Abstract: A bearing plate for supporting a portion of a mine roof or similar surface. The bearing plate includes a substantially planar, roof-bearing portion having a roof-bearing surface. Also included is a substantially planar bolt-head bearing surface. The bolt-head bearing surface includes a concentrically located aperture adapted to receive a roof bolt having a bolt head. The bolt-head bearing surface is spaced from the planar roof-bearing portion and is substantially parallel to the roof-bearing surface. A wall extends at an angle from the bolt-head bearing surface about its outer periphery. A reinforcing wall extends radially outward from the distal end of the angled wall and merges with the roof-bearing portion. The reinforcing wall defines a frusto-conical portion, the base of which is conterminous with the roof-bearing portion, and a cylindrical portion, the base of which merges with the distal end of the frusto-conical portion.

Abstract: A bearing plate for supporting a portion of a mine roof or similar surface. The bearing plate includes a substantially planar, roof-bearing portion having a roof-bearing surface. Also included is a substantially planar bolt-head bearing surface. The bolt-head bearing surface includes a concentrically located aperature adapted to receive a roof bolt having a bolt head. The bolt-head bearing surface is spaced from the planar roof-bearing portion and is substantially parallel to the roof-bearing surface. A vertical wall extends from the bolt-head bearing surface about its outer periphery. A reinforcing wall extends radially outward from the distal end of the vertical wall and merges with the roof-bearing portion. The reinforcing wall defines a first frusto-conical portion, the base of which is conterminous with the roof-bearing portion, and a second frusto-conical portion, the base of which merges with the distal end of the first frusto-conical portion.

Abstract: The specification discloses a strike off apparatus for leveling and compacting mounds of sand extending above the upper edges of open-top mold boxes of varying heights carried in succession along a pathway. A pair of pivotally supported rollers extend across the pathway. A sensor determines the height of a sand mound in a mold box before it reaches the rollers. An elevating mechanism responsive to the sensor adjusts the rollers to a height so that they level and compact the sand mound as the mold box is carried thereunder. A control system including electrical and hydraulic circuits is provided for automatically controlling the cyclical operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: The specification discloses a bottom board feeder apparatus for feeding bottom boards onto the top surface of mold boxes of varying heights. The bottom boards are supplied in succession to the apparatus by a first conveying line. The mold boxes are supplied in succession to a board receiving position adjacent the apparatus by a second conveying line. The apparatus includes a proximity sensor for detecting the height of a mold box in the board receiving position and an elevating mechanism responsive to the sensor for raising a bottom board so that the bottom surface of the board is at least as high as the top surface of the box. The apparatus also includes a shuttle mechanism for pushing the board onto the top surface of the box after the board has been raised. A control system including electrical and hydraulic circuits is provided for automatically controlling the cyclical operation of the apparatus.