Abstract: An apparatus for excavating or cleaning out sumps and drainage pits includes a mobile, towable chassis rotatably supporting a platform thereon. A standard extends upwardly from the platform and an elongate, rigid boom structure and guide is mounted upon the standard for upward and downward swinging movement and for forward and rearward reciprocal movement relative to the platform. A material engaging member such as a bucket is mounted to a forward end of the boom structure and has a cover therewith whereby the bucket closes and traps mud or loose materials for removal from the sump or drainage pit. An engine mounted upon the platform powers a hydraulic pump for routing fluid under pressure to motors and rams controlling operation of the platform, boom structure and material engaging member.

Abstract: A portable fuel and oil dispenser for servicing chain saws and other portable engine driven equipment, includes a compact carrier for side-by-side containers holding different fluids such as fuel and oil. Pump assemblies which effect fluid transfer during an upstroke thereof and have features causing a straight line lifting of a pump piston rod extend into each of the containers for fluid transfer therefrom and respectively include leak protection features such as relief ports for backflow of fluid from the pump assembly into the container when fluid transfer is not required. Flexible delivery conduits such as hoses are connected to the pump assemblies for dispensing the fluids and remote ends thereof have nozzles with a check valve at an extreme tip end to prevent seepage and dripping of the fluid from the nozzle. Further, to prevent inadvertent operation of the pump assemblies, handles therefor are foldable and collapse downwardly and out of the way against the containers.

Abstract: An article transfer arrangement includes a loading station and a discharge station spaced therefrom and level therewith, upper and lower pairs of parallel track rails extending between the stations, a rigid article carrier having an upper article engaging surface and front and rear wheels, the front wheels being closer to the article engaging carrier surface than the rear wheels, and an endless drive chain connected to the carrier and to a drive motor and operable to reciprocate the carrier between the stations. During motion between the loading station and the discharge station, the front wheels are lifted into engagement with the upper track rails by action of the drive chain about a chain sprocket whereby the carrier surface is oriented horizontally and is raised above the platform level of the station to thereby lift an article from the loading station.

Abstract: A hopper for mechanical seed planters comprises an upper and a lower reservoir shaped for retaining seed therein, and a valve mounted between the reservoirs to selectively permit the seed to flow under gravitational forces from the upper to the lower reservoir. The lower reservoir is rotatably mounted in the hopper, and is rotated in synchronization with the planting speed of the planter. The bottom of the lower reservoir has at least one metering aperture therethrough, and a circularly shaped groove which is concentric with the lower reservoir's axis of rotation, and extends through the metering aperture. An arm is pivotally connected with the upper reservoir, and includes a tip portion which tracks in the circular groove. A stationary base plate is disposed directly below the reservoir bottom, and includes a discharge aperture which is circumferentially aligned with the metering aperture.

Abstract: A recycle control is provided for grain dryers of the type which have a drying column area with heating and cooling zones and a recirculating air blower. During a recirculating mode of the grain dryer, the recirculating blower draws in a mixture of cooling air and heating air from the cooling and heating zones respectively and forces the mixture after additional heating back into the heating zone. The recycle control includes an inlet duct and adjustable louver arrangement which during partial recirculating mode selctively flows outside air into the mixture of cooling air and heating air at an intake portion of the recirculating blower to regulate the extent of dryer recirculation, and control grain drying. During a non-recirculating mode the recirculating blower draws in only outside air.

Abstract: A stearoyl lactylate salt composition and method of production thereof wherein the composition has improved handling and storage characteristics. The lactylate salt is thermally mixed with from about 2% to about 30% (by weight) of hydrogenated stearin which has from about 50% to 100% (by weight of fatty acid) C.sub.18 fatty acid and an iodine value of less than 7.

Abstract: A prefabricated fireplace construction for mobile homes comprises a firebox having an entranceway to a room, and an upstanding flue connected with the firebox for exhausting combustion gas to the outside atmosphere. A fluid duct has one end connected with the firebox, and the other end communicates with the outside atmosphere, whereby outside air is drawn by thermal siphoning through the duct into the firebox for supporting combustion therein, and substantially no inside air is drawn from the room by the flue.

Abstract: A tube hanger for supporting a tube and the like from a mounting surface comprises a unitary body of elastomeric material having a base of generally rectangular shape with resilient arms extending outwardly of the base and arcing to converge in opposed relation. The arms have respective spaced tip ends whereby a partially enclosed cavity sized for receipt of a tube is defined in coordination with the base which has a lateral entrance thereinto between the tip ends for receiving and retaining the tube within the cavity. A plurality of lugs extend radially inward from the arms and are arranged around the cavity for compressibly gripping a tube within the hanger cavity. A notch or opening is formed within the base at an intermediate portion thereof at the root junction of the arms and divides the base into first and second base portions, the notch or opening being open to the hanger cavity.

Abstract: An on-off sprinkler head for fire extinguishing systems comprises a housing having a central cavity with an inlet aperture and a discharge orifice disposed at opposing ends thereof in an aligned orientation. A reciprocating valve having a valve head, a mating seat, and a stem is mounted axially in the central cavity, and controls the flow of fire extinguishing fluid therethrough. A temperature responsive, on-off drive motor is connected with the free end of the valve stem, and reciprocates the valve head with respect to the valve seat in response to selected temperature changes. The drive motor is mounted in the housing in a position axially offset from the aligned inlet aperture and discharge orifice, whereby during a discharge condition, the fire extinguishing fluid flows substantially unimpeded through the valve, and a solid, uninterrupted stream of fluid is emitted from the discharge orifice. The valve includes a deflector plate on which the fluid stream impinges and is dispersed into a spray.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for radio geophysical surveying includes measuring the relative magnitude and phase of radio frequency signal components reflected from subterranean formations. The apparatus comprises a transmitter selectively connected to a vertical antenna and a loop antenna, and a pair of receivers, one receiver being connected to a vertical antenna and the other connected to a loop antenna. A surface propagated calibration signal is transmitted and is received by each of the receivers. The outputs of the receivers are connected to the input of a difference amplifier, a difference signal is generated, and the magnitude and phase of the difference signal are measured and recorded. A survey signal, including surface propagated components and earth propagated components, is then transmitted. The survey signal is received, a difference signal is generated, and the magnitude and phase thereof are measured.

Abstract: A cable shield connector assembly for making electrical connections to the shield of a multi-conductor communications-type cable includes a split cylindrical sleeve having circumferentially spaced contact ridges for insertion about the conductors and within the shield and further includes clamp halves positioned about the sleeve with a portion of the shield and the external insulation sheath of the cable therebetween. The clamp halves are drawn together by screws to urge the shield into electrical contact with the ridges of the sleeve. The sleeve includes a tab projecting through a slit in the shield and sheath to receive a screw for connection of a ground conductor thereto. The tab preferably extends between a portion of the clamp and receives one of the clamping screws therethrough to thereby locate and fix the clamp halves around the sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating an electrical leakage fault path relative to a cathodically protected buried pipe utilizes a conductor wire having a first end connected to the pipe and a second end wound on a reel including a level winding and distance measuring mechanism and connected to electrical signal monitoring components. An electrode in an earth cutting blade is also connected to the monitoring components and is mounted to a drafting structure for moving the blade through the earth generally over the buried pipe a sufficient depth to continuously encounter and sense electrical current indicating a flow or break in the cathodic protection of the pipe. The drafting structure includes a hitch for connection to a suitable vehicle and a regulating mechanism for controlling the depth of the blade into the earth.

Abstract: A smoke alarm activated portable light or lamp for providing emergency illumination in response to an alarm signal from a smoke alarm device includes a frequency selective microphone, several amplifier stages, a peak detector, an isolation or buffer stage, and a power stage comprising a pair of cascaded transistors and a light bulb. The lamp includes a bracket for positioning same in proximity to a smoke alarm and a switch which is closed upon removal of the lamp from the bracket. A power saving circuit includes a photoelectric cell and an amplifier and is operative to saturate or overdrive the first gain stage to override any signal from the microphone whereby the lamp is rendered unresponsive to the smoke alarm signal upon illumination of the photocell by daylight or artificial light.

Abstract: Method for removing material from the surface of fruits and vegetables (produce) and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture utilizes the rotation of an upwardly directed cage formed of elongated rotating spindles having a material removing surface thereon, the cage rotary speed being sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain the produce in continuous centrifugal force contact against the spindle material removing surface, but generally insufficient to prevent downward movement or migration of the produce within the cage under the force of gravity. Produce to be treated is urged into engagement with the spindles and the rotating cage causes the produce to accelerate substantially to said rotary speed, whereby the produce travels with the cage in contact with the rotating material removing spindle surfaces.

Abstract: A liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus for accurately proportioning the liquid additive into the liquid fuel for a vehicle such as a truck tractor includes a control unit preferably located in the cab of the truck tractor and connected to the vehicle electrical system for supplying electrical power thereto. A pump unit mounted to the truck tractor has an additive reservoir, pump, and valve controlled pressure delivery connections with the fuel tank and electrical connections with the control unit. When a known quantity of fuel is put into the truck tractor fuel tanks, the quantity is entered in the control unit and the control unit is activated to energize the pumps and open the valves for delivery to the fuel tanks of the predetermined quantity ratio of additive to the quantity of fuel put in the fuel tank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the growth of unwanted plants, such as weeds, volunteer plants, and the like, which project upwardly from a cultivated crop growing in a field, comprises providing an agricultural vehicle having a cutting bar thereon. The cutting bar is positioned at an elevation slightly above the uppermost portion of the crop, and the agricultural vehicle is piloted over the field, thereby cutting the upwardly projecting portions of the unwanted plants at a point thereon slightly above the uppermost portion of the crop, thereby arresting the growth of the unwanted plants, and facilitating the mechanical harvesting of the crop.