Abstract: An aircraft ground handling tractor (1) includes a manoeuverable boom (6) mounted on it. The free end of the manoeuverable boom (6) includes a connector (18) capable of being connected to an aircraft nosewheel assembly so that the tractor (1) can be connected to the nosewheel assembly through the boom (6) to enable it to pull or push the aircraft. The manoeuverable boom (6) is retractable completely within the outer limits of the tractor (1) so that, when the tractor (1) is not pulling an aircraft the manoeuverable boom (6) is wholly retracted so that it is protected from damage. Preferably the tractor (1) includes a longitudinal tunnel (7), and the manoeuverable boom (6) is received within this tunnel (7) in its retracted position. Preferably the movement functions of the boom (6) are all powered and all controlled from a driving cab (2) of the ground handling tractor (1), and the tractor (1) includes a separate, hand held control unit which enables them to be controlled remotely from the driving cab.

Abstract: A device for depositing particulate matter into a storage silo having a system of containers which are alternately filled at the top of said silo and lowered into said silo where the particulate matter is deposited, free falling only a short distance onto the top of previously deposited particulate matter. In a second embodiment, the particulate matter is deposited onto a conveyor having containers formed thereon, transporting said particulate matter down into said silo and depositing said particulate matter onto a second conveyor which distributes particulate matter onto the previously deposit particulate matter, said second conveyor being maintained at a certain height above the level of the previously deposited particular matter.

Abstract: A refuse truck body for attachment to a "low entry cab chassis". This truck body includes a container having an open forward end and an open rearward end. A tailgate or cap is provided for releasably closing the open rearward end. The container further includes an ejector assembly mounted for longitudinal movement within the container. The assembly is moved between a retracted position near the front of the truck and an ejection position near the rear of the truck by a linear actuator mounted generally horizontally above the ejector assembly. The ejector assembly has triangular side panels and an upwardly forwardly inclined ejection panel which reaches partially underneath the refuse, thus allowing the load of refuse to be carried forward of the container proper, to distribute more of the load onto the front wheels.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically feeding each of a sequence of crucibles (3), which are arranged on a conveyor, to a test oven (12) for vaporization and content analysis of a sample contained in each crucible. For cradling each crucible, a gripper head (13) is provided. In order to provide an apparatus in which the number of mechanically moving parts is minimized, the gripper head is rigidly mounted on the end of an operating piston (7). The gripper head preferably comprises two spaced, co-linear crosspieces (16) which face each other and engage under an outwardly extending circumferential flange (17) on the top of each crucible (3). The operating piston (7) and a lifting piston (6) are oriented vertically and connected together at their tops by a transverse crossbar (10). Lifting piston (6) is rotated about its axis (8) by a drive motor, thereby revolving operating piston (7) along a circle (11).

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and tipping a container off of a supporting surface in order to dump contents therefrom, the container being of the type having a bottom wall and upright side walls, the upper extent of which side walls define an opening. The apparatus includes a hook for engaging the bottom of the container and a first support carrying the hook for supporting the bottom of the container through a range of lifting and tipping movement upwardly from the supporting surface and defining a first movement segment wherein the forward side wall of the container in relation to the direction of movement of the container is unsupported. A second support cooperates with the first support for supporting the forward side wall of the container through a second range of lifting and tipping movement subsequent to the first lifting and tipping movement wherein the container is tipped to an angle sufficient to empty the contents therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for restraining movement of a parked vehicle away from a loading dock comprises an upwardly extending block which is movable from a lower position to an upper position which captures a portion of the parked vehicle to restrain movement of the parked vehicle away from the loading dock. This apparatus provides a safety lock system to ensure that during loading and unloading of a parked vehicle the vehicle cannot accidentally pull away from the loading dock which would result in injury to the forklift truck operator. A linkage mechanism is provided which provides for the raising and lowering of the block. A drive mechanism raises and lowers the linkage in determining the lower an upper positions of the block. The linkage comprises two spaced-apart linked arms which may be in the form of a parallelogram linkage arrangement.

Abstract: A trailer capable of carrying a boat and vehicle in a dual load mode of operation wherein the boat is mounted rearwardly of the vehicle in an inclined position with the bow of the boat above portions of the vehicle being carried. The trailer is also convertible into a single load mode of operation wherein the boat is carried low in a conventional orientation by lowering a supporting boat carriage into a collapsed position near the frame of the trailer. The trailer is provided with a boat carriage which is connected to the frame of the trailer and supported by a lifting mechanism which causes the boat carriage and any supported boat to shift rearwardly when they are moved from the collapsed position into the extended raised position. This rearward movement automatically shifts the weight of the boat carriage and any supported boat rearwardly to counteract the loading associated with a vehicle on forward portions of the trailer.

Abstract: A trailer assembly comprises spaced wheels connected by an axle, an elongate tow bar assembly projecting forwardly from the axle, and a load carrying frame pivotally mounted on the axle for movement between an upright, ground position for loading and unloading, a first towing position in which the frame is inclined forwardly, and a second towing position in which the frame is horizontal. First and second latching mechanisms are provided for releasably latching the frame in the first and second towing positions, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism in a bin-dumping device for gripping portable bins, to empty them into a truck for collecting waste, particularly household garbage, the gripping mechanism comprising a chassis connected to the dumping device and having at its upper part one or several shaped sections, particularly in the shape of a comb, adapted to be engaged under a collar provided at the upper end of the frontal wall of the body of the bin. It comprises, at the lower part of the chassis (1), at least one support devices (7) adapted to come into contact with the frontal face (5) of the bin (4), preferably at its lower half, said one or more devices being controllable for being applied forcefully to the bin during at least part of its path of displacement, during the operation of the dumping device.

Abstract: A vehicle having a flat bed for transporting a waste product container by placing the container fully on the bed. A groove in the bed is provided for a carriage which is winch operated down the length of the vehicle. A vertically movable member is mounted on the carriage which can drop below the level of the bed when the carriage is at the rear of the vehicle. Forks extending from the vertically movable member engage the container and raise it so that it can be moved over the bed and placed there for secure transporation.

Abstract: A power-operated lift and presenting mechanism has a base structure that is placed on the floor of an automobile. A carriage moves between an elevated position and a lowered, transport position when a lift assembly causes the carriage and base structure to be separated and brought closer together. The lift assembly is selectively power operated by a reversible electrical motor to expand to separate the carriage from the base structure and to contract to bring them closer together. The carriage has a track and track follower and a platform mounted on the track follower so that the platform is movable to and fro along the track. The platform is capable of supporting heavy and bulky articles. The platform is movable along the track when the carriage is in an elevated position, between a retracted position in which the platform is generally over the base structure and within the trunk, and a presenting position in which the platform extends out from over the trunk generally out of the trunk.

Abstract: The inventive manipulator for heavy loads, preferably printing products in loose scale formation and wound up to form rolls, only has a single pivot pin (35) or joint which, according to the invention, is arranged in such a way that the load (5) can be brought into three main positions orthogonal to one another using this single pivot pin or joint. The load is held by a holding device (33,38). The pivot pin (35) passes through the center of gravity of the load, or the center of gravity is located in the pivot point or fulcrum. This makes it possible to grip in frontal or lateral precise manner heavy loads and subsequently to deposit same on a loading device or in a store without great force expenditure using a drive and/or manually. The invention is also characterized by the combination of an industrial truck (10), a lifting device (11) arranged thereon and a mounted implement (31-38) located on the truck and preferably constituted by the inventive manipulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a truck shipping dock hook system for locking a truck trailer by an ICC bar to a shipping dock. The system includes a hook pivotally mounted to the dock, a pressurized air source, a normally closed first solenoid valve connected with the air source, a tank containing a low temperature fluid connected with the first solenoid valve and a second solenoid valve, a vent connected with the second solenoid valve, and a hydraulic cylinder with a piston rod pivotally connected to the hook for powering the same.

Abstract: Cargo trailer aligning apparatus is provided for aligning a loading track on the floor of a cargo trailer with a loading track on the floor of a loading dock. The tracks are aligned both vertically and horizontally. The aligning apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart aligning ramps which are positioned beneath the loading dock surface for interaction with a pair of spaced apart aligning legs which extend downwardly from the rear of the cargo trailer. The interaction occurs as the cargo trailer is backed up to the loading dock.

Abstract: An improved roll-on, roll-off handling device is provided to lift one end of a container and to maintain it in the raised position during handling and displacement of the container, the device comprising a chassis; a wheel system for supporting the chassis upon the ground, the wheel system permits pivotal movement of the chassis with respect to the ground about a first axis parallel to the ground, the chassis pivoting about the first axis from a tilted position in which a first end of the chassis is adjacent to the ground and a raised position in which the first end is spaced from the ground; a carriage mounted on the chassis and displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the chassis, the longitudinal axis being transverse to the first axis; an apron removably attachable to one face of a container, the apron being connected to the carriage and adapted for pivotal movement with respect to both the carriage and the chassis about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis; a connecting rod for pivot

Abstract: A transport vehicle mounted roll-off hoist having a main frame pivotally mounted on the rearward end of a vehicle such as a semi-trailer or truck, including a pair of hydraulic lift actuators adapted to move the main frame of the hoist between a horizontal position and a rearwardly inclined position. A hydraulic actuator winch is provided for lifting a container onto the main frame of the hoist or setting off the container from the hoist. An extensible and retractable stop carriage is telescopically connected to the forward end portion of the hoist main frame. Hydraulic actuator and locking means are associated with the stop carriage for placing the container in the optimum position for transport on the vehicle. The hoist is capable of handling containers of both the outside rail and the inside rail type.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a truck body having a forward cab section and a rear bed section, the bed section adapted to further provide a plurality of horizontal members, comprising a truck bed, the members positioned atop a rear axle for defining a bed portion for accommodating a boat thereupon. There is further included a rear section of the bed portion hingedly engaged to the rear portion of the frame which is movable from a horizontal position to form the rear portion of the bed to a position so that the rearward most end of the bed moves downward to a position adjacent the ground for slidingly accommodating a boat thereupon. There is further included a winch adjacent the rear portion of the truck cab, the winch including an extendable line attachable to the front portion of the boat so that as the line is winched in, the boat is pulled up the rear ramp member and is slid to a position on the bed portion of the truck.

Abstract: A lift platform for location at the rear of a road vehicle comprising a horizontally extending platform member moveable vertically between at least one vehicle floor level and substantially ground level. Two fluid actuated rams are located vertically, one on each interior side wall adjacent the rear wall of the vehicle. The pistons rods of the rams extend in opposite directions from their respective cylinders. Fluid pressure is connected to be fed via one ram to the other to ensure equal movement of both pistons in the same vertical direction. The rams are connected by wire ropes or chains via pulleys to the platform member, and a fluid equalizing arrangement is connected between the rams for adjusting the horizontal level of the platform members.

Abstract: In a load carrier controlling system a lift cylinder is subjected to the weight of a load carrier and is hydraulically extendable to lift the load carrier. A lift control valve is provided which is shiftable between a neutral position and a predetermined position wherein discharge of hydraulic fluid from the lift cylinder is allowed to permit a downward movement of the load carrier. A variable flow regulator is disposed between the lift cylinder and the lift control valve, the variable flow regulator having a first state which imparts a first degree of flow restriction to hydraulic fluid flow passing therethrough in one direction from the lift cylinder to the lift control valve, and a second state which imparts a second degree of flow restriction to the hydraulic fluid flow passing therethrough in the one direction.

Abstract: A rail type lift apparatus 10 for vehicles utilizing a platform 11 which is capable of being stored automatically beneath the bed of the vehicle. The apparatus utilizes adjustable lever arms 25 hingedly attached to platform 11 for selective engagement with engagement members 61. When engaged, lever arms 25 impart a rotational force on platform 11. Due to this force, platform 11 rotates about its pivotal connection and through rails 23 to a stored position. Platform 11 is hinged at its midpoint, to facilitate folding, thereby conserving the area required for storage. The support assembly supports platform 11 in its stored position and helps propel platform 11 to its operative position. The support assembly also ensures that stop 92 is appropriately aligned securing platform 11 in its stored position. A hydraulic cylinder 80 is used to actuate the apparatus 10.