Abstract: A suspended mounting and exercise apparatus suspended from an overhead structure, comprising: a form; and at least one anchoring point comprising a plurality of stalls affixed to the form, wherein the form is affixed to the overhead structure via the at least one anchoring point.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a flexible conduit which includes a flexible member and a rigid member in fluid communication with the flexible member. The apparatus has a releasable connector and a shock absorber. The releasable connector has a first member and a second member. When a releasing force is applied to the flexible conduit, the releasable connector separates. The shock absorber is configured to absorb a load when the releasable connector separates. The shock absorber may include a compressible material that includes a metal, such as a metal foam or a corrugated metal sheet. The releasable connector and the shock absorber may be integrally formed together.

Abstract: An irrigation system is configured with a sprinkler module resting on at least two guide rails supported in a parallel arrangement by a plurality of legs, with the legs forming a rack used to provide a guideway for a sprinkler module along the guide rails, with the guide rails and cross supports arranged to form a plane. An adjustment is provided for positioning the plane of the guide rails and cross supports at tilt or angular adjustment of the plane to provide a selected alignment of the plane with a terrain location of the irrigation system. The sprinkler module is connectable to a water source capable of providing a water supply for discharge through the sprinkler modules; and at least one tracking wheel drive motor, such as a water powered drive motor or an electric motor, is provided for driving the sprinkler module along the guide rails.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for suspending a set of panels. The system includes a mounting rail with a base having a first side and a second side. The first side of the base defines a planar surface configured to be secured against a structural support member and the second side includes a curved surface. The system also includes an alignment rail with a curved base, the alignment rail rotatably secured to the mounting rail along a pair of curved mating surfaces. The pair of curved mating surfaces is formed from the curved surface of the mounting rail and the curved base of the alignment rail. Additionally, the system includes a panel secured to the alignment rail.

Abstract: A joint connector for track sections of a conveyor wherein the track sections comprise a feature that requires alignment, the joint connector including: a first segment for attachment to an attachment feature of a first track section of the conveyor; and a second segment for attachment to an attachment feature of a second track section of the conveyor, wherein the second segment is configured to be adaptive to non-alignment of the attachment features of the first and second track sections in order to maintain alignment of the feature after installation of the joint connector.

Abstract: A track system for a cart includes a plurality of curved modular track sections for the cart. Each of the plurality of curved modular track sections includes one or more rails configured to engage with the cart on the track, and one or more reservoir sections configured to receive liquid from the cart. Each of the plurality of curved modular track is tilted relative to ground by a predetermined angle such that the one or more reservoir sections are configured to direct the liquid to a predetermined area. Each of the plurality of curved modular track sections includes a gear system configured to engage with a gear of the cart.

Abstract: The load conveyer system includes a pair of rails that carry endless chains. Each rail is an extrusion that has extruded side channel portions that allow the adjustable positioning of mounting bracket fasteners. This allows mounting brackets to be used to removably mount the rails to a preexisting floor surface without substantially modifying the floor during the rail installation or removal process.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for constructing a work platform under a bridge deck that has a decking segment that moves under the bridge deck from one end to the other as work progresses, eliminating the need for constructing decking under the entire length of the bridge deck. The decking segment hangs from a plurality of trolleys that move along a plurality of rails beneath the bridge deck, the trolleys moving the decking segment from one end of the bridge deck to another. The trolley has at least one main wheel that runs on the tubular rail top and a plurality of side wheels that maintain the trolley on the tubular rail, the trolley smoothly moving along the tubular rail.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank. The system also includes a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin plank. The system also includes a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank. The system also includes a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin plank. The system also includes a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.

Abstract: A connection structure for a toy track, comprising at least two groups of tracks, each group of tracks being formed by splicing a plurality of track units, sides of adjacent groups of tracks being spliced by an immediately detachable connecting member. By splicing sides of a plurality of groups of tracks by connecting members in an immediately detachable manner, a lot of consumption of material of large size may be avoided, and especially for wooden toys, the selection range of wood raw material is increased while effectively reducing the cost, which is advantageous for sustainable development; in addition, mating toy modules such as guideboards, signal lamps, building modules and natural landscape modules may be spliced together, and those modules not only play a role of decoration, but also greatly improve the attractiveness of this toy track.

Abstract: A beam clamp, including a clamp body having a rectangular shape symmetrically bent and butt-jointed by a plate material is described. On one side of the body housing a butt seam is a butt-joint face, and clamping jaws are protruded on the two sides of the body at the two sides of the butt-joint face. A clamping plate face is convexly disposed on one side of the body opposite the butt-joint face, and a screw hole corresponding to the clamping jaw is bored on the plate face. The screw hole is tapped and a bolt is disposed therein. The bolt and jaws form three-point clamping, providing high fastening performance. Corresponding threaded rod holes are bored on the plate face and butt-joint face and tapped. The resulting clamp has high processing precision, efficiency, and adaptability; the structure strength is high; load performance is good; and the size is small.

Abstract: A beam clamp for securing a first beam to a second beam where the first and second beams are arranged in crossing fashion and define one or more quadrants, the beam clamp including a first clamping portion having a first clamping surface configured to engage a beam flange, a second clamping portion having a second clamping surface configured to engage a beam flange and being arranged in opposing relation to the first clamping surface defining a mouth, a base portion extending between the first and second clamping surfaces and having a wedge shape for engaging a corner defined by flanges of the crossing beams, and a securing mechanism configured for extending from one of the first and second clamping surfaces, into the mouth, to engage a surface a beam flange thereby pinching the flanges of the crossing beams together.

Abstract: A conductor rail connector to connect the ends of two conductor rails may have first and second connection elements able to be connected to the conductor rail ends using at least one screw element supported on one side on a first side of a conductor rail end and supported on the other side on the first connection element.

Abstract: Personnel safety apparatus is provided on a machine to prevent users from falling while moving between access points on the machine. The apparatus includes a rail having a first end positioned adjacent a first user access point and a second end positioned adjacent a second user access point to define a rail path that spans a vertical elevation. A carrier is movably coupled to the rail and has a first mode, in which the carrier engages a fixed position on the rail, and a second mode, in which the carrier is permitted to move relative to the rail. A tether extends between a harness on the user and the carrier to secure the user to the machine.

Abstract: A device for suspending a rail of an overhead conveyor or a hoisting machine from a traversing gear or supporting structure includes a tension element, which carries the rail by one end via a fixing device. The fixing device grasps a support element of the rail. The support element widens and extends at least partly in the lengthwise direction of the rail. To provide a device for suspending a rail that provides enhanced safety against collapse, the fixing device includes two fixing parts, which are connected like pliers by means of a bolt running in the lengthwise direction of the rail. The fixing parts swivel toward each other from the open position into the fixing position by their fixing regions. The support element of the rail rests against the bearing surfaces of the fixing parts, even in the open position, when the fastening means are released.

Abstract: A joint connector for the lower flanges of adjoining running rails is assembled from two abutment pieces that each is seated in a lower flange of a respective rail that forms the joint. By use of centering devices, the correctly aligned positioning of the two abutment pieces is assured, wherein the abutment pieces transfer their aligned positioning to the lower flanges that meet each other without offset at the joint and the positioning cannot be negatively affected by transverse forces. The connection also provides a positive-fit in a transverse direction of the rails. Another joint connector arrangement connects the two running rails in the region of the top side. Abutment pieces in this case are seated as riders on a support rib and are connected to each other by tension rods.

Abstract: A lifting assembly comprising parallel guides (18, 20), a carriage (26, 28) associated with each parallel guide (18, 20) and movable along the length of the parallel guides, a displacement arm (40) pivotally connected to each carriage (26, 28) and pivotally supporting a bridge (14), preferably a trolley (13) located on the bridge (14) including attachment means (12) for supporting a lifting device.

Abstract: An overhead traveling vehicle system includes traveling rails that are hung parallel or substantially parallel to each other from a ceiling while being spaced from each other. A side buffer is disposed between the traveling rails and supported by the opposing traveling rails.

Abstract: A device for suspending a rail, particularly a running rail of an overhead conveyor or of a lifting apparatus, on a traveling mechanism or supporting framework with a traction element, which is fastened at one end to the rail. The traction element is passed through by a bolt, which is fastened to the rail via a fixing device. The traction element consists of a single part and comprises a lower borehole for the bolt and an upper borehole for fastening to the traveling mechanism or to the supporting framework.

Abstract: A transport system comprising a cable traveling subsystem movable along a cable that is attached to and extends from a mounting subsystem. The cable traveling subsystem comprises a wheel that rotates along a length of the cable. The cable traveling subsystem further comprises a movable gate which keeps the cable traveling subsystem in physical communication with the cable even should the wheel become disengaged from the cable, and which further allows the cable traveling subsystem to travel though the mounting subsystem thereby resulting in the cable traveling subsystem's uninterrupted flow of motion.

Abstract: A device for suspending a rail, such as a travel rail of an overhead conveyor or a hoisting machine, from a traversing gear or supporting structure includes a tension element secured by one end to the rail. A bolt passes through the tension element and is received by a fixing device that is secured to the rail. The tension element is at least partly recessed in the fixing device in the direction of suspension. In order to provide a secure device that has a long service life and a low structural height, the tension element is fastened to the bolt by a ball-shaped joint, such as a pivoting bearing.

Abstract: A trolley hanger for supporting brake hose connections between rail cars which hangs securely on a trolley rod, and preferably is directly connected to an intermediate hose flange, a train line support casting flange, or trolley pipe flange, prevents lateral and rotational movement of a brake hose connection, thereby reducing unwanted brake hose uncoupling.

Abstract: A rail guide having first and second guiding rails disposed in a mirror-inverted relationship with regard to one another. At least one pair of spaced leading and following carriages are displaceably mounted to the guiding rails so as to engage and transport a sliding component along a transport path towards a stacking area. While the leading and following carriages are slidably supported by both guiding rails along the main track of the transport path, the leading carnage slides along the first rail, and the trailing carriage slides along the second rail along the transport path downstream from the main track in the stacking area.

Abstract: A hanger connects an enclosed track rail to a beam such that the enclosed track rail is positioned laterally with respect to the beam. The hanger and the arrangement of the track rail with respect to the beam allows rapid conversion of a material handling system from “open roller” tracks to enclosed tracks without removal of existing tracks, without adding new structural support for the enclosed tracks, and without substantial reduction in overhead clearance. A method of retrofitting an enclosed track rail to a material handling system having an open-roller track is also provide.

Abstract: A safety rail system (1) which can be installed on a sloping roof (42) and provides a continuous rail to which a safety rail traveller (62) and associated safety line may be attached comprises one or more longitudinal base units (10) of substantially uniform cross section adapted to be fixed to the surface of a building, and one or more longitudinal rail units (30) of substantially uniform cross section adapted to allow the attachment of a safety rail traveller (62). The base units (10) and rail units (30) are provided with corresponding male and female continuous key portions (12, 36) to permit a base unit and a rail unit to interlockingly engage by longitudinal sliding action.

Abstract: A rail support system pendent from an overhead structure is provided for supporting, lifting, and conveying material, machinery, and equipment from one location to another, and for supporting movable trolleys and traveling cranes. The rail support system includes a plurality of side rail members wherein the side rail members are disposed in opposed pairs in uniform parallel alignment thereby forming a runway section with one or more runway sections disposed in successive end-to-end relationship to form a runway track. The alignment of the opposed pairs of side rail members are maintained by spacers and clamps that are disposed between and interconnect the side rail member pairs. Trolley vehicles travel in v-shaped track guides of the side rail members, and adjacent side rail members forming each half of the runway sections are secured together by joint plates that prevent the separation of the adjacent side rail members.

Abstract: An improved bypass device for a fall arrest system that is not impeded by cable supports as it is pulled along a flexible and/or rigid cable. The bypass device has a gate which can be quickly and easily removed from a frame of the bypass device to reveal an opening which allows the bypass device to be positioned on the cable. Once the bypass device is positioned on the cable, the gate may be reattached to the frame to partially close the opening. A portion of the opening remains unblocked by the gate so that the bypass device will pass over one or more cable supports when it is pulled along the cable. The cable supports act to guide the cable along a desired workpath. The supports are also constructed to withstand the force exerted on the cable in the event someone or something connected to the bypass device falls.

Abstract: Connection of rails (11, 11, 15, 15) or manufacturing of yoke members can be facilitated and necessity of a special bending device can be eliminated by configuring end yoke members (21) and intermediate yoke members (20) to have the same planar plate form. Welding lines can be shortened and the rails (11, 15) can be connected speedily by welding predetermined locations of the yoke members (20, 21) to predetermined surfaces of the rails (11 and 15). By interposing intermediate members (24) filling welding margins (L) at a stage to couple the end yoke members (21) with each other by way of coupling implements (26), coupling forces are directed to act on the intermediate members (24) and not to act between end surfaces (11b, 11b) of the rails or between end yoke members which are liable to be deformed.

Abstract: In a method for arranging functional components at a support structure of a track of rail-bound vehicles, a first functional component is furnished with first positioning elements. Projecting arms of the support structure are provided with throughbores. The first positioning elements are inserted into the throughbores such that the first positioning elements penetrate the projecting arms. A second functional component is placed onto the first positioning elements. The arrangement of functional components at a support structure of a track for rail-bound vehicles includes a first functional component having connected thereto first positioning elements. The first functional component has a functional surface. The first positioning elements have abutment surfaces positioned at a defined distance to the functional surface. A second functional component is placed onto the abutment surfaces for exactly positioning the second functional component relative to the first functional component.

Abstract: A movable scaffold supporting device, for engaging the lower portion of a concrete girder or an I-beam type girder, including an elongated tubular member, an adjustable flange engaging arm mounted to the tubular member, an L-shaped head member, a spring loaded locking device which positively locks the head member against an I-beam or concrete girder, and a supplementary locking device. Further, the device includes rollers located beneath the bridge.

Abstract: An articulating suspension for the bridge of an overhead bridge crane allows the bridge to be skewed from perpendicular to the parallel runs that support the bridge. The runs are allowed to pivot toward each other on pivot axes above and parallel with each run. End trucks that support end regions of the bridge from each run are interconnected with the bridge via suspension hangers. These are suspended on end truck pivots that are parallel with the runs and include thrust bearings that allow the bridge to skew. The bridge is suspended from the hangers on a pivot axis above and parallel with the bridge. The arrangement allows the necessary freedom of movements for skewing the bridge without making the crane wobbly or unstable. The arrangement of pivot pins and thrust bearings also is rugged and durable and requires little maintenance.

Abstract: A suspension conveyor system includes a rail network and a roller apparatus adapted to travel along it. The rails comprise at least two sectional running girders each with upper and lower running surfaces and at least one sectional support girder. The running girders extend side by side and are interconnected through strips spaced from each other so as to form a guide slit. The roller apparatus has a carriage comprising two bearing rollers and which is supported by the upper surfaces of the girders. The lower end of the roller apparatus is equipped with a load carrier, arranged below the guide slit. Below the bearing rollers, at least two stabilizing rollers are arranged on either side of the travelling axis of the bearing rollers. The roller apparatus further includes two lateral guide rollers spaced from each other in the travelling direction of the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for joining two spaced confronting fixed ends of two adjacent rails which are misregistered in a vertical, a horizontal or a longitudinal direction without forming a step therebetween. In one form the joint device includes a universal joint rail 1C disposed between two spaced fixed ends 2A, 2B and joined with them via universal joints 5. In another form, the joint device includes an expansion joint rail 3A disposed longitudinally between the fixed ends via a longitudinally movable connecting bar 8 and a resilient member 10.

Abstract: A splice plate for monorail track sections includes a mechanism for drawing the sections together and for leveling the top surfaces of the track with respect to one another. A hanger bracket which is used to attach the track to a support structure connects to the track without the use of through bolts thus eliminating the need to predrill holes in the track in order to receive such bolts. The supports themselves are commercially available hardware items and thus are less expensive than supports which are specifically designed for monorail track.

Abstract: A hanger bracket for trolley track rails is constructed of U-shaped formed pieces of sheet metal bolted together to provide both a clamping and a through bolt attachment to a rail mounting flange to simplify installation. The bracket is adapted to a pivot bolt mounting by a removable mounting plate received in slots in the formed pieces. Aligned holes in the formed pieces allow a hanger bar mounting, while the removable plate can also receive a swivel bolt. The formed pieces are interfit to be keyed together to insure shared loading of the rail flanges.

Abstract: An improved conveyor track system is provided wherein the track segments are provided with longitudinal channels of T-shaped cross-section which are offset from the centerline of the track and which accept rectangular splice bars that are used to secure the track segments together. The system is provided with a series of yokes which are connected to the track segments by means of bolts and rectangular connectors disposed in the longitudinal channels of the track segments, and whose position on the track segments is adjustable in both a horizontal and vertical direction.

Abstract: A linear motor driven transport system of an improved design is presented. The conventional roller configuration for holding the transport vehicle on the rail track has been replaced with a spring-loaded design so as to maintain the contact between the roller and the rail surface regardless of the curvatures in the routing track. Weighing device of an improved direct-loading design is adopted to improve the ruggedness of the device. Devices for controlling the positioning of the transport vehicle, including the carrier, have been simplified and the number of component pieces reduced to lower the cost of manufacturing the transport system. The container and track configurations have also been modified to enable efficient track set-up and loading/unloading of goods in complex track routing in a limited space.

Abstract: A supporting device (10) for overhead runways comprises a fastening and adjusting coupling for connecting a bracket (12) (the lower end of which is secured to the rail (13)) to an upper suspension beam (11). The coupling comprises a first (20) and a second (23) element for connecting the beam to the bracket, the first element defining a circumferential rim (19), two parallel plates (14, 15) being interconnected by bolts (16, 17, 18) which reciprocally close together to grip the circumferential rim between the plates thereby enabling the reciprocal rotation of the element and plates around a vertical axis. The plates (14, 15) are adjustably connected to the second element to allow adjustment of the reciprocal gap between the first and second elements.

Abstract: A conveyor track support system includes an elongated support rail with an upper horizontal planar support surface removably connected to a plurality of hangers, and preferably suspended from a ceiling above the ground. Each hanger includes a bar projecting outwardly from the lower end and a sleeve slidably journaled on the bar with set screws to adjustably retain the sleeve on the bar. A pair of ears on the top of the sleeve are spaced apart and have set screws which will selectively retain the support rail on the sleeve. The rail itself has a generally "l" shaped cross-section with an upper plate, lower plate and vertical web. A pair of vertical forward and rearward walls along the forward and rearward edges of the upper plate have inwardly directed lips along an upper edge thereof to form an upper channel above the upper plate. An upper surface of the lips forms the support surface on the top of the rail.

Abstract: The invention comprises a ceiling mounting bracket for securement to a mine tunnel ceiling and which is used for suspending a monorail therefrom; a mobile advancing conveyor system is, in turn, suspended from the monorail and used to facilitate removal of ore from the mine tunnel. The ceiling mounting bracket includes a flat mounting plate disposed contiguous to the mine ceiling, a longitudinal slot formed on the mounting plate and which is parallel to the monorail when the monorail is pendent from the ceiling mounting bracket, and a pair of opposed lateral slots perpendicular to the longitudinal slot for permitting lateral adjustment and positioning of the ceiling mounting bracket prior to securement to the mine ceiling. A ceiling bracket bar is disposed subjacent to the ceiling mounting plate and is capable of slidable, longitudinal, reciprocable movement parallel to the slot.

Abstract: A modular model railway support system is designed either for overhead installation or above ground support of conventional model railway tracks. The system includes a plurality of side rail members and cross ties having opposite ends designed for interlocking, snap engagement with the side rail members to secure two parallel lengths of successive side rail members together to form a selected pathway for supporting track with side rail members extending along opposite sides of a single or double track and the cross ties forming supports for the track. The side rail members on each side of the track are secured together end-to-end by the cross ties.

Abstract: A modular support structure for scale-model railroad tracks utilizes a plurality of planks, a plurality of suspension members for suspending at least some of said planks from an architectural structure, and a plurality of rails interconnecting said planks. The rails and planks define a modular support structure suitable for supporting a scale-model railroad track. The modular support structure is easily installed with a minimum of labor. The modular support structure optionally utilizes a plurality of support members for supporting at least some of said planks above a surface, such as soil, stone, concrete, floors, etc.

Abstract: An improved method and system of suspending an overhead conveyor rail from an existing structure which may or may not have horizontal structural members. A system of universal beams, brackets, connectors and bracing is arranged to suspend a conveyor rail from the existing structural members without drilling or welding. By the fact that only a few common, universal pieces are necessary, a cost effective system to manufacture and install is made possible.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a support rail with travel surfaces for driven support wheels of vehicles, such as suspended or elevated trolleys or the like. An additional rail is provided for additional wheels which apply contact pressure to the support wheels. Such a conveyor system with a plurality of vehicles and a small number of ascending and descending paths is simplified by supporting the additional rail directly or indirectly through springs on the support rail.

Abstract: A mobile racking system for installation in a trailer van which is fitted on the inside sidewalls with a number of load retaining strips at different elevations to define different elevation loads. A number of clamping bracket assemblies are releasably attached to the retaining strips, each assembly being provided with a releasable engagement device for accepting a C-shaped track member to provide a pathway for accepting and supporting a carriage in the form of a roller pallet. The releasable engagement device has a cam member for securing the C-shaped track member to the load retaining strip. The roller pallet extends substantially across the width of the trailer van, the roller pallet having at least on one side, a pair of rollers which are rigidly secured to axles which are adapted to move laterally on the pallet to accommodate differences in the spacing between the two side walls of the trailer. The clamping bracket assembly has a "["-shaped body having upper and lower arms joined by a bight.

Abstract: An assembly (10) for supporting suspended elements (14), such as the tracks of a monorail system for the suspended movement of powered trolleys. The assembly includes a supporting hanger (11) connected at one end to a supporting beam (12) and having at the other end a plate (13) that is received between the flanges of a piece of track. The tracks are pulled tight against the plates of the hangers by a pair of elastic members (17, 18) that are secured to the hanger by a nut and bolt arrangement (24) and are leveraged against the inside of grooves (16, 23) in the flanges of the tracks to secure them elastically to the hangers.

Abstract: Apparataus for butt joining hanging conveyor supports having a C-shaped rail section in which conveying hangers can travel back and forth along the rail section. The supports each have a hollow section above the rail section and trolley wires running along at least one vertical side of the supports. Connecting parts are disposed between ends of adjacent supports, the hollow section having at least one profiled section in the shape of a square standing on a point. A square tube connects the ends and bridges the connecting parts and are inserted into the profiled sections at the ends of adjacent supports. Tie rods connect the ends of the adjacent supoorts. At least one L-shaped angle iron is disposed on each of the top sides of the ends of adjacent supports. The angle irons are connected to one another via at least one screw bolt and act, on both vertical sides of the ends of adjacent supports, on the tie rods which connect the ends together.

Abstract: A flexible rail according to one preferred embodiment of the invention comprises (a) hollow rail pieces each having a generally inverted U-shaped vertical cross section, opposed open ends, a pair of laterally opposed bottom portions for supporting rollers of a roller chain, and a bottom space located between the opposed bottom portions from which hangers may be hung from the roller chain, (b) a pair of laterally opposed side plates fixed to the respective side walls of each rail piece such that the side plates overlap the side walls, (c) a pair of laterally opposed connecting plates each associated with adjacent side plates on one of opposed sides, each of the connecting plates overlapping both of the adjacent side plates, but being fixed to only a rear one thereof, and (d) a pair of pivotal means provided in conjunction with the opposed side plates, respectively, and each connecting a front one of adjacent side plates on one of the opposed sides and a connecting plate on the same side for pivotal movements a

Abstract: A track expanding device is employed in a conveyorized transport system to spread apart adjacently disposed sections of track thereby tensioning an endless chain travelling with these track sections. The expanding device comprises a splice and an expander having a threaded member for engaging with the splice with each of the splice and the expander being connected to an associated one of the adjacently disposed track sections thereby tensioning the endless chain as the threaded member is rotated.