Abstract: A method and apparatus for cubing paving stones or similar stones which are not adapted to forming a self-supporting unit through the means of pressure applied to opposite sides of a tier of such stones. In the present invention, the stones on a flat pallet are contacted with side pressure to bring the stones into a compact unit on the pallet. While the stones are so clamped, the pallet is clamped along its opposite side edges and transported, with the tier of stones thereon, to a location above a previously deposited tier of such stones or a pallet. When so positioned, the pallet is withdrawn from its supporting position beneath the stones and the stones settle gently onto the previously laid tier or pallet. The force applied to the stones on the pallet is chosen to be less than the force that would be required to urge the stones against one another to form a self-supporting unit.

Abstract: An acceleration control device for a hydraulic drive unit having a rotatable control shaft movable between an on position and an off position. An arm is connected to the control shaft for rotating the shaft between the off and on positions. A motive apparatus is movable between a first position which corresponds to the off position of the control shaft and a second position which corresponds to the on position of the control shaft. A mechanical linkage is connected between the motive apparatus and the arm. The linkage imparts movement to the arm in response to movement of the motive apparatus to cause the control shaft to move between the off and on positions as the motive apparatus moves between the first and second positions, respectively. The linkage is configured to provide a substantially nonlinear relationship between the speed of the arm and the speed of the motive apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring palletized uncured concrete blocks to a curing kiln from a block making station and rapidly loading the palletized uncured blocks into the kiln. Typical kilns include a plurality of rows of tiered passageways extending from an open front end to an open rear end of the kiln. The transferring and loading apparatus includes a conveyor device for moving palletized blocks from the block making station to a location below the open front end of any selected one of the passageways a distance greater than the height of the palletized blocks, a lifting device for lifting the pallet of blocks from the conveyor device to the open front end of the selected passageway, and a palletized block moving device for moving the pallet of blocks from the lifting device into the selected passageway as another pallet of uncured blocks moves into position on the conveyor device below the selected passageway.

Abstract: A system is provided for loading concrete blocks, carried on pallets, into a kiln. The kiln includes a front end wall and a rear end wall and a plurality of guideways extending from the front end wall to the rear end wall. The guideways are arranged in a grid pattern of horizontally aligned layers and vertically aligned tiers. The pallets are inserted into a selected guideway. A laterally movable main frame carries a vertically movable subframe which includes an arcuate conveyor. An elevator delivers pallets to the subframe which inserts the pallets into the selected guideway. The main frame and subframe are indexed for exact alignment with the selected guideway.

Abstract: A fluid power apparatus for converting steam to hydraulic energy having one or more pairs of linear steam and linear hydraulic cylinders arranged symmetrically and with their axis parallel about a steam generator. The rod ends of the cylinders are connected to a wobble plate. Valving directs steam in and out of the steam cylinders and as the steam cylinders reciprocate, the corresponding hydraulic cylinders will be reciprocated generating hydraulic fluid pressure. Valving is accomplished by valving plates rotated by the wobble plate or by means of a slide valve positioned by a wobble plate actuated linkage.

Abstract: In a system for cubing rectangular units such as block or brick, there is provided a system for reorienting selected ones of the units to formulate layers in the cube to provide maximum stabilization of the units in the cube. The apparatus includes an orientation station comprising a plurality of planar tables, selected ones of which are movable laterally in a horizontal plane, rotated to reorient units thereon, and return to their original position for offloading of the reoriented blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving brick standing on their ends with their length dimension oriented uprightly, accumulating the brick in a cradle oriented in a horizontal plane, reorienting the cradle with its load of brick, ejecting the brick from the cradle as a stack unit to a transfer station, and transferring the reoriented stack of brick on to a pallet or other receiver therefor.

Abstract: A panel manufacturing machine adapted to produce panels of building blocks; the machine involving the formation of a horizontal course of blocks in end-to-end relation to each other with mortared head joints between ends of the blocks and with bed mortar on top of the blocks, which course is transferred as a unit to be assembled with other courses of blocks to produce a panel. Further, the machine can progressively sense a modular measurement longitudinally of said course to control the overall length of each course when assembled and mortared together.