Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin impermeable top coat on a thermal barrier coating for a metal part, such as a turbine blade, wherein the composite thin top coat is porous, inert, non-sacrificial, less permeable ceramic layer that eliminates the infiltration of environmental contaminants into the thermal barrier coating during operation of the metal part, thereby extending the life of the underlying thermal barrier coating and metal part thereunder.

Abstract: A foot-operated control for controlling both speed and steering of a trolling motor for a watercraft, the foot-operated control in communication with the trolling motor and comprising a base and a foot interface. The foot interface is pivotally connected at a generally central point by a pivot to the base, the pivot separating and defining a first end and second end of the foot interface, such that depressing the first end directs the trolling motor to steer the watercraft to the right and depressing the second end directs the trolling motor to steer the watercraft to the left.

Abstract: A transport drawbar for an agricultural tractor has an elongate forward drawbar section of substantially uniform rectangular cross section that mounts on the tractor in the conventional way. An elongate second drawbar section extends to the rear from the forward section. The second drawbar section has the same vertical thickness as the forward drawbar section and a substantially greater width. A trailing drawbar section extends to the rear from the second drawbar section, the trailing drawbar section having the same vertical thickness as the forward and second sections and a width substantially the same as the width of the forward section. Two tapering transition sections are provided between the second drawbar section and the forward and trailing drawbar sections respectively. Two angular offsets are formed in the second drawbar section such that the trailing drawbar section is parallel to and offset downwardly from the second drawbar section.

Abstract: A grader vehicle has a vehicle body mounted on two drive tracks. A boom is mounted on the front of the vehicle and extends to the front of the body. A third drive track is mounted on the leading end of the boom by a steering mechanism for rotation about an upright steering axis. The three tracks are driven by separate hydraulic motors. The use of a steering, driven track on the boom provides a tractive force pulling the vehicle forwards in the desired direction of travel and positively driving the leading end of the boom in the direction of a turn. The track also provides a degree of packing at the center of the vehicle's path that can not be achieved with a ski gliding on the surface. This is of particular importance when packing ski trails with the vehicle. For grading purposes, the vehicle has a grader blade across the front of the vehicle and a second blade leading the front track.

Abstract: A snowmobile stand mechanism for drive-track type snowmobiles is provided comprising a stand rotatable between a transport position where the stand is not engaged and a use position where the stand is engaged and elevates the drive track above the ground surface, the stand comprising leverage means that require minimal physical exertion or, alternatively, motor-driven operation.

Abstract: A spout is used for confining the grain flow from an auger. The auger may be a combine, grain cart unloading auger or a grain auger. The spout includes a chute that mounts on the auger tube. An overflow opening in the chute allows grain or other matter to flow out of the spout if the outlet of the chute is plugged. This prevents filling and overloading of the auger and consequent auger damage.

Abstract: A method for strengthening a truss having a principal rafter and a plurality of struts coupled to the principal rafter, defining a frame structure of the truss. The method includes the use of a bracket which is coupled between the principal rafter and one of the struts. The bracket includes a channel arranged to receive and mount the rafter therein. A strut anchor is coupled to the channel and extends outwardly therefrom for anchoring the channel on an outermost strut defining an end of the truss. The bracket provides torsional support and load bearing support between the strut and the principal rafter.

Abstract: A twisted wire tie for concrete forming has an elongate loop with a single strand of wire on one side and a twisted double strand on the opposite side. Two stops on the tie are formed at opposite ends of the twisted double strand and engage the twisted strand and the single strand so as to prevent unwinding of the twisted strand when the tie is placed in tension.

Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating shock loads includes a flexible, non-rigid outer impervious envelope. The envelope is formed from a high strain resistance material. An inner, pervious baffle extends across the envelope between the first and second sides. The inner baffle is also a flexible, non-rigid material of high strain resistance. The envelope is inflated with gas at a superatmospheric pressure. An impact on one side of the structure will compress that side, increasing the pressure of the gas between that side and the baffle. The gas will then flow through the pervious baffle to the other side, dissipating energy, spreading the load over the second side of the envelope and causing a time delay in the build-up of pressure on the second side. In preferred embodiments of the invention, there are plural, parallel baffles in the envelope to provide a multi-stage energy dissipation.

Abstract: A roadwork safety unit mounts on the receiver hitch of a vehicle and connects to the conventional trailer lighting coupling. The unit includes a carrier for carrying the usual equipment to a site where the safety unit is to be used, for example cones, picks, shovels, rakes and pole-mounted signage. The carrier also carries a telescopically extendible standard supporting a light unit that includes a red stop light and a flashing amber warning light. The lights may be operated by a traffic control person also handling the pole-mounted signage. The unit is quickly and easily mounted on a vehicle for transport to a roadwork site and can be transported along the road with moving roadworks. Floodlights are mounted on the standard to illuminate the area beside the vehicle where the traffic control person would normally be standing. This provides added visibility and safety in night use.

Abstract: A golf hole cup has a synthetic plastic cup component molded as a single, monolithic unit. This includes a cylindrical outer liner tube, a central ferrule support core tube and a mounting structure, including a cone support flanges supporting the core tube in the center of the liner tube. Molded into the cup component is a cylindrical metallic insert that forms the inner surface of the core tube to resist wear and damage from the ferrule of a flagstick. The insert is preferably formed from bearing bronze.

Abstract: A queuing system is provided for queuing conventional coins corresponding to a line of persons. The system includes an endless track supporting tokens therein for sliding movement in a first direction along the track. The tokens are arranged to support the coins therein. An indicator on the track indicates a first coin to be queued. Movement of the tokens in the first direction displaces the tokens towards the indicator for indicating a queuing order of the coins. The queuing system is particularly useful for coin operated pool tables and the like where the use of coins is known to represent a queue of persons.

Abstract: A combination of a toilet and an anti refill device, the toilet comprises a bowl, a tank connected to the bowl for storing water and to supply the stored water to the bowl, a flushing structure which releases water from the tank into the bowl, a supply valve for refilling the tank with water after the flushing structure has released all the water into the bowl and a float structure for activating and deactivating the supply valve by floating in the water so that when the water is low the supply valve is activated and when the water is full the supply valve is deactivated. The anti refill device comprises a lock arm attached to the float structure and has an end, a lock device arranged to cooperate with end for controlling the lock arm and a structure activated by the flush structure which activates the lock device and the end to release the lock arm so the float arm lowers and the supply valve can fill the tank after flushing.

Abstract: A portable shelter includes a frame having front and back arches joined by two skids at their bottom ends and a set of braces extending between the arches. A cover over the frame has a water impervious top panel and end and back panels that are an air pervious mesh. The shelter is particularly useful in sporting installations, for example golf driving ranges.

Abstract: A public transit vehicle has a vehicle body having a roof defining an interior ceiling surface, two side walls each extending longitudinally of the vehicle including an upper side wall portion connecting to the roof and a row of windows underneath the upper portion, a central aisle and two rows of seats each on a respective side of the aisle and along the side wall at the windows and a lighting fixture supported in the vehicle along the ceiling surface longitudinally of the vehicle at a position above each row of seats. Below the lighting fixture is provided an elongate advertising card support panel member for receiving and supporting an advertising card. The housing is substantially continuous along the vehicle and supports a plurality of fluorescent tubes mounted in the light housing. Between each tube and the next is provided a web member having an inner surface matching that of the housing and an outer surface butting edges of the individual lens/covers mounted on the light housing.

Abstract: A moisture control panel is used in exterior walls. A wall constructed with the panel has an inner back-up wall component and an outer wall component of a moisture pervious material, for example stucco. The moisture control panel is positioned between the two. It has a base sheet on the inner face of the outer wall component. A set of drying perforations slope downwardly toward the inside through this sheet. This drains moisture from the inside of the outer wall component. On the inside, the base sheet has a set of upwardly sloping bosses which provide an air space on the inside of the moisture control panel providing for air circulation and drainage of any moisture.

Abstract: A sliding door arrangement comprises a door which is slidably moved and is arranged to enclose an opening, a rail assembly coupled to the door allows the slidable movement of the door for opening and closing the opening and a securing mechanism which pulls the door inward so that the door engages the opening. The rail assembly has a rail system which is positioned at a top end and at a bottom end of the door and the rail system is mounted on a housing, a plurality of guides coupled to the door, the guides engage the rail assembly such that the door is slidable in a substantially horizontal direction. At least one shaft having a vertical axis is rotated about the vertical axis by the securing mechanism, the shaft has first end and a second end such that each end is respectively coupled to the rail assembly, the rail assembly has a rail system which is positioned at a top end and at a bottom end of the door and are mounted on a housing.

Abstract: A bale bagging apparatus is used for inserting bales in sequence into a tube of plastic film. The apparatus has a set of panels surrounding the bale at a bagging station of the apparatus and supporting the tube in a stretched state out of contact with the bale. As the bale passes through the bagging station, the tube is pulled off the panels and shrinks onto the bale. The bale support panel is equipped with a resilient sheet on the outer surface to distribute the stretching load over the bag to eliminate areas of high stress concentration on the bag. The panels have independently movable longitudinally spaced mounting points so that both the position and the angle of slope of each tube support can be varied to suit the bale size and shape. The taper of the tube support tunnel can be selected for optimum tube withdrawal.

Abstract: A liquid storage container primarily for manure or other slurry includes a cylindrical wall formed from a plurality of connected panels of corrugated steel to define a generally horizontal top edge and a generally horizontal bottom edge surrounding an area of ground surface inside the wall. The wall is maintained in vertical orientation by a plurality of vertical posts connected to the wall at spaced positions around the wall. Each post is formed by a channel with the open face outward and an inner face bolted to the wall. Each post is adjustably connected to a respective on e of a plurality of ground anchors each having a vertical shaft and a helical flight on the shaft, the shaft and the flight being arranged to be screwed into the ground, each anchor being connected at its upper end by an adjustable screw to a plate attached across the bottom of the post. An impermeable liner lies over the area of ground surface inside the wall and has a skirt portion attached to the wall.