Abstract: Apparatus for detasseling corn includes a plurality of spaced tassel severing stations each at a predetermined different height and associated with guide or deflector means to discriminate between corn stalks of different heights so as to guide such stalks into the appropriate tassel severing station as the apparatus moves through a row of corn.

Abstract: A towable wheel mounted frame structure for receiving blown roughage materials such as corn and hay silage, dry hay, corn stalks and the like serves as a form to create a stack of silage formed directly on the ground. The frame is hydraulically foldable into an efficiently compact form for transportation through gates and over bridges and roads and is hydraulically expandable to provide relatively wide, outwardly sloping closed sides with an open bottom and open ends for stacking operation. A separate frame associated foldable closed top is cable operated between the contracted and expanded positions of the frame and hingedly arranged frame supported baffle sections are movable from closed position for road travel to stack forming position where they form an enlarged baffle depending from the top of the expanded frame between the sides to intercept blown roughage and cause it to fill the confined area of the former.

Abstract: A demountable unit frame for supporting any one of a variety of commercially available equipment units is provided for use on a motor truck chassis. The frame includes spaced and braced longitudinal frame structural members carrying coupling device components for attachment to the truck chassis and is provided with transversely arranged outrigger members equipped with a rotatable shaft capable of cooperative association with removable commercially available landing gear devices for mounting and demounting of the unit frame and equipment units and for temporarily supporting the same when they are not mounted on the truck chassis.

Abstract: An elongated movable water cooled mold of any desired cross section has an open bottom end which is lowered into a pot of molten metal a predetermined distance with the metal being pulled into the mold under vacuum operated by suitable controls for establishing the desired length of the casting or billet. Water is supplied to the mold while still in the pot to permit the casting to harden and the mold is then removed therefrom and moved to a position close to floor level where termination of the water supply allows the contained heat in the casting to reheat the mold and expand it sufficiently so that the casting can drop free of the mold upon release of the vacuum.

Abstract: A portable knockdown animal pen structure includes three like dimensioned fence or barrier sections that are interlockably connectible to each other to form a free standing three sided enclosure arrangeable intermediate a corral or barn where cattle are contained and a holding chute where the cattle are directed for such matters as vaccinations, blood and pregnancy tests, branding and the like. At least two sections are provided with a gate of which one is used relative to the gate in the corral or barn and the other is movable and releasably lockable to the third section to form two pens or enclosures. In one pen having access to the corral or barn, an animal therefrom is temporarily contained and is denied access to the other pen which has access to the chute and in which an operator is protected from such animal while administering to another animal in the chute.

Abstract: A valved cap is provided for the top of a riser pipe connected to a flow line under pressure such as may be found in irrigation systems and is normally closed when the system is in operation. The valve automatically opens when the system is stopped to admit air for preventing a vacuum build up and closes under pressure when the system is started up during which time air in the riser pipe is permitted to escape to avoid a pressure build up while the valve is closing. An apertured fitting connected to the valve stem within the riser pipe connects to a flexible air vent hose extending down the riser pipe and into the main flow line in the direction of the flow and air trapped in the riser pipe after the valve is closed is siphoned through the hose into the main flow line to be expelled into the atmosphere at an outlet in the main line.

Abstract: An agitator shaft for revolving attached blades within a fluid containing tank rotates in support bearings free of any attachment to the tank. A shaft mounted housed seal unit exteriorly of the tank comprises a packing gland and a fitting connected by a flexible tubing with the fitting having a bore and the tank having a complementary opening each substantially larger than the diameter of the shaft. The shaft extends axially through the fitting and opening into the tank and the fitting is secured in the opening. The flexible tubing is designed to absorb torque from the seal unit and such unit permits the shaft to be mounted with equal facility and efficiency on tanks of plastic, rubber or metal and materially reduces shaft alignment problems.