Abstract: A rotary feeder mechanism capable of attachment to and synchronized operation with a variety of different types of fruit juice extracting apparatus, in which a fruit receiving hopper is rotatable about a generally vertical or tilted axis of rotation, the received fruit being moved under centrifugal force to the hopper periphery area containing entrance openings to depending magazines in which the fruits are stored in stacked relation. The lower ends of the magazines are respectively arranged with a pair of spaced-apart gating fingers which are controlled by separate cam tracks to successively release the lowermost fruit in the magazine, while opposing release of the other fruits in the magazine, at a predetermined point of the hopper rotation.

Abstract: A device for ejecting radar chaff comprising a magazine having a number of tubular cells in which chaff bundles are displaced towards an ejection end of the cell. The displacement of the chaff bundles is obtained by means of a plunger device which is longitudinally movable in each cell. Each plunger device is driven by a wire running from an attachment point on the plunger device to the ejection end, and therefrom to a driving wheel. The wire also drives a knife element. The knife edge of the knife element performs a cutting movement substantially longitudinally of the cell, the cutting movement preferably being rotational and in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the chaff bundle.

Abstract: A probe positioner capable of being supported from a tube sheet of a nuclear steam generator for positioning a probe in relationship to the tube sheet of the nuclear steam generator comprises a locking mechanism for locking the probe positioner in the tube sheet and a plurality of rotatable arms for positioning the probe. The probe positioner also comprises quick disconnect motors for rotating the arms of the probe positioner relative to each other.

Abstract: In order to improve the grip and remote handling of an object by an "artificial hand" (or "slave hand") remotely controlled by the hand of an operator, the artificial hand is provided with sensors for sensing tactile parameters. The signals produced by these sensors are applied to actuators associated with a "master hand" in the form of a glove in which the hand of the operator is inserted, and the actuators apply tactile sensations to the hand of the operator. The operator thus apparently "feels" the object, as if handling it directly. The remote handling device of the invention is particularly useful for handling objects in a dangerous environment (in the nuclear or chemical industries for example) or out of the reach of the operator (under water or in space).

Abstract: A work changing mechanism for machine tools, especially lathes, designed for automatic change of works to be clamped by centers or chucks comprising a shuttle car movable in the direction of the spindle axis of the lathe, a slide vertically movable along the shuttle car and rotatably arranged on the slide and about a horizontal shaft extending transversely to the spindle axis is a gripping mechanism including two pairs of jaws which are horizontally displaceable parallel to the shaft on opposite sides thereof. The first jaw pair is adapted to feed work into the machine tool and the second pair to remove machined work from the machine tool. Loading and removing work pieces may be rapidly achieved because the work changing mechanism is controlled by computer.

Abstract: A commercially available farm tractor having a rear-mounted upwardly swingable power lift, is provided with a pair of hay-bale-penetrating tines rigidly parallelly connected at their base ends by a member that is easily and quickly detachably mountable on the free ends of parallel lift arms. A delta-shaped frame is attached to the front of the tractor to carry a second pair of parallel bale-impaling tines which are upwardly swingable by a single hydraulic cylinder. The assemblage provides quick and easy loading and unloading of two bales, and a weight-balanced load during carrying.

Abstract: A motor vehicle having excavating machinery mounted thereon and having at least two axles, at least one of which is driven, and further including an operator cab, the vehicle having counterweights on each lateral side of the cab, guides for the counterweights extending lengthwise of the vehicle on each lateral side of the cab, the counterweights being movable along the guides from a first position above one of the axles to a second position above the other of the axles, and apparatus for selectively securing the counterweights in each of the two positions.

Abstract: A jointed manipulator is formed of a body, first and second arms, and a holder for an object to be manipulated, wherein the first arm is pivoted to the body, the second arm is pivoted to the first arm, and the holder is pivoted to the second arm, and coupling and constraining mechanisms are provided which limit the relative movements of the parts so that the entire system has only one degree of freedom.

Abstract: An automated device comprising an arm, a wrist which is rotatably held by the arm at predetermined angles and a hand which is rotatably held by the wrist, wherein the wrist includes an apparatus for varying the angle of the axis of the wrist with respect to the axis of the arm, and the varying apparatus has a device for adjusting the angle. In the above device, the wrist may be bent in all directions.

Abstract: A mechanism for transferring objects from one position to another position in another turntable. A slide is mounted to be slidable on a guide on the turntable. The slide comprises a slot which extends transversely of the guide and in which a drive member is accommodated which is connected to one end of a first arm, the other end of which is pivotably connected to a second arm which is journalled in the turntable by way of a shaft and which is coupled to a drive. Around this shaft a wheel is rigidly arranged. This wheel is coupled to a further wheel, the center of which is formed by the pivot of the first and the second arm. This further wheel is rigidly connected to the first arm. The arrangement is such that, when the shaft is driven, the drive member follows an elliptical path. On the slide there is provided a gripping member for gripping and releasing the objects to be transferred.

Abstract: The invention related to an apparatus for lifting, handling, transporting and unrolling large round hay bales. Preferably said apparatus is employed on the bed of a pickup or truck and includes a frame mounted on the pickup bed with a beam pivotally mounted thereon and with arms pivotally mounted on the beam. The arms have bale penetrating members mounted or fixed thereon. First power actuated means operably pivot the beam in an arc about the rear end of the pickup toward and away from the ground. Second, power actuated means for pivoting the arms and penetrating members about the ends of the beam toward each other in such fashion as to squeeze a bale sufficiently to allow the first power means to lift the bale from the ground, and to pivot away from each other to release the bale. The bale penetrating members are mounted on the arms to allow a bale to be unrolled or distributed.

Abstract: A demountable interconnection for use with material handling and excavating equipment includes a dual hook carriage which may be semi-permanently attached to the boom or dipperstick of a material handler and suitable structures such as parallel beams disposed in the material handling attachment which may be selectively engaged by the dual hook carriage. A locking clevis is movable between a first position and a second position to lock or release the carriage from the attachment.

Abstract: An apparatus for withdrawing compressed fodder or similar agricultural material from a pile has an engaging tool which is mounted on a cantilever arm arrangement. This arrangement is capable of reaching over a quantity of fodder to be withdrawn and engaging behind the quantity from above so that the remainder of the material will not be loosened. The engaging tool shifts the quantity of fodder into a receptacle which is mounted on a common support with the cantilever arm arrangement, the support being adapted to be mounted on a tractor. Hydraulic cylinder-and-piston units connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor are used for moving the engaging tool into and from the receptacle.

Abstract: A folding bicycle comprises a frame, a front wheel and handlebars at the front end of the frame, a chain-driven rear wheel at the rear end of the frame, and a saddle carried at an intermediate part of the frame. The frame comprises a base formed as generally-aligned end-to-end tie members pivotally connected at their adjacent ends to a bearing unit, an apex joint bracket which is connected to the remote ends of the tie members by pivotal front strut members and a rigid rear strut member, and a support member which extends from the bearing unit and through the apex joint bracket and carries said saddle. The frame is collapsible on raising the support member to move the bearing unit towards the apex joint bracket and so swing the front and rear wheels downwardly into positions alongside one another.

Abstract: A unique and improved loader design is disclosed incorporating straight lift arms and channeled front wheels. The front wheels define a channel or groove through which the lift arms are allowed to intercept unobstructed. The lift arms pivotally join a bucket positioned at the front of the loader with a pair of uprights positioned at the rear end of the loader. The channeled front wheels may be formed from two ordinary tires joined in tandem and separated by a spacer or by using molded, grooved, elastomeric tires. The design eliminates the highly stressed joint found in ordinary two-piece lift arm loaders. Fabrication is simplified and manufacturing costs are reduced.

Abstract: A self-contained, moveable material handling apparatus is characterized by a chassis having a material conveyance surface mounted for rotation with respect to the central vertical axis thereof. A deck is also mounted for rotation with respect to the chassis, independently of the material conveyance surface. A loading boom, having a loading device on the end thereof, is mounted to the deck for rotation about the central vertical axis of the chassis. The boom is also pivotable about a horizontal axis and extendable and retractable along its own axis. The loading device and the boom cooperate to load material from the interior of a carrier onto the material conveyance surface. The surface rotates the material until it is deflected from the surface by a deflector conveyor onto a carry-off conveyor. The speed of the material conveyance is less than the speed of the deflector conveyor, which speed is less than the speed of the carry-off conveyor.

Abstract: An excavator having a boom with slidably engaging base and beam parts is disclosed. The base part is mounted on a support part of the excavator for rotation about a horizontal axis; and a dipper arm which carries an excavating tool is pivotally suspended from the beam part. The base and beam parts are joined by channel section guides which permit sliding movement between the parts. A wedge member releasably fixes the relative position of the base and beam parts by wedgingly engaging both parts.

Abstract: Stacks of nested containers containing articles and traveling on a conveyor belt are removed from the belt by means of at least two denesters which deposit the articles on one discharge belt and the containers on another discharge belt. One denester operates on the upper half of each stack of filled containers and the other denester operates on the lower half of the stack.

Abstract: An extension beam is provided to convert a hydraulic excavator to a crane-type hoisting vehicle or to extend the length of a boom.

Abstract: An apparatus for righting or picking up overturned vehicles is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus is a truck-mounted turntable able to rotate in either direction supporting a first pair of parallel frame members which are moved through a range of angularly elevated positions by hydraulic jacks. The first parallel frame members support a second pair of parallel frame members which are also deflected relative to the first pair by hydraulic jacks. A third pair of parallel frame members telescope inside the second pair, and they are extended by hydraulic jacks. The third pair terminates at a transverse frame member which is pin-connected to a pair of legs when the apparatus is extended to obtain support. The extended apparatus includes, at multiple locations, cable winches having spools with a cable wound thereabout. The cables are able to be extended and retracted and connect to slings adapted to be passed beneath an overturned vehicle such as a tractor-trailer rig.