Abstract: A vehicle having a suspension control system that is especially applicable to an aircargo transport loader which is adapted for storage in a cargo hold of an aircraft. The suspension control system utilizes sensors to monitor the clearance between the vehicle and an underlying or overlying surface such as the ramp leading into a cargo hold or the roof of the cargo hold. The sensors relay information concerning clearance to a central control where the necessary suspension adjustments are made to allow the vehicle to avoid a clearance problem once travel is continued after stopping for the suspension adjustment. The system allows for suspension adjustments to be made either automatically or manually. The invention also includes an under deck support system which allows for limited pitch, yaw, roll and side to side adjustments to be made to the deck with respect to the underlying base frame.

Abstract: A garbage-collecting truck provided with replaceable containers is disclosed. The truck includes replaceable containers that are adapted to be transferred to a trailer coupled to the truck.

Abstract: A garbage-collecting truck provided with replaceable containers is disclosed The truck includes replaceable containers that are adapted to be transferred to a trailer coupled to the truck.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle is provided with a cradle that can be tilted or rotated. The cradle can also be raised and lowered. The cradle has leaves which are upwardly and outwardly sloping to handle a large cylindrical paper roll by allowing the roll to roll down and center itself in the cradle.

Abstract: A push roll assembly mounted to a material receiving apparatus, such as a paver or other material receiving machine, includes a resilient link which allows energy transferred during contact of a supply truck with the push rolls to be gradually transferred to the material receiving machine, to thereby smoothen the impact between such truck and the machine.

Abstract: A material transport system having a material container for receiving material to be transported, motive members connected to the material container for allowing the material container to move from one place to another, and an unloader device positioned within the material container for unloading material therefrom. The material container has a generally flat floor extending between a pair of sidewalls. The unloader includes a tractor extending between the sidewalls of the material container and a shovel articulated to the tractor. The shovel has a size suitable for fitting between the sidewalls of the material container. The material container comprises a plurality of railroad cars having a generally flat roadway extending throughout the plurality of railroad cars. Each of the railroad cars is articulated to an adjacent car. The floor comprises a series of floor segments overlapping each other in the same direction.

Abstract: A unique piano moving apparatus is provided which may be operated to safely and efficiently move a grand piano by one or two individuals of average physical ability. A keyboard and jack assembly having a first support portion is mutually spaced from and intersecured to an opposing end jack assembly having a second support portion. The support portions are respectively adapted to underlie and support the key board and front end portions of a grand piano. The keyboard and jack and oppasing end jack assemblies are operable to lift the piano to a position in which it may be tilted on its side while still being supported by the piano moving apparatus. The tilted piano may then be slid off the moving apparatus onto a movable platform which may then be conveniently rolled to and loaded onto a waiting transport trailer. A winch device may be used to pull the movable platform and piano into the transport trailer.

Abstract: A hand truck includes a carrying device connected to a wheel arrangement for transporting a load on a first support surface. The wheel arrangement is slidably displaceable with respect to the carrying device and can be selectively secured in a locked position when moving the hand truck on the first support surface. The carrying device including the load is transferable to a second elevated support surface when the wheel arrangement is slid toward a handle end of the carrying device. The wheel arrangement may be removed from the carrying device or alternatively pivoted for placement on the second support surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and moving heavy, elongated rolls of material comprises an elongated member adapted to be inserted axially in a roll of material, a pair of lifting devices for engaging end portions of the axial member that project from opposite ends of the roll. Each lifting device has a fulcrum member fixed to divergent members of a rigid frame structure. A holder for engaging one end portion of the axial member is fixed to one diverging frame member and an adjustable lever arm is attached to the other diverging frame member. A moveable dolly for supporting the roll of material after initial lifting has side projecting arms which can be engaged by the lifting devices so that when the dolly with a roll of material is lifted to a predetermined height the material can be moved axially on the dolly end onto another surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading an exchangeable platform, container or the like onto and off a tipping frame of a vehicle, the rearward end of said tipping frame being connected through a shaft to the vehicle frame and said tipping frame being tiltable in relation to the vehicle frame by at least one cylinder/piston combination. The tipping frame comprises an endless chain arranged to run around a motor driven chain wheel at one end of the tipping frame and a chain wheel of otherwise embodied wheel at the other end of the tipping frame, whereby a separate auxiliary tail is connected with one end thereof to the endless chain and with the other end thereof to a hook-shaped engaging member designed to become engaged to the platform, container or the like.

Abstract: For overcoming certain inherent disadvantages associated with most agricultural fertilizer distributors, a hopper having a distributor under its floor has a clean out door that is adapted to be closed using a tensioned flexible cover. The flexible cover is drawn into sealing abutment with the edges of the hopper housing walls by tensioning members. Advantages of this difference in construction include, for example, the ease with which blockages can be cleared from the distributor mechanism without the necessity of first emptying the contents of the hopper. The flexible cover is made of non-corrosive material and is not easily damaged by rough handling.

Abstract: In a trailer adapted to be connected with a front end thereof to a rear-end of a carrier vehicle, and where the front end of the trailer is held at a predetermined height above ground when connected to the carrier-vehicle, the trailer includes a frame defining a trailer frame plane extending in a hauling position of the trailer substantially parallel to the ground, a front extension and a rear extension of the trailer extending substantially along the trailer frame plane, the front extension being connected between the front end and the trailer frame, the trailer front end including an elongated drawbar defining a drawbar plane subtending a first angle close to 180.degree.

Abstract: A conveyor is mounted on the slope side of a cotton basket. Lift structure pivots the basket until the slope side of the basket angles slightly downwardly toward the trailer or module builder which receives the cotton. The conveyor moves the cotton from the basket, and a metering bar positioned above and inwardly from the dump end of the conveyor when the basket is in the dump position is rotated with the conveyor drive to assure a smooth continuous flow of cotton without bunching or stalling on the conveyor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a forwardly dumpable trailer including an intermediate frame mounted on a transverse axle and carrying a forwardly and rearwardly shiftable trailer frame. A trailer box is mounted on the intermediate frame and is shiftable from a rearward position on the trailer frame to a forward position adjacent a truck box to which the trailer is hitched. Hydraulic cylinders are interconnected between the dump box and intermediate frame for raising the rearward end of the trailer box to dump the trailer load forwardly into the truck box.

Abstract: A spool transporting assembly for the sequential transfer of textile spools wound on tubes, includes a spool preparation station having a support surface for textile spools, a spool receiving device, and a spool transporting device for transporting textile spools from the spool preparation station to the spool receiving device, the spool transporting device including a gripper head being movable in at least one plane into and out of a centered spool receiving position being fixed relative to the spool preparation station, the gripper head including gripper elements for gripping textile spools of different diameters in the centered spool receiving position.

Abstract: A funnel body for mounting at the rear of a garbage compaction truck which includes a rear wall flanked by sidewalls; the sidewalls having lower portions which are generally vertical and upper portions which are outwardly flared; the forward portions of the sidewalls being equipped with a flange and flange secured by cushioning gaskets to the truck body.

Abstract: A chassis supports a main frame with one open side, and a dump box with an open upper side is situated within the main frame and pivoted to the other side of the main frame. An hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly can move the box from the vertical or normal position to a tilted or unloading position. The dump box is pivoted to the upper side of the main frame at a line spaced from the top side edge of the dump box so that the top side edge extends beyond the side of the wagon when tipped or tilted. A conveyor is situated on the side of the dump box which is pivoted to the main frame and driven by an hydraulic motor. Material is loaded in the open upper side of the dump box and when it is to be unloaded, the dump box is tilted whereupon the conveyor unloads the material from the open upper side of the dump box.

Abstract: A loader and transporter for large loads such as cotton modules has a wheel-mounted main frame, which may be self-propelled or of tractor-drawn trailer type, a deck, incorporating a reversible longitudinal conveyor, being connected by a transverse pivotal connection to the main frame. Lifting means are provided for raising and lowering this pivotal connection and the deck and tilting means are provided for tilting the deck so that, when the deck is lowered, it can be tilted from a substantially horizontal low-load travelling position to a position for loading from ground level, and when the deck is raised, it can be tilted from a substantially horizontal high-load travelling position to a position for unloading onto a semi-trailer, for example.

Abstract: A padding machine for transporting padding material from a dump truck into a pipeline ditch. The padding machine is supported forwardly of a vehicle. A bumper attached to the forward portion of the padding machine engages and pushes the rear end of a dump truck, while padding material is transferred from the dump truck into a upwardly opening trough which forms part of the padding machine. The floor of the trough is comprised of an upper run of a conveyor means, and continuously transports the padding material into the pipeline ditch.

Abstract: A self-propelled machine having a frame for receiving a truck which supplies ballast to a dispensing hopper at one end of the frame. A fluid system provides the locomotion and controls for the dispensing hopper. A turntable expedites conversion of the machine between road and rail use.