Abstract: A sifter employing a scoop formed from sheet metal provided with substantially diamond shaped apertures having inwardly extending declining walls with respect to the top surface of the scoop to facilitate separation of different size particles, such as horse manure from saw dust or wood chip particles.

Abstract: A telescoping door closer or strut is disclosed wherein a sliding rod is automatically held at any desired position of extension or retraction with respect to an associated housing. An automatic brake and hold mechanism for retaining the rod in the desired position includes an annular disk-like brake mounted on the rod and pivotable from a transverse position where the rod slides freely therethrough and an oblique position where the rod is cramped and retained by the brake. One edge or side of the brake is restrained to cause it to pivot into the oblique position upon movement of the rod in a first direction. A stop attached to the housing engages the opposite side of brake to keep it in the transverse position upon movement of the rod in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A wiring harness security inspection device having a cradle pivotally supported on a base is provided with a front socket for receiving a wiring harness connector and a rear socket for connecting the device to an electrical testing machine. After the connector is inserted into the front socket of the cradle, rotation of the cradle interlocks the connector to the base. The wiring harness cannot be used by an operator in production and installed and interconnected into an electrical circuit until the wiring harness is electrically tested and, when the harness passes inspection, a solenoid mounted in the base releases a latch permitting removal of the device from the connector thereby permitting use and installation of the wiring harness by the operator into the circuit.

Abstract: An unloading device having a frame transversely supportable on a pair of spaced side walls of a truck bed is longitudinally movable from the front to the rear of the truck bed. A plurality of wheels secured to the frame and engagable with the side walls facilitate movement of the device. An electric motor or hand crank is drivingly connected to a main shaft mounted on the frame for rotating the shaft in opposite directions, and an elongated sheet of material, such as reinforced nylon, having one end thereof secured to the shaft and the other end thereof secured to the rear of the truck bed is used for receiving an article for transportation. Rotation of the shaft in one direction winds the sheet of material on the shaft, moves the frame toward the rear of the truck bed and shifts the article on the sheet from the front of the truck bed to the rear and off of the truck bed. A rail is mounted on each of the side walls of the truck bed for guiding the wheels.

Abstract: Animal trap includes an elongated outer shell having an entrance at one end and a removable end plate at the other end for enclosing the shell and for receiving bait and supported at an acute angle to the horizontal with a pair of legs. An inner shell rotatably supported in the outer shell is provided with a trap door in registry with the entrance. Longitudinal movement of the inner shell with respect to the outer shell by an animal trips an actuating member and rotates the trap door of the inner shell closing the entrance to the trap.

Abstract: An oven in a cooking machine has a pair of spaced parallel endless conveyor chains mounted therein and driven by a motor. Pivotally supported baskets for holding food are connected normal to the conveyor chains. Electrical heating elements disposed between and above the baskets are supported in the oven for cooking the food products. Guide rails maintain the baskets horizontally disposed as the baskets move adjacent to the heating elements. A sauce tank disposed in one end of the oven receives the baskets containing the food products. Each of the baskets is immersed in the sauce once during each cycle of operation. During the cooking process, a spray of water or a water base fluid is discharged from nozzles disposed in the cooking machine for increasing the humidity to obtain optimum cooking conditions. Maximum discharge of the water also is used to control grease fires.

Abstract: An oven in a cooking machine has a pair of spaced parallel endless conveyor chains mounted therein and driven by a motor. Pivotally supported baskets for holding food are connected normal to the conveyor chains. Electrical heating elements disposed between and above the baskets are supported in the oven for cooking the food products. Guide rails maintain the baskets horizontally disposed as the baskets move adjacent to the heating elements. A sauce tank disposed in one end of the oven receives the baskets containing the food products. Each of the baskets is immersed in the sauce once during each cycle of operation. To remove the cooked food products from the oven, spaced runners are shifted over the sauce tank to prevent the baskets of food products from being dipped into the sauce. A movable collar connects and disconnects the conveyor chains to the motor. A door at the front of the oven has counterweights to facilitate opening and closing of the door by an operator.

Abstract: A suction cleaner for sucking ashes and hot coals from a wood burning stove containing an impeller and motor unit and having a filtering member of fire resistant material and impervious to ashes covering the orifices to the impeller and a perforated metal member surrounding the filtering member for preventing hot coals from engaging the filtering member.

Abstract: A variable resistance control includes a metallic structure plate that functions as a heat sink and that provides both a collector and terminals, a body that is molded onto the structure plate, a resistance element that is deposited onto the body and onto portions of the terminals, a contactor, and a driver. In one embodiment, additional miniaturization is made possible by bending a tab portion of the structure plate between two of the terminals to form a stop lug for limiting rotational movement of the driver.

Abstract: A variable resistance control comprising a variable resistance control portion and a stabilizer assembly portion. The variable resistance control portion is provided with a housing, a resistance element and a contactor supported within the housing with the contactor wipably engaging the resistance element, and an adjustment member operatively connected to the contactor and exposed on the exterior of the housing. The stabilizer assembly portion comprises a stabilizer having weight greater than the weight of the variable resistance portion and having a threaded bushing. An aperture extends through the stabilizer and the bushing and an extension shaft is rotatably received in the aperture with one end extending outwardly from the aperture cooperatively engaging the adjustable member. A U-shaped plate having a bight portion and a pair of arms secures the stabilizer to the housing.

Abstract: An electrical resistor comprising a base having a resistance element supported thereon. A pair of terminals for connecting the element into an electrical circuit are bonded to the resistance element. The bond comprises a conductive thermoplastic bondable material applied to the resistance element before the terminals are secured thereto. Heat applied to the terminals causes the bondable material to flow and bond the terminals to the resistance element. In one embodiment, a rotatable knob, a contactor and a collector are assembled to the resistor to produce a variable resistance control. The knob is provided with a first skirt extending toward the base and in slideable engagement therwith. The first skirt supports the knob in spaced relationship with the base and a second skirt extends toward the resistance element carried by the base. The distal end of the second skirt is disposed proximate to the resistance element and encloses and protects the resistance element against external contaminants.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal comprising an elongated bar-shaped crystal having a pair of parallel spaced lead wires depending orthogonally from nodal points on one surface of the crystal and an elongated bar-shaped base in spaced relationship to the crystal and supporting the lead wires. The base is provided with conical shape holes with the larger diameter ends thereof proximal to the crystal, and sealing and securing means locate the hermetical seal between the lead wires and the base distal from the crystal enabling the lead wires to vibrate freely within the conical holes of the base. The length of the lead wires between the crystal and the point of attachment to the base is one-quarter wave length to return to the crystal a maximum percentage of the vibrational energy transmitted into the lead wires from the crystal thereby minimizing energy dissipation of the crystal while maintaining both a minimum distance between the crystal and the base and providing a minimum package size for the crystal.

Abstract: A variable resistance control having a clutch to prevent overdriving of a contactor relative to a resistance element. A driving member is rotatably and coaxially secured to a driven member in fixed relationship with the contactor. Knurled clutch faces formed on the driving member and the driven member are configured to permit sliding movement between the clutch faces when the driven member has reached its limit of travel and rotation of the driving member is continued.

Abstract: A tandem electrical control comprises a plurality of variable resistance sections. Each resistance section comprises a resistance element and a collector member that are carried by a base, and a contactor member that is carried by a driver, the contactor member is rotatably supported within the respective housing and wipingly engages the respective resistance element and collector member. A tubular shaft controls the forward resistance section and is rotatably supported within a bore of a mounting bushing. An inner shaft controls the rearward variable resistance section and a switch and is rotatably supported within the tubular shaft. The bore of the mounting bushing, the outside diameter of the tubular shaft, the bore of the tubular shaft, and the inner shaft are each provided with a narrowing diameter shoulder in abutting engagement with the proximate one of the shoulders for preventing impact damage to the resistance assemblies from external forces axially applied to the shafts.

Abstract: A variable resistance slide control includes a housing having a front wall and having a side wall that is integral therewith. A dielectric base having a resistance element and a collector member mounted thereon is secured to the housing in spaced parallel relationship to the side wall. A contactor member engaging the resistance element and collector member is constrained to move with a slider that includes a handle portion projecting outwardly of the housing through an elongated slot which is defined by the front wall and the base. The slider includes a slider block portion with a guide groove therein interfitting with a longitudinal rail that is integral with the dielectric base, and the slider block portion slidably engages an inner surface of the side wall. A second rail is integral with the dielectric base and includes a guide surface that is slidably engageable with the slider block portion.

Abstract: An electrical resistor comprising a base having a resistance element supported thereon. A pair of terminals for connecting the element into an electrical circuit are bonded to the resistance element. The bond comprises a conductive thermoplastic bondable material applied to the resistance element before the terminals are secured thereto. Heat applied to the terminals causes the bondable material to flow and bond the terminals to the resistance element. In one embodiment, a rotatable knob, a contactor and a collector are assembled to the resistor to produce a variable resistance control. The knob is provided with a first skirt extending toward the base and in slideable engagement therewith. The first skirt supports the knob in spaced relationship with the base and a second skirt extends toward the resistance element carried by the base. The distal end of the second skirt is disposed proximate to the resistance element and encloses and protects the resistance element against external contaminants.

Abstract: A mechanical coupling device is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate jaws and integral arms defining a slot communicating with a cavity for connecting a shaft thereto. A tongue integral with the shaft is engaged by the jaws and suspended within the cavity, and the coupling device slides axially and laterally along the tongue and pivots along the arcuate jaws to eliminate end and side thrust of the shaft. A variable resistance control connected to the coupling device comprises a substrate closing one end of a housing and a rotatable driver disposed within the housing. A resistive path and a conductive collector path are disposed on the substrate along the same radius and a contactor comprising a pair of diametrically opposed contact fingers symmetrically disposed near the periphery of the driver engages the resistive and collector paths.

Abstract: A multiposition rotary switch including a detent mechanism wherein a cam on the rotor acting through an arm resiliently deforms a portion of a side of the housing. A contactor constrained to rotate with the rotor wipably engages a plurality of contacts carried on a base in seriatim, each contact being defined by a portion of a conductor. The contacts can be arranged on the base to provide a variety of switching functions. An insulating material is adherently deposited on a predetermined location of at least one of the conductors carried by the base to provide a coded output. An annular bearing having a relatively large bearing area rotatably supports the rotor.