Abstract: A winder for winding pliable material into coreless rolls includes a conveyor for bringing the material into proximity with a turret. The turret includes a plurality of spindles upon which the material is to be wound. Transfer of the material to the spindle is accomplished by a cluster of rollers which surround an individual spindle at the time of transfer. Ropes or belts pass around the rollers to assist in guiding the pliable material. An air blast also assists in the transfer. At least one of the rollers is pivotable from a first position to a second position. An empty spindle is brought into the transfer position during turret indexing. The system of the present invention also includes a collapsible spindle to facilitate removal of the finished roll. The diameter of the spindle is decreased as a push-off palm removes the roll from the spindle and is increased during retraction of the palm to prepare the spindle for attachment of the leading edge of the next roll.

Abstract: A hydraulic master-slave system for clutch actuation includes a clutch sensor system to continuously detect and measure clutch position and wear. One alternate preferred embodiment comprises a resistive strip and wiper assembly coupled to an electrical control circuit to control vehicle functions dependent upon clutch position and wear. A second alternate preferred embodiment employs an optical fence and optical interrupter designed to generate quadrature output to the electrical control circuit.

Abstract: An air transportable gantry-type crane has a pair of collapsible side frames adapted to be releasably interconnected by a pair of elongate cross members. Each side frame has an extended operating state and a collapsed transportable state. One of the cross members includes relatively short transversely extending coupling members adapted to interconnect the side frames for maintaining the same in closely spaced parallel relation. Each side frame is also provided with wheels and a support for supporting each side frame when disconnected from the cross members.

Abstract: A continuous casting machine has an open ended flow-through mold surrounded by a plurality of spray nozzles connected in groups to segregated sources of water and air for dispensing the same individually or in combination. The spray nozzles are positioned to provide multiple zones of cooling. Each nozzle may include a mixing valve operated by a control which in turn is connected to an individual temperature sensor mounted on the surface of the mold in an opposed relation to each nozzle. The control establishes the flow rates of air and water at each nozzle in accordance with the individual temperature of that portion of the mold whose temperature is affected by the respective nozzle.

Abstract: This invention provides a wheel wrench support which comprises a stand member having a suitable base and an elongate body having a plurality of step-like formations or notches along the one side of the body, and a saddle member which includes a saddle formation or seat in which part of a wheel wrench can rest, an engaging formation adapted to engage a desired notch of the stand member, and biassing means capable of urging the saddle member toward the stand member in such a manner that the engaging formation engages a notch of the stand member.The saddle member also comprises a recess formation, preferably in the form of a passage, extending vertically through the saddle member so that the stand member passes through the passage of the saddle member.The biassing means comprises a spring-loaded pin or ball contained substantially within the body of the saddle member on that side of the saddle member opposite to the engaging formation and relative to the recess formation or passage.

Abstract: A device for treating aqueous solutions with magnetic lines of force includes a pipe through which the solution passes. An electromagnetic coil surrounds the pipe and a core consisting of endwise connected alternating short sections of magnetic and nonmagnetic material is disposed along the pipe's axis. Located between the pipe and the core is a helical baffle.

Abstract: A dump trailer includes a frame attached below a trailer bed and having a first pair of parallel outer rails which are inclined upwardly from front to rear and a pair of center rails which are inclined downwardly from front to rear. A towing tongue extends along the center line of the frame and includes a forked end having a first pair of rollers engaging the first pair of rails and a second pair of rollers which engage the center rails. Pairs of wheels are disposed on each side of the bed and are mounted on the ends of leading and trailing arms pivotally mounted on the frame. A strut is adapted to be coupled to the arms at points above or below the wheel spindles for raising and lowering the bed relative to the wheels. The trailer is dumped by using a prime mover to force the tongue rearwardly thereby moving the rollers backwardly along their respective rails to pivot the frame and bed about the axis of the rear wheels.

Abstract: A flue gas recirculation system for fire tube boilers includes a duct connected to the boiler gas discharge stack and to a fan. Another duct couples the fan to a specially designed burner in the boiler. Recirculated flue gas is injected downstream of the fuel/air mixture in the burner and cools the flame leading to substantially reduce the NO.sub.x content in the boiler stack emissions. The burner includes conventional damper and air diffuser systems and a plurality of openings near the inner end of the burner housing, through which the boiler fuel is admitted and mixed with the air. A plurality of slots are formed at the outlet end of the burner, the slots being coupled to an annular chamber surrounding the burner. The duct from the recirculation fan is coupled to such annular chamber. Recirculation of between about fifteen to twenty percent of the flue gas in the above-described device can result in NO.sub.

Abstract: A fishing line release device includes a body adapted to be attached to a downrigger line and having projections adjacent one end about which the fishing line can be wound. A first magnetic member is the releasably positionable at plural points along the body which defines a path extending toward and away from the projections. A release lever is pivotally mounted on the body and is constructed and arranged such that when the lever is in an unpivoted position a first arm extends in a direction parallel to the path and a second arm is positioned adjacent the projections to hold the fishing line thereon and whereby a force on the fishing line tends to pivot the lever to move the second arm away from the projections and release the fishing line. A second magnet is slidably mounted on the first arm for being attracted by the first magnet thereby resisting pivotal movement of the lever with the degree of force required to release the fishing line being dependent on the position of the first magnet along the path.

Abstract: An in the tank fuel line heating system for heating the fuel as it is removed from the tank includes a fuel outlet conduit communicating with the port in the tank and extending downwardly into the tank to a point substantially near the bottom of the tank. A coolant circulating conduit is located adjacent the fuel outlet conduit and serves to transfer heat from the engine heated coolant to the fuel in the fuel outlet conduit. A fuel return conduit is provided adjacent the fuel outlet conduit and serves to transfer heat from the unused fuel returning to the tank to the fuel exiting the tank in the fuel outlet conduit. The coolant circulating conduit is provided with an extension that extends along the bottom of the tank and prevents ice build-up in the area.

Abstract: A device for measuring density and moisture of a material includes a hollow roller rotatably mounted on a shaft for rolling movement on the surface of the material. A radioactive source and density and moisture detectors are supported below the shaft and adjacent to the inner surface of the roller at substantially a fixed distance from the surface of the material being measured as the roller is rolled. The detectors are coupled to a conventional counter and microprocessor circuitry which provide an output reading related to the density or moisture content of the material. The shaft may be mounted for tilting movement so that the roller may pitch in conformity to contours in the material surface.

Abstract: A pollution control system for electric arc furnaces includes fume collectors disposed at one side and above the furnace and pairs of blower nozzles mounted on an overhead crane used to deliver feed materials to the furnace. One nozzle of each pair is adjustable in a vertical plane and the other nozzle of each pair is adjustable in vertical and horizontal planes so that the nozzles may be positioned for blowing furnace fumes into the fume collectors when the furnace roof is elevated for charging, during furnace operation and when the furnace is tilted for tapping.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing ice including a plurality of elongated vertical tubes of uniform internal cross-sectional dimensions, a cylindrical shell for each tube of length less than the tube and surrounding a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the internal nominal diameter of the shell being greater than the maximum external cross-section dimensions of the tube, the shell having a spiral groove formed in the cylindrical wall thereof, the depth of the groove being such that the interior surface of the shell at the groove contacts at least part of the exterior surface of the tube thereby forming a flow path in the annular area between the exterior of the tube and the interior of the shell which is, at least in part, spiraled. Refrigerant gas is expanded in the tube-shell annular areas to chill the tubes. Water is introduced into the upper end of the tubes to flow downwardly through them and form in each tube a rod of ice.

Abstract: A glove has open ended, truncated finger portions and a hole intermediate the ends of the thumb portion to permit the fingers and thumb to extend therethrough and allow the performance of operations requiring dexterity. A half mitten is attached to the back of the glove and may be pivoted over the exposed finger portions. A first pad is secured to the palm portion and has a part extending to the thumb opening and a second pad is secured to the thumb portion and has a flap extending over the thumb opening.

Abstract: An incinerator for burning waste material includes an outer steel housing having a refractory liner that defines a combustion chamber. A series of channels are secured to the inner surface of the housing and provide vertical air flow passages. The lower ends of the passages are open to the atmosphere, while the upper ends are connected to a plenum and air is drawn through the passages by a blower to thereby preheat the air and cool the outer housing. A portion of the preheated air is directed to the stack for secondary combustion purposes, while a second portion of the preheated air is returned through vertical passages in the end of the housing to a pair of lower plenums and then introduced into the lower end of the combustion chamber for primary combustion purposes. The incinerator also has an improved feed assembly for feeding waste material to the combustion chamber, which includes a hopper, a triple hydraulic cylinder and a ram movable within the hopper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting articles such as potatoes into helical strips wherein the potato is held against rotation and aligned by a plurality of fingers and moved longitudinally against a rapidly rotating cutting head. The cutting head may include a hollow central cutting tube mounted at its axis of rotation. A feed mechanism is provided to feed potatoes to the holder for cutting and automatic sensing and sequencing control system controls the loading and feeding of potatoes. A plurality of holding and cutting mechanisms can be simultaneously fed and operated by the control system.

Abstract: An electric arc furnace having at least one electrode and a burner and first and second supply systems for respectively supplying an oxygen containing gas and fuel to the burner. An exhaust gas conduit is connected to the furnace and includes a first damper for controlling the flow rate of exhaust gases and a second damper for controlling the flow of dilution air into the exhaust conduit. First and second position sensors are coupled to the first and second dampers, respectively, for sensing the positions thereof, a temperature sensor is coupled to the exhaust conduit for sensing the temperature therein and a pressure sensor is coupled to the furnace for sensing the furnace pressure. A first control is coupled to the first supply system and to the temperature sensor and to the first position sensor for initiating and controlling the flow of oxygen containing gas in relation to the temperature in the conduit and the position of the first damper.

Abstract: A medical examining lamp has a generally parabolic reflector, a socket for receiving an incandescent lamp and a removable shield mounted adjacent the open end of the reflector and in alignment with the socket. The reflector has a blue anodized surface to color correct the incandescent lamp.

Abstract: A machine for making plastic bags, such as trash or garbage bags, includes a rotary sealing drum of variable diameter, the drum including one or more sealing bars for cross-sealing a flattened plastic film tube passing through the machine. A blanket tensioning system surrounds the drum and is adjustable to compensate for different drum diameters. The sealed film passes over a chill roll after leaving the drum-blanket assembly and is drawn over folding boards by pull rolls. The sealed and folded film is then perforated by a fly knife and is preferably also cut on the sides to produce a connected series of bags which may easily be separated from one another to make the bags suitable for easy dispensing packages. A variator assembly may also be provided to insure a proper skirt length between the cut-perforation and the bag seal.

Abstract: A plate levelling machine includes a first group of small rolls and a second group of larger rolls connected in tandem with the rolls of the first group. The upper rolls of both groups are supported and arranged so that each group can be displaced away from their associated lower rolls while maintaining the rolls of the other group in an operative position. When light gauge plates are to be levelled, the larger upper rolls are displaced to an inactive position and the material is levelled using the small rolls. For heavier gauge material, the small rolls are moved out of position and the larger rolls are employed.