Abstract: A water absorbent composition and method of preparing the same having improved wicking characteristics and comprising a combination of hydrolyzed starch polyacrylonitrile graft copolymer and a source of formaldehyde.

Abstract: A steering assist device for a vehicle of the type having a pair of drive wheels in which steering is accomplished by applying differential hydraulic flow to the drive wheels and a non-driven castor wheel. The steering assist device includes a power cylinder for rotating the non-driven castor wheel about a vertical axis, a device for sensing or providing access to the hydraulic pressure driving the drive wheels and a control device for controlling the actuation of the power cylinder in response to the hydraulic pressure driving the drive wheels in such a way that the non-driven castor wheel is rotated to assist the drive wheel being driven by the greater hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A new, revolutionary approach to image processing is disclosed. Using simple logic circuit elements a real time same scan video marking circuit is disclosed which is adaptable to a variety of purposes. The invention can be advantageously used as part of an integrated photogrammetric video measurement system. Using such a system, areas or distances or other graphically detectable characteristics can be displayed on a color television set for purposes of analysis and measurement. Moving pictures, made at ground locations or from an aircraft and collected in television form on a video cassette recorder, can be displayed on the television monitor and measurements of area or of distance made electronically. For the study and analysis of hard copy images, i.e. still photographs, aerial maps, x-rays and the like, an auxiliary system camera can be used which projects the picture onto the television monitor.

Abstract: An improved grain drying and storage bin of the type having side walls and a perforated floor defining a plenum chamber and a grain drying and storage chamber and an improved fan mounting therefor. The fan mounting arrangement includes an opening in the sidewall, a fan mounted with a portion above the level of the perforated floor, an angled housing extending from the top of the opening to the perforated floor and a plurality of vanes disposed on the interior surface of the housing to direct the air upwardly and outwardly into the grain drying and storage chamber.

Abstract: A chair specifically engineered for performing musicians is disclosed. Extensive research and design has produced a vocal or instrumental musician's chair which permits proper diaphragmatic breathing and on which a musician can sit comfortably for long periods of practice or performance. This result is achieved by contouring the seat both for correct performing posture and for comfort. The orientation of the back-rest of the chair to the seat also enhances the posture of the performer and this, in conjunction with the positioning of the body relative to the floor, contributes to the ability of the performer to breathe properly while seated comfortably, thus reducing fatigue and greatly enhancing the tonal quality of the performance.

Abstract: A stepping device supported on two legs capable of walking or stepping up and down steps. The device has a pair of legs rotatably mounted to and suspended vertically from spaced points on a link. A pendulum is rotatably mounted to the link and suspended vertically from a central axis on the link between the leg mounting points. Means is provided for swinging the pendulum from the vertical thereby increasing the lever arm from the center of gravity of the pendulum to the mounting point of the leg closest to the pendulum. As the pendulum approaches the horizontal, the moment about the mounting point in a direction opposite the direction of pendulum movement exceeds the counter moment about the mounting point. This causes the link to lift the trailing leg up and over the leading leg, thereby maintaining the balance of the device on the supporting leg and causing a stepping movement.

Abstract: A tow truck of the type having wheels supporting it for movement along a path defined by a subfloor conveyor. There is a vertically movable tow pin at the front of the truck for vertical movement in and out of driving engagement with the conveyor. An accumulation bumper at the front of the truck is movable between a forward normal running position and a rearwardly retracted accumulating position when the bumper engages an object ahead of the truck. A connecting mechanism between the bumper and tow pin includes at least one bell crank member pivoted for rotation on a transverse axis behind the tow pin with a first lever arm projecting upwardly and connected by a link to the bumper, together with a second lever arm projecting forwardly and connected to a vertical lift rod, the upper end of which is operatively connected to the upper portion of the tow pin.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing deposited matter, such as silicon and contaminants, from the interior of quartz diffusion tubes including an acid holding tank; a quartz-tube support for vertically holding the tube, neck down; a flexible seal for connecting the neck of the tube to the holding tank; an immersion pump and associated tubing for circulating the acid; and a spray head, connected with the pump and tubing, to spray the acid against the inside surface of the quartz tube to clean off the deposited matter. In order to prevent the acid sprayed on the inside surface from forming channels in the silicon or other deposited matter, two groups of nozzles are provided in the spray head--one group with its nozzles arranged at about 30.degree. from vertical, the other group with its nozzles arranged at about 60.degree. from vertical--so that the jets sprayed from each of the two groups are directed 90.degree.

Abstract: An incubator particularly useful for calves and the like comprising a wheel supported generally box-like structure with a door to permit placement of the calf into, and removal of the calf from, the incubator, a heat source in the top wall, an opening in the front wall for feeding and a pail support assembly proximate the opening.

Abstract: An improved door latch assembly having a striker plate with an adjustable locking notch. The adjustable locking notch is provided by an adjustable slide member mounted in sliding relationship to the striker plate and having threaded adjustment means.

Abstract: A floor support for supporting a perforated floor in a grain drying and storage bin of the type having a plenum chamber and a grain drying and storage chamber. The floor support includes a plurality of floor support members each comprising at least three vertically disposed tubular members joined together near their tops and bottoms by a pair of horizontally disposed brace members.

Abstract: An apparatus provides synchronization for page replacement control in a paged, virtual memory environment in which either the CPU or the I/O devices may pin and unpin pages to control their replacement by the paging supervisor. Pinning and unpinning of pages by the I/O devices occurs independently of pinning and unpinning performed by the CPU. Synchronization is achieved by means of a virtual address translation mechanism which is common to the CPU and the I/O devices. The virtual address translation mechanism includes a primary directory having entries for each page in main storage, with each entry containing a field in which the pinning and unpinning operations by the CPU and the I/O devices are registered. In particular, this field is a counter which is incremented when a page is pinned by either the CPU or an I/O device and decremented when a page is unpinned.

Abstract: A process for preparing a frozen hash brown potato product including cooking raw potato slabs, cooling cooked potato slabs, cooling the cooked potato slabs to a temperature of approximately 40.degree. to 45.degree. F. and then immediately shredding the cooled potato slabs and forming the shredded material into cakes of a desired shape and size. With this method, the formed potato cakes are held together by the natural binding material of the potato, without the addition of other binding agents.

Abstract: A parking stand for supporting an implement such as a front end loader when the implement is not in use including an extendable, elongated support leg pivotally secured near its upper end to a portion of the implement, a pin assembly for fixing the support leg in a plurality of extended positions, interlocking connection apparatus for retaining the support leg in its non-operative position and apparatus for limiting the pivotal movement of the elongated support leg.

Abstract: A vent and baffle used to provide an air passage between the soffit and the attic of a house to insure the flow of air through the attic. The vent is an elongated arcuate member having outwardly directed flanges adapted to be secured to the roof boards of a structure with suitable fasteners. A first baffle is a block having a semi-circular recess to accommodate and support the one end of the vent againt the roof boards. The baffle is located in a tight fit or wedged relationship with the roof boards, adjacent roof rafters, and top plate of the structure to block the passage below the vent between the attic and the soffit and insulate the area above the top plate of the side wall of the structure. A second baffle is used without the vent to block the entire space above the top plate between adjacent roof rafters. The vent and baffles are made from a foamed plastic having flame resistant additives.

Abstract: A multi-purpose tent for mounting to a conventional pick-up truck or staking to the ground having a plurality of tent frame members with a lower support end adapted for insertion into the stake well of a pick-up truck. The portion adapted for insertion into such stake well includes an opening extending therethrough for receiving a tent stake when the same is desired to be staked to the ground.

Abstract: A generator adaptor has a body portion with one or more sets of stab terminals for insertion in the socket terminals of a standard electric meter receptacle to connect the adaptor in place of a regular meter unit during a power failure in a primary electric supply line. The adaptor has one set of such stab terminals positioned for insertion in a corresponding set of socket terminals in the meter receptacle which are connected to the normal outgoing load lines from the meter receptacle. The adaptor has an auxiliary electric supply line with wires which are connected at one end to this one set of stab terminals and which have connecting terminal portions at their other ends for connection to an auxiliary power source such as a stand-by generator. The adaptor construction prevents any current-transmitting connection from the incoming primary supply lines to the socket terminals connected to the outgoing load lines.

Abstract: A scraper blade supporting and positioning assembly is used for mounting a scraper blade on a vehicle having an undercarriage frame and a longitudinal axis corresponding to its direction of travel. The assembly comprises a scraper blade and first and second mounting subassemblies. The first mounting subassembly is pivotally connected to the undercarriage frame and includes a hydraulic cylinder for moving and positioning itself about a first pivot axis defined by the pivotal connection to the undercarriage frame. The first pivot axis is oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the undercarriage frame and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The second mounting subassembly is rigidly connected to the first mounting subassembly and pivotally connected to the scraper blade.

Abstract: A liquid cooling system for a snowmobile or other relatively small vehicle having a heat exchange element with front and rear surfaces and air passages extending therebetween, a plurality of air guides for providing a flow of air to the front surface of the heat exchanger and a duct for directing air flow from the rear surface of the heat exchanger upwardly through a portion of the vehicle hood. Preferably the heat exchange element is tipped to increase the flow of air therethrough during idling and at slow speeds.

Abstract: A quick connect and disconnect device for releasably attaching an implement such as a front end loader to a tractor in which the implement includes side frame members adapted for positioning on opposite sides of the tractor. The device includes a side support bracket on each side of the tractor, a connection means having an opening and means for securing and releasing the same relative to the side support bracket, a foot portion connected with the side frame members with a second opening for alignment with the first opening of the connection member, and a pin member for extension through the aligned first and second openings.