Abstract: A torque bar suspension scale having a platform for supporting objects to be weighed and a pair of torque bars with each torque bar being disposed at an opposite end of the platform. Strap assemblies are connected to the platform, the torque bars and a frame whereby the torque bars are rotated in response to a weight being disposed on the platform. Each strap assembly comprises a strap having a rectangularly shaped cross section.

Abstract: A vehicle with a drive train having two shock-absorbing couplings. The drive train includes an engine, a transmission, the two shock-absorbing couplings connected together, a differential, a drive assembly and a rotatable assembly, such as a cutter drum. The transmission has a transmission output shaft which is connected by a universal joint to the first shock-absorbing coupling. Similarly, the differential has a differential input shaft which is connected by another universal joint to the second shock-absorbing coupling. The increased shock-absorbing capacity provided by two couplings reduces the failure rate of the drive train. To protect the drive train, a pair of shear members joined by shear bolts are used to connect the shock-absorbing couplings together.

Abstract: A treatment control system using a fluid using system wherein fluid is passed from the fluid using system during dump cycles occurring at periodic time intervals over a total dumping cycle. The fluid passed from the fluid using system during each dumping cycle is sampled and designated as a fluid dumping sample with each fluid dumping sample corresponding to the fluid passed from the fluid using system during one of the dump cycles. The total dissolved solids level in each of the fluid dumping samples is determined. Some of the dump cycles are designated as discharge cycles or treatment discharge cycles where the total dissolved solids level is above a predetermined high total dissolved solids level. Some of the dump cycles are designated as reuse cycles or treatment reuse cycles where the contaminant total dissolved solids level of the fluid dumping samples were determined to be below the predetermined high total dissolved solids level.

Abstract: A torque bar suspension scale having a platform for supporting objects to be weighed and a pair of torque bars with each torque bar being disposed at an opposite end of the platform. Strap assemblies are connected to the platform, the torque bars and a frame whereby the torque bars are rotated in response to a weight being disposed on the platform. Each strap assembly comprises a strap having a rectangularly shaped cross section.

Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping a floral arrangement, comprising a sheet of material having an angle cut, the sheet of material having tick marks to indicate where to dispose a floral arrangement thereupon. The sheet of material has a bonding material disposed thereupon. A floral arrangement is utilized, the floral arrangement being disposed on the sheet of material generally in the area designated by the tick mark, the floral arrangement being wrapped in the sheet of material and being substantially surrounded and encompassed therein. Methods of using the wrapping material to wrap a floral arrangement.

Abstract: A fluid collection device having a primary container and a secondary container and a two stage fixation system for facilitating and controlling the fixation of cells in a sample of a biological fluid such as urine. The primary container generally comprises a plastic cup having a filtering apparatus disposed within it for filtering cells from the fluid. The primary container may contain a first stage fixative. The device further comprises a cover comprising a pressurizing chamber for forcing fluid through the filter and fixative delivery chamber for dispensing a fixative into the primary container. The filtered fluid may be reserved within a secondary container attached to the primary container. The filter having the cells retained on its surface is removable from the primary container for the purpose of laboratory analyses of the cells.

Abstract: A gate valve comprising a valve body, a gate, a bonnet assembly and an actuator assembly. The gate having a closure area, a flow opening extending through the gate, and a recess circumscribing the flow opening and the closure area having a material disposed therein and case hardened to form a wear resistant sealing surface about the flow opening and the closure area having a hardness greater than about 50 Rockwell. The gate being press fitted between a pair of seat rings such that the sealing surface remains in sealing engagement against the seat rings to provide a substantially fluid tight seal when the gate is in an open and closed position. The actuating assembly is connected to the gate for reciprocally moving the gate across the flow bore between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A milling machine having a rotary cutter drum which is movable both horizontally and vertically into operating position. The milling machine includes a mobile frame, a cutter rack, a cutter housing, a cutter drum and a pair of cutter skids. The cutter rack is mounted for vertical sliding movement to the front end of the frame. A pair of hydraulic cylinders are provided between the frame and the cutter rack to move the cutter rack to an operating elevation. In turn, the cutter housing is mounted for horizontal sliding movement to the cutter rack. A hydraulic cylinder is provided to move the cutter housing horizontally to a milling position. The cutter skids are positioned on opposite sides of the cutter housing to bear on a surface being milled and to support the cutter housing and cutter during the milling operation. Two hydraulic cylinders are provided on each side of the cutter housing to move the cutter housing vertically to set the cutter drum to a cutting depth.

Abstract: An animal head gate having a base with a first and a second rod pivotally supported on the base. First and second gates are connected to the respective first and second rods. The first and the second gates each have an open position and a closed position. In the closed position of the first and the second gates, portions of the first and the second gates extend about a portion of the animal for restraining movement of the animal. An actuator assembly is connected to the first and the second rods for causing the second rod to rotate in a closing direction and in an opening direction in response to the first rod being moved in the closing direction and in the opening direction. The actuator assembly comprises a strap having a square or rectangularly shaped cross section with a substantially flat upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface, the strap comprising a plurality of individual strands woven and interconnected to form the strap.

Abstract: A wrap having a wrap opening formed through a portion thereof for wrapping a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end. The stem end of the floral grouping is inserted through the wrap opening in the wrap and the wrap is formed about the floral grouping and encompasses a substantial portion of the floral grouping while a portion of the stem end of the floral grouping remains extended through the wrap opening in the wrap. In one embodiment, the wrap includes an adhesive or cohesive or drawstring or the like for cooperating to secure the wrap tightly wrapped about the stem end of the floral grouping and for cooperating to secure the wrap wrapped about the floral grouping.

Abstract: A wrapping having a sheet of material and an elongated spring strip. The spring strip has an internal bias for maintaining an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the spring strip is straight from one end to the other end and has an arch from side edge to side edge. In the closed position, the spring strip is circular with one end overlapping the other end and has no arch from side edge to side edge. To wrap an item, such as a floral grouping, the item is placed against the sheet of material with the spring strip in the open, straight position. A portion of the arch of the spring strip is then flattened and the spring strip snaps from the open position into the closed position. In moving into the closed, circular position, the spring strip forms the sheet of material around the floral grouping.

Abstract: An improved ground source heat pump system wherein the subterranean piping installation comprises modular heat exchange units. Each modular heat exchange unit comprises a plurality of parallel secondary or branch conduits. The use of multiple parallel secondary conduits significantly increases the heat exchange capacity of the system. Because of the increased efficiency of such a system, less piping is required, which in turn reduces the cost of labor and materials to install such a system and the area of land mass required to contain it. Moreover, because the heat exchange units are modular, they can be prefabricated at a remote site and then conveniently transported to construction site and installed much more quickly than the extended lengths of conventional piping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for covering portions of an object having an outer peripheral surface with a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of the lower surface by wrapping the sheet of material about portions of the outer peripheral surface and positioning the sheet of material so that the pressure sensitive coating either contacts portions of the outer peripheral surface of the object and is bonded thereto or contacts overlapping portions of the sheet of material and is bonded to other adjacent portions of the sheet of material having the pressure sensitive coating thereon or overlapping portions of the sheet of material are bonded by the pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: A container and method for storing children's clothes. The method including the step of providing at least five (5) children's storage containers with each storage container being adapted to hold children's clothing items and being removably hangable on a bar such as a rod in a closet. Each storage container comprises a wall assembly which at least partially encloses a clothing retaining space with a portion of the wall assembly defining an upper end opening providing access to the clothing retaining space. The clothing retaining space in each of the storage containers is sized and adapted for removably holding one outfit comprising children's clothing items. At least a portion of the wall assembly is transparent so that the clothing items in the clothing retaining space of each storage container are visible through the transparent portion of the wall assembly.

Abstract: A locking structure for a valve of the type where the valve member is turned less than 360 degrees between fully open and fully closed positions as, for example, a ball valve. This structure employs a stop pin on the valve body positioned to be engaged by the handle of the valve in the fully open and closed positions of the valve. A lock plate structure is journaled on the valve stem and is arranged to engage the opposite side of the stop pin from the handle in the fully open and fully closed positions of the valve, such that when a lock is secured in mating apertures in the lock plate and the handle, the valve will be securely locked in either a fully open or fully closed position.

Abstract: A top entry flow control valve having a body with an inlet port, an outlet port and an access opening. The body has a cavity connected with the access opening and communicating with the inlet port and outlet port to allow fluid flow through the valve body. A pair of discs with orifices are positioned within the cavity to control flow into the outlet port by rotating one of the discs to change the degree of alignment between the disc orifices. A sleeve, a wear sleeve and a rotatable cylinder are located within the cavity to control flow from the inlet port. The sleeve and the cylinder both have side walls with a set orifices. One disc is secured within the open end of the rotatable cylinder and the other disc is secured to the wear sleeve. By rotating the cylinder, the alignments of the sleeve orifices with the cylinder orifices and of the orifices of the two discs are changed to control flow through the valve.

Abstract: A math game having a game board with a plurality of defined spaces comprising goals. Some of the goals have goal playing math indicia associated with such goals. The math game includes playing pieces and each playing piece has a playing math indicia associated therewith. The players move the playing pieces to define goals and a score is determined by combining the goal playing math indicia on the game board with the playing math indicia on the playing piece.