Abstract: This disclosure concerns a modification to printing apparatus utilizing flexographic process inks. To insure an adequate supply of ink to the anilox roll, a barrier, preferably in the form of an idler roll, is provided to reduce the rate at which ink is recirculated back to the supply.

Abstract: A water intake screen installation has a traveling water screen unit, that is positioned between a water intake and a stream of water flowing in a channel, to strain a quantity of water diverging from the channel stream towards the water intake. The screen unit includes an endless belt strainer in the form of a loop and a drive for revolving the strainer. The strainer has a screening surface, that extends in a predetermined direction of stream flow in the channel and in an upwardly direction. Means are provided for directing a backwash current, through the screening surface, towards the stream of water flowing in the channel, at an elevation below the stream surface. Material, such as refuse and aquatic life, retained on the screening surface can be dislodged by the backwash current. This current forces such material backwardly from the screening surface, into the stream of water flowing in the channel, to be carried away therewith.

Abstract: A motion transmitting control has an outer flexible conduit and an inner operating member reciprocable within the conduit. Attached to one end of the conduit is an end fitting having an externally threaded portion that fits through an aperture in a mounting plate. An overload safety fastener, that secures the end fitting within the mounting plate aperture, has a pair of stops threadedly mounted for axial movement upon the externally threaded portion of the end fitting to provide support for the end fitting on opposite sides of the mounting plate. Resilient means, positioned about the end fitting, extend axially thereof between one of the stops and the mounting plate. The resilient means are pre-loaded in compressive stress by the relative spacing between the stop and the mounting plate. Thus, the resilient means yieldably support the end fitting relative to the mounting plate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for hydraulically controlling subsea well equipment, such as valve operators, connectors, and other hydraulically actuated devices, with a significantly reduced number of hydraulic pressure source lines from the surface to the subsea location of said well equipment. The apparatus includes a multi-mode subsea switching valve having a plurality of module-like sections, each section having an inlet port, a vent port and a plurality of outlet ports. When installed, this valve preferably is located near the subsea well, and a source of hydraulic pressure and a plurality of hydraulic switches, all located on a surface vessel or other surface facility, are connected to the valve's inlet ports by means of a relatively small number of hydraulic pressure source lines. A relatively large number of hydraulic outlet lines interconnect the valve's outlet ports and the subsea well equipment so that in each of its functional modes the valve directs fluid pressure to a different set of subsea devices.

Abstract: In certain wheel alignment measuring apparatus, a fixture is clamped to the rim of a wheel and an alignment sensor is pendulously mounted upon the fixture so that as the wheel is rotated the sensor will not rotate with the fixture. However, since the plane of the fixture is not necessarily parallel to the plane of the wheel the sensor may oscillate relative to the ground surface as the wheel is rotated-a condition known as "runout" which results in sensor reading errors. This is corrected by rotating the fixture to three separate rotative positions and recording the sensor readings at each such position. Circuitry is provided for determining the true alignment of the wheel by calculating the amount of the runout error at the final rotative position of the wheel and correcting the sensor reading by this amount.

Abstract: A method of forming a torsion bar wherein steel, preferably an alloy steel of medium carbon content, is formed in the desired size and shape and is through hardened for providing a desired core hardness. The case of the bar is then hardened for transforming austenite in the case into martensite causing the case to expand thereby inducing high compressive stresses near the surface with the compressive stress decreasing radially inward of the surface. The core of the bar is retained below lower transformation temperature for resisting expansion of the case thereby inducing hoop and axial compressive stresses and radial tensile stressed in the case.A torsion bar formed by the method of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a water screening installation, a traveling water screen removes both refuse and aquatic life from a stream. The aquatic life, such as fish and shrimp, are uplifted in pans that are mounted on an ascending run of the screen. At a location above the stream, the pans are gently flushed by a low pressure spray of water. The fish are then returned to the stream, as soon as practical, to keep the mortality rate at a minimum. Each of the pans has an inner side that is parallel to a screen tray within the traveling water screen. This inner side is also tangential to a curved bottom portion of the pan. Extending tangentially from the opposite side of the curved bottom portion of the pan is an outer side that has a continuing profile at or below an extended tangential line from the point where the outer side is tangential to the curved bottom portion.

Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of subsea wellhead operators provides a dual set of operator controls having an electrical control cable and a pair of hydraulic control lines from the wellhead to a control center at the surface of the water. A primary set of electro-hydraulic multiplexed controls and a back-up set of hydraulic controls are each mounted in a separate control module on a base near the Christmas tree. When the primary set of controls fails operation is changed to the back-up set of controls by a signal from the surface control center. Defective control modules can be changed without removal of the tree cap as the controls are all outside the Christmas tree. Also, a defective primary control module can be removed while the back-up control module continues to control the operators in the Christmas tree.

Abstract: A two-row crop harvester for carrots, beets, etc. has a wheeled chassis with a forward cab disposed to one side of a pair of lifter frame assemblies. Each lifter frame assembly has a main component with a forwardly gathering element rigidly connected to a rearward mounting element. The rear end of the mounting element is pivotally mounted on a rocking frame, the lower end of which is pivoted about a horizontal axis on the main frame of the harvester. The main component of each lifter frame assembly mounts a relatively movable gathering component. The topping bar units have both their driven and idler ends supported by the main component of the lifter frame assembly. The rear drive pulleys for the gathering belts are chain driven from the drive shafts of the topping units and the latter are individually driven by hydraulic motors and articulated shafts with the motors geared together so that the topping bar units are synchronized.

Abstract: The trunnion assembly includes a housing and a one-piece tubular shaft journaled within bushings secured in the housing. Thrust forces acting on the shaft in one direction are counteracted by a spacer disposed between one bushing and a hub rigidly secured to the shaft. Thrust forces acting in the opposite direction are counteracted by a multi-segmented thrust ring fitted in a groove in the shaft in position to bear against another bushing in the housing. The thrust ring is held within the groove by a retainer ring disposed between the thrust ring and an annular lip of the housing. The retaining ring, the annular lip, and a seal retainer connected to the one piece shaft by a snap ring defines a seal ring cavity having a lubricant seal ring therein that is unaffected by axial thrust acting on the shaft and prevents leakage of lubricant between the shaft and the housing at the adjacent end of the shaft. The other end portion of the shaft is sealed to the hub and housing by a conventional seal ring.

Abstract: A vineyard air sprayer includes an axial fan type of blower assembly which is vertically mounted upon a trailer rearwardly of a spray tank. The blower assembly has a cylindrical outer shell having an annular discharge ring mounted to the bottom end thereof. An inner shell is coaxially mounted within the outer shell, and a truncated annular diffuser is secured to the bottom end of the inner shell in a coaxial relationship therewith. The outer edge of the diffuser is spaced from the outer edge of the discharge ring to form two arcuate discharge openings at opposite sides of the blower assembly. The diffuser includes an upwardly projecting annular lip portion which is truncated by a vertical wall at its front end.

Abstract: A digital valve has a valve body with an inlet passage and two outlet passages straddling the inlet passage. A plurality of slots are cut in the body connecting the inlet passage to each outlet passage. Bores in the valve body intersect each slot, and a plunger in each bore blocks or opens the slot. The slots vary in width in a binary progression, and solenoids, controlled by a central processing unit through solid state relays, selectively actuate the plungers so that a desired flow through the valve can be effected. Upstream and downstream sensors are connected to the central processing unit, which is within the valve, to modify the actuation of the plungers in order to provide a predetermined flow at the instantaneous temperature of the fluid and the instantaneous pressure drop across the valve.

Abstract: A packing for a reciprocating pump comprises a resilient body of elastomeric material with a cup-like shape and includes a plurality of flat cantilevered spring members embedded within the annular wall of the body. The spring members provide support for the flexible wall and are essentially fixed in position at their ends disposed at the base of the cup-shaped body while being free to flex at their opposite ends adjacent the open end of the resilient body. A peripheral annular lip defines the open end of the cup-shaped body and has a profile in the axial direction which imposes a predetermined deflection curve on the spring members when the packing is surrounded and compressed by the cylindrical wall of a pump cylinder. A predetermined pressure profile results between the peripheral lip and the cylinder wall as the cantilevered spring members urge the peripheral lip to resume its uncompressed shape.

Abstract: A low liquid volume retort method is provided wherein a tunnel is disposed within and spaced from the side walls and cover of a retort. A plurality of spaced containers are loaded in the tunnel, and a liquid maintained at a temperature different from that of the containers is then pumped from an inlet end of the tunnel to the outlet end to completely fill the tunnel and to evenly transfer heat between all of the containers and the liquid. The liquid then overflows from the outlet end of the tunnel and gravitates to the lower portion of the retort for return to a desired processing temperature and recirculation through the tunnel. The quantity of liquid required for processing is greatly reduced by filling only the tunnel with liquid, and collecting only a small portion of the liquid at the bottom of the retort before again recirculating the liquid through the tunnel and past the containers therein being processed.

Abstract: A vibrating machine, such as an oscillating conveyor, vibratory feeder, or vibratory screen, is mounted to a plurality of supports by a suspension that isolates machine vibrations from the supports. The suspension includes a plurality of U-shaped stirrups extending transversely beneath the machine at intervals spaced longitudinally of the machine. Each U-shaped stirrup extends between a pair of opposed supports to which the stirrup is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation that extends transversely of the vibrating machine. This axis of rotation is along or near the axis of the instantaneous center of rotation of the stirrup. The stirrups support the vibrating machine at surfaces spaced below the axis of rotation. These stirrup surfaces are located to intersect an axis passing through the region of the center of percussion of the stirrup about the axis of rotation. Vibrations in a direction longitudinal of the vibrating machine impart a rotational motion to each stirrup.

Abstract: A diverless subsea flowline connection system includes connectors for remotely connecting the ends of a first bundle of flowlines to the ends of a second bundle of flowlines and guidance components which direct the end portions of the first bundle of flowlines into precise connecting alignment with the end portions of the second bundle of flowlines without damage to the connecting seals. The ends of the first bundle are covered and sealed so that the flowlines can be pulled across the seafloor without damage to the ends of the flowlines. Means are provided for pulling the first bundle toward an alignment structure so that the lines can approach the structure from a wide variety of angles and the structure will guide the first bundle into exact alignment with the second bundle. This pulling means includes means for connecting a pulling cable to the radial center of a pulling head attached to the ends of the first bundle of flowlines.

Abstract: A nut is provided for preloading a sleeve which is wedged between a tubular member and a shaft. The nut, which is threadedly received on the tubular member, has a resilient, radially inwardly extending portion to engage the end of the wedge sleeve. When the nut is tightened on the tubular member, the inwardly extending portion of the nut is deflected to produce a stress-created force on the wedge sleeve, continuously urging the wedge sleeve toward a tightening position between the tubular member and the shaft.

Abstract: A tower crane is disclosed in which a balance arm is pivotally connected to the top of the tower on an axis midway between the front edge of the tower and the rear edge thereof. The front end of the balance arm extends beyond the front edge of the tower, and a boom to support a load is connected to said front end of the arm. A backstay exerts a downward force on the rear end of the balance arm to balance the load. The load carried by the boom is therefore distributed equally to the four corner chords of the tower.

Abstract: A bearing assembly retainer ring has pockets for holding cylindrical rollers in arcuately spaced relationship about a central axis of the retainer ring. Each pocket has two end faces that are spaced axially of the retainer ring and two side faces that are spaced laterally of the axial spacing between the two end faces. The pocket extends radially through inner and outer peripheral edges of the retainer ring to receive a roller therein having a diameter which is greater than the radial span of the pocket end faces so that the roller extends beyond the inner and outer peripheral edges of the retainer ring. The axial spacing between the pocket end faces is slightly greater than the axial length of the roller to provide restricted clearances between the ends of the roller and the end faces of the pocket when the roller is centered within the pocket. Chamfers are provided on the end faces of the pockets at the inner and outer peripheral edges thereof.

Abstract: A wheel alignment measuring system for measuring front wheel toe including a laser beam light projector mounted on a front wheel of a motor vehicle which projects a beam of light onto a pivotally mounted front mirror on the projector which oscillates back and forth through a ten degree angle about a reference line. The beam of light reflected from the oscillating mirror swings ten degrees on either side of a central reference beam line, and during its swing the beam strikes a fixed roof mirror mounted on the opposite front wheel of the vehicle. The thus reflected beam sweeps back and forth across the light projector and is successively intercepted by each of a pair of closely spaced photocells on the light projector, the cells being equally spaced on opposite sides of the reference beam line. The cells develop signals when they intercept the light beam which signals control and up/down counter through a flip-flop.