Abstract: A hand-operated food mixing/folding device for doughs, sauces, mousse or the like incorporates a rounded or contoured bottom bowl provided with a mount which removably supports the bowl on a conventional kitchen counter or table, the axis of the bowl extending at an angle of approximately 45.degree. to vertical. A mixer arm is mounted for rotation around the axis of the bowl, and has a driving connection to a hand crank supported by the mount. Preferably the mount includes a vertically extending post fitted with a clamp mechanism at its lower end which can grip the edge of a table or countertop and support the bowl in the aforementioned orientation. The mixer arm has a contoured lifting/folding surface with a leading edge (preferably flexible) closely following the sidewall contour of the bowl, and a knife edge on an opposite part of said arm from the folding surface.

Abstract: A milk warmer comprising an open tray for holding hot water and containers of milk, and a closed chamber under and contiguous with the tray, there being a common heat-conducting wall between the tray and the chamber. There is a first means for controllably introducing steam into the chamber; for example from a coffee-making machine. There is a second means for controllably transferring steam and condensate from the chamber into the tray and impinging the transferred steam against a shield attached inside the tray.

Abstract: A pinned mill for a mixer having a mixing mechanism has a motor outside the mixer container and a rotor inside the container and spaced apart from its walls. The rotor is rotationally drivable by the motor and is at least partly surrounded at a tangent by a stator having pins arranged concentrically with the rotor axis, the rotor being arranged inside the pins. The rotor is provided with elements defining a grinding gap with respect to the pins. In order to improved the grind performance without notably increasing the drive power, the rotor elements defining the grinding gap with respect to the stator pins are embodied only by vanes extending approximately radially to the rotor axis. The radially outer ends of the vanes have a cutting edge. The stator pins have an edge associated with the radially outer vane edges. The rotor is also embodied as substantialy open, inside the stator.

Abstract: A stackable plate arrangement (10) for microwave ovens (100) wherein the arrangement (10) comprises a plurality of apertured plate units (11) that are adapted to be operatively connected together at different heights by a plurality of support units (12) such that multiple food receptacles (200) may be suspended on different tiers within a microwave oven (100).

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method and apparatus for continuous mixing, transporting and placing of large quantities of concrete in which aggregate transported on a belt conveyor is mixed with metered quantities of cement and water adjacent a place of pouring. Alternatively, mixed concrete is transported to a place of pouring protected from the elements on a belt conveyor covered by a tunnel that confines cooled air.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mixing device for a feed screw for melting and conveying plasticated material of the type which rotates about a longitudinal axis in a barrel of an apparatus for melting and conveying plasticated material. The feed screw includes consecutive feed, transition, and metering sections, and further includes at least one helical main channel for conveying material in a downstream direction. The mixing device includes a cylinder having a clearance from the inside of the barrel, which cylinder rotates with the feed screw about said axis within the barrel. The outer surface of the cylinder is provided with at least one continuous mixing channel which extends over the surface of the cylinder, the channel being disposed in alternate upstream and downstream directions wherein material conveyed in the mixing channel is caused to alternately reverse its direction while proceeding through the mixing channel.

Abstract: An auxiliary toilet seat has a bench type seat supported by two vertical legs. Horizontal mounting flanges on the lower ends of each vertical leg are utilized to permanently attach the auxiliary toilet seat in front of a conventional toilet in a public rest room. The bench type seat is connected by a hinge to a top end of one of the vertical legs. The bench seat may be swung between open and closed positions, to provide access to the toilet. In use, an individual sits on the auxiliary bench seat while utilizing the toilet. This provides protection against acquiring communicable diseases while utilizing conventional public toilet seats. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the vertical legs provide a cantilever support for attachment to existing toilet mounting bolts. This construction does not require the drilling of any additional holes in the floor of the public rest room.

Abstract: A pulp mixing apparatus includes a rotor shaft within a housing having a curvilinear inner wall circumferentially disposed about the rotor. A plurality of radially extending, wedge-shaped vanes are rigidly mounted on the rotor and intermesh with a plurality of housing vanes, likewise wedged-shaped, such that in combination, as the rotor vanes are moved into proximity with the stationary housing vanes, a mixing substance is subjected to a compressive and subsequently to a decompressive force whereupon the mixing substance is homogeneously and thoroughly mixed.

Abstract: Container cleaning apparatus including an endless conveyor to transport the containers being cleaned through the apparatus. The container cleaning apparatus uses both high and low pressure liquid to clean the containers. The high pressure liquid is projected on the containers in a pattern that cleans the containers but does not hinder their progress on the conveyor. An agitating system is also provided that agitates the cleaned containers in a vertical direction to assist in removing liquid and drying the containers. The containers are also subjected to an air blast as they are being agitated that assists in causing evaporation of the liquid on the containers.

Abstract: An automatic container filling apparatus for continuously filling a moving line of containers with a fluent material is disclosed. The flow of material to any container is controlled by a single supply of air at a predetermined pressure above atmospheric pressure. The apparatus includes a product filling head having an outlet nozzle arranged to extend into the mouth of a container to be filled. An air supply provides regulated air at a predetermined high pressure. There is also provided a control for receiving and directing the high pressure air to the other components of the apparatus. A sensor tube is adapted to be positioned at a fixed point within the container to be filled. Air from the controller is directed through the sensor tube during the filling of the container. An actuator valve and an interface valve both communicate with the control to receive the high pressure air therefrom.

Abstract: An improved floor-level adjusting device for a pool is particularly designed to be incorporated in an existing pool at low cost without the destruction thereof. The floor-level adjusting device for a pool has a movable floor disposed in a pool for vertical movement, and a plurality of lifting mechanisms disposed on and along the side walls of the pool and connected with the movable floor for moving the movable floor in the vertical direction so that the depth of water in the pool above the movable floor can be adjusted in an appropriate manner.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the thickening of mud-like slurries produced during the course of industrial processes, e.g. the thickening of red muds produced during operation of the Bayer process for the production of alumina. The invention involves the step of feeding the slurry, a fluocculating agent and washing liquor to a deep thickening vessel having an underflow outlet for the thickened slurry and an overflow outlet for clarified washing liquor. The solids content of the slurry leaving the underflow outlet is increased and kept constant by the use of a stirrer having a number of generally vertical rod-like members rotated in the vessel above the underflow outlet. The stirrer enhances dewatering of the slurry and prevents undue build up of thick inactive mud which may block the outlet or cause fluctuations in the solids content of the thickened slurry.

Abstract: A brake cleaning device comprises a bucket having a rubber flange which is positionable over a vehicle brake assembly after the associated brake drum has been removed. A water hose is inserted into the bucket and sprayed with full force against the brake and wheel assembly from different angles. The water from the cleaning job is directed to a drain inside the bucket. The cleaning device operates to remove asbestos and other dust particles from the brake system without any danger of injury to the user.

Abstract: There is provided a continuous flow type homogenizer. The homogenizer comprises, a tubular container having at upper end thereof an inlet for introducing tissue to be homogenized and at lower end thereof an outlet for discharging the homogenized tissue, a pestle disposed freely rotatable in the tubular container with a clearance defined between the inner surface of the tubular container and the peripheral surface of the pestle, a rotation shaft driving means connected to a rotation shaft of the pestle, a speed setting means for setting the rotation speed of the pestle, and a speed controlling means for controlling the speed of the rotation shaft with a predetermined speed gradient with respect to a speed value set by the speed setting means.

Abstract: This invention relates to vibratory machines such as grinding machines. A machine 10 has a vibratory unit 13 which is connected to a separate motor 12 by a flexible drive 14. The drive rotates a shaft 23 carrying eccentric weights 25,26 and the resultant gyratory movement is transmitted directly to a vibratory plate 16 through bearings 24. The amplitude vibration can be altered by adjusting the relative position of the weights.

Abstract: A cleaning device for dislodging, and picking up and retaining foreign particles and other matter adhered on athletic footwear soles or other discrete surfaces, comprising a pad assembly having an inner cushion pad element enclosed within a fabric outer cover, and attachment means on the device for removably clasping it around the fastened footwear laces or other support means to enable brisk rubbing of the footwear soles or other surfaces across the pad assembly of the device to remove foreign matter from such surfaces.

Abstract: A pellet-fired barbecue including an elevated barbecue pan fired by a pellet-burning pot mounted below the bottom of the barbecue. A heat baffle plate is disposed within the pan above the top of the pot, and forced-air mechanism produces movement of hearted air within the barbecue.

Abstract: A brush for cleaning a chimney flue is formed from a central hub outwardly from which extends a plurality of plastics strips manufactured from strapping tape having a width of the order of 1/2 inch and a thickness of the order of 0.030 inch. The device is manufactured from a plurality of separate units each formed with six outwardly extending strips or blades and a central hub with all of the units stacked on a bolt and prevented from rotation each relative to the next. A natural curvature of the strips tends to form a device into a cone shape so they can be readily pressed into a chimney flue from the lower end with the flexibility of the strapping tape enabling the unit to be compressed and passed around obstructions such as the flue damper.

Abstract: In the disclosed apparatus, a belt feeds empty containers, into a filling station. At a waiting position in the station of the belt lifts a container with a support having centering rollers that permit horizontal displacement of the empty container while alignment pulleys engage the vertical sides of the container to the rotate the container about its vertical axis so that its fill opening is at the leading edge of the container. A horizontally rotatable plate above the container but ahead of the waiting position sequentially applies an unplugging device and a level sensor to the container. When the belt moves the container to the filling position and when filling device has filled the container, the plate swings the unplugging device around to the filling position and plugs the container's fill opening. Upon further rotation, it positions a second device to apply a safety cap to the container.

Abstract: An improved ear guard assembly, particularly for amateur wrestlers. The ear guard includes a reinforcing plate member having head strap engaging slots with inner and outer sheet foam energy absorbing layers. The assembly is enclosed by a molded plastic skin cover having strap engaging apertures in registry with the strap engaging slots of the reinforcing plate which are reinforced to prevent tearing of the ear guards. The cover further has an inside peripheral surface which has ribs engaging the outer edge of the reinforcing plate to reduce the tendency for tearing of the cover by the plate edge. The outer cover preferably has a glossy outer surface, present a low coefficient of friction and a matte inner surface thereby aiding in retaining the ear guards in position on the wearer's head.