Abstract: A clamp assembly that is mounted to a carriage assembly of a lifting apparatus. The carriage assembly is adapted for linear and rotational movement with respect to a column of the lifting apparatus. The carriage assembly includes a pair of lifting forks that are spaced for mating with a pair of apertures formed in a support frame assembly of an article to be lifted. The clamp assembly includes an L-shaped locking arm that is arrayed for both angular movement and a biased linear movement with respect to the carriage assembly. The angular movement being selectively moved between an engaged position and a disengaged position by a manual or powered actuator. The engaged position retains the support frame assembly on the carriage assembly when and while the lifting forks are mated with the pair of apertures. The disengaged position allowing removal of the support frame from the forks.

Abstract: A modular butterfly valve for interupting the flow of particulate articles such as tablets, capsules, pills, and the like that includes a disk member which is selectively operable between an open position and a closed position. The disk member is pivotly carried by a pair of tranverse apertures of an elastomer valve seat. The elastomer valve seat also includes an outside diameter, and a seat portion. The seat portion includes a pair of sealing lips that are cantilevered at a selected angle from one end of the elastomer valve seat. The sealing lips form a first throat portion and a second throat portion. In the closed position, a first of the sealing lips abuts one side of the disk member while a second of the sealing lips abuts a peripheral edge of the disk member. The valve seat is retained between a housing and a removable clamping ring. The housing is configured for a quick connect coupling arrangement with a delivery end of a supply bin.

Abstract: An axially extendible conduit that includes an elastic conduit member and an actuator means. The elastic conduit member extends from a first terminal end to a second terminal end. The actuator means encircles the elastic conduit member. The first terminal end of the elastic conduit member is attached to a fixed end of the actuator means. The second terminal end of the elastic conduit member is attached to a ring member of the actuator means. The first terminal end of the elastic conduit member includes an integral gasket or sealing surface for providing a dustless seal with an abutting apparatus. The second terminal end includes an integral seal means for providing a dustless seal with an abutting receptacle. Selective actuation of the actuator means moves the ring member from a retracted position to an extended position. The actuator means may be a single acting or a double acting type of linear actuator. The inside diameter of the elastic conduit member may be uniform or tapered.

Abstract: A coupling for connecting axially misaligned and rotatable shafts that has disengaging properties. This coupling includes a driver member which is adapted for attaching to a driving shaft, this driver member has a cup portion and a pair of through apertures for slidably engaging and retaining a pair of first pin members of a spider member. A pair of second pin members of the spider member engages a pair of open ended and elongated apertures of a driven member. This driven member is adapted for attaching to a driven shaft. This coupling allows for automatic selective engagement and disengagement of the spider member from the driven member. A biasing member returns the spider member to a substantially centered position during disengagement.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting containers to elevated positions for charging or discharging of a fluent material. The lifting apparatus includes a support member for the container. This support member may include an integral means for inverting the container. The support member is fastened to a carriage member which is movably guided interior of an elongated tubular column member. The carriage member is elevated or lowered by a lifting means which is mounted interior of the column member. The lifting means is connected to the carriage member by a pivoted link member. In the absence of tension on the lifting means, the link member will stop any uncontrolled lowering of the carriage member to a lowermost postion in the column member. The column member is attached to a base member. A second embodiment of the apparatus discloses additional attachment of the second end of the column member to a support structure.

Abstract: A reinforced column for a lifting apparatus which includes an elongated outer shell member having a rectilinear cross-section. One side of the outer shell member has an elongated aperture therethrough, allowing access to an interior portion of the column. Interior of the outer shell, a pair of opposed elongated guide rails are positioned adjacent the elongated aperture. An elongated inner shell is simultaneously attached to selected portions of the guide rails and held at predetermined spaced relationships to the interior surfaces of the outer shell. The elongated inner shell is arrayed for providing a pathway for a carriage member of said lifting apparatus to travel therein.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for containers of a flowable material which comprises a base member, a first elongated tubular column, a second elongated tubular column, a container support, and a lifting and lowering assembly. The lifting and lowering assembly is housed interior of the second column and includes a reversible gear motor and an elongated lift bar. The gear motor selectively drives an endless flexible tension member by way of a drive member cooperating with a driven assembly. One end of the elongated lift bar is connected to a first segment of the flexible tension member. A distal end of the elongated lift bar is attached to a base assembly. The second elongated tubular column is selectively lifted or lowered with respect to the first tubular column, in telescopic fashion, as the flexible tension member is driven. The container support, which may have tilting capabilities, is attached to a moveable carriage member.

Abstract: A container manipulating method and apparatus which includes at least one vertically disposed pedestal assembly (12); a tubular column assembly (14); a container support assembly (16); and a container retaining device (18). This method and apparatus houses all of the independently controlled and powered drives for the lifting, turning, and tilting actions completely interior of the column assembly (16). The column assembly (14) may include at least one end seal and a slot closure for minimizing unwanted materials entering or leaving the column assembly. The container (22) retained on the container support assembly (16) may be manipulated from a first position to a subsequent position by lifting, lowering, turning, and tilting movements in series or in combination.

Abstract: A modular butterfly valve includes a disc member which is adapted for selective rotation between an open and a closed position, a housing, a resilient valve seat, and a clamping ring which are held together by a hinged quick coupling ring. The disc member is resiliently suspended by the valve seat which provides a self-centering of the disc member in a direction transverse to a direction of material flow. This butterfly valve further includes at least one means for limiting the displacement of the disc member in a direction which is parallel to the direction of material flow when loads are placed thereon.

Abstract: A container manipulating method and apparatus which includes at least one vertically disposed pedestal assembly (12); a tubular column assembly (14); a container support assembly (16); and a container retaining means (18). This method and apparatus houses all of the independently controlled and powered drives for the lifting, turning, and tilting actions completely interior of the column assembly (16). The column assembly (14) may include at least one end seal and a slot closure for minimizing unwanted materials entering or leaving the column assembly. The container (22) retained on the container support assembly (16) may be manipulated from a first position to a subsequent position by lifting, lowering, turning, and tilting movements in series or in combination.

Abstract: A sanitary butterfly valve including a closable disc member carried by a resilient valve seat. The valve seat is compressed between a housing and clamp plate while being retained by a first acute lip and a second acute lip. The compression of said valve seat causes its central portion to collapse inwardly to seal against the closed disc. This mounting of the disc member by the valve seat along with an axial biasing means provides a self-centering disc sealing arrangement. This butterfly valve is adapted to be actuated by an external means.

Abstract: A modular butterfly valve includes a disc member which is selectively rotated between an open and a closed position, a housing, a resilient valve seat, and a clamping ring which are held together by a hinged coupling ring. The disc member is resiliently suspended in this valve by the valve seat, which provides for a self-centering of the disc-member. The hinged coupling ring may include an integral actuation means which is keyed into alignment during assembly. This modular butterfly valve assembly is adapted for being attached to an adjacent apparatus by a quick coupling means.

Abstract: A safety device for a lifting apparatus, said lifting device having a carriage member (12) guided in a column (14) said carriage member (12) selectively positioned with respect to said column member (14) by a flexible tension member (20) connected to a drive means (22); a pawl member (34) is disengaged from an elongated rack (62) by a predetermined tension in the tension member (20); A reduction in the predetermined tension in the flexible tension member (20) will automatically engage the pawl member (34) into the rack member (62) by the urging of a biasing member (56) preventing any uncontrolled movement of the carriage relative to the column.

Abstract: A drum, container and the like of a flowable material is placed and retained on a container support assembly of a lifting and tilting apparatus. This lifting and tilting apparatus includes a telescoping column attached to a base support. Interior of the column is a hydraulic cylinder for lifting the sliding portion of the tubular column. As the sliding portion is lifted the container support is lifted at twice the lift rate of the column. The container support is independently tilted at any convenient height between the lifting extent of the apparatus. The tilting of the container support is provided by an air operated gear-motor carried on a moveable carriage. The moveable carriage and gear-motor are fully contained interior of the telescoping column. A slot is provided in the telescoping column to allow the independent lifting and tilting of the container support by an operator.

Abstract: An enclosed adjustable servo-actuator is provided. This servo-actuator includes an elongated hollow cylinder; a first closed end member; a second closed end member; a through passageway is provided in each closed end member; an enclosed housing attached exterior of the hollow cylinder at or near the center of the cylinder, said housing adapted to comunicate with the interior of the hollow cylinder; an elongated piston assembly is slidably carries interior of said hollow cylinder; A torque arm is arrayed to engage said piston assembly by means of a closed-end transverse groove provided in said piston assembly; an output shaft is journaled in said enclosed housing, said output shaft engages said torque arm for converting the linear displacement of the piston to an arcuate rotation of said output shaft; and an adjustment means is provided to selectively limit the arcuate rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: A method of discharging articles from a container into a defined vertical aperture in a wall or processing machine by rapidly tilting a lifting platform during a first lifting segment. This rapid tilting positions a discharge chute interior of the vertical aperture and then maintains the insertion of the discharge chute, during at least one subsequent lifting segment, as and when the lifting platform is brought to a fully lifted and tilted condition. A similar method using the first segment provides for the subsequent charging of a suitable container with articles emerging from a vertical aperture.

Abstract: A rocker-type lump breaker for breaking oversized or lumped granular materials into acceptable sizes. The lump breaker is mounted interior of a hopper. This lump breaker comprises a perforate deck member, a plurality of rocker arms carried on a oscillating or rocking shaft carried by said deck member, and a means exterior of said hopper for providing said rocking motion to said shaft. The rocker arms are adapted to co-act with apertures provided in said deck plate to break the lumped material into acceptable sizes. The acceptable sized material is passed through the deck member. The rocking motion of the shaft is controlled to produce a gap between the ends of each rocker arm and the deck member.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the lifting and tilting of a container of fluent materials. Two embodiments are shown, one having a vertical column disposed to carry the secured container to a predetermined height. This apparatus may be fixed or may be movable from and to selected positions. A slot is formed in this column and a reciprocable movable plate is cycled up and down therein. A spur gear and meshed pinion are provided therein. The spur gear is rotated by an arm and cam follower on the end thereof, with the cam follower transverse an angled cam track to provide a determined tilt and rate of tilt. A second and telescoping embodiment is also disclosed for conditions in which the lift may be as much as twelve feet or more. Side and front discharge apparatus is shown. Container securement apparatus includes adjustable pins. A clamping arrangement for cylindrical containers with a tapered end is also contemplated. A battery-powered apparatus is shown particularly for the telescoping apparatus.

Abstract: A discharge valve for granular materials is disclosed which includes a valve body and a disc pivotally supported within the body. The arrangement is such that the disc rests against the body when the valve is closed to provide a seal therewith, and is pivoted by a resiliently biased handle to a plurality of open positions for controlling the flow of material through the valve.