Abstract: A tie anchor for sandwich panels of reinforced concrete is formed as a flat strap. The reinforced concrete sandwich panel is formed by placing a plurality of tie members vertically in the bottom of a horizontal form with reinforcing rods extending through holes in the ends of the ties adjacent to cross-feet. A network or grid of reinforcing steel is supported from a chair provided by the ties and cross-feet and the concrete for the first layer of the panel is poured about the ties, cross-feet and reinforcing steel grid. A layer of rigid insulation material is placed on top of the first layer of wet concrete about the projecting tie members immediately after pouring the first layer of concrete and a second grid of reinforcing steel rods is supported from the holes in the projecting upper ends of the tie members. The second layer of concrete may be immediately poured about the upper end of the tie members and reinforcing steel.

Abstract: A string cutting and clamping apparatus for a stringed instrument which includes an axial bore in the string winding shaft and a screw threaded cutting and clamping stem mounted therein. The wall of the shaft is provided with aligned openings adjacent the bottom of the bore for reception of a string to be cut and clamped. The stem is advanced by turning in the bore and the bottom edge surface of the stem severs the string by shearing action against the inner edge of one of the openings. Continued advancing of the stem clamps the severed end of the string against the flat bottom surface of the bore. The bottom surface of the bore is spaced a distance below the cutting edge of the opening so that the string is completely severed as the stem passes the cutting edge of the opening.

Abstract: A heavy duty brush cutting machinery having vehicle mounted brush cutters mounted on a boom extending outwardly from the vehicle. The cutter head assembly is comprised of a generally circular rotary cutter blade, a blade-rotating motor and drive shaft, and a semi-circular cutter blade shroud mounting the motor and the drive shaft. The shroud is comprised of a top deck mounting the blade, motor and drive shaft. The top deck has a first peripheral edge encompassing an obtuse arc, a second segmental edge lying radially outwardly from the first edge and non-radially across the plane of the underlying cutter blade, and a third segental edge extending from the first edge and intersecting the second edge at an obtuse angle. The shroud includes an anvil cutting edge provided at the leading edge of the top deck's third segmental edge to sever or dislodge oversized objects from the blade before the object can be carried into the shroud enclosure.

Abstract: A light-weight slotted panel for mounting merchandising accessories on the front face thereof. The panel is formed from a high density light-weight core composed of molded-board expanded plastic foam and is provided with a front facing sheet laminated thereto. Parallel slots are formed in both the core and facing sheet and configured to accept compatible merchandising accessories.

Abstract: A portable self-contained pneumatic cushion device containing a multiple cell hermetically sealed thermoplastic air bladder within a fabric cover. A pneumatic charging valve is located in one bladder cell which acts as a plenum and a contour control valve is located within another cell. The contour control valve is connected by flexible conduits with the cells and may be opened to circulate air freely between all cells or closed to pneumatically isolate the individual cells. The contour control valve is operated by a finger-pressure squeezing action placed on valve indicators located on the surface of the fabric cover. The cushion can be instantly and simultaneously asymmetrically contoured on both faces by the user to conform to and support an irregularly shaped load applied to both faces of the cushion.

Abstract: Wrap around article (10) for wood preservative treatment of wood poles, posts and the like, including an outside backing sheet (12) which has an inwardly and downwardly folded mounting flap (18) at the upper end thereof. A single or series of generally flat pockets or bags (30) on the inside of which is an absorbant pad (40). Wood preservative solution is added to the bag (30) and held in the pad (40) and the bag is sealed. The bags are attached to the flap (18). When the wrap around article (10) is to be applied, the inside faces of the bags are cut away exposing the pads soaked with the wood preservative. Upon installation the pads (40) contact substantially all of the circumference of the pole and the wood preservative penetrates the pole wood. In another form the pad material (40') is wrapped around the treatment zone, the pad saturated with wood preservative solution and then the backing (12') is secured over the pad.

Abstract: A rotary device for mixing viscous liquids within a container. A vertical rotary driven shaft is connected to a circular disc at its terminal end. Radial or tangential mixing vanes are connected to the top surface of the disc and a baffle plate or cover disc is located over the vanes to prevent vertical flow in the area of the vanes. A central flow passage is provided about the shaft. Fluid is driven laterally outwardly by the vanes and replacement fluid is pulled downwardly by a pumping action along the shaft and likewise driven laterally outwardly for mixing. A removable washer shaped flow restrictor is placed in the central flow passage, vertically supported by the inner ends of the vanes and held in place by the downward flow during rotation of the mixing device.

Abstract: Apparatus and procedure for accurately positioning and magnetically holding a flexible ferrous plate on the surface of a rotary printing cylinder. Movable registering pins and a permanent bar magnet are mounted to the rotary cylinder and controlled by a single operating means. The pins and magnetic bar are alternately moved toward and away from the cylinder surface such that, when the pins are initially projected to register with positioning holes in the plate, the magnet is withdrawn. When the pins are withdrawn the magnet is simultaneously advanced to "grab" the leading edge of the plate. The operating means is controlled by a foot pedal linkage. The trailing edge of the plate is held in position by a second bar magnet. To remove the plate, the procedure is reversed so as to simultaneously advance the register pins and retract the bar magnet to release the leading edge of the plate.

Abstract: A rigid light weight knee board for cement finishers. The body of the knee board comprises a high density extruded closed cell polystyrene foam. A water repellent cover made from soft pliable vinyl is provided for the board and includes an upright handle strap.

Abstract: A work-piece holder for use with work table mounted machine tools. The work table includes a work guide or guard which controls the depth of cut of the machine tool. The work holder includes an elongated frame and is provided with laterally operating jaw type clamps member for clamping the work-piece in fixed position on the frame with the work-piece in sliding contact with the table surface. One side of the frame provides a guide follower surface for contacting the work guide and the clamp member is recessed from the follower surface to permit removal of material from the work-piece when the frame is moved along the guide. For angle end cutting of work-pieces which extend beyond the follower surface, a guide arm is clamped to the frame at an angle to accomodate the end cut on the work-piece. The guide arm includes follower surfaces which are moved along the guide to bring the work-piece into cutting contact with the cutter.

Abstract: A free standing display rack having top and bottom panels with a central support core with offset core walls extending from the core corners to the periphery of the top and bottom panels. The core panels and their vertical side wall support posts provide vertically adjustable support means for the individual shelves about the complete periphery of the rack.

Abstract: The present invention is a hand truck for lifting and transporting one or more spools of electrical wire or the like, and for supporting the spools for unreeling. The truck includes a frame with a main spool support mounted thereon. The main spool support includes a pair of standards mounted on the support members and constructed to support a shaft therebetween upon which a main spool can be mounted. Webs with apertures for holding auxiliary spool support shafts are mounted along the support members.

Abstract: A domed game enclosure is provided for playing of an electronic game. A plurality of lights are mounted to the wall of the enclosure and arranged in a matrix. These lights are selectively lighted by a microcomputer. A sensor gun connected to the microcomputer is used by a player to detect light emitted by the lights. Acoustic signals are provided to the player to forewarn him of the approximate position of a light which is about to be lighted.

Abstract: A concrete skirting system for a prefabricated structure, such as a modular prefabricated home, comprises a plurality of rectangular precast concrete skirt modules. Each module consists of a rectangular panel extended upward from an integral footing. The panel is of thin, reinforced concrete construction with integral ribs on the inner panel surface which faces into the crawl space beneath the structure. The modules are provided with rabbeted side edges which form a rabbet joint when adjacent modules are installed beneath the lower peripheral edge of the structure. A concrete mold is provided to produce the precast modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting debris from the flange area of a can includes directing a pressurized jet onto the flange area while rotating the can about its longitudinal axis. A plunger carries an anvil which is inserted into the can and shields its contents from the spray of the water jet while providing a back up for the cutting action.

Abstract: A rotary broom attachment for a motor grader, which has a mold board and structure to adjust the mold board for vertical elevation, side shift and rotary position about vertical and horizontal axes, is mounted behind and parallel to the mold board and has independent adjustment and control structure for positioning, and side shifting, if desired, of the broom relative to the mold board. Sensors are used to signal automatic shifting of the broom vertically or in side shift to avoid interference with the motor grader structure as well as obstacles in the path of the broom. The downward pressure of the broom is controlled by the proportional lift applied thereto by a hydraulic lift mechanism.

Abstract: A modular railway crossing structure supports a pair of rails. The modular railway crossing includes multiple base members, which are aligned axially along the length of the rails. The rails are encased by rubber boot elements. Each base member has a central recess formed in the upper surface. A pair of planar central rail locking members fit in the recess. The base members and the central rail locking members interrelate to support the rails.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the flow of particulate material so disclosed which includes a paddle wheel and a sensor for detecting the relation thereof. A mounting block supports the sensor and paddle wheel and is adapted for use with a plurality of different sizes of conduit. Control electronics are connected to the sensor to produce signals representative of rotation of the paddle wheel and of the rotation rate. The paddle wheel may be formed from a single flat sheet of material.

Abstract: An energy efficient dryer for solid foods with moist interiors uses both thermal convective and microwave drying processes. The dryer will run on a fuel such as natural gas alone, and requires no input of electricity because it utilizes a single prime mover to produce both thermal energy and electrical energy, such as an internal combustion engine, which both provides heat for convective drying, and drives a generator which produces electricity for conversion to microwave power. Moist food is fed by an air pervious belt or other means through a first zone in which it is dried by thermal convection, and then through a second zone in which it is dried by microwave radiation.