Abstract: A silage bag filling machine for compactly loading an elongate polymer silage storage bag includes a generally horizontal chamber through which a ram reciprocates in a generally horizontal direction, forcing silage from the chamber into a frame which carries the gathered sidewall of the silage storage bag. The frame has a curved upper surface and an open bottom. The bag filling machine is supported on wheels and is forced gradually forward as the bag fills, against the restraint of an adjustable brake. An loading elevator mounted to the side of the bag filling machine feeds silage into the horizontal chamber.

Abstract: A bow stand attachment for an archery bow has a base which mounts to the riser of the bow. The base has a pair of legs extending downward from it. The legs are slid onto stubs which extend away and downward from the outer rim of the base. The ends of the legs and the end of a stabilizer mounted to the bow can cooperate to provide a supporting tripod for the bow. When no stabilizer is attached to the bow, the bow stand and lower pulley act as a tripod to support the bow. Performance of the bow is not affected by presence of the attachment because of its low mass and symmetry on the riser of the bow.

Abstract: A shock absorbing suspension for the large rear wheels of a wheelchair is disclosed. A fork element is hinged at one end to a clamping member which attaches to a horizontal frame member of the wheelchair. A cylindrical solid polymer shock absorber cushions the movement of the fork element toward the clamping member. The free end of the fork element includes an axleway for the axle of a large wheelchair wheel. The movement of the fork element relative to the clamping member is limited by abutting surfaces on the fork element and the clamping member.

Abstract: A method to create blocks having a weathered and aged look by modifying the blocks before they are cured. Green blocks exiting a block forming machine are conveyed along a path past brush elements which scrub block mix from the upper longitudinal corners of the formed, uncured blocks. The blocks are also passed longitudinally over tooth elements which irregularly remove block mix from the lower longitudinal corners of the green blocks. The modified green blocks are moved to a kiln for curing.

Abstract: A silage bag filling machine for compactly loading an elongate polymer silage storage bag includes a generally horizontal chamber through which a ram reciprocates in a generally horizontal direction, forcing silage from the chamber into a frame which carries the gathered sidewall of the silage storage bag. The frame has a curved upper surface and an open bottom. The bag filling machine is supported on wheels and is forced gradually forward as the bag fills, against the restraint of an adjustable brake. An loading elevator mounted to the side of the bag filling machine feeds silage into the horizontal chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in aligning the differential input shaft of a race car with the transmission output shaft includes a transmission attachment and a differential attachment, each of which is detachably mountable to the race car. Each attachment includes a laser mounted centrally in a plate which is mounted substantially perpendicular to the transmission and the differential respectively. The laser mounted to the transmission emits a light beam coaxial to the transmission output shaft and the laser mounted to the differential emits a light beam coaxial to the differential input shaft. By adjusting the differential and transmission relative to each other such that the laser beams do not intersect, the differential and the transmission are aligned for optimum performance. A camber gauge may be substituted for the laser in either plate to measure the attitude of the differential or the transmission.

Abstract: A blow gun with an extensible wand includes a barrel for receiving and storing the wand. The wand passes through an inner collar and an outer collar, the inner collar mounted to the barrel and the outer collar eccentrically rotatable upon the inner collar. Rotation of the outer collar affects alignment of the bore of the outer collar with the bore of the inner collar. When the misalignment of the bores is increased, the wand is locked in a selected extension from the barrel.

Abstract: A block for an outdoor staircase stair includes an open four-sided block having a web interconnecting opposing sides and transversing the cavity within the block. The web includes vertical voids which extend from the top of the web into the body of the web. Two of the voids are located at the lateral ends of the web. The top parts of the web between the voids are broken out after the block is placed over the ground surface. Each block may be placed such that its front wall rests on the rear wall of the course of blocks below it. The blocks are filled with granular material to within about the thickness of a paving block or brick. Paving blocks are arranged on the granular material within the block such that the tops of the paving blocks are flush with the top of the block. Methods for building a staircase from the blocks and for molding the blocks are also described.

Abstract: A robust portable building for use by persons for meetings, classroom use, entertainment facilities, trade show displays, or for human habitation, which provides an entry height of only seventeen inches above ground surface and which has the look, feel, and strength of a permanent structure. The building will withstand tornadic and hurricane level winds without the requirement of tie downs or permanent installation on a foundation. The structural members of the building are primarily steel components. A rigid steel frame is supported on pairs of steel rollers each of which has a diameter which is approximately equal in size to its surface width. All structural components are screwed or welded at their junctions with other structural components. A sheet of aluminum is mechanically fixed to the upper sides of the floor joists, over which are placed additional flooring layers. Each layer is fastened securely to the floor joists.

Abstract: A variable potential ion guide for placement within the reflectron of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes an elongate resistive electrode placed axially within the reflectron. The electrode may be a non-conductive monofilament coated with a resistive polymer coating, with one end of the electrode coupled to a high potential source, the electrode carrying a potential gradient along its length.

Abstract: An EMI and RFI shield mounting system includes a compartmented EMI shield constructed of a vacuum metallized thermoform having upright hollow walls separating and surrounding the compartments. The shield conforms to the interior of a housing for electronic equipment, with the upright walls overlying ridges formed in the interior of the housing. A compressible gasket is placed between the ridges of the housing and the inner reaches of the hollow walls of the shield. The free sides of the walls of the shield may be abutted against ground traces on a printed circuit board on which the shield and housing are placed. The gasket urges the metallized free edges of the walls of the shield against the ground trace of the printed circuit board to provide electrical conductivity between the printed circuit board and the shield. Dimples, tabs or protruding punctures may be formed in the free sides of the walls to ensure conductive contact with the ground trace.

Abstract: A yield monitoring system for a grain harvesting combine includes a volume monitor, a moisture monitor, a test weight monitor, a ground speed monitor, and a computer which receives signals from each monitor and continuously derives harvested grain yield rates from those signals, displays the yield rates on a visual display and records the yield rate information for later recall and transfer to other computers. A GPS receiver linked to the system enables it to map yields geographically in the harvested field. The volume monitor receives all grain exiting the clean grain elevator of the combine and passes it through a paddlewheel, the angular displacement of which is monitored over time. The moisture monitor and test weight monitor are mounted to the exterior of the clean grain elevator and receive samples of grain from the lift side of the clean grain elevator.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner for stationary use includes a canister with an upper housing mounted to a lower housing. Openings in the bottom plate of the upper housing are generally in registry with apertures in the top cover of the lower housing. A gasket seals the abutment between the upper and lower housing. Each of the lower housing and the upper housing are of size and weight to allow their shipment by express or package delivery services. An access port to the interior of the upper housing is located in the sidewall of the upper housing behind the coin mechanism housing.

Abstract: An EMI shield for personal computers, cellular telephones, and other electronic devices is constructed from thermoformable polymeric material which is then metallized on all surfaces by vacuum metallization techniques to provide an inexpensive, lightweight, yet effective EMI shield.

Abstract: A combined compressed air blow gun and tire inflation chuck is disclosed. The tire inflation chuck is fixed to a wand mounted to a handle in which a valve operated by a trigger controls flow of compressed air to the chuck. The chuck includes opposing tire stem receiving openings. An internal plunger in the chuck permits flow of compressed air from the wand through one opening of the chuck when no tire stem is inserted in either tire stem receiving opening in the chuck. When a tire stem is inserted in either opening of the chuck, compressed air is prevented by the plunger from passing to the opposing end of the chuck.

Abstract: A non-contact apparatus and method for mapping the wave profile of capillary waves on a fluid surface to determine viscosity of the fluid. Two conducting blades coupled to a sine wave generator are positioned spaced laterally above and near the surface of the fluid to generate a standing capillary wave on the fluid surface between the blades. A laterally moveable fiber optic probe is coupled to a laser to transmit laser light toward the fluid surface and to receive reflected light from the fluid surface. Part of the laser light reflects from the end of the probe and creates an interference pattern with the light reflected from the fluid surface. The light reflected from the end of the probe and from the fluid surface are combined to form an interference signal which is analyzed to obtain the amplitude of the wave directly under the probe. By moving the probe laterally, nodes on the standing wave may be detected to find the wavelength of the capillary wave.

Abstract: An insert for use in filling paper or plastic bags with yard waste materials. An elongate rectangular sleeve of corrugated paper board has an open top and open bottom. Weight retaining elements are formed near the bottom of opposing sidewalls of the insert. Tuck openings are formed along the length of the opposing sidewalls to receive gathered segments of the top edge of a plastic bag in which the insert is placed. Hand openings are formed near the upper ends of opposing sidewalls. The insert may be inverted while a yard waste bag is placed over it and then righted to rest in an upright position with the yard waste bag surrounding it.