Abstract: A device for engagement with a moving web to remove curl, fold or crease from an edge thereof. Opposite banks of elongated stationary fins are angularly disposed with respect to the direction of movement of the web and are spaced apart to define a predetermined web passageway therethrough. The edge of the traveling web passes between the banks of fins and cooperative forces produced by the opposing banks of the elongated angularly disposed fins remove curl from the edge of the web as well as removing folds and creases. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated fins have opposite taper at leading and trailing ends to permit proper feeding of a web therebetween and to permit location of the device in close proximity to adjacent web handling equipment. In another preferred embodiment, the two banks of elongated fins are operatively associated under spring tension, whereby adjustment may be made between banks of fins while damage to a web passing therethrough or to the device is substantially alleviated.

Abstract: A free standing stove having excellent thermal emission and fuel combustion characteristics comprising front, back, base, top and side plates of high strength, heat transmitting metal defining a main body of the stove. The interior of the main body of the stove is provided with a horizontal baffle plate disposed between top and base plates to divide the stove into a lower fuel-receiving and heating compartment and an upper heating compartment. The two compartments communicate by a passageway adjacent a side plate of the stove, and the side plate is provided with an access opening and door to permit insertion of fuel into the lower fuel-receiving compartment. The access door is provided with upper and lower dampers which may be adjusted to circulate air across the stove to retard the movement of combustion gases and by-products through the passageway communicating the upper and lower compartments, and to provide oxygen for combustion of the fuel in the upper and lower compartments, respectively.

Abstract: An automatic temperature responsive ventilator including a housing having side walls defining an air passageway and an openwork grid across the passageway. At least one shutter is mounted within the housing, with one end of one shutter element being associated with a bimetallic spring that is received within an opening in one housing side wall. A cap is received over the spring from the outside to hold the spring in place and protect the spring from the elements and from damage during installation. An outer end of the spring is held by a slot in the side wall and an inner end of the spring is secured to a rod that is attached to the shutter. Variations in ambient temperature cause the shutter element to open and close automatically.

Abstract: A switch, particularly for use in controlling the comminuter motor of a waste disposal unit, which provides pressure pulses, for use in the electrical control circuit of the motor, by compressing one or more resilient members in sequence when operated.

Abstract: A foundation ventilator assembly that includes a housing in which are received at least one, and preferably a plurality of pivotal louver type elements that may be moved from an open to a closed position. In a preferred arrangement the plurality of louvers are interconnected to move as a unit and the unit is controlled by a temperature responsive bi-metalic spring to open or close the louvers depending upon the ambient temperature. A first grill is provided and is permanently secured to a side of the ventilator that will be presented as the outside during use with the grill having a screen thereacross. A second grill is provided and is removably securable to the rear side of the ventilator housing with the second screen having a grid across the ventilator opening through the housing with a screen secured thereto.

Abstract: An improved coating composition, coated reinforcement fabrics, reinforced rubber-based substrate products, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. The coating composition comprises a carboxylated neoprene latex containing an aqueous dispersion of a copolymer of chloroprene and methacrylic acid, polyvinyl chloride as a colloidal stabilizer, and a high boiling oil derived largely from aromatic petroleum feedstocks through a distillation range of between about 195.degree. C. through 325.degree. C. The composition is highly stable, has a long shelf life, and is particularly suited for precoating textile reinforcement fabrics to provide a highly tacky uncured coating surface thereon having exceptionally long high tack in uncured, or green, state. The fabric is employed as a reinforcement layer or cover in rubber-based industrial products, such as power transmission belts, and may be applied in intimate physical adhesion therewith for subsequent vulcanization bonding thereto, as in a vulcanizing mold.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling textile yarn strands in which textile yarn strands subjected to a heat treating operation are continuously directed from the heat treating apparatus by a stream of air through an oscillating tube onto a moving conveyor belt to deposit and accumulate the yarn strand thereon in a substantially tensionless condition for cooling. The yarn strand is removed from the accumulated yarn on the belt surface in a direction generally parallel to the surface and to the direction of movement of the accumulated yarn thereon to minimize tangling of the yarn, and the strand is subjected to a cooling air stream directed oppositely to its direction of movement to detangle the same prior to collection on a package. The speed of yarn package take up is controlled by means of a photoelectric sensing device located above the conveyor belt to sense the amount of yarn accumulated on the belt, and to ensure that a predetermined amount of yarn is maintained on the belt during the cooling operation.

Abstract: Orchard fruit handling apparatus for conveying and delivering harvested fruit into a plurality of storage bins comprising a first conveyor for adjustable attachment to a conventional farm tractor for receiving and transporting fruit received thereon in a generally linear direction rearwardly of the tractor, and trailer means for attachment to the tractor containing a second conveyor for receiving harvested fruit from the first conveyor and selectively directing the fruit into a plurality of storage bins carried on the trailer. A plurality of deflecting blades or bars are selectively positionable across the second conveyor to selectively intercept and deflect the fruit into corresponding bin filler mechanisms located along the side of the second conveyor and above corresponding collection bins.

Abstract: A process of treating an animal manure slurry susceptible to aerobic composting and anaerobic microbiological degradation with the production of a fuel gas, comprises: separating the slurry into a first, solids concentrated, fraction of relatively coarse particle size, and a second, solids dilute, fraction of relatively fine particle size; carrying out on the first fraction an aerobic composting reaction which is exothermic; carrying out on the second fraction an anaerobic microbiological reaction in which a fuel gas comprising methane is produced; and utilizing heat from the exothermic reaction to promote the fuel gas producing reaction.

Abstract: A solar heated building structure comprising an exterior shell including side walls and a roof section with the major portion of the roof section comprised of light transmitting panels or panes of material to permit passage of sunlight into the attic section of the building structure. The structure is provided with a central vertical hollow support column containing liquid storage tanks for the circulation and collection of heated water from a flexible conduit system located on the floor of the attic compartment. The central column serves as a heating core for the structure and communicates by way of air conduits or ducts with the living areas of the structure. Fan means are provided for continuously or intermittently circulating air over the hot water storage tanks in the core to transfer heat therefrom and distribute the heated air into the living areas.

Abstract: Adjustment of the position of a limp, generally tubular garment item, such as a hosiery blank to be toe seamed, is performed by gripping the garment either internally or externally while it is on the carrier, moving it therealong firstly past the desired position and then back towards that position, and then automatically releasing the grip exerted on the garment when a photodetector senses the arrival of an identifiable feature of the returning garment at the said desired position.

Abstract: An improved process for producing durable, wash resistant, light-reflective fabrics for use in garments and wearing apparel to enhance their nighttime visibility without significantly detracting from the daytime visual appearance of the fabrics, comprising the steps of applying to a surface of a textile fabric constructed from differentially dyed or dyeable yarns or fibers a liquid paste composition containing a uniform dispersion of binder-coated, reflex-reflective, magnetically orientable particles suspended therein, and a carboxyvinyl polymeric thickener in the composition to maintain a composition viscosity of between about three thousand to seventeen thousand centipoise, applying a magnetic force field to the fabric to magnetically orient the particles in the paste composition to dispose their light-reflective surfaces generally outwardly from the surface of the fabric, treating the fabric to activate the binder of the particles and adhesively secure the particles to the fabric surface, and subsequently

Abstract: A fuel economizer system for an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel supply tank, a main fuel supply line connecting the tank to the carburetor of the engine, and a fuel pump in the supply line for delivering fuel to the carburetor, an adjustable fuel metering valve positioned in the fuel supply line between the fuel pump and the carburetor, and means for automatically adjusting the metering valve in response to changes in load conditions on the engine to provide minimum fuel pressure and fuel to the carburetor inlet during idle and no-load conditions, while increasing the fuel pressure and amount of fuel supplied to the carburetor in response to increases in the load condition on the engine.

Abstract: A yarn carrier is described and claimed herein suitable for use for winding textile yarn thereon and dyeing same at full length or while the carrier is in a collapsed condition. In the collapsed condition, adequate and uniform dye flow from the inside of the tube outwardly is permitted to evenly dye the yarn wound thereon. A tube having terminal flanges or rings is provided with an initially rigid intermediate structure that has an open network to permit passage of dye therethrough and that is capable of axial compression with respect to the length of the tube upon receipt of a predetermined amount of force. Axially extending rigid members are provided throughout the intermediate tube structure to provide the initially rigid tube with at least certain of the axial rigid members being deformable when subjected to sufficient axial force with respect to the tube to deflect or rupture and thus permit axial collapse of the tube.

Abstract: Flocked fabric products having a woven corduroy appearance, including method and apparatus for producing such fabrics wherein an indefinite length substrate sheet is transported in a generally horizontal path of travel through a coating apparatus where a mass of viscous adhesive material is applied to the upper surface of the sheet while support means located beneath the sheet prevent displacement of the sheet from its path of travel and provide dimensional stability thereto. Immediately downstream of the support means the upper surface of the sheet and the adhesive material thereon is contacted by the notched edge of a knife blade to dispose the adhesive mass in a plurality of parallel upstanding ribs having upwardly tapered sides in transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A composition for short cut, synthetic polymeric staple fibers that are u in a wet lay application for the production of nonwovens is disclosed and claimed herein along with a fiber having the finish thereon and the process for dispersing the fiber in an aqueous medium. Synthetic polymeric filaments are cut into staple lengths, generally in a range of from about 1/4 to about 3 inches in length, and are dispersed in an aqueous medium in conjunction with a composition that includes as an essential ingredient, an ethoxylated primary emulsifier that contains at least five moles of ethylene oxide, and exhibits a surface tension of at least 30 dynes per centimeter in a 0.10 weight percent aqueous solution at 25 degrees Centigrade plus or minus 2 degrees Centigrade. Optionally, a lubricant may be added to the finish composition to improve processability of the fiber during manufacture. The lubricant should be compatible with the primary emulsifier.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the high speed, multicolor dyeing of yarns to obtain uniformly dyed lengths of different color along the length of the yarns, wherein a moving strand is collected in a plurality of layers on the surface of a winding drum while a plurality of streams of dye of different color are continuously applied in metered amounts onto the outer surface of the yarn on the drum to form radial bands of color in the collected yarn. The drum is rotated at high speed to cause radial outward flow of dye from inner yarn windings into the outer yarn windings on the drum, thereby providing uniform penetration and coloration of the yarn by the dyes. Dye centrifugally expelled from the outer surface of the yarn is collected and removed by an outer housing peripherally surrounding the drum. The traverse speed of the yarn traverse mechanism of the drum is independently variable to permit the dyeing of yarn sections of selectively variable lengths.

Abstract: An improved ventilator construction for use in masonry wall openings to ventilate interior spaces of a building, such as a basement or crawl space of a home, wherein the ventilator construction is particularly adapted for installation in an existing masonry wall opening without the need for concrete or mortar to retain the ventilator in place in the wall opening. The ventilator construction comprises a ventilator box having adjustable louvers for automatically controlling the access of air through the ventilator in response to changes in temperature, and a support frame for the ventilator box having a flanged peripheral opening for overlying the opening in the masonry wall.

Abstract: Crop uprooting and cultivating apparatus which includes at least one bar having at least one angled edge thereon that extends from a support at least partially across a row to be cultivated or from which crops and/or foliage are to be uprooted. The bar is rotatably supported by a support structure in cantilever fashion, leaving an outer end of the bar free. The bar may extend across a crop row in a direction generally transverse to the direction of movement of the apparatus along the row, or may be angled rearwardly with respect thereto to provide a self-cleaning action. The bar rotates beneath the surface of the soil and uproots crops and foliage as it moves along, the direction of rotation being in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the apparatus. A pair of bars may be provided, one being located on each side of a row being cultivated or where crops are to be uprooted with at least one of the bars extending a distance of more than 50 percent of the width of the row.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed and claimed herein for cutting logs into predetermined lengths with primary use in a hardwood veneer plant. A log conveyor is provided, preferably in two sections, with a cutting station located therebetween. The cutting station is equipped with a pivotally operated chain saw or circular saw which cuts the logs as desired. A log clamp means is provided immediately adjacent the cutting station to engage the log on two sides, preferably top and bottom, with the diameter of the log being irrelevant within wide ranges. When a log is first clamped, the cutting saw passes to square off the forward end of same. Located downstream of the cutting station are a plurality of individually operated log stops that are located in the path of travel of the log moving along the conveyor. A particular stop, depending upon the length of log cut desired, is actuated to move into the path of log travel.