Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle such as a trailer or tractor wherein ground-engaging wheels on an axle are mounted on a pair of control arms, which in turn are pivotably mounted for vertical swinging motion at one end to frame brackets laterally disposed at opposite sides of the vehicle frame. Spring means are disposed in a load-transmitting relation between another end of the control arm and the vehicle frame. The pivotal connection between the frame bracket and the control arm includes a bolt which passes through an aperture in the control arm and slotted apertures in the frame bracket to provide fore and aft adjustment of the control arm at the pivotal connection. This slotted connection facilitates alignment of the axle relative to the vehicle frame. The bolt is carried in the slotted adjustment apertures by special mounting plates which have means for pivotably supporting the plate on the frame bracket and means for gripping the mounting plates for movement with respect to the frame brackets.

Abstract: A mudflap mounting assembly having a seat for mounting on a vehicle, a mudflap hanger assembly for mounting a mudflap and a spring biasing the hanger assembly to the seat. A tear-drop shaped seat has special guide flanges to guide seating of a face plate of the hanger assembly. The seat and face plate mounting allow approximately 90.degree. deflection of the hanger assembly through a 360.degree. angle with respect to the seat. The guide flanges provide for positive reseating of the hanger assembly in a given orientation with respect to the seat.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding substantially equally weighted groups of articles to a packaging apparatus in a timed continuous sequence. The articles are initially fed individually to a plurality of hoppers, each of which has means to weigh the articles therein. Further feeding of articles to any given hopper is blocked or discontinued when a predetermined weight of the articles has been reached in the particular hopper. A conveyor having a plurality of containers passes beneath the hoppers to receive the articles therefrom as they are dumped from the hoppers. The dumping of the articles from the hopper is controlled with the movement of the containers beneath the hoppers so that each hopper dumps the articles only in empty containers. The control means prevents more than one group of articles from being dumped into any given container on the conveyor and ensures that each container on the conveyor is filled so that the packaging operation has a continuous supply of the groups of articles.

Abstract: An incinerator for combustible fumes in a mixture of such fumes and air wherein the fumes are raised to incineration temperature by combustion of a normally liquid fuel such as oil. The fumes and air mixture is first heated, preferably by heat exchange with the combustion chamber, to the vaporization temperature of the liquid fuel which is injected in atomized form into the heated fume and air mixture. The fume and air mixture along with the vaporized liquid fuel is then drawn through a fan which substantially homogeneously disperses the vaporized liquid fuel in the fume and air mixture and passes the homogeneous mixture to a combustion zone having a flame grid through which the liquid fuel-containing mixture passes. The liquid fuel in the mixture is ignited at the flame grid to form a flame curtain which raises the temperature of the fume and air mixture to incineration or oxidation temperature of the fumes. The fumes are thus oxidized and can thereafter be exhausted to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A high performance golf tee comprises a stem, a cup-shaped ball receptacle on the top of the stem, and a projection extending outwardly from the ball receptacle a sufficient distance such that when a golf ball is placed on the tee and a golf club is swung at the ball, the golf club contacts the projection and imparts motion to the ball before the golf club makes direct contact with the surface of the golf ball. The contact between the golf club and the projection imparts an initial backspin on the ball, and this improves the flight characteristics of the ball. The golf tee may be integrally molded as a unit including the projection or the projection may be formed as an attachment for a conventional golf tee.

Abstract: Testing apparatus for measuring the load bearing capabilities of structural members under a uniform load comprises a fixed base that supports one side of the structural member; a flexible, inflatable tube engaging the length of a second side of the structural member opposite the first side; a restraining mechanism extending along the length of the tube and adapted to urge the tube against the second side of the structural member as the tube is inflated; a suitable air pressure source for inflating the tube; and a load sensing device for measuring the load placed on the structural member by the inflation of the tube. The restraining mechanism comprises a plurality of channel sections arranged end to end and positioned over the inflatable tube a predetermined distance from the second side of the structural member. The channel sections are mounted on brackets that are in turn slidably mounted on parallel guide rails that run transversely to the structural member.

Abstract: The invention concerns sorting apparatus comprising an electrically conductive member the location of which is at least substantially fixed; a horizontally disposed rotary plate adapted to support objects to be sorted and to carry them, while so supported, past the electrically conductive member, at least a portion of the plate being electrically conductive; means for feeding the objects to a region of said plate which is spaced from the axis thereof; guide baffles for guiding the objects from said region to said electrically conductive member, the electrically conductive member being disposed adjacent said plate; control circuit responsive to the electrical conductivity or resistivity of the objects; the electrically conductive member, the said electrically conductive portion, and the control circuit being connected in a normally open electrical circuit which is adapted to be completed by an object on the said electrically conductive portion as it passes the electrically conductive member; and a sorting devi

Abstract: A fume incinerator having a rotary heat exchanger with a novel seal structure therefor. A rotating rotary heat exchanger wheel is positioned in the mouth of a tubular incinerator having a closed end wall opposite to the rotary heat exchanger. A baffle extends from the heat exchanger wheel to a point spaced from the closed end of the incinerator so that the fume and air mixture, after passing through one side of the heat exchanger wheel, is passed through one side of the incinerator wherein it is heated to a temperature sufficient to oxidize the fumes in the mixture, passes around the end of the baffle to the other side of the incinerator and through the other side of the heat exchanger wheel. The fume and air mixture is preheated from the heat of combustion as it passes through the heat exchanger wheel. The heat exchanger wheel is axially tapered and a seal member surrounding the heat exchanger is likewise tapered in a complementary manner.

Abstract: A tooth polishing device wherein a polishing tool is secured to a power drive assembly and the power drive assembly is pivotably mounted in a casing for rotational movement within the casing. A power supply means includes a switch and is coupled to the power drive assembly for supplying electrical power thereto. The switch includes a biasing means, for example, a leaf spring contact, biasing the power drive means to one rotational position within the casing. The switch is open when the power drive is in the one position and is closed when the power drive means is moved rotationally to a second position. The spring contact is mounted on the motor of the power drive assembly and bears against the bottom portion of the casing. The casing is sealed, and is provided with a battery for operating the power supply assembly. Recharging contacts are provided in the casing for recharging the battery when the polishing device is not in use.

Abstract: A completely enclosed system for volumetric calibration wherein timed valves divert liquid components into separate metering tubes for observation. Pistons or separators in the metering tubes are displaced by the flow of liquid thereto. After the calibration or measurement in the metering tubes, the components are returned to the circulating system by applying a pressure to the metering tubes by means of air or an inert fluid whereby the components are driven back through the valves. A separate displacement cylinder can be coupled to the metering tubes through the inert fluid to measure total displacement of both components.

Abstract: A diverter spout valve mechanism comprises a hollow pressure chamber having an inlet, an outlet on a vertical wall spaced from the inlet, and a vertically movable valve member formed of a moldable plastic or similar light weight material mounted in the outlet. The valve member is movable from an open position, wherein the valve member is substantially below the outlet and the outlet is open, to a closed position, wherein the valve member is raised so as to block the outlet. The valve member is formed so that when the valve member is in the open position, the flow of liquid through the spout exerts a downward force on the valve member and causes the valve member to remain in its open position.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance mechanism for guiding a vehicle along a surface by means of an invisible guide line containing fluorescent material comprises an ultraviolet lamp that causes the guide line to fluoresce and emit visible light; photocell sensors mounted in the vehicle and adapted to sense the visible radiation and produce an error output signal proportional to the variation of vehicle position from a predetermined lateral position with respect to the guide line; and a control device in the vehicle adapted to steer the vehicle in response to the error signal so as to cause the vehicle to follow the guide line. An automatic contrast control circuit eliminates the effect of background illumination in the output signal and produces a constant closed loop gain with respect to the signal received from the guide line. Modulation circuitry and appropriate filters further reduce the effects of background illumination and improve the reliability and line detecting ability of the guide system.

Abstract: An industrial robot well suited for handling heavy work pieces comprises a base; a vertically oriented main support shaft rotatably mounted in the base on a radial thrust bearing; a support frame mounted on the support shaft; a flat-sided extendable main extend shaft mounted on the support frame; and a tooling assembly mounted on the outer end of the main extend shaft. The main extend shaft is a hollow, rectangular tubular member and rides on a simplified bearing assembly consisting of two sets of adjustable cam followers that ride on all four walls of the shaft. The tooling assembly comprises cam-operated, adjustable force grab jaws that hold the work piece; and separate means for raising and lowering and extending and retracting the grab jaws with respect to the main extend shaft. The whole system is operated hydraulically by solenoid actuated valves which control hydraulic motors or cylinders, with the cylinders functioning on a full extend or full retract basis.

Abstract: A meat processing system and method wherein trim pieces of meat having lean meat portions and fat meat portions are divided into smaller regular sized meat chunks of higher lean meat content and chunks of higher fat content. The chunks are passed seriatim through a photometric sensing zone to photometrically detect an optical property related to the lean meat or fat content of the meat chunks and the meat chunks are thereafter sorted in accordance with the value of the optical property sensed in the photometric sensing zone. Meat chunks of higher lean meat content are thereby sorted from chunks of higher fat content. The temperature of the meat chunks is maintained at or near the freezing temperature to facilitate singularizing and handling of the meat chunks so that the meat chunks can be passed seriatim through the photometric sensing zone.

Abstract: A hand rake having a plurality of tines whose spread is adjustable in width for different operations. The tines extend through a guide at the bottom of the rake handle and are secured at their upper end to a retainer which slides along the handle. A special retainer structure clamps the upper end of the tines tightly so that the rotational position of the retainer is maintained by the tines in a fixed position with respect to the guide position. A split collar and locking nut arrangement facilitate the locking of the retainer with one hand in various adjusted positions along the handle. The handle can be made in two parts for separation when not in use. A hook extends from the guide for hanging the rake when not in use.