Abstract: The present invention is a hand truck for lifting and transporting one or more spools of electrical wire or the like, and for supporting the spools for unreeling. The truck includes a frame with a main spool support mounted thereon. The main spool support includes a pair of standards mounted on the support members and constructed to support a shaft therebetween upon which a main spool can be mounted. Webs with apertures for holding auxiliary spool support shafts are mounted along the support members.

Abstract: A domed game enclosure is provided for playing of an electronic game. A plurality of lights are mounted to the wall of the enclosure and arranged in a matrix. These lights are selectively lighted by a microcomputer. A sensor gun connected to the microcomputer is used by a player to detect light emitted by the lights. Acoustic signals are provided to the player to forewarn him of the approximate position of a light which is about to be lighted.

Abstract: A concrete skirting system for a prefabricated structure, such as a modular prefabricated home, comprises a plurality of rectangular precast concrete skirt modules. Each module consists of a rectangular panel extended upward from an integral footing. The panel is of thin, reinforced concrete construction with integral ribs on the inner panel surface which faces into the crawl space beneath the structure. The modules are provided with rabbeted side edges which form a rabbet joint when adjacent modules are installed beneath the lower peripheral edge of the structure. A concrete mold is provided to produce the precast modules.

Abstract: A rotary broom attachment for a motor grader, which has a mold board and structure to adjust the mold board for vertical elevation, side shift and rotary position about vertical and horizontal axes, is mounted behind and parallel to the mold board and has independent adjustment and control structure for positioning, and side shifting, if desired, of the broom relative to the mold board. Sensors are used to signal automatic shifting of the broom vertically or in side shift to avoid interference with the motor grader structure as well as obstacles in the path of the broom. The downward pressure of the broom is controlled by the proportional lift applied thereto by a hydraulic lift mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting debris from the flange area of a can includes directing a pressurized jet onto the flange area while rotating the can about its longitudinal axis. A plunger carries an anvil which is inserted into the can and shields its contents from the spray of the water jet while providing a back up for the cutting action.

Abstract: A modular railway crossing structure supports a pair of rails. The modular railway crossing includes multiple base members, which are aligned axially along the length of the rails. The rails are encased by rubber boot elements. Each base member has a central recess formed in the upper surface. A pair of planar central rail locking members fit in the recess. The base members and the central rail locking members interrelate to support the rails.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the flow of particulate material so disclosed which includes a paddle wheel and a sensor for detecting the relation thereof. A mounting block supports the sensor and paddle wheel and is adapted for use with a plurality of different sizes of conduit. Control electronics are connected to the sensor to produce signals representative of rotation of the paddle wheel and of the rotation rate. The paddle wheel may be formed from a single flat sheet of material.

Abstract: An energy efficient dryer for solid foods with moist interiors uses both thermal convective and microwave drying processes. The dryer will run on a fuel such as natural gas alone, and requires no input of electricity because it utilizes a single prime mover to produce both thermal energy and electrical energy, such as an internal combustion engine, which both provides heat for convective drying, and drives a generator which produces electricity for conversion to microwave power. Moist food is fed by an air pervious belt or other means through a first zone in which it is dried by thermal convection, and then through a second zone in which it is dried by microwave radiation.

Abstract: The invention is a trailer suitable for hauling fruit bins or the like, pivotally connected to a hitch and supported by an axle assembly which includes an offset cross shaft. An hydraulically actuated cam assembly rotates the cross shaft so that the rear end of the trailer can be lowered to the ground for easy loading and unloading without raising the forward end. The trailer also has a stop mechanism on its rear end which is actuated by the same cam assembly which rotates the axle, so as to automatically place it in operative position when the trailer is raised.

Abstract: A roofing adhesive particularly suited for use in connection with membrane roofing materials such as EPDM or neoprene is preferably compounded from butyl rubber, a cross-linking system for the butyl rubber and a tackifier. The tensile strength, elongation, modulus at 300% elongation and modulus at failure of the composition are adjusted within range by choice of components and concentration. The adhesive composition may preferably be formed into a tape for joining sheets of the membrane roofing material.

Abstract: An anti-kickback saw chain having a drop-away articulated depth gauge link preceeding each cutting or fibre removing link in a link sequence utilizing V-shaped cutter tooth links, each followed by a generally L-shaped raker tooth link. The depth gauge surface of the depth gauge link is spaced forwardly of the cutting tooth and the trailing edge thereof is located aft of the pivotal connection with the cutting tooth link when the pivot points of the links are aligned. The depth gauge link is designed to maintain cutting efficiency on the bar nose and to "drop away" from the kerf when an obstruction is encountered and to initiate a depth gauge restoring action with the associated cutting tooth so as to avoid jamming or locking of the chain and attendant kickback.

Abstract: A face panel system for forming an exposed face on a fill structure employs a succession of precast reinforced concrete panels which act first as a restraining form and then as a permanent exposed face for the structure. In one embodiment, successively higher rows of panels are supported by strongbacks mounted to a lower row of panels and extending upward therefrom to act as temporary cantilevered supports for the next higher row. In this manner, horizontal forces exerted by the fill mass are transferred back to the mass. Another embodiment features an internal cantilever support structure embedded in the panels, which are coupled together with brackets extending therefrom.

Abstract: Horizontal conjointly moving endless belts have adjacent stretches disposed in parallel vertical planes to transport a beheaded fish clamped between them successively past a rotating circular belly slitter disc, an eviscerating gutter, a rotating kidney-slitting blooder disc, spray nozzles for scouring the eviscerated fish cavity, a rotating slimer brush which removes the kidney and a fish cavity washing assembly. A slitter guard protrudes into the fish cavity ahead of the slitter disc for holding the skin on the underside of the fish in the path of the slitter disc. Such slitter guard is rounded so that the tail end of the belly cavity rides up on the guard to prevent the slitter disc from cutting the bottom portion of the fish beyond its vent. The gutter engages the beheaded fish between its backbone and the majority of the viscera to scoop the viscera out of the cavity as the fish is moved over the gutter by the belts.

Abstract: A blending bin for particulate having a plurality of vertically extending passageways is provided. Each passageway includes multiple vertically spaced ports. Blending vanes are provided within each passageway to control the proportion of material withdrawn from the bin through the ports. The streams of material are in turn proportionally combined into a single outlet stream. The ports are spaced such that lots of material loaded into the bin will be blended together in the outlet stream and such that thin layers of off-grade or non-uniform material will not reach disproportionate levels in the outlet stream.

Abstract: Solid particulate material is moved through a hopper bottom bin in mass flow inducted by a conical surface positioned within the hopper to compensate for the shallowness thereof. Laminar mass flow movement will occur in the uppermost region of the material within the vertical bin walls. The hopper cross-section is separated into segregated flow channels by the conical surface, and by webs extending therefrom. The conical surface and webs have overall dimensions small enough for insertion through a bolt ring on the bottom of the hopper. The proportion of the material flowing through each channel is chosen to achieve a desired discharge flow pattern by varying the relative cross-sectional areas of either the inlets or the outlets of the channels. This results in changes in the velocity profile of the downwardly flowing material in a zone above and adjacent to the separate flow channels.

Abstract: A sealant composition particularly suitable for vehicle tires comprising a cured butyl rubber present only in the form of a copolymer having a molecular weight in excess of 100,000 and one or more tackifiers, the tensile strength, elongation and cross-link density of the composition being adjusted to produce the necessary properties for tire sealants.

Abstract: A heat exchange system operates on solar energy, supplemented by nonsolar manufactured fuels such as electricity, natural gas, propane and the like. The system includes a solar heat collector and a heat exchanger for delivering the collected solar heat to a water heater and furnace. Supplemental heating means utilizing a nonsolar fuel will heat the collector if an insufficient amount of solar heat is available. The system can also include an air conditioning system.

Abstract: A pelletized propellant particularly suitable for crash restraint device inflation apparatus comprising an alkali metal azide, an oxidizing agent, and a metal oxide formed by dehydrating a hydrated oxide formed in situ, the burn time and sensitivity of the composition being adjusted to produce the necessary properties for crash restraint device inflators.