag-like container as the bag-like container is squeezed.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering properly positioned rivets to a hopper and including a venturi station, a conduit connected to the venturi station for delivering the rivets from the venturi station to the hopper and having a restricted end for automatically properly positioning the rivets, a rivet shaped slot for introducing the rivets into the venturi station, and components for creating a suction in the venturi station so that when the rivets are introduced into the venturi station by the rivet shaped slot the rivets are drawn by the suction created by the suction creating components through the venturi station and the delivering conduit from the rivet shaped slot to the restricted end of the delivering conduit where the rivets are automatically properly positioned in the hopper for riveting.

Abstract: A discharge structure includes a refractory plate, a mounting frame supporting the refractory plate, an exchangeable refractory nozzle, a mounting sleeve surrounding and supporting the nozzle, a lock between the sleeve and frame for locking the sleeve and the nozzle to the frame in a position with an inner end face of the nozzle urged toward a confronting surface of the refractory plate, and a refractory joint forming a seal between the end face and surface. An abutment extends from the frame and abuts an inner end of the nozzle, thus forming an axial support for the nozzle upon the lock urging the nozzle toward the plate, thus ensuring spacing between the end face and the surface by a predetermined distance and the resultant formation of the joint at a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A suspendable dispenser pack container for flowable substances, such as liquids, pastes, powders and fine granules, made up of an outer carton (1) and bag (3) fitted inside it. The bag (3) has at its top end a loop (25), through which a tube (22) is placed, which together with the loop (25) is positioned in relation to a location aperture (12) at the same point in the side wall (11) of the outer carton (1). The bag (3) has at the bottom end a connector (38) and is of such a length that when the base (5) of the outer carton (1) is open, the connector (38) protrudes at least as far as the opened flaps (6, 7, 8, 9) of the outer carton (1).

Abstract: An elevator guide shoe for use with a generally cylindrical guide rail or omega rail is disclosed. The guide shoe includes a front arcuate surface to engage the guide rail and two projections or bosses extending from the back of the shoe to engage a shoe bracket. The back surface of the guide shoe is convex which facilitates movement of the guide shoe relative to the bracket and reduces noise as the guide shoe moves relative to the bracket.

Abstract: To avoid internal and external soiling in a device for the metering of chemicals, particularly for seed treatment, a special storage system unit (1) is provided which can be loaded with disposable packages (3a, 3b, 3c) which are connected by means of couplings (13) to a supply line (16) leading to an atomizer (58), in which arrangement a metering unit (41) is arranged in the supply line (16) and the entire liquid-carrying system from the packages (3a, 3b, 3c) to the atomizer (58) is closed off to the working environment.

Abstract: A method for teaching a holding position and a holding angle of a work by a hand of a robot to the robot in a robot system having a visual sensor attached to a movable arm of the robot. First, the work is held by the hand which is in a prescribed reference angle state and put down on a working table with keeping the holding state. Next, the centroid position and the angle of the principal axis of the work are recognized by the visual sensor. Finally, the holding position and the holding angle are acquired by using the centroid position and the angle of the principal axis, a posture data of the robot and the hand, and a mutual relation data of a robot coordinate, a visual coordinate and a hand coordinate of the robot system.

Abstract: An elevator cab having a drop ceiling suspended from the cab canopy. The drop ceiling includes a skeleton frame and a plurality of metallic pan members carried by the frame. Each pan member includes a sheet metal member having a lower decorative side viewable from inside the cab, and an upper side having reinforcing and stiffening brackets to which one or more down lights are attached and centered over openings in the sheet metal member. The upper side also carries slidable clip members along the edges of the sheet metal member, with the clip members, when actuated from a retracted to an extended position, securing the pan member to the frame by sandwiching a frame element between the lower sheet metal member and the upper clip members. The sheet metal members of the pan members butt tightly together to conceal intermediate angle members of the frame, and the outer edges of the pan members conceal perimetrically arranged angle members of the frame.

Abstract: The door drive is intended for use with a relatively great number of different elevator cars, different types of sliding doors, and different widths of sliding door panels. The door drive is readily adaptable to different installations merely by appropriate adjusting and conversion work without dismounting the door drive. The door drive is fitted with its supporting structure above the door opening on the roof of the elevator car. A toothed belt serves as a drive for one panel of a sliding door and is trained around a stationary and a positionally changeable deflection roll. The positionally changeable deflection roll can be adapted to each required displacement path of a given door panel by positionally changing a shaft of such deflection roll to a preselected one of a number of fixing holes provided in the supporting structure.

Abstract: This invention concerns an elevator provided with an elastic member. The elastic member, by and large triangular in cross section, is attached to every exit of an elevator: an end of each floor inside a vertical path in which a cage ascends and descends or a floor end of a cage so as to stuff a gap at every exit. Therefore, even if passengers carelessly drop their small article, it is prevented from escaping from the gap. Other than that, women's high heels and children's shoes are prevented from getting into it; likewise, the wheels of loaded trucks do not get into it. The elastic member, designed to be a shock absorber, gives a cage no substantial shock even when the cage strikes against it a little.

Abstract: A fluid-operated cylinder to be used as a load lifting cylinder includes a cylinder casing defining a cylinder bore between two opposed ends, one of which ends is provided with a fluid supply/discharge port, a piston unit having a piston element and a piston rod, the piston unit being axially movably arranged in the cylinder bore of the cylinder casing, and a flow rate control valve unit axially movably mounted in the piston element so as to cause a gradual change in a flow rate of working fluid throughout a predetermined amount of piston stroke when the piston unit starts to move out of the cylinder casing and comes to a stop at a bottom position in the cylinder casing, thereby cushioning shock occurring in the fluid-operated cylinder.

Abstract: A circulation pump system in a storage vessel for liquids, more particularly in a carbonizing tank of a beverage dispenser in which soda water, a mixture of CO.sub.2 gas and fresh water, is chilled and stored under pressure for withdrawal via an outlet connection. The circulation pump is mounted directly above the discharge port of the storage vessel so that the small amount of heat released by the circulation pump is utilized to keep the outlet opening free of ice.

Abstract: An elevator cab, and method of assembling same, including upstanding wall members on a platform, with the upstanding wall members having upper edges which support a canopy. The canopy is constructed of at least two metallic panel members having adjacent edges which are bent into complementary bend configurations which form an interlocking joint when one bend configuration is pivoted about the other bend configuration.