Importance

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Abstract

A tire press and loader includes a tire chuck supporting, horizontal elevator frame which is vertically movable and maintained horizontal under normal operating conditions by drives connected to respective opposite ends of the frame. The loader also includes a safety device operative to cause canting of the frame from such horizontal position upon failure of one of the drives and a control responsive to such canting to render the loader drives inoperative and further to interrupt automatic operation of the press until the fault causing such failure is corrected. The safety device includes holding devices at opposite ends of the horizontal frame which yield to downward driving movement of such ends by respective drives. The holding devices are characterized by flexible elements trained over sprockets connected by slip clutches to a common safety shaft which may rotate in only one direction corresponding to upward movement of the horizontal frame by reason of a one-way clutch or the like. The flexible elements are connected to counterweights or wind-up devices which maintain the flexible elements taut and in engagement with the sprockets. The safety device minimizes damage to the machinery in the event of a drive component failure.

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First Claim