Abstract: A discharger mechanism is provided for discharging solids from the bottom of a pile. The discharger comprises a reciprocating stoker rod of a substantially rectangular cross section and plastimeric bearing member engaging the bottom and sides of the rod for vertically supporting and horizontally guiding the rod. A reciprocating device reciprocates the rectangular stoker rod longitudinally beneath the pile. A plurality of stoker cross bars are equispaced apart and rigidly attached at their centers to the rectangular stoker rod. A further bearing member bears against the top of rod to prevent the rod from lifting.

Abstract: A recovery and towing vehicle which has been specifically designed for transport in a freighter aircraft and must necessarily therefore be of low profile to fit within the cargo space of an air-transport vehicle comprising a main chassis (1) on which is mounted a cab (3) with a removable upper part (5) and a slewing crane (7) having an extendable boom (11), a winch (10) and spades (23) mounted in slideways (29). The vehicle also is provided with a traditional supported lift towing boom (25) but instead of being mounted for pivoting movement on the chassis (1), the boom (25) is mounted for generally vertical sliding movement. For this purpose, slideways (29) are provided on the inside of housing (31) for the spades and vertical movement of the boom (25) is under the control of the main crane boom (11) which can be connected to the boom (25) by a lift strop (41).

Abstract: For use with a fork lift truck having a pair of vertically spaced apart forks which are raised or lowered in union, apparatus for exchanging a loaded or unloaded pallet with an unloaded or loaded pallet, respectively, by back and forth movement of the fork lift truck and by vertical movement of the forks. The apparatus comprises a pallet supporting member which is biased under the force of a spring so as to move to an extended pallet supporting position from a retracted position out of a path of pallets carried by the forks; a lever which is located at a position higher than said pallet supporting member; and a connecting member which is formed with elongated slots into which are fitted said lever and said pallet supporting member, said connecting member being raised by upward movement of an unloaded pallet engaging the lever to incline it upwardly, the connecting member retracting the pallet supporting member and latching it.

Abstract: A carrier for lifting and transporting a log. The carrier includes a wheeled frame, a hook, and a load stabilizer. The hook has, at one end, a hinged attachment to the frame, and, at the other end, both a point for gripping one side of the log and a point for prodding logs into position. The load stabilizer is movably attached to the frame. After a log is initially gripped between the hook and the frame, the stabilizer is moved into a position in which the stabilizer applies a force to the log to hold the log against the hook and thereby prevent the hook from losing its grip on the log.

Abstract: A countercurrent fluid cooled conveying screw is disclosed. Suitable for furnace applications, the screw includes an outer shaft spatially circumscribing an inner tube. A plurality of hollow, fluid cooled flights are affixed to the outer shaft and are in fluid flow communication with coolant coursing through the screw. The coolant is first directed through the flights and then back through the outer shaft before exiting through the inner tube.

Abstract: A soft landing cantilever boat loader for loading semiconductor wafer carrying boats into a furnace process tube includes a loading station having one or more loading assemblies, an automatically controlled door associated with each loading assembly for selectively closing an end of the process tube and a microcomputer based control system for controlling and coordinating process operations. The loading assemblies are of a low profile configuration and each include a boat supporting, cantilevered paddle that is mounted by a quick release mechanism on a carriage which is driven along ways by a motor. A motor speed control circuit provides closed loop motor speed using a pulse width modulated motor drive. A door operating mechanism provides movement of the door along two transverse axes to assure tight sealing of the door against the tube.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint is provided with a releasable locking device for securing a parked vehicle adjacent a structure such as a loading dock. The device includes a first unit mounted adjacent to an upright surface of the structure and projecting outwardly therefrom. A second unit is mounted on the outwardly disposed distal end of the first unit for selective movement about an outwardly projecting axis between operative and inoperative modes. When in a operative mode, the second unit has at least a portion thereof projecting upwardly and assuming a vehicle interlocking position whereby a segment of the vehicle is entrapped between the upright portion of the second unit and the upright surface of the structure. When in an inoperative mode, the portion of the second unit assumes a vehicle release position disposed at a substantial angle relative to the upright vehicle interlocking position whereby the second unit will not obstruct movement of the vehicle away from the upright surface.

Abstract: An elongate, transportable unit (1) standing upright during use and being intended for transport with the aid of a vehicle (7) provided with a loading bridge (8) which can be turned about a pivot axis located near the rear end of the chassis of the vehicle (7) and extending horizontally and transversely of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. An element (10) is provided with the aid of which a hook-like coupling member can be moved along the loading bridge (8). The transportable uint (1) is provided with an arm (5) which is pivotable about an at least substantially horizontal axis of rotation (6). The arm (5) is provided near its free end (11) with a coupling element for connecting the hook-like coupling member.

Abstract: A multi-wafer load lock apparatus for use in wafer processing machines provides access to wafers in an internal cassette by orthogonal wafer transport devices. Upper and lower bell jars, which seal to a sealing plate, provide access to the cassette by outside and vacuum transport mechanisms, respectively. A right angle passthrough cassette allows orthogonal access. An improved vacuum feedthrough actuates both the upper bell jar and the internal cassette.

Abstract: The device for restraining a truck or transport trailer at a loading dock comprises a frame having a vertical securing face and a lower horizontal securing face for mounting of the device to a structure such as a loading dock and at least partially supported by a driveway in front of the loading dock. A pivotal bar member having one end pivotally secured to the frame above and intermediate the length of the lower horizontal bearing face and outwardly of the vertical securing face is movable from a generally horizontal vehicle release position to a vehicle restraining position with the bar generally perpendicular to the lower horizontal bearing face. The bar is moved by a hydraulic cylinder pivotally secured adjacent the forward end of the lower horizontal securing face and pivotally secured to said bar member to be angled rearwardly towards said vertical securing face. The cylinder is pivotally secured to arms extending below the bar beyond the pivot securement of the bar to the frame.

Abstract: A railroad hopper car door opener 40 is provided for opening a railroad hopper car door 20. The hopper car door opener 40 includes a first elongated member 44 which is mounted to rotate on a platform 52 adjacent a hopper car unloading area. A second elongated member 46 is pivotably mounted on one end thereof to the other end of the first elongated member 44. The first and second elongated members 44 and 46 have a curve 48 and 58 respectively formed at a predetermined point thereon to facilitate optimum conditions for movement. A third elongated member 78 is provided which is tapered at one end thereof to engage a car door socket 34. A motor 74 is coupled to the end of the third elongated member 78 opposite the tapered end thereof and pivotably mounted to the other end of the second elongated member 46. The motor 47 is provided to rotate the third elongated member 78 about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: A towing apparatus for a rail bound vehicle is described. The towing apparatus includes both a lifting device for lifting the wheel load off of a defective wheel, tire or axle and a mobile support which supports the load, normally supported by the defective wheel, during a towing operation. The lifting device occupies a minimum of space and is supported by the road surface rather than by the rail. The mobile support may be conveniently and positively engaged with a defective wheel hub under conditions wherein a minimum of maneuvering space is available.

Abstract: Parallel spaced posts are rigidly connected by a cross member to form an H-shaped frame, and the frame is supported by carriage members within tracts for linear and tilting movement between a storage position under the floor of a vehicle body and a vertical operating position adjacent a doorway within a side wall of the body. The posts support movable intermediate tracks which support movable elevator members carrying a platform pivotable between an extended horizontal position and a retracted storage position adjacent the posts. Hydraulic cylinders move the frame between its storage and operating positions and also move the elevator members and platform vertically between a bottom position on the ground and an upper position flush with the floor of the body.

Abstract: An extendable boat trailer has a wheeled chassis adapted to be secured to a towing vehicle, and a boat supporting cradle movable rearwardly and forwardly on the chassis. The cradle includes a rear section which is engaged by a low friction conveyor in the form of rollers on the chassis for guiding the rearward and forward movement on the chassis, and a forward section extending upwardly and forwardly relative to the rear section. The forward section includes retaining members thereon that are cooperable with rollers on the chassis for engaging the rollers on the chassis when the cradle has been fully extended. A removable towing hitch is separable from the trailer, and the trailer includes only one winch.

Abstract: Auger conveyor apparatus is described which is adapted to convey bulk material. The conveyor includes a plurality of axially aligned and connected segments which are coupled in such a manner that one segment drives an adjacent segment after limited rotation relative to the adjacent segment. The connected segments are self-supporting, and incoming bulk material has access to the apparatus essentially along its full length. The apparatus may be used in a variety of applications including, among others, bottom unloading devices for storage structures.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling reels with convoluted exposed roll films from successive film cartridges has a gate which supports a cartridge at an opening station between an axially movable mandrel and an axially movable pusher. A holder with four or more equidistant idler wheels having sharp edges is adjacent to one end of the shell of the cartridge which is located between the mandrel and the pusher to hold the shell against axial movement with the pusher when the latter is shifted axially toward the mandrel to bear upon the core of the reel in the cartridge and to expel the reel as well as one end wall of the cartridge from the shell while the mandrel transmits or is ready to transmit torque to the core in a direction to wind the film onto the core. The idler rollers are thereupon disengaged from the shell and the gate is retracted so that the shell can leave the opening station by gravity before the next cartridge enters the opening station by gravity feed.

Abstract: A furnace loading system is provided for loading and unloading wafer boats or other receptacles from a furnace tube of the type used in semiconductor processing. The system includes a carrier for supporting the receptacles in a cantilevered manner out of contact with the furnace tube. Actuators are provided for moving the carrier and receptacles into the furnace tube and for depositing the receptacles on the floor of the furnace tube without any contact between the carrier and the furnace tube. The carrier is then withdrawn, completing the loading cycle. Unloading is accomplished by inserting the carrier into the furnace tube while supported in a cantilevered manner. The carrier is then raised to pick up and support the receptacles on the carrier, after which they are withdrawn from the furnace tube. Only the feet of the receptacles contact the furnace tube, reducing particulate matter generation to a minimum.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively storing a thin tray or sheet in an elongate storage location, and retrieving trays therefrom, includes a tray extractor and a transport assembly. The tray extractor comprises a tray engagement mechanism and a tray linear movement actuator. The tray engagement mechanism operates as a hand to selectively grip or release trays which are being handled by the apparatus. The tray linear movement actuator acts as an arm to position the tray engagement mechanism and, when operated, to move an engaged tray. The tray linear movement actuator comprises a linear movement link and pulley arrangement which moves an engaged tray along a linear path of motion, and which maintains the tray engagement mechanism in a selected orientation with respect to that path of movement. The tray engagement mechanism comprises an X-shaped scissors mechanism having a plurality of jaws thereon. Scissors motion of the mechanism opens and closes the pairs of jaw members to selectively engage or disengage a tray.

Abstract: A transfer device between a container and a confinement enclosure comprises a chamber having an opening issuing to the outside and an opening issuing into the enclosure. These openings are closed by doors constituting with an external door and an internal door of the container, to double door transfer systems. In order to permit the engagement of the chamber door on the inner door of the container following the removal of the first double door, the opening is formed on a mobile skirt connected by a sealing bellows to the enclosure wall.

Abstract: A feed system for feeding light-weight materials, such as tobacco, into large blending and/or bulking bins. The present invention resides primarily in a novel, light-weight feed system comprising a trolley and a shuttle conveyor adapted to reciprocatingly feed rapidly in either a longitudinal or lateral direction with a minimum amount of inertia during acceleration and deacceleration. A feed conveyor deposits said material onto the shuttle conveyor, said feed conveyor comprising drive elements adapted to synchronize movement of the feed conveyor with movement of the shuttle conveyor. The shuttle conveyor, at least in the X direction, is unencumbered mechanically by the feed conveyor.