Abstract: The apparatus comprises: an elongate rigid member of sufficient length so as to sit transversely on a pair of rails; a pair of spaced hydraulic jacks fixedly mounted to the rigid member and each provided at its head portion with a fitting element adapted to engage the under portion of the bolster of a railway car truck; and hydraulic conduits connecting the jacks to an external power source; the apparatus is inserted sidewise between the wheels of the car truck and, once positioned on the rails, it is manually rotated at one end to bring the jacks in vertical alignment with the bolster; the power source is energized to exert a lifting pressure on the bolster so as to free the suspension springs of the car truck from the weight of the car.

Abstract: A two-masted lifting apparatus for lifting a weighty object such as a vehicle or the like to a certain height with its original posture maintained and then inclining the lifted object at a desired angle so that inspecting, cleaning or repairing works upon the underside of the object are carried out easily and safely. The two-masted lifting apparatus comprises two opposing upright masts on each of which a carriage having means for supporting the object is slidably mounted. Both carriages are independently driven by separate driving means and are connected to each other by a chain so that the actuation of one of the driving means effects synchronous lifting of both carriages while the actuation of the other effects only the lifting of one of them. The means for supporting the object is of the telescopic structure and is horizontally movable toward or away from each mast.

Abstract: To avoid instability, tilting or overturning of containerized freight or truck bodies during raising and lowering thereof, four double-acting lift cylinders are disposed at the four corners of a rectangular array, the cylinders comprising two pairs of cylinders, each pair of which comprises one cylinder which is connected in series to the respective cylinder at the diagonally opposite corner of the rectangular array of cylinders.

Abstract: A two-masted lifting apparatus particularly adapted to lift a weighty object such as a vehicle or the like to a desired height and then incline it at a desired angle in either direction. The two-masted lifting apparatus comprises two opposing upright masts on each of which a carriage for supporting the object is slidably mounted and a height-difference detecting means. Both carriages are independently hoisted up or down along the respective masts by separate driving means, and the height-difference detecting means is adapted to detect the height-difference between the two carriages and restrict the further ascent or descent of one of the two carriages when the height difference between them has reached a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A new method and a new device for the construction of tanks from plates. The device comprises a cylindrical jacket for a vertical tank made from the plates. The plates are connected to one another to form from a bottom part with a ring attached thereto forming a bottom unit of the tank and an upper helically-shaped edge. A cover part is formed comprising a cover with a ring attached thereto, having a lower, correspondingly helically-shaped, edge. The bottom part is placed below the upper part whereafter space for the insertion of additional plates is provided through the stepwise displacement of the cover part relative to the bottom part along a helical line following the edge to make the jacket. The cover part is lifted along the helical line by a linear lifting movement and by a simultaneous rolling movement of the cover part to its dead weight to move along a surface which is inclined in the opposite sense to the inclination of the helical line.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for elevating an off-shore well drilling or other platform on a support structure in a minimum of time with maximum safety. The platforms are elevated on one or more caissons, utilizing one or more jacking units.One type of support structure comprises three caissons arranged as a tripod. The platform to be mounted thereon has three open caisson wells and is floated into position, with one caisson received in each well. A caisson locking gate is closed to hold the platform in place. A pre-set-up jacking unit is located near or straddles each caisson well. Each jacking unit includes a jacking head, one or more jacking legs pivotally connected at their upper end to the jacking head, and a jacking mechanism surrounding each jacking leg and connected by a gimbal joint at its lower end to the platform. A stabilizing frame for each jacking unit is mounted on the platform.

Abstract: A tower crane is erected from a boom assembly, first and second tower sections of different cross section, and a base in a sequence of steps in which the boom assembly is mounted on a hollow climbing section dimensioned to be received in each of the larger second tower sections and defining a cavity dimensioned to receive each of the first tower sections. One of the latter is secured on a base in upright position, and the upright section is received in the cavity of the climbing section which is then raised relative to the first section and enveloped by one of the second sections. The enveloping section is secured to the base and the raised climbing section for supporting the climbing section whereupon the first tower section may be rleased from the base, raised, and secured to the second tower section.

Abstract: A platform positioned in a swimming pool has a slave hydraulic ram at each corner which raise and lower the platform. Each ram has a barrel attached to the platform and a piston rod which is supported on the bottom of the pool. There is a hydraulic motor for each slave ram. The hydraulic fluid in this system is water. Each hydraulic motor comprises a cylinder with a piston therein. Each time that the pistons of the motor cylinders are retracted make-up water flows into the system from a tank. The pistons of the motor cylinders are actuated in unison by a single main cylinder. The main cylinder is operated by hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump through a control valve.