Abstract: A locking mechanism for heavy equipment having a first structure moveable relative to a second structure, the locking mechanism having an actuator mechanism, coupled to one of the first structure and the second structure, operable between a deployed position and a retracted position, a biasing member, a carriage member operable between a restricted position, in response to the actuator being in the retracted position, and an extended position. The biasing member is configured to bias the carriage member toward the extended position in response to the actuator mechanism being in a deployed position and the carriage member is configured to prevent relative movement between the first structure and the second structure in the extended position.

Abstract: A receiver embedded in and affixed to a foundation, the receiver is adapted to receive a turntable through an opening defined by the floor and walls of the receiver. The turntable is designed to rotate within the opening. The floor of the receiver has holes therein for bolts. The holes are located relative to center of the receiver and the foundation such that a turntable may be affixed to the bolts and rotate within the receiver and foundation. The receiver has a number of flanges both on the walls and on the floor to engage with the foundation. The foundation is created from two pour sections, a first pour for the floor of the foundation and a second pour for the walls of the foundation.

Abstract: A tour and leisure cart management system capable of allowing large numbers of tourists to access nature reserves without damaging ecologically sensitive areas. The cart system is installed in areas having excellent views, places where various memorials or educational materials are displayed, nature reserves where wildlife lives and access is restricted, undeveloped areas that are difficult to access, swamps which are difficult to access using typical vehicles and so on, in order to enable tours of various natural features, animals, plants and educational materials, without incurring high construction costs for road construction and rail installation.

Abstract: A bridge joint for use with a railroad track having standard rail sections with flanges. The bridge joint includes a fixed point section having an integral accepting portion with a point and laterally spaced side walls, and a standard rail abutting portion. The joint also has a moveable point section having a yoke portion with a point and laterally spaced side walls, and a standard rail abutting portion. A rocker arm has a moveable interface portion adapted to be pivotally attached to said yoke portion and a fixed interface portion adapted to be received in said accepting portion. Clamping lugs arc positioned on the side walls of the accepting portion and the yoke portion. The fixed point section and the moveable point section are clamped to base plates with clamping members that engage the clamping lugs.

Abstract: A vehicular transport apparatus for use with a carrier to transport other vehicles as cargo. The vehicular transport apparatus includes a support frame, a rotary mount on the support frame, a rotatable deck mounted on the rotary mount, a deck lock beside the rotatable deck that is pivotably attached to the carrier frame by a pin, a biassing means associated with the deck lock for biassing the deck lock into the lock position, and a ramp for loading the carried vehicle onto the rotatable deck, which can be secured to the rotatable deck or the support frame. The support frame is secured in a fixed position on the carrier by an attachment beam that mates with brackets attached to the carrier.

Abstract: A track set as set forth for use with a toy train or the like includes a pair of mirror image C-shaped track portions coupled to a circular base. A circular platform is rotatably supported upon the base and includes a plurality of track segments supported thereon. The track segments include orthogonally intersecting straight track portions as well as offset arcuate curved portions symmetrically arranged upon the platform. The base further defines an upwardly extending annular rim which defines a plurality of notches equally spaced thereupon. A platform lock includes a pivotable handle receivable within the notches to securely position the platform at a selected rotational position and thereby align selected track segments of the platform with the C-shaped track portions. The travel path of the track set may be configured to provide a figure-eight, a peanut-shape, and a pair of separate distinct circular travel paths.

Abstract: A turntable for a conveyor system includes a cylinder having a longitudinal axis mounted to a stationary base plate; a non-rotatable piston disposed within the cylinder and mounted for reciprocal movement along the longitudinal axis; a bushing disposed about the longitudinal axis of the cylinder for rotatably mounting a plate for supporting an article and a stabilizing device coaxially mounted with the bushing for stabilizing the article supporting device during rotation. The article supporting device is raised and lowered with respect to the base plate by the reciprocal movement of the piston but its rotational movement is independent from that of the piston.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for coupling two bodies able to move relatively with respect to each other by a given incertainty of amplitude, essentially characterized in that it comprises, on a first body, a projecting part having an end section of determined value and members for controlling the displacement of said projecting part with respect to said first body, and, on the second body, a cavity having an inlet opening whose section has dimensions larger than those of the end of the projecting part, the valve of the difference between these two sections being at least equal to that of the given incertainty, and members for exerting at least one couple of reaction forces between said projecting part and the inner wall of said cavity. The invention is more particularly applicable to the systems for coupling carriages and work stations in so-called flexible workshops.

Abstract: A vehicle turntable has a rotatable vehicle support which is supported on a base for rotation about an axis which is inclined relative to orthogonal vertical planes. The rotatable assembly carries a detent which is releasably engageable with slots at spaced intervals around the periphery of an arcuate member which is mounted for limited rotation about the turntable axis. A spring urges the arcuate member in a direction which is opposite to the direction of turntable rotation, a motion damping device is connected to the arcuate member.

Abstract: A railroad flat car having a rotatable loading floor for transferring loads between it and a platform. A sleeve is provided in the rotatable loading floor which slidably receives a beam coupled to the chassis. The beam is extended into the sleeve to secure the loading floor in its stowed position during travel. The beam abuts against a steel plate in the sleeve to provide a solid buffer against horizontal motion of the rotatable loading floor along its longitudinal axis, the beam and sleeve also stiffen the rail car to minimize sagging under heavy loads. The end of the loading floor has a pinion gear which meshes with a toothed rack on the chassis. A motor turns the pinion gear to swing the rotatable loading floor into position.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for supporting a load on the forks of a forklift while such load is being moved, wherein the relationship of the direction the load is moved to the direction the forklift moves is an oblique angle, the apparatus comprising:(A) a bottom member adapted with a means for attaching the apparatus to a forklift; and(B) a top member adapted for supporting a load, the top member pivotally attached to the bottom member, said top member adapted to pivot so as to support a load to be moved which must be moved in a direction which is at an oblique angle to the direction the forklift will move wherein the pivot point of the apparatus is located beyond the pivot point of a forklift when the apparatus is mounted on a forklift.

Abstract: A vehicle turntable is disclosed herein having flotation and bearing systems to reduce friction while turning. When a vehicle is being moved on or off of the turntable, the turntable tips into engagement with its base to support the eccentric load of the vehicle and to inhibit turning. Power controls for the turntable are operable from the driver's seat.

Abstract: A hand-operated work pallet changer for changing work pallets to be fed onto a pallet mounting portion of a machine tool, comprises a turntable (58) rotatably supported on a base unit and having at least two supporting portions (62, 63) for supporting thereon work pallets (2), respectively, and a table-indexing unit (67) for stopping a rotational movement of the turntable and locking the turntable when each of the supporting portions of the turntable arrives at a predetermined position (C) in which each of the supporting portions is in alignment with the pallet mounting portion of the machine tool. A movable hook (68) is provided on the base unit to prevent a rebound of the work pallet fed from the pallet mounting portion of the machine tool onto one of the supporting portions located at the predetermined position.

Abstract: A turntable for turning vehicles, including a base member adapted to be supported on a flat floor and having a platform rotatably disposed above the base member for supporting a vehicle thereon. Rollers are utilized to reduce friction and support the platform as it rolls around and the rollers roll along the floor. The roller mechanism and actuating mechanism are extremely compact in order to allow the turntable to be low enough to the floor so that ramps are not needed to get a vehicle thereon and tipping is not required. A rod is pivotally attached to the underside of the platform and has a cog operatively attached thereto with a free end thereon for engaging a first or second cog holding mechanism attached to each side respectively of the base member.

Abstract: A switching device for a transporting track on which a pallet travels supported on a cushion of air which includes a rotatable track having air jets to support the pallet and which is supported on an air bearing, a first linear motor for turning the air bearing, a second linear motor for driving and braking the pallet and a positioning device for accurately positioning the rotatable track in alignment with a fixed regular track.

Abstract: A driverless vehicle turntable includes a table pivotably mounted for movement about a vertical axis. The table has tracks and a drive tube as well as drive wheels. An arcuate drive tube assembly is arranged for frictional contact with the drive wheels.

Abstract: An accurately indexed rotatable tool positioning table for use with inspection and repair apparatus remotely disposed within the channel head of a steam generator is shown. The table is automatically rotated by a motor to predetermined positions and an angular position resolving mechanism in engagement therewith provides an output signal responsive to the angular movement for accurate position determination and control. An indexing pin is received in an indexing bushing in the plate to insure accurate, repeatable positioning of the plate, and switch means are associated therewith and operatively connected to the tool energizing circuit to prevent operation of any tool until the indexing pin is properly seated in the bushing and to prevent the positioning motor actuation until the pin is fully withdrawn from the bushing.

Abstract: A monorail track switch and method is disclosed wherein the track switch senses the approach of a train and automatically aligns itself to accommodate passage of the train. Circuits are provided to selectively deenergize a movable track section when in nonaligned position and to re-energize the track section when properly aligned. Novel structure and method is also provided for lowering the movable track section onto rollers to facilitate movement and thereafter lifting the track section into horizontal alignment with the train path. Electronic lockout circuits prevent a train from overrunning the switch when the switch is in a nonaligned position.