Abstract: The present invention relates to attachments for releasably securing a transparent shield to a wire grid face protector and the wire grid face protector to a helmet. The attachments comprise a clip and a bracket. The clip comprises a retaining body adapted to be secured to the wire grid face protector at a predetermined location and on opposed sides of a sight opening of the wire grid face protector. The retaining body has a guide slot adapted to receive an attachment flange of the transparent shield, and an opening formed in an outer wall thereof configured to receive in abutting engagement a resilient, outwardly inclined tongue of the attachment flange. The bracket comprises a body having a groove into which a wire member of the wire grid face protector is releasably and frictionally retained.

Abstract: A hot water tank is comprised of a cylindrical disc-shaped support base on which is supported a cylindrical inner tank concentrically therewith. A circumferential ridge projects upwardly adjacent an outer peripheral edge of the support base and spaced from a lower edge portion of a circumferential side wall of the inner tank to form a circumferential containment channel between the ridge and the lower edge portion. The channel has a volume sufficient to receive a lower portion of a plastic film pouch wrapper disposed at least about a lower section of the inner casing as well as a pre-determined quantity of hot expandable liquid urethane placed therein in sufficient quantity to fill a space between the inner casing and an outer shell secured spaced about the inner casing when the urethane is expanded. The channel prevents the liquid urethane from flowing out of the lower portion of the wrapper located therein due to deterioration of the wrapper when exposed to the hot liquid urethane.

Abstract: An ash and debris collector, particularly, but not exclusively, for a fireplace is comprised of a scoop body defined by an elongated open-ended channel member having a forward neck shovel portion and a rear discharge portion. At least a forward end of the shovel portion has a flat bottom wall with a straight front edge and opposed side walls. A skirt is provided in a front portion of the top wall of the shovel portion and projects outwardly of the top end of a front edge of the opposed side walls to prevent ashes from rising to the top wall of the scoop body during the scooping movement. A bag holder is secured to the rear discharge portion and extends rearwardly of a rear discharge opening defined by the rear discharge portion whereby to support a bag in an open condition. An open mouth of the bag is secured about the rear discharge opening by a band and a handle is provided on the rear discharge portion to manipulate the scoop.

Abstract: A screwdriver wherein the handle has a front and a rear handle section which are mated with one another. A shaft extends axially from the front end of the front handle section. The rear handle section is removably connected to the front handle section. The rear handle section has a shaft extending axially from a front end thereof and located in a central inner bore of the front handle section when the rear handle section is mated with the front handle section. The rear handle section constitutes a stub screwdriver. A screwdriver bit retention magazine is formed in the rear circumferential wall end of the front handle section and has a plurality of cavities having at least a wall portion thereof comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer to provide frictional retention of the bits.

Abstract: A composite wood joist for the construction of building structures is comprised of an elongated straight main member and a transverse elongated web piece connected thereto. Both the main member and the web piece are of rectangular cross-section with the web piece being secured along a narrow flat end face of the main member. The web piece is dimensioned and disposed to extend beyond the opposed flat side faces of the main member to define opposed wing sections. The web piece also has a width which is narrower than the width of the main member and it provides an arresting force against longitudinal distortion of the straight elongated main member and improves the load bearing capacity thereof.

Abstract: An extrusion process and apparatus is described for the manufacture of a thermoplastic resin-filler composite product having a desired resin-filler mixture comprised of 60-20% by weight of a thermoplastic resin and 40-80% by weight of a filler. A resin-filler mixture, in homogeneous form, is extruded through a die at a temperature above the softening point of the resin to form an extrudate having a desired cross-sectional shape. The extrudate is then passed through a die land at a temperature of above the softening point. From the die land the extrudate is cooled in a cooled shaper and transferred thereto through a thermal barrier insert member which is disposed in contact between the die land and the cooled shaper whereby radial pressure to counteract radial expansion tendencies of the extrudate is maintained during the passage. The cooled shaper cools the extrudate to a temperature of about at least 20° C. below the softening point of the resin.

Abstract: A prefabricated self-supporting building structure and method of construction is described. The building structure comprises a plurality of substantially triangular shaped panels which are interconnected to one another by a hinge connector and along certain edges thereof whereby to form collapsible roof segments. There are four roof segments in the building structure. The triangular shaped panels are interconnected to form two pre-assembled collapsible panel sections each incorporating a pre-assembled roof segment and panel sections for adjacent roof segments. These two pre-assembled panel sections are erected by simple cable attachments which may be secured to a vehicle and these are interconnected back-to-back. The roof segments are also secured by brackets at their junction points of the panels for securing the roof segments in elevated position on supports.

Abstract: An automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container whereby to operate the displacement of a panel door from a closed position to an open position. The system is housed in a restrained size housing which incorporates a motorized drive for driving an endless chain associated with an elongated central guide track on which the door is guidingly attached. The motorized drive is comprised of two small d.c. motors each having a drive gear drivingly coupled to a common driven gear of a gear drive which includes a worm gear in meshing engagement with a driven sprocket connected to a drive sprocket to displace the endless chain. The housing is of reduced thickness and access to the interior of the housing is provided through a non-obstructed removable bottom wall plate and accordingly it is not necessary to disconnect the endless chain and drive sprocket to have access to the components of the system.

Abstract: A water heater system for a water dispensing fountain having a refrigerated water reservoir, is disclosed. The water heater system is comprised of a plastic molded hot water tank formed in a support membrane. A feed conduit is also formed in the membrane and extends from a connector, which secures to the bottom wall of the refrigerated water reservoir, to the bottom end of a serpentine array of the conduit which extends upwardly to the bottom wall of the hot water tank. The purpose of the serpentine conduit is to prevent hot water from the tank from flowing back into the refrigerated water reservoir. A dispensing conduit extends from the hot water tank and is located at a position whereby water can be extracted from a valve connected thereto by gravity flow. An exhaust pipe also extends from the hot water tank and is provided with an exhaust port located above the top water level of the refrigerated water reservoir whereby to exhaust water pressure vapors from the hot water tank.

Abstract: A shutter assembly which is comprised of a support frame formed by opposed parallel hollow side frame members and a bottom and top block member interconnected between the ends of the side frame members. A plurality of equidistantly spaced slats are pivotally inter-connected to one another and disposed between the side frame members in a parallel relationship. The side frame members each have a removably securable inner side wall which is provided with equidistantly spaced holes to receive opposed pivot pins of each of the slats. A slat positioning mechanism is disposed in one of the side frame members and has a pair of vertically disposed slat interconnecting bars. Pivot pin connectors are secured to each of the pivot pins and each has a pair of connecting arms pivotally connected to respective one of the slat interconnecting bars. A control gear, of circular disc shape, has gear teeth on at least an outer peripheral portion thereof.

Abstract: A spout-fluid bed drying system and process is comprised of a spout-fluid bed dryer having a conical shaped lower section provided with a packing of heat exchange particles. A cyclone separator is connected to the top of the dryer with separated particles collected by a receiver connected to the leg of the cyclone. A vapor fan compresses the air-vapor mixture before it goes to the heat recuperator and mixing chamber. A tube-shell type heat exchanger, wherein effluent gases from the vapor fan are preheated with heat exchange with the outcoming high temperature gases. A combustion and incineration chamber wherein a natural gas burner is installed at the top and the high temperature flame is used to incinerate the effluent gases introduced from the annulus channel of the chamber to have the odors and VOCs destroyed.

Abstract: The apparatus for automatically removing ribs portion from belly of a beast flank, such as pork flank, comprises a conveyor provided with gripping hooks for holding the flank in position on the conveyor during ribs portion removing, a camera disposed over flank top surface showing ribs for generating image electrical signals representing an image of the flank top surface, a laser triangulation unit for generating surface profile data characterizing the flank top surface, a pair of lateral cameras for generating ribs thickness data for the ribs and analyzing device such as computer for receiving the image electrical signals, surface profile data and ribs thickness data for deriving therefrom a programmed cut profile according to a predetermined meat thickness to be left under the ribs.

Abstract: A plastic film liquid pouch is formed from impermeable film sheet material and has opposed side walls with sealed circumferencial edges to form an enclosed chamber. A liquid product is provided in the chamber and a space is also provided to permit expansion of the liquid. An internal straw restraining passage is formed by seals between the opposed side walls. The straw restraining passage communicates with the liquid chamber and a straw is held loosely captive inside the passage and axially displaceable therein.

Abstract: An eye protection transparent shield for use with a headgear. The shield comprises a visor of transparent material and having opposed side connecting portions for pivotal securement to the headgear. The visor has an eye viewing portion and a nose support piece. A pivotal locking mechanism attaches each of the opposed side connecting portions to the headgear. The pivotal locking mechanism has a pivot connection and a guide mechanism for displacing the visor from a position of use, in front of the wearer's eyes, to a position of non-use above the wearer's eyes. The visor is arrested at both positions by a resiliently biased element which also applies a continuous retention force.

Abstract: A control for use with an expendable refrigeration system is disclosed which has particular use in refrigerated transport applications. The control is used to regulate the injection of refrigerant into the space to be refrigerated and provides an accurate means of precisely selecting a preferred ratio of "on" to "off" timing segments in each cycle and the number of complete cycles in a given time frame. In one embodiment of the invention, pneumatic pressures are used to power an oscillating device, the number of oscillations are counted to a selectable total. Attainment of the chosen total causes the counter to transmit a signal, which signal actuates the operator of a four-way valve. The switching of the valve provides the means to (a) open a liquid line valve to inject the refrigerant into the refrigerated space and (b) reset the counter, terminate the actuation signal and start the next cycle count.