Abstract: A mobile material transfer apparatus having a conveyor mounted on a vertically pivotal boom and a pivoting depository including pivotal side hoppers for depositing material into a center hopper and from the center hopper onto the belt, the whole apparatus being pivotally mounted on a self propulsion unit and pivotal about an axis generally through the vertical centerline of the propulsion unit; and methods of using such a device for more efficient strip mining are disclosed.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed to be used in the trenching operation necessary for burying utility facilities such as water, sanitary pipes or gas mains. The machine includes an elongated, boom-like body having a large earth receiving hopper and a conveyor belt for transporting the earth to the rear and discharging it. It is equipped with a power plant in front and, while in operation at a trenching site, a hydraulically powered propulsion unit which pulls the machine along the trench. Its rear end is shaped and elevated such that earth moving equipment can operate beneath it and thus lay pipe, backfill and compact the trench between the ends of the machine using the earth discharged by the machine at its rear end. The rear portion of the machine is equipped with wing-like legs provided with wheels which support the rear of the machine while it is bridged over the trench.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unloading bulk mail vans in accordance with which the conventional roll-in or piggyback unloading dock conveyors of bulk mail handling centers, such as are operated by the United States Postal Service, are equipped with an auxiliary load receiving conveyor that serves as an implement which provides for largely mechanical transfer of the individual bags and cartons of the bulk mail from their positions of rest in the vehicle to the roll-in conveyor. The auxiliary conveyor is located at the load receiving end of the roll-in conveyor and comprises a positionable conveyor head in the form of a cantilever mounted belt conveyor apparatus having an upright two wheeled chassis that has a draft type connection to the roll-in conveyor frame for movement part and parcel with the roll-in conveyor to bring the conveyor in through the vehicle end opening into close adjacency with the stacked bags and cartons that form the bulk mail to be handled.

Abstract: A very large hopper capable of discharging concrete of varying consistency onto a moving belt conveyor in a smooth continuous ribbon. The hopper will handle concrete which is predominately mortar, up to concrete having aggregate comprising 4 to 6 inch mean diameter rocks. In a preferred embodiment the hopper has a flat inclined wall containing a discharge opening closed by a sliding primary gate with a "W" shaped leading edge; the primary gate also having a discharge opening closed by a sliding secondary gate.

Abstract: A conveyor feed apparatus cooperable with a conveying apparatus for controlled feeding of material to the conveying apparatus in a manner that overfilling of the conveyor apparatus is avoided.

Abstract: An aerial conveyor system comprises a pair of spaced apart cables extending from a first vehicle including material delivery apparatus across a material receiving zone, across an open area, and across a material discharge zone to a second vehicle. The cables support a conveyor support frame comprising a pair of elongate members extending substantially parallel to the cables, a plurality of transversely disposed conveyor support rollers, and structure for suspending the elongate members from the cables. An endless conveyor belt is mounted for movement around a course defined by the conveyor support rollers of the conveyor support frame and functions to transport material received from the delivery apparatus of the first vehicle in the receiving zone across the open area to the discharge zone. An axially outwardly directed force is applied to the ends of the conveyor system to suspend the system from the receiving zone to the discharge zone.

Abstract: An auger hopper for transferring cementious material or the like from a supply source such as a cement truck or dump truck to a conveyor belt. A hopper is provided together with a frame for permitting the hopper to straddle and attach to the conveyor. An auger is floatably mounted for rotation within and near the bottom of the hopper. The hopper and conveyor are movably mounted on wheels. Means for mounting at least one of the wheels is provided by which the attitude of at least one wheel mounting means may be varied in relation to the hopper and conveyor. The auger operates to drive cementious materials from the ends of the hopper toward the center and then to discharge the cementious material through a discharge opening at the bottom and onto the conveyor belt without plugging the hopper.

Abstract: Packing paddles for conveying and packing broken rock and debris in a mine are pivotally mounted on mine roof supports. Hydraulic sequence valves are employed to operate hydraulic rams controlling the paddles. The valves, and thus the paddles, are operated in sequence to convey the debris from paddle to paddle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading bulk matter, such as fertilizer, said apparatus being characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a container mounted on an axle provided with wheels at its ends and on the other hand a cylindrical sleeve inclined with respect to the vertical whose lower end plungers into said container, said sleeve containing an Archimedean screw of diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said sleeve and being able to open longitudinally to give access to said screw, while said latter is removably mounted inside said sleeve.