Abstract: A tractor-loader-backhoe is disclosed wherein the loader mechanism is mounted on the frame of the prime mover by a tapered pivot pin having a fastener extending entirely through the axis of the pivot pin to effect a clamping load operable to seat the tapered pivoted in the conical hub affixed to the frame of the prime mover to assure a firm fastening of the loader mechanism on the prime mover. The backhoe mechanism is provided with a transport lock remotely accuatable from the operator's cab mounted on the prime mover and incorporating a locking pin having a concentric spring mounted thereon to urge the pin out of engagement with the frame whenever the transport lock is disengaged to permit operation of the backhoe mechanism. The boom and dipper members of the backhoe mechanism are constructed from a pair of opposing C-shaped channels having inwardly directed legs centrally located within the boom and dipper members.

Abstract: A prealigner for semiconductor wafers is described, together with a method for prealigning. The prealigner includes mechanism for holding the wafer in a non-slip manner and motive means for adjusting the position of its engagement with the wafer as necessary to make the geometric center of the wafer precisely coincident with a chose position. The alignment method results in eliminating parts of original equations during the calculations of the location of the geometric center and flats or other distinguishing features on the edge of the wafer are located by utilizing a particular equation for a plurality of overlapping sections of the edge.

Abstract: Device for fixing a rail on a tie, comprising an abutment made of plastic material and a clamp made of steel fixed by a rail screw or a nut. The clamp is provided with an oblong hole which makes it possible to displace the clamp in a direction perpendicular to the rail, in such a way that the clamp can occupy a preparation position, in which the rail can be placed vertically between two abutments, and a fixing position, in which the clamp bears against the flange of the rail. This device makes it possible to pre-equip ties in workshops.

Abstract: The invention is a dolly on wheels for lifting and moving manhole covers. The dolly has a pivotal sleeve into which a lifting bar fastens and a bottom plate with a crooked tail on its bottom side. The lifting bar has a pointed end which is used in conjunction with the bottom plate to lift small manhole covers and a finger end which is used in conjunction with the bottom plate and tail to lift large manhole covers.

Abstract: A stern drive handling device includes a wheeled lower support frame and an extensible upper support frame telescopically mounted on the lower support frame. A horizontally disposed hollow sleeve is secured to the upper end of the upper support frame and a screw jack is provided for adjusting the height of the sleeve relative to the lower support frame. A support bracket assembly is pivotally mounted in the sleeve for swinging movement about a horizontal axis and a pair of pivoted clamps adapted to engage the cavitation plates on the housing of a stern drive unit are pivotally mounted on the support bracket assembly for pivotal adjusting movement about a second horizontal axis orthogonal to the first horizontal axis. The clamps may be secured in any desired pivoted position and limit stops are provided to limit the pivoting movement of the clamps.

Abstract: A vehicle including a support bed mounts a framework to include a winch assembly, wherein the winch assembly is operative through spaced pivot legs pivotally mounted to the support bed to direct a trailer positioned rearwardly from the framework in a first position to a second position mounted above the framework, with the framework supporting the trailer. The winch including a primary cable mounted to the trailer to project the trailer along a track directed medially of the framework, wherein the primary cable is withdrawn from the trailer in a subsequent operation and mounted to a pivot leg cable to thereafter pivot the trailer and pivot legs to position overlying the support framework when the trailer is securedly mounted to the pivot legs.

Abstract: A bale carrier comprising a wheeled frame having a plurality of bale cradles pivotally mounted, about a horizontal axis, thereon. The bale cradles may be selectively pivoted toward either side of the wheeled frame so that the bales may be dumped from either side of the carrier. A locking mechanism is provided for each of the bale cradles for preventing the dumping of the bales therefrom until the desired time.

Abstract: The refuse collecting vehicle of the invention is used for collecting and transporting separate and distinct waste materials. The vehicle includes a vehicle chassis and a storage body mounted on the chassis. The storage body is divided into a plurality of distinct storage chambers, each of the chambers running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a tailgate section which is comprised of a plurality of distinct and individually actuable hopper units, each hopper unit having a loading opening which is longitudinally aligned with the respective one of the distinct storage chambers in the storage body for transferring material thereto. Each hopper unit is also pivotally mounted at the rear of the storage body for swinging movement away from the body as material is being discharged therefrom.

Abstract: A wafer boat has an upper projection, a lower projection, and a lower flange. A horizontal/vertical conversion handling apparatus for handling the wafer boat comprises a rotatable arm, and upper and lower hands provided at both ends of the arm. The arm is rotatable by at least 90.degree. in a vertical plane. The upper hand has boat contact portions for contact in horizontal and vertical modes, which are engaged with the upper projection on both sides thereof. The boat contact portions of the upper hand are vertically arranged such that the positions of the boat contact portions are reversed by the 180.degree. rotation of the upper hand. The lower hand has boat contact portions for contact in a horizontal mode, which are engaged with the lower projection on both sides thereof, and boat contact portions for contact in a vertical mode, which are engaged with the lower surface of the lower flange.

Abstract: A pantograph apparatus for an electric locomotive is provided that possess two degrees of freedom, a vertical motion similar to that of the conventional pantograph apparatus and a unique lateral motion without any longitudinal component that permits the collector head to track an overhead conductor independently of the position of the overhead conductor relative to the track centerline. Tracking is accomplished electronically by two laterally-positioned contactors on the collector head that generate an error signal when contacted by the overhead conductor, thus actuating a servomechanism to reposition the collector head so as to maintain the overhead conductor between the lateral contactors. The pantograph apparatus disclosed herein is fully compatible with conventional catenary electrification.

Abstract: A frame structure for connecting working implements to a vehicle body having right and left main frames extending parallel to each other longitudinally of the vehicle body. The main frames are divided into upper front frames and lower rear frames which are interconnected through an intermediate connecting section. The front and rear frames have different heights to lower the center of gravity of the rear section of the vehicle body for promoting stability of vehicle control without impairing the steering function of front wheels. A cross support member is connected to bottom surfaces of the main frames in the region of the intermediate connecting section. This support member has opposite ends thereof extending laterally outwardly of the main frames. Outward extension of the cross support member include connecting elements for working implements. These connecting elements and the front frames are used as supporting connections for connecting working implements such as a front loader and a mower unit.

Abstract: An oil tube bundle positioning device (26) for supporting and restraining oil cooler tube bundles (10) so that they can be safely oriented from one position to another, e.g., from a vertical position to a horizontal position, for cleaning and servicing. The positioning device (26) includes a substantially rigid beam element (28), a first plate (30) fixed to the beam element (28) and a second plate (32) movably supported by the beam element (28) and spaced from the first plate (30). The positioning device is designed to receive an oil tube bundle (10) in the spacing between the first and second plates (30, 32). A plurality of tapered dowels (42) extend from each of the first and second plates (30, 32). Each dowel (42) is positioned to engage an end of a tube (14) of the tube bundle (10) upon the tube bundle (10) being received between the first and second plates (30, 32).

Abstract: A cargo platform system particularly structured for use with, e.g., a truck body's cargo opening. The system includes a mast asembly with a mast guide and a mast movably supported by the guide, the mast assembly being fixed to one vertical side edge of the cargo opening. A cargo platform is pivotally connected to the mast, the platform being swingable relative to the mast between a horizontal elevator position and a vertical storage position. A latch system partially carried by the mast guide and partially carried by the mast allows the mast and mast guide to be latched together so that substantially no relative movement therebetween is possible in a first latched position when the platform is in its storage position and located entirely below the truck body's cargo floor and also in a second latch position when the platform is in the storage position and located substantially above the cargo floor.

Abstract: A coin slide (11) bearing a coin is movable into a casing (2) of a coin lock (1) to release a locking member (14) and allow full insertion of the coin slide (11). In this position a space (recess 20) in the coin slide (11) is aligned with a space (aperture 21) in a coupling member (8) and with a space (aperture (19) in a casing position separating the coin slide (11) and the coupling member (8). A locking member (e.g. ball 18) in the apertures (19 and 21) may now be moved upwardly, on pulling of the coupling member (8), to occupy the recess (20) and the aperture (19) so as to allow complete withdrawal of the coupling member (8), e.g. to free a shopping trolley. The coin is released by reversing the procedure on re-insertion of the coupling member (8).

Abstract: An apparatus attached to the trailing end of a passenger vehicle that carries a small three wheeled vehicle of the type used by people who have difficulty in walking. Three ramps in triangular array are supported by a support assembly that is raised and lowered by a small motor. The raising and lowering is accomplished by a telescoping member that causes a linkage apparatus to lift the ramp members when the telescoping member is extended and to lower the ramp members when the telescoping member is retracted. The profile of the apparatus is low in that it is positioned below the bottom edge of a station wagon rear door and does not interfere with the opening of that door. A hinge allows folding of the apparatus into a generally vertical plane when not in use.

Abstract: A skip to be suspended in a mine shaft has a discharge opening at the lower end region of a chamber defined by a skip body. A door closes the opening and can open to discharge material from the chamber. Door operating members at opposite sides of the body are pivotable about a common axis between a closed position in which the door is closed and an open position in which the door is open. Connectors connect the members and the door and the connectors cross the pivot axis as the door moves between the open and closed positions. The connectors can be at least partly flexible. It is desirable for the chamber to be generally of a greater cross-sectional area at a level above the operating members than at the level of the members and for the body to extend above and at least partly cover the operating members.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for and a method of transporting groups of laps and empty lap tubes between lap-forming machines and lap-processing machines by a shifting bridge provided with a drive. There are known transport systems whereby the follow-up of reverse laps is effected only subsequent to a "lap depletion signal". For this reason, an apparatus and a method are suggested and according to which the positioning of the drivable shifting bridge is controlled by a master computer which is connected to the lap-processing machines and the lap-forming machines as well as to the drivable shifting bridge.

Abstract: Molded carrier ring-type electrical components are unloaded from a shipping tube by providing the bottom of an escapement mechanism with a substantially flat surface to which the "coin stack" arrangement of components falls during loading of the stack into the escapement. This flat surface presents to the bottom component of the stack an area which is sufficient for preventing dumping of the stack through the escapement and for releveling components which become tilted during loading of the tube into the escapement. The flat surface is biased upwardly by springs and displaceable downwardly against such biasing by a component transfer slide during lateral displacement of the transfer slide to the stack in order to acquire and remove the bottom component from the stack.

Abstract: A self-propelled member or carriage runs along a stationary surface-conducting cable formed of alternately disposed conducting and insulating turns. The carriage is provided with a rotor extending around the cable and having contacts in a conductive relation with the conducting turns of the cable. At least two pulleys are rotatably mounted to the carriage with the cable interposed between the pulleys. An electric motor is operatively electrically connected to the contacts of the rotors and is drivingly connected to the pulleys. Electric power is transmitted from the cable by the rotor to the motor whereupon the motor drives the pulleys to propel the carriage along the cable.

Abstract: A load transporting dolly includes a frame having a flange on a lower end thereof to be positioned above an upstanding wall of a tray containing a load and a foot positioned in spaced relation with the flange for engaging the load when the flange is placed above the side wall. Spaced, parallel legs joined to opposing lateral ends of the flange extend upwardly therefrom, and arms for positioning and holding the load upon the frame are mounted, respectively, on the legs for selective rotation around a first axis and selective sliding movement along the first axis to extend along lateral sides of the load perpendicular with the foot. The arms are rotatable around a second axis perpendicular with the first axis and are slidable along the second axis to selectively position gripping fingers in the arms and planes containing the arms to permit the gripping fingers to be placed in a clearance adjacent lateral sides of the load and positioned to extend along a back of the load.