Abstract: A portable conveyor having a pair of rear wheels which support the lower end of the conveyor and a pair of caster wheels are spaced forwardly from the rear wheels and are carried by a horizontal axle. An adjustable linkage interconnects the axle and the conveyor and a drive mechanism is operably connected to the linkage and acts to vary the angularity of the linkage and thus change the inclination of the conveyor. The drive mechanism includes a lead screw which is threaded to a nut that is operably connected to the conveyor. The lead screw carries a worm gear which is engaged with a worm that is journalled for rotation in a thrust bar housing attached to the linkage. A driven shaft is connected to the worm and is constructed to be connected to the drive shaft of a reversible, power-operated hand drill. Operation of the high speed drill acting through the worm gear and screw system will rapidly raise and lower the conveyor.

Abstract: An engine mounting construction for a portable conveyor. The conveyor includes a frame and a conveyor belt is mounted for travel on the frame. A gasoline engine is secured to a skid and the skid is removably mounted on a support that is pivoted to the conveyor frame through a four-bar linkage. The connection between the skid and the support consists of a pair of open ended slots on the skid, which engage locating pins on the support, plus a pair of locating pins on the support which are received in holes in the skid. A manually operated clamp secures the skid to the support. Installation of the skid on the support will effect engagement of a coupling on the engine drive shaft with a coupling on a driven shaft that is operably connected to the drive roll for the conveyor belt. The four-bar linkage enables the engine to be moved arcuately about the axis of the conveyor drive roll, while maintaining the engine in generally the same orientation with respect to a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A portable conveyor assembly comprising an inclined conveyor having a lower end and an upper end. A pair of rear wheels support the lower end of the conveyor and a pair of caster wheels are spaced forwardly from the rear wheels and are suspended from a horizontal axle through vertical pivot shaft so that the caster wheels can freely rotate about the pivot shafts. An adjustable linkage interconnects between the axle and the conveyor, and a lead screw mechanism is operably connected to the linkage and acts to vary the angularity of the linkage and thus change the angle of inclination of the conveyor. A mechanism is associated with the linkage to prevent rotation of the axle and maintain the caster wheel pivot axes in a vertical attitude as the angle of inclination of the conveyor is changed.

Abstract: A mobile vacuum loading machine has a swivel assembly permitting the boom to be rotated 360.degree. through the use of internal hydraulic and pneumatic passages in the swivel assembly. The hose reel is mounted on the rear of the machine and capable of being swung out outwardly a full 180.degree. and fixedly held at any position through the use of a linkage assembly attached to a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A device for locking a vehicle to a loading dock during a loading operation. The device includes a frame mounted on the front surface of the dock beneath a pit which houses an adjustable dockboard. A slide assembly is mounted for vertical movement on the frame, and the slide assembly includes a locking member adapted to engage an abutment on the vehicle, as the slide assembly is elevated. To raise and lower the slide assembly, a motor is mounted on the slide assembly and drives a gear that engages a rack carried by the frame. The rack is spring biased to an upper position, and on operation of the motor in one direction, the slide assembly is raised to bring the locking member into engagement with the abutment on the vehicle. Continued operation of the motor will then move the rack downwardly relative to the gear and slide assembly, and downward movement of the rack will activate a switch to cut off power to the motor.

Abstract: A method of making a beam having a lambda-shaped cross section from a flat sheet of metal. The longitudinal side edges of the metal sheet are initially bent to provide a generally U-shaped section composed of a flat central web and a pair of side flanges that extend at obtuse angles from the web and are joined to the web at bends. The flat central web is then bent at locations spaced inwardly of the first bends to provide a generally flat base and a pair of side sections that are joined to the base at right angle radiused corners and the outer extremities of the side sections are joined to the respective flanges at the first bends. Each side section is then bent inwardly about the corresponding corner to form the lambda configuration in which the side members are at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the beam and the side flanges are in proximate flatwise relation.

Abstract: A yieldable and releasable lip lifting mechanism for a dockboard. The dockboard includes a ramp which is pivoted at its rear edge to a supporting structure, and a lip is hinged to the forward edge of the ramp and is movable between a downwardly hanging pendant position and an extended position. As the ramp is walked down from an inclined position toward a horizontal position, a lip lifting mechanism becomes operative to raise the lip and hold the lip in the extended position. A yieldable connection is incorporated in the lip lifting mechanism which enables the lip lifting mechanism to yield and fall out of supporting engagement when a substantial force is applied to the extended lip. In addition, the yieldable connection can be manually released by an operator to permit the lip to fall to its pendant position.