Abstract: A cutter/bender apparatus is provided for selectively cutting and bending a workpiece. The bending member includes a bending pin actuated by a hydraulic cylinder that moves the bending pin into and out of engagement with the workpiece to clamp the workpiece against a support plate. When clamped, another hydraulic cylinder lifts a movable bending member toward the workpiece, bending the workpiece about the bending pin in the process. The cutting member includes a fixed cutting member and a movable cutting member mounted in side to side abutment. The cutting members include a slot that extends laterally therethrough in which the workpiece to be cut is placed. The hydraulic cylinder that operates the movable bending member also provides motion for the movable cutting member. As the movable cutting member moves, it moves the aligned slots of the individual cutting members out of alignment, shearing the workpiece in the process.

Abstract: A hole cover for covering and sealing the main pulley hole of a lawn and garden tractor mower belt housing. The cover includes a central hole adapted to receive the main pulley therein. A radial opening of the hole cover provides a passageway through which the main pulley may pass when the hole cover is placed around the main pulley. A fastener is used to secure the hole cover to the belt housing. The belt housing includes a bellows surrounding the central hole that provides better sealing and an adjustable central hole size making the hole cover universally acceptable to a wide variety of main pulley sizes. The radial opening defines facing sides of the hole cover that overlap one another to better provide sealing of the main pulley hole. An alternative interlocking mechanism attaches the facing sides to one another.

Abstract: A dispensing bucket apparatus that removably connects to a loader vehicle. The apparatus is a bucket that is adapted to receive and hold a flowable material and has an exit opening in its front end that is selectively opened and closed by a gate. The position of the gate may be controlled by the user from within the loader vehicle to control the flow and flow rate of the flowable material from the bucket. An alternate bucket design uses a manual latch to release the gate to an opened position. The side walls of the bucket converge toward the front of the bucket and form a funnel that directs the flowable material to the exit opening. The construction of the apparatus is such that the user can view the pour at all times and, thereby, reduce spillage and waste.

Abstract: A combination articulated vehicle damping method for absorbing the kinetic energy of the trail vehicle during a collision that includes crushing a damping material, positioned at a connection of the lead vehicle and the trail vehicle of a combination articulated vehicle, during the collision.

Abstract: A liquid--liquid separating hydrocyclone that utilizes gradual taper angles to reduce energy loss, helical precession, and velocity differentials and, thereby, increase the efficiency and capacity of the hydrocyclone. A separation portion of the hydrocyclone tapers to the underflow outlet orifice and no cylindrical portion is used at the underflow end. The hydrocyclone has either one or two frustoconical taper sections that have predetermined taper angles. The hydrocyclone cavity conforms to specified relationships that limit the taper and length to provide sufficient retention and to maintain the centrifugal force at the underflow end. The hydrocyclone includes inlets for introduction of a liquid mixture and separate outlets for the less dense liquid and the more dense liquid. An improved method of separating a less dense liquid from a more dense liquid is to functionally apply the above described hydrocyclone.

Abstract: A combination articulated vehicle damping system for absorbing the kinetic energy of the trail vehicle during a collision. Affixed to the trail vehicle is a damping material retainers that holds a damping material. The back of the damping material retainer engages the rear end of the damping material. A slider frame is slidably mounted in the damping material retainer and engages the forward end of the damping material. A shearable fastener prevents the slider frame from moving relative to the damping material retainer until subjected to a predetermined force. Secured to the slider frame is the connector for coupling the lead vehicle to the trail vehicle. Once the combination articulated vehicle is subjected to a predetermined force, the shearable fastener breaks allowing the slider frame to move and thereby deform the damping material. The deformation of the damping material absorbs the kinetic energy of the trail vehicle.