Abstract: An improved solar collector cover for reducing energy loss in flat plate solar collectors is disclosed. The cover provides a solar radiation transmitting material containing a plurality of sealed evacuated passageways or cavities.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming and positioning a keyway joint is removably coupled to the front end of a slip-form paving machine. A supply roll of key strip stock is mounted on the apparatus and the strip is guided to successive arrangements of forming rollers for shaping the strip into a desired form. An automatic punch mechanism is provided for pucnhing holes in the strip liner and an automatic tie bar mechanism is also associated with the apparatus for automatically placing tie bars into these holes. Because it is difficult to assure that such tie bars are properly placed in the holes and since an improperly positioned tie bar can cause serious damage to the keyway and pavement already laid, a mechanism is provided for shutting down the paving machine if such tie bars are not properly placed.

Abstract: An automatic livestock waterer having a concrete housing. Formed within the upper portion of the housing is a trough which is adapted to hold water. A well spaced away from said trough is also formed within said housing. A float control element for regulating the water level in the trough is coupled to a plumbing element mounted in said well, and which is connected to the water source, providing a conduit for the water from the water source to the float. The housing contains a service aperture adjacent to the well for servicing the control elements and plumbing elements. A hood extends over and around the float and associated heating element.

Abstract: A hopper device for delivering granular or powdery material to a conveyor system of a type having a circuitous tube and a continuous flexible member having disc members rigidly attached thereto has a material level monitor and control apparatus attached thereto. The continuous flexible member passes through the hopper and a material flow varying mechanism is disposed within the hopper for causing material to be delivered from the hopper into the conveyor system when such mechanism is in operation. A housing having a chamber therein is attached to the outlet side of the hopper and has a float assembly disposed in the chamber for sensing the amount of material being fed into the conveyor system.

Abstract: A recliner-rocker geriatric wheel chair having a unitary member movable between a first position wherein the chair is allowed to rock and a second position wherein the chair is prevented from rocking motion. In the first position the unitary member functions to both stabilize the chair against rearward tilt and to brake the ground engaging wheel against movement. In the second position the unitary member engages the seat portion of the chair and prevents it from rocking.

Abstract: A coupling of the type including a housing having a rotating locking sleeve therein for selectively locking the housing to a splined shaft. The locking sleeve is biased to a locked position, but a mechanism is provided for automatically holding the locking sleeve in an unlocked position upon removal of the housing from the shaft whereby the shaft will be automatically locked to the housing upon replacement of the housing on the shaft.

Abstract: A canopy door including a pivotally mounted leaf adapted to swing on a fixed horizontal axis between an open and a closed position, and an extensible strut having an intermediate pivot point disposed in an over-center position when the door is closed. Operating cables, driven by a common shaft, are attached to the leaf and strut; and are payed out and taken up to move the door between its open and closed positions. One of the operating cables exerts an upward force on the strut to move it from its over-center position, thereby exerting an initial outward opening force on the door.

Abstract: A connection apparatus for a vending machine of a type having a helically shaped member which is connected to a drive shaft in a novel manner. A one piece molded plastic member has a hub section for connection to the drive shaft and a plurality of radially extending arms for connection to a convolution of the helically shaped member.

Abstract: A cleaning conveyor is illustrated as part of a beet harvester and includes a plurality of transversely extending elongated rollers which move the beets laterally to feed into a vertical auger conveyor. At the vertical auger end, the forwardmost and rearwardmost cleaning rollers are yieldably mounted and the cleaning conveyor is positioned relative to the vertical auger conveyor so that the flow of beets into the vertical auger conveyor is unobstructed by dirt and mud buildup above the cleaning rollers or by the repelling force of the rotating vertical auger.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for the determination of the dissociation characteristics of oxygen from blood. The functional relationship between increasing liquid phase P.sub.02 and decreasing pH is determined and presented in the form of a continuous curve for values ranging from desaturation to saturation. By analyzing this data through linear regression techniques, the characteristic parameter of the oxygen dissociation curve P.sub.50, may be easily determined.

Abstract: An electrically controlled water powered reversible center pivot irrigation apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a multiplicity of water-carrying conduits flexibly connected to each other and supported at intervals by self-propelled supports. Each of the self-propelled supports includes a water powered sprinkler which turns a drive shaft for propulsion of the support. An electrically controlled transmission designates the direction in which the support travels and mechanical linkages, operable in either direction of movement of the apparatus, control the flow of water from the conduits to the sprinklers depending upon the relative position between adjacent conduits.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a naso-gastric tube in position relative to a patient's nares, while at the same time permitting a reasonable degree of freedom for the patient to move without significant discomfort. The device includes a clamp for fixedly and movably engaging a naso-gastric tube and an adhesive member for affixing the device to a patient's nose. These two elements are connected by a flexible elongate member which allows relative movement therebetween. The tube clamp frictionally engages the exterior of the tube and thus allows the tube to be manually moved relative thereto for repositioning.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the automatic control of one or more pumping and compressing machines and of the related fluid network. The purpose of such systems and methods is to maintain only the required pressure just after a source or just before a user so as to reduce the compressing or pumping energy required; to divide the load within a group of one or more compressing or pumping machines so as to compress the fluid with reduced use of energy and improved pressure control; to improve protection of the turbo compressors when used in parallel from dangerous levels of operation.

Abstract: A fluid inflatable, elongated, flexible, substantially parallel pair of tubes for supporting goods above a surface and a method of stacking and supporting goods on a surface and on top of goods by use of said tubes, wherein upon inflating the tubes, a fork lift truck or the like can be used to lift and move the goods; upon deflating the tubes, less space is required for storing the goods after they have been stacked, and upon partial deflation of the tubes, both a cushioning effect and a space saving effect is obtained.

Abstract: An end section adapted to prevent clogging of the end guard on a reciprocating type mower and having a single point, inner and outer cutting edges, and means of attachment to a conventional mower. The single point design results in economical production of an end section having superior cutting edges which can be easily resharpened when required.

Abstract: This invention is a reversible mechanical movement. A bearing arm is rigidly connected to an oscillatory shaft. A contact disc is rigidly attached to a rotatable shaft. The bearing arm and the contact disc contact one another to convert rotary motion to oscillating motion, or the reverse. The conversion of oscillating motion to linear reciprocating motion, or the reverse, is accomplished by conventional methods.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for a noninteracting control and protection of a dynamic compressor having rotating vanes.The method consists of a junction of a few control circuits for controlling the performance of a dynamic compressor, for protecting compressor from approaching dangerous zones of operation, and for maintaining a required mass flow rate of a gas through the compressor.An automatic control system based on using the above method is distinguished by its simplicity, great transient and steady state precision and high reliability of surge protection.

Abstract: A drive and steering apparatus for a vehicle of a type having ground engaging wheels or tracks on each side thereof. A shaft rotatably connected to the frame of the vehicle is selectively rotated by a motor through a drive train. A first drive assembly is rotatably disposed on one side of the shaft and a second drive assembly is rotatably disposed on the other side of the shaft. A first clutch mechanism is attached to the shaft and is selectively movable between positions in contact with the first drive assembly and out of contact with the first drive assembly. A first brake mechanism is attached to the frame and is selectively movable between positions in and out of contact with the first drive assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing vaporization of an air/fuel mixture before combustion in an engine is disclosed. Partially atomized air/fuel mixture from a carburetor is directed into a dual-chambered apparatus, wherein the air/fuel mixture is further vaporized through the use of heat conducted from recycled exhaust gases of the engine. The vaporized fuel mixture is then directed into the manifold of the engine for combustion.

Abstract: A device for docking and mooring a boat including an elongate member having a series of convolutions formed therein to provide a continuous convoluted surface. When a throwline having an enlarged end portion is engaged with the convoluted surface, contact will be maintained therebetween so long as tension is maintained no matter what directional changes are made between the line and the surface. Several embodiments are disclosed ranging from catching devices alone to such devices which may be released from a remote location.