Abstract: An asymmetric structural insulated panel for building construction includes a generally planar insulating core such as of plastic foam or wheat-, straw-, or agricultural board. Adhered to a first surface of the insulating core is an outer facing of a conventional building material such as wood, oriented strand board (OSB), gypsum composite or cement. Adhered to a second opposed surface of the insulating core by means of a conventional adhesive is a thin, high strength sheet of paper impregnated with plastic such as polyisocyanurate. The plastic impregnated paper provides a high tensile strength for the structural insulated panel to accommodate large transverse loads on the panel. The panels may be incorporated in conventional stick construction employing 2× dimensional structural lumber members by attaching the panel's outer facing to one side of a 2× structural member after notching out an edge of the panel's insulating core.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for cutting or severing thin webs, especially adhesive transfer tapes, and other relatively thin materials which prevents or minimizes tearing.

Abstract: An agricultural device for transporting planting units which has a first stationary toolbar and a pair of toolbars spaced away and separate from the stationary toolbar and carrying a plurality of planting units thereon at fixed intervals. The pair of toolbars are moved between a first position where the fixed toolbar and the pair of toolbars are positioned with their longitudinal axes generally colinear and a second position where the pair of toolbars are spaced from the fixed toolbar and the longitudinal axes of the fixed toolbar and the pair of toolbars are parallel. The agricultural device is incapable of positioning the planting units carried thereby in at least two different spacings depending upon whether the pair of toolbars are in the first or the second positions thereof.

Abstract: An asymmetric structural insulated panel for building construction includes a generally planar insulating foam core such as of expanded polystyrene, urethane or polyisocyanurate plastic. Adhered to a first surface of the insulating foam core is an outer facing of a conventional building material such as wood, oriented strand board (OSB), gypsum composite or cement. Adhered to a second opposed surface of the insulating foam core by a conventional adhesive is a thin, high strength sheet of paper impregnated with plastic such as polyisocyanurate. The plastic impregnated paper provides a high tensile strength for the structural insulated panel to accommodate large transverse loads on the panel. Elongated “nailing” members may be affixed in a spaced manner to the inner or outer surface of the plastic impregnated paper to also provide this surface of the panel with high compressive strength and to permit the panel to withstand large axial loads.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the height above or depth below an irregular surface of a body moving over or below the surface includes a rotation sensor coupled to a controller responsive to an angular deflection signal output by the rotation sensor. The rotation sensor and controller are mounted to a vehicle moving over the surface such as an agricultural vehicle traversing a field. A semi-rigid, flexible arm has a first end coupled to the rotation sensor with a ground engaging member attached to a second opposed end of the arm. In one embodiment, the flexible arm includes an elongated coil spring attached to a rigid shaft and the ground engaging member is a spherical ball attached to the shaft's distal end. The coil spring is pre-loaded to a selected bending or flexure force and permits the ground engaging member to impact obstructions in the field without damage to the rotation sensor. The coil spring also prevents damage to the rotation sensor when the vehicle is reversed in direction.

Abstract: A portfolio including a sheet-like body having first and second spaced hinge lines dividing the sheet-like body into a first end section, a middle section, and a second end section each having respective front and rear surfaces. The first and second end sections are foldable between a closed position, wherein the second end section is disposed intermediate the first end section and the middle section, and an open position, wherein all three sections are in common alignment in a generally flat configuration. First compact disc-receiving pockets are disposed on the front surface of the second end section and open toward the first and second hinge lines when the portfolio is in the open position. Each first disc-receiving pocket completely encloses a respective compact disc inserted therein. Second disc-receiving pockets are disposed on the rear surface of the second end section and open away from the first hinge line when the first end section is folded towards the middle section.

Abstract: To prevent rotation of a generally flat, or planar, grid having three inline beam passing apertures, where the two outer apertures are asymmetric in shape, during assembly of a multi-beam electron gun for use in a color cathode ray tube (CRT), an electron gun alignment jig having three inline generally cylindrical mandrels in combination with a generally flat spacer plate is used. Each of the three mandrels is inserted in a respective grid aperture and the grid is placed in contact with the flat spacer plate. The flat spacer plate includes a recessed portion with an alignment slot. The grid includes a lateral alignment tab adapted for insertion in the spacer plate's matching alignment slot in a tight-fitting manner. With the alignment tab inserted in the alignment slot, the three inline apertures are in precise alignment in the alignment jig and grid rotation is prevented to facilitate electron gun assembly.

Abstract: A turbine impeller pump assembly includes a rotating shaft and inboard and outboard casing members coupled together with each having cavity channels, and an annular recess, and an axial opening to receive the rotating shaft. Inboard and outboard liner members are structurally arranged to be received by the annular recesses in the casing members and an impeller member is positioned between the liner members and keyed for rotation with the shaft. The inboard and outboard liner members each have at least two flow channels structurally arranged to cooperate with the cavity channels to provide equal and opposite pressures on the impeller to maintain the impeller in alignment with respect to the liner members.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide out of gases from, for example, the combustion of sulfur containing fossil fuels. The sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide contaminated gas is first contacted with an aqueous solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide and alkaline earth metal ions, wherein the aqueous solution is at an acidic pH, for example, at a pH of from about 2 to about less than 7, so that the sulfur dioxide in the gas is dissolved in the aqueous solution and, subsequently, reacts with the alkaline earth metal ions to form alkaline earth metal sulfates and alkaline earth metal sulfites. The gas is then contacted with an aqueous solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide and alkaline earth metal ions, wherein this aqueous solution is at a pH that is greater than 7 so that the carbon dioxide in the gas is dissolved in the aqueous solution and, subsequently, reacts with the alkaline earth metal ions to form alkaline earth metal carbonates.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking bales of hay into large bundles such as, for example, three bales high and seven bales wide, positions bands about the stacked array to provide a tightly bound, compressed stack of bales. The stacking apparatus compresses the stacked bales during banding with a greater force applied to the same facing portions of the bales as applied during formation of the bales to form a solid, rigid, self-supporting large bundle made up of small bales. Parallel spaced compression zones extending inwardly are formed in the upper and lower rows of bales in the least compressed portion of the bales for receiving the bands which are applied without high tension so as not to damage the hay in holding the bundle of hay bales together.

Abstract: A folding wire frame includes first and second end panels and first and second pairs of hingedly coupled front and back panels, with each front and back panel also hingedly coupled to an adjacent end panel. When expanded, the folding wire frame forms a rectangular structure open at the top and bottom. Moving the two pairs of front and back panels inwardly toward one another where they are hingedly coupled allows the frame to be folded along its length in an accordion-like manner and to assume a collapsed configuration. The folded frame is adapted for insertion lengthwise in the open top of an upright refuse bag such as of paper and extends beyond the open top. The frame is then expanded, or unfolded, by grasping the front and back pairs of panels where they are hingedly coupled together and moving the front pair of panels away from the back pair of panels until the frame assumes a rectangular, semi-rigid configuration, with each panel engaging an inner surface of a side wall of the bag.

Abstract: A fertilizer applicator assembly for use with a chisel plow includes a diverter shoe located in the root zone of the crop, above the tillage point of the plow. The diverter shoe closes the furrow formed by the plow shank and forms a lateral pocket in the soil for distributing a band of particulate fertilizer behind and to the side of the shank.

Abstract: A spline for joining two adjacent structural insulated panels each having an insulating core disposed between and joined to first and second outer facings includes a backer member attached to a metal strip by a conventional coupler such as an adhesive. The backer member and metal strip form an elongated, linear combination, and the outer surface of the backer member may be provided with a groove or slot extending the length thereof. The backer member slot facilitates bending or folding the backer plate and metal strip combination along the length thereof into two connected sections for use as a spline. The angled spline is used for connecting adjacent panels which may be oriented at a relative angle &agr;, where &agr;>0°, by placing each section of the spline in intimate contact with a respective panel along the lengths thereof. Conventional connectors such as screws or nails are inserted through each panel and its associated spline section to connect adjacent panels.

Abstract: A support frame for decorative lights disposed about a window includes top, bottom, and first and second side members connected together to form a generally rectangular structure. Each frame member includes a pair of elongated, linear members connected lengthwise in a telescoping manner which are hollow and rectangular in cross-section and have respective inner and outer walls. The inner and outer walls of each frame member are each provided with a plurality of spaced apertures, with each pair of aligned apertures in the inner and outer walls adapted to receive a decorative light in a tight-fitting manner. Lights inserted in aligned apertures of a pair of telescoping frame members prevent sliding movement between the frame members. This telescoping connection within each linear frame member in combination with a spring-biased tension cap on the end of each frame member allows the support frame to be adjusted to fit a wide range of window frame heights and widths.

Abstract: An adjusting device and method of adjusting an orthodontic expander has an elongated handle and a distal extension in the form of a wire. The extension is bent at an angle of approximately 90° to form an activator tip which is inserted into the expansion screw. The handle is then rotated by one hand located entirely to one side of the medial plane of the patient's mouth, to torque the expansion screw.

Abstract: A method of combusting pulverized coal by mixing the pulverized coal and an oxidant gas to provide a pulverized coal-oxidant gas mixture and contacting the pulverized coal-oxidant gas mixture with a flame sufficiently hot to combust the mixture. An oxygen-containing gas is passed in contact with a dense ceramic membrane of metal oxide material having electron conductivity and oxygen ion conductivity that is gas-impervious until the oxygen concentration on one side of the membrane is not less than about 30% by volume. An oxidant gas with an oxygen concentration of not less than about 30% by volume and a CO2 concentration of not less than about 30% by volume and pulverized coal is contacted with a flame sufficiently hot to combust the mixture to produce heat and a flue gas. One dense ceramic membrane disclosed is selected from the group consisting of materials having formulae SrCo0.8Fe0.2Ox, SrCo0.5FeOx and La0.2Sr0.8Co0.4Fe0.6Ox.

Abstract: A branch gasket for a tapping sleeve is disposed about the side branch aperture in a main fluid conduit and between and in sealed contact with the main fluid conduit and an outer sleeve connected to the side branch. The branch gasket is comprised of a flexible, compressible, resilient material and includes a hydraulic lip, a stainless steel insert ring, a first pair of inner O-ring seals in intimate contact with the main fluid conduit, and a second pair of outer O-ring seals in intimate contact with the outer sleeve. A mat gasket for use with a tapping saddle is disposed about an aperture in a main fluid conduit and is further disposed between and in sealed contact with the main fluid conduit and an outer sleeve member. The mat gasket includes an aperture aligned with the aperture in the main fluid conduit and outer and inner portions in sealed contact with the outer sleeve member and the main fluid conduit, respectively.

Abstract: A cyclone furnace includes a cylindrical shaped furnace chamber having an inlet end for the introduction of fuel-air and an outlet end defining a re-entrant throat member. A monolithic deflector cone and orifice member comprised of a castable ceramic refractory material is secured to the re-entrant throat member.

Abstract: An internal resistor within a color cathode ray tube (CRT) is connected to a voltage source and is coupled across a G4 grid and a G6 grid of the CRT's multi-grid quadrupole (QPF) electron gun. De-coupling the G4 grid from the G2 grid in the electron gun's prefocus lens and operating the G4 grid at a higher voltage as used in the gun's high voltage main focus lens moves the equivalent lens of the prefocus and main focus lenses toward the CRT's display screen and reduces electron beam magnification and spot size for improved video image definition and focusing.