Abstract: An animal feed binder, particularly for use in forming pellets. The binder is an anhydrous complex salt formed as a by-product in the desulfurization of fossil fuel combustion gases with magnesium oxide. The magnesium sludge from the desulfurization process is dewatered, dried and ground into a powder not larger than about minus 7 U.S. Sieve mesh. The anhydrous complex salt contains a major portion of magnesium sulfite (greater than 50% by weight to about 80% by weight) and a minor portion of magnesium sulfate (from about 15% by weight to about 45% by weight). An animal feed composition is formed by the admixture of a dry mixture of feed ingredients and the complex salt. When the animal feed composition is contacted with water or steam, it is conditioned by the heat of hydration of the complex salt and forms a hardened animal feed composition which can be extruded into pellets or formed into self-setting blocks.

Abstract: A portable carpet stretching device enabling a user to stretch carpeting at an angle into engagement with a tack strip affixed along the base of an adjacent wall, thus to eliminate wrinkles. The device has a carpet-engaging head member and a relatively fixed base member. The front of the base member is attached by an extensible member to the rear of the head member, and pivotally connected anchoring means are utilized for securing the base member in a desired relationship to the adjacent wall. Power applying means enable the user to force the head member and the base member apart, so the anchoring of the base member with respect to the adjacent wall by the anchoring means results at the time of application of the power means, in the portion of the carpet engaged by the head member being forced toward the adjacent wall and into contact with the tack strip. The anchoring means includes a pulling plate having a lower edge adapted to engage the tack strip.

Abstract: A safety fork for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire. The fork has an elongated shaft with a handle at one end and a hook at the other. The hook is formed from a pair of tines extending forwardly, then bending rearwardly forming a bight defining a food holding area adapted for receipt of one or more hot dogs or marshmallows and finally extending rearwardly, said tines having a plane of symmetry passing through the shaft. Forwardly and rearwardly extending portions of tines are in stacked planes so that the food holding area continues for a distance along the forwardly extending portion of the tines.

Abstract: A purification system and a method for controlling exhaust gas emissions from internal combustion engines during start-up and restart, as well as during normal engine operation is disclosed. A method for controlling emissions during low load operation of a diesel engine fueled with a diesel fuel/methane mixture is also provided. Exhaust gases are contacted with a gas permeable solid material containing an adsorbent and a catalyst capable of converting the noxious components into innocuous materials. The flow of the gases through the gas permeable solid material is reversed in a series of continuing cycles to bring or to maintain the catalyst in a temperature range suitable for controlling the noxious components, below which temperature the noxious materials are adsorbed by the adsorbent.

Abstract: A process for stabilizing rice bran containing protein and a naturally occurring lipase enzyme that causes rancidity. The rice bran is treated with an antilipase enzyme, preferably a nonspecific protease of plant or fungal origin. Treatment with the antilipase enzyme stabilizes the rice bran against rancidity without denaturing the protein. Stabilized rice bran has food and industrial utility and can be processed by a sequence of steps including wet milling and microfiltration into a variety of other products also having food and industrial utility. In some instances depending on the product, it is not necessary to stabilize the rice bran before wet milling and microfiltration.

Abstract: A urinary incontinence control device including a catheter with a laterally extending projection which can be elastically deformed by an actuator from a protruding position for retention to a non-protruding position for catheter insertion and removal. The actuator is slidably disposed in the catheter for retracting the projection. The catheter has a connector at a proximal end for locking the actuator in the catheter when the projection is retracted facilitating insertion and removal of the device in the urinary tract of a human female.

Abstract: A device for cleaning, polishing or sanding having a treatment head that linearly reciprocates a pad or brush with a purely translational motion. The treatment head has a driven shaft with a crank at a free end connected through a link to a sliding block. The sliding motion of the block is confined in rails fixed on opposite sides of the driven shaft. A mechanism is provided for connecting the driven shaft to an output shaft of an electric motor.

Abstract: A one-piece saddle tee for installation on a fluid line such as an irrigation line. The saddle tee has a clamp includes a pair of opposing clamp segments having upper, lower and intermediate portions with at least one of the segments being hinged along its intermediate portion to one end of the base. The other of the segments is attached to the other end of the base. Each of the segments has a locking part at its lower end portion cooperating with a locking part of the other of the segments, the locking parts interconnecting the clamp segments when the clamp is pressed onto the line. A coupling tap may be used for punching a hole in the line. Coupling tap is secured to the line with saddle tee.

Abstract: A chute assembly in a bucket or scoop designed to be mounted on a front end loader or the like having a boom or lift arms for raising, lowering and controlling fore-aft pitch of the bucket. The bucket or scoop has an interior chamber and the chute assembly has a pair of converging sidewalls mounted on a plate forming a funnel, preferably with an adjustable throat for spreading flowable materials. The sidewalls of the chute are adapted to make a sealing fit with the sidewalls of the bucket, as does the plate along its bottom wall, joining the funnel and the interior chamber and forming a hopper. The chute assembly has means for attachably and detachably securing the plate to the bottom wall of the bucket. In one embodiment, a power ram drive mechanism swings the chute assembly in and out of the bucket on lift arms attached to the bucket.

Abstract: An aluminum baseball or softball bat warmer with an inner and outer container separated by an air space. The inner container is adapted to receive a bat and is supported inside the outer container on a hanger with an aperture. A convective thermal source is positioned below the hanger. Warmed air from the convective thermal source is directed through the aperture in the hanger and circulates through the air space, warming the sidewall of the inner container and the bat therein. By heating the aluminum bat, the possibility of cold denting and cracking thin walled aluminum bats formed of "CU-31" alloy, "C405" alloy or like, is reduced.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism for holding, among other possible things, a squirrel or other animal during skinning. The mechanism includes a rigid band under which a tail of the animal is gripped. The band is pivoted between an open and closed position by a foot-operated treadle which is connected to the band by an elongated rigid link.

Abstract: A truck bed extender mountable in a receivable trailer hitch has an elongated support bar and a rack. The rack has a horizontal cross bar that is vertically adjustable on the support bar at the end opposite that where the support bar is secured to the receiver trailer hitch.