Abstract: A front loading refuse collection vehicle has a refuse receiving body within which a compaction panel is movable between a refuse receiving position and refuse compacting positions spaced from the receiving position. A pair of hydraulically actuated power cylinder assemblies are connected to the body adjacent the refuse receiving end and to the compaction panel, the assemblies extending in criss-cross fashion one above the other. The ends of the assemblies connected to the panel are restrained by apparatus which is normally passive and does not interfere with the connection between each hydraulic cylinder assembly and the panel, but which upon failure of the connection between a hydraulic cylinder assembly and the panel restrains movement of the cylinder assembly having the failed connection so that the end of that assembly remains closely adjacent to the panel and between the side walls of the body.

Abstract: A premixed gas burner for use in a boiler or the like has a burner body including a distribution tube into which air under pressure and a gas fuel are received. The gas is supplied to the distribution tube through a gas supply orifice tube having a flange in the form of a disk disposed about the periphery of the gas supply tube and positioned a short distance within the distribution tube. The gas supply tube has a number of orifices located about the tube adjacent to the downstream facing surface of the flange. The distribution tube is located within a pressurized air chamber and gas supplied from a manifold to the supply tube is mixed turbulently adjacent the downstream face of the flange. The invention extends the operating range of premixed gas burners and reduces the carbon monoxide and NO.sub.x output of the burner.

Abstract: A side loading refuse collection vehicle having a carriage slidably mounted on a track and pivotally carrying a lift arm assembly including refuse container grabbing and dumping apparatus for grabbing a refuse container, lifting it and dumping it into the body of the vehicle includes a keeper plate secured to the carriage and a detent latch pivotally mounted on the frame for seizing and holding the keeper selectively. The carriage is slidably driven by a hydraulic cylinder assembly to extend and retract the carriage relative to the vehicle, and whenever the hydraulic cylinder assembly is actuated by an operator control switch the latch disengages from the keeper. When the hydraulic cylinder assembly is not actuated, the latch engages and holds the keeper and thereby prevents the lift arm from being flung outwardly in the event of a failure in the hydraulic cylinder assembly system.

Abstract: A premixed gas burner has an elongated hollow burner body including a burner deck formed by a multiplicity of burner ports about a small sector of the body. The burner body is closed at one end and an elongated distribution tube is received within the body through and extending out the other end. The end of the distribution tube extending out of the burner body has an inlet into which a mixture of gas and air may enter, the opposite end of the distribution tube being closed. A series of directional ports formed between louvered slats adjacent the closed end and spaced from the inlet are formed along a small sector of the distribution tube and directs the mixture of gas and air back toward the inlet end. The sector of the distribution tube in which the ports are formed is substantially 180.degree. from the sector of the burner body in which the deck ports are formed.

Abstract: A light weight utility trailer which may be readily converted between an operative and a stowable configuration includes a bed or body that pivotally carries a stud shaft to which a tow bar is secured. A pair of wheels are supported by a shaft pivotally connected to the bed. A first sprocket is secured to the pivot shaft and a second sprocket secured to the wheel support shaft, and a chain is trained about both sprockets. When the tow bar is rotated from the operative position extending forwardly of the bed to a stowable position beneath the bed, the stud shaft is thereby rotated and rotates the wheel support shaft by means of the chain from the operative position extending downwardly beyond the bottom of the bed to an inoperative position wherein the wheels are raised above the bottom of the bed. In the stowable position the wheels are within the profile of the sides of the bed and thus the trailer may be stowed in a minimum of space.

Abstract: A direct vent fireplace has a mounting assembly for aiding in the installation of a vent cap assembly through which fresh air is drawn for combustion and exhaust gas products are expelled from the fireplace. The assembly includes a wall mounting box having a plate which may be secured to a pair of spaced apart framing studs of an interior wall adjacent to which the fireplace is to be installed. The wall box includes two members which are telescopically connected together so that the length from the plate to rear surface of the box may be adjustably selected to be equal to the thickness of an exterior wall through which the air enters and the flue gases exhaust. The vent cap assembly includes a plate which is secured to the rear end of the box after the box has been installed. Adjustable length flue gas and air tubes are received through the box and connect the event cap assembly to the fireplace.

Abstract: An accessory for a vacuum cleaner for cleaning sediment from the floor of the inside of an electrical hot water tank is received within the electrical heating element mounting port of the tank and is configured such that it may be manipulated in a 360 degree traverse for cleaning the convex dome shaped floor including the floor adjacent the wall. The accessory has a first tubular member having one end adapted to be connected to the vacuum cleaner and includes four sections which have respective axes of elongation inclined relative to those of the adjacent sections. A second tubular member is received within the end of the first tubular member remote from the end which is attached to the vacuum cleaner and has a nozzle at its free end. The second tubular member may swivel about its axis relative to the first tubular member and may be extendible along its axis relative to the first tubular member.

Abstract: A motorcycle seat has a shape forming base on which a selectively deformable cushion is positioned and covered by an exterior covering, the cushion having a foam material encased within an airtight bladder. A valve member located externally of the covering has a conduit which extends through the bladder in sealed fashion and terminates within the foam material. The valve may be selectively opened, and when open while a compressible force is applied on the foam, air is expelled from the foam, and if the valve is then closed the foam is formed into the shape of the force applicator. With the valve closed, movement upon the cushion redistributes the air within the foam accordingly. When the compression force is relieved and the valve is opened, the cushion takes on its original shape. A motorcycle rider sitting on the seat applies the compression force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for twisting two or more strands of yarn together in accordance with a pre-selected and changeable pattern so as to obtain twisted yarn with a selected twist level extending for a selected length of the yarn and other selected twist levels extending for various other lengths of the yarn so that a package of finished yarn has a variable twist pattern which is reproducible and changeable. The yarn twisting apparatus has a drive for rotating a finished package of twisted yarn, a yarn twister for twisting the yarn together, and a drive for the yarn twister. Each drive includes a motor which may be a servo motor or a controllable a.c. motor so that the product package drive and the yarn twisting drive may be controlled to selected speed ratios, and also includes a programmable controller for controlling this ratio and for varying the time that each selected ratio is maintained.

Abstract: A package holder for mounting a yarn package to a bracket in a creel includes an elongated body member having front and rear ends, a mounting member for attaching the holder to a bracket in the creel intermediate the front and rear ends, and a package securing arm pivotally mounted at a first end intermediate the mounting member and the rear end of the body member. The arm includes a second end and has barbs in an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The body member includes a notch adjacent the rear end. The mounting member is mounted on the bracket of a creel and the yarn package is positioned so that the body member is received within the core of the package and as the package is pushed rearwardly it engages the arm until the end of the core engages the notch and is stopped. The barbs on the arm grip the interior of the core and acting with gravitational force securely holds the package on the holder.

Abstract: A controlled needle tufting machine has a cyclically reciprocating latch bar to which the needles may be selectively latched in accordance with a pattern to reciprocate and insert loops of yarn into a backing material or to not be latched and remain stationary above the backing material includes yarn detection apparatus for determining whether the feeding of yarn for the needle is correct. The detection apparatus includes a yarn fault detector for detecting whether yarn is moving between a source and a respective needle and for providing a signal in response to such movement. The yarn movement signal is compared with a signal from the pattern control and if the needle is latched and yarn is supposed to be moving, a fault signal is provided if the yarn is not moving. If the needle is supposed to be stationary but the detector indicates that yarn is moving, a fault signal may also be provided. In either case the fault signal is displayed and the machine may be stopped.

Abstract: A water purification apparatus positionable on an existing dispenser has a valve control member positionable in the water plenum of the dispenser to control release of purified water from the apparatus to the dispenser. A feedwater tank receives supply water which is fed to a water level control tank to maintain the water level in the boiler of the apparatus above the heating element. The control tank includes a partition separating a main reservoir from a de-foamer control chamber within which anti-foaming agent may be added. A condenser is coiled into a number of convolutions about a central opening and has external heat exchanger fins. An end cap assembly closes the central opening except for a small portion through which air is blown by a fan so that substantially all of the air flows over the fins. The boiler is a cylindrical container having a peripheral lip about an open end on which a lid having a steam outlet tube is positioned.

Abstract: A housing having a base having a cavity within which a temperature scanner module may be mounted and which is readily clamped to a rail of a railroad track so that a scanner may detect an over-heated wheel or wheel bearing. The base includes a rail clamp support portion for extending beneath the rail. A clamping assembly is positioned on the clamp support portion with resilient compressible bumpers sandwiched therebetween. The clamping assembly includes a first rail clamp and a pair of spaced apart arms between which a second rail clamp is positioned and adjustably attached to the first clamping assembly so as to secure the assembly to a rail. The arms of the clamping assembly terminate at locations above the upper surface of the clamp support portion and may be forcibly urged to apply a bending moment to the clamping assembly adjacent the cavity to pivot the clamping assembly on the bumpers relative to the base. The base may thus be angularly adjusted relative to the rail.