Abstract: The invention is a produce handling system with a self-unloading trailer and a free-standing conveyor. The trailer has an unloading conveyor in its bottom covered by removable doors. The free-standing conveyor has an infeed section that receives the produce from the trailer unloading conveyor pivoted to an out feed section which delivers the produce from the infeed section to a stacking position such as a truck.

Abstract: A liftable auxiliary axle assembly for a wheeled vehicle including an auxiliary support frame assembly connected to the vehicle frame; a pair of spaced apart torque arms pivoted on the auxiliary frame assembly about a common pivot axis so that the rear end of each is pivotally movable in a generally vertical plane; a pair of axle seat assemblies mounted on the rear ends of the torque arms for pivoting movement therewith and mounting a wheel and axle assembly therebetween; and a pair of chain lift mechanisms for selectively lifting the wheel and axle assembly from the road.

Abstract: A method of coldworking a hole through a work piece which includes placing a seamless tubular member within the hole with a prescribed hoop strength to allow the tubular member to be expanded and prescribed column strength which prevents axial movement of the outside of the tubular member as the tubular member is expanded, holding the tubular member within the hole so that the tubular member is substantially axially fixed with respect to the hole, and passing an expansion mandrel through the inside of the seamless tubular member to radially and circumferentially expand the tubular member sufficiently to induce a compressive stress gradient of a prescribed magnitude in the material of the work piece substantially uniformly about the entire inside surface of the hole so as to increase the fatigue strength thereof.

Abstract: A tree processing machine for felling and processing standing trees into predetermined lengths which includes generally a prime mover capable of turning in a short radius with a relatively short support frame as compared to the prior art mounted on the prime mover, a carriage frame pivotally mounted on the support frame about a roll axis generally vertically aligned with and parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the prime mover, a main support bed pivotally mounted at its upper end to the forward end of the carriage frame for pivoting from a vertical position in which the lower end thereof is near the ground to a horizontal position above the prime mover, a set of traversing drive assemblies mounted on the support bed for holding a tree against the bed and for moving the tree longitudinally with respect to the bed, a cutting assembly mounted on that end of the bed opposite its pivoted end and movable with the bed as well as with respect to the bed for selectively felling trees and cutting them into selec

Abstract: A reverse taper fastener including a fastner pin portion having a head and an elongate bearing section adapted to extend through holes in the work pieces where the bearing section tapers inwardly from the leading end toward the trailing end of the bearing section; and a pintail portion integrally connected to the leading end of the fastener pin portion through a breakneck section with an expansion section for expanding the holes from a diameter smaller than the bearing section to a diameter larger than same for installing the fastener where the breakneck groove around the breakneck section has been either closed or filled to form a continuous surface between the bearing section and expansion section. The disclosure also comprehends the method of manufacturing the fastener.

Abstract: A ratio preserving method and apparatus for a system having a plurality of operating values, each independently changeable over a prescribed quantity range by a change in a separate control input by selectively interconnecting the separate control inputs so that change in one of the interconnected control inputs produces an appropriate change in the other interconnected control inputs to maintain the selected fixed ratio between the interconnected operating values. One such system illustrated is a zoom lens where the ratio between object distance and focal length can be selectively fixed to keep the image size constant while the focus is changed when the distance between the object and the lens changes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for injecting fluids into patients at a controlled rate from an ampule with a tubular side wall closed at one end with a penetrable plug and a sliding piston in the side wall to force the fluid through an opening in the penetrable member using either a long duration injector with an expelling means to move the ampule piston, drive means for operating the expelling means, and control means for incrementally and successively connecting and disconnecting the drive means to the expelling means or a short duration injector with a spring drive or a fluid pressure drive to move the ampule piston and meter the fluid through a metering device.

Abstract: A multiple laminate humidity sensing device for visually indicating changes in relative humidity including a moisture impermeable transparent cover layer; an indicator layer including a transparent carrier material and an inorganic salt composition dispersed in the transparent carrier material that provides a known visible color response to changes in relative humidity to which the indicator layer is exposed; and a moisture permeable reflective layer behind the indicator layer so that light passing through the cover layer and the indicator layer is reflected back through the indicator layer and the cover layer so as to be readily visible from that side of the cover layer opposite the indicator layer.

Abstract: A reverse taper fastener system including a fastener pin having an elongate bearing section adapted to extend through holes in the work pieces where the bearing section tapers inwardly from the leading end toward the trailing end of the bearing section, having an enlarged head integral with the trailing end of the bearing section, and a pintail section at the leading end of the fastener pin which may carry an expansion collet for expanding the holes from a diameter smaller than the bearing section to a diameter larger than same for installing the fastener. The disclosure also comprehends the method of installing the fastener as well as the method of manufacturing the fastener.

Abstract: An interlocking structural system comprising a plurality of tubular strut members defining a central opening in the ends thereof of a prescribed diameter and at least one connector for selectively interconnecting the tubular strut members, the connector including one or more plate members with a plurality of connector tangs thereon generally radially oriented with respect to the plate member where one set of alternate connector tangs angle away from the plane of the plate member and where another set of alternate connector tangs lie in the plane of the plate member with the connector tangs sized to be recieved in the central opening in the end of one of the strut members so that the strut member can be slipped over any one of the connector tangs to connect the strut member to the connector.

Abstract: A ratio preserving control system for a camera zoom lens for selectively interconnecting the object distance (focus) control mechanism and the focal length (zoom) control mechanism to selectively and automatically maintain a selected ratio between the object distance value of the lens and the focal length value of the lens so as to maintain a selected constant image size while the focal length value is changed to keep an object in focus when the distance between the object and the lens is changing or changes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with a housing defining a main fluid flow passage therethrough and a tube bundle access opening to the fluid flow passage, a tube bundle unit removably positioned in the housing in the fluid flow passage through the access opening, and a cover for removably closing the access opening so that heat exchange fluid flowing through the tube bundle unit is in a heat exchange relation with the fluid flowing through the housing main fluid flow passage around the tube bundle unit. Also shown is an economizer for a stream boiler incorporating a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A system for reducing undue vibrations transmitted to a vehicle by a tire assembly including a tire buffing or grinding machine, a tire balancing machine, and a mounting adapter for alternatively mounting the tire assembly on the tire buffing machine and the tire balancing machine. The tire buffing machine includes a drive unit for rotating the tire assembly about its rotational axis, a loading unit for radially loading the tire assembly, a buffing unit for selectively grinding away portions of the tire tread, and a control unit interconnecting the loading unit and the buffing unit to cause the buffing unit to reduce the loaded radial runout of the tire assembly.

Abstract: A tailgate construction for pickup trucks and other vehicles which permits the passage of air therethrough to reduce the drag on the vehicle associated with the tailgate construction when the vehicle is in use and thus increase the gas mileage of the vehicle. Also disclosed is a shutter mechanism for selectively preventing the passage of air through the tailgate construction.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for the continuous removal of particulate matter from a gas stream using a filter medium. In the improved apparatus of this invention particulate laden air passes through a filter medium depositing the particulate on the solid members of the medium. Wash liquid is used to flush the particulate matter off of and/or through the filter for collection. The improved apparatus comprises a cleanable filter medium carried on a previous support, liquid supply means for providing wash liquid to clean the filter medium, motive means to cause relative motion between the support (and filter medium carried thereon) and the liquid supply means such that the wash liquid can impinge on a given portion of the filter medium from different directions over a period of time, and means for collecting and removing medium. Essentially all the particle laden water which is entrained in the gas stream is separated by use of mist eliminators or similar devices.

Abstract: A garbage disposal unit including a frame mounting a drive motor and a garbage disposal. The garbage disposal has a separable housing which mounts a hammer assembly over a perforated screen assembly. The housing has a cylindrical annular side wall closed at opposite ends by removable end plates to define a grinding chamber. The screen assembly slides into the bottom of the grinding chamber between breaker bars carried by the annular side wall and is retained in position by the end walls to separate the grinding chamber inlet from the outlet. The holes through the screen plate of the screen assembly cooperate with the hammers on the hammer assembly to comminute the garbage as the hammers are rotated thereby. The holes are staggered to maximize the comminution cooperation between the hammer assembly and the screen assembly with the hammers being staggered axially and circumferentially so that the hammers rotate in separate cutting planes axially spaced from each other.