Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning the surfaces of foods and fodder of plant and animal origin by manual or mechanical washing in water, the surfaces of said foods or fodder having adhering thereto contaminants and/or physiologically and toxicologically noxious substances, such as hydrophobic and hydrophilic pesticides, inorganic noxious elements, oily condensates of noxious substances, as well as other contaminants, and to certain agents and compositions which are added to the wash water; food and fooder refreshing is achieved.

Abstract: A vegetable steamer has a perforated base plate to which a plurality of overlapping hingedly movable leaves are attached. Base legs are self-riveted to the base plate. A pair of parallel straps are provided slightly above the base plate, and having ends integral therewith. A detachable resilient handle has an upper circular portion, a pair of depending handle legs extending from the arcuate portion, and a lifting tab extending outwardly from the lower end of each handle leg and passing through a strap.

Abstract: A lifting boom having three telescopic sections. A hydraulic ram has the piston rod free end connected by a horizontal pin movable in guide slots at the rear of the base section. A deflection limiter is axially slidable on the piston rod, and is less high then the base section. The rear of the ram cylinder is pin connected by horizontal pins to the mid section, and has a transverse ram cylinder plate attached to it. Pull rods are connected to the deflection limiter and pass forwardly through the transverse plate, having detents at their forward ends beyond the transverse plates. A pair of chains extends from the base section forward and around sprockets at the rear of the mid section, being attached to the rear of the fly section, a further chain extending thence forwardly and around a sprocket on the front end of the ram cylinder, and thence rearwardly to an anchor on the base section; the ram sprocket has a roller portion which rolls on the fly section bottom plate to support the ram cylinder.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle has four pneumatic tires each driven by a hydraulic motor drivingly connected to a torque hub. A drive motor, torque hub and wheel are supported by a motor mount assembly which includes a pair of transverse channels, connected at their outer ends to a hub mount plate and at their inner ends to a slide plate. The slide plate is in planar engagement with a chassis plate, and is releasably held to the chassis plate by a pair of linearly extending rail guides bolted to the chassis plate and providing with the chassis plate a guideway in which the slide plate is movable. A hydraulic motor engages a channel of the motor mount, and has its piston rod pivotally attached to an abutment anchored to the chassis plate.

Abstract: In a machine for driving a fastener, e.g. a nail, a staple or the like by one impact blow into an object by means of a driver actuating the fastener and connected to one end of a bar-shaped spring which extends between a plurality of spring supports, said supports being distributed throughout the length of the spring and said driver being reciprocable in a tensioning stroke for tensioning and bending the spring about at least one of the supports and in a striking stroke generated by the tensional force of the spring for driving the fastener into the object, the invention provides the improvement that at least one of the supports is adjustable for regulating the tensional force of the spring in order to control the energy released in the striking stroke.

Abstract: A back support comprising a pad of resilient, compressible material having a supporting face for engagement by the back of a person, and apparatus for controllably compressing the pad parallel to the supporting face, comprising a shaft passing parallel to the supporting face and having left hand and right hand threads with threaded followers on the shaft anchored to the pad at spaced points.

Abstract: A hitch construction for connecting a push-type lawn mower for towing behind a riding mower on either side. The towing mower has a trunnion with a vertical axis for receiving the finger portion of an L-shaped rod, and a pair of releasable securing devices for the arm of the rod, one on either side of the trunnion. The towed mower is provided with an upstanding post, a block adjustably positioned on said post, and an adjustable connection between said block and the arm of said rod. The post is secured to the towed mower by one of a plurality of connectors, cooperating with the particular construction of the towed mower.

Abstract: A device for controlling the heating of a hot water boiler includes a first temperature sensor sensing the temperature of the boiler liquid and operating means adapted to switch a control switch. It also includes an outside temperature sensor to be arranged elsewhere and comprising a liquid-filled reservoir which communicates via a capillary with a tubular coil spring of the control device, which spring also actuates means which are adapted to switch the first switch. The tubular coil spring is arranged to actuate with an outer winding means adapted to change, through this actuation, the relative position of elements of the control switch and hence the temperature at which the control switch is switched under the control of the first temperature sensor.

Abstract: A great many earthworms are bred in a layer of fermented vegetable matter, such as waste cotton and straw, which is maintained in a duly moistened condition. The earthworms eat the vegetable matter and discharge feces. The feces are gathered and refined into a natural organic fertilizer or manure through a number of steps including removal or killing of earthworm eggs.

Abstract: An attachment for a ladder to be used as a stand for a deer hunter. The attachment comprises a pair of spaced coplanar side rails forming a first frame and a pair of spaced coplanar top rails forming a second frame and connected to the upper end of the first frame at an angle of about 90.degree.. An upper shelf providing a seat and a lower shelf providing a foot rest are pivoted to the first frame for extending therefrom or for being folded to lie substantially in the plane of the first frame: brackets limit the position of the shelves. Anchors connect the attachment to a ladder. The attachment has a gripping construction for connection to a tree, carried by the second frame.

Abstract: An installation tool and method of using same for securing fastener insert elements to substrates where the fastener element is provided with a heat meltable material which serves to bond the fastener to the substrate, the installation tool comprising a controllably heated tip for contact with the fastener and a timer means for indicating when a required heating cycle has expired and the tool should be withdrawn from the fastener: the method provides the heating of the meltable material, a resin, above the meltable temperature, but not above an upper temperature beyond which a decrease in resultant bond strength would occur.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing slivers of textile or the like fibres through all stages of a combing operation in which a track is provided, in which track an endless element such as a chain is movable, the element providing an anchorage for a plurality of combing units adapted to carry the slivers, and the track including at least one linear section. The linear section of the track carries combing components so that the combing operations on the sliver are carried out substantially while the sliver is transported past the linear section of the track.

Abstract: A knitting machine needle is provided for a dial and cylinder circular knitting machine having the needle shank integral with the needle hook portion, the shank having one or more cutouts which are provided with and defined by straight edges. The cutouts are all spaced from the needle butt or butts, to provide full needle shank depth beneath each butt. Where the needle is provided with end butts only, it may have an intermediate full depth portion to provide strength and stability. A spring may be provided on a side of the shank and have one end anchored to the shank, the spring being located as close as possible to the needle hook, and underlying the butt closest to the needle hook, or at least the forward portion of the shank if there is no forward butt.

Abstract: Cast metal heat exchanger and mould therefor, in particular a fired central heating boiler operating on water or medium circulation, with two or more externally ribbed, hollow sections through which the water and about which the flue gases can flow, wherein the sections are cast integrally in sealed form at their end edges with sidewalls and end walls extending over the entire boiler length, except for the gas and water communication openings, on the side where the water and flue gas are present with respect to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: A bicycle chair for children has a mounting for fixing the chair on the bicycle, and a frame which is to abut against the luggage carrier of the bicycle and supports a rack, for a seat and the back support. The mounting is fixedly mounted on the bicycle in a position immediately ahead of the luggage carrier and the frame also forms a locking device for releasable locking of the frame on the mounting.

Abstract: A joint for pipes made of, particularly, mineral materials comprising a pipe, a sleeve to receive the pipe, and a gasket ring carried by the sleeve. The gasket ring comprises a guard ring and a flange ring, the guard ring being mounted in an annular tee-slot of the sleeve and the flange ring projecting radially into the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with an inwardly projecting inversion ring and with an annular chamber following the tee-slot, to respectively pivot the guard ring and then to receive it, when a pipe is inserted. The term "sleeve" signifies not only an enlarged pipe ending but also a cuff constructed to provide for the insertion of smooth pipe endings into both ends.

Abstract: A knitting machine needle is provided for a dial and cylinder circular knitting machine having the needle shank integral with the needle hook portion, the shank having one or more cutouts which are located at both the front and back thereof. The cutouts are defined by edges which include arcuate portions, or only straight edge portions wherein the edges are in part inclined to the needle longitudinal axis; further a spring may be provided on the side of the shank and have one end anchored to the shank, the spring being located as close as possible to the needle hook, and underlying the butt closest to the needle hook, or at least the forward portion of the shank if there is no forward butt. Such spring may also be positioned on a needle having front and back cutouts with edges at 90.degree. to each other.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur gear change provides improvements to existing systems which utilize a pivoted yoke carrying the pivots of a chain guide roller and a chain tension roller and a displacement device which includes two parts one of which is fixed to the bicycle frame and the other supports the guiding device and moves relative to the first to move the guiding device transverse to the bicycle wheel and across the gear change sprockets. In the present device the guiding device has a guide lug which pivots relative to the yoke in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the sprockets and common with that of the cheek of the yoke. A mechanical linkage is connected to the displacement device and pivots the lug when the guiding device moves transversely so as to bring the free end of the lug adjacent the selected sprocket corresponding to the position of the guiding device.