Abstract: Apparatus for washing eggs including a housing with a first feed conveyor for receiving them through the housing inlet for conveying same to a second conveyor which transports them through an intermediate egg washer with various brushes and including a dispenser to apply cleaning solution onto eggs therebelow. Eggs are then transferred from the second conveyor to a third conveyor and transported through a lower washing station for final cleaning. Eggs then exit through a housing outlet for sanitizing and/or drying as may be necessary. The three conveyors are vertically tiered with, optionally, the second conveyor moving oppositely relatively to the first and third conveyor. In this manner a three tiered arranging of conveyors is provided. A pre-washing station can also, optionally, be included.

Abstract: A mechanical bracket is provided for providing enhanced quick release for attaching and detaching of a tank such as a air tank with respect thereto usually by emergency workers such as firemen and the like. The tank includes a secure clamping mechanism for firmly and fixedly and yet detachably securing a tank preferably vertically relative to a wall wherein two driveshafts are rotatable between a closed position holding the tank and an open position releasing the tank. A uniquely designed guide boss configuration is fixedly secured to the frame immediately behind each driveshaft to prevent lateral flexing thereof which normally occurs when a tank is firmly clamped therebetween. Each guide boss preferably includes at least one profile guide surface partially encircling the adjacent driveshaft to minimize flexing thereof and is spaced therefrom at approximately five to ten thousandths of an inch for controlling such flexing.

Abstract: A stationary building structure having a sidewall opening with a shuttle section movable through the opening to an extended position or movable over the opening for closing thereof. The shuttle section includes a frame which defines a shuttle floor surface thereabove. A shuttle tail extends from the shuttle frame into the stationary building structure for supporting the shuttle section at all times whether in the extended position, the retracted position or moving therebetween. An outer shuttle wall extends upwardly from the frame for closing the sidewall opening of the stationary building when the shuttle is retracted. A sealing means is defined on the outer wall for engaging the building around the sidewall opening for selectively sealing thereof when in the retracted position. A drive mechanism is mounted to the stationary building structure and is operatively secured to the shuttle section for urging movement thereof between the respective positions.

Abstract: A process for extruding of products from fluoropolymers preferably shaped as rods or tubes which have unique physical and other properties resulting from the addition of nanoparticles under unique processing conditions while also utilizing accurate control of processing parameters such as time and temperature and others according to novel methods.

Abstract: An apparatus usable primarily with emergency vehicles wherein a ladder or other large piece of emergency equipment can be maintained in a horizontal orientation stored above the vehicle body and is movable to a lower access position to facilitate removal and replacement thereof. Power is provided by two hydraulic cylinders connected to an arm which drives a driveshaft connected to a lift arm. Once such support assembly is located in the forward portion of the vehicle body and another similar support assembly is located in the rear portion thereof. A longitudinal support extends between the lifting arms and includes a locking device thereon to facilitate securement of ladders or other longitudinal objects thereto. Positioning of the support assemblies at opposite ends of the vehicle body enhances access to the storage compartments located on the lateral sides of the vehicular body such as for fire trucks and the like.

Abstract: A method for washing eggs using a first feed conveyor for receiving eggs through a housing inlet and conveying them to a second conveyor. The second conveyor transports the eggs through an intermediate egg washing station which can include brushes and dispenses cleaning solution onto the egg surfaces. The eggs are then transferred from the second conveyor to a third conveyor for transporting through a brush and cleaning solution lower washing station for final cleaning. The eggs then exit through an outlet for sanitizing and/or drying. The three conveyors are vertically tiered and preferably the second conveyor will move in a direction immediately below and opposite relative to the first conveyor and the third conveyor will move in the direction similar to the first conveyor but below the second conveyor. A pre-washing step can be included.

Abstract: A bumper assembly securable beneath an extended rear support bed of a vehicle wherein the bed can tilt from a horizontal orientation to a downwardly inclined position and wherein the retractable safety bumper will become retracted when the bed is in the inclined position and will be deployed for safety protection when the bed is in the horizontal position. Movement of the bumper is powered solely by a biasing device such as a spring used in combination with gravitational forces exerted upon the bumper assembly for properly coordinating movement thereof between the deployed and the retracted position with movement of the bed between the horizontal and the inclined position.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for drying articles which includes a blower with a main conduit. A distributing manifold is adapted to receive drying air from the main conduit. This distributing manifold defines a plurality of manifold outlets therein. Each manifold outlet includes a similarly configured manifold attachment device. A plurality of drying fixtures are included each having a unique configuration for drying a particular article, such as articles of clothing. Each drying fixture includes a connecting section for receiving air and a hanging section for receiving air from the connecting section. The hanging section defines a plurality of holes for allowing drying air to exit therefrom. Each drying fixture includes a fixture attachment device detachably securable to any one of the manifold attachment devices thereby providing variability in the location and configuration for use of this apparatus. Each drying fixture includes a valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking horizontally conveyed individual flats into vertically extending stacks including a stacking housing with an upper station for receiving the flats singly and releasing them downwardly into an intermediate station wherein multiple flats are accumulated and the accumulated grouping is then released downwardly to form an overall vertically extending stack of twenty flats or more for exit conveying. A control system is further disclosed including control plates, link arms and retaining/releasing arms for controlling downward movement of the flats within the stacking housing.

Abstract: Spin drying of a stack of flats such as egg trays is performed within a housing by movement of a rotatable lifting head into engagement with the undersurface of the stack. A stack lifting device lifts the lifting head and the stack of flats positioned thereon vertically upwardly into engagement with a drive engagement device thereabove which is rotatably powered by a drive with an optional braking device. Operation of the drive will cause rotation of the lifting head, the stack of flats and the drive engagement device simultaneously. The stack of flats will be held between the lifting head engaging the lower surface thereof and the drive engagement device engaging the upper surface thereof for fixedly securing these three elements together during powered rotation thereof. The rotation will spin off any liquids remaining on the flats such as would be present after being washed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique configuration for a reed and mouthpiece assembly for a woodwind instrument, such as a clarinet or saxophone, wherein the reed is formed with a special configuration having a mating shape defined therein which is engageable with respect to a protruding member or members extending outwardly from the generally planar reed mounting surface of the woodwind mouthpiece. A slot or other aperture can be defined in the non-vibrating clamped portion of the reed in order to facilitate alignment thereof during mounting with respect to a generally planar reed mounting area of the woodwind mouthpiece. A uniquely configured mouthpiece having a protruding member in combination with a uniquely shaped reed for engagement therewith provides a self-aligning and self-centering reed which is usable with any type of attachment mechanism including conventional or other ligatures as well as the unique securement device described herein.

Abstract: An intumescent firestopping apparatus used in poke-through applications for selectively sealing an opening through a construction barrier such as a wall, floor or ceiling having cables or other penetrating members extending therethrough. The apparatus effectively seals this barrier responsive to a fire to prevent unwanted transmission of fire through conventional construction barrier areas. The apparatus includes a sleeve with two intumescent pads positioned therein. At least one of the pads has an arcuate curved central section to be biased against the other intumescent pad to define therebetween a confinement area for holding of cables centrally located therein in a dynamically adjustable sealing throat defined therebetween. These pads can be variously mounted with respect to the adjacent wall structures and one or both of the pads can be arched toward the other pad to facilitate defining of the dynamic throat for receiving cables extending therethrough.

Abstract: A specially configured spacer comprising a separation member for use oriented in arrays between sections of horizontally oriented sheet material such as sheetrock to allow handling of the individual sections thereof separately from one another. The separation members are configured such as to facilitate re-use thereof including a slot defined in the interlocking cellular construction thereof adapted to receive banding for compactly securing together a plurality of such separation members to facilitate recycling usage thereof. The separation member includes two planar support members spaced apart by an interlocking cellular construction for defining therebetween recesses for receiving the arms of a forklift to facilitate handling of the sections individually while still allowing recycling of the separation members for re-use thereof.

Abstract: A tank holding assembly for releasably securing a tank therewithin which is attachable to a hollow seat back to facilitate rapid tank donning when seated. A housing is included with a tank receiving recess positionable in the hollow seat back area. The housing is preferably made of a flexibly resilient plastic material for protection of the tank but includes a retaining bracket, preferably of metal, secured to the rear portion for strengthening and securement to a seat back. A restraining strap extends through openings defined in the housing and the retaining bracket and around the tank for firm securement thereof. A releasable clasping device can be included for selectively holding the restraining strap extending about the tank. A release lanyard can be included for facilitating speedy disengaging of the clasping device. A magnetic device is designed for holding the clasp in the opened position.