Abstract: In a climbing four-wheel dolly for moving a load from one elevation to another, a pair of box-channel tracks form a ramp in which sliding door track rollers, mounted on the axle support adjacent the respective dolly wheel channel track, guidingly support the dolly. The dolly is moved up or down the tracks by a winch and pulley arrangement having a cable connected with a tongue at one end of the dolly.

Abstract: A conveyor system or plant has linked carriages including at least one driver carriage which has a motor unit for moving the linked carriages along a rail path. The rail path has a pair of side rails on which freely-rotatable wheels of the carriages run and a central rail upon which the motor unit of the drive carriage acts. Power for the motor unit is taken, through sliding contacts, from feed rods along the path.

Abstract: A car carrier assembly designed to be used in conjunction with a conventional tow dolly allowing a disabled vehicle to be towed by a conventional tow wrecker having a tow sling. The car carrier assembly comprises a pair of longitudinal side members configured in a spaced apart manner by a tow bar connected to the forward ends of the side members by a pair of angled members. The rearward ends of the side members are detachably connected to the tow dolly. The rearward wheels of the vehicle are supported from the ground by the tow dolly and the forward wheels of the vehicle are supported from the ground by extensible wheel tubes extending between the side members of the car carrier assembly when the tow sling of the wrecker engages and elevates the tow bar of the assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling bobbins and transferring them from one location to another. The apparatus includes upper and lower housings connected by an articulated joint. The upper housing is supported by a fluid-operated, overhead hoist which is controlled by a manually-operated control mounted on the upper housing. The lower housing has an outwardly-extending, compact, fluid-operated gripper which extends into a central passage of the bobbin and has movable jaws engaging the inner surface. The articulated joint enables the lower housing to pivot relative to the upper one and move the gripper between horizontal and vertical positions. The articulated joint has a manually-operated locking pin locking the lower housing in either position, with a manual release handle located near the hoist control on the upper housing to enable both to be manipulated by one hand. The apparatus also includes a fluid interlock system which prevents accidental release of the bobbin from the gripper.

Abstract: A stack conveyor and handler in the form of a crane for stacking rod-like material in a warehouse or storage system or the like, in which the load-bearing beam is vertically movable on guides of the crane and has load pickup devices in the form of prongs or the like. Prongs identical to these prongs and located opposite them are firmly connected to the beam, and clamping mandrels for gripping the material are movable substantially vertically between opposed prongs. The load-bearing beam is supported such that it is rotatable, about an axis that is horizontal as well as parallel to the corridors between stacks, between at least two operating positions, in which the prongs extend in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a combustor with viscous bulk material, particularly coal slurry, comprises two silos which are associated with at least one conveyor system, for transporting the bulk material from the silos to a plurality of fuel-feeders in the combustor. Advantageously, two conveyor systems are linked with each other so that bulk material can be distributed uniformly either from both silos or from one of the silos to all the fuel-feeders of the combustor.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for exchanging metal molds for a molding machine that employs such molds. The apparatus includes a mold carriage capable of mounting thereon at least two metal molds and a mold transfer and exchange unit capable of transporting the mold to be exchanged from the carriage to the molding machine and to give and receive the molds horizontally. The apparatus includes a guide rail and an extension of said guide rail which pivots in a horizontal plane to effect the exchange of said molds.

Abstract: A cable reel handling and transporting trailer including a wheeled frame having a forwardly extending hitch provided on the forward end thereof. The wheeled frame includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart and longitudinally extending side frames having a wheel rotatably mounted thereon. A hydraulically operated leveling arm is pivotally mounted on each of the side frames and is adapted to engage a spindle reel assembly extended through a cable reel to roll the spindle reel assembly forwardly on the leveling arms. When the spindle reel assembly has reached the forward end of the leveling arms, a pair of hydraulic cylinders are actuated which engage the opposite ends of the spindle reel assembly so that the spindle reel assembly and the cable reel are moved upwardly on a forwardly extending guide rail into a lock/transport/rotating position. A hydraulic motor is operatively connected to one end of the spindle reel assembly for laying and retrieving the cable on the cable reel.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting flat objects having first and second faces between a first carrier and a second carrier, the apparatus comprising a mechanism for supporting the first and second carriers, a pickup mechanism for picking up the objects and transporting the objects between the first carrier and the second carrier, and intermediate station having a mechanism for receiving the objects from the pickup mechanism with the faces in a first orientation and for changing the orientation of the faces before the objects are removed by the pickup mechanism.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a vacuum processing apparatus which is constructed so that a sample may be carried between a main vacuum chamber and a portion of the atmosphere outside the main vacuum chamber while the sample is retained in a vertical position. The sample is carried in the vertical position through several chambers, including a first vacuum preparatory chamber provided to be communicable with the main vacuum chamber and a second vacuum preparatory chamber provided to be communicable with both the first vacuum preparatory chamber and the atmosphere. By using this apparatus, and in particular by conveying the sample in a vertical position, it is possible to restrain the adhesion of foreign substances on the sample surface which is to be treated. It is also possible to reduce the vacuum load and properly maintain pressure within the main vacuum chamber, thereby enabling increased quality of treatment and also enhancing the manufacturing yield of a semiconductor element.

Abstract: A lift truck load handling attachment having a quick-disconnect hook assembly for quick mounting or demounting of the attachment on a lift truck carriage. The hook assembly comprises a hook mounting member fastened to the rearwardly-facing surface of the frame of the load-handling attachment, slideably mounting an upwardly-facing hook for vertical reciprocation of the hook relative to the mounting member. The hook and mounting member respectively have elongate, vertically-oriented interlocking slides for permitting such vertical reciprocation while preventing rearward movement of the hook relative to the mounting member. A locking pin is selectively insertable transversely to limit downward movement of the hook relative to the mounting member, and the vertical slides and pin are located below the engagement surface of the hook when in its engaged position so as to permit direct abutment between the front of the lift truck carriage and rear of the attachment frame.

Abstract: A rapid-load system for loading a series of pallets into a sputtering apparatus. The system comprises a magazine having a plurality of vertically spaced pallet supports whose spacing is sufficient to allow insertion of a pallet into the magazine directly without contact between the pallet and magazine. The magazine is removably supported in a load-in chamber of the sputtering apparatus by a chamber track assembly.

Abstract: A stacker-retriever lift carriage is disposed to be raised, lowered and positioned, in selected positions with respect to a pair of spaced support masts, by a flexible wire cable one end of which is connected to a lift carriage drive and the other end of which is connected to the lift carriage through a pair of four bar linkages pivotally connected together in spaced parallel relationship to form a safety brake operating mechanism. The upward pull by the cable upon the brake operating mechanism retracts a pair of opposed brake arms, pivotally carried by the brake operating mechanism, to a brake deactivated position with the back ends of each brake arm abutting each other. Loss of the pull of the cable on the lift carriage, as would occur if the cable severed or if the lift carriage hung up, permits a spring housed between the brake arms to move the brake operating mechanism and the brake arms to a braking position with brake pads carried by the brake arms in friction engagement with the support masts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method utilize liquid pressurized lock hoppers to feed solids to a high pressure vessel. Solids are introduced to a first lock hopper, and gases are passed to the first lock hopper from a second lock hopper which has previously discharged solids. Liquid is supplied to the first lock hopper so as to attain a pressure equivalent to the pressure of the high pressure vessel. Solids are discharged from the first lock hopper to a high pressure vessel after pressurization.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the bulk transfer of pluralities of semiconductor wafers or slices from container to container. The device includes a stage adapted to receive a standard semiconductor wafer container and a plurality of vertical storage slots are provided above the stage. A pneumatically controlled elevation device is utilized to raise a plurality of semiconductor wafers from each container into the storage slots and an automatic wafer retainer is selectively rotated in response to each operation of the elevation device to retain the semiconductor wafers within the storage slots. In a preferred mode of the present invention the wafer retainer is designed to permit insertion and retention of a first plurality of semiconductor wafers into odd numbered storage slots while permitting insertion of a second plurality of semiconductor wafers into even numbered storage slots.

Abstract: An adjustable dual-wheel caddy for supporting wheel assemblies when they are removed from vehicles is described. The caddy includes a U-shaped support having a single movable leg and rollers along the lower surfaces of both legs. A crank handle is provided to manually change the bight of the "U" only in response to rotation thereof. An internal rack is provided along at least a portion of the bight of said "U". A spur gear is rotatably mounted on the movable leg in mesh with the rack and a worm gear is mounted on the crank handle to drive the spur gear in response to manual rotation.

Abstract: A release mechanism for a side opening x-ray cassette uses an air jet to release the x-ray film from sticking and facilitating its removal from the cassette.

Abstract: A mobile loader of the type used for loading and unloading the cargo holds of aircraft is described. The loader operates by electric motors driving both traction apparatus and loading platform elevation.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the compaction of refuse in a refuse collection truck, and for controlling the operation of an ejection panel of the refuse collection truck, so as to provide for uniform compression of refuse in the truck. A hydraulic cylinder supports the ejection panel, and a combination sequence-relief valve is provided to vent hydraulic fluid from the cylinder when the fluid pressure output of the hydraulic pump exceeds a predetermined pressure and when the fluid pressure in the packing cylinder exceeds a selected pressure.

Abstract: A low load lift adapter designed for use with a forklift truck comprising an upper frame adapted to be secured to the teeth of the forklift and having a vertically disposed frame section extending downwardly from the forward end thereof. A pair of spaced-apart pocket members are secured to the lower end of the vertically disposed frame and are adapted to removably receive a pair of fork teeth therein.