Abstract: A sensor system for determining deformation of an object subject to forces. The sensor system comprises an object upon which forces are exerted and a cavity within the object, a first substrate for supporting surface acoustic waves in an upper surface of the first substrate, the first substrate disposed in the cavity, a first surface acoustic wave transducer disposed on the upper surface and responsive to an interrogation signal for generating an incident surface acoustic wave in the upper surface, a first reflector array responsive to the incident surface acoustic wave for creating reflected surface acoustic waves on the upper surface, the reflected surface acoustic waves received by the transducer and having characteristics indicative of strain deformation of the object due to a force exerted on the object.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining deformation of an object subject to forces. The sensor system comprises an object upon which forces are exerted and a cavity within the object, a first substrate for supporting surface acoustic waves in an upper surface of the first substrate, the first substrate disposed in the cavity, a first surface acoustic wave transducer disposed on the upper surface and responsive to an interrogation signal for generating an incident surface acoustic wave in the upper surface, a first reflector array responsive to the incident surface acoustic wave for creating reflected surface acoustic waves on the upper surface, the reflected surface acoustic waves received by the transducer and having characteristics indicative of strain deformation of the object due to a force exerted on the object.

Abstract: A method of presenting sales information to an automobile customer on an automobile having a window that may be slid vertically within a window frame. The method uses an informational slip and a slip holder sized to accept the information slip. The slip holder includes a clip defines a downwardly facing open channel and a tongue extending downwardly from the front wall. Also, a sheet of resiliently deformable material is attached to the tongue and bent backwards at a bending point defining the sheet holder bottom and a rear panel extending upwardly from the bending point. The informational slip is placed on the car window so that information is displayed through the front portion, which is transparent. The clip is formed so as to press the sheet into the window, thereby acting to reduce gaps between the informational slip and the front panel and, as a consequence, enhancing slip visibility.

Abstract: A method of presenting sales information to an automobile customer on an automobile having a window that may be slid vertically within a window frame. The method uses an informational slip and a slip holder sized to accept the information slip. The slip holder includes a clip defines a downwardly facing open channel and a tongue extending downwardly from the front wall. Also, a sheet of resiliently deformable material is attached to the tongue and bent backwards at a bending point defining the sheet holder bottom and a rear panel extending upwardly from the bending point. The informational slip is placed on the car window so that information is displayed through the front portion, which is transparent. The clip is formed so as to press the sheet into the window, thereby acting to reduce gaps between the informational slip and the front panel and, as a consequence, enhancing slip visibility.

Abstract: A method of applying a protective strip to an edge of a wood product piece. The process uses a set of aligned rollers and a belt apparatus that includes a pair of rollers having a shoe positioned between them and a belt fitted about the rollers and the shoe. The distance from the belt to the first set of aligned rollers is substantially equal to the width of the wood product piece. The wood product piece is placed between the first set of aligned rollers and the belt apparatus and resin is applied to the edge the wood product piece. The wood products piece is then squeezed between the first set of aligned rollers and the belt apparatus. At least a subset of the rollers are driven to move the wood products piece along the belt apparatus, thereby causing the resin to be squeezed into the edge of the wood products piece. Finally, the resin is cured.

Abstract: A method of applying a protective strip to an edge of a wood product piece. The process uses a set of aligned rollers and a belt apparatus that includes a pair of rollers having a shoe positioned between them and a belt fitted about the rollers and the shoe. The distance from the belt to the first set of aligned rollers is substantially equal to the width of the wood product piece. The wood product piece is placed between the first set of aligned rollers and the belt apparatus and resin is applied to the edge the wood product piece. The wood products piece is then squeezed between the first set of aligned rollers and the belt apparatus. At least a subset of the rollers are driven to move the wood products piece along the belt apparatus, thereby causing the resin to be squeezed into the edge of the wood products piece. Finally, the resin is cured.

Abstract: Laminated siding pieces and a method of producing them. A laminated siding work piece is provided including a substantially flat piece of display material having a first major surface that is laminated to a beveled piece of support material. The substantially flat piece of display material is cut through to form a laminated siding piece having a flat piece of display material, possessing a freshly cut major surface, laminated to a beveled piece of support material.

Abstract: Laminated siding pieces and a method of producing them. A laminated siding workpiece is provided including a substantially flat piece of display material having a first major surface that is laminated to a bevelled piece of support material. The substantially flat piece of display material is cut through to form a laminated siding piece having a flat piece of display material, possessing a freshly cut major surface, laminated to a bevelled piece of support material.

Abstract: A mobile storage system is provided with safety devices that increase the stability of the movable carriages. The safety devices includes shoe plates mounted to the carriages proximate each carriage wheel and above the rails. A nylon shoe is attached to the bottom of each shoe plate near the rail. The shoe plates are adjustable to position the shoe with minimum running clearances with the rails. Only a small amount of initial tipping causes the shoes to contact the rails and support a carriage against further tipping. The increased spread between the anti tip shoes compared with the spread between the wheels provides increased resistance to overturning forces by the square of the ratio of the spreads.

Abstract: A safety floor for a mobile storage system includes one or more flat panels having end brackets that overlie horizontal support surfaces on the system rails. The brackets define longitudinal troughs, in which are mounted leaf springs and safety switches. The leaf springs have lifting pins that extend through holes in the brackets to contact the rail support surfaces and resiliently supported by the panel. The safety switches also have lifter pins that extend through the bracket and that are spaced a predetermined distance above the rail support surfaces. When a person steps on the panel, the panel deflects towards the rail support surface so that a safety switch lifter pin contacts and is actuated by the rail support surface to control the mobile storage system electrical circuitry. The springs are adjustable to accommodate different panel sizes and weights while maintaining the desired distance between the safety switch lifter pins and the rail support surfaces.

Abstract: A mobile storage system has improved safety features on the movable carriages. The safety features include an anti tip mechanism having dual plate for cooperating with respective channels fastened to the rails. The dual plates and channel design prevents disengagement of the plates from the channels if a carriage should lurch to one side. An adjustable safety stop limits carriage end travel to selected locations along the rails. A locking mechanism temporarily locks the carriages in desired locations. The locking mechanism includes a rack that is adjustably positionable along the rails and that is also reversible to meet any locking requirement.

Abstract: A low profile safety floor for electrically powered mobile storage systems includes one or more elongated panels that span the building floor between the system rails. To each end of the panels are mounted a pair of leaf springs and a safety switch. The panels are supported above the rails by means of the leaf springs. When a person steps onto the safety floor, the panel is deflected downwardly so that a safety switch is actuated. Positive stops limit the approach of the panel toward the rails. Switch actuation deenergizes the electric motor drive powering the carriages. To prevent panel sag, the panels are manufactured as wood and steel laminates. To further inhibit sagging, the panels are forced into a permanently upwardly convex shape at manufacture.

Abstract: A modular floor for manual storage systems consists of floor modules joined to create a longitudinal path of any desired length for supporting a wheeled carriage for movement therealong. Each floor module comprises a pair of parallel rails that are independently vertically adjustable by means of leveling screws in transverse rail supporting beams. The ends of the rails are notched and tongue and grooved to provide vertical and horizontal alignment of the ends of adjoining rails. The modular floor includes sturdy and neat ramps extending transversely on each side thereof. The invention further includes an anti-tip device composed of plates secured to the carriages and having lips that slide along and cooperate with a member fixed to the modular floor to prevent the carriages from tipping in the direction of longitudinal movement.

Abstract: An anti-tip device is useful for preventing a mobile storage system movable carriage from tipping. The anti-tip device includes an arm pivotable between inoperative and operative modes. In the inoperative mode, the arm hangs in an open position to permit the carriage to be placed on the system rails. With the carriage on the rails, the arm is pivotable to the operative mode wherein a hook on the arm slidingly engages an undercut surface of a longitudinal groove in the rail. The arm is pinned to the carriage when in the operative mode. A tipping force is resisted by contact between the pinned arm hook and the rail undercut surface.

Abstract: A mobile storage system includes an anti-roll safety brake for preventing undesired rolling of a movable carriage. The anti-roll brake is engaged continuously so that a portion of the power required to move a carriage is expended in overcoming the friction force of the brake. Upon removal of the power source, such as de-energizing an electric drive motor, the anti-roll brake prevents all unpowered rolling of the carriage, and it continues to hold the carriage in place until the drive motor is again energized. The anti-roll brake is particularly useful in mobile storage systems in which the guide rails cannot be installed in a level attitude.

Abstract: A mobile storage system includes a safety brake for smoothly stopping a moving carriage. The brake is operated from readily assessible positions in the aisles between carriages, thus minimizing the risk of injury to persons in the aisles if another person starts a carriage. The brake includes a notched plate which normally rotates with a carriage axle. Upon actuation of a safety switch, a toothed lever mounted to the carriage frame engages the plate, thereby preventing it from rotating. Friction discs on either side of the plate dissipate the carriage kinetic energy into heat and thereby stop the carriage. The control circuit includes a timer so that the person may safely leave the aisle before the carriage can again be moved.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a mobile storage system comprises a reciprocable lock bar selectively engageable with a rack fastened to a system track. The lock bar is moved into and out of engagement with the rack by a push-pull cable actuated by a conventional key and lock device. The lock bar is urged into engagement with the rack by a spring. Each rack tooth is formed with a vertical and a sloping surface, and the lock bar has cooperating surfaces. When the mobile storage unit is moved in one direction the lock bar ratchets over the teeth sloping surfaces against the spring bias, but movement is prevented in the opposite direction because the spring urges the lock bar vertical surface into cooperating engagement with a rack tooth vertical surface.

Abstract: A locking device for a mobile filing and storage system comprises a reciprocable pin disposed in a rotatable handwheel. The pin is adapted to selectively engage or disengage locking apertures in a stationary plate mounted to the storage frame. The pin is formed with a pair of symmetrical frusto-conical surfaces having apexes that blend into concave surfaces that receive biasing means to retain the pin in the selected engaged or disengaged position against accidental reciprocation of the pin and to provide a tactile feel of proper location in and displacement from the engaged or disengaged position.

Abstract: An automatic door operator for opening and closing a door such as a cold storage door which is mounted in a frame for sliding movement in a vertical plane has a hydraulic control system which includes an electric motor for rotating a reversible hydraulic pump, an electric control circuit which activates the electric motor to rotate the pump in the appropriate direction, and a reversible rotary hydraulic motor driven by the pump to rotate a chain drive which draws the door to its open and closed positions. The hydraulic control system also includes a means for cushioning the rapid start and stop of the door to provide smooth operation which includes a pair of check valves disposed in the control system such that one check valve is on either side of the hydraulic pump, and a first set of pressure relief valves disposed in the control system on either side of the pump between the pump and the check valves, and a second set of pressure relief valves between the check valves and the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for increasing the lifting capacity of the boom of an excavator to lift heavy objects, while conjointly disabling the hydraulic circuit used for normal digging operations to avoid damaging the excavator. The apparatus includes a manually operated pilot valve for selectively applying a control fluid pressure to a relief valve for a hoist cylinder and a to relief valve for a digging bucket cylinder. The control fluid pressure biases the hoist relief valve to remain closed at hydraulic pressures above the normal relief pressure of the valve, and conjointly biases the bucket relief valve to open, thereby disabling the bucket.