Abstract: A method of manufacturing the outer housing of a metal inert gas welding gun comprising an investment cast process which eliminates the necessity of providing a separately machined threaded end for the gun, thus providing a gun housing which is not only less expensive, but also much stronger than previously available gun housings of this type.

Abstract: A method for sealing and protecting a plastic lined pipe joint from corrosive fluid passing through the plastic lined pipe involving the placing of a plastic collar seal internally within the pipe joint at the time of assembly of the pipe joint. The plastic collar seal involves concentric O-rings at each end that annularly seal off the end of the pipe and pipe collar. An external ridge on the collar seal allows the collar seal to rest on the end of the pipe section during assembly and assists in assembling the joint. Such a collar seal has been found to be particulrly useful in oil and gas well applications for injecting corrosive fluids into the well.

Abstract: A self-centering alignment gauge for determining automotive frame and body structure alignment has a clip to permit hanging such gauges outside of the vehicle body, from the top surface of the rocker panel.

Abstract: Apparatus for sustained dispensation of a chemical agent exteriorally of an animal, the chemical agent being such as a pesticide, insect repellent, or other pharmacological agent and being contained in a closed vial, including apparatus for retaining the vial on the exterior of an animal's body and an element forming a part of the vial for sustained minute release of the chemical agent.

Abstract: A method of lifting and stabilizing a concrete slab having an opening therein in which a plate is attached to the top surface of the slab, the plate having an opening coinciding with the opening in the slab, a hydraulic jack having a downwardly extending piston is removeably secured to the plate and a series of tubular shafts are forced downwardly through the opening in the plate and the slab to penetrate the earth beneath the slab and apply lifting force. When the slab has been lifted to the desired elevation, grout, such as a concrete slurry, can be injected below the slab so that the slab is stabilized in the selected elevational position. After the plate is removed the hole in the slab is filled.

Abstract: A sealing device for facilitating pressuring of tubeless tires and comprising an endless hollow ring member adapted to be positioned at the hiatus between a deflated tire and the associated wheel rim, a plurality of tubular members are disposed within the ring member, and a cable extends through the inner tubular members and has opposite ends extending outwardly from the ring member through a port provided in the sidewall of the ring, clamp members are provided for engaging the exposed outer ends of the cable for adjusting the overall length thereof, and a plurality of roller members are disposed around the cable and disposed within the ring member. When air pressure is directed into the interior of the tire, the sealing device installed at the hiatus between the tire and the wheel substantially precludes the escape of the air at the hiatus, and when the internal pressure of the tire reaches a predetermined level, the ring member is automatically disengaged from the tire and the wheel.

Abstract: A low NO.sub.x burner for a furnace and a method of operating the burner involving a primary and secondary combustion zone wherein staged fuel and air to both combustion zones is provided. By injection of from about 40 to 60% of the liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel along with about 90% of the total air required to a first reaction zone and injection of the remaining fuel with the remaining 10% of the air to a secondary reaction zone the formation of NO.sub.x is significantly suppressed. Such a burner is useful in minimizing NO.sub.x emissions for a variety of furnace types including both natural draft and forced draft furnaces.

Abstract: A high-temperature transducer for transmitting and/or receiving sonic energy having a housing with a cylindrical opening, a metallic acoustic window element closing one end of the opening, a cylindrical transducer crystal having one planar surface in engagement with the acoustic window rearward face, a cylindrical dampening member in contact with the crystal rearward face, a first and a second thrust disc received in the cylindrical opening with a thrust transmitting sphere between the discs, and a thrust producing compression screw threadably received in the cylindrical opening supplying pressure against the first of the thrust discs which pressure is applied by means of the sphere to the second thrust disc, to the dampening means and to the crystal rearward face to force the crystal into intimate engagement with the acoustic window for effective sound transmission.

Abstract: A leaf and lawn debris lift and bagger apparatus comprising a wheeled container having a debris scooper assembly pivotally secured to the outer periphery thereof, the scooper assembly being movable between a collapsed storage position against the outer periphery of the container to a scooping position adjacent the surface of the lawn or the like wherein debris has accumulated. The debris may be swept into the interior of the extended scooper assembly, and the scooper assembly may be pivoted to a discharge position whereby the debris contained therein may fall by gravity into the interior of the container.

Abstract: A valve operator having a piston or diaphragm and connected polygonal piston rod which supplies reciprocable motion to a key or follower which acts within a spiraled slot formed in a coupling member attached to a valve gate to rotate the valve gate to a desired angular position. One embodiment includes means to bias the piston and the valve gate in a desired angular position from closed to open or therebetween.

Abstract: A pnuematic distributing apparatus for seed or other ground receiving particles which has a mobile framework attached to or powered by a vehicle. A large capacity substantially sealed seed bin is disposed on the framework and feeds grain and/or fertilizer into a metering mechanism which deposits seed into a plurality of seed channels which intersect with corresponding pressurized air flow conduits which direct the seeds into outlet tubes adjacent ground furrow openers and deposit the seed into the furrows. Means are provided to block seed channels for selected seeding patterns.

Abstract: A hunting broadhead arrow comprising a hollow body or ferrule having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots extending through the sidewall thereof for receiving a flat substantially triangular shaped blade member in each of the slots. The shank of the point member of the arrowhead extends slidably into the interior of the body and carries a plunger member in the inner end thereof. Each blade is retained in a normal contracted or retracted position with respect to the body by suitable snap ring members, and each blade is provided with a recess on the inner edge thereof for engagement with the outer periphery of the plunger member in the retracted position of the blades.

Abstract: An improved system for separating higher boiling hydrocarbon products from methane in a gas/liquid extraction plant. The improvements lies in combining the fractionating tower with a counterflow plate and tube heat exchanger through which the refrigerated low pressure gas flows from top end to bottom end, and the precooled high pressure gas flows upwardly in counterflow relation. The heat exchanger is in the form of an annular chamber with tubes running the full length from bottom to top and plates forcing a zig-zag flow of the cold gas. This sets up a more or less linear temperature gradient which is impressed on the fractionating tower inside of the heat exchanger, which forms the inner wall of the heat exchanger and makes for more efficient and effective fractionation of the entering gas and vapor mixture.

Abstract: A cannister type diesel fuel heater that readily bolts on to a conventional diesel tractor comprising a closed container having two separate heat exchanger coil systems within the closed cannister. One coil is adapted to circulate diesel fuel coming from the fuel tank before combustion and the other coil is adapted to circulate excess diesel fuel returning to the fuel tank. By circulating hot crankcase oil from the diesel engine within the cannister in contact with the heat exchanger coils, the diesel fuel is heated before combustion as well as being heated upon return to the fuel tank. Such a system is particularly useful in maintaining the fuel system free of paraffinic deposits as well as improving overall efficiency and fuel mileage.

Abstract: A pizza cooking utensil comprising a housing having one open end adapted to be disposed adjacent the hot surface of a cooking grill and the opposite end closed by a removable cover, a partition provided in the interior of the housing separating the interior of the housing into two chambers, one chamber being adapted for surrounding or encasing a pizza serving to be cooked and the other chamber being a moisture chamber or water reservoir chamber, valves interposed between the two chambers and operable to selectively admit a quantity of moisture into the chamber surrounding the pizza section for facilitating the rapid and efficient cooking of the pizza section. The utensil eliminates the need for the usual relatively large and expensive pizza oven and renders the serving of pizza in a fast food establishment a feasible operation.