Abstract: A grain husk cracking plate for attaching to a chopping cylinder housing of a harvester in proximity to a shear bar to crack husks of grain moving through the harvester. The grain husk cracking plate includes a base plate adapted for directing grain through the chopping cylinder housing of the harvester. The base plate has a top surface, a bottom surface, a pair of opposite side edges, and a leading edge and a trailing edge extending between the side edges. A plurality of blades are mounted on the top surface of the base plate for cracking the husk of grain traveling through the chopping cylinder housing and striking the blades. Each of the blades has a forward edge directed toward the leading edge of the base plate, a rearward edge directed toward the trailing edge of the base plate, and a pair of side faces. A carbide layer is formed on each of the blades, and the carbide layer is formed on a portion of a first one of the side faces of each of the blades adjacent to the forward edge of the blade.

Abstract: A vertebrae linking system for restricting relative movement between adjacent vertebrae and promoting fusion of the adjacent vertebrae. The invention comprises a system for linking spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae of a vertebral column of a patient, including an elongate linking plate apparatus for extending between the spinous processes of the adjacent vertebrae. The plate has opposite ends, and a pair of securing apertures formed in the linking plate, each of the securing apertures being located toward one of the ends of the linking plate. Preferably, a pair of sets of securing apertures are located at each end of the linking plate, each set of securing apertures comprising at least two apertures.

Abstract: A new fluid temperature control for a heated fluid cleaner with multiple outlets for maintaining the temperature of the discharge fluid when multiple outlets of the heated fluid cleaner are opened. The inventive device includes a fluid reservoir for containing a supply of fluid, at least one pump for suctioning fluid from the fluid reservoir. A heater is also in fluid communication with the pump for heating a flow of fluid received therefrom. The heater preferably comprises a combustible fuel heater and has a fuel conduit fluidly connecting the heater to a fuel reservoir. An outlet conduit is fluidly connected to the heater for receiving heated fluid therefrom. The outlet conduit has a plurality of outlets for discharging fluid therefrom. A heater control device is provided for controlling the temperature of the fluid exiting the heater such that it is maintained at a constant predetermined temperature when more than one outlet is opened.

Abstract: A remote controlled boar guidance system and method of artificially inseminating sows for facilitating movement of a boar inside a swine insemination facility to permit safe and efficient insemination of sows by a single person. The remote controlled boar guidance system and method of artificially inseminating sows includes a remote controlled steerable vehicle having sufficient power to move a boar within confined spaces inside a swine insemination facility. The vehicle includes a plurality of wheels distributed on opposite sides of the vehicle. Wheels on each side are separately powered to permit steering of the device. The power source, drive motors, and receiver are positioned within a housing. In an embodiment, an opaque protection screen is provided to permit safe release of the boar from the device.

Abstract: A combine tray lift system for selectively positioning a combine tray includes a pair of tray lift assemblies attachable to combine tray securing nuts on opposite sides of a combine. Each tray lift assembly includes a rotatable sleeve having a handle, a protrusion, and locking members disposed therefrom. A bar member is coupled between the protrusion and the tray securing nut such that rotating the sleeve adjusts the position of the combine tray. A locking bar is provided for engaging a selected one of the locking members to hold the tray in a selected position. In a preferred embodiment, a lock disengaging member is coupled to the handle such that the locking bar can be disengaged while gripping the handle.

Abstract: An animal sorting tool with poking tip for humanely sorting and herding animals. The animal sorting tool with poking tip includes a housing with first and second ends, a pair of lateral sides extending between the ends, and a pair of panels. The ends, lateral sides, and panels of the housing define an interior of the housing. The housing has a tube extending through the ends of the housing. The tube has an open end positioned towards the first end of the housing and a closed tip portion protruding outwardly from the second end of the housing. A handle is inserted in the tube through the open end and extends into the tip portion of the tube.

Abstract: A cleaner with temperature control is provided including a fluid tank for containing a supply of water and at least one pump for suctioning water from the fluid tank. Also included is a heating element in communication with the pump for heating water received therefrom. A heating element control mechanism is provided for controlling the temperature of the water exiting the heating element such that it transitions smoothly to a constant predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A beverage coaster removably for adhering to a surface such that the beverage coaster does not cling to a beverage container includes a planar disc having an adhesive on the bottom side. In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive in provided in an arcuate strip positioned proximate the outer perimeter of the planar disc. The arcuate strip forms an arc between about 45 degrees and 225 degrees. A dispenser for a stack of beverage coasters is also provided.

Abstract: A new adapter for attaching a wheel lift apparatus to a road tractor for quickly mounting wheel lift apparatus to the road tractor. The inventive device includes a mounting frame having a gooseneck configuration defining a wide end and a narrow end, with the wide end of the mounting frame mounted on the frame of the road tractor, and the narrow end attached to the fifth wheel plate of the road tractor by a kingpin and attached to the tractor frame by link rods.

Abstract: A forklift attachment for attachment to a fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle for permitting the lifting of loads. The forklift attachment includes a ground engaging support carriage having an towing tongue designed for attachment to a fifth-wheel hitch assembly of a vehicle. A pair of lifting arms are pivotally mounted to the support carriage. A pair of lifting devices are provided for raising and lowering the lifting arms with respect to the support carriage and a pair of tilting devices are provided for tilting the lifting arms with respect to the support carriage.

Abstract: A new roller alignment system for permitting quick and precise alignment of the rollers. The inventive device includes first and second side subassemblies, and an elongate linking rod. Each side subassembly comprises an adjustment bracket and threaded elongate upper and lower adjustment rods. The adjustment bracket is pivotally coupled a side of a roller grinder housing which abuts an end of a back roller of the roller grinder. The back end of the upper first adjustment rod is extended through the upper end of the first adjustment bracket while the front end of the upper first adjustment rod is positioned adjacent the front of the housing. The front end of the lower first adjustment rod is outwardly extended from the front of the housing. A adjustment nut is threaded on the front end of the lower adjustment rod and a coarse adjustment member is coupled to the front end of the upper adjustment rod. The coarse adjustment member is pivotally mounted on a side of the housing.

Abstract: A safety shutoff system for steam and combination steam and water cleaners for permitting safe shutoff at the hand held spray gun thereof. The system includes a fluid reservoir connected to a first valve by a first conduit having a first pump for pumping fluid from the reservoir towards the first valve. A by-pass conduit connects the first valve to the fluid reservoir. An outlet conduit is connected to the first valve. The first valve controls fluid flow between the first conduit and the outlet conduit. The first valve blocks fluid flow from the first conduit into the outlet conduit upon detection of a pressure in the outlet conduit greater than a predetermined pressure such that fluid flowing from the first conduit passes into the by-pass conduit. The outlet conduit has a spray gun with a shutoff valve and a fluid heater between the first valve and the shutoff valve.

Abstract: A U-bend pipe spacer for separating vertical portions of a U-bend pipe in a bore in the ground during installation of the U-bend pipe in a geothermal vertical heat exchanger system. The U-bend pipe spacer includes a biasing member with a pair of elongate portions having free ends biased apart from one another. The elongate portions of the biasing member is resiliently deflectable from a relaxed position to a deflected portion such that the free ends of the elongate portions of the biasing member are positioned closer to each other when the elongate portions are in the deflected position. The spacer also includes a pair of clip members each comprising a body having a concave arcuate side face defining a channel and a tremie hook is coupled to the body. The tremie hook has a concave side.

Abstract: An electric dipole antenna includes a first and a second arm extending along a dipole axis away from a feed gap in substantially opposite directions. A first and a second end body are operatively coupled to opposite ends of the first and the second arms. Each end body has a width dimension which extends perpendicular to the dipole axis. A dipole length dimension extends along the dipole axis through the first and the second arms and the first and the second end bodies. A current conduction circuit provides a radiation field for the electric dipole antenna. The circuit passes along the first and the second arms and around a closed perimeter of the first and the second end bodies. As a result, the electric dipole antenna exhibits a series resonant frequency at a wavelength which is at least eight times the dipole length dimension. In addition, an electric monopole antenna design is used. The monopole is situated over a conducting ground plane which reflects the above-ground plane portion of the antenna.

Abstract: A fish bite indicator system includes a flag post having a flag attached to the post by a removable collar. The post is further attached to an elbow member by a coil. The elbow member is attachable to a pole of a fishing rod. The coil urges the post into a perpendicular orientation with respect to the pole. A retention assembly is provided for holding the post in a parallel orientation when in a set position. The fishing line passes through the retention assembly such that sufficient pull on the fishing line disengages the retention assembly such that the post returns to the perpendicular orientation. The fish bite indicating system is also usable without the retention assembly by retaining the post using the handle of a spinning reel. The elbow member is adjustably attachable to the pole using a bolt and nut holding a pair of rubber washers around the pole.

Abstract: An air suspension system including an air spring that is mounted underneath a frame of the trailer forward of an axle of the trailer at one end of the axle. The air spring is supported under the frame by a lower support that supports a bottom of the air spring and an upper support that supports a top of the air spring. The lower support is connected to the frame forward of the air spring and is further connected to the axle, while the upper support is disposed between the top of the air spring and the frame. An identical air spring arrangement is provided at the opposite end of the axle.

Abstract: A new Fishing Leader Line Storage System for holding fishing leader lines having a looped end and a hook their other end. The inventive device includes a base panel having a portion forming a stationary panel. A hinge panel pivotally coupled to the base panel at its proximal end such that the hinge panel top face is positionable in a substantially coplanar relationship with the top face of the stationary panel. The stationary panel top face has a plurality of spaced apart loop supports at its proximal end for holding the looped end of a fishing leader line. A plurality of hook slots located at the hinge panel distal end allow insertion of the hooks of fishing leader lines extended from the loop supports. A finger guard member is extended from the distal end of the hinge panel bottom face below the hook slots to protect a user's fingers from hooks inserted into the hook slots. Positioned adjacent each side of the hinge panel top face is a stationary rib.

Abstract: A rotatable attachment is provided for rotatably mounting a variety of work attachments to a skid steer loader. The inventive device includes a base assembly removably mountable to the lift arms of a skid steer loader and a rotational assembly rotatably coupled to the base assembly, wherein the rotational assembly is rotatable relative to the base assembly by means of a rotation system and is adapted for removable mounting of a work attachment thereto. As such, the rotational assembly and the work attachment are conjointly rotatable through 360 degrees in a plane which is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lift arms of the skid steer loader.