Abstract: A grain storage unit for a combine is provided having a grain bin which has a lower section which is divided into two compartment by means of a partition. The partition has sloped surfaces to facilitate the flow of grain to the intakes of two conveyor systems. The conveyor systems include a discharge conveyor and an auxiliary conveyor. The discharge conveyor is provided with plurality of paddles joined to a flexible linkage which is continuously moved throughout the interior of a discharge conveyor housing. Grain from one of the compartments of the grain bin is collected through an intake of the discharge conveyor housing and is delivered upwards and away from the combine through a discharge located at the end of the discharge conveyor housing opposite the intake. The auxiliary conveyor has an inlet located within the other of the two compartments for removing grain therefrom. The auxiliary conveyor has a conveyor housing which opens into the housing of the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for molding and curing a curable composite patch used for repairing damaged contoured surface structures. The molding apparatus has a fluid impermeable outer container having a flexible outer wall. A flexible, fluid impermeable inner container containing a moldable granular material is positioned within the outer container and has a flexible molding wall on which the composite patch can be placed. Inner and outer ports are located on the inner and outer containers for evacuating the inner and outer containers. A model of an undamaged surface is formed by positioning the molding wall of the inner container against an unaffected surface and evacuating the inner container so that the granular material is rigidly held in a molded form. The patch is placed on the molding wall and the outer container is sealed with the outer wall positioned over the patch and molding of the inner container.

Abstract: An air conditioning condenser is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed headers having an exterior wall between which a plurality of substantially flat parallel flow tubes are disposed for providing fluid communication between the headers. The flow tubes are flat and have opposite side edges which are located on opposite sides of the condenser. At least one mounting bracket is attached to the air conditioning condenser. The mounting bracket is formed from a pair of opposite bracket members. The bracket members each have a header engagement portion and an inwardly protruding tube engagement portion. The header engagement portion of each bracket member has an inner wall for contacting the exterior wall of one of the headers so that when the bracket members are joined together, the header is held between the inner walls of the header engagement portions. The tube engagement portion of each bracket member terminates in an inner face and has a plurality of slots.

Abstract: A direct contact water heater is provided having an upright, closed cylindrical tank formed from an outer tank shell. The outer tank shell has a top, a bottom and an external sidewall extending between the top and bottom to define an interior of the tank. A combustion chamber is centrally located within the interior of the tank. Combustible fuel is introduced downward from a combustion means into the combustion chamber and is ignited in the presence of air within the combustion chamber to create products of combustion. A plurality of spray nozzles are connected to a water supply to be heated. The spray nozzles are evenly spaced around and along the length of the combustion chamber for directing water from the water supply into the combustion chamber so that more uniform contact of the water is achieved with the products of combustion to facilitate heating of the water.

Abstract: The production of excessive water in oil and gas wells and other subterranean formations is reduced by introducing a hydrocarbon fluid containing dispersed superabsorbing particles formed using invert emulsion polymerization techniques wherein the superabsorbing particles are formed from hydratable polymers which are cross-linked so that they are insoluble in water. By introducing these superabsorbing particles into fluid passages of the formation, the water producing zones can be selectively blocked off by allowing the superabsorbing particles to swell with the absorption of water within the aqueous fluid containing fluid passages, while the superabsorbing particles remain small and unswollen in the hydrocarbon conducting fluid passages. Thus, the ability of fluids to flow through the aqueous fluid containing fluid passages is selectively reduced resulting in the reduced production of aqueous fluids while maintaining production of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A storage tray for holding different sized data storage media, such as diskettes, has more than one mode. The storage tray has a flat bottom having an upper surface and opposite front and rear walls which extend upward from the bottom. A pair of opposite sidewalls extend between the front and rear walls and are provided with an inwardly protruding ledge to define a recessed portion in which diskettes of a first size are stored. At least one removable plate having a center partition inserts into the storage tray and is supported on the opposite ledges so that the lower surface of the tray faces the bottom. The plate allows diskettes of a second, smaller size to be stored on the upper surface of the plate on either side of the partition and between the sidewalls of the storage tray. Dividing members can be inserted into the plate slots for supporting the diskettes of the second size. The dividing members releasably couple together.

Abstract: An artificial reef is formed for use in a body of water to provide a habitat for aquatic life. The reef is formed by providing an anchoring structure which is submerged in the body of water. The anchoring structure has a weight sufficient to anchor the artificial reef to the floor of the body of water. Spaced at intervals along the floor of the body of water and attached to the anchoring structure are a plurality of reef assemblies. Each of the reef assemblies is formed from a base which is secured to the anchoring structure. A flexible elastomeric sleeve is coupled to a lower end of a buoyant, elongated member formed from a substantially rigid polymeric material so that the elongated members are held in a general upright position. By providing a plurality of these reef assemblies, an artificial reef is formed.

Abstract: An impact resistant marker having a marker base which is adapted to be secured to the ground or other substructure. The marker base has an upward protruding mandrel to which an elastomeric sleeve is mounted at one end, and at the other end to a substantially rigid, elastomeric mounting core. A pair of retaining lugs are integrally formed and protrude laterally outward from the sides of the mounting core. A replaceable tubular marker post having an elongate central opening is provided with a pair of apertures for receiving the retaining lugs when the mounting core is inserted into the central opening of the marker post. The retaining lugs prevent the tubular marker post from being pulled from the mounting core. The flexible element restores the marker post to its original position after it is struck.

Abstract: A parallel flow condenser having a plurality of substantially flat, parallel flow tubes are positioned between oppositely disposed headers. The flow tubes provide fluid communication between the headers for cooling fluid which flows through the condenser. Each of the headers is formed from an inner member having an inner wall and a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel sidewalls which protrude outward from the inner wall. The parallel sidewalls terminate in outer edges. An outer member is provided having an outer wall and a pair of longitudinally extending attachment flanges which project inward from the outer wall. The attachment flanges are positioned between the parallel sidewalls of the inner member with the attachment flanges overlapping and joining one of the parallel sidewalls so that the inner and outer members are effectively joined together to form a fluid passage.

Abstract: A collapsible beverage holder for a beverage container is formed from a substantially rigid paperboard sheet having a rectangular body portion having opposite lateral side edges. The rectangular body portion is provided with several longitudinal creases which divide the rectangular body portion into panels so that the panels can be folded relative to each other. By joining the lateral ends of the body portion together, a sleeve can be formed from the rectangular body portion. A bottom portion is provided with the beverage holder by providing an extended portion of the paperboard sheet which extends from a lower end of the rectangular body portion. The bottom portion is provided with a transverse crease dividing the bottom portion into rigid sections which are foldable relative to each other along the transverse crease. The bottom portion has a free end which is joined to a lower edge of the sleeve.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a pair of headers which are formed from only two components. Each header is formed from a header channel which has an open portion which extends along the length of the header channel. Grooves are formed on either side of the open portion for receiving a header plate. The header plate is formed with a series of holes extending along the length of the plate. A fluid partition and end caps are formed from a folded portion of the header plate to direct fluid flow through the header pipe. The header plate is inserted into the header channel by inserting the side edges of the header plate into the grooves and sliding the header plate from one end of the header channel to the other so that the header plate extends over the open portion with the fluid partition and end caps protruding across and blocking the interior of the header channel. In an alternate embodiment, two header plates having end caps at each end are positioned within the header channel.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a set of oppositely disposed header pipes into which a plurality of parallel cross flow tubes are inserted and joined to provide fluid communication between the header pipes. Fluid enters the header pipes and flows through the tubes, wherein it is cooled by air passing over the tubes. The tubes are constructed from two separate plates, each plate having a plurality of non-continuous ridges, which are joined together to form a single substantially flat tube having an upper wall and a lower wall. The ridges are oriented along each wall of the tube in substantially oblique configurations, relative to the longitudinal axis of the tube, so that upstream ends of the ridges in each configuration are aligned in a substantially oblique line which extends across the width of the tube.

Abstract: A feeding system for a sorting conveyor is provided which includes a feeder having a tubular support member upon which a plurality of unordered hangers is supported. The tubular support member is inclined and is joined to an inclined slide rail which allows the hangers to slide downward along the tubular support and inclined slide rail to a collection station. The feeder has a retractable first stop member which prevents the downward movement of the plurality of unordered hangers from moving downward along the tubular support member. While the plurality of unordered hangers is prevented from downward movement by the first stop member, a separating member is interposed between a forward hanger of the plurality of hangers. The separating member prevents downward movement of the remaining plurality of unordered hangers after the first stop member releases the forward hanger so that the forward hanger can slide along the inclined slide rail to the sorting conveyor.

Abstract: A bendable marker for use in areas where the marker is required to be flexible is provided with a base and a marker post which are joined together by a flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve has a plurality of evenly spaced ribs which extend longitudinally along the sleeve from an upper end to a lower end. The ribs are evenly spaced apart with a groove being formed between each of the ribs. The ribs protrude from both the inner and outer surfaces of the flexible sleeve. If the marker post is struck, the flexible sleeve allows the marker post to bend relative to the base. The ribs strengthen and enhance the resiliency of the sleeve.

Abstract: A dimensionally graded electroconductive and electromagnetically responsive composite material is produced by contacting a polyurethane open cell foam substrate with a solution of an oxidatively polymerizable compound, such as pyrrole, that is polymerized to form a thin electroconductive polymer coating on the foam's surfaces. The reaction, wherein the compound is oxidized and polymerized to form a conductive polymer occurs over time. By varying the amount of time the porous foam substrate is in contact with the reacting solution a graded amount of electroconductive polymer is deposited on the foam substrate. The electrical activity of the resultant electrically conducting polyurethane/polypyrrole composite foam is measured as a Free Field Transmission loss at the microwave frequency of 10 GHz and expressed in "-dB". The polyurethane/polypyrrole composite foam with dimensionally graded electrical conductivity/activity constitutes a new bulk absorber.

Abstract: By the addition of wollastonite to slag based cements, such as those formed when converting drilling fluids to cementitious materials in oil and gas well applications, the flexural strength of the cementitious material is improved. The method involves forming a pumpable slurry of drilling fluid, blast furnace slag and the fibrous mineral, wollastonite. The slurry is then activated by the addition of such activators as sodium hydroxide and soda ash and is pumped into the well bore to a desired location and is allowed to solidify.

Abstract: A railway car cushioning device is provided for minimizing slack between railway cars. The cushioning device is provided with a piston and piston rod disposed within the cylinder. The cylinder is filled with an oil and gas mixture. A housing surrounds the cylinder providing a fluid recovery reservoir defined by the space between the outer wall of the cylinder and the housing. At one end of the cylinder is a bulkhead and at the other end is a cylinder head. The piston rod extends through a hole formed in the cylinder head and is joined to the sill of a railcar. A coupler is joined to the cushioning device for coupling to another railway car. A series of pressure relief valves are provided and engaged with egress ports formed in the cylinder wall between the bulk head and the piston when the piston is in an extended position. The pressure relief valves are constructed so that fluid may flow in only one direction, from the interior of the cylinder to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A light fixture for mounting to the switch housing of a ceiling fan is provided for giving the light fixture an integral appearance with the ceiling fan. The light fixture has a hollow base which has an upper surface and a bottom which are spaced apart. The upper surface of light fixture is defined by a periphery which is surrounded by an upper portion of the base. The upper portion and upper surface define a recess for receiving the lower portion of the switch housing. In another embodiment, a light pan is mounted to the bottom of the base. The light pan is a circular member having a lower surface and a substantially flat inner portion. The pan is provided with an upwardly extending outer flange located around the periphery. The pan has a diameter which is substantially greater than the width of the base so that the base is not visible when viewed from below. A light or lights are attached to the lower surface of the light pan.