Abstract: A device for the distribution of liquid or dry particulate material, particularly for agricultural use. The device is adapted to be mounted upon a truck chassis or other device for movement in a direction of travel. The device includes a single hopper which may alternatively receive the liquid or particulate material. A dry feed mechanism is provided to remove the material from the tank to a metering station where the particulate material is subdivided. A plenum chamber is also provided to entrain each subdivision of particulate material for pneumatic conveyance within a distribution tube extending laterally of the direction of travel. The plenum chamber is aerodynamically curved such that the air velocity is substantially lateral upon entering the distribution tubes, increasing the air velocity in the tubes. The distribution tubes have exits which are laterally spaced to provide an even distribution of the particulate material.

Abstract: A triple stack mold which is operated by a standard mold press and which presents three molding interfaces. Molten plastic is supplied to all molding cavities in equal amounts through a distribution system that includes manifolds in the mold components which receive the plastic and distribute it through passages leading to the mold cavities. The main passages leading to the manifolds are equipped with special nozzles constructed to compensate for differential thermal expansion of the mold parts.

Abstract: A clutch/brake unit used to transmit torque from an electric motor to a gear reducer, particularly in processes that involve cyclical, start-stop operations. A special output shaft of the clutch/brake has a split portion which projects from the housing and receives a tapered plug within a tapered cavity. A bolt has a threaded connection with the plug to create wedging action which radially expands the split portion of the shaft when the bolt is turned in one direction. This expansion of the shaft creates a frictional coupling with the input hub of the gear reducer. The frictional coupling can be released by turning the bolt in the other direction to relieve the wedging force and allow the split portion of the shaft to contract radially.

Abstract: A helical outrigger apparatus attached to an underpinning drive assembly for exerting an auxiliary anchoring force upon the underpinning drive assembly while sinking piers, pilings, screw-type underpinnings and the like. The piers, pilings, etc. are used to lift and support new and existing structures. The anchoring force is used to supplement a principal anchoring force provided by a dead weight of the structure. The helical outrigger apparatus fastens to a pier bracket which supports the underpinning drive assembly during operation. The helical outrigger apparatus includes a screw-type helical anchor that is sunk into the ground temporarily. The apparatus includes at least one outrigger fastened to the pier bracket. Multiple helical outriggers with anchors may be located evenly along the drive assembly. Each outrigger assembly includes an arm that is pivotally and telescopically moveable to facilitate connection between the pier bracket and the corresponding helical anchor.

Abstract: A portable liquid drain pan includes a V-shaped front end having a pour spout centered thereon and includes cantilever extensions projecting forwardly of the front end. When draining the pan, the extensions serve as lever arms to elevate the pouring spout. The extensions also move the pour spout forward toward the center of a bucket placed under the pour spout. A bottom of the drain pan is raised in a stair-step arrangement to direct the liquid to an outer channel between a lowest step and side walls of the container. When the back end of the container is lifted, the liquid travels along this channel to the front of the container. A raised partition formed in the front of each step guides the liquid to the pour spout. Casters are formed on the bottom of the drain pan to improve mobility. The front two casters are positioned slightly behind the front end wall to prevent slippage during draining and to allow the back end of the container to be raised easily.

Abstract: A portable and collapsible safety reflector and barricade for use adjacent a stranded vehicle. The barricade includes multiple sets of "x" linkages, each formed of two bars hinged together in the middle for free pivoting. Each corner of each set of linkages is pivotally connected to separate corner links, with each corner link being common between two of the sets. As such, the "x" linkages for a three dimensional structure with corner links at each of the corners of this structure. Two sets of these corner links also mount support staffs, each fixed to a lower one of the associated set of corner links, and mounted for sliding movement with respect to an upper one of the associated set of corner links. The support staffs each mount an end of a band of flexible reflective material. The free ends of the staffs also include mounting cups to receive a light, flare, flag, or other safety signal.

Abstract: A tile cutting apparatus includes a unit base for holding a tile and guide rods above and running parallel to the base. The guide rods carry a scoring/breaking assembly along a scoring and breaking path. The base includes, on its upper surface, a breaker spline inserted therein and extending along the scoring path. The base's upper surface also includes resilient pads supporting stainless steel rest plates on both sides of the breaker spline. The spline is oriented at a slight angle with respect to the surface of the rest plates to facilitate breaking. The scoring/breaking assembly includes a spring for applying constant pressure to a cutting wheel throughout the scoring operation. The scoring/breaking assembly is constructed such that a single handle allows the user to engage and disengage the cutting wheel, score the tile while maintaining a constant scoring pressure and break the tile. The apparatus includes a molded cover and base that minimize excess assembly and parts.

Abstract: A slurry recovery system for a wet cutting saw which includes a watering section, a containment section, a gas-liquid separator section and a discharge section. The watering section contains a pressure gauge, shut-off valve and flowmeter to control the flow of liquid onto the saw blade. The containment section includes a blade cover and bellows which surround the saw blade and form a sawing chamber. A drag bar, which is attached to the lower surface of the bellow, skids along the cutting surface and removes the slurry therefrom. The drag bar includes inner and outer flexible walls that create a vacuum chamber around the saw. The slurry is vacuumed out of the vacuum chamber and conveyed to a gas-liquid separator tank, wherein the slurry and air are separated. The slurry passes to a diaphragm pump and the air passes to a discharge blower. The separator tank includes a blower protector which contains a float and seals.

Abstract: A cup-holder is provided for portable use at football games, theaters, or the like. The cup-holder is securely fastened to a top surface of an arm rest of a seat at the game. The holder includes a base having flat top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface of the base rests flush against the seat arm rest or may fit over the arm rest. The top of the base is flat to allow the user to rest his/her arm thereon. The holder includes a cup receptacle formed from adjacent, contiguous rings which are separated with a flexible bridge. VELCRO fastening tape straps are used to secure the holder to the arm rest. Also, the top surface of the base may include indicia such as a team logo, name, team schedule, etc.

Abstract: A hand tool having a frame which holds interchangeable working heads for scraping ice and other materials, scrubbing and sanding. The frame pivotally carries the working head at one end and has a curved forearm brace at the other end. A hand grip bar is located between the ends of the frame such that the forearm provides force against the brace to hold the working head against the work surface. This creates a leverage effect and relieves stress on the wrist. The pivotal head allows angled or contoured surfaces to be followed without requiring the wrist to flex at different angles. The scraping head has two scraping edges which scrape on both push and pull strokes. An accessory head which is interchangeable with the ice scraping head can hold two metal scraping blades or interchangeable base plates which provide a sanding sheet and a scrubbing pad, respectively.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a segmented diamond blade. The method includes the steps of placing a core into a mold and pouring a metal mixture into a mold cavity surrounding the core. The metal mixture is cold pressed to the core to form a blade having a continuous outer rim. Thereafter, the core and outer rim are suspended in a free-sintering furnace which is heated to an initial diffusion bonding temperature. The core and outer rim are heated for an initial bonding time period. Thereafter, the furnace is heated to a final diffusion bonding temperature and the core and outer rim are maintained at this temperature for a final diffusion bonding time period. After the blade cools, it is placed in a cutting tool and segmented. During segmentation, a plurality of radially aligned notches are cut through the outer rim and a corresponding plurality of gullets are cut in the core. During cutting, an inert gas, such as helium, argon or the like, is blown under high pressure directly onto the cutting point.

Abstract: A novel series of chalcogenide glass compositions that are relatively highly selective for a specific ion in solution. When utilized as a sensing element for electrodes or similar analytical devices, a modified surface layer is formed on the surface of the glass in contact with the test solution. The surface layer being characterized by a surface ionic conductivity ranging from 10.sup.-7 to 10.sup.-2 S/cm, a diffusion coefficient ranging from 10.sup.-11 to 10.sup.-6 cm.sup.2 /s and having a ratio of electronic to ionic conductivity within the modified surface layer of not more than 1.0. Specific compositions having these unique morphology and transport properties are disclosed for the detection of cadmium, silver, thallium, mercury, copper and lead.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for serving the dual purposes of baking bread and for churning butter. The apparatus includes a processing chamber which releasably receives a pan which retains the ingredients to be processed. The pan includes a paddle which rotates to stir bread and to churn butter. The processing chamber further includes a heating element surrounding the pan which heats the pan during a bread baking operation. A power controller controls a motor which drives the stirring paddle and controls the heater during a bread baking operation. A switch is supplied between the power controller and the power supply to disconnect the power controller during a butter churning operation. The switch further connects the motor which drives the stirring paddle directly to the power source when the switch is set in a butter churning position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for producing rods having a desired tensile strength from a rod manufacturing process set to an optimal operating condition. Initially, the rod manufacturing process is set in an optimal condition to produce rods at a maximum rate, while optimizing the mechanical properties therein. Raw materials are melted and a "heat of steel" representing one lot is poured into a ladle which is sampled to determine its chemical composition. The percentage content of each element is utilized within an empirical model modeling the rod manufacturing process to predict the tensile strength of rods. The empirical model is again utilized to determine the amount by which a control element must be varied to adjust the predicted tensile strength to the desired tensile strength. The control element represents an element, such as, carbon which significantly impacts the tensile strength of the rod.

Abstract: A device for conditioning feed materials such as flours, soy products, and the like has an elongated receptacle forming side-by-side intercommunicated cylindrical chambers of substantially equal diameter. Each chamber has a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally therethrough. Each shaft has a plurality of beaters extending radially from the shaft. A motor and gear assembly coupled to the shafts co-rotate the shafts. Upon co-rotation of the shafts, the beaters intermesh for mixing materials that have been introduced through an inlet of the preconditioner. In one embodiment, the beaters are oriented on the shafts such that selected beaters on one shaft sweeping feed materials in one direction (e.g., upwardly) advance the material substantially into selected beaters, located on the other shaft, sweeping feed materials in substantially the opposite direction (e.g., downwardly). This beater relationship provides a high degree of product shear and interference and product retention within the preconditioner.

Abstract: A method and an electronic slide caliper serve for measuring a length. The slide caliper comprises a rule and a slide which is arranged on the rule for longitudinal displacement and which is provided with two sensors which are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal direction in such a way that the zero passages of the signals generated by the sensors will not coincide. In order to be able to measure the lengths even in the presence of considerable drifts, the zero passages (ND) of the signals are determined by determining first maximum values (MX) and minimum values (MN) of the signal values (U) and deriving thereafter the zero passages (ND) as arithmetic mean value. By taking the average of a larger number of zero passages one then determines the respective zero level (U.sub.N).