A cable-stranding apparatus includes a stationary guide, a motor, a driven guide, and a controller electrically coupled to the motor. The stationary guide is configured to guide strand elements in a spaced-apart configuration and to pass a core member. The motor is operatively associated with a guide driver. The driven guide is disposed at least partially within the guide driver so as to rotate therewith. The driven guide is configured to receive the strand elements from the stationary guide, individually guide the strand elements received from the stationary guide, and to further pass the core member. The controller is electrically coupled to the motor and configured to control the rotational speed and direction of the motor.

Composite yarns, comprising one or more elastomeric fibers and hard yarns, are formed by adhering the elastomeric fibers and hard yarns together using a size material. The size-covered composite yarn can be used in weaving and knitting to make stretch fabrics with desired garment characteristics. The size material may be removed by subsequent wet fabric processing.

A plain stepped splice lay-out scheme is presented that can be used for splicing strips to one another that comprise longitudinally arranged cords. The strips can take the form of a conveyor belt, transmission belt, timing belt, elevator belt, a rubber track or a reinforcing strip. The splice is optimised for uniform bending stiffness and maximum strength retention. The cross section of the strip and the splice are substantially equal: there is no increase in thickness or width at the splice. The splice lay-out is characterised by the fact that the abutments (130)—those positions where cord ends (111, 121) meet—are positioned sufficiently far away from one another and by preference as far away from one another as possible. Preferred embodiments in terms of length common between cords of the different strips and local strength are given.

The spinning station of a spinning machine includes a yarn end disposal means, arranged between the outlet of the spinning device and the winding device, and with the aid of which an end section of the produced yarn is separated from the rest of the yarn and eliminated. Furthermore, a process for removing an end section of a yarn at a spinning station of a spinning machine prior to the subsequent piecing process is proposed, wherein the end section is gripped, cut off, and subsequently eliminated from the area of the spinning station with the aid of a yarn end disposal means arranged between the outlet of the spinning device and the winding device.

A device comprising: (a) a body portion including: (i) a first end and ii. a second end; (b) for a holder at the first end; (c) a holder at the second end; (d) a rotation device at the first end in communication with the holder at the first end; and wherein the holder is fixedly attached to a split gear having a channel therethrough so that one or more flexible mediums may be placed through the channel and removed from a work area located between the holder at the first end and the holder at the second end.

A method is provided for interrupting yarn production on a spinning machine upon detecting a defined deviation of a monitored yarn parameter from a target value, upon changing bobbins at a winding device, and/or prior to switching off the spinning machine. The feed speeds of the delivery device, the take-off device, and the winding device are gradually reduced to a stop in order to interrupt the yarn production, wherein the reducing takes place such that an end of the produced yarn is located within the spinning point after the reducing is completed.

A method interrupts yarn production on a spinning machine having at least one spinning point having an inlet for a fiber material and an outlet for the yarn made from the fiber material, and wherein the spinning machine comprises a delivery device for feeding the fiber material into the spinning point, a take-off device for drawing off the yarn out of the spinning point, a winding device for winding up the produced yarn, and a yarn monitoring unit for monitoring at least one yarn parameter. Yarn production is interrupted upon detecting a defined deviation of the monitored yarn parameter from a target value, upon changing bobbins at the winding device, and/or prior to switching off the spinning machine. The feed speeds of the delivery device, the take-off device, and the winding device are gradually reduced to a stop in order to interrupt the yarn production, wherein the reducing takes place such that the end of the produced yarn is located between the outlet of the spinning point and the winding device after the reducing is completed.

The present invention is to provide a hybrid core rope which does not require maintenance or a hybrid core rope capable of reducing a maintenance task. The hybrid core rope includes a resin solid core in which a plurality of spiral grooves is formed in the longitudinal direction on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a plurality of fiber bundles respectively spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the resin solid core along the plurality of spiral grooves, the fiber bundles having thickness to fill the spiral grooves, and a plurality of steel strands spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the resin solid core around which the fiber bundles are wound. The fiber bundles and the strands are respectively wound so as to have angles which are not parallel to each other.

A hybrid yarn for producing molded parts having a thermoplastic matrix and reinforcing fibers embedded therein. The hybrid yarn includes a core substantially made of staple fibers aligned in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the hybrid yarn, and a cover made substantially of staple fibers wound helically about the core. The staple fibers forming the core and the staple fibers forming the cover each are made of an intimate mixture of thermoplastic matrix fibers and reinforcing fibers.

Rope (4) having an eye (2). The rope (4) comprises a first rope portion (8) and a second rope portion (10). The first rope portion (8) and the second rope portion (10) are spliced into each other for forming a spliced connection for obtaining the eye (2). The first rope portion (8) and the second rope portion (10) are formed from an end portion of the rope (4).

A steel cord (10) adapted for the reinforcement of elastomeric products comprises a core strand (12) and a layer of outer strands (14) arranged around the core strand (12). The core strand (12) comprises a core and at least a layer arranged around the core. The core further comprises one to three core filaments and the layer further comprises three to nine layer filaments. The core strand (12) has a first wave form and each filament of the outer strands (14) has a second wave form such that the first wave form is substantially different from the second wave form. This allows to guarantee full rubber penetration.

A yarn-producing apparatus for an air spinning machine, which is used for producing a yarn from a fiber strand with the assistance of an air flow, has a spinning tip with an inlet opening surrounded by the outer surface of the spinning tip, in the area of which a yarn is able to be produced with the assistance of the air flow. The yarn-producing apparatus has an internal inset with a draw-off conduit adjacent to the inlet opening for the yarn and several air outlets branching off on the side from the draw-off conduit, such that an air flow introduced counter to the direction of spinning (S) in the draw-off conduit can escape in part through the air outlets and in part through the inlet opening. In addition, a spinning unit with a corresponding yarn-producing apparatus is provided.

In a method of manufacturing a fiber-reinforced strand, the fiber-reinforced strand is so manufactured that the cross-section thereof becomes as circular as possible. Particularly a method of causing a reinforced fiber bundle 3 to pass through a resin bath means 7 and, thereafter, twisting the reinforced fiber bundle 3. The resin bath means 7 includes an impregnation region 21 where the reinforced fiber bundle 3 is impregnated with a thermoplastic resin 5 and a twisting region 22 where the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation can be twisted, and the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation is twisted in such a manner that a twist pitch P imparted to the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation within a length L in the twisting region 22 satisfies L/3≧P≧3.15/90×(dtex)1/2.

A steel cord for reinforcement of rubber articles, whose cord strength is enhanced by preventing occurrence of preceding break of the outermost layer filaments in the steel cord having a multi-twisted structure, and a pneumatic tire using it as a reinforcing material are provided. In a steel cord for reinforcement of rubber articles having a multi-twisted structure in which a plurality of strands are twisted together, which strands have a layered twisted structure in which a plurality of steel filaments are twisted together, dc/ds, which represents the ratio between dc, the diameter of outermost layer sheath filaments constituting the outermost layer sheath of a core strand, and ds, the diameter of outermost layer sheath filaments constituting the outermost layer sheath of sheath strands, is 1.05 to 1.25.

A rope assembly that is adapted to extend between first and second attachment points comprises a line arranged to define a plurality of loops and at least one pair of organizers. The at least one pair of organizers is configured to engage the line such that line segments of the line between the at least one pair of organizers are maintained in a desired relationship with each other and such that the desired relationship facilitates transfer of loads through the rope assembly between the first and second attachment points.

Without decreasing the strength in the axial direction of the cord, and without increasing the thickness in the radial direction, a steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article, which improves durability against cut, as well as a construction vehicle tire utilizing the steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article as a reinforcing material is provided. A steel cord for reinforcing a rubber article is formed by twisting a plurality of sheath strands 2 formed by twisting a plurality of wires around a core strand 1 formed by twisting a plurality of wires, wherein the core strand 1 is constituted of a 4-layer-twisted structure and the diameter of the steel cord is 5 mm or larger. The tire of the present invention is a tire which has a belt constituted with 6 belt plies with cords arrayed on the outer side in the radial direction of the tire at a crown part of the carcass, which are crossed between the laminated plies, and wherein the steel cords for reinforcing a rubber article are applied to the third belt layer and the fourth belt layer.

Method for manufacturing a metal cord with three concentric layers including a first layer of diameter dc made up of M wire(s) of diameter d1, around which layer are wound together as a helix at a pitch p2, as a second layer, N wires of diameter d2, around which are wound as a helix at pitch p3, as a third layer, P wires of diameter d3. The N wires of the second layer are assembled around the layer to form, at a point called “assembling point”, an intermediate cord called “core strand” of M+N construction; upstream and/or downstream of the assembling point, the layer and/or the core strand is sheathed with a rubber or rubber composition by passing through at least one extrusion head; then the P wires of the third layer are assembled around the core strand to form a cord of M+N+P construction thus rubberized from the inside.

A fid apparatus includes a first channel formed along one side of the fid and a second channel formed along an opposite side of the fid. The fid further includes an aperture that passes completely through both the first channel and the second channel. This arrangement enables the fid to be able to grasp or clutch a segment of rope during a splicing process. The splicing process involves a method of using the fid apparatus in such a way that the segment of rope is arranged within the first channel, second channel, and aperture of the fid prior to commencing splicing processes. The segment of rope used is determined by the particular form of splicing that is implemented.

A safety system for a wireless snowplow controller makes the wireless controller safer and more effective. The system includes a vehicle, a snowplow, a wireless controller and a tether. The controller wirelessly sends one or more control signs to one or more control modules coupled to the vehicle and/or the snowplow. The control signals may be used to control operation of the snowplow. The controller may be configured such that it is only able to send control signals when it is connected, via the tether, to a power supply coupled to the vehicle.

An excavator tooth mounting member attachable to an abutment of an excavator shovel, for supporting an excavator tooth, wherein the abutment has an opening, and having a tooth mounting member with an opening, attachable to the abutment, a two part wedge secured within the openings which can be operated to expand or contract, and a rotary bolt in the wedge.

A mining shovel adapted to dig a bank of material includes a boom having an end, a hoist rope extending over the end of the boom, an elongated member movably coupled to the boom, a dipper for engaging the bank of material, a bail assembly, and a pitch brace. The member includes a first end and a second end. The dipper is coupled to the second end of the member and includes a digging edge. The bail assembly includes a first end pivotably coupled to the dipper and a second end coupled to the hoist rope passing over the boom. The pitch brace includes a first end pivotably coupled to the bail assembly and a second end pivotably coupled to the member.

A removable bucket ring attachment configured to slide over a terminal bottom front end of a bucket on a loader or a backhoe; where the bucket ring attachment has a pair of parallel plates closed at one end and open at an opposing end.

Machines are often used to collect and transport materials in a work environment. One of the more common methods of collecting and transporting materials is with a fork having tines. Another common instrument attached to a machine for collecting and transporting materials is a bucket. The present disclosure describes a bucket that engages the tines of a fork, and therefore can be used with a machine that already has a fork attached. The present disclosure also engages with tines of multiple lengths, meaning that the same bucket will engage with forks from different machines. The bucket has first and second side members; a collecting member extending between the first and second side members; and an engagement portion having an engagement surface and a pocket.

A dipper assembly includes a dipper, a dipper door, and a closure mechanism. The dipper door is coupled to the dipper, and has a closed position in which the dipper door covers the dipper bottom. The closure mechanism has a first position and a second position. In the first position the closure mechanism is configured to permit movement of the dipper door away from the dipper bottom. In the second position, the closure mechanism is configured to retain the dipper door in the closed position. The closure mechanism includes a link having a first leg and a second leg, one or more side link plates coupled to the link and to the dipper back, and a closure mechanism pin assembly configured to adjust the position of the link relative to the dipper door.

This invention provides for a vegetation removal system capable of removing vegetation from irrigation canals, rivers, ponds, lakes, marshes and other water systems where the growth of vegetation impedes the flow of water, access to water or there is a desire to remove unwanted vegetation. The vegetation removal system comprises a rake system that allows for the removal of the vegetation while letting the water and silt or mud flow through the rake and substantially remain as part of the bank or bottom of the body of water. The invention also allows for the folding of the vegetation removal rake into a compact form by folding the outboard wings over on top of the main rake section. Sensors attached to the vegetation removal system can provide situational awareness for the operator as well as determine the position orientation of the rake when the rake is submerged or working near obstacles.

A dipper assembly includes a dipper, a dipper door, a closure mechanism, a trip assembly, and a camshaft support assembly. The dipper door is pivotally mounted to the dipper for movement between an open position and a closed position in which the dipper door covers the dipper bottom. The closure mechanism is configured to retain the dipper door in the closed position. The trip assembly is configured to release the dipper door for movement to the open position, and includes a trip arm coupled to a camshaft and also coupled to a trip rope. The camshaft support assembly is configured to receive the camshaft, and includes a bearing block receiving a rotatable bearing member, and a sealing mechanism.

A bucket tooth assembly is mounted to an adapter provided to a distal end part of a bucket of construction equipment. The bucket assembly includes a bucket tooth and a latching member. The bucket tooth has a cavity for inserting the adapter and a through-hole that is provided to the side face and communicates through to the adapter when the bucket tooth has been mounted to the adapter. The through-hole has a center axis. The latching member is fitted inside the through-hole and having a rotational axis disposed along a direction of the center axis and a bottom part provided to an end on an adapter side in an axial direction. The latching member is rotated to switch between a first state in which the bottom part is held inside the through-hole and a second state in which the bottom part protrudes toward a concave portion on the adapter side.

Wear assembly for machinery includes wear and support elements and a retaining pin for attaching them to each other. The retaining pin has protrusions and the wear element has cavities such that the protrusions can be passed therethrough. The support element has a recess for receiving one of the protrusions. In a first position the retaining pin can be inserted into the wear and support elements. In a second position one protrusion is snap fitted in one cavity so the retaining pin cannot be rotated to the wear and support elements and the other protrusion is received into the recess abutting an inner surface of the wear element such that the retaining pin cannot be displaced axially to the wear and support elements.

Disclosed is a work vehicle having a hydraulic apparatus which can reliably prevent erroneous operation of the valve of the hydraulic apparatus even when the operating lever is moved inadvertently. With this hydraulic apparatus, with operations of a single operating lever in two directions, two valves are operated respectively. Two valve operating links for operating the two valves respectively are pivotally supported to a support shaft provided to a pair of frame plates and a lock pin is provided to the frame plates. The two valve operating links form pin holes. When the two valves are at the neutral positions, the lock pin is inserted into the pin holes with a locking operation of a lock operating tool, thus fixing the valve operating links and locking the valves.

A portable suction nozzle for removing layers of fat, oil and grease (FOG), scum, sludge and the like from the surface or bottom of tanks used in water and sewage treatment plants, septic systems and the like. The device can be used by an operator working in such environments, as well as honey wagon operators, oil spill response teams and the like. The device can be held in place by a holster arrangement mounted to a tank to be cleaned.

Provided is a discharge pipe for a snow blower, which is mounted on the snow blower, and is capable of easily removing snow covered on an inner wall of a conveyance duct in the process of discharging snow introduced from the snow blower to the outside.

Bucket teeth having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming the coated bucket teeth are disclosed. The bodies of the bucket teeth have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface and then are fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating can be formed of a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the bucket teeth having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the bucket teeth during operation.

An improved apparatus for removing snow and ice from the roof top of a truck, trailer, bus or similar vehicle is mounted atop a conventional flatbed trailer for ease of relocation from one site to another for use. The addition of a height adjustable scraper or plow blade that is operator controlled to remain in contact with the roof of the vehicle being cleaned is provided with a self-contained front-to-back and side-to-side stabilization mechanism to prevent damage to the tops of vehicles by gouging or tearing the roof top.

A mining shovel includes a boom and a transmission unit coupled to the boom. The transmission unit includes an outer housing, an internal motor housing disposed within the outer housing, and a venting system coupled to the outer housing to direct air through both the outer housing and the internal motor housing.

A mining shovel includes a digging assembly having a generally V-shaped boom including a lower connection point for attachment to the mining shovel. A first portion of the boom extends generally upwardly from the lower connection point, and a second portion of the boom is angled with respect to and extends upwardly and forwardly from the first portion. The second portion includes a distal end defining a sheave support, and a pivot element is positioned generally at a connection area between the first portion and the second portion. The digging assembly also includes a boom attachment having a first end that is pivotally supported by the pivot element and a second end that is supported by the sheave support.

A wear assembly for attachment to a digging device, the wear assembly comprising: a wear member arranged to be assembled with the digging device in an assembled condition; and a lock mounted to the digging device, the lock adjustable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, the lock comprising at least one locking element that projects outwardly from its mounting in the extended configuration of the lock and is operative to be displaced inwardly from the extended configuration towards its mounting to adopt the retracted configuration of the lock; wherein, with the wear member in the assembled condition with the digging device, movement of the at least one locking element from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration causes the wear member to be locked to the digging device in the assembled condition.

An excavating tooth includes a body and an abrasion-resistant layer. The abrasion-resistant layer has hardness higher than the body. The body includes a tip end face, a first face, a second face, a pair of first slope faces, and a pair of second slope faces. The abrasion-resistant layer includes a first abrasion-resistant layer section and a second abrasion-resistant layer section. The first abrasion-resistant layer section is formed on the tip end face. The second abrasion-resistant layer section is formed respectively on the pair of first slope faces and the pair of second slope faces. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an excavating tooth and a body for the excavating tooth capable of keeping a penetration force of a blade edge high in penetrating into an excavation subject.

An oil storage tank includes a hydraulic oil tank configured to store hydraulic oil, a fuel oil tank configured to store fuel oil, a breather valve disposed on the hydraulic oil tank, and a breather hose connected to the breather valve. The hydraulic oil tank includes a first facing face facing the fuel oil tank. The fuel oil tank includes a second facing face facing the hydraulic oil tank. The second facing face has a fuel-oil-tank adjacent face and a fuel-oil-tank sloped face. The fuel-oil-tank adjacent face extends along the hydraulic oil tank. The fuel-oil-tank sloped face is connected to the fuel-oil-tank adjacent face and slopes relative to the fuel-oil-tank adjacent face so as to be away from the hydraulic oil tank. The breather hose is disposed along the fuel-oil-tank sloped face.

Provided is a hybrid construction machine including: a hydraulic actuator; a hydraulic pump which discharges hydraulic fluid for driving the hydraulic actuator; a generator-motor which performs an electric generator action of generating electric power and an electric motor action of generating motive power; an engine connected to the hydraulic pump and the motor-generator; an electrical storage device; and a controller which causes the generator-motor to perform the electric generator action and charge the electrical storage device and causes the generator-motor to perform the electric motor action by electric power discharged from the electrical storage device to assist the engine. The controller causes the generator-motor to start the electric generator action when an engine output becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined engine lower limit output, and controls the electric generator action to keep the engine output no lower than the engine lower limit output.

Disclosed is a position control apparatus for a working machine of a construction machinery, including: a boom driving unit for driving a boom; a bucket driving unit for driving a bucket; a working tool manipulating part for generating a manipulation signal for driving the boom driving unit and the bucket driving unit; a kick-down switch for generating a kick-down signal for lowering a gear stage; and a controller for, if the kick-down signal is generated by the kick-down switch and the manipulation signal is generated by the working tool manipulating part, outputting a control signal to the boom driving unit and the bucket driving unit to move the boom and the bucket to a preset position.

A system for determining material characteristics of a material of a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a first estimate of the material characteristics and utilizes a planning system to determine an expected profile. The expected profile is based at least in part upon the first estimate of the material characteristics. The controller determines an actual profile of the work surface, compares the expected profile to the actual profile, and determines a second estimate of the material characteristics based at least in part upon the difference between the expected profile and the actual profile.

A system for determining a ripping path includes a position sensing system, a work implement, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a plurality of positions of the machine as the machine moves along an operating path and the work implement moves a volume of material and sense the material characteristics of at each of the plurality of positions along the operating path. The controller is further configured to determine the ripping path based upon the material characteristics sensed at the plurality of positions and store the ripping path.

A harvesting device for harvesting and/or picking up crop such as plants or plant parts located on the field is configured with a pick-up unit with a working width oriented transversely to the direction of travel (F), for picking up the crop. The pick-up unit has a multiplicity of pick-up elements, each of which can move at least partially in the vertical direction and are disposed along the working width. Outer ends of the movable pick-up elements form envelope curves during operation. A conveyor unit for further conveying the picked-up crop is provided downstream of the pick-up unit in the direction of the crop flow. The harvesting device so arranged improves the pick-up or intake of crop because the conveyor unit at least partially overhangs the envelope curves of the pick-up elements in the direction of travel (F).

An adjustable blade rake includes a mounting plate configured to mount to a machine. A backup plate is coupled to the mounting plate and includes a plurality of slots. A moldboard is attached to the backup plate. A plurality of tines are slidably located in the plurality of slots adjacent the rear side of the moldboard. A crossbar couples the plurality of tines together and a lifting device is operatively coupled to the plurality of tines and is configured to slide the plurality of tines in the plurality of slots.

A counteracting thumb for an implement of a machine may include first and second structure support plates each having first and second planar portions connected by an intermediate curved portion to orient the planar portions at an obtuse angle relative to each other. A first end edge of the first plate may be connected to an inner surface of the second plate proximate a first end edge of the second plate, and second end edge of the second plate may be connected to an inner surface of the first plate proximate a second end edge of the first plate. Side plates of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the first plate, and teeth of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the second plate.

A convertible bucket includes a central support frame. A pair of rigid wings are rotationally mounted on laterally opposite sides of the lower end of the support frame for rotation of each wing between their fully lowered and raised positions. The pair of rigid wings define a wide-mouth width therebetween. In the fully lowered position each wing is substantially horizontal when the support frame is substantially vertical, so that, when the wings are both in their fully lowered position, the wide-mouth width is maximized. A winglet may be mounted at a distal end of each wing so as to provide for containment of a load held in the bucket when at least one wing is in its fully lowered position.

A hydraulic excavator includes a lower traveling unit, an upper revolving unit revolvably mounted on the lower traveling unit, a counterweight disposed on a rear end part of the upper revolving unit, an engine compartment disposed in front of the counterweight on the upper revolving unit, a cab disposed in front of the engine compartment on the upper revolving unit, an equipment compartment disposed between the engine compartment and the cab on the upper revolving unit, a pair of handrails and a pair of antenna supporting parts. The pair of handrails is disposed on the equipment compartment. The pair of antenna supporting parts is configured to support a pair of antennas. At least a portion of the pair of antenna supporting parts is disposed above the engine compartment. The pair of antenna supporting parts is connected to the pair of handrails.

An excavation control system includes a working unit, hydraulic cylinders, a prospective speed obtaining part, a relative speed obtaining part, a speed limit selecting part and a hydraulic cylinder controlling part. The prospective speed obtaining part obtains first and second prospective speeds depending on first and second intervals between first and second monitoring points of the bucket and a designed surface, respectively. The relative speed obtaining part obtains first and second relative speeds of the first and second monitoring points relative to the designed surface, respectively. The speed limit selecting part selects one of the first and second prospective speeds as a speed limit based on relative relations between the first and second relative speeds and the first and second prospective speeds, respectively. The hydraulic cylinder controlling part limits a relative speed of one of the first and second monitoring points to the speed limit.

A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct.

A sheave includes a hub defining an axis, a rim defining at least one circumferentially extending groove, and two plates oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis. Each plate is connected to the hub and to the rim, and a plurality of reinforcing tubular members extend between the plates.