Abstract: An ultra-narrow aisle lift truck vehicle has a body including discrete front and rear portions connected by a pair of elongated stabilizing and support members. The stabilizing and support members are movable vertically in tracks on the body portions so that they provide both structural support and integrity between the front and rear portions as well as being selectively movable into and out of a ground engaging position to perform a stabilizing function. A pair of vertical masts mounted on the front and rear portions support a vertically movable carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes a carriage having a pair of horizontally directed forks thereon which may extend into laterally adjacent opposite sides of the vehicle and return to a position within the body and between the lateral sides thereof. The carriage is mounted on an extension pantograph and is turnable about a vertical axis by means of a motor to accommodate such lateral positioning.

Abstract: A transporter for liquid containers is disclosed for carrying gas cans from one place to another which includes a wheeled frame supporting the gas cans by pivotal attachments to a plurality of frontal bars outwardly projecting from a vertical brace. The frontal bars define a pair of storage areas or compartments substantially occupied by the gas cans. The vertical brace includes an axle for supporting a pair of main wheels while pivotal front wheels are provided on the cantilevered ends of the frontal bars for increased maneuverability. Each of the gas cans are pivotally carried on the pivotal attachments by supporting straps which are secured to the can by a suitable removable fastener.

Abstract: An improved door is provided for a mail sorting bin which is made of a resilient noise damping material and includes a trip lever integrally formed with the door. The trip lever is substantially coplanar with the door and has a first portion extending outwardly from a first transverse end of the door, a second portion which extends generally outwardly and downwardly from the first portion to engage the movable lever which holds the door shut, and a third portion which extends upward to a point even with the upper edge of the door and to define an aperture between the trip lever and the door. The door is attached between the sides of a mail sorting bin such that one side of the bin extends through this aperture. A tab, may also be formed integrally with the door so that it extends outwardly from the opposite transverse end of the door. This tab is positioned to be engaged by a spring which urges the door open.

Abstract: An extensible boom, which comprises a first part which is pivotally anchored to a rotatable pedestal so that the boom may be raised or lowered. A second part of smaller lateral dimension is adapted to slide within the first part. The outer end of the second part carries a crown, with at least two crown sheaves. On the inner end of the second part there are two pulleys having transverse vertical pins about which they rotate. On the outer end of the first part there is a third pulley having a shaft substantially horizontal. A conventional cable drum is supported on the pedestal with conventional drive means. The cable spools from the drum over one of the crown shafts down to a travelling block and hook and is arranged over said pulleys in a manner such that when there is a weight hanging on the hook, there will be a force tending to extrude the second part out of the first part, unless it is held back by a tension member.

Abstract: A modified etch boat acts as a transfer device for transferring wafers, in bulk. An etch boat has a longitudinal hole through one wall near the top edge, the hole periphery extending into Vee grooves in the etch boat. With wafers in the grooves, a rod inserted through the hole prevents wafers from falling out. With wafers in a storage box, the modified etch boat is positioned on the storage box, the hole inverted, and then the rod inserted after the wafers have transferred. The etch boat can then be inverted over a furnace boat, for example. After positioning on the furnace boat, with the wafers lifted slightly, the rod is removed and then the etch boat lifted off. The reverse operation is used to transfer from a furnace boat.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying textile fibers to each of a plurality of textile blending machines extending in a line and defining a blending line from each of a plurality of fiber bales extending behind each of the machines with an overhead crane mounted for movement vertically and in two horizontal directions by a number of motors, a sensor in the hopper of each machine for providing a demand signal when the level of material in that hopper is less than a predetermined level, and a control circuit for operating the motors to supply material in a set order to each hopper having a sensor providing a demand signal with each hopper receiving fibers from each of the bales extending behind it.

Abstract: A vertical tower and pivoted upper boom are counterbalanced by a mobile counterweight member mounted on a self-propelled earthborn unit spaced a substantial distance from the tower in diametric opposition to the boom. The tower, which is pivotable about a vertical pivot axis, is connected to the counterweight by a first horizontal rigid spreader link and by a second diagonal rigid spreader link. The two links are respectively connected to the lower and upper ends of the tower. In this manner, rotational torque is transmitted directly to both the lower and upper ends of the tower. Both the tower and the boom can therefore be turned about the vertical pivot axis by operation of the self-propelled counterweight unit without the usual problems of having the tower "winding up" due to the rotational forces applied to it during turning of large loads.

Abstract: A fork lift truck has a safety system for inhibiting further raising of the carriage or further forward tilting of the mast when an excessive tilting moment is acting on the truck and permits override of the safety system so that the overload can be relieved by the operator under certain conditions without requiring the assistance of a second truck.

Abstract: A side shifter mountable on a conventional hook-type lift truck carriage. The shifter includes an upper hook which, through removable wear shoes, accommodates a sliding engagement between the shifter and the upper bar in such a carriage, and a rotary spherical-segment bearing disposed below the hook which accommodates a rolling point contact with the lower bar in such a carriage.

Abstract: A logging carriage is mounted by hinged sheaves for travel along an elevated cable for the conveyance of felled logs to a log unloading site. The carriage is moved in one direction along the elevated cable by an in haul line which is attached at one end to a powered drum in a yarder. The carriage is moved under the force of gravity in a second direction. The other end of the inhaul line is attached to a spring powered rotatable drum structure mounted on the logging carriage. A drop line for raising and lowering felled logs is mounted on a portion of the spring powered rotatable drum. The spring powered rotatable drum structure is actuated by a compressed air actuated brake assembly. A clamp assembly is mounted on the logging carriage and is selectively engageable with the elevated cable to lock the logging carriage in a preselected position along the cable. The clamp and brake assemblies are controlled by solenoid valves and a radio receiver mounted on the logging carriage.

Abstract: A crane comprises a mobile vehicle having an upper frame rotatably mounted on a lower frame thereof. A boom has its rearward end pivotally mounted on the upper frame and a doubleacting hydraulic cylinder is pivotally interconnected between the upper frame and the boom to selectively raise and lower the same relative to ground level. A jib has its rearward end pivotally attached to a forward end of the boom by an elongated slot connection which permits the jib to be moved between a stored position in offset relationship adjacent to the boom and an extended position forwardly of the boom wherein the longitudinal axes of the jib and boom are parallel relative to each other.

Abstract: A portable transfer ladle for receiving molten metal from a melting furnace and depositing it in holding furnaces or molds remote from the melting furnace is constructed so as to be transportable by and operable while on a conventional forklift truck. The portable transfer ladle includes a support structure having hollow elongated spaced apart members for engagement with the tines of the forklift truck, a cylindrical ladle rotatably mounted on the support structure, and a ladle drive assembly mounted on the support structure to rotate the ladle and including a motor detachably connectable for energization and control from a power source located on the forklift truck.

Abstract: A fork lift frame that supports a pair of forks. Each fork has a vertical portion and a load supporting horizontal portion. A hinge assembly is attached to the vertical portion of each fork at an acute angle relative to the vertical portion of the forks so that the horizontal portion of the forks can be positioned across the front of the frame in a vertically spaced position when they are not in use.

Abstract: A rear end lift assembly for ready attachment at the interior sides of the rear access opening of a truck body, as a low-load semi-trailer, and thus protected from weather and dirt, and presenting vertical trackways each receiving sliding shoes carrying inwardly extending arms projecting through trackway openings, each arm adapted to removably receive a lift fork with a rearwardly extending article support arm leaving an open space between the arms for operator access in shifting articles from the lift fork arrangement to vertical spaced shelving along the sides of the truck body at any level to which the lift fork arrangement may be selectively powered.

Abstract: A vehicle wheelchair lift for loading and unloading an occupant confined to a wheelchair. The lift having a wheelchair platform which is folded vertically inside the vehicle and adjacent a vehicle door. When the lift is in use, the vehicle door is opened and the platform is lowered to a horizontal position outside the door opening. The wheelchair occupant is then wheeled onto the lift by a wheelchair attendant and the platform is lowered to the ground surface.

Abstract: A rigging arrangement and yarder are disclosed for yarding in which a single cable is used. This cable is anchored at a main storage drum on a yarder and preferably at an anchor in the vicinity of the tail block. The single line serves as a running skyline for supporting a carriage and includes several loops around a tram drum and an idler drum (but only one layer on said drums) which operate to hold cable or to reel equal amounts of cable in or out to both the yarder side and the anchor side of the carriage to move the carriage without introducing slack into either side. Since only a single layer of cable is wound on the tram and idler drums, no energy is lost dealing with varying speeds and torques caused by changing effective diameters, thus saving energy and weight of equipment.

Abstract: A hoisting apparatus has a vertical supporting frame, a rearwardly extending base pivotally connected at the lower end of the frame and capable of closing on the frame, a foldable brace is attached at one end to the frame and at the other end to the base so as to lock the base into a supporting position and unlock the base to be pivoted to a closed position against the frame. A forwardly extending boom is pivotally mounted at the upper end portion of the frame. A first pulley is mounted on the upper end of the frame, and a first winding mechanism is attached to the rearward portion of the frame. A first cable passes from the first winding mechanism over the first pulley to the boom for raising and lowering the boom. A second pulley is mounted at the end of the boom. A second winding mechanism attached to the rearward portion of the frame, and a second cable passes from the second winding mechanism over the second pulley for attachment to a load.

Abstract: A mobile derrick, aerial man lift or the like has a boom pivotally mounted at one end on a vehicle, with a hydraulic cylinder also pivotally mounted at one end on the vehicle for raising and lowering the boom. A linkage interconnects the other end of the hydraulic actuator with the boom while permitting limited relative movement between the interconnected points of the boom and the actuator. A resilient biasing means such as a compressed coil spring is connected to the linkage and resists downward movement of the actuator away from the boom. The linkage is responsive to upward movement of the actuator to form a rigid connection between the boom and the actuator and bypassing the biasing means, and is responsive to downward movement of the actuator to form a resilient connection between the boom and the actuator through the biasing means to permit limited downward movement of the actuator away from the boom against the urging of the resilient biasing means.

Abstract: Adjustable side shoe assemblies are provided on respective side walls of adjacent movable boom sections of a crane boom assembly to maintain alignment between the sections. A boss provided on each side wall at the upper end of a movable boom section of a crane boom assembly has a tapped hole passing through the section. A threadable member, preferably composed of a phenolic or other abradable material can be inserted into the threaded opening provided in the side wall of the boom section, the member being threadably rotated into the opening to engage the side wall of the next adjacent boom section. Respective aligned openings provided in the side walls of the boss and the threadable member receive a retaining member, such as a cotter pin, to hold the threadable member in place on the boom section.

Abstract: A high density, high lift storage loader having facilities for sideloading, floor loading and front loading a standard beam-type pallet rack and also having a capability of providing means for order picking adjacent the operation. The arrangement provides a straddle-type high-lift apparatus provided with straddles which are located at the height of the first shelve of the storage structure. The load is carried on a chain-type mechanism and is rotatably mounted to the lifting carriage of the machine by a drive ring. The drive ring is movable longitudinally along the carriage support arms and is coordinated with locating and reaching movements. An operator carriage moves with the load carrier so that the operator controls the apparatus at all times with the load in view. Floor loading is accomplished without the necessity of a counterbalance.