Abstract: Auger-hopper constructions for mounting to an inclinable body of a truck at the tailgate of the truck includes a pair of hoppers, one of which is stationarily and removably mounted to the truck, and the second of which is pivotally mounted to the first hopper adjacent an opening in the bottom of the first hopper. The second hopper also includes an opening adjacent its bottom at which an auger tube is swivelly mounted. The auger tube, by virtue of the pivotal and swivel mountings, is pivotable in a 90.degree. arc in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivotal movement and is swivelable in a 180.degree. arc in a plane which is parallel to the axis of the pivotal movement. Both the first and second hopper are dimensioned and positioned such that no portion of either of the hoppers extends substantially beneath a plane defined by the bottom of the inclinable body of the truck.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unit insertable in a truck or trailer body to convert same into a multiple conveyor having multiple hoppers and conveyors for removing granular material therefrom via a spreading, unloading or dumping mode. The unit has two embodiments: in the one embodiment there are two hoppers and conveyors, and in the other embodiments there are three hoppers and conveyors.

Abstract: A vehicle or trailer having a chassis to which is pivotally connected an elevator or conveyor, the elevator or conveyor being movable from a position in which the elevator or conveyor extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle or trailer from one side thereof to a position in which the elevator or conveyor is substantially parallel to the axis of the vehicle or trailer and lies within the overall confines thereof.

Abstract: A multi-wheel transporter vehicle of the straddle-type comprising first, second, third and fourth vertically extending corner upright members, each corner upright further comprising a wheel assembly at the lower end thereof and first drive means operable to control one or more of said wheel assemblies in either a normal or lateral direction, with a longitudinally extending endless conveyor platform assembly including second drive means for selectively defining a linear motion in the longitudinal direction for said conveyor, between said uprights.

Abstract: A front foldable farm implement and hopper-feeding auger comprising an elongated hopper-supporting frame in three separable sections in end-to-end relation. A drawbar is secured to and transversely extends from the central portion of the intermediate section. First means pivotally connects the opposite ends of this central portion to the adjacent ends of the outboard sections, respectively, whereby the outboard sections may be pivoted between a first position in which the three sections are aligned and a second position in which the outboard sections are generally parallel to the drawbar. A plurality of hoppers is carried by the sections. An elongated tubular conveyor in two separable length portions is carried by the two outboard sections, respectively, these length portions being disposed above and in feeding registry with the hoppers. Further, the conveyor extends parallel to the frame sections when the outboard sections are in the first position.

Abstract: A manure spreading apparatus adapted to be movably mounted upon the bed of a farm truck for chopping and spreading a load of manure carried by the truck. During a spreading operation, the apparatus advances from the back to the front of the bed and then reverses direction to return to its starting position. A rotating impeller throws the pieces of manure in a rearward and upward direction with sufficient velocity to clear the back end of the truck bed, and a feeding mechanism in front of the impeller engages the load as the apparatus advances, chopping and tearing the manure into pieces and feeding them towards the impeller. An arcuate top shield combined with a pair of side shields defines an impeller chamber, and a curved deflector plate adjacent the discharge opening of that chamber assists in directing the discharge of material.

Abstract: A combine has an unloading tube containing an auger, which tube is moveable between a retracted position and an unloading position. Movement is controlled by the operator from the operator's platform by a hydraulic system. The system includes an actuator cooperating with a valve to control a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder is interconnected to the tube causing movement thereto.

Abstract: An auger conveyor assembly for use with a seeder and fertilizer applicator, having tanks which are mounted onto a tool bar frame or carrier such as a field cultivator and wherein the seed tanks are generally positioned adjacent to the hitch of the tool bar frame. The auger conveyor is mounted on the tool bar frame on a member which permits moving the auger from a usable position with the receiving end of the auger adjacent the ground to a transport position. The discharge spout of the auger comprises a flexible tube which can be manipulated for filling the tanks. In transport position the hopper end of the auger is raised above the ground and the entire auger is substantially within the perimeter of the tool bar frame.

Abstract: A cam operated safety switch (51) prevents the clutch device (21) for the drive for the unloading auger (34) from being shifted from a clutch disengaged position to a clutch engaged position whenever the unloading conveyor (37) is out of its crop unloading position. A branch circuit (98) with a diode (99) interconnects the tube swing switch (63) and the circuit (92) for declutching the unloading auger drive so that when the unloading conveyor (37) is swung from its unloading position to its transport position the clutch device (21) will automatically be placed in its clutch disengaged position.

Abstract: A manure removing machine carried by a vehicle having a mechanically driven feeder screw for taking up manure and other waste material where the machine includes an elongated horizontal casing around the feeder screw and a receiving mouth axially disposed in the casing. The casing at one end is connected to a tube directed vertically upward and guided into a tube socket that is fixed to the vehicle. The socket is in communication with a collection box carried by the vehicle. The feeder screw and casing are rotatable outward from under the vehicle to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: A patient transfer apparatus is provided which utilizes a movable cart onto which is structurally annexed an expandable series of finger-like projections fitted with rollers which, in an expanded mode may be inserted into correspondingly hollowed out areas of a hard rubber or vinyl mattress foundation which is permanently affixed to a hospital or other bed thus enabling the mattress and any patient thereon to transfer across these rollers to or from the movable cart and/or bed.

Abstract: Apparatus for spreading granular material such as salt, cinders and the like in which the conveyor is an assembly insertable into the hopper and the drive for the conveyor and spreader are mounted on the assembly. The conveyor assembly rests on the bottom wall of the hopper. The discharge of material starts at the rear wall of the hopper. The result is a reduction in the weight, height and length and a lowering of the center of gravity of the apparatus.

Abstract: An auxiliary attachment which may be detachably coupled to the front end of a combine adjacent an inlet opening in the front end. The attachment includes a conveyor for conveying unshelled corn towards the inlet opening and a rotatable rotor for engaging and feeding that corn into and through the opening. The attachment serves to transport unshelled corn into the combine so that the corn shelling apparatus inside the combine can be used to shell dried corn. The attachment is meant to be coupled to the combine in place of the normal crop picking header thereon.

Abstract: An adjustable drag feed device for a mobile grinder-mixer machine is mounted on the chassis of the grinder-mixer machine by a support arm which permits lateral swinging movement of the drag feed device between a transport position and selected operative positions. A short pivot arm pivotally interconnects the drag feed device with the support arm. The drag feed device may shift longitudinally a short distance about the short pivot arm to thereby permit the infeed end of the drag feed device to be optimally positioned with respect to the discharge chute of a bin from which material is discharged into the drag feed device.

Abstract: A trailer for transporting, launching and retrieving floating box caissons includes a conventional road chassis, a tip-frame pivoted to the rear end of the road chassis and provided with a system for tipping the tip-frame from a normal horizontal position, and a sub-frame slidably mounted in the tip-frame and provided with a system for causing longitudinal translation of the sub-frame in relation to the tip-frame. A hauling carriage is guided for movement within the sliding sub-frame. A system is provided for moving the hauling carriage in translation within the sliding sub-frame. A lock is mounted on the hauling carriage for rigidly coupling a floating box-caisson to the carriage.

Abstract: The portable, self-unloading fertilizer tender comprises a frame suitable for mounting on a truck or trailer for road and ground travel, a hopper mounted on the frame with a discharge opening at its bottom, a longitudinally extending auger tube in communication with the hopper, an auger mounted in the tube and support means for the tube. The discharge opening of the hopper is spaced longitudinally from at least one end of the frame, and the hopper end wall on that end of the frame slopes downwardly and inwardly toward the discharge opening. The entire auger tube is pivoted at its intake end about a transverse, horizontal axis adjacent the discharge opening of the hopper. The intake end has an opening in registration with the hopper discharge opening. The discharge end of the auger tube can be selectively adjusted in vertical elevation between a lowered, traveling position and at least one elevated, discharge position by support and retention means.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting solid-waste material, the apparatus being arranged to be used in conjunction with a moving collection vehicle, wherein the apparatus includes an improved pick-up means adapted to pick up waste material, whether the material is encapsulated within paper or plastic bag containers, or stacked as loose bundles, such as stacked newspapers or the like, the improvement further including a novel steering device.

Abstract: An easily transportable and mechanized bag filling machine preferably used for filling sandbags at a high rate of speed to meet the requirement for a lare number of filled sandbags in areas where conditions such as flooding exist. The mechanized bag filling machine includes a pivotable trailer-mounted bag filling assembly comprising a receptacle with a cross auger, a conveyor, and a chute having bagging heads. The trailer-mounted assembly is conveniently movable from a transport position wherein the conveyor lies substantially horizontal on the trailer to a work position wherein the conveyor is inclined by actuating a cylinder connected at one end to the trailer and at its other end to the underside of the conveyor. The bagging heads are supported in an upright position on one end of the conveyor during transport, and they are pivoted to extend downwardly after the conveyor is elevated to an inclined position.

Abstract: A loader system for agricultural trailer boxes wherein a self-propelled carriage is provided with wheels to be driven on beams placed atop trailer boxes. The carriage supports conveyors extending over lateral sides of the trailer and the conveyors feed a chute emptying into the trailer interior. The beams of each trailer box can be linearly connected so that the carriage may be driven for one trailer to a queued trailer over a bridge formed by joining beams.

Abstract: A loading and transport vehicle, especially for a load like a cotton module, has an elongated, relatively high main frame supported on some ground-engaging wheels. An elongated conveyor frame carries a horizontal conveyor belt driven preferably at a surface speed coordinated with the rotational speed of a ground-engaging wheel. The conveyor frame is supported through vertically movable, hydraulically expansible chambers on the main frame and is guided for movement between a horizontal position on the ground and a higher horizontal position pressing a load on the conveyor belt against a ceiling on the main frame. The chambers may put force on the conveyor frame to lift the ground-engaging wheels, which can then be moved transversely to vary the tread between one position beneath the conveyor frame and another position alongside the conveyor frame.

Abstract: An improved direct-loading crop harvester is disclosed as having an articulated elevator which is retractable into a berth in the harvester. During transportation of the harvester from field to field, the lower leg of the loading elevator is horizontally positioned within the berth upon a slidable support cradle, and the upper leg of the elevator is nestled vertically at a side of the berth. Prior to harvesting, the elevator is pulled from the side of the berth with the lower leg resting on the cradle. The elevator is then connected by pivot and hydraulic cylinder mechanisms to the berth such that the lower leg tilts upwardly at the side of the harvester and the upper leg projects outwardly from the upper end of the lower leg. During the harvesting operation, crops are fed to the elevator by a conveyor and are discharged at a selected position above an attendant trailer, preferably through a detachable decelerator mechanism.

Abstract: A refuse compacting mechanism is provided in the container of a refuse wagon. The mechanism includes a series of bars transversely oriented on the floor of the container and a pusher mechanism at the rear of the container. Uncompacted refuse falls into the container rearwardly of the bars and is pushed toward and compacted against the rearmost bar by the pusher mechanism. As additional refuse is added and compacted, the previously compacted mass topples forwardly over the rearmost bar to be further compacted against the next bar. Preferrably, the bars are connected to endless chains and may be moved rearwardly in unison to aid in unloading compacted refuse from the container.