Abstract: A rack for holding dental impression trays includes a rectangular block having apertures therein to receive the handles or tubes extending from the trays and to cantilever the trays from the rack. A paired arrangement of apertures can accommodate a tray having both a handle and tubes. A base supporting the rack upright has wells therein for holding water which, together with a dome enclosing the rack, provide a moist atmosphere for the impression material, where needed. The rack can be free-standing or wall-mounted. One embodiment of the rack adapted for wall-mounting can be inexpensively manufactured of plastic by extrusion.

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: 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 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: 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.

Abstract: A cushioning pad which may advantageously be used in connection with the packaging and storage of fruits is described. Such pad contains a chemical composition for interacting with the atmosphere. The chemical composition may include chemicals such as calcium hydroxide for removing carbon dioxide and/or ethylene from the atmosphere to retard ripening and prevent damage to the fruit. The pad may also contain a hygroscopic chemical such as calcium chloride which causes certain kinds of cushioning materials to expand to better immobilize the fruit or other articles.

Abstract: A device for indicating a pressure drop or low pressure condition in a tire detects a pressure drop and makes an acoustic signal in response to the detection of the pressure drop. The device can include a strut for intermittently contacting a wall of a tire, a striker attached to the strut for striking the wheel rim, and a pressure-activated latch for preventing the strut from contacting the wall or the tire when the pressure in the tire is above a predetermined value by holding the strut tangent to the wheel rim.

Abstract: A device for heating fluid with the exhaust gases from a furnace or stove includes a coiled fluid conduit mounted within the exhaust conduit and means such as baffles for directing the exhaust gases through and around the coiled fluid conduit. In one embodiment, the fluid in the coiled conduit is water from a cold water source which, after passing through the coil and being heated by the exhaust gases, flows to a water heating tank in a pre-heated condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the capacity of paddle screw mixer conveyors based on creating a dam of mixed particulate material and another substance at the outlet end of the mixer. A second embodiment uses two counter rotating shafts of paddles to increase mixing efficiency. Methods of grain treatment utilizing the mixer are illustrated.

Abstract: A tracking nozzle is provided for applying a viscuous tire sealant to the interior of the tire. The tracking nozzle may be adjusted to move across the interior surface of the tire in a presettable number of steps, each step being of a preselected width. The amount of sealant applied in each of these discrete sealant application locations may be varied in order to produce a sealant layer of any desired thickness and contour.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining the center axis of the largest solid of rotation obtainable from an irregular, elongated object such as a log or veneer block. The object is rotatably supported by two pairs of opposed wheeled supports positioned inward of the ends of the object. A motor-driven press roller maintains the object in contact with the wheeled supports and causes it to rotate thereon. The motion of the ends of the object as it rotates is used to define a locus of points at each end of the log. The centers of the largest circles which fit within these loci define the desired center axis.

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.