Abstract: A boom lift apparatus for use on a truck having a boom and a boom mounted bucket includes a mast selectively positionable on the boom at any of a plurality of different angles and supported on the boom for limited axial movement by a hydraulic cylinder which is fixed relative to one of the mast and the boom and movable relative to the other of the mast and boom, and a cooperating piston which is fixed relative to the other of the mast and the boom and movable relative to the one of the mast and the boom, the piston being received in the cylinder to define a variable volume in which pressure changes depending upon the position of the piston in the cylinder. A load measurement system is provided which includes a pressure measuring mechanism for measuring the pressure in the variable volume, the mechanism including a pressure gauge that includes a scale converted to indicate the load experienced by the mast as represented by the pressure in the variable volume.

Abstract: A very compact and cushioned narrow front assembly for a high crop spray vehicle. A U-shaped and generally horizontal pivoting frame is connected to the lower end of a steering yoke for rocking about a first axis. A ground wheel is carried on the side legs of the U-shaped frame for rotation about a second axis offset in the rearward direction slightly from the first axis. A pair of shock absorbers extend downwardly from the upper portion of the steering yoke to pivotal connections with each of the side legs just behind and above the second axis. The forward ends of the side legs, which terminate rearwardly of the forwardmost extremity of the ground wheel, are each pivotally connected to the eye-end of a tension link which extends upwardly through a spring abutment bracket fixed to the lower end of the corresponding side of the yoke. A spring is compressed between the upper end of each of the links and the corresponding spring abutment bracket to provide balanced shock-absorbed cushioning.

Abstract: A portable wheeled hoisting frame includes two winches. The hoist disassembles, and the parts fit into a backpack. When assembled the frame has an open rectangular base with corner wheels, two upright members, and a top bar between the upper ends of the two upright members extending across above the open base. The primary winch is mounted on the top bar. There are top bar extensions. The hoist can vertically lift objects under the frame, as when straddling a scuttle hole, with the primary winch. A secondary winch attached to the hoisting frame can exert a sideways or downward force for cantilever lifting. The force of the secondary winch will then balance the weight of the object held by the primary winch. The extension bars allow hoisting in numerous ways. An object may also be supported on the frame base for rolling on supporting surfaces. There are two fixed wheels and two swivel castors on the frame.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a central tower having an elevated pivot point, a movable base, a support track that rests at its upper end on the central tower pivot and at its lower end on the movable base, and a trolley with hoist that moves along the support track. The apparatus can lift articles within the span of the support track and move them to other locations, by a combination of movement of the trolley and the movable base, and operation of the hoist. The crane is particularly well suited for the handling of articles and containers within domed structures.

Abstract: A boom apparatus for use in lifting and transporting a payload includes a boom pivotally mounted on a support structure and including base and outer boom sections, the outer boom section being telescopically received within the base boom section and being movable axially relative to the base boom section. Sensors are provided for sensing the total length of the boom and the total moment load experienced by the boom, and an electrical warning and control circuit generates a warning signal either when the load as sensed is greater than a first predetermined value and the total length of the boom as sensed is less than a predetermined length, or when the load as sensed is greater than a second predetermined value and the total length of the boom as sensed is greater than the predetermined length, the second predetermined value of the load being less than the first predetermined value.

Abstract: A gin or lifting mechanism is provided for relatively heavy electrical equipment, such as transformers and the like. The gin is removably mounted on a pole above a cluster rack which is to receive the electrical equipment. The gin transfers the load of the equipment to the pole along a vertical central axis of the pole at an intermediate position between its upper and lower ends. The gin has an adjustable length support arm which is particularly suitable for movement of relatively heavy loads, especially in areas inaccessible to load lifting vehicles.

Abstract: An apparatus including a central vertical support post, including a plurality of support legs orthogonally mounted to a lower end of the support post. The support post pivotally mounts a support boom at an upper end thereof, with a rear terminal end of the support boom including a plurality of chain members, with lower ends of the chain members mounted to a lower chain support beam that is orthogonally mounted to a telescoping portion of a jack member. The apparatus includes an engine support plate mounted upon a forward face of the support post. A modification of the invention includes the support post oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the support legs pivotally mounting the support boom at a rear terminal end of the support boom, with the jack member positioned medially of the support boom between the support boom and the engine support plate.

Abstract: A crane or lifting device includes a base assembly with a telescopic and rotatable column mounting a boom assembly including a telescopic boom arm. A strap is connected at one end thereof to the base assembly, extends through the boom arm, and is connected at another end thereof to a hook for engaging a load. An extensible/retractable jack assembly innerconnects the column and the boom arm for raising and lowering the boom arm. The crane can be mounted in an automobile trunk for raising and lowering the boom assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in marine cranes.An additional controllable variable lifting capability is operably connected to the load line of a marine crane, which may be motion compensated, to provide a safe initial lift of the cargo from a supply vessel. The additional lifting capability may be used alone or in concert with the drawworks to make the initial portion of the cargo lift.A variation of the improvement may be used in mooring of vessels adjacent a marine installation.

Abstract: A load securing system for securing loads in a trailer or van, whether the load is centered in the nose of the trailer or held in the rear of the trailer. The load securing system includes a longitudinal member, a friction jack adjustably secured at one end, and H-bars on a plate pivotally mounted on the other end. An extension member can engage with the longitudinal member for securing a load in a center position. In an alternative embodiment, at least one friction jack can be utilized and more than one pivotally mounted H-bar plate can be utilized along the length of the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A wheelchair lift apparatus for transporting a wheelchair and its occupant into and from a commercial vehicle can be installed in the existing doorway of the vehicle on a rotation column which is capable of supporting a telescoping platform assembly for movement into and out of an operative position across the doorway, there being a retention strap to prevent accidental forward rolling movement of the wheelchair as it is lifted or lowered, and a barrier plate across the front end of the forwardmost platform section cooperates with side flanges or rails on the platform section to prevent accidental movement of the wheelchair off of the platform assembly. The platform support unit is capable of lifting and lowering substantial loads without binding, and the platform assembly is hinged to the platform support unit in such a way as to require positive manual pressure in folding and unfolding the platform assembly with respect to the support unit.

Abstract: Positioning device to be incorporated as a controllable coupling element between a load and the cable of a hoisting apparatus. The element includes a hydraulic cylinder connected to a hydro-pneumatic transformer and to a hydro-pneumatic reservoir. The transformer is connected to a source of pressurized gas through a first valve, a second valve being provided in the line from the cylinder to the reservoir. The cylinder, the transformer, the pressurized gas source, the reservoir and both valves are mounted in a common frame, both valves being operable from a distance.

Abstract: A building is rapidly and inexpensively dismantled by dropping a heavy inverted U-shaped tool on a building or other structure from an elevation thereabove as from the upper outer end of a boom on a crane, the tool is initially suspended from a cable leading back to a winch capable of dropping the tool in a free fall. A secondary cable is attached to one of the arms of the inverted U-shaped tool inwardly from its lower end, the secondary cable leading to a secondary winch of a type capable of exerting great pulling power on the tool once it is engaged in the building or structure being dismantled.

Abstract: A mast to base connection for a storage and retrieval machine which incorporates a pin connection between the mast and the base. The base of the machine is formed as a plurality of elongated plates standing on edge with upwardly extending lugs formed integrally with the plates. The mast has similar lugs formed at its lower end which interleave with the lugs on the base. The mast and base are factory prealigned prior to shipment and line bored to receive connecting pins which can be precisely matched to each bore. The invention includes a method by which the mast is assembled to the base at a job site by laying the mast down on the base and inserting one of the connecting pins into the lugs, and then tilting the mast about the pin until the remaining lugs are aligned for insertion of a second pin.

Abstract: A device (10) for transferring an invalid includes a beam (11) comprised of two telescopically received tubes (12,13); a track (14), slidably engaged within said beam capable of supporting a rolling trolley (15) and connected winch (16) for providing a vertical lifting force. A seat (18) is appended to winch (16) by a winch yoke (19). The device is secured transversely to the roof surface of an automobile by clamps (21,22) mounted to the beam and track. The invalid is positioned within the seat and lifted vertically by the winch and is then slided into or out of the automobile as desired.

Abstract: An apparatus (18) for separating an individual chip (14) from a semiconductor wafer (10) adhered to a diaphragm (16) comprises a "C"-shaped arm (26) having parallel, spaced-apart upper and lower arm portions (28) and (29). The upper arm portion (28) is provided with a yoke (34) at its free end for engaging a robot (42) which carries a pickup tool (46). The free end of the lower arm portion (29) mounts a die ejector (38) lying directly beneath the pickup tool (46) when the robot (42) engages the upper arm portion (28). Once the die ejector (38) is positioned below, and the pickup tool (46) is positioned above, a particular chip (14), actuation of the die ejector causes the chip to be separated and urged upwardly for engagement by the pickup tool. In this way, the need to separately position the die ejector (38) and the pickup tool (46) is obviated.

Abstract: A high-capacity lift assembly consisting essentially of a multipurpose platform and a pair of commercially available truck cranes or crawler cranes wherein the lifting capacity of the respective cranes is combined to create an overall assembly capable of lifting an object weighing at least double the capacity of the individual cranes. The invention further includes a drive shaft to interconnect the hoists of the respective cranes to synchronize the rotation of the hoists, a mast and boom mounting arrangement to support the loading forces with the platform and an equalizing beam to distribute the load forces equally between the two truck cranes.

Abstract: An intermodal transport system designed for use in the hauling of semi-trailers by means of railway bogies. The system combines a turntable and spring-loaded chock design to enable the efficient loading and unloading of semi-trailers. A novel turntable design reduces bending stresses in transit while the combined chock reduces labor requirements during the loading and unloading processes since an automatic locking in place is achieved.

Abstract: In a multiple stage boom including a base boom and a plurality of relatively extensible and retractable boom stages, a system for displaying the load rating information relative to the boom includes an angle measuring assembly and a color coded boom and chart assembly. A plurality of separate markings are provided on and spaced from one another along the length of an intermediate boom stage of the boom in such a way as to be sequentially revealed when the boom stages are extended from a retracted position. Each of the markings are representative of the length of the boom at the point of extension of the boom where the marking is first revealed on the boom. A plurality of color sections extend along the intermediate boom stage, each of which is provided between a different pair of the markings and is colored differently than the other color sections to provide visible confirmation of the distance of extension of the boom.

Abstract: According to the displacement suppressing mechanism for a travelling crane of the present invention, when a mode selection switch selects an operation mode and a detected value by a boom position detecting means is smaller than a lower limit value of an appropriate travelling range, a change-over valve for replenishment capable of changing over the position of an auxiliary pressure oil source selectively to a communicating position for communication of the auxiliary pressure oil source with a first oil chamber of a boom raising and lowering hydraulic cylinder and a communication cutting-off position is shifted to the communicating position by a control means to supply a predetermined amount of pressure oil to the first oil chamber of the hydraulic cylinder.