Abstract: A case and carton handling device to remove trash and debris from case and carton combinations and permit visual inspection thereof for damage. The case and carton handling device comprises a base with a drive shaft attached thereto, a case ring assembly to selectively engage the cases, remove them from a feed conveyor belt for inspection and return them to a discharge conveyor belt; and a carton ring assembly to selectively engage the cartons, remove them from the cases for inspection and return them to the cases. The case ring assembly includes a case ring positioner to position the case ring assembly at a first case ring position such that the case ring assembly may engage the cases and a second case ring position wherein the carton ring assembly may engage the cartons.

Abstract: A lifting and dumping apparatus for use with a front end loading refuse vehicle. The apparatus includes a pair of lift arms which extend forward of the cab of the vehicle and which are pivotally secured to the sides of the vehicle. A rotatable front tube extends between the front ends of the left arms, and a pair of fork arms are pivotally connected to the front tube. The fork arms can pivot between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the fork arms extend forward of the lift arms, generally perpendicular to the front tube for engagement with a detachable refuse container, and in the closed position the fork arms are generally parallel to the front tube so that their projection forward of the left arms is eliminated. Hydraulic cylinders are provided for pivoting the fork arms, and a hydraulic circuit is provided with a sequencing valve to close the fork arms one at a time.

Abstract: A yarder is employed with a running skyline provided with a carriage. The running skyline has an intermediate suspended support consisting of a hanger bar with a shoe pivotally connected to the lower end of the hanger bar by a transverse shaft. The shoe has supporting sheaves and an enclosure rail, with the skyline haulback line supportingly received between the rail and the sheaves. The carriage is open on one side so as to be able to pass the transverse shaft of the intermediate suspended support. The open side of the carriage has a yieldable safety gate which allows the carriage to pass the transverse shaft but which retains the haulback line within the carriage. The lower portion of the carriage has respective sheaves for a slack pulling line and a log suspension line to which logs to be transported are connected. A mainline extends between the yarder and a junction member connected to both the slack pulling line and the log suspension line.

Abstract: An improved tobacco dumper is provided with a brake means for safely holding the dumper in a raised position blocking the hood opening of a tobacco feeder. Control apparatus prevents brake engagement until the dumper is in an upper dump position, and prevents dumper return until a specific control input is received and the brake is positively disengaged. Apertured drive sprockets and aligned brake pins are utilized.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator and control for positioning the boom of a backhoe mounted on the rear of a tractor that smoothly decelerates the boom at the limits of its horizontal swinging movement. A directional control valve ports fluid to two double acting hydraulic actuators positioned in opposed relation on the tractor to drive the boom from side to side. The boom is cushioned at the limits of its travel, whether or not the operator releases the operating pedal for the directional control valve, by blocking discharge flow from a contracting actuator to the directional control valve and porting this discharge flow over a pressure relief system that is independent of the directional control valve. The pressure relief system provides substantially constant deceleration of the boom without high peak pressure in the actuator by using a lower pressure relief valve in the actuator cylinder heads arranged in series with a higher pressure relief valve that discharges directly to tank.

Abstract: A pair of hydraulic locking cylinders for a vertically oscillatable wheel axle on the carrier frame of a mobile crane are interconnected and controlled by a hydraulic double-locking valve which is responsive to the centered or off-centered rotary position of the boom-carrying rotatable upper section of the crane. The double-locking valve comprises a pair of normally closed ball-type check valves which are operated by a valve stem comprising independently movable upper and lower sections. The upper valve stem section is positioned by a cam on the crane upper section and the lower valve stem section is positioned by a pneumatic actuator which is controlled by a solenoid valve selectively actuatable by an electric override switch in the crane operator's cab. The upper valve stem is moved to down (valve open-axle unlocked) position by the cam when the crane upper is centered on the carrier frame. The upper valve stem moves to up (valve closed-axle locked) position when the crane upper is rotated off-center.

Abstract: Marine derrick having a horizontal turn table supporting a derrick boom, a derrick post and all winches each handling separately a cargo fall, a topping lift wire and guy pendants thereon. A guy winch is located in center portion of the turn table at a level spaced from the turn table with its vertical drive shaft extended downward through an opening provided in the turn table and connected to drive motor located below the deck. The turn table is operatively connected to the drive shaft by a train of gears.

Abstract: A bucket system incorporating a tilting mechanism comprises a pair of horizontal arms each provided integrally with a pair of stanchions having an arcuate bend in the upper portion thereof and having one or more pulleys disposed at the leading end of the arcuately bent upper portion, a bucket rotatably fastened to the pair of horizontal arms, and a pair of cables fastened at one end thereof to the lower end of the rear side of the bucket, passed over the pulleys on the stanchions, and again fastened at the other end thereof to a stationary mast on the fork lift, whereby elevation of the two-pronged platform of the fork lift whose two prongs are inserted into and held within the pair of horizontal arms causes the cables to stretch to their full length and thereby draw up the lower end of the rear side of the bucket so as to tilt the bucket as a whole and de-elevation of the two-pronged platform from its elevated position causes the bucket to return to its original horizontal position.

Abstract: A wheelchair boarding system for buses and vans utilizing a cantilevered platform having an arcuate path of motion between a storage position inside the vehicle and a grounded position outside the vehicle. The platform is extended and retracted by a parallel bar linkage and track system driven by an electric motor and chain drive linkage. Provision is made for securing the wheelchair on the platform and for safeguarding the area around the lift system in the interior of the vehicle when the platform is in its extended position. Master controls are provided at the driver's console, and lift controls are located in an exterior panel on the vehicle adjacent the door to the lift system.

Abstract: A trash collection apparatus is described for mounting on a side loading trash collection vehicle. A frame member is extendably secured to the vehicle for movement away from and toward the truck body of the vehicle. A pair of vertically extending guide rails are secured to the frame; each guide rail incorporates a top section that is pivoted about a horizontal axis. A carriage is mounted for movement along the guide rails and incorporates a pair of gripping arms which are pivoted for movement in a horizontal plane to grasp a trash container and are also pivoted for movement in vertical planes for moving to a stowage position. A hydraulic piston and cylinder are utilized to raise the carriage along the guide rails to position the carriage on the top sections of the rails. Hydraulic actuators are provided for tilting the top sections of the rails when the carriage is positioned on the top sections to tip the carriage, gripping arms, and the trash container over the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for inhibiting the oscillation of a vertical crane or similar structure with a horizontal main jib supporting a load hoist apparatus. The main jib has a counter jib which supports a counterweight mass by a linkage system. The linkage system permits the counterweight mass to swing through an arc so that it dampening the swinging movement of the crane. The linkage system also permits the counterweight mass to be vertically adjustable relative to the main jib so as to accommodate crane structure of different sizes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for receiving a length or section of a tire tread or the like and transferring it to a storage truck. The apparatus has a cylindrical member which receives the section from an extruder or other source, inverts the section and deposits it on a first endless conveyor. A second conveyor is looped about the downstream roller of the first endless belt and receives the section from the first belt. A vertically movable carriage has an endless belt which carries the section from the second belt to a storage truck. A slide member movable in the same direction as the endless belts is provided for transferring a section from the carriage to a storage surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for receiving a length or section of a tire tread or the like and transferring it to a storage truck. The apparatus has a cylindrical member which receives the section from an extruder or other source, inverts the section and deposits it on a first endless conveyor. A second conveyor is looped about the downstream roller of the first endless belt and receives the section from the first belt. A vertically movable carriage has an endless belt which carries the section from the second belt to a storage truck. A slide member movable in the same direction as the endless belts is provided for transferring a section from the carriage to a storage surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively discharging load carriers at a predetermined one of discharge stations. The carriers are connected to an endless chain. The chain is made of links of approximate equal length, which are divided into segments of an equal number of links. The position of each carrier is determined by a control system that measures the actual length of segments of the chain and keeps a record of the lengths of the segments which extend between a reference point and the position of the each carrier. When the length of the chain between the reference point and the carrier equal the known distance along the chain path between the reference point and the preselected discharge station a mechanism is actuated to remove the load from the carrier.

Abstract: A storage rack entry vehicle for transporting loads of substantial weight in a warehousing system includes a plurality of wheels spaced from each other in the direction of both the length and the width of the vehicle and which support the vehicle for movement upon rails. The vehicle also includes an elevatable platform which supports the loads on the vehicle and distributes the load weight to locations adjacent each of the wheels. A rigid plate connects both the wheels and the load supports. However, this rigid plate is sufficiently flexible such that the plate flexes to maintain all of the wheels in continuous contact with the rails where one of the rails may vary in elevation such that at least one of the wheels might otherwise move out of contact with the rail surface.

Abstract: A dump body for mounting on the frame of a vehicle is disclosed. The dump body comprises a floor, side walls and a front wall secured together to form an integral unit, a rear gate closing the back of the unit. The floor is composed of a central, elongated plate and a pair of elongated lateral plates, each of smaller thickness than the central plate, so that the latter will resist abrasion for a longer time, where abrasion is most likely to occur and yet reducing the weight of the dump body. The lateral plates extend underneath and overlap the central plate and are bent to form integral, longitudianally-extending hollow beams welded to the central plate for strengthening the unit.

Abstract: A pedestal crane of compact construction having a small turning radius is provided for use on board ships and/or off-shore drilling platforms. The crane has a dynamic load compensator so that it may absorb shock loads due to waves on the surrounding body of water. The crane mast includes upright walls supporting a fuel tank and hydraulic tank with the prime mover being between said walls.

Abstract: A crane has a rotatable body with a vertically pivotal boom connected thereto. An energy absorbing stop unit is mounted in a fixed position on the body, and a guide sleeve is pivotally mounted on the body adjacent the stop unit. A stop rod is pivotally connected to the boom at a point between the ends of the boom for vertical swinging movement, and the rod is maintained in the guide sleeve in every position of the boom. The guide sleeve is pivoted by the stop rod into alignment with the stop unit at the extreme upper position of the boom, and, at that position of the boom, the stop rod extends through the guide sleeve into engagement with the stop unit.

Abstract: An improved automotive lift device for vehicles which consists of a lift carriage having movable upper step and riser elements so as to selectively form normal upper and lower entrance steps in their retracted normal use position. The upper step and riser pivotally connected thereto are selectively extendable outwardly and downwardly by self-contained actuating device so as to form a continuous horizontal loading platform in association with the fixed lower step formed by the base of the lift carriage. Thus formed, the horizontal loading platform can be selectively lowered to the ground or curb level. It can be also selectively raised to the vehicle interior floor level thereby enabling a handicapped person, on crutches or in a wheelchair, to easily board or disembark from such vehicle at will.

Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle has a hopper and a rear storage chamber. A compaction and ejection platen is disposed to transfer refuse from the hopper into the storage chamber. A compaction cylinder has a rod which is connected to a guide mounted on the forward side of the platen. The rod is selectively lockable to either the forward or rearward end of the guide to provide either a normal or extended rearward stroke of the platen for refuse compaction or ejection, respectively.