Abstract: A system (20) for anchoring a vehicle frame (22) to a platform (24) utilizes a variety of securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) to secure the vehicle frame (22) from movement at desired locations while the vehicle frame (22) is being aligned with pulling forces applied by pulling towers (26). The securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) are held on cross beams (28, 30) which mount to anchoring stands (32), and the anchoring stands (32) are attached to the platform (24). The securement components include a rail vise (34), a C-channel clamp (36), a leaf spring shackle (38), L-clamps (40, 41), a slide plate (42), a hole adapter (44), a tie-down ratchet assembly (46), and a turnbuckle assist (48). The rail vise has two guide channels (78, 80) which slidably receive guide pins (114) therein. The guide pins (114) extend from a front movable clamp leg (74).

Abstract: A round baler includes bale forming mechanism and a crop delivery apparatus for delivering crop material to the bale forming mechanism. A clutch is provided for drivingly disconnecting the bale forming mechanism and delivery apparatus from the driveline while the tailgate is raised to discharge a wrapped bale. Engagement and disengagement of the clutch is controlled by a piston and cylinder assembly, and raising and lowering of the tailgate is controlled by a pair of piston and cylinder units. The baler is provided with a hydraulic sequencing circuit that connects the clutch assembly and the tailgate units to a common source of pressurized fluid. Moreover, the sequencing circuit controls fluid flow to the assembly and the units so that the clutch is disengaged before the tailgate is raised and the clutch is not re-engaged until the tailgate has been closed.

Abstract: Temperature self-regulating food delivery systems are provided having a magnetic induction heater (32, 126) and an associated food container (76, 124) equipped with an essentially permanent ferromagnetic heating element (82, 100, 128). The heater (32, 126) and heating elements (82,100, 128) are designed so as to heat the element (82, 100, 128) to a user-selected regulation temperature when the elements (82, 100, 128) are coupled with the heater's magnetic field, and to maintain the temperature in the vicinity of the regulation temperature indefinitely temperature regulation is a heating achieved by periodically determining at least two parameters of the heaters resonant circuits related to the amplitude of the resonant current passing therethrough during heating and responsively altering the field strength of the magnetic field. Preferably, the value of the resonant circuit amplitude and the rate of change of the amplitude are determine.

Abstract: A wheelchair cart configured for rollable transportation while carrying medical gas or other equipment is provided having a linkage assembly operable for linking the cart with a wheelchair while allowing the wheelchair/cart assembly to pass over uneven surfaces. The cart allows a single person to connect the cart to a wheelchair and transport the two simultaneously. The cart is configured such that equipment that should be transported with the patient and is often physically connected to the patient (e.g. ventilators, IV's, and monitors) is stored and transported on the cart. Risks associated with disconnecting the patient from vital medical equipment are minimized by eliminating the typical separate transportation of an equipment cart and a wheelchair by more than one person, which may result in a stretching or breaking of the attachment lines between the patient and the equipment.

Abstract: A milking arrangement comprising a milking apparatus, having at least one teatcup (2) and a teatcup magazine (5) for holding the teatcup. The teatcup (2) has an opening through which a teat of an animal is introduced during the attachment of the teatcup to the teat. The teatcup magazine (5) comprises at least one first member (6) provided to receive the teatcup and a second member (7) provided to support the first member (6). The first member (6) is movably connected to the second member (7) between a first position, in which the teatcup (2) received by the first member has its opening turned substantially downwards, and a second position in which the teatcup (2) is received by the first member has its opening turned in direction substantially deviating from the downward direction.

Abstract: An automobile lift and straightening platform is useful for performing repairs on motor vehicles received thereon, and includes a base, a bench which includes treadways for permitting the vehicle to roll thereon and receiving anchors for coupling the vehicle body to the bench, a lifting unit for raising and lowering the bench relative to the base, and a locking unit for locking the bench in an elevated position relative to the base and thereby inhibiting undesired lowering of the vehicle. An unlocking member is provided which may be actuated by the foot of the worker. A hand held control is connected to a power unit for operating an extensible ram of the lifting unit to raise and lower the bench, thus permitting one worker to lower the bench when simultaneously actuating the control and the unlocking member.

Abstract: A tent pole ground anchor and support device is disclosed as including a substantially flat base that is configured for placement on the ground. A pair of stake-receiving openings are defined in the base so that a ground stake may be inserted through one of the openings and into the ground. A wall projects upwardly from the base, with the wall and base cooperatively defining a pole-retaining recess that is configured to receive an end of the tent pole therein. With respect to known recreational tents, the recess is oversized relative to the tent pole so that the pole may be retained in the recess in the desired oblique orientation relative to the ground. The wall is preferably discontinuous and consequently presents spaced apart ends that cooperatively define a pole-receiving hole therebetween. The pole-receiving hole is provided so that the tent pole may be nested therein when in the desired orientation.

Abstract: A breakaway sign post assembly (30) is disclosed as including a sign support post (32), an anchoring post (34) and a breakaway collar (100). The breakaway collar (100) includes a sidewall (102) which surrounds the sign support post (32). The sidewall (102) includes at least one substantially vertical line of weakness (120) configured to facilitate a portion of the sidewall (102) to give way. The sidewall (102) retains the sign support post (32) in a manner to define a fulcrum (134) about which the sign support post (32) turns when a vehicle impacts and exerts a lateral force at an impact location, with the fulcrum (134) being positioned below the impact location so that the support post (32) will swing generally away from the vehicle.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor having a stator in which piezoelectric elements are contained in slots formed in the stator transverse to the desired wave motion. When an electric field is imposed on the elements, deformation of the elements imposes a force perpendicular to the sides of the slot, deforming the stator. Appropriate frequency and phase shifting of the electric field will produce a wave in the stator and motion in a rotor. In a preferred aspect, the piezoelectric elements are configured so that deformation of the elements in direction of an imposed electric field, generally referred to as the d33 direction, is utilized to produce wave motion in the stator. In a further aspect, the elements are compressed into the slots so as to minimize tensile stresses on the elements in use.

Abstract: A platform scale (10) includes a signal processor (22) operable to perform statistical analyzes such as least squares or other mathematical analyzes such as successive approximation of the load signals from the respective load cells (14) supporting a platform (12) in order to produce load position correction factors used in determining the weight of a load on the scale (10).

Abstract: A stop mechanism for detaching a conveyor trolley from a drive system which normally drives the trolley along a conveyor track. A ramp can be moved into the path of a trolley dog so that the trolley dog moves upwardly along an inclined ramp surface to disengage the trolley dog from a drive dog carried by a driven chain of the conveyor system. The actuating mechanism for the ramp includes a pivotal cam plate actuated by a power cylinder. A cam slot in the cam plate receives a cam roller connected with a guide link which moves in a vertical guide slot. The guide link is connected with the ramp to move it up and down under the control of the actuating cylinder.

Abstract: A reinforced structural member includes a structural member and a reinforcing member, the reinforcing member being received within a cavity of the structural member and bonded thereto by thermally expansible foaming structural reinforcing material. The reinforcing member includes a carrier, a structural reinforcing material element, a directional shelf separate from the carrier, and a fastener coupling the directional shelf to the carrier. The directional shelf includes a platform which is apertured to permit the reinforcing material to foam and expand therethrough to bond the carrier directly to an adjacent wall of the structural member. At least one directional wall extends at an oblique angle to the platform to limit the expansion of the structual reinforcing material therepast during foaming.

Abstract: A masking member including a substance provided to be deposited onto a surface in order to mask the latter, and protect it from outer affection, the substance being provided to be deposited as an easily releasable film on said surface by being brushed against said surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for applying accurately metered, minute quantities of concentrated additives from bulk sources of supply to successive masses of material presented for treatment. The methods of the invention comprise mixing an additive with a small amount of a liquid carrier to form a suspension, causing the suspension to foam, and applying the resulting foamed suspension to a material such as animal feed. The apparatuses of the invention provide for a pass-through chamber within which separate streams of a liquid carrier, an additive substance, and preferably a foaming agent are merged together. Each of the streams are directed into the chamber in a metered flow to incrementally combine the streams. A suction pump at the downstream end of the chamber draws the prepared product out of the chamber and advances it toward an ultimate delivery site.

Abstract: An improved calcium-enriched composition and method of supplementing food products with the composition are provided. Broadly, the compositions include respective sources of phosphate ions, citrate ions, and calcium ions, metal hydroxides, and water, with the molar ratio of citrate ions to phosphate ions in the composition being from about 1.0:1.35 to about 1.0:2.35. The compositions have high solids contents relative to prior art compositions, and at least about 70% of the theoretically available calcium ions remain dispersed in the compositions at ambient temperatures. The compositions are in the form of a colloidal suspension having very little or no sedimentation. Finally, the compositions can be mixed with food products (e.g., cow's milk, soy milk) to substantially increase the calcium available in the product without negatively affecting the taste, color, or smell of the product.

Abstract: A fluid tank assembly is designed for stacking with similar assemblies. The fluid tank assembly includes a base having a plurality of upright stacking legs, a tank having a liquid-receiving chamber received on and supported by the base, and couplers for connecting the tank to the stacking legs adjacent the upper ends of the latter. The couplers away be provided as fasteners such as bolts and receivers whereby the tank prevents the legs from spreading outwardly. Alternatively, the couplers may be provided as bosses molded into the tank which interfit with corresponding slots on the stacking legs. The tank is preferably permitted to shift relative to the base to accommodate movement during filling and emptying and shifting during transport. The couplers avoid the necessity of separate protective tops or other structure which joins the tops of the legs together, but rather uses the tank as a structural component without imparting significant vertical loads thereto.

Abstract: An improved short-length, high-speed extrusion device (10) is provided with having increased capacities and the capability of producing high quality extrudates with improved density and pellet integrity properties. The device (10) includes an extruder (14) equipped with a peripheral die (20,118), the latter having die outlet openings (100,120) oriented generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the extruder barrel (16). The die (20) has a plurality of axially spaced series (92-98) of openings (100), wherein each series (92-98) has a different number of openings (100). Alternately, the die (118) is of radially enlarged design relative to the extruder barrel (16) and has only a single series of openings (120). In both instances, an internal flow-directing bullet (108,140) is positioned within the corresponding die (20,118) in order to smoothly direct flow of product from the outlet (21) of the barrel (16) to the transversely oriented die outlet openings (100,120).