Abstract: An improved animal prod having a base shaped to engage a portion of the animal's hindquarter and a thigh engaging assembly shaped and positioned to engage a portion of at least one of the animal's hind legs generally near the animal's inside thigh and generally near the animal's hindquarter in an operating position of the animal prod with the base engaging the animal's hindquarter.

Abstract: A silver recovery method and apparatus performing highly specific separation of silver from source material containing organic and inorganic materials, including transition metals, comprising the steps of digesting source material with nitric acid solution to form an acidic reaction mixture; thereafter adding increments of sodium or potassium cyanide solution to the separated liquid phase of the reaction mixture; discontinuing addition of cyanide solution when silver(I) cyanide precipitate ceases to form after incremental additions of cyanide solution; and separating silver(I) cyanide precipitate of high purity from the liquid phase of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: An improved pet relief station for the receiving of pet excrement, the relief station comprising a screen pan having a screen portion, and a pair of receiving pans that are alternatively stackable one in the other. The screen pan is placed in one of the receiving pans, and this pan is in turn stacked in the other receiving pan. Pet litter is disposed in the screen pan to cover the screen portion thereof. Once pet solids have been deposited on the pet litter, the solids are removed by lifting the screen pan, sifting the pet litter which separates the pet solids onto the screen portion, and disposing of the solids. Immediate reassembly of the relief station is afforded by separating the receiving pans, positioning the screen pan in the empty receiving pan, and then pouring the litter over the screen portion of the screen pan. The receiving pans are then restacked.

Abstract: In a system having an electrical apparatus dissipating thermal energy, an apparatus compartment is provided to substantially surround the apparatus, and a blower, disposed in an inlet air compartment, forces air through the apparatus compartment to an exiting air directing assembly where the heated air is selectively directed to a building structure, or to the outside atmosphere. A temperature responsive control assembly selectively directs a portion of the exiting air to the building structure. Suction air to the blower is selectively provided from the building structure or from outside air, the selection of which is selected by another temperature responsive control assembly.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for automatically monitoring objects, such as vehicles, for example, wherein signpost units are positioned at predetermined locations and each signpost unit transmits a binary signpost code for reception via units installed in the objects being monitored and the objects being monitored receive the signpost codes and store object location information. In one aspect, the present invention contemplates a method and an apparatus which has a multi-mode operation capability wherein the location of the monitored objects is reported when the monitored object enters a different coverage region in an automatic reporting mode, wherein only those monitored objects within a predetermined region or on a predetermined route report to the base station in a region or route reporting mode, and wherein only the locations of predetermined monitored objects are reported to the base station in a polling mode.

Abstract: A pair of trim panels are pivotally connected to the rear end of a vehicle to reduce air drag when the vehicle is in motion, with control apparatus connected between each trim panel and the rear end of the vehicle for maintaining the trim panel in an operating position when the vehicle is moving at a rate exceeding a predetermined minimum velocity, and for maintaining the trim panels in a storage position when the vehicle is moving at a rate not exceeding the minimum velocity.

Abstract: A horse blanket and hood having improved strap and strap closure assemblies for connecting the blanket and the hood to a horse.

Abstract: A device for cooking bread articles such as buns, wherein the bun has a cavity formed therein. The buns are cooked about a die having one member which forms a cavity in the interior of the bun and a second member which forms a slot in the bun providing access to the cavity.

Abstract: A fishing reel is disclosed wherein the spool thereof is rotatably and longitudinally slidable on a shaft rotatable via the handle used to rewind the reel. The spool is hollow and engages the shaft via a portion having radial teeth formed on both sides thereof and positioned between a driver fixed on the shaft and a gear rotatably mounted on the shaft and coupled thereto via a gear train such that the gear rotates about the axis of the shaft at a rate differing from the rotation rate of the shaft. A push rod connected to the handle extends through the shaft and is rotatably connected to the spool for longitudinally positioning the spool on the shaft so as to engage the toothed portion thereof with teeth on the driver or with teeth on the gear to provide the reel with a multi-speed capability.

Abstract: An improved portable grade averaging apparatus comprising an averaging bar assembly that serves as an elevation control reference for a track supported road working machine. One end of an averaging bar member is pivotally supported by a forward steering drive track assembly that serves as a forward walking beam, and the other end of the averaging bar member is pivotally supported by a rear track assembly that serves as a rear walking beam. A grade sensor assembly supported on one side by the road working machine contactingly engages the averaging bar member for directing the elevation of one side of the road working machine to establish the elevation of a working tool supported by the road working machine.

Abstract: A remotely operable wiper apparatus for a viewing device comprising a mounting frame supporting a viewing device and further supporting a wiper frame slidingly disposed for bidirectional linear motion relative to a viewing surface of the viewing device. A wiper blade is supported by the wiper frame and is disposed to wipingly contact the viewing surface. Parallel first and second fluid cylinders supported by the mounting frame motivate the wiper frame in response to pressurized fluid selectively directed to the fluid cylinders.

Abstract: A video processor is disclosed wherein each vertical sync pulse of a composite video signal is shifted to an intermediate amplitude a predetermined time period after the leading edge thereof, to defeat the synchronizing circuits of video tape recorders operating in the recording mode.

Abstract: An insert for use with a racehorse shoe having a front end calk, the insert being a plate able to be nailed to the horse's hoof between the shoe and the hoof, the plate having a forward curved edge to generally conform to the front edge of the hoof, area portions of the plate being able to receive the nails securing the shoe to the hoof, and a second rearward calk on the plate having a downwardly directed configuration similar to the front calk on the shoe. In the combination of a racehorse shoe on a racehorse hoof including, a shoe having a front first calk, the shoe being nailed to the hoof, and a second rearward calk secured to the shoe and to the hoof, the second calk being centrally positioned transversely within the shoe and being adjacent the forward half of the shoe.

Abstract: An improved wind collecting apparatus utilized for transforming wind energy to rotary motion. The rotary motion is then used to drive an electric generator or the like. The apparatus generally comprises four semi-cylindrically shaped wind collecting blades connected to a shaft which is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and wind deflectors are positioned near the blades for directing portions of the wind. In one embodiment, the shaft is disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the earth's surface and, in one other aspect, the blades are mounted for rotation generally above a cavity formed in the earth's surface. The present invention also contemplates an improved blade structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically making sandwiches consisting of an upper and lower breadpiece with foodstuff disposed therebetween. The apparatus comprises an upper and a lower support with a lower and an upper breadpiece dispenser and a foodstuff dispenser connected to the upper support. A sandwich station is formed on the lower support and the apparatus is movable to a lower breadpiece dispensing station wherein a lower breadpiece is dispensed on the sandwich station. The apparatus also is movable to a foodstuff dispensing station wherein foodstuff is dispensed from the foodstuff dispenser onto the lower breadpiece, movable to an upper breadpiece dispensing wherein an upper breadpiece is disposed on the lower breadpiece with the foodstuff disposed therebetween, and movable to a discharge station wherein the sandwich disposed on the sandwich station is moved to a sandwich discharge position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resurfacing an existing paved roadway to produce a new roadway surface having a predetermined grade and cross slope, particularly wherein the existing paved roadway has at least one irregular depression therein extending below the predetermined grade and wherein the portion of the roadway above the predetermined grade is removed in particulate form for use as a recyclable aggregate in resurfacing the roadway.

Abstract: A disc valve includes a seat ring having a butt portion anchored to the body of the valve and a seal portion which extends axially from the butt portion. The disc of the valve is axially aligned with the seal portion of the seat ring so that the valve is sealed via engagement of the seal portion with the periphery of the disc. An annular cavity is formed about the seal portion of the seat ring and opposite ends of the cavity are vented to the valve chamber on opposite sides of the disc. An elastomeric seal disposed in the cavity is responsive to pressures of opposite ends of the cavity to close the vent to the low pressure side of the disc such that the higher of the fluid pressures on opposite sides of the disc is exerted on the outer periphery of the seal portion of the seat ring to foce the seal portion against the disc when the valve is closed.

Abstract: A tool assembly comprising a drive member, a driven member, and a torque transfer assembly for transferring torque applied to the drive member to the driven member when said members are engaged. The torque transfer assembly includes a male portion formed on one of the drive and driven members and a female portion formed on the other of said members, the male portion being engagable with the female portion via radial projections formed on the male portion which are inserted into mating recesses in the female portion.