Abstract: A ballast cleaning machine comprises a machine frame comprising two frame parts, one of the ends of one machine frame part adjoining one of the ends of the other machine frame part while the machine frame part ends opposite to the one ends are remote from each other, and the adjoining machine frame part ends being pivotally linked to each other for pivoting about a vertical axis. Respective undercarriages support the machine frame on the track, two of the undercarriages being arranged at the remote machine part ends and a third one of the undercarriages being arranged on one of the machine frame parts in the range of the vertical pivoting axis.

Abstract: An attachment for railroad track maintenance equipment utilizes a parallelogram linkage to position a vibrating skid on the surface of the interstitial ballast intermediate railroad crossties to loosen such ballast for subsequent removal by an undercutter device which is a part of the track maintenance equipment.

Abstract: A mobile machine for continuously renewing a track by replacing the rails and ties of the existing track by new rails and ties has an elongated, two-part, bridge-like machine frame supported on the track by a front and a rear undercarriage. The facing ends of the machine frame parts are pivotally coupled together at lower ends thereof, and hydraulic pivoting and blocking drives interconnect these facing ends and are effective to spread the facing machine frame part ends apart at upper ends thereof in a horizontal direction whereby the lower ends of the facing machine frame part ends are raised in a vertical direction, and the raised facing machine frame part ends are blocked in their raised position. An intermediate undercarriage supports the facing machine frame part ends on the track and is raised off the track with the lower ends of the facing machine frame part ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for serving and displaying food is disclosed wherein nonconnected food carriers are circulated in continuous watercourse. The carriers have a circular outer perimeter and are disposed within the watercourse in a staggered arrangement. The invention further includes use of a water current so as to cause simultaneous rotation of the carriers along a vertical axis and horizontally propelling the carriers along the watercourse in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A mobile installation for cleaning the ballast supporting a track and subsequently leveling the track and tamping ballast under the ties of the leveled track comprises a ballast cleaning machine movable in an operating direction along the track and a track leveling, lining and tamping machine following the ballast cleaning machine in the operating direction, the track leveling, lining and tamping machine.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning machine comprises a machine frame supporting a ballast excavating and conveying chain, a screening installation and a cleaned ballast redistributing apparatus arranged to receive the cleaned ballast from the screening installation and to redistribute the cleaned ballast at a ballast discharge site behind the ballast excavating site. A cleaned ballast compacting device is arranged at the ballast discharge site, the compacting device comprising a plate-shaped compacting beam extending below the track and transversely thereto to the ballast discharge site, the compacting beam having opposite ends projecting beyond the track, a carrier post supporting each compacting beam end on the machine frame, and a drive connected to each carrier post for continuously reciprocating the compacting beam in a plane extending substantially parallel to the track whereby the cleaned ballast is compacted at the discharge site in a direction opposite to the operating direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconditioning ballast along a railroad track utilizes lateral excavators to excavate the ballast adjacent the track ahead of an undercutter which excavates beneath the track. The ballast from adjacent the track is discharged below the track without processing, while the ballast taken from beneath the track is processed by a cleaning screen to recover reuseable ballast which is discharged outwardly of the center of the track.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating or cooling sealed food pouches, another apparatus for moving the same and a third apparatus adapted to transfer the pouches are disclosed. The three apparatuses are designed to function as an integrated food pouch handling system, but may also be used separately. The first apparatus consists of a large bath partially filled with circulating hot or cold liquid, following a course in which whirlpools are created. The food pouches are placed in the bath and are carried by the moving liquid until they have attained the desired temperature. The second apparatus consists of a conveyor mounted on a cart. The conveyor is tiltable so that one end thereof can be placed in the bath to automatically retrieve the food pouches. The third apparatus is a large vat to receive the food pouches placed therein by the conveyor.

Abstract: A restaurant food display and serving system including a food preparation area surrounded by a watercourse upon which a plurality of interconnected boats carrying a variety of foods on trays travel with a current.

Abstract: An amusement ride loading terminal having a revolving circular platform is provided for continuous loading of passengers into a series of moving circular vehicles. The platform cooperates with an endless track conveyer to keep the vehicles revolving with the platform without individual vehicles spinning or rotating on their own axis. The conveyer has a vertically disposed conveying surface with an arcuate contact portion displaced from and concentric with the periphery of the circular platform. The track conveyer is operated to provide an arcuate velocity to the contact surface equal to the equivalent extended diameter of the circular platform, wherein the vehicles engage the periphery of the platform and the arcuate contact portion of the conveyer and are moved with the platform a portion of a revolution without roll or spin, for convenient loading of passengers into vehicles.

Abstract: A portable amusement device wherein flotation of participants occurs on a continuous basis within flotation devices comprises a plurality of trough defining segments each being formed with double side walls and end walls with the double side walls defining a hollow section to permit nesting of the individual segments for shipment and storage. The trough segments are joined to one another to form a continous trough with a pump in at least one hollow section to continuously move a flotation medium throughout the trough and thus propel participants therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed is a turbulent waterway having boats guided in a trough extending between an uphill starting point and a downhill terminus, a chain conveyor having a series of links extending on a slope between said starting point and said terminus and adapted to travel upwardly therebetween, at least one locking bar with transverse grooves is adapted to mesh with the links of said chain conveyor supporting said links for sliding therealong.

Abstract: A braking and stabilizing system for a boat in a water channel, including boat lifting apparatus in the water channel engageable with the bottom of the boat, and including inflatable bags connected to the boat lifting apparatus for moving same upwardly to lift the boat while stabilizing same.

Abstract: An endless water way is supported by a superstructure and includes a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to form a trough. A pump system effects continuous forward flow of water through the trough of the waterway. A guide track is supported on the waterway above the trough. A plurality of vehicles for transporting passengers from station to station are buoyantly supported by the guide track in the waterway. The guide track maintains the vehicles at a selected depth in the waterway. Each vehicle is provided with braking apparatus for frictionally engaging the guide track of the waterway to slow and stop the vehicles. The continuous forward movement of water in the waterway forwardly propels the vehicles from station to station. A plurality of endless waterways form continuous loops that radiates outwardly from the main terminal to provide transportation around the loops to and from the main terminal.

Abstract: A boat ride system for an amusement park, which includes a main channel and an auxiliary channel extending under the main channel and isolated from it except along a narrow slot. A boat for carrying people includes a hull floating in the main channel, a pair of paddles lying in the auxiliary channel, and a pair of supports extending through the slot and connecting the paddles to the hull. Pumps are utilized to pump water along the auxiliary channel so that the moving water pushes the paddles and therefore moves the hull along the main channel.