Abstract: A manually operated pneumatic rock drill positioner for mining shaft wall boring, said positioner comprising: an articulated boom having one end for releasable coupling to a mobile ground platform and another end opposite said one end thereof; a rigid elongated drill turret defining a main body with an exposed outer wall, an inner wall opposite said outer wall, and first side edge wall and second side edge wall opposite said first side edge wall, and first end and second end opposite said first end, a lengthwise rail member integrally mounted to said turret outer wall; a carriage slidingly engaging said rail member, said carriage for slidingly carrying a pneumatic drill head over said turret exposed outer wall for reciprocating motion thereof between said first end and second end thereof; drive means for power actuating said carriage sliding motion along said rail member; a cradle member releasably anchored to said boom another end and defining a well sized and shaped for releasable engagement by an intermedi

Abstract: In one embodiment, window regulator 140 uses a rotational bearing assembly 270 to reduce stress on the system. The window regulator 140 may guide in a groove 310 a tackle 240 moving a runner 220. The window regulator 140 may move the groove 310 with the tackle 240. The window regulator 140 may rotate the groove 310 around an axis 302 using a rotational bearing assembly 270.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for effecting freeze-drying specimens containing solvents or condensing solvents having a shallow pan treatment chamber with little or no obstructions, holes or orifices. The treatment is effected by cooling the base of the chamber by using coolant-containing coils mounted beneath the base of the chamber. The direct thermal conduction of heat through the base of the chamber provides a more effective method of both cooling specimens and condensing solvents, typically water. A source of vacuum is provided to the chamber by a conduit located in the cover, sidewalls or base of the chamber. The method and apparatus may employ a moveable specimen holder positioned in the chamber. The moveable specimen holder may be mounted on a perforated tube which slidably engages a conduit in the base of the chamber. The perforated tube may a conduit to the source of vacuum.

Abstract: A composting device includes a container that has baffles and an aeration port. The container is supported on an axle, for easy rotation. An internal aeration tube has a screen, and protrudes from the aeration port into the interior of the container, reaching into the mass of the stored organic material. Ambient air enters through the aeration port into the hollow core of the aeration tube, and from there into the container through ventilation openings in the surface of the aeration tube. The aeration tube is further supported by the axle, which runs through two opposite ventilation openings of the aeration tube. A break up bar breaks up the organic material.

Abstract: A sausage link forming machine having a rotating frame secured on a drivable axle and wherein the frame has opposed parallel discs. Control cams are secured to the axle intermediate the discs. A plurality of sausage grasping head assemblies are secured between the discs and equidistantly spaced apart along a circular path. A link forming pincer mechanism is secured between each of the grasping head assemblies. These head assemblies have rotatable support rollers which are displaceable towards one another from a sausage casing receiving position to a sausage casing engaging position. A first cam follower is associated with each of the grasping head assemblies and engages a first cam portion of the control cam to displace the support rollers. A second cam follower is associated with each of the link forming pincer mechanisms and engages a second cam portion to cause the fork members to pivot to and away from one another.

Abstract: A landscaping timber system includes a molded plastic landscaping timber having ends configured to link with ends of other such timbers via elongate spikes inserted through aligned apertures in the ends of the timbers and driven into the ground. The timber includes an integral storage compartment for storing a spike therein during storage or shipping of the timber. The timber can also include one or more weep vents in the bottom surface of the timber to allow water to flow under the timber. The system also includes a flush-mount adapter for attachment to a stepped end of a timber to give an appearance of a non-stepped end so that the timber can be mounted flush against a wall. The system further includes a ramp assembly for providing access to an area bounded by the timbers, and an end adapter enabling a timber to be cut to a desired length and attached to the adapter so as to provide a custom-length timber.

Abstract: Freeze drying apparatus and associated lyophilization procedures are provided employing vapor flow detection and/or vacuum control for monitoring and control of the lyophilization process. The vapor flow detector, such as a windmill sensor, is disposed to monitor vapor flow from product undergoing lyophilization. In a batch process, vapor flow is collectively monitored with the vapor flow detector between the process chamber and condenser chamber, while in a manifold configuration separate vapor flow detectors are employed at each flask attachment port. A windmill sensor provides visual feedback to an operator and/or electronic feedback to a system controller. A vacuum control system is also provided for use with or independent of vapor flow detection. This vacuum control disconnects the vacuum source from the process chamber when pressure within the process chamber falls below a first predefined set point.

Abstract: Freeze drying apparatus and associated lyophilization procedures are provided employing vapor flow detection and/or vacuum control for monitoring and control of the lyophilization process. The vapor flow detector, such as a windmill sensor, is disposed to monitor vapor flow from product undergoing lyophilization. In a batch process, vapor flow is collectively monitored with the vapor flow detector between the process chamber and condenser chamber, while in a manifold configuration separate vapor flow detectors are employed at each flask attachment port. A windmill sensor provides visual feedback to an operator and/or electronic feedback to a system controller. A vacuum control system is also provided for use with or independent of vapor flow detection. This vacuum control disconnects the vacuum source from the process chamber when pressure within the process chamber falls below a first predefined set point.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of stirring cells in liquid culture media is provided. Baffles are mounted along the interior wall of the container and a hump is positioned on the center of the bottom surface of the container. A stirring apparatus is positioned inside the container. The blades of the stirring apparatus are angled outward toward the bottom of the container. The bottom edge of the blades extend closer to the bottom surface of the container then the apex of the hump. The liquid in the container is at a level below the top of the blades such that the blades are moved through the surface of the liquid. A magnetic bar is attached to the shaft and is driven by an external rotating magnetic bar.

Abstract: An inexpensive, yet beautiful retaining wall may be formed with architecturally pleasing, coordinating or matching materials such as marble, granite, stone, metal or the like. Architecturally pleasing, thin decorative facing panels are attached to plastic blocks which have hollow spaces to be filled with gravel or the like. The retaining wall is formed from several rows of such plastic blocks with the blocks in an upper row stacked upon the blocks in an adjacent lower row below the upper row and with the bottom edges of the upper row blocks being supported on adjacent lower row blocks. Decorative facing panels are provided which are substantially smaller in size than the plastic blocks and include a rear face attached to the front face of the plastic blocks to change the outward appearance of the front faces of the plastic blocks. Reinforcing ribs are formed in the walls of the hollow plastic blocks to add strength and rigidity while reducing the amount of plastic needed for the blocks.

Abstract: An inexpensive, yet beautiful retaining wall may be formed with architecturally pleasing, coordinating or matching materials such as marble, granite or the like. Architecturally pleasing, thin decorative facing panels are attached to masonry blocks. The retaining wall is formed from several rows of such masonry blocks with the blocks each including a top edge and a bottom edge and a front face having a masonry appearance extending between the top and bottom edges. The blocks in an upper row are stacked upon the blocks in an adjacent lower row below the upper row, with the bottom edges of the upper row blocks supported on adjacent lower row blocks. Decorative facing panels are provided which are substantially smaller in size than the masonry blocks and include a rear face attached to the front face of the masonry blocks to change the outward appearance of the front faces of the masonry blocks.

Abstract: A device for positioning a probe, such as a temperature sensor, in a flask for freeze drying. The device includes a stopper adapted to be secured to an open end of the flask. The stopper has a center opening and at least one radial opening spaced from the center opening. The radial opening allows for fluid communication between inside and outside of the flask when the stopper is secured to the open end of the flask. The center opening receives a guide tube which extends into the flask and is sized to receive the probe such that substantially no fluid communication between the inside of the flask and the outside of the flask occurs through the guide tube or center opening. A channel formed in an upper surface of the stopper and an O-ring positioned about an outer diameter of a neck of the flask secure the probe in position relative to the guide tube. The multiple radial openings define an annular passageway which mimics fluid communication through a standard slit-type stopper employed in freeze drying.

Abstract: A double wall twist tube is formed from at least two tubular blanks with a smaller tubular blank forming the inner wall and a larger tubular blank forming the outer wall. The smaller tubular blank is located within the larger tubular blank and the tubular blanks are each impressed with at least one indentation near one end. Sleeves are inserted into ends of the smaller tubular blank and a mandrel is inserted through the sleeves. Clamping chuck jaws or other clamping devices are provided on a longitudinally movably non-rotatable tail stock squeeze the indented end of the larger tubular blank, securing it to the indented end of the smaller tubular blank and simultaneously securing the tubular blanks to the tail stock. Clamping chuck jaws or other clamping devices are provided on a rotatable head stock squeeze the opposite end of the larger tubular blank, securing it to the opposite end of the smaller tubular blank and simultaneously securing the tubular blanks to the head stock.

Abstract: A portable writing apparatus is provided which includes a substantially flat writing surface and a plurality of posts which are adjacent to one edge of the writing surface and extending outwardly therefrom. At least one of the posts is formed with a recess therein. A latch cover is provided to lay over the plurality of posts. The latch cover has a plurality of openings therein which are designed to receive the plurality of posts when the latch cover is laid thereover. A latch is integral with the latch cover and is associated with at least one of the latch cover's openings. This latch releasably attaches the latch cover to the post having a recess therein.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger tube is provided in which the tube has one or more paralleled integral spirals formed in the tube wall providing on the exterior surface one or more convoluted spiral recesses of selected pitch, and fin members affixed to the spiral tube providing a tube having greatly increased external surface area, per unit of length and a convoluted, laminar flow breaking, interior surface.

Abstract: An electric motor control unit for use in a vending machine includes a sealed housing containing an electric motor drivingly connected through an eccentric and a cam follower to a magnetic switch actuator operatively associated with a sealed, magnetically operated reed switch. Energization of the electric motor rotates an output shaft carrying the eccentric for one cycle of operation, whereupon the motor is deenergized to complete the cycle.