Abstract: A circumferential milling machine is for milling along an arcuate portion of a cylindrical work piece having a cylindrical outer surface and is capable of milling a series of circumferentially space holes or slots, axially expanded holes or slots and/or tapered holes or slots in the arcuate portion of the cylindrical work piece. The machine includes a circumferential moving block mounted for circumferential movement along the arcuate portion with a pair of axial moving blocks mounted at opposite ends of the circumferential moving block being capable of axial movement with respect thereto. A radial moving block is mounted on either of the axial moving blocks for radial movement toward and away from the cylindrical outer surface and includes a milling device rigidly mounted thereon.

Abstract: A pet watering device for automatically providing water to a pet, such as a dog, from a source of water under pressure. The pet watering device includes a water supply conduit having a first end which is operably connected to a faucet and a second end which is disposed remote from the faucet to allow a discharge of the water therefrom. A valve is in the water supply conduit for being opened to allow the water to flow through the water supply conduit and closed to prevent the flow of the water therethrough. The water supply conduit includes a mounting element for mounting the second end at a selected position for allowing the pet to drink the water therefrom. A sensor is for sensing the presence of the pet near the second end of the water supply conduit. The sensor is operably connected to the valve to cause the valve to be opened after the pet is sensed moving near the second end and to be closed after the pet is no longer being sensed near the second end.

Abstract: A timed control valve is of the type that is installed in a fluid line upstream from a regular valve and capable of being physically oriented an any direction in the fluid line. The timed control valve is capable of sensing at least the normal flow of fluid when the regular valve is opened, stopping the normal flow at an end of a first predetermined period of time beginning with an initial sensing of the normal flow; and then allowing the normal flow at an end of a second predetermined period of time beginning with an initial stopping of the normal flow. Various embodiments of the timed control valve include different sensing and timing device for regulating the overall amount of the fluid that can be used and can even be configured to protect against a major loss of fluid if there is a rupture or failure of the fluid line down stream of the timed control valve. The invention also includes the method of doing the same.

Abstract: A sealant strip applying system (10) is for applying a sealant strip (12) to a top surface of a sheet material (16) adjacent to a plurality of straight edges (18, 20) thereof. The system (10) is configured to support the sheet material (16) and to produce the controlled repositioning thereof on an air flotation table (30) with each edge (18, 20) being selectively aligned with a front edge (34) of the table (30). The sealant strip (12) is successively applied to each edge (18, 20) by a sealant strip applicator (50) that is supported by the air flotation table (30) and mounted for selective movement along the front edge (34) thereof.

Abstract: A pet watering device is for automatically providing water to a pet, such as a dog, from a source of water under pressure. The pet watering device includes a water supply conduit having a first end which is operably connected to a faucet and a second end which is disposed remote from the faucet to allow a discharge of the water therefrom. A valve is in the water supply conduit for being opened to allow the water to flow though the water supply conduit and closed to prevent the flow of the water therethrough. The water supply conduit includes a mounting element for mounting the second end at a selected position for allowing the pet to drink the water therefrom. A sensor is for sensing the movement of the pet near the second end of the water supply conduit. The sensor is operably connected to the valve to cause the valve to be opened when the pet is sensed moving near the second end and to be closed after the pet is no longer sensed near the second end.

Abstract: A ticket identification system is for a group of tickets of the type which includes a front sheet and a rear sheet and means for bonding the front sheet and the rear sheet together. The tickets are of a group of tickets having different classifications with some having a particular classification to establish an associated value thereof. The ticket identification system includes a normally closed bar code window in the front sheet. There are bar code markings for each ticket on the inward side of the rear sheet under the bar code window. The bar code markings include classification information to indicate the particular classification of each ticket. A ticket identification machine includes a housing and a ticket passageway through which a ticket can be inserted and advanced. A bar code window opening device is in the passageway to open the bar code window and reveal the bar code markings.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing system is for improved pull-tab lottery tickets of a type that include a plurality of normally closed windows that can be opened to reveal play symbols thereunder with some of the play symbols being winning symbols. Each of the improved lottery tickets is also provided a normally closed bar code window with bar code markings hidden thereunder which includes ticket information for indicating each of the play symbols as aligned with its respective window. When the ticket is being dispensed, the bar code window is opened and the bar code revealed thereunder is aligned with a bar code reading device to read and store the ticket information. The front panel of the machine includes a plurality of display areas and associated switches that correspond to the windows of the ticket to generate a display symbol in the corresponding display area which indicates the play symbol that is under the selected window of the ticket.

Abstract: An aquarium background device includes at least one thin sheet of plastic material adapted to be used in conjunction with a clear liquid to adhere to the outside surface of the rear glass wall of the aquarium in a manner that insures that the images and colors thereof will be vividly seen from the front of the aquarium but can be easily removed and replaced with different background devices when desired.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing system is for improved pull-tab lottery tickets of a type that include a plurality of normally closed windows that can be opened to reveal play symbols thereunder with some of the play symbols being winning symbols. Each of the improved lottery tickets is also provided a normally closed bar code window with bar code markings hidden thereunder which includes ticket information for indicating each of the play symbols as aligned with its respective window. A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket storage area and means for initiating the dispensing of the ticket from the storage area toward the front panel of the machine. When the ticket is being dispensed, the bar code window is opened and the bar code revealed thereunder is aligned with a bar code reading device that is operably connected to electronic control circuitry of the machine that receives and stores the ticket information included in the bar code markings of the dispensed ticket.

Abstract: A lottery ticket dispensing system is for pull-tab lottery tickets of the type that include a plurality of normally closed windows that can be opened to reveal play symbols thereunder with some of the play symbols being winning symbols. Each of the lottery tickets is provided bar code markings including ticket information for indicating each of the play symbols as aligned with its respective window. A lottery ticket dispensing machine includes a ticket storage area and means for initiating the dispensing of the ticket from the storage area to the front panel of the machine. When the ticket is being dispensed, it is aligned with a bar code reading device that is operably connected to electronic control circuitry of the machine that receives and stores the ticket information included in the bar code markings of the dispensed ticket. The front panel of the machine includes a plurality of display areas and associated switches that correspond to the windows of the ticket.

Abstract: An emergency vehicle battery charging device is utilized to charge a depleted battery of a first vehicle from the engine system of a running second vehicle at a predetermined maximum charging current above that used for a trickle charge and below the typical starting current of either vehicle. The battery charging device includes a control housing having a first pair of cables extending therefrom which is rigidly connected to the battery terminals of one of the vehicles and a second pair of cables extending therefrom for being selectively connected to the battery terminals of the other of the vehicles. The cables include a current limiting device to prevent any exceeding of the predetermined maximum charging current which is preferably with in a range of about 40 to 60 amps. The control housing includes a polarity detecting device to verify the correct polarity of the connection of the terminals of the two batteries and to electrically disconnect the two batteries of there was an incorrect polarity.

Abstract: A tree stand accommodates a range of tree trunk diameters. The stand includes four legs mounted to an L-shaped member. A tree holder also is mounted to the L-shaped member, and can be adjusted to accommodate trunks of different diameters. The stand can be mounted to a tree that has been laid on its side, and the stand and the tree can be righted as a unit.

Abstract: An X-Y movement mechanism includes a fixed base having a first surface and a movable member having a second surface. The movable member is disposed for movement relative to the fixed base with the second surface being parallel with and facing toward the first surface. At least a first groove in the first surface extends in an X direction and a second groove in the second surface extends in a Y direction. The X direction is different from and at an angle with respect to the Y direction and both are parallel to the first surface and to the second surface. The first and second grooves respectively have overlying regions when the movable member is disposed for movement relative to the fixed base. An X-Y guide element has a first half and a second half. The first half is disposed in the first groove for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in the X direction. The second half is disposed in the second groove for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in the Y direction.

Abstract: A vertical boring machine is for boring or facing a circular region of a component having a central axis and includes a horizontal support for supporting the component with the central axis extending in a vertical direction. A tool support is disposed for rotation at the central axis to extend in said vertical direction. The tool support includes a tool head extending radially outwardly of the central axis which is configured for controlled radial movement and for controlled axial movement. The vertical boring machine preferably includes a mechanism for selectively moving the base of the tool support in an X direction and in a Y direction relative to the horizontal support aligning the tool support with the central axis. The X direction and Y direction are in a horizontal plane and perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: An improved paper and coin currency totalizer is installed on an existing vending machine and utilizes the existing coin receiving channels and the existing movable mechanical release mechanism and reset mechanism. An electronic coin sensor is installed in alignment with the coin receiving channel to produce a coin signal. A box is mounted on the vending machine and includes a paper currency sensor to produce a paper signal. A totalizer control circuit in the box accepts the coin signals and paper signals to determine when the proper amount of currency has been deposited to activate an actuation mechanism installed in the machine to move the release mechanism to the release position to allow a selection. After a selection is made, a reset sensor installed in the machine in alignment with the reset mechanism sends a reset signal to the totalizer control circuit to discontinue the actuation mechanism and to indicate no currency has been deposited.

Abstract: An improved machine for cutting material into at least narrow strips includes parallel, rotating cutting shafts having a plurality of cutting wheels thereon. The cutting wheels are separated by spacer-comber elements which provide a comber surface in alignment with a cutting wheel on the other shaft. A cutting wheel comber is mounted between adjacent spacer-comber elements and includes a concave surface to partially encircle the cutting wheel therebetween. The cutting wheel comber has a discharge end toward the discharge side of the machine with a rounded portion. The regions along the concave surface is separated by different distances from the cutting wheel to prevent the retention and collections of the narrow strips of material at the backsides of the cutting wheels.

Abstract: A machine for cutting tires into a plurality of elongated strips includes parallel cutting shafts having a plurality of cutting wheels mounted for rotation therewith. The cutting wheels are separated by annular spacers on the cutting shafts. A spacer comber partially encircles each annular spacer and has a lower portion having a rounded surface to minimize surface contact between the elongated strips and the spacer comber. After the side cutting edges of each cutting wheel becomes worn, the cutting wheels can be sharpened by surface grinding which narrows the cutting wheel. Each annular spacer and spacer comber are also narrowed by respective corresponding surface grinding of the side surfaces thereof. The machine is overhauled, after the surface grinding and the corresponding surface grinding, by the addition of at least one of each cutting wheel, annular spacer and spacer comber on each cutting shaft.

Abstract: An improved glass breaking apparatus is of the type which includes a plurality of rotating breaking bars which are capable of breaking a glass bottle into small glass pieces and at least some larger glass pieces having a longest dimension exceeding a predetermined length. The improvement includes a pair of cylindrical rollers disposed below the plurality of rotating breaking bars and mounted for rotation in opposite directions about parallel, horizontal axes. The cylindrical rollers are spaced apart to provide a predetermined separation distance between the cylindrical outer surfaces thereof. The cylindrical rollers include an array of extensions about the cylindrical outer surface and are relatively disposed to cause the extensions of one cylindrical roller to be aligned with the cylindrical outer surface of the other cylindrical roller.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism is for feeding cylindrical containers having a diameter and a major length dimension to a cutting machine and includes a pair of parallel feed shafts centrally disposed above the cutting machine. The feed shafts have parallel axes of rotation for rotation in opposite directions. The feed shafts have a predetermined distance therebetween to provide a predetermined gap between the feed shafts which is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical container. Each of the feed shafts includes a pair of feed discs mounted for rotation therewith. The pair of feed discs on each shaft include corresponding curved sectors which cooperate with corresponding curved sectors of the pair of feed discs on the other shaft for gripping the sides of the container therebetween. Rotation of the shafts toward the cutting machine causes the container entrapped by the corresponding curved sectors to be fed in an end first direction toward the cutting machine.

Abstract: An apparatus is for use with a temperature controlled fluid circulating device which apparatus controls the temperature of an area of the body. The apparatus includes a fluid circulating blanket having connecting hoses for connection to the fluid circulating device. The fluid circulating blanket is installed within the interior of a support envelope surrounding the fluid circulating blanket. The fluid circulating blanket and surrounding support envelope respectively include parallel elongated portions with connecting portions therebetween to provide an overall U-shape with an elongated opening between the parallel elongated portions of each of the blanket and support envelope. The apparatus includes straps for securely positioning the support envelope, with the fluid circulating blanket therein, with the inside surface of the support envelope against the area of the body.