Abstract: A system for purging the lubricating oil from the oil connecting lines (27, 31) and cooler (23) of an oil circulating system for a flooded type screw compressor (10) when the compressor (10) is shut down whereby the lubricating oil is forced into a reservoir (18) which is positioned within a heated enclosure (22) so that upon restarting the compressor (10) in extremely cold weather, cold stiff oil will not be present in the oil connecting lines (27, 31) and cooler (23), thus avoiding delays in compressor start-up.

Abstract: A bushing seal is disclosed for sealing a rotary member and having a face portion which engages a stationary housing and the pressure of a sealing fluid admitted to the bushing urges the face portion against the housing with a force sufficient to prevent freezing of the bushing when the pressure of the sealing fluid is high. A valve is provided for bleeding sealing fluid from a side of the bushing opposite a side against which the sealing fluid is exerting pressure. The valve permits variable flow rate of sealing fluid to atmosphere with the flow rate an inverse function of the pressure of the sealing fluid. By bleeding off fluid, the valve causes a pressure drop across the bushing with the sealing fluid urging the bushing against the housing with an additional force sufficient to prevent subsynchronous whirl when the pressure of the sealing fluid is low.

Abstract: The tailings of a combine harvester may be optionally returned to either the cleaning section or the threshing section through operation of a flapper valve in a bifurcated gravity flow chute receiving the tailings from a tailings elevator. Side wall openings are provided at the front and rear of a foraminous threshing cage through which tailings are optionally returned to either the threshing section or to the cleaning section.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a differential lock having a control pedal isolated from the operating mechanism for engaging the differential. A platform resiliently mounted on the vehicle allows relative movement between the platform and the chassis. A foot operated control element mounted on the platform extends through the platform to a point adjacent an operating mechanism on the vehicle chassis. The operating mechanism selectively operates the differential lock control valve and in its retracted position completely disengages the operating mechanism. The differential lock valve is maintained by a detent in its actuating position and can be released by operating a brake system having a relay valve in the differential lock valve. When the brake system is operated, the relay valve releases the detent means in the differential lock valve allowing the valve to return to its differential release position and the operating mechanism to return to its retracted position.

Abstract: The capacity of a harvester grain bin (12 or 120) is increased by foldable extensions (37, 38, 39, 41 or 101, 102, 103, 107) pivoted to the upper lips (27, 28, 29, 31 or 113, 114, 128, 129) by hinges (46, 47, 51, 52 or 111, 112, 130, 135) which permit the extensions to be raised from lowered positions to raised positions in which they are secured by corner pins (81, 82, 83, 84 or 104, 106, 108, 109).

Abstract: A ball joint assembly for a draft link of a three-point hitch on the tractor. The ball can be assembled through a slot in a side of the link and rotated in a spherical socket where it is retained by a retaining element.

Abstract: The tailings may be returned to the threshing section of the combine for re-threshing or, at the option of the operator, routed to the cleaning section without passing through the threshing section.

Abstract: An oil shale retorting method and apparatus moves a bed of oil bearing shale particles along a generally horizontal path and passes through the bed at spaced points a plurality of discrete nonoxidizing gas streams heated to different oil educting temperatures to vaporize and educe different weight fractions of oil from the kerogen in the shale into the gas streams. Preferably the heated gas streams are also passed through the moving shale bed upstream from distillation of the volatile oil constituents to preheat the shale particles and condense the educted oils which become suspended as stable mists and are mechanically separated from the gas streams. Heat energy is preferably removed from the spent shale particles of the moving bed by burning them with combustion air downstream from the retorting sites, and such heat energy is transferred to the nonoxidizing streams to raise them to different oil educting temperatures before they are passed through the moving bed to educe oil from the shale particles.

Abstract: A side panel latch for an engine hood on a tractor having vertical and horizontal adjustment to assure accurate panel fit and reliability of the latch operation.

Abstract: A discharge ring for a hydraulic turbine is disclosed for reducing noise and vibration emanating from the discharge ring. The discharge ring comprises an inner and outer ring separated by spacer ribs. A plurality of cavities within the ring are provided, filled with a massive granular material such as sand. Removable plates along the outer ring permit filling and emptying the cavities to reduce the weight of the ring and facilitate removal of the ring for inspection and maintenance.

Abstract: A dirty gas inlet arrangement for a filter housing including an inlet housing connecting an elongated outlet in a dirty gas supply manifold to the dirty gas chamber of the filter housing. The inlet housing is provided with a downwardly sloping bottom wall causing particulate materials separating from the dirty gases to flow into the dirty gas chamber, and a damper assembly for selectively closing off the elongated outlet in the manifold to prevent dirty gases from flowing into the dirty gas chamber. The damper assembly includes a shaft rotatably supported within the inlet housing, a lever arm cantilevered from the shaft, an elongated damper blade sized to underlie the marginal edge of the outlet pivotally secured to the free end of the lever arm, and an actuating assembly for selectively rotating the shaft to lift the blade into sealing engagement with the marginal edge of the outlet and to lower the blade into an inobtrusive position adjacent to the bottom wall.

Abstract: A means of evenly distributing the air flow through the core of an intercooler across the total cooling surface of the core.

Abstract: A lift truck hydraulic control system designed to conserve energy includes a pair of separately controlled pumps (21, 22). One pump (21) supplies pressure fluid to a valve (12) for a steering cylinder (11) by way of a high priority port (34) of a priority valve (32) with the low priority flow passing to parallel connected lift and tilt valves (19, 18) which control operation of the lift cylinder (15) and tilt cylinders (16, 17), respectively. The capacity of pump (21) is sufficient to provide proper, effective operation of the steering and tilt functions but is not adequate to provide hydraulic fluid flow for high speed expansion of the lift cylinder (15). The other pump (22) is operated to supply additional pressure fluid flow for high speed lift only when the lift valve (19) is shifted to a raise position. In one embodiment, a low speed lift is obtained by using the output of the pump (21) and a high speed lift is obtained by selectively adding the output of the second pump 22.

Abstract: A large capacity en masse conveyor for bulk materials includes a centrally positioned link type conveyor chain (26) with transverse flights (71) connected to the underside of the chain links (61) at regular intervals. The flights (71) include a main V-shaped angle member (72) with wear shoes (91, 92), which may be replaceable shoes (172), at its outer ends engageable with longitudinal wear strips (93, 94) adjacent the side walls (41, 42) of the conveyor casing (11). An idler roller (29) is upwardly removable from its support (111) upon removal of the cover (49) and fastening bolts (126) and nuts (127). The roller support (111) is upwardly removable from the casing (11) upon removal of the cover (49) and bolts (132) and nuts (131) by which the support (111) is releasably secured to the casing side walls (41, 42).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for the recovery of sensible heat from a hot tar-free gas produced in a coal gasification process and in combined-cycle power generation. The recovered heat is utilized to generate a flow of superheated steam which may be used in the gasification plant. The apparatus includes a first boiler and a superheater fabricated from materials susceptible to damage from thermal shock when a flow of the tar-free gas having a temperature in excess of a predetermined safety temperature is introduced to the superheater when it is dry. The first boiler, filled with a flow of saturated water, initially receives the flow of gas. Within the first boiler, the gas indirectly heats the water converting it to a flow of saturated steam and reducing the gas temperature below the safety temperature. The reduced temperature gas is passed to the superheater and the saturated steam is passed to the superheater.

Abstract: A harvester header (12) of the detachable type is provided with a transverse hollow beam (46) at its lower rear which optimizes available space. The beam (46) is of quadrilateral cross section with its rear wall (51) presenting openings (71, 72, 111, 112) beneath the header discharge opening (19) for centering and latching the header (12) to the feeder conveyor housing (13). The top wall (53) of the beam (46) slopes forwardly and downwardly in parallel supporting relation to the rear portion (39) of the header floor (36).

Abstract: In accordance with the centrifugal erosion testing method of the invention, a material specimen is rotated with a flat surface facing the direction of rotation and a narrow stream of an abrasive particle slurry is concurrently flowed at a preselected rate in a radial direction across the flat surface, the rotating step being at sufficiently high angular velocity to urge the abrasive particles by Coriolis acceleration into a compacted mass against the flat surface and erode material therefrom by scouring type action as the particles flow radially outward. The rotating and flowing steps are continued for a sufficient preselected duration to erode material to a measurable depth, and the depth to which the flat surface is worn by the abrasive particles is measured as an indication of the erosion resistance of the specimen material.

Abstract: A screen door assembly (61) on the bottom of a combine serves to screen large pieces of foreign material from air flowing to a fan (49) and to provide access for service personnel to an interior cavity (53) of the combine. A screen (62) is moved between a closed horizontal position and an open position, shown by broken lines (62"), by a crank arm member (63) which can be operated (pivoted) by a wrench (91) engaged with the hex head (89) of a shaft portion (86). A pin (111) locks the crank arm member (63), and the screen in their screen closed position in which the screen and arms rest on laterally inward extending flanges (106, 107). The rear edges (116, 117) of the flanges (106, 107) serve to guide the screen (62) to its open position as the crank arm member (63) is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2 from its full line screen closed position to its screen open position shown by broken lines (63").

Abstract: The floating cutter bar (37) of a harvester is mounted on the header by a series of laterally spaced parallel linkages (60). The cutter bar (37) is counterbalanced by the combination of compression springs (104) acting on the lower link (62) of each linkage (60) and overlapping sheet springs (111, 112) which also serve as an access ramp for harvested crop. The front ends of the links (61, 62) of the parallel linkages (60) are connected to the cutter bar skids (41, 43, 45, 47) by ball and socket joints (71, 76 and 72, 77).

Abstract: A double door fan inlet screen (56, 57) on the bottom of a combine serves to screen foreign material from air flowing to a fan (46) and provide access for service personnel to an interior cavity (103) of the combine. The screen doors (56, 57) are held in their closed position by a latch mechanism (74, 79) which is releasable by operation of a rod (94) having a handle portion (97') extending to one lateral side of the combine.