Abstract: A system for controlling vacuum lifting apparatus 2 comprising a bellows like lift tube 3 having an interior 6 connectable to a vacuum pump, with a suction foot 10 associated with the lift tube 4. Valve 1, serving to connect the interior 6 at a controllable level to atmosphere to regulate the internal vacuum and hence the axial extension of the lift tube 3, comprises a housing 11 having a first connection 12 to the suction foot 10 in air-flow communication with a first chamber 13 of the housing 11, which chamber 13 has an outlet 14 to atmosphere controlled by a first valve member 15.

Abstract: A control system for a storage and retrieval machine is disclosed in which a supervisory control is responsive to operating commands from a remote source to provide operating instructions for the control of the base, carriage and shuttle of the storage and retrieval machine. Separate controls for the base, the carriage and the shuttle respectively contain base, carriage and shuttle operating parameters. The base, carriage and shuttle controls are responsive to operating instructions from the supervisory control to respectively control movement of the base, carriage and shuttle in accord with the associated base, carriage and shuttle operating instructions and parameters. A base drive, carriage drive and a shuttle drive are also provided and each include a drive control which produces drive control instructions.

Abstract: A trailer for cylindrical fluid containers, particularly compressed gas tubes, arranged in modules individually removable from the trailer. Each module has a front and a rear bulkhead between which tubes are supported. The tubes have reduced cylindrical ends which protrude through and are supported in openings in the bulkheads. At least one end of the tubes is threaded and clamped by a nut or a collar flange to a bulkhead. Each bulkhead has a stiffening, right-angle flange along each vertical edge which aligns with and is clamped to each adjacent module. At their bottom, the bulkheads abut and are attached to an upwardly extending side of an L-shaped structural member, the other side being mounted to the trailer frame. The tubes are arranged in line horizontally and vertically with space between them.

Abstract: Grain tanks of harvesting machines frequently have an irregularly shaped interior which is difficult to fill completely and to unload. A conveyor system is proposed facilitating loading and unloading of the grain tank. The conveyor system comprises a conveyor arrangement which contains conveyor elements that can be driven and that can be moved vertically depending on the height of the crop deposit. The conveyor arrangement is mounted to the interior wall of the grain tank by a four bar linkage. During the filling process, the conveyor elements act as distributors filling in unused areas of the grain tanks. During the unloading process, they act as conveyors directing grain to the unloading auger.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling heavy loads, such as a wheelchair for the handicapped, wherein a raising/lowering device is equipped with an inclination sensor cooperating with a safety device for stopping the device if a predetermined inclination is exceeded.

Abstract: A fork unit mountable on the fixed front plate member of a lift truck comprises a movable frame to which the forks of the fork unit are restrained by respective shanks lying in the same plane that contains the frame. Between the upper and lower edges of the plate and the frame, provision is made for reciprocal coupling and a guide, and a hydraulic cylinder for translating the frame with respect to the plate acts between the plates and frame. The concept of side-shift device with fork-bearing is thus eliminated and this brings the advantage of a minimal overhang of the load moved by the lift truck.

Abstract: A combination mechanical/pneumatic fuel feeder for feeding particulate fuel into a furnace and having a closely coupled hopper, fuel metering device, rotor and air swept delivery plate.

Abstract: A collapsible full reach truck bed hoist includes a pair of elongated tracks adapted for securement onto the truck bed in parallel spaced apart relation. An inverted U-shaped hoist frame has opposite depending legs connected to trolley structures which are supported on the tracks for longitudinal movement therealong. A hoist is supported on the top crossbar of the hoist frame with freedom of movement along the top crossbar transversely of the truck bed. The hoist frame is collapsible from an upright working position to a lowered transport position and the tracks, upon which the hoist frame rides, are extendable outwardly of the truck bed for supporting the hoist frame above an object on the ground adjacent the truck bed.

Abstract: An improved hay feeding apparatus is mounted on a vehicle bed and utilizes a hay walker for separating portions of a bale of hay and discharging the separated hay into a windrow alongside the vehicle. The present invention utilizes a sweep to gather bales from the ground and a lifting device for lifting the bales to the bed of the vehicle. Separate conveyors on the vehicle bed transport the bales to the hay walker. The hay walker separates hay from the bale and delivers the hay to a chute for delivery to the ground.

Abstract: Automatic service truck with a method for moving sheet packages comprising a base frame (22) surrounded by vertical upright struts (24-30) and housing a plurality of planes or trays (34, 36, 38) for receiving the sheet packages; the truck receives the packages, along first direction (x), moving along a second direction (y) perpendicular with respect to the first direction (x) with the help of wheels (50-54) and subsequently lifting the planes or trays (34, 36, 38) along a third direction (z) perpendicular with respect to both the first directions (x) and the second direction (y) to allow subsequent loading of sheet packages on the planes or trays.

Abstract: A storage system, in particular a multi-story car park, comprises a displaceable lift (10) resembling a tower and transport pallets (8) with a guide rail on their lower side. The pallets (8) are gripped by the transfer device (47) forming part of the lift (10), which transfers them from the roller rails (20) of the lift (10) to stationary roller rails (7) of the parking places.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer car for heavy loads, a car which has a chassis frame (1) moving on wheels (2) and having a raisable flatbed (3) on top of it, in which an axle (4'), mounted with bearings to the chassis frame and locked to one of the two wheel pairs, is coupled by power transmission means (5") to a transfer motor (6'), for transferring the car, and which additionally has a lever mechanism (7), connected to the flatbed (3), turning on transverse axles primarily in the forward and back ends and coupled to a raising motor (6') by a power transmission (5'), for raising and lowering the flatbed (3). In prior-art transfer cars it has not been possible to exploit the car-transfer mechanism in any way in the load-raising mechanism. Thus the transfer cars for loads such as paper rolls have so far been of a complicated structure and expensive.

Abstract: A boat haul vehicle (10) includes lower and upper tiers of adjustable ramps (20-25) and skids (48), (50) and (51), and the ramps and skids include tracks (76). Dollies (55) are mounted to the front portion of each boat trailer, and the track wheels (75) of each dolly have a peripheral shape that is compatible with the tracks (76) mounted on each ramps and skid. Winches (91-94) are connectable to the boat trailers so as to progressively pull each boat and its trailer onto or off of the boat haul vehicle, with the track wheels (75) guiding the front of each trailer on the tracks (76).

Abstract: The invention is a handling apparatus for a truck, to be mounted on a truck chassis. A jib is connected to a rigid arm, a crank arm and a disengaged frame, to form the apparatus. The arms can be locked into position by a releasable locking mechanism. Three jacks are positioned in series to manipulate the jib, rigid arm, crank arm and disengaged frame. The handling apparatus is releasably secured on the truck chassis by a second releasable locking mechanism. A load can be lifted to the vertical, horizontal and dumping positions by changing the positions of the crank arm, rigid arm and jib arm.

Abstract: A truck body for mounting on a truck or trailer mounts apparatus for engaging, picking up, and selectively dumping a container at curbside having separated recyclable materials. The body is divided into a plurality of bins. A carriage is movably mounted on a longitudinal track attached to a side of the truck body and is powered to move therealong. An articulated arm assemby is attached to the carriage and includes hydraulic actuators for moving the arms thereof in a vertical plane. A pair of clamping arms is disposed at a distal end of the articulated arm assembly, and includes a hydraulic actuator for engaging a container. Thereafter, the container is picked up, inverted over the bins, and the container contents dumped selectively as the inverted container is moved over the bins. The container is returned to curbside after dumping.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel train and track which can be used in an automated, tracked soration system which is capable of sorting and transporting high volumes ofgoods efficiently and which gives flexible system design, easy set-up, easy servicing with minimum down time, centralized control and a minimum of wiring complexity. The train includes "smart" cars and a locomotive for pulling the cars around the track. The trains are loaded with goods to be sorted and given destination addresses for the goods at a loading or master station. Once a train has left the master station, all functions including keeping track of position, regulating speed and dumping cars are to be controlled by a microprocessor placed aboard each locomotive. This "smart" design allows the track to be very simple as it need only provide a path and lower supply for the trains to run on and the train can wait at the loading station until it has a full or partial load to deliver.

Abstract: A lifting and transporting device for heavy loads having a lower indented toe region therein, easily adjustable along both its length and its width dimensions so as to conform to the load it is to carry. Individual wheel assemblies are used for such transportation with each such wheel assembly having an abutment plate that pivots about a support plate. Since each end of an adjustable tube (that fits within the indented toe region of the load) is secured to the abutment plate, this end of the tube, and its respective corner of the load, is raised whenever the abutment plate is raised and subsequently locked in place.

Abstract: An invalid assistance device in which a supported, locked, and guided cable or other flexible line is used to stabilize an invalid in the range of desired vertical positions from sitting to standing while a single attendant can work with the invalid, thus stabilized. Also taught by the present invention is a portable apparatus in which a collapsible tripod is used to mount and support the stabilizing apparatus.

Abstract: A wheeled container has a plurality of bins, each bin coded to receive a separated material for stationing at curbside for automated pickup. Each bin includes a hinged lid, normally maintain in a closed position by a spring catch. A pickup arm assembly operates in combination with the container includes movable arms which engage the container preparatory to being picked up and dumped by an automated apparatus. The arm assembly includes spring catch release devices for selectively opening each bin during dumping thereof.

Abstract: A freight transportation system is provided and comprises a loading station, an unloading station and a vehicle moveable therebetween to transport freight. The vehicle includes a lower platform for carrying freight and a pair of doors moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the doors constitute side walls to prevent removal of the freight from the vehicle. In the open position, the doors are located to facilitate removal of the freight from the vehicle. The unloading station includes a door moving mechanism for moving the doors of the vehicle to the open position upon its arrival at the station. A freight removal device moves the freight off of one side of the platform when the doors are moved to the open position.