Abstract: A multi directional actuator capable of moving a shaft in at least two directions independently including one linear and one rotary movement. A base plate is provided to receive a first actuator having a linearly moving shaft which is extended from and retracted into the actuator. A second actuator is connected for movement by the first actuator and where the second actuator operates an output shaft which is selectively rotated through a portion of an arc. A guide arrangement is provided to direct movement of the second actuator by the first actuator and to journal the shaft of the second actuator to prevent orbiting and deflection of the shaft of the second actuator. Limit switches can be provided to indicate end of the stroke of the linear and rotary actuators and the first and second actuators can be separated to allow use of limit stops to limit rotation of the shaft of the second actuator.

Abstract: A hand held granular material spreading device including a housing with holding storage chamber for a flowable dry material where the chamber is located over a horizontally rotating impeller where there is an opening from the chamber to the impeller whereby rotation of the impeller spreads the material over an area forward of the location of the device. A valve member,,is provided in the opening from the storage chamber to the impeller and an opening is defined by the valve member and is determined by a linkage arrangement which is operated by a lever device which is rotated to adjust the position of the valve member in the opening. Stops can be provided for positioning the lever member to allow the retention of the position of the valve member without continuous pressure on the lever member.

Abstract: A figurine and swing combination useful for various purposes where the figurine is adapted to be received on the swing and retained thereon by a fastener which allows defined relative movement between the figurine and the swing. Also cords are attached to the swing adjacent opposite ends thereof. The cords extend upwardly through cooperative apertures in the figurine to further attach the figurine to the swing yet allow relative movement between the swing and the figurine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and process for the treatment of waste water containing chromium compound, for example water from a plating operation which includes significant concentration of a toxic chromium compound such as chromic acid. The chromium bearing solution is mixed with sufficient amount of hydrazine which can include selected minor concentrations of a cobalt salt to react with the chromium compound and render it insoluble. The chromium bearing water is introduced to a vessel which can have a baffle so that water introduced on one side of the baffle flows along a side of, then under the baffle and overflows on the other side. The hydrazine, which can include cobalt salt, is introduced to the incoming water at a rate to control the pH of the effluent from the vessel at a selected value of pH sufficient to remove all chromium from the effluent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and useful arrangement for use in a pivotable chimney dampers of the type including a damper flap to selectively open and close the outlet from the flue of a chimney where the damper flap is pivoted and includes bias means to urge the damper flap to a normally open position with respect to a frame which surrounds the flue when the damper is unrestrained and where a flexible connection is provided to be attached at a first location to the damper flap to pull the damper flap to a closed position against the frame member when the pull means is drawn tight. An expansible spring means can be attached between the damper flap and the pull means to be pulled to extended position when the damper flap is closed.

Abstract: A flow directing device for use with rotary blade mowers where the blade is located for rotation in plane generally parallel to a surface to be cut and where the devices within the scope of the present invention include an air flow direction vane having a base located on the underside of the central portion of the blade with upstanding vanes on the leading side of the blade where each of the vanes is tilted inwardly over the blade and has a tip at the edge which is turned outwardly toward the front edge of the blade.

Abstract: An expandable modular enclosure which allows substantial increase in the available interior size. An expanding floor section is provided within the enclosure assembly and extensible retractable modules are provided to extend laterally outwardly from the enclosure and supported in the extended mode by cantilever support arrangements which are movable on bearing assemblies to allow the extension and retraction of the modular segments.

Abstract: An arrangement to retain jaws of a lathe chuck assembly against movement which includes an annular securing ring having a central opening with a diameter generally equal to the outer diameter of the chuck assembly and where the lathe chuck includes radially removable jaw members and where the securing ring includes feet located to engage the jaw members when then are in position in the lathe chuck housing to prevent outward movement thereof where the lathe jaw chuck members have cooperative fastening means to hold soft jaw members thereto.

Abstract: A protection system to prevent or minimize likelihood of injury to a rider at a racetrack if the jockey is thrown over the rail which surrounds the track. Usually the rail is supported by a curved post which extends upwardly from the ground and inwardly toward the track. A series of deflector panels are provided along the rail and are biased to generally horizontal position adjacent the rail by a coil spring device so that when a rider is thrown over the rail and contacts the deflector device the deflector then moves downwardly in response to the impact of the rider. The deflector then return to a generally horizontal position by the bias device after the rider has rolled off of the deflector.

Abstract: The present invention provides housing member for a rotary fluid powered actuator including a cylindrical housing member having an opening in at least one end, a head member received on each open end of the housing where each head has a central aperture in generally aligned relation with the longitudinal axis of the housing, a shaft member to extend through the central aperture for rotation therein and journal means to journal the shaft in the housing adjacent each end thereof and a vane member to extend outwardly from the shaft member for rotation therewith in response to fluid pressure in the housing where the housing member includes at least one stator member, integral therewith extending radially inwardly from the sidewall of the housing and adapted to receive a seal member to provide a seal between the termination of the stator and the shaft and members extending along a portion of the length of the housing to define bolt passages, and bolt members to be received in the bolt passage where the bolt member

Abstract: Birdfeeder arrangements for feeding birds or other animals which include an enclosure of selected configuration defining a generally vertical hopper, a cover for the hopper, and at least one opening located below the top of the hopper so that granular material placed in the hopper flows by gravity through the opening, and so material which flows out of the opening, and where a generally horizonal surface is provided immediately adjacent the outlet to receive the granular material and support the material which has flowed out of the hopper at the angle of repose of the material.

Abstract: A utility storage box particularly useful for storage items such as drawing instruments and school supplies including a base enclosure having a generally planar bottom with laterally upstanding side walls, a lid member hinged along one wall with an upstanding wall located within the base defining a compartment therein. The lid has a recessed segment with a peripheral configuration generally approximating the peripheral configuration of the compartment defined within the base. A raised section can be provided in the lid to overlie a section of the base outside the compartment so that utensils of differing mean diameter can be located in the base to be contacted by the raised/lowered segments to hold the utensils in position. Guide strips can be provided within the compartment to orient drawing or other utensils within the compartment. Latches can be provided on the lid along a side other than the hinged side to retain the lid in closed position, and a lock hasp can be provided to allow the unit to be locked.

Abstract: Switch device including an enclosure having a pivot or shaft arm extending across the enclosure with a distal arm attached thereto for selective contact to move the shaft to indicate the presence of an object. The pivotal shaft carries a actuator device for rotational movement with movement of the distal arm, a stop device connected from the inside surface of the enclosure extending toward the actuator device to engage the actuator device and limit the movement of the actuator device in a first direction, a sensor device normally located in proximity to the actuator device when the actuator device engages the stop device, a generally oval elastomeric spring device attached to the inner surface of the enclosure and adapted to normally to engage the side of the actuator device opposite the sensor device to bias the actuator device to engagement with the stop device and to allow the movement of the actuator device away from the stop device and the sensor device upon engagement of an object with the distal arm.

Abstract: Templates for use in the laying out selected features of basketball court with relation to the location of the backboard including a flexible planar elongate sheet of material having a index to locate the backboard in relation to the template with slits provided within the template to outline aspects of a basketball court with relation to the index provided by the backboard and including the freethrow lane, freethrow circle freethrow line as well as other features of a basketball court such as the three point line, baseline, and out of bounds.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating immiscible liquids such as water from oil such as lubricating oil or diesel and fuel oil contained in a reservoir, including an outlet adjacent the lowest part of the reservoir, a first conduit having an inlet connected to the outlet of the reservoir, and a first conduit outlet where a selected segment of the conduit between the conduit inlet and outlet is of reduced diameter, and where a segment of the conduit intermediate the inlet and outlet is offset downwardly, a vertically disposed elongate separator having a midsection of selected diameter with an inlet connected to the outlet of the first conduit, a first receiver having a diameter greater than the diameter of the midsection and having an inlet communicating with the midsection where the first receiver is located above the midsection and a second receiver located beneath the receiver having a diameter greater than the midsection, with an inlet communicating with the midsection where the first receiver includes an en

Abstract: Method and apparatus to fabricate a unique fitted bedding covers from a generally rectangular blank of textile material of selected dimension which can permit automated operation to provide bedding covers which accommodate mattress corners and allows application of elastic to select portions of the sides of the blank in stretched condition to prevent movement of the cover when it is placed over a mattress. Bedding covers, methods and apparatus within the scope of the present invention also can be fabricated without cutting the rectangular blank or with cutting of the blank either prior to or after application of the stretched elastic material.

Abstract: A socket and socket retaining device for use with a drive shaft to releasably secure the socket to the drive shaft including a socket member having a radially drilled aperture therein extending from the outer periphery of the socket to a longitudinally extending central aperture adapted to receive the drive shaft where the drive shaft likewise includes a co-operative radially extending aperture, detent means adapted to be received within the radially extending socket member aperture and biased outwardly toward the outer periphery of the socket member where an elastomeric band is provided to contact the outer end of the detent and urge the detent into the aperture of the shaft when the shaft is inserted in the central aperture of the socket member.

Abstract: Control and positioning devices wherein a digital position signal is generated indicative of the position of a moveable element between limits and is supplied to a comparator device and where a digital signal is also provided to the comparator device indicative of a selected position of the element where the comparator device compares the two digital signals and operates actuator device to move the element in a corrective direction toward the selected position where movement terminates upon arrival of the element at the selected position.

Abstract: A random determination device includes a generally circular central planar element having an indicating device located thereon where the outer circumference of the central element is generally circular except for inset lobes and where the central element is received in the opening in an annular element having choices indicated around the periphery so the indicating device of the central element can selectively point to various choices and where notches are provided in the periphery of the central element and adapted to receive clutch means and where the notches of the central element are shaped so that upon relative rotation of the central element and the outer element in one direction the clutch means engage the inner periphery of the outer element and prevent relative movement of the central and outer elements and upon rotation in the opposite direction the clutch means recess into the notches out of engagement with the outer element to allow rotation of the outer element on the inner element.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for tightening rotatable fastener elements including a source of pressurized fluid, a first rotatable actuator having a rotatable output shaft operable in response to fluid flow through the first actuator, first control to allow the first actuator shaft to operate to a first fluid pressure established by the pressure of the source of pressurized fluid, switching device operable in response to the attainment of the first fluid pressure, to supply pressurized fluid to a second rotating actuator device connected to operate the output shaft through a portion of a rotation in response to the attainment of the first pressure to secure the fastener to a selected torque.