Abstract: A material handling platform is pivotally attached to the front of the material transport vehicle. Actuator means raise and lower the platform. The platform is arranged to tilt relative to the vehicle about a horizontal pivot at the front of the vehicle. A turntable is mounted on the platform. The material handling platform positions roof supports in an underground mine adjacent a long wall mining machine. The roof supports are transported by the material transport vehicle carrying the material handling platform with the longest dimension of the roof support aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. After the roof support reaches the position where it is to be installed, the roof support is turned relative to the vehicle by turning the turntable of the material handling platform so that the longest dimension of the roof support is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The roof support is then removed from the vehicle by lowering and tilting the platform relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: When the center of gravity of the load put on the two prongs of a forklift is located to the right or left of the central position, the prongs are tilted. The invention is intended to prevent the prongs from tilting in this situation. Tilt sensors are mounted on the prongs. A computer calculates the tilt angles of the prongs, based on the output signals from the sensors. A driving device receives the output signals from the computer and brings the prongs into the horizontal.

Abstract: A load lifting attachment suitable for mounting on a truck or other vehicle frame which can handle, load, unload, lift and transport various loads including containers and pallets. The attachment is pivotally mounted behind a truck cab by mounting on a pair of support beams which in turn are pivotally mounted to the truck frame. The attachment is pivoted to a raised position away from the rear of the truck frame when not in use permitting unimpeded connection of a trailer or the like to the truck frame by a fifth wheel or other trailer attaching device. When not in use, the load lifting attachment may be secured to the truck cab. When in use, the attachment is pivoted to a lowered position.

Abstract: A concrete bucket assembly which is rigidly mounted for vertical, tilting, and rotational movement to a forklift vehicle. The concrete bucket is provided with upper and lower ball and socket assemblies. The lower ball and socket assembly secures the bucket to the extending fork of the vertically movable frame of the forklift truck. The upper ball and socket assembly secures the bucket, at the top thereof, to an arm which extends from and is pivotally secured to the vertically movable frame of the forklift vehicle. The hydraulic system of the vehicle is used to move a closure member at the funnel-shaped bottom of the bucket and to also control movement of a chute at the bottom of the bucket.

Abstract: An operating control system for a lift truck controlled from a single multi-function operator hand control which is located and designed for improved operator comfort, convenience, simplicity and to reduce operator fatigue. The sole hand control for directional and speed control and the operation of all hydraulic functions of the truck related to the handling of loads is recessed in a compartment adjacent one side of the truck and supported from a control shaft which extends forwardly, leftwardly and downwardly and along which the control handle may be pushed or pulled linearly to control all such hydraulic truck functions. The grip handle is rotatable to control direction and speed of the truck. Switch controls are located conveniently adjacent the one end of the rotatable grip handle for selecting a variety of hydraulic functions by the same movements forwardly and rearwardly of the operator control handle along the control shaft.

Abstract: A beverage truck having unique unloading and loading apparatus. The apparatus, which may be mounted to an existing beverage truck, or built into one as original equipment, has a framework at the front and back of the truck body which supports a track that spans the length of the body roof along its longitudinal center line. A trolley is carried on the track and moved by a powered chain drive from one end of the body to the other. Mounted to the trolley is a pivoting telescoping arm assembly that carries at the end of the arm a fork lift assembly. By operating simple controls, the user can move the trolley, extend the arm, raise, lower, rotate and tilt the forks to cause the forks to enter into the cargo area of the body, under the roof, to unload cargo from the truck and place it, e.g., on a loading dock or on the ground.

Abstract: A handling system supports a closure member, e.g. a manway cover or tensioner ring, for maintaining it in position when opening or closing operations are performed thereon and for moving it conveniently into or out of engagement with a mating member without damage to supporting studs. Gimbaling means include first and second attachable connections each vertically supported to a pneumatic cylinder assembly whose internal pressure is set to generate an upward force equal to the weight supported. An operator may provide a force to overcome damping forces at each support point to move the closure member in all degrees of freedom, and the member appears essentially weightless to the operator. The vertically movable connections are supported for translational movement on a cart which is also movable. Reliable movement of a closure member with respect to a pressure vessel is provided without the need for alignment or calibration of a path defined by the closure member support means.

Abstract: A fork lift attachment for a tractor. The fork lift attachment includes a subframe having a pair of arms that are attached to the sides of the tractor. A mast is pivoted to the outer end of the subframe and is adapted to be pivoted in a fore and aft direction by a hydraulic cylinder unit. Mounted for movement on the mast is a fork rack and a sliding rack, which carries the lift forks, is mounted for lateral movement on the fork rack. A pair of lift cylinders are mounted along the sides of the mast and operate to move the fork rack and lift forks relative to the mast, while a shift cylinder interconnects the fork rack and the sliding rack to shift the sliding rack and forks in a lateral direction. The lift cylinders are spaced apart to provide an opening for the power take-off of the tractor so that the fork lift attachment does not interfere with normal operation of the power take-off or the three-point hitch system.

Abstract: A loader, transport and worktable cart having a base supported by front and rear wheels. An upright column supported by the base and in turn supporting a platform for up and down movement of the platform upon operation of a winch. A stop pivotally supported by the base to stop the front of the platform against downward movement past a predetermined level. A pivotal support for the rear of the platform allowing it to be lowered below the predetermined level so that when the rear of the cart is lifted the platform will be swung toward a generally level orientation. Spring retained cables for locking the platform against the stop. Glides behind the front wheels for aiding movement of the cart up or down steps. Handles extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear of the base with hand grips positioned to be held by a repair-person standing generally erect when the rear of the cart is raised.

Abstract: A drum dumper attachment for fork lift trucks carries its own power plant eliminating all heretofore required hose and other connections to the truck and controlled from the truck operator's seat by a demountable switch connected to the power plant through a single extension cord. The dumper attachment has hollow shoes receiving the truck forks, a rotatable clamp receiving a drum, a hydraulic jack rotating the clamp, an electric motor driven hydraulic pump for the jack, a battery energizing the motor, an electrically controlled valve selectively flowing fluid to and from opposite ends of the jack, and a double pole switch positionable adjacent the operator to energize the motor and the valve for causing the jack to rotate the clamp in opposite directions. The switch may be anchored to the truck by a magnet and the extension cord may be coiled to accommodate positioning of the switch.

Abstract: Improvements are described for the type of trash collection apparatus mounted on a side-loading trash collection vehicle of the type in which a container carriage moves up and down on vertical guide rails. The improvements comprise providing pairs of guide rails on each side of the carriage with one set of guide rails being entirely vertical and the other set of guide rails having upper end portions which are curved towards the receptacle into which the container is dumped. An improved apparatus for slowing the speed of and stopping the carriage at the end of its upper travel to ensure proper orientation of the carriage wheels during return of the carriage to the ground position is also described.

Abstract: A device for rotating a container to and from an upright position and an inverted position is disclosed. The invention comprises a pair of fork members spaced sufficiently apart to receive a container therebetween. One of the fork members includes a rotatable plate which mates with a corresponding plate affixed to the side of the container. The plates engage one another when the container is lifted by the fork member and, upon rotation of the fork member plate, the container is inverted to empty the contents of the same.

Abstract: A lift truck rotatable paper roll handling clamp of the pivoted arm type for clamping paper rolls of varying diameters and shifting the position of the roll relative to the lift truck between a position of unequal extension, wherein the forward end of one clamp arm extends a greater distance forwardly than the forward end of the other clamp arm, and a position of equal extension wherein the forward ends of the clamp arms extend a substantially equal distance forwardly of the lift truck. The clamp has a rotatable frame upon which a subframe is mounted by a first pivotal connection for selective tilting of the subframe relative to the rotatable frame. Mounted upon the subframe are a pair of clamp arms, each being pivotally connected to the subframe at spaced pivotal connections located on either side of the first pivotal connection. One clamp arm is longer than the other, and pivots with respect to the subframe through a greater maximum angle than does the other arm.

Abstract: A conventional lift truck is provided with a dual mast arrangement for handling heavy, unbalanced loads, and other awkward objects. Two masts are individually connected with the truck frame in a side-by-side relationship, and each mast includes a fork which is movable up and down its respective mast. The masts are powered by separate motors, and a controller operates the two motors. The controller is capable of independently moving each fork to individually elevate the forks into abutment with the load, and then raise the load slightly into a position in which the load is balanced on the forks. The controller includes a coupler which translates the forks in unison at substantially the same rate and in the same direction, such that the forks are raised simultaneously to lift the load balanced thereon to a transport position, and are lowered together to set the load down in place.

Abstract: A pair of three-element, constant speed lift jacks are positioned at the rear of the stationary mast section uprights above the tilt jack connections with the same uprights, thus permitting the mast to be close-coupled to the front of a counterbalanced lift truck. The support for the lower ends of the lift jacks, at the rear of the primary uprights, are reinforced by the pivot brackets for the tilt jacks and also by an intermediate cross tie between the primary uprights.

Abstract: A riding sweeper is provided with a high dump mechanism for a dirt and debris receiving hopper of the sweeper. The dumping mechanism includes tracks located at forward side portions of the sweeper body. A carrier extends between the tracks and has rollers guided therein so that the carrier can move in an upright manner, preferably with the tracks slanting somewhat forwardly. A hopper is mounted on the back of the carrier and moves up and down therewith. A first fluid-operated ram is located between the sweeper body and the carrier for raising and lowering the carrier and the hopper. A second fluid-operated ram is located between the carrier and the hopper for tilting or rotating the hopper in an arcuate path to a dumping position after the carrier has been raised to an upper position. The hopper dumping mechanism includes a hydraulic system with a valve arrangement for stopping broom and vacuum blower motors when the hopper is raised.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for collecting, storing, transporting and dumping cropped (cut) sections of continuously cast bar. The present invention is embodied in a dumpable crop bar container generally comprising a yoke and rear stanchion assembly surrounding and pivotally attached to a receptacle and front stanchion assembly by an axle and sleeve assembly. A conventional forklift is used to transport the present invention and to discharge collected crop bar from it. The forklift pushes the front stanchions against a stationary curb, forcing them to pivot inward and upward on the axle which cause the receptacle rigidly affixed thereto to pivot upward and outward. The base of the receptacle pivots to almost vertical and all of the crop bar is dumped out. As the fork lift backs away from the stationary curb, the weight of the receptacle and front stanchion assembly returns it to its original position.

Abstract: A forklift assembly is pivotally connected to the front end portion of a self-propelled mobile frame. A mounting plate extends transversely across the front end portion of the mobile frame. A hydraulic lift cylinder is bolted to the intermediate portion of the mounting plate closely adjacent to the front axles of the mobile frame, and the piston rod of the lift cylinder is pinned to a lug extending rearwardly from the forklift assembly. Extension and retraction of the piston rod raises and lowers the forklift assembly relative to the mobile frame. The lug is connected to the piston rod to permit movement of the lug on a shoulder portion of the piston rod so that the torsional forces exerted on the forklift assembly are not transferred to the piston rod of the lift cylinder. Guide members are secured to the rear of the forklift assembly and the mounting plate to maintain vertical movement of the lift cylinder relative to the mounting plate.

Abstract: The lifting mast (20), frame (12), and outriggers (16) of a slip sheet lift truck (10) are fixed and immovable with respect to one another. The platen (30), push-pull mechanism (45), and back plate (31) are an integral unit mounted to permit side shifting on a tilt carriage (29), which is mounted on lower pivots (28) and tiltable thereabout with upper tilt cylinders (35). These are carried on a lifting carriage (25) which is vertically moveable and supported by a lifting cylinder (26) on the lifting mast (20). The lift truck outriggers (16) extend and slope forwardly and downwardly from the mast (20) to provide better truck stability, clearance for the platen (30), and good underclearance for ramps and dockboards.

Abstract: Transport and assembly apparatus for a screw-tightening device having a carrier ring seatable on a pressure-vessel cover for loosening and tightening fastening screws thereon includes a lift truck having an elevating platform whereon a carrier ring is mountable, means for pivoting the carrier ring about a horizontal axis, and means for vertically adjusting the carrier ring with the elevating platform.