Abstract: A rotary engine includes a central rotor having a frustoconical shape with an ellipsoidal groove machined into the outer surface of the rotor. The rotor is rotated by the movement of a series of pistons mounted in cylinders surrounding the rotor. A series of piston rods connected to the pistons have piston followers that engage and follow the elliptical groove on the rotor. The rotor is mounted on a main drive shaft, and a cam assembly is additionally mounted above the rotor on the main drive shaft. Each cam in the cam assembly has a lobe, and is operable to control the intake of fuel and the exhaust of burned gases within the each cylinder according to the rotation of the main drive shaft. In this design, the piston follower encounters less friction and side forces due to the frustoconical shape of the rotor. Additionally, the pistons have a positive movement within each cylinder due to the angular placement of the cylinder in conjunction with the rotor.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for cleaning golf balls constructed of light weight, portable type material and operable via standard battery power. The apparatus utilizes a housing having a fluid reservoir in the lower portion for holding a cleaning fluid, and a screw-type driven auger along with a pair of driven brushes and a fluid spray nozzle in the upper portion. A driven pump transports the cleaning fluid from the reservoir to the nozzle, which sprays the cleaning fluid on the golf ball as the auger and brushes engage the ball and remove the soil, respectively. Multiple sensing means are employed to energize and disable the apparatus upon the occurrence of predetermined events.

Abstract: A method for evaluating atherosclerosis using M-Mode ultrasound to measure atherosclerotic plaques and their affect on compliance of the arterial walls in peripheral arteries. Movement of the arterial walls is measured during a systolic-diastolic pressure cycle and the intimal medial thickness and the thickness of any atherosclerotic lesions are measured as well. The method measures the distance between the near and far walls of the subject artery and the acoustic impedance of the materials that comprise the individual layers of the arterial walls. To image an artery with M-Mode ultrasound, a transducer head having at least one transmitting element and at least one receiving element is placed against a patient's skin adjacent the peripheral artery to be evaluated. A repeating series of sound pulses are transmitted from the transmitting element into the patient substantially perpendicular to the subject artery.

Abstract: A matte ink composition and method for using the composition to produce a superior matte-gloss contrast finish. The matte ink composition comprises (1) an oleoresinous component, (2) a matte agent to impart a matte finish, (3) a cobalt catalyst to accelerate drying of the composition, and (4) an etching agent to condition a gloss surface to promote adherence of the ink composition to the gloss surface. To prepare a matte-gloss finish according to the present invention, a printing substrate is first coated with a gloss film lamination and, after the gloss coating has adequately dried, the matte ink composition of the present invention is lithography printed onto the gloss surface. This novel matte ink composition provides a superior matte-gloss contrast finish without the need for specialized UV equipment and procedures.

Abstract: An improved nesting pad for use in poultry houses with bays for egg laying poultry utilizing an extension portion to extend over an associated egg gathering conveyor to maintain the vertical relation between the pad and the conveyor such that the conveyor is below the pad, thereby assuring that eggs and debris will pass from the nesting pad onto the conveyor rather than under the conveyor. The pad and extension may be unitary or may be formed separately and cooperatively inserted into the bays.

Abstract: A deer call for luring a deer to a hunter utilizes a bag in which a plurality of discreet artificial antler components confined within a bag in abutting relationship such that shaking the bag generates noise from the interaction of the components with one another, each component having a plurality of resonators therein to vary the tonal qualities of the component along its length dimensioned to aurally simulate the sound of deer antlers interacting.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing grass sprigs from bulk sod, evenly distributing the grass sprigs on the ground to be planted, and thereafter planting the grass sprigs. The apparatus comprises a rigid frame member having a driven conveyor assembly, a bulk sod shredding assembly, and a planting assembly. The driven conveyor transports bulk sod to the shredder assembly at a rate proportional to the ground speed of the apparatus, thus providing the proper sprig output rate from the shredder. The shredding assembly utilizes a rotating shaft having a plurality of shredding members extending therefrom for shredding the bulk sod cooperatively with a shredder bar. The planting assembly comprises a sizable chute for guiding the sprigs from the shredder to the ground to be planted without clogging, a plurality of coulters for pressing the sprigs into the ground, and a plurality of press wheels for firming the soil planted subsequent to the coulters.

Abstract: An improved anti-corrosive material used to protect buried conduits from corrosion. The material is a multi-layered co-extruded, calendered, or laminated polyolefin. The material has an outer layer, or environment contacting layer, preferably comprised of a low density polyethylene having characteristically strong tensile strength and elongation properties to provide conventional protection from soil, water, air, or other potentially damaging elements. The material has a center layer preferably comprised of a high density polyethylene having superior tensile strength to provide a high density barrier between the outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer, or conduit contacting layer, is preferably comprised of a low density polyethylene impregnated with a biocide, a volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI), or both.

Abstract: A pouring conveyor in the form of a continuous loop receives sand molds on pallets or other mold carriers and conveys the empty molds to a pouring station wherein molten material is deposited therein to form castings. Each mold is provided with a supportive weight and jacket before pouring. Thereafter, the molds with the weight and jacket surrounding them, pass through a primary cooling line, at the end of which molds and weight and jacket are separated in a jacket transfer station. The weighted jacket is removed and transferred to an on-coming freshly made mold while the castings pass through a secondary cooling zone for further cooling and subsequently discharged said conveyor. The process allows for a substantially smaller number of weight jacket combinations and floor space than previously known molding processes.

Abstract: A register for use in conjunction with kraft recovery boilers or bark-fired boilers utilizes a pair of shaped damper foils to reduce turbulence and induce laminar flow of air from an associated windbox through a port in the boiler. The foils are mounted for constant minimal separation from an exit nozzle to reduce transitional discontinuities which induce turbulence. A curved plenum is also provided to reduce internal turbulence within the plenum.

Abstract: An anti-corrosive material used to protect buried conduits from microbiologically-influenced corrosion, or “MIC”. The material preferably comprises a low, medium, or high density polyethylene sleeve having a bactericide impregnated therein such that said bactericide can migrate within the polymer matrix to contact the conduit surface and thereby prevent MIC therein. The material may further comprise a barrier layer of high density polyethylene between the bactericide-containing layer and the environment. The bactericide is able to migrate through the low or medium density polyethylene but the rate of migration of the bactericide is considerably slowed through the high density polyethylene. Thus, the bactericide is substantially prevented from entering the surrounding environment, but rather, is trapped within a “protection zone” adjacent the conduit surface to provide extended protection against microbiologically-influenced corrosion.

Abstract: An apparatus for promoting uniform sand distribution into a mold flask in a foundry process, comprising a fixed distribution plate mounted subjacent a hopper and a slide distribution plate slidably mounted subjacent the fixed plate, wherein the slide plate has a repeating series of apertures therethrough with each aperture series corresponding to one aperture through the fixed plate. Each aperture series comprises a plurality of apertures having different diameters wherein the largest aperture diameter is substantially equal to the uniform aperture diameter through the fixed plate. Accordingly, the slide plate is movable between a plurality of open positions such that as different flow rates are desired through the distribution plates, the appropriate sized apertures through the slide plate are fully aligned with the apertures through the fixed plate.