Abstract: A trash collection system includes a point-of-use container having a plurality of removable bins with each bin for a different recyclable material. A pickup container, transportable to a pickup location, has a plurality of bins corresponding to the point-of-use bins, each bin having a normally closed hinged lid. A truck body has a set of bins corresponding to the pickup container bins and an automated arm mechanism for picking up, and inverting the pickup container over the truck body bins. Each lid is released selectively, when each bin is over a corresponding truck body bin, to dump the contents of the container bins. The container is then returned to its pickup location and released.

Abstract: A vehicular trailer includes a platform defining a recess into which articles to be transported are placed. Laterally extending hanger members and longitudinally extending support beams form a cradle for supporting the articles.

Abstract: A container stacking apparatus for use in supporting a pair of cargo containers in stacked relation on at least one first cargo container, the container stacking apparatus comprising an elongated frame adapted to be supported on the at least one first cargo container, the elongated frame including a mechanism for supporting the pair of cargo containers in end-to-end relation thereon, a mechanism for releaseably locking the frame down on the first cargo container, and a mechanism for releaseably locking the pair of cargo containers down on the frame.

Abstract: A collapsible bracing structure for bracing a load against shifting a surface bearing the load, including a pair of upright side frames extending longitudinally of the load-bearing surface and a plurality of elongated cross-braces each having opposite ends and extending laterally to the side frames to retain the side frames in an upright position. Manually operable, rotatable latches are provided for releasably attaching the opposite ends of each of the elongated braces to each of the side frames to define a rigid block having a bottom surface engaging the surface bearing the load and at least one upright load-engaging face.

Abstract: A grade crossing system for extending a roadway across a railroad track comprises elongate elastomeric pad units which abut each side of the rails in the track but do not extend across the entire crossing. The elastomeric pad units rest on the ties that carry the rails and have planar top surfaces that are coplanar with the tops of the rails. The remainder of the crossing is filled with non-elastomeric panels that also rest on the ties and have planar top surfaces that are coplanar with the top surface of the rails. The abutting edges of the pad units and the panels overlap such that the panels hold the pad units down against the ties and urge them against the sidewalls of the rail flanges. Thus, mechanical fasteners are not required to hold the crossing elements in place.

Abstract: A freight manipulator includes a mobile chassis positioned on a pair of guide tracks and have an articulated cantilever boom extending forwardly thereof. A tool carriage is mounted at the end of the boom and has a pair of freight engaging tools thereon for engaging freight articles. The boom is connected to a two-axis gimbals at the rear of the chassis which allows swinging of the boom about a vertical axis and tilting of the boom about a horizontal tilt axis to increase the positioning range of the freight engaging tools. A boom bearing assembly at the front of the chassis supports the boom on the chassis during movement thereof. A pair of swing cylinders are connected to the chassis and have a chain connecting the ends of their rams to the bearing assembly. The swing cylinders work in opposition to swing the boom. A pair of boom tilt cylinders are connected between the bearing assembly and the boom and operate in unison to tilt the boom.

Abstract: A cargo depot for storing palletized cargoes such as passenger cars (97, 98, and 99), in which a car (97) is moved to a designated cell (5) in sequential steps along two or three coordinates through door openings (11, 12) provided in adjacent cells (5) located along the travelling path of the car (97). The adjacent cells (5) are emptied of other cargo by moving the cargo to other cells (5) to allow passage of the car (97).

Abstract: This device is for an air operated safety latch designed to hold a folding pole trailer in its stationary or folded position when traveling. The device is comprised of a housing which supports jaw members which can move from an open to a closed position when a pole or other longitudinal member is placed between the jaw members, springs attached to each jaw member, a pivot arm attached to a latch block which locks the jaw members in place when the jaw members are closed, a spring to pull down on the pivot arm and to assist the locking mechanism, and a two-way air cylinder which can serve as a back-up to the locking system and which can be used to unlock and open the jaw members.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving separated materials for selective collection of the materials includes a container divided into a plurality of bins, each bin for receiving one type of separated material, and lids for closing each of the bins. A lifting channel assembly is attached to the container, and a pickup arm assembly is provided for engaging said lifting channel preparatory to picking up said container.

Abstract: Load lifting device in particular for a truck, the device comprising: a pair of substantially upright columns (6) which can be in a stationary position in respect of the truck; a slide (7) being movable along the columns; a platform assembly (12) being mounted to the slide such that it can be pivoted around an axis (10) running parallel to the plane of the columns and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of these, members being present for moving the slide in respect of the columns, the platform assembly (12) comprising two sections: a base section (11) being pivotally mounted to the slide (7) and a carrying section (14) being pivotally mounted to the base section (11).

Abstract: An apparatus for displacing an article or a person in parallel with the curvature of and in proximity to a surface of variable profile possessing convex and/or concave parts, as the case may be, comprising a support for the article to be displaced in the vicinity of the surface, having at least two guide rollers, engaged respectively in each of two separate rail-forming grooves made in a structure for bearing on the ground which is moveable and which is located as near as possible to the surface, this structure having a profile corresponding substantially to that of this surface, the two rollers being arranged in their respective grooves in such a way that they are always separated by an invariable distance, a motor being provided for displacing the rollers in their grooves, wherein the grooves receiving the rollers are open outwards and provided on either side of a upright belonging to the bearing structure, these grooves having different profiles which are a function of the curvature of the surface and whic

Abstract: A garbage disposal system including garbage containers, a garbage-collecting vehicle and a lifting and tilting unit. The lifting and tilting unit includes a receiving member which can be temporarily coupled to an edge structure of each garbage container. The edge structure is located on a front wall of the container body opposite the hinges of the hinged cover of the garbage container. The receiving member has along its edge portion corresponding to the edge structure of the garbage container tooth-type contours which are oriented parallel to and transversely of the principal plane edge structure. The tooth-type contour oriented parallel to the principal plane has top surfaces extending essentially transversely of the principal plane and the tooth-type contour oriented transversely of the principal plane has end surfaces extending approximately parallel to the principal plane. The top surfaces and the end surfaces are each located on a common straight line.

Abstract: A manually operable applicator for applying rail fasteners in a direction lateral of the rail. The applicator comprises lever arm 20 which is pivoted on axle 26 and at its lower end has a latch 21 for urging a rail clip onto a rail flange. The bracing mechanism 23 has two arms pivoted on either side of the lever 20 which hook over the rail head. The location pin 29 bears against the rail clip and is engaged by the latch 21 to urge the clip onto the rail flange.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a transportable frame, an equipment frame and a load carrying vehicle for using the transportable frame and the equipment frame. The load carrying vehicle has a movable hook arm which can pivot around a pivotal connection to a link member which is itself pivotally connected to the vehicle. The transportable frame has longitudinal beams and an upstanding end portion formed by upstanding beams and a cross piece. The upstanding end portion has a coupling arrangement for detachably securing the equipment frame thereto. The equipment frame supports an item of equipment and includes at least two connected beams and a coupling arrangement carried by the beams. An upper region of the equipment frame has a support having secured thereto the item of equipment.

Abstract: A cargo clamp for a van, the van having cargo space defined by a floor, upwardly extending sidewalls and a roof. The cargo clamp comprises a transverse track that extends between the sidewalls below the roof and is supported below the roof and is held in place by side rails on each side. A clamp is attached to the track and is movable along the side rails between the sidewalls. The clamp also includes a downwardly extending brace that engages and restrains sheet material that is positioned on edge in the cargo space. The clamp includes a handle and bolt for engagement in a threaded hole for securing the clamp to the track at a selected position.

Abstract: To relocate cutlings (22) contained in plant boxes (20), an endless transport element (2) with grippers (9) is used, which grip on a pick-up position (23) the plants (22) at their stems and transport these to an unload position comprising a direction changing wheel (4). To pull out the plants (22) as far as possible in the direction of growing and particularly vertically, every gripper (9) is rotatably journalled on a carrier (8) provided on a transport element (2). The distance between the gripper bearing (17) in the area of the pick-up position (23) and the shaft of the direction changing wheel (4) is substantially smaller than the radius of said direction changing wheel. Hence the plants (22) gripped by the gripper (9) are pulled out in essentially the grind direction thereof.

Abstract: An improved railroad spike, configured to resemble a conventional U.S. railroad spike as to its head, shank and tip. The improved spike features (1) a keyhole bore which extends between and through the head and top of the spike, and (2) and a pair of angular V-grooves on the shank in communication with the bore.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for adjusting the height of a monitor with respect to the rail head of a rail having a first bracket adapted to be connected to the rail and a secured bracket adapted to be connected to the monitor, the brackets are releasably connected to each other by a vertically movable slide arrangement comprising mating surfaces one of them having an elongate recess and the other having a complementary protrusion to prevent relative tilting or canting of the brackets.

Abstract: An unloading device having a frame transversely supportable on a pair of spaced side walls of a truck bed is longitudinally movable from the front to the rear of the truck bed. A plurality of wheels secured to the frame and engagable with the side walls facilitate movement of the device. An electric motor or hand crank is drivingly connected to a main shaft mounted on the frame for rotating the shaft in opposite directions, and an elongated sheet of material, such as reinforced nylon, having one end thereof secured to the shaft and the other end thereof secured to the rear of the truck bed is used for receiving an article for transportation. Rotation of the shaft in one direction winds the sheet of material on the shaft, moves the frame toward the rear of the truck bed and shifts the article on the sheet from the front of the truck bed to the rear and off of the truck bed. A rail is mounted on each of the side walls of the truck bed for guiding the wheels.

Abstract: A portable device for launching-unloading a boat (24) from a boat trailer (10) wherein a winch rope snap (46) is snapped in to a boat bow eye (26) and a winch rope (36) is extended through a swivel pulley (38) attached to the rear trailer frame cross member (16) and continued forward to the launching winch (28). Upon activation of the launching winch (28) a rearward directional thrust is developed causing the boat (24) to move off of the trailer (10).