Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing poultry feet and other parts having an outer skin including the steps of submersing the parts in a fluid heated to a temperature sufficient to blanch the parts, applying a multiplicity of flexible members to the skin moving so as to draw the skin in a predetermined direction while urging the parts gradually in an opposite direction to remove the skin from the parts, and severing the parts along predetermined paths to remove the undesirable portions therefrom.

Abstract: An automatic fastener feeder having fastener supply means to a carrying means and means to move the fasteners in the carrying means to a discharge end, first fastener metering means adapted to withhold and alternatively discharge single fasteners from the discharge end of the carrying means, a second fastener metering means adjacent the first metering means adapted to receive a single discharged fastener from the first metering means, and a feed tube connected at one end of the second metering means and connected at its other end to a fastener tool to supply fasteners thereto, the second metering means being adapted to release a single fastener to the feed tube when the first metering means is withholding a single fastener. The second metering means is provided with a hand openable latch plate so that it may easily be cleared of any jamming caused by deformed fasteners or parts thereof.

Abstract: A supplemental air spring assembly for use in the front end suspension system of a truck or similar vehicle, characterized by a load dissipating arm adapted to be pivotally connected near its midportion to a trailing end portion for a leaf spring assembly for the truck, an air bag seated on the arm, near one end thereof, disposed in load supporting relation with the frame of the truck, and an articulated linkage connecting the opposite end portion of the arm to the frame for oscillatory motion about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: A convertible riding toy adapted selectively to simulate an automobile, a boat, and an airplane, having a body provided with an operator's cockpit and adapted for ground traversing movement; a pair of wings oppositely swivel mounted laterally of the body and adapted selectively to be positioned in a concealed, rearwardly extending automobile simulating positions within slots in the body, laterally extending aircraft wing simulating positions, and a converging, forwardly extending position for simulating the bow of a boat; a vertically slidable rudder member selectively for simulating the rudder of an airplane or of a boat; and a pair of airplane motor simulating discs adapted selectively to be retracted or to be laterally extended from the body.

Abstract: A wound roll of a strip of fibrous material having a first end portion forming an innermost plurality of superimposed contiguous layers and a second end portion forming an outermost plurality of superimposed contiguous layers, a plurality of punctures defined in each of the end portions, each puncture being characterized by a burr projected therefrom into interlocked relation with a puncture defined in an adjacent layer, whereby the end portions of the strip are secured together in the roll, and a method of forming the same.

Abstract: An olive pitter and stuffer comprising a machine structure which includes two sets of pitting plungers disposed along one side each of respective chains for carrying the olives into alignment with these plungers. On the other side of each chain is an olive-opening device aligned with the pitting plunger for cutting an opening through which the pit is ejected by the plunger. The olives are then transported by the plunger to a pair of stations at which mechanisms maintain the opening of the olives while further plungers insert respective stuffings in the olives. According to the invention, a pair of mechanisms are provided with respective chains, all operated by a synchronous drive so that the output of the machine is doubled.

Abstract: An olive pitting and stuffing machine has a drum rotatable about an axis and provided with opposing pairs of clamping members angularly equispaced about the axis and respectively engageable with opposite ends of olives fed in succession generally tangentially to the drum. The drum also comprises respective tubular cutters axially aligned with each pair of clamping members and displaceable to cut an end out of the olive, a plunger axially aligned with each pair of clamping members on the opposite side of the drum adapted to pierce the olive through the other end and push out the olive pit, and a pimento inserter also aligned with the clamping members and effective to insert a folded piece of pimento as the stuffing in the interior of the olive.

Abstract: An improved air-ride suspension system including cradle supporting air bags adapted to be extended transversely beneath the frame of a wheeled vehicle and supported in suspension by a pair of laterally spaced leaf spring assemblies, and centering means including a link interconnecting the leaf spring assemblies and the frame of the vehicle, whereby conversion of conventional spring suspension systems to air-ride suspension systems may be facilitated with minimal loss of time and expense.

Abstract: In a heavy duty drilling machine having a boring head for rotating a kelly bar, a crowd frame supported above the boring head by hydraulic rams, a crowd supported in the crowd frame and means supported by the crowd frame to engage the crowd with the kelly bar to transfer the entire weight of the drilling machine and crowd frame on to the kelly bar to increase the down pressure on drilling means at the lower end of the kelly bar; the kelly bar being disengageable during operation to permit drilling without use of the crowd. There is also provided a stabilizer to prevent twisting of the crowd frame during rotation of the kelly bar when the crowd is engaged.

Abstract: A tubular support for enclosing a body member therein, the body member being an elastic, generally tubular member having an opening on at least one end. The elastic member is stretchable in all directions so as to provide equal gripping support and pressure to all of the surface of the body member which it encloses. There are facings bonded on the interior and exterior surfaces of the elastic member, the facings having relatively low coefficients of friction and the same stretch rate as the elastic member.

Abstract: A device is provided for creating recesses for road surface markers in road surfaces which makes initially a cut sufficient to stabilize the device in the desired position and then fragments and discharges core material within a circular cut defining the recess. Such fragmentation is effected by rotation of a plurality of radially disposed cutting edges each spanning only a portion of the radius of the material to be fragmented.

Abstract: The invention includes circuitry adapted to be interconnected with the ignition system of spark-fired internal combustion engines. The circuit created is adapted to shut off the engine by preventing induction coil voltage buildup by grounding the secondary circuit of the coil when the engine overheating switch closes or, in the alternative, when an antitheft switch similarly positioned in the circuit is closed. The engine shutoff provided is in addition to the signal light which when energized indicates that the engine is overheating.A method of preventing voltage buildup in the induction coil by grounding the secondary circuit of the coil in an ignition system when the heat sensing switch, or a normally open antitheft switch, is closed.

Abstract: Eyeglasses which have temples made of a material which is substantially rigid at atmospheric temperatures but ductile at a temperature above atmospheric temperature, and a weighting material encapsulated in the material of which the temples are made which is substantially rigid at atmospheric temperatures but liquid at the temperature at which the temples are ductile and the method of fitting said eyeglasses including the steps of heating the temples until they are ductile and the weighting material is liquid, shaping the temples while they are ductile and the weighting material is liquid, and cooling the temples to solidify the weighting material and to make the material of the temples substantially rigid.

Abstract: A device for separating multiple phase fluid systems according to the relative specific gravities of the phase having a vortex chamber providing upper and lower ends and a circumscribing side wall, a supply conduit connected to the upper end of the chamber adapted to supply a fluid system to the chamber so as to cause it to swirl in the chamber to throw a heavier phase outwardly to descend in the chamber and to cause a lighter phase to move inwardly in the chamber, a tubular vortex finder extended in the upper end of the chamber about which said system is swirled having an open end in downwardly spaced relation to the upper end of the chamber through which a phase of intermediate specific gravity is discharged, a conduit connected to the lower end of the chamber to remove the heavier phase therefrom, a partition in the upper end of the chamber extended between the vortex finder and the wall of the chamber to define a collecting compartment thereabove, said partition having an opening therethrough adjacent to

Abstract: An automatic pneumatic connector for air brakes for mounting on couplers of railroad cars for relative elevational, longitudinal, and swivel motion with air-tight integrity being obtained by springs compresssing abutting gaskets and with guides to bring the gaskets into engagement as the railroad cars are coupled.

Abstract: A portable proportioning mixer, adaptable to mix concrete or other material, such as fertilizer and plastics, including a plurality of separate hoppers with discharges at their lower ends; a conveying and mixing trough adapted to receive materials from the hoppers, and a transporting vehicle for carrying the hoppers and mixing trough. The mixing trough is adapted to be carried on the vehicle in a non-receiving position during transportation, the trough being pivotally mounted on the vehicle to be rotated from the non-receiving position to a receiving position to receive materials from the hoppers; the mixing trough having a lower end positioned under the hopper discharges when in the receiving position and having receiving openings complementary to the hopper discharges.

Abstract: An improved cargo box particularly suited for use in transporting compacted cargo, such as refuse. The cargo box is characterized by a pair of vertically oriented side walls disposed in a pair of forwardly converging planes, a floor of a planar configuration inclined rearwardly, a conveyor traversing the floor including a plurality of endless chains, each being characterized by a plurality of mutually spaced T-bars rigidly affixed thereto, a discharge opening disposed in a transverse plane at the rear end of the box, above the conveyor, a drive unit mounted at the rear of the box, beyond the confines thereof, and a pivotal door, for closing the discharge opening, supported in suspension by a cantilevered pivot in a manner such that the door normally gravitates to an open position.

Abstract: A soapstone sharpener for providing a fine marking edge on the stone, the sharpener being comprised of an elongated member having facing legs forming a V-shape in cross section and having abrasive material secured on the inner faces of the legs to form inner abrading surfaces of V-shaped cross section. The soapstone is rubbed on the abrasive material within the V-shaped cross section to form the soapstone so as to be complementary to the V and have a fine marking edge.

Abstract: An amusement device characterized by a transparent envelope having substantially planar sides, and a maze card of a substantially planar configuration having a maze defined thereon, adapted to be received in the envelope, including means defining along the opposite faces thereof a singular path extended between the periphery and the center of the maze and passing at least once through the card. In one embodiment the path is traced on the surface of the envelope employing a marking device, while in an alternate embodiment the path is defined in the card by a gated channel and a ball is seated in the channel and adapted to roll along the path as it traverses along its length.

Abstract: A leveling discharge system for ready-mix concrete trucks having a first member mounted on a truck for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal first axis disposed longitudinally of the truck, a second member mounted on the first member for pivotal movement about a substantially erect second axis disposed in a plane common to the first axis, and a discharge chute mounted on the second member for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal third axis normal to said plane and disposed transversely of the truck.