Abstract: Hydraulically activated, spaced apart, front end loader support arms extend from a tractor. A loader attachment includes a vertically extending frame pivotally attached to the support arms forwardly of the tractor. This vertical frame includes a main horizontal frame support bar pivotally mounted in outer ends of the support arms, and a pair of open vertical guides which extend downwardly from the frame support bar. A horizontal hook support bar extends through the vertical guides and pivotally supports central portions of the two jaw-forming hooks at each end thereof. Upper ends of each of these hooks are pivotally connected to links which are pivotally connected to the frame support bar. A vertical hook support bar lifting strap extends integrally up from the hook support bar and is in sliding relationship with respect to the frame support bar. To load, means is provided to raise the lifting strap with respect to the main frame, thus to cause the jaws to be opened.

Abstract: A grass seed drill particularly adapted for the planting of native grass type seeds which are characterized by a low density, irregular length and shape, and having a propensity to stick together. The drill has a pair of seed boxes, at least one of which is adapted to handle the aforementioned type of seeds. The seed box has a plurality of bins with downwardly converging side walls terminating at a horizontal bottom wall provided with an elongate seed discharge opening. An agitator in each bin has a plurality of rotatable blades shaped and sized to rotate about a path substantially conforming to the shape of the interior of the bin and agitate the seeds located therein. A picker wheel associated with the discharge opening discharges seeds into a transition or seed funnel located substantially directly above a drill shoe which discharges the seed into the soil. A press wheel follows the shoe to compact the soil around the seed.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower having a housing with a continuous side wall and an open bottom. A motor on the housing drives a rotating cutting blade. The housing has a top with a front portion provided with an arcuate discharge opening. A discharge chute secured to the housing extends upwardly and in a rearward direction over the top of the motor. The discharge chute has a downwardly projected neck having an exit opening for discharging grass clippings and particulate materials into a disposable bag. A holder attaches the upper end of the bag to the neck. The lower end of the bag rests on a platform located between the rear wheels of the mower.

Abstract: A machine for pulling weeds from rows having crops, as sugar beets. The machine has a transverse tool bar carrying a hitch. The hitch connects the tool bar to a tractor. A plurality of weed-pulling units are mounted on the tool bar. Each weed pulling unit has a pair of engaging pneumatic tires that are driven in opposite directions with a hydraulic motor. A pair of gauge and guide wheels connected to the tool bar locate the tool bar and weed pulling wheels above the surface of the ground so that the engaging rotating pneumatic tires will pull weeds from the rows of crops.

Abstract: A Venturi apparatus and method used with a cyclone separator to separate particulates, fumes and waste gases from gas, as air. The apparatus has a housing having a generally rectangular chamber through which the gas and particulates flow. The housing has converging side walls forming an elongated rectangular Venturi throat. Plates movably located in the chamber between the side walls are spaced from each other to control the length of the Venturi throat. Controls connected to the plates are operable to move the plates relative to each other to change the length of the Venturi throat. The width of the Venturi throat is determined by the spacing of the side walls and is not changed by movement of the plates.

Abstract: A valve apparatus for limiting the pressure of gases in an enclosed tank. The valve has a body mounted on the tank wall structure providing a passage into the tank chamber. A breather intake valve surrounds the body and allows air to flow into the tank chamber when sub-atmospheric pressure is present in the tank chamber. A valve assembly located in the passage operates to allow excessive gas pressure to escape from the tank chamber. The valve assembly has a first valve that closes, should the tank partially or totally overturn, to prevent liquid from flowing out of the tank and a second valve that is normally biased closed to prevent the escape of gases and vapor from the tank chamber to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An endless single chain conveyor for moving bulk material to separate selective locations. The conveyor has a dropout section including a sliding door movable to an open position to allow material to drop from the conveyor intermediate the ends of the conveyor. Shaker structure movable to an operable position when the door is in its open position has a roller engageable with the chain of the conveyor so that the chain repetitively moves up and down as it rides over the roller so that the material carried by the conveyor will fall through the discharge opening of the dropout section of the conveyor.

Abstract: A precision grass mower of the triplex reel type operating from a common tractor-type power source, each mower unit having an adjustable ground engaging roller for cutting golf greens at a precisely predetermined height. Each of the reels of the mower is provided with manually actuated, automatically operated shifting means for moving the height adjusting roller to either of two positions for cutting the grass of the green and of the collar surrounding the green at different but precisely determined heights. The shifting means of all of the mower reels are instantly and simultaneously actuated and operated by fluid pressure.

Abstract: A circular watercraft has a buoyant, generally toroidal hull supporting a rigid deck with an outer periphery in substantial conformance with the perimeter of the hull. The deck has an opening located above the central opening of the hull to permit placement of power means to drive and steer the watercraft. The hull can be an inflated structure such as an inner tube. A stabilizer assembly connected to the hull and deck lends horizontal and vertical stability to the craft. Reserve floatation can be provided by an auxiliary torodial pontoon nested within the central opening of the hull but normally located above the water line.

Abstract: A cover assembly for enclosing a utility unit having a housing forming a chamber and having an open bottom. The chamber is of a size to accommodate the utility unit. An articulated connecting structure having two hinges secures the housing to a support, as a base or the ground. The articulated connecting structure permits the housing to be moved from a closed position to an open position to provide access to the utility unit. The housing rests on an annular base supported on the ground. A releasable lock can be provided to hold the housing in a closed position in engagement with the base.

Abstract: An earthworking implement mounted on a three-point hitch of a draft vehicle with a hitch assembly. The hitch assembly has members mounted in clamps secured to a main transverse beam. Two of these members include lower forward projecting portions and a third member therebetween has an upper forward projecting portion. The two lower portions are connected to a transverse bar, which is attached to the draft links of the three-point hitch. The upper portion is connected to the control link of the three-point hitch. These members are individually adjustable, whereby they may be adjusted to fit variations in structure of three-point hitches. A plurality of parallel linkages movably connect a transverse tool bar to the beam. Row guide units having guide and gauge wheels and furrowing tools are mounted with clamps to the tool bar. Earthworking tools, herbicide incorporators and seed planters can be mounted with clamps to the tool bar.

Abstract: A method of production and recovery of protein from food wastes according to which a medium composed of various combined food wastes and containing both a protein source (such as collagen) and a carbohydrate source (such as starch) is modified by the action of selected microbial species (such as Bacillus subtilis). The resulting Bacillus-modified enriched liquid medium permits the growth of more fastidious organisms (such as Lactobacillus acidophilus) that are acceptable as a single cell protein source. As an alternative and prior to the introduction of the Lactobacillus, the modified medium may be fortified by the addition of other food wastes, (such as cheese whey or spent brewer's yeast cells). The final recovery of protein from the fastidious organisms may be accomplished by any one of the established methods of protein or food recovery and/or isolation.

Abstract: A highly efficient solar heat collector characterized by a layer of light transmitting insulating (i.e., convection and infra-red radiation suppressing) material disposed between the outer surface of the collector and the heat absorptive layer thereof. Glass fibers are a particularly effective lightweight insulating material which may be used. Through use of flexible polymeric films, lightweight, low-cost solar heat collectors may be fabricated for conversion of existing structures to partial or complete solar heating. Either gaseous or liquid heat transfer fluids may be used. A novel gas-liquid heat exchange system is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing an adherent thermoplastic or thermo-settable powdered marking material on hot products, such as hot steel during the rolling process for identification purposes. The system includes one or more fixed spray guns disposed adjacent to the product flow path from a previous processing operation, such as a rolling mill, for depositing marking powder from a supply source as the product passes. Manually operated or automatic sensing devices trigger the operation of the marking device. An exhaust system removes excess marking powder from the application area for reclaiming.

Abstract: A stand for support of a structure, as a mobile home, above the ground. The stand includes a generally flat base and a plurality of legs having lower ends pivotally assembled to the base. The legs extend in upwardly converging relationship away from the base and are pivotally connected at the upper ends to a support platform. The lower ends of the legs are movable on the base in such a fashion to raise and lower the support platform. Means are provided to secure the position of the lower ends of the legs to the base whereby the support platform may be positioned in firm, supportive relationship to the structure.

Abstract: A dental treatment environment having dental equipment coordinated relative to a reclining patient chair in a manner to provide minimum doctor time and motion and maximum efficiency. The chair has a patient headrest located adjacent a cabinet. An articulated first arm adjustable vertically and horizontally is movably mounted on the cabinet. The arm carries a tray useable for dental hand instruments and slow speed hand piece. An extendible and contractible second arm which moves up, down, side to side is attached to an upright support and has connected at its outer end a holder for dental high speed air turbines and air-water syringe. Both the tray and holder are movable to locations relative to the headrest whereby the transfer zone between tray and holder and patient is of minimum area. An operating light unit and its holding members are mounted on top of the support. A doctor's sink cabinet is located adjacent the doctor's side of the chair.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for vaporizing and subsequently aerosolizing combustible fuel for use in a heating burner. Vaporized fuel is dispensed into a condensation area to form an aerosol fuel mixed with air. The aerosol fuel has relatively even sized particles which are generally less than 1 micron in diameter. The aerosol fuel is further mixed with air to provide a desired air-to-fuel ratio for use in the combustion area of a heating burner.

Abstract: An intake air system for an internal combustion engine having an upright stack mounted on vehicle structure, as a hood, with a stack connecting assembly mount structure having a first plate secured to the stack and a second plate accommodates nut and bolt assemblies to secure the stack to the vehicle hood. An air precleaner is mounted on the upper end of the stack. The lower end of the stack is connected to tubular members which leads to the air cleaner of the engine. The precleaner has a cylindrical house surrounding a separation chamber. A vane assembly has a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes providing an inlet passage open to the chamber for directing the air and particles into the chamber in a circular motion. A sleeve is centrally attached to the vane assembly and has a central outlet passage for carrying cleaned air from the chamber.

Abstract: A liquid manure spreader having a tank for carrying liquid manure. An auger assembly driven by a power takeoff from a tractor delivers the manure to a pump mounted on the back of the tank. The pump discharges the material through a spreading structure. A valve operated by a hydraulic cylinder controls the flow of manure from the pump to the spreading structure. The spreading structure has a horizontal plate that directs the material in a wide, relatively low spread pattern onto the ground. The tank has a fill hole equipped with a safety grid assembly.

Abstract: A device for sealing detachable components, such as gloves, windows or closure plugs, in the ports of rigid walled chambers, such as glove boxes. The sealing device permits displacement and replacement of a detachable component in place in such a port without breaking the seal to expose the interior of the chamber to the outside atmosphere, or vice versa. The sealing device is characterized by a hand hole bushing disposed in the port and secured to the chamber wall to define a passageway having a continuous sealing surface and a continuous adjacent groove for retaining a detachable component within the bushing. The detachable component is characterized by a deformable semi-rigid bead adapted to be snapped into the continuous groove of the bushing and a continuous channel holding an O-ring sealing element which engages the sealing surface of the bushing.