Abstract: An apparatus and a method for making pipes made of a plurality of axially juxtaposed discarded vehicle tires wherein several batches of vehicle tires are sequentially compressed against one-another for forming long pipes of discarded tires. In one aspect of the apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a telescopic mandrel having a first and second spaced apart compactor plates mounted thereon for compacting a batch of vehicle tires therebetween. A plurality of grabbing jaws mounted on the telescopic mandrel at an intermediate position between the compactor plates grabs and retains the batch of tires in a compressed mode against the second compactor plate, while the telescopic mandrel is extended for loading a second or subsequent batch of vehicle tires thereon. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided several spacer strips on the telescopic mandrel for holding vehicle tires of the same rim size in alignment with the telescopic mandrel.

Abstract: A fire ant trap having a stand comprising at least one prong for penetrating the surface of a fire ant mound and for supporting the trap above the mound. The fire ant trap also comprises an actuator assembly mounted atop the stand. The actuator assembly has a stalk member connected to the prong at a first end thereof and extending into a stem-like member at a second end thereof. The actuator assembly also comprises a timer and a stem-striking element for periodically impacting the stem member, and a container having an opening encircling and enclosing a portion of the stem member. In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a novel method for entrapping fire ants in a container, which is essentially a use of the aforesaid fire ant trap.

Abstract: A beverage vending machine having a sliding shelf for supporting thereon one or more beverage containers. Folding legs are provided under the shelf for supporting the weight of the shelf when the shelf is in an extended position. The deployment and retraction of the legs is effected by a pair of pantograph actuators, coincidently with a movement of the shelf when the shelf is within a minimal distance from the extended position.

Abstract: A hand tool for slabbing a roll of paper, comprising an elongated carriage frame having handle means affixed thereto. The hand tool also has casters mounted on each side of the carriage frame for movably supporting the frame along an upper segment of that roll. There is also provided a blade carrier attached to the elongated frame and a cutting blade mounted in that blade carrier. During use, the cutting blade extends beneath the elongated frame, with a cutting edge thereof facing towards a forward end of the frame. The elongated frame may also comprise a pivotally lockable blade guard enclosing the cutting blade when the hand tool is lifted off a work surface, for further enhancing a safe handling of the tool.

Abstract: An electronic module for enhancing an operation of a conventional parking meter. The electronic module comprises a shell defining a hollow conformation and being attachable to a conventional parking meter, in substitution to an upper housing portion of that conventional parking meter. The electronic module has a meter condition sensor for detecting from a distant point one of the time expiry indicator and the violative condition indicator of that parking meter, when the indicator is in an indicating mode, and a vehicle sensor affixed to the shell for detecting from a distant point, a parked vehicle. The electronic module further has: an electronic circuitry mounted inside the shell and having a power source for operating the module; means for receiving a first signal from the meter condition sensor and a second signal from the vehicle sensor; means for processing the first and second signals and means for transmitting a coded message to a remote receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a service station to recover automotive fluids. The apparatus comprises a reservoir attachable to a floor surface and a catch pan for receiving automotive fluids flowing from under a vehicle being serviced. The apparatus also comprises a hollow extensible arm means between the catch pan and the reservoir forming a conduit therebetween, and an articulated joint between the extensible arm means and the reservoir. This articulated joint is flexible in a vertical plane as well as in a horizontal plane. Thus the catch pan and the extensible arm means are movable between a first horizontal fluid recovery position and a second vertical compactly stowed position above the reservoir. The reservoir of the apparatus also has a first drain valve and a second drain valve located above the first drain valve. When the apparatus is used to recover several types of automotive fluids, those aqueous fluids such as radiator coolant may be firstly emptied from the reservoir through the first drain valve.

Abstract: There is provided in combination a first member and a second member movable in a reciprocal angular movement, and an articulation between the first member and the second member. The articulation comprises a shaft and a mechanism to convert the angular reciprocal movements of both members into an intermittent unidirectional rotary movement of the shaft. The mechanism of the articulation comprises a pair of ball bearings having each an outer race mounted in a fixed relationship with a respective first or second member, and also having each an inner race mounted in a fixed and coaxial relationship with the shaft. The mechanism further has a pair of flanges, being each mounted adjacent and coaxially a respective bearing, and also in a fixed relationship with a respective first or second member.

Abstract: A well water recirculation valve comprising an in-line check valve and a calibrated orifice through the body of the check valve. The orifice communicates through the body of the check valve into an unchecked end thereof. In use in a water well having a submersed pump, the recirculation valve is spliced into a well pipe at a location below the top of a well but above an average static water level in that well. The recirculation valve of the present invention recirculates a portion of the water pumped through the well pipe back into the well for preventing a stagnation of a head portion of that well.

Abstract: A casing for sign comprising a backing sheet and side members having each a lip along an edge of the backing sheet. The sign casing further comprises a crimp or a plurality of crimps in the lip of each side member and into the backing sheet for retaining the backing sheet to the side members. The lip of each side member is adjacent a first side of the backing sheet, and a lateral portion of each side member is adjacent a second side of the backing sheet. The lip and the lateral portion of each side member form a slot enclosing an edge of the backing sheet. The lateral portion of the side member further has a groove facing the lip, for receiving a swollen portion of the crimp. The casing is manufactured on a production table having a central top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface.

Abstract: A stair-like log feeder having a movable drive module and a movable driven unit cooperating with one another for unscrambling logs from a pile of logs and for moving the singularized logs upwardly along an inclined plane in a successive series of displacements. The log feeder comprises a support frame having support rollers for slidably supporting the drive module and the drive unit. A cyclic actuator is connected to the drive module by a link arm, for moving the drive module in an alternating up and down movement along the inclined plane. A first pair of rack gears is affixed to the drive module, and a second pair of rack gears is affixed to the driven unit. A pair of gears is mounted on a transverse shaft which is pivotally affixed to the support frame.

Abstract: An improved log debarking apparatus characterized by a pair of shafts with cleated wheels for supporting and rotating a log under a rosser type debarking tool. The improved log debarking apparatus further has a plurality of log lifters movably supported about a common axis, and each having a profiled upper edge engageable transversally with a lower surface of a log on the cleated wheels. There is also provided a first lifter actuating means for alternately turning the log lifters from a retracted position below a radial projection of the cleated wheels, to a raised position above the cleated wheels, and into a log ejecting position wherein each profiled upper edge is inclined for rolling the log along and away from the cleated wheels. There is further provided a second lifter actuating means for moving the plurality of log lifters longitudinally relative to the shafts.

Abstract: A wiper accessory for a side mounted rear view mirror of a vehicle, comprising; a wiper blade, a drive module having a rotary drive and a flexible pantograph arm for moving the wiper blade in a reciprocal movement across the reflective surface of the rear view mirror, and an auxiliary mirror mounted on the drive module for advantageously use the sightless area adjacent the side mounted rear view mirror. The drive module further has a U-shaped bracket comprising an horizontal member having one hole for mating onto a vertical mounting bolt of the rear view mirror in a rotatively adjustable manner about an axis defined by the bolt, and two spaced apart vertical members having each a retaining pivot horizontally in line with one another for retaining the drive module of the wiper accessory in a rotatively adjustable manner about an axis defined by the alignment of the two retaining pivots.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle made of a front and of a rear vehicle body of which the chassis are connected by an articulated joint. The articulated joint comprises a steering axis, a first longitudinal roll axis on the front chassis, and a second longitudinal roll axis on the rear chassis. In a structural sense, the articulated joint of the present invention comprises a first swivel member and a first shaft mounting this first swivel member on the front chassis for relative oscillation of the first swivel member and of the front chassis about the first longitudinal roll axis. Likewise, a second swivel member and a second shaft mounting this second swivel member on the rear chassis allow relative oscillation of the second swivel member and of the rear chassis about the second longitudinal roll axis.

Abstract: In the present invention, there is provided a tree processor attachment for optionally mounting transversely on a forward section of the log carrying portion of a log porter, so that a log porter may advantageously be used to process felled trees, and to carry logs therefrom to a forest road. The tree processor attachment comprises a tree trunk holding and severing portion and a tree trunk advancing and delimbing portion having a pair of tree trunk delimbing jaws. The tree trunk advancing and delimbing portion is telescopically mounted in the tree trunk holding and severing portion, and is movable back and forth a pair of tree trunk holding jaws. The tree trunk advancing and delimbing portion is timely operable in association with the tree trunk holding jaws for moving a tree trunk in successive unidirectional movements toward a tree trunk severing saw. The tree holding and severing portion of the tree processor attachment is rotatable within a sway angle about a swivel member on a mounting base thereof.

Abstract: A modular floor cover for a garage floor, made of a plurality of strips of impermeable ribbed matting. The strips are laterally joined to one-another by elongated moldings. A first series of elongated joiners encloses common bordering edges of adjacent strips of ribbed matting, raising the longitudinal edges by a thickness of a sole member of these moldings. A second series of joiners is placed under all transversal edges of the strips, thereby raising the transversal edges. A basin is formed in a central region of the floor cover to retain water, slush and other fluids falling off a vehicle parked over this floor cover.

Abstract: There is provided in combination a first member and a second member movable in a reciprocal angular movement, and an articulation between the first member and the second member. The articulation comprises a shaft and a mechanism to convert the angular reciprocal movements of both members into an intermittent unidirectional rotary movement of the shaft, The mechanism of the articulation comprises a pair of ball bearings having each an outer race mounted in a fixed relationship with a respective first or second member, and also having each an inner race mounted in a fixed and coaxial relationship with the shaft. The mechanism further has a pair of flanges, being each mounted adjacent and coaxially a respective bearing, and also in a fixed relationship with a respective first or second member.

Abstract: An apertured mask for enhancing the learning of specific functions controllable from an instrument panel by a trainee. In one embodiment, the mask for an instrument panel comprises an opaque overlay having at least one opening for revealing a group of instruments from this panel, and mounting means for retaining this overlay in a fixed relationship with the exclusive group of instruments. A plurality of juxtaposed flaps may also be provided for optionally covering a portion or an entirety of the opening of the mask. In another embodiment, any two juxtaposed flaps have along a common bordering edge thereof dust seal means for closing a gap between each flap. In a further embodiment, each mask from a plurality of masks for a same instrument panel, has a distinct set of apertures for revealing a distinct number of exclusive instruments from that panel, for teaching a trainee about a distinct process from a group of processes controllable from that instrument panel.

Abstract: A portable air cooler for installation near a kitchen or similar sink using tap water as a refrigerant. The portable air cooler comprises a fan and an air cooling coil at the inlet opening of the fan. The cooling coil comprises hose means to circulate a flow of cold water from the faucet of a kitchen sink, through the coil and back into the sink. The fan and the cooling coil are contained within a housing which has baffle means to expel air upwardly. The baffle means on the housing provides for mixing a naturally rising warm air with a naturally falling cold air within a room to be cooled. The still cold water flowing out of the cooling coil and into the kitchen sink cools the surface of the sink. The portable air cooler is adapted to generate an air circulation over the surface of the sink whereby warm air is pre-cooled before entering the fan. The kitchen sink is used as a heat exchanger in series with the cooling coil inside the unit to cool ambient air through the fan.