Abstract: A groove is formed in a body of ice using a milling cutter to form lines of weakness for breaking up the body of ice. The shaft of the milling cutter is arranged to be supported in an upright orientation such that the shaft extends through a surface of the body of ice into the body of ice. Rotating the shaft as the milling cutter is displaced along the surface forms a groove which can follow a variable path to follow natural obstacles when cutting across a body of ice on a natural body of water for example. The ice milling cutter is compact and therefore safer to use on sheets of ice as compared to heavy equipment conventionally used for breaking up ice.

Abstract: A crop harvesting header includes a center portion mounted on two spring arms and two separate wings pivotally connected to the center portion. The wings are connected to the center portion by interconnecting linkages which transfer weight from the wings to the spring arms each including a balance beam arranged to balance the lifting force from the spring arm with the downward forces from the center portion and wing such that the downward force on a skid plate of each portion on the ground varies automatically as the total downward force is varied. The balance beams apply force to the linkages by a compression member to reduce forces. The movement caused by floating of the header and the change of angle of the header are compensated at the balance beam to ensure that the force to the wings is reduced as the requirement caused by changes in geometry reduces.

Abstract: Cathodic protection of a structure including a steel member at least partly buried in a covering layer, such as steel rebar in a concrete structure, is provided by embedding sacrificial anodes into the concrete layer at spaced positions over the layer and connecting the anodes to the rebar. The anode body is formed, by pressing together finely divided powder, flakes or fibers of a sacrificial anode material such as zinc to define a porous body having pores therein. The sacrificial anode material of the anode member is directly in contact with the covering material by being buried or inserted as a tight fit into a drilled hole so that any expansion forces therefrom would be applied to the concrete with the potential of causing cracking. The pores are arranged however such that corrosion products from corrosion of the anode body are received into the pores sufficiently to prevent expansion of the anode body to an extent which would cause cracking of the covering material.

Abstract: A wear resistant coating is applied on an elbow or S-bend by weld beads applied along a pipe. A rectangular support rod is attached inside the pipe by connectors so that wheels of the carriage are guided on the corners to maintain a fixed orientation relative to the support rod. A three axis robot arm carries an electric welding head so as to be able to dynamically adjust the head both angularly and radially. A welding wire is pulled to the head by a feeding system on the carriage. The weld parameters including a predetermined wire stick out and angle of wire attack are controlled. A drive motor carried by a drive carriage propels the drive carriage longitudinally along the support rod with a series of intermediate carriages.

Abstract: A vehicle is wrapped by a printed adhesive film where the film is also applied over doors and other areas intended not to be covered. The film is cut at the door edge and over the area by adhesively attaching a tape having a release coating on the front surface and carrying a filament along a center of the front side. The printed film is applied over the door, the area not to be covered and the tapes and is cut along the door edge and around the area by pulling the filament from the tape so that a strip of the film at the door edge and the film over the area can be removed. The film can be stretched and pulled away from the tape for reapplying for proper fit.

Abstract: A method of counting in multiples uses an educational device comprising a base and a set of ten markers positioned on the base spaced apart from one another along a generally annular path. Each marker is associated with a respective one of a range of numbers 0 through 9 in a sequence about the annular path of the device. Elastic bands or some other visually indicating links are used to visually associate the marker having the number 0 associated therewith with another one of the markers having the number associated therewith corresponding to the final digit of the next number in the sequence of numbers. Other numbers of the sequence when counting in multiples can similarly be visually indicated with links so that following the links indicates the final digit of each number in the sequence when counting in multiples.

Abstract: A hockey shooting training device comprises an elongate track and a carriage having a puck shaped an engaging member supported thereon for engagement by a hockey stick to be displaced along the track with the carriage from a starting end to a target end. Wheels on the carriage have a resilient peripheral surface for rolling along the track. A tether coupled to the carriage is wound onto a spool at the starting end of the track. Constant frictional resistance is applied to the spool during displacement of the carriage towards the target end as the tether unwinds from the spool. A winding mechanism on the spool returns the carriage to the starting end. An illuminated indicator extends along the track to provide visual guidance of the path of the carriage. A further indicator may indicate an angular offset of the engaging member from a central position about an upright axis.

Abstract: Break down of waste materials such as animal parts is carried out by pyrolysis, gasification and combustion using a reactor vessel with a conical lower portion located within an exterior vessel. Feed material is deposited in continuous mode through an air lock at the top and falls by gravity alone into the lower cone portion. The cone geometry supports organic feedstocks, eliminating the requirement for grates or other combustion support systems. Organic material that may escape gasification and exit the bottom of the cone accumulates within the ash and carbon particle volume until burned. Carbon is sequestered from high energy feedstocks and is stored in a chamber below the gasification cone. This carbon supplements the energy output of lower energy feedstocks to maintain desired operating temperatures at all times.

Abstract: An opener for mounting on a shank of an agricultural implement features a central body to be mounted on the shank, furrowing portions carried on the central body to form a seed bed as the central body is pulled through ground on the shank in a forward working direction, a seed delivery passage operable to deliver seed onto the seed bed from a seed outlet on a first side of the central body, and a fertilizer delivery passage operable to deliver fertilizer onto the seed bed from a second side of the central body. In use, the opener delivers the seed and the fertilizer onto the same seed bed on opposite sides of the central body. A rubber cover seals closed an upper end of the central body to prevent moisture from anhydrous ammonia tubes from dripping into the body, and is adaptable to accommodate seed tubes of different diameters.

Abstract: The camera slider system supports a camera for longitudinal sliding or rolling movement along a pair of elongate support members which are parallel and spaced apart from one another. The camera mount supporting the camera thereon is supported by a pair of link members pivotally coupled between opposing ends of the camera mount and a carriage assembly which is movable along the rails. The orientation of the camera relative to the elongate supports is readily adjustable by adjusting the pivotal link members while the camera remains supported in a very stable configuration. Rollers or bearings ensure a smooth movement of the camera along the elongate support members so that there are no undesired jerking movements in the resulting captured image.

Abstract: A downhole well cleaning tool adapted for connection between upper and lower sections of an elongate string includes a pump barrel having at least one fluid outlet proximate its upper end. A swab assembly is connected to a pump mandrel for reciprocation within the pump barrel to pump fluids upward to the outlet to draw fluid and debris into the lower string section and trap the debris. A lower portion of the swab mandrel is hollow and open at a lower end thereof with at least one conduit extending through a side wall of the swab mandrel to direct fluid laterally outward from the hollow lower portion against the side wall of the pump barrel during lowering into fluid to reduce debris build-up within the pump barrel. A wear bushing is mounted between the pump mandrel and barrel and a knuckle or swivel joint connects the swab and pump mandrels.

Abstract: A furrow opener comprises an opener body including a shank mount arranged to support the opener body on an agricultural implement shank for movement in a forward working direction and a tip body readily separable from the opener body and arranged for forming a furrow in the ground in the working direction. The tip body includes a furrowing portion extending downwardly and forwardly beyond the opener body so as to be arranged to form the furrow in the ground. A retainer member is supported on the opener body to retain a portion of the tip body adjacent the top end thereof on the opener body to provide support to the tip body against a moment acting on the tip body from the rearward force on the furrowing portion during furrow formation.

Abstract: A growth chart device features presenting a wall facing side and an opposing chart side with a measuring scale extending along the chart side along a lengthwise dimension of the chart body. A marking area is defined on the chart side of the chart body proximate the measuring scale to receive markings at different positions along the measuring scale at different times to track a height of an individual. At least one door is pivotally mounted on the chart body and movable between open and closed positions in which at least a portion of the chart side of the chart body is respectively uncovered and covered to give selective control over access to said portion.

Abstract: In a fabric enclosure such as a tent wall there is provided an opening in the fabric panel with a fabric closure panel for closing the opening having a hinge line along one side connecting the closure panel to the wall panel. The opening and the closure panel each define an edge thereof opposite to the hinge line which is curved from an end at the hinge line around to an opposite end at the hinge line with the edge of the closure panel overlapping the edge of the opening for closure thereon and a flexible bowing strip attached to the edge of the closure panel which is forced into a bowed shape to apply tension to the closure panel tending to maintain the panel flat.

Abstract: A support block for supporting objects on a roof. The support block is a moulded elastomeric block with a substantially hollow core. The support block can be used as is or in a system whereby a galvanized steel channel is secured to the top wall of the block accommodating the mating of a variety of clamps. In some embodiments, the block is elongate and generally flat and supports a roof mounted object thereon when two or more blocks are supported parallel and spaced apart from one another with the object spanning between the blocks.

Abstract: An ice skate assembly for attachment to a boot has a skate blade and a blade heating arrangement mounted within a blade support. The blade is heated by a row of field-effect transistors carried on a circuit board or another type of heating element encapsulated on the top edge of the blade in an over-molded plastic strip which engages into a slot in the support as a wedged fit. The blade is attached by an inclined wedge member a screw for pulling the blade longitudinally of the blade and to draw the inclined wedge member into its receptacle. The battery pack is carried in the rear tower which is sealed against moisture penetration and includes two proximity switches for actuation.

Abstract: An ice skate assembly for attachment to a boot has a skate blade and a blade heating arrangement mounted within a blade support. The blade is heated by resistive heating wire attached along a groove on each side of the blade. The blade is mounted in the support by an over-molded plastic strip which engages into a slot in the support as a wedged fit. A control circuit board is encapsulated on the top edge of the blade and connects to a battery pack is carried in the rear tower of the support. The blade is attached to the support by a screw for pulling the blade longitudinally of the blade and to draw an inclined wedge member formed by the over-molding into its receptacle.

Abstract: A vehicle primarily a mass transit vehicle is formed primarily of composite materials which define a roof section and a floor section of two fiber reinforced sheets connected by an integral core and two rigid side wall sections each formed from welded steel or optionally bolted aluminum defining a series of window openings in a row along the side wall section in a ladder shape. The separate sections are connected to a front end cap and a rear end cap. Mountings for the seats are defined as well as conduits through the floor and roof for electrical and fluid connections. Releasable joints of adhesive are provided between the metal rails and the edges of the composite panels.