Abstract: A first component includes either linear bearings or linear shafts that are located at a fixed hole-to-hole or center-to-center distance. A second component, having linear shafts or linear bearings, respectively, is capable of adjusting the center-to-center or hole-to-hole distance of those second linear shafts or linear bearings. The center-to-center or hole-to-hole distance can be adjusted by relative motion between a first sub-component and a second sub-component of the second component, and/or deforming an elastically-deformable element of the second component. The second component can include a rigid stabilizing element and an elastically-deformable element.

Abstract: An illuminated display system or assembly. In particular, the illuminated system is designed to display various food items such as wedding cakes, hors d'oeuvres, buffets, pies, and the like. The assembly includes a plurality of plates and sheets adapted to be engaged to form enclosures for lighting. Lighting is secured to the sheets within the enclosures. The assembly further includes one or more pillars each adapted to engage the plates and to house additional lighting. The invention also includes methods of assembling the display system and methods of displaying and illuminating the various food items.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating the angle of attack of wheels, wheelsets, trucks and railway vehicles traveling over a track employing a wayside system having a plurality of sensors, adjacent to the rails of the track, for detecting the passing of each wheelset of each truck. Each sensor communicates its moment of activation and length of activation caused by a passing wheel to a sensor monitoring unit for use in determining the angle of attack of the passing wheel, wheelset, truck and railway vehicle. The estimated angle of attack of the wheelset at different locations along the track may be used to detect a hunting wheelset, truck or railway vehicle.

Abstract: Mineral contaminants are removed from water in a system in which water is sprayed into an air head at the top of a tank through a diffuser and withdrawn through a pick-up tube. A solenoid valve operates to allows air from a compressor to flow into the top of the tank through a shuttle valve which is opened by the air pressure. Simultaneously a drain valve connected to the shuttle valve opens a drain, venting water and air from the tank. The shuttle valve, closed by the solenoid valve, closes the air supply line and connecting the shuttle valve to atmosphere, and pressure within the aeration tank can close the shuttle valve, which causes closing of the drain valve. The part of the valve which opens the drain is made responsive to excess pressure within the air tank to open the drain and so acts as a pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A retractable windshield and collapsible console apparatus can be raised and the windshield extended when needed to afford additional protection to persons from conditions due to environment, and to allow for convenient and safe stowing of the apparatus in the same location without causing an obstruction. The console can be collapsed and stowed into a position which is substantially parallel relative to a base on the floor or other surface of a boat, other vehicle or other structure when not in use.

Abstract: An industrial caster wheel assembly including a base member, a wheel, side plates, a housing, a pivot axle, a suspension assembly and an adjustment assembly. The suspension assembly includes an adjustable axle, a support member, and a plate. The support member allows one of the wheel and the base member to rotate about the pivot axle as the adjustable axle compresses the support member by contacting the plate. The adjustment assembly adjusts the height of the industrial caster wheel by adjusting the pressure applied by the adjustable axle to the support member. The industrial caster wheel assembly may alternatively include at least one adjustment assembly that can be placed in contact with at least one of the second axle to press the second axle at least indirectly against the elastomeric support member or the first axle to press the first axle toward the center of the housing.

Abstract: An improved bedding for livestock of this invention provides a bed strip for livestock having at least two elastomeric belts bonded together, one on top of the other, to form at least one bed with at least two chambers, front and rear, expandable under fluid pressure, that, once properly filled with a working volume of fluid, will each attain a convex pillow-like shape. The fluid volume in the chambers is such that when an animal steps on the rear chamber of the bed the top belt makes contact with the bottom belt to provide a stable base for the animal's foot, yet, when the animal drops to its knees on the front chamber of the bed, during the process of lying down or rising to standing, the knees are supported by a fluid cushion between the top and bottom belts.

Abstract: Resealable zipper plastic bags have upwardly protruding support members on each side of the bag mouth which are engaged within downwardly opening channels of two opposed indexer assemblies. With the bag mouth under tension, a slider assembly engages the bag slider, moves it to a fully closed position, then advances the slider to a fully open position. The indexer assemblies are moved toward each other to relieve tension on the bag mouth and cause the mouth to splay open. An insert plate is inserted and rotated to spread the bag mouth for introduction of product through a product chute. Once full, the chute and spreader assembly are withdrawn, tension is applied to the bag mouth, and the slider assembly moves the zipper slider to a fully closed position. The bag support members are then released from the indexer assemblies and the product filled bag is discharged from the apparatus.

Abstract: A wheel chock mounting plate assembly that can be easily attached to and removed from the load surface of a trailer or other transporting vehicle. The wheel chock mounting plate assembly attaches to a logistic track, standard in the field of cargo control systems, that is fixed to the load surface. The wheel chock mounting plate is precisely drilled and machined to receive a wheel chock. The mounting plate assembly has a fitting adapted to engage the logistic track attached with a logistic strap to the rear end of the mounting plate. At least one longitudinally slideable key is adapted to extend below the mounting plate to fit in a transverse opening of the logistic track to prevent the mounting plate from moving in a direction transverse to the length of the logistic track. The front of the mounting plate has a fitting adapted to engage the logistic track and secure the mounting plate assembly in the longitudinal direction of the logistic track.

Abstract: A negative ion source placed inside a negatively-charged high voltage electrode emits a beam which is accelerated to moderate energy, approximately 35,000 electron volts, and filtered by a momentum analyzer i.e. an analyzing bending magnet, to remove unwanted ions. Reference ions such as carbon-12 are deflected and measured in an off-axis Faraday cup. Ions of interest, such as carbon ions of mass 14, are accelerated through 300 kV to ground potential and passed through a gas stripper where the ions undergo charge exchange and molecular destruction. The desired isotope, carbon-14 along with fragments of the interfering molecular ions, emerge from the stripper into a momentum analyzer which removes undesirable isotope ions. The ions are further filtered by passing through an electrostatic spherical analyzer to remove ions which have undergone charge exchange. The ions remaining after the spherical analyzer are transmitted to a detector and counted.

Abstract: A charging bar applies a static charge to a printed label as it is fed in to a grounded adhesive applicator roll. The charged label is drawn to the grounded roll, and thereby obtains even coating of adhesive on the underside of the label, while avoiding contamination of the printed surface of the label with adhesive. The adhesive coated label is carried by a transfer roll to a laminating nip where it is adhered to a corrugated substrate.

Abstract: Above-ground tanks form brining cells into which cheese blocks are conveyed by common inlet and outlet flumes. Each cell has a removable conveyor assembly having a looped link belt driven around a frame by a motor. Perpendicular, tubular, or hinged segmented flights project from the belt to engage infed cheese blocks, and submerge a series of rows of blocks. An infeed flume delivers a stream of cheese blocks to a cell. Once a level below a flight is filled, the conveyor is actuated to submerge that level, and the next level is then filled until the tank is filled. After brining, the conveyor is incremented to discharge the cheeses flight by flight into an outlet flume. The flume may have a lower segment narrower than an upper segment, such that by draining the tank smaller cheese blocks may be better controlled.

Abstract: A low till agricultural implement has a frame with a hitch for attachment to a tractor. A straight coulter composed of an array of parallel circular blades is mounted to the front of the frame, and is followed by a spiral reel assembly and a spike tooth harrow assembly. The circular blades are mounted perpendicular to rotating shafts, and slice through field residue and soil with minimal side movement of material. The blades of the following reel then make cuts nearly perpendicular to those made by the circular blades. A trailing level bar follows the spiral reel. The implement aids in drying the soil surface layer, and, by cutting up residue and even spreading, the implement helps to warm up the soil.

Abstract: A housing has two side walls extend upwardly from a floor to define a channel extending between a primer inlet and a primer outlet. A lanyard clip is fastened to the side walls adjacent the primer inlet, compressing the clip releases it, allowing primers to be loaded through the primer inlet. A spring is riveted to the housing floor with a protruding spacer segment facing the primer inlet, and a restraint segment facing the outlet. Multiple primers are restrained between the spring spacer segment and the primer inlet, yet the spacer segment may be deflected by pushing a primer toward the primer outlet until it is positioned on the restraint segment, and presented for engagement on the primer holder of an in-line action muzzleloading rifle. Pulling the dispenser displaces the primer to move along and depress the restraint segment, and dispensing it. A floor cut-out acts as a decapper.

Abstract: A web of tissue is formed in a twin wire former, followed by an air press for water removal in the pressing section, passing onto a Yankee dryer. A headbox injects stock between upper and lower dryer fabrics brought together on a breast roll. The fabrics move over vacuum boxes, and the web is heated with steam and passed between an upper pressure box and a lower vacuum box forming an air press which dewaters the web. A sheet transfer pickup vacuum box holds the sheet to the upper fabric as the lower fabric diverges from the upper fabric. A pressure roller transfers the web onto a Yankee dryer. The fabrics are cleaned on vertical runs before returning to the breast roll.

Abstract: A web is passed over a surface (11) which is at least partly curved in the running direction of the web, which extends across the web in the cross direction, and which is placed at a distance from the web, in which connection an air cushion is formed between the moving web and the curved surface. The temperature and moisture of the web are measured indirectly by measuring the temperature and moisture of the air cushion by several detectors (41) which are in communication with openings (40) formed in the curved surface in spaced relationship with one another in the cross direction of the web.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement in an airborne web-drying apparatus for drying a coated paper web (10) or the like. The nozzle arrangement comprises at least one overpressure nozzle (14), which is arranged to blow drying air both in the web's travel direction and against the web's travel direction. The nozzle arrangement comprises further a direct impingement nozzle (16) combined with the exit side and/or the entrance side (26) of the overpressure nozzle, in which direct impingement nozzle a plurality of nozzle slots or nozzle orifices (17) are formed in order to blow drying air mainly perpendicularly toward the web. The perpendicular distance (a1) from the nozzle surface (30) of the direct impingement nozzle (16) to the web is larger than the perpendicular distance (a2) from the supporting surface (32) of the overpressure nozzle (14) to the web.