Abstract: In a concrete production system, an improved aggregates conveying apparatus includes an aggregates drag conveyor having a lower, conveying run which drags aggregates along a centrally-located, common trough shared by separate fine and coarse aggregates hoppers to a discharge end and an upper, return run which moves through a hollow channel formed in a common wall separating the hoppers above the common trough.

Abstract: A particle fuel burning furnace has an upper combustion chamber holding a pile of particle fuel and burning the same from the bottom. The furnace includes a lower combustion chamber for afterburning combustible gases off by burning solid fuel in the upper chamber and replaceable refractory bricks containing a series of spaced vertically-extending passageways interconnecting the bottom of the upper chamber and the top of the lower chambers for communicating combustible gases from the upper to the lower chamber. An improved particle fuel diversion structure in the furnace includes an elongated fuel diverter block having a recessed dome-shaped cavity therein and open at a bottom side and spacer blocks disposing the diverter block in the upper chamber in spaced relationship above the bottom of the upper chamber and with its recessed cavity overlying the bricks containing the passageways. Furthermore, the bricks extend above the bottom of the upper chamber and into the recessed cavity of the diverter block.

Abstract: A grain roasting machine includes an elongated hollow roasting drum mounted for rotation about its fore-and-aft longitudinally extending central axis and a burner for producing a roasting flame within the drum in a direction extending generally longitudinally of the drum from one end toward the other end of the drum. The flame is produced in the longitudinal direction but offset to one side of the central axis of the drum. Vanes disposed on the interior of the drum sidewall and extending longitudinally between the ends thereof carry grain placed in the drum along a first arcuate path which skirts the periphery of the flame and then drop the grain in a second linear path in which most of the grain falls across the drum and directly through the roasting flame before returning to the first path.

Abstract: A system of grain drying in a specially constructed bin which involves electronic readings of multiple parameters and control of the operation of high volume blowers by a programable control system which reacts to the parameters. Sensors read ambient air humidity and temperature and grain temperature at various locations in the grain bin. These readings are combined with grain moisture readings secured through sampling ports to control the air flow based on a preset goal for moisture level of the grain. Various parameters are also displayed for operator information.

Abstract: In a concrete production system, an improved aggregates conveying apparatus includes an aggregates drag conveyor having a lower, conveying run which drags aggregates along a centrally-located, common trough shared by separate fine and coarse aggregates hoppers to a discharge end and an upper, return run which moves through a hollow channel formed in a common wall separating the hoppers above the common trough. An improved cement metering apparatus in the system includes a cement conveyor mounted along a trough below the cement hopper so as to make an endless path around a floor of the trough. Baffle gates at each end of the floor coact with the conveyor to prevent inadvertent flow of cement past the ends of the floor and to only permit metered flow of the cement from the discharge end of the trough. The fine and coarse aggregates, and the cement discharge into a mixing auger where, after water is added, they are mixed into concrete before discharge from the auger.

Abstract: A heated sand spreader apparatus has an inclined elongated screw conveyor mounted at the rear end of a mobile chassis for receiving and conveying sand in a rearward direction along a spiraling path. A plurality of heat generators are attached to the conveyor for directing heat on the sand grains moving within the conveyor. The grains are heated to such a degree that upon subsequent contact with ice on a road surface the grains will melt the ice and deposit in it. After the ice refreezes the grains form a granular surface on the ice. The apparatus includes a broadcast-type spreader supported from the auger conveyor which receives heated sand therefrom and is operated to uniformly broadcast the sand grains on the road surface at the rear of the mobile chassis.

Abstract: In a concrete production system, an improved aggregates conveying apparatus includes an aggregates drag conveyor having a lower, conveying run which drags aggregates along a centrally-located, common trough shared by separate fine and coarse aggregates hoppers to a discharge end and an upper, return run which moves through a hollow channel formed in a common wall separating the hoppers above the common trough. An improved cement metering apparatus in the system includes a cement conveyor mounted along a trough below the cement hopper so as to make an endless path around a floor of the trough. Baffle gates at each end of the floor coact with the conveyor to prevent inadvertent flow of cement past the ends of the floor and to only permit metered flow of the cement from the discharge end of the trough. The fine and coarse aggregates, and the cement discharge into a mixing auger where, after water is added, they are mixed into concrete before discharge from the auger.

Abstract: A particle fuel burning furnace has an upper combustion chamber for holding a pile of particle fuel and burning the same from the bottom thereof. The furnace also includes a lower combustion chamber for afterburning combustible gases given off by the burning of solid fuel in the upper chamber and a series of spaced apart vertically-extending passageways arranged in a row and interconnecting the upper and lower chambers for communicating the combustible gases from the upper to the lower chamber. A first improved feature relates to a particle fuel delivery control device which operates an auger for filling the upper chamber with particle fuel to a desired level. A beam of light is transmitted and reflected between a photoelectric cell and reflector respectively of the device. When the particle fuel pile has grown in height during filling to the desired level the light beam is interrupted and filling is terminated.

Abstract: Fireplace heat transfer apparatus includes a main inner panel assembly adapted to be positioned across any opening to a fireplace and an auxiliary outer panel assembly pivotally mounted to the main assembly. The main assembly includes an inner transparent plate of glass and the auxiliary assembly includes an outer transparent plate of glass. The outer glass plate is thicker than the inner glass plate. The mounting relationship of the auxiliary frame to the main frame maintains the outer plate of glass in a spaced relationship to the inner plate of glass so as to define a heat transfer chamber between them. The auxiliary and main assemblies have respective frame structures which closes the chamber at its sides but provides the chamber with an open top and bottom for communicating the chamber with ambient air in the room surrounding the fireplace.

Abstract: A particle fuel burning furnace has an upper combustion chamber for holding a pile of particle fuel and burning the same from the bottom thereof. The furnace also includes a lower combustion chamber for afterburning combustible gases given off by the burning of solid fuel in the upper chamber and a series of spaced apart vertically-extending passageways arranged in a row and interconnecting the upper and lower chambers for communicating the combustible gases from the upper to the lower chamber. A first improved feature relates to a particle fuel delivery control device which operates an auger for filling the upper chamber with particle fuel to a desired level. A beam of light is transmitted and reflected between a photoelectric cell and reflector respectively of the device. When the particle fuel pile has grown in height during filling to the desired level the light beam is interrupted and filling is terminated.

Abstract: A small batch mixer having a cylindrical mixing drum which defines a closed mixing chamber is provided for the mixing of livestock feeds in a dust-free operation. Materials are loaded into the mixing chamber through an access opening in the sidewall whereas materials are unloaded through a discharge outlet in the end-wall. The drum is supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis and is inclined such that the materials move by gravity from the front portion to the rear portion of the mixing chamber. As the drum is rotated, vanes along its sidewall tumbles the materials about the mixing chamber while an auger disposed along the longitudinal axis of the drum conveys the materials from the rear portion to the front portion of the mixing chamber in thereby achieving a thorough mixing of the materials. The auger is supported at only one end of the mixing drum.

Abstract: A chemical dispenser that attaches to a round baler is provided for dispersing dry particulate chemicals, via an airstream, onto a mat of crop material as same is being delivered and formed into a large round bale in the bale forming chamber of the baler. The dry particulate chemicals are discharged in the form of a plume into a captive area defined by the inner and outer surfaces of the crop material mat so as to achieve substantially uniform distribution of the chemicals throughout the bale of crop material while conserving the usage of the chemicals. The chemical dispenser also incorporates automatic controls for discharging chemicals only in response to the delivery of the mat of crop material to the bale forming chamber thereby insuring substantially uniform distribution of the chemicals within the bale while preventing wasteful use of the chemicals.

Abstract: A canning utensil which is used in filling canning jars with food products in sliced form is provided with a hollow, cup-shaped body and an upper cutter assembly mounted adjacent the top opening of the body of the utensil. By using the canning utensil, a food product to be canned may first be severed into slices and then funneled into the canning jar without intervention being necessary to handle the slices. This is accomplished by manually pushing the food product down through the blades of the cutter assembly. As the severed product slices emerge from between the blades, they slide downward through the interior of the cup-shaped body of the utensil along converging paths and are deposited into the canning jar on which the utensil is resting. In alternative embodiments, the cutter blades can take on several configurations and can be fixedly mounted as well as removably mounted to the utensil.

Abstract: A quick connect-disconnect bucket attachment for providing versatility to a front-end loader. The attachment includes an upright frame structure adapted to rest on the floor of the bucket and which is provided with a pair of slotted brackets for releasably receiving the front edge of the bucket floor. A pair of chains connect the top of the frame structure to the bucket, the rearward ends of the chains being looped around a pair of transversely spaced hooks mounted on the top edge of the rear wall of the bucket. A turnbuckle is employed to apply tension to the chains so as to firmly anchor the attachment on the bucket such that the attachment acts as an integral extension of the loader. A load support member in the form of a large round bale engaging tine or in the form of a boom arm projects forwardly from the upper portion of the frame structure for supporting a load on the bucket and thus converting the bucket loader to other desired uses.

Abstract: A sub-soil planter machine has a frame, including front and rear transverse tool bars; a plurality of sub-soil blades mounted on and transversely spaced along the front tool bar; a plurality of rotary tilling assemblies mounted on and transversely spaced along the rear tool bar; and a plurality of planter units mounted on and transversely spaced along the rear tool bar in trailing relationship to the rotary tilling assemblies. The sub-soil blades, rotary tilling assemblies and planter units are so arranged in close proximity to one another such that the depth of the machine has been reduced whereby a given sized tractor, to which the machine is mounted on, is capable of lifting a larger machine than heretofore been accomplished due to the closeness of the machine to the rear end of the tractor resulting in a shorter length movement arm.

Abstract: An earth drilling method and apparatus utilizes a unique drill string rotary drive and support arrangement which provides for the utilization of longer drill strings than could heretofore be accommodated on prior art drill masts of equal height.

Abstract: An open-head power tong having an access door is provided with an improved door-interlock mechanism which ensures that the door is closed before the power tong can be operated. The interlock mechanism includes a pneumatically actuated contact valve connected to a pneumatically piloted hydraulic diverter valve which is operably associated with the hydraulic motor that drives the tong. The contact valve is so positioned on the tong such that the door when moved to its closed position engages the contact valve causing the flow of pneumatic pressure to the diverter valve to position the same so as to permit hydraulic fluid to flow to the hydraulic motor for operation of the power tong. When the door is in its open position, out of engagement with the contact valve, the contact valve relieves the pressure on the diverter valve thus positioning the diverter valve to divert the flow of hydraulic fluid around the hydraulic motor whereby the operation of the power tong is stopped.

Abstract: An open-head power tong having a bifurcated frame defining a central opening and a side opening, a rotatably supported ring having a side opening and which carries releasable pipe engaging jaws that move into and out of the central opening, and a reversible hydraulic motor for driving the ring and the jaws therewith to respectively engage and rotate a pipe in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction during respective make-up and break-out of a drill string, is provided with a pneumatically operated indexing mechanism which automatically aligns the side openings of the frame and the ring after the termination of a make-up or break-out operation such that a drill pipe, located within the central opening, is permitted to be passed laterally therethrough so as to allow the removal of the tong from the drill string.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating gases by passing said gases horizontally through a plurality of spray zones wherein the gases are contacted in each spray zone with scrubbing medium in a plurality of vertically disposed bays; utilizing a scrubbing medium of varied concentration or chemical reactivity between the adjacent spray zones and bays; combining and reamalgamating the spray medium and re-spraying said amalgamated medium in one or more spray zones and bays.

Abstract: In a bulk-milk cooling refrigeration system having an evaporator unit disposed within a bulk-milk cooling reservoir and interconnected with a water-cooled condenser unit for cooling milk in the reservoir, the hot water generated from the condenser unit during operation of the system is circulated through the evaporator unit to reduce its temperature whereby the water may be re-used in the water-cooled condenser unit, thereby conserving water and eliminating costly water storage tanks.