Abstract: A lightweight, easily portable apparatus for treating a mop head, dust cloth and the like with a dust attracting liquid includes a lightweight plastic container having spaced walls and an open top for holding a quantity of the liquid and a lightweight, removable frame structure fitted onto the container whereby the frame structure is separable from the container for cleaning, storage and handling. The frame structure has a front portion with a plate member thereon for supporting the mop head and said plate may be transparent whereby the condition and quantity of liquid in the container can be visually determined. Spaced arm members are connected to a rear portion of the frame structure adjacent opposite side walls of the container and have lower portions extending downwardly into the interior of the container and upper portions extending upwardly from the container.

Abstract: A collapsible trailer hitch to be used on a truck which has a pivoting platform for dumping, includes a Y-member attached to the chassis of the truck and a support member for the trailer tongue secured to a rotating bar journaled to the pivoting platform of the truck by mounting brackets. The support member is attached to the Y-member by means of connecting links which are pivoted at both ends. The hitch collapses and restores automatically upon pivoting of the platform.

Abstract: An inlet duct is provided for recirculating grain dryers of the type which have a drying column area, and a recirculating blower mounted in a room portion of the dryer, with an open side of the room communicating with the drying column area. The inlet duct is connected with an intake portion of the recirculating blower, and has an open end thereof disposed adjacent to the open side of the room, whereby during a full recirculating condition of the grain dryer, air is drawn into the recirculating blower substantially wholly from the drying column area. The inlet duct has an aerodynamically streamlined interior shape with walls which taper inwardly toward the blower intake portion for efficiently guiding the flow of air from the drying column area directly into the recirculating blower intake.

Abstract: Corn detasseling apparatus and method are disclosed whereby tassels are quickly and cleanly separated from corn plants while preventing damage to the leaves and the remainder of the stalk. The apparatus includes a detasseling head having two opposed rollers with alternating ridges and grooves which extend longitudinally with respect to the rotational axis of the rollers. The ridges and grooves of each roller intermesh with those of the opposing roller to form a wavy nip, and during rotation of the rollers, the tassels are securely grasped by the nip and pulled off the plants. In addition, the ridged rollers function as impellers which create forceful air currents that flow downward and blow the leaves of the plants away from the nip. Accordingly, the tassels are removed from the plant without any rough handling or damaging of the leaves, and with minimal cutting or shredding of the tassels to form objectionable trash.

Abstract: A self loading multiple bale trailer comprises an elongated trailer frame with a belt conveyor extending from end to end and a lift fork for engagement at the lower periphery of a large round bale at the side of the trailer, for example, by forward motion of a tow vehicle. The lift fork is supported on a frame which is connected by an arm to a sleeve slidable on a verticle shaft and having an hydraulic cylinder for lifting the bale. The sleeve is also rotatable about a vertical axis to swing the lifted bale a half circle from the side of the trailer to a position over the conveyor for deposit thereon. The conveyor is operable to move the deposited bale to a desired position along the trailer, and may also be used to discharge the bale from the rear of the trailer or to reengage the lift fork with the bale. In an alternative form, the bale may be handled by a penetrating spike instead of lift fork legs, which spike may be utilized, in a quarter turn position, in unwinding the bale for feeding.

Abstract: In a siphon apparatus having at least two legs with a liquid trap therebetween, a liquid holding chamber is provided which communicates with the liquid trap through a restrictive orifice and which fills the liquid trap after the siphon is used, thereby insuring a liquid seal for the next use of the siphon. An overflow device is provided for the liquid trap which cooperates with a trigger mechanism to fill the liquid trap to a predetermined level at the same time assuring the filling of the trigger mechanism. The trigger device may be connected to a plurality of siphons, whereby each siphon flushes simultaneously when a predetermined level is reached in a tank which is to be discharged thereby. Preferably the siphons are conchoidally or spirally shaped, and the holding chamber comprises an inner void thereof.

Abstract: A control device is designed for center pivot irrigation units of the type having an elongate water carrying pipe with a plurality of support vehicles spaced therealong, and wherein each of the vehicles includes a double acting hydraulic cylinder mounted thereon for moving the vehicle and the water pipe over the ground. The irrigation unit includes a device for aligning the vehicles, a hydraulic pump with pressure and return lines, and power and retract manifolds respectively interconnecting power and retract sides of the cylinders. The control device includes a hydraulic valve with three positions which communicate the pressure line with the power manifold, the retract manifold, and the pump return line respectively.

Abstract: A scoring device for attachment to a shoe plate of a power hand saw includes a mounting structure having an elongate base member with opposite ends engageable in spaced saw rip guide brackets for extending transversely on the shoe plate forwardly of the saw blade. An upper bar member is slidably mounted atop the base member and longitudinally selectively positionable thereto. A scoring wheel for cutting into the outer surface of an article to be sawn has a sharp edge and is rotatably mounted between spaced arms connected to the bar member for vertical swinging movement. The wheel is selectively positioned with the bar member so that the wheel edge cuts a continuous score line or indentation over the entire line of intended sawing and generally aligned with the saw blade.

Abstract: An animal feeding device in which the animal actuates the transfer of the feed from a sheltered feed storage hopper to a feeding station by working a lever or similar device. The feed hopper is positioned above the feeding station, whereby the feed will transfer by gravity therebetween. A rotatable cylinder having pockets therein is positioned between the storage hopper and the feeding station so as to block gravity flow of the feed. A rod is fixedly attached to the rotatable cylinder and extends outwardly into the feeding station, such that the animal may swing the rod from side to side thereby rotating the cylinder back and forth. The rotation of the cylinder alternatively causes the pockets therein to fill with feed and to empty into the feeding station. A dampening mechanism is provided which senses accumulation of feed in the feeding station and resists additional demand of feed by the animal.

Abstract: A storage rack for record albums and the like has a planar bottom wall adapted for engagement with a top surface of a bottom supportive structure such as a shelf and a planar top wall adapted for engagement with a bottom surface of a top supportive structure such as a shelf whereby the top and bottom walls are spaced apart vertically a distance not less than a height dimension of the record album. A plurality of elongate vanes respectively extend from the top and bottom walls and form parallel guide channels on the top and bottom walls open from front to rear. Relatively narrow trays are movably mounted in the respective guide channels and slide outwardly for carrying an album and presenting the album for retrieval. A plurality of elastic connectors extend between upper and lower, or vertically paired vanes and form flexible partitions dividing the storage rack into a plurality of side-by-side receptacles for inserting the articles therein.

Abstract: A self-cleaning nozzle for lithographic printing dampeners includes a central liquid duct and an air expansion chamber surrounding the liquid duct and defined by a cylindrical wall closed at an entrance end by a baffle having circumferential slits therethrough and at an exit end by a planar end wall spaced from the termination of the liquid duct and forming a mixing corridor therebetween. The end wall is positioned perpendicular to the liquid duct and to the direction of air traveling through the expansion chamber, thereby increasing turbulence in the air to more effectively break up the liquid stream into fine droplets. A slot orifice is formed in the end wall and is defined by a peripheral surface which forms an acute angle with an inner surface of the end wall and an obtuse angle with the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: Stack gases from fossil fuel burning operations before being released to the atmosphere are passed through a scrubber, wherein sulfur dioxide is removed from the gases by scrubbing with metallic carbonates. The metallic carbonates react with the sulfur dioxide to form a liquid effluent comprising metallic sulfates. The effluent is placed in a basin and inoculated with a microorganism which reduces sulfate ions to hydrogen sulfide, preferably bacteria from the genus Desulfovibrio, thereby also regenerating metallic carbonates. The effluent is contemporaneously or serially inoculated with saline compatible bacteria from the genus Beggiatoa whereby the hydrogen sulfide is oxidized to form sulfur. After treatment by the bacteria, the effluent is recycled to the scrubber for use therein and the sulfur is recovered.

Abstract: A spirometer comprises an upright, hollow frame structure having opposite end portions with an expansible and contractible bellows therein responsive to exhalation and inhalation. The bellows includes a hollow, resilient helical structure with a plurality of coils respectively having relatively broad upper and lower surfaces and relatively thin outer edges. Opposite end members close the helical structure, one of the closing end members being connected to one of the frame structure end portions for suspending the bellows inside the frame structure. A sheet of thin, fluid-impervious film extends the length of the helical structure when the helical structure is expanded and is heat shrunk onto the coils for forming convolutions engaging the upper and lower surfaces and outer edges. The sheath joins the opposite closed end members and defines an impervious outer wall structure for the bellows.

Abstract: A spectacle structure for wear during active sports where eye protection is desired includes a protective panoramic or wrap-around frame and portions snugly engaging spaced parts of the head to support the frame on the head of a person. Lenses, such as prescription lenses, are fitted into the frame with removable transparent guard lenses thereover and spaces are provided for ventilation of the lenses and the person's eyes to aid in remedying condensation and discomfort.

Abstract: A deformable hitch for towing vehicles having a mechanism thereon for positively urging the hitch into a desired orientation, such that the hitch bottom bar which is connected to a towing vehicle by two arms is urged to remain in a desired position parallel to the rear of the towing vehicle. The mechanism comprises two tensile members and a lever member. The lever member is attached to the bottom bar and extends outwardly therefrom. The tensile members are each attached respectively to a medial point along one of the arms of the hitch and to the lever member, such that the tension on each of the tensile members is equal whenever the bottom bar is in the desired parallel position and thus the hitch is in a state of equilibrium. In addition, the tension on each of the tensile members is different whenever the bottom bar is in a position other than the desired parallel position, thereby urging the bottom bar to return to the desired parallel position.

Abstract: A board game apparatus comprises a game board having a playing area divided into a plurality of cartels. Contest tokens are movable about the playing area between adjacent cartels for occupying a cartel, challenging opposing players to the right to occupy a cartel, and for defending such a challenge. A resource calculator designates at least two resources, generates a production and a consumption index for each resource, and provides instructions for exchanging surplus resources. A common market place is provided for exchanging a quantity of one resource for a quantity of another resource. A chance apparatus determines the right to occupy a cartel challenged by a player, whereby in playing the game, each player receives resource tokens in accordance with the assigned production index for each cartel which the player occupies, and must balance production and consumption of each of his resources.

Abstract: A method of treating asphaltic membrane covered roofs for inhibiting the formation of blisters therein and reducing blisters that have formed therein comprises applying to the blistered portions and surrounding areas of the membrane a quantity of selected liquid hydrocarbon. The selected hydrocarbon is miscible with the asphalt of the membrane to instill self-healing qualities therein.