Abstract: Purging of a gas supply line is effected using a serviceman's purging tool having a hose for attachment to the supply line with an opposite end of the hose attached to a burner nozzle carried on a support frame. The burner nozzle is arranged to generate a stream of the gases exiting from the pipe to be purged. The frame carries a receptacle for a propane torch and angles the burner of the torch so as to be directed across the stream of gas from the supply pipe. The burner from the torch thus provides combustion of the purged non-ignitable products from the supply pipe until the ignitable gas reaches the nozzle whereupon the ignitable gas is ignited indicating that the pipe is purged. The receptacle comprises a cylindrical sleeve for receiving the tank of the propane torch and a bracket for guiding the nozzle of the torch across the stream.

Abstract: A seed counter for counting seeds flowing through a duct includes a light transmitter on one side of the duct and light receiver on the opposed side of the duct together with an electronic circuit effecting analysis of the signals received by the receiver to generate a seed count value which represents accurately as possible the number of seeds passing through the duct. The transmitter and receiver each comprise a channel-shaped body with diodes at a base of the channel with the channel filled with a translucent potting material facing into the duct. The circuit receives the signals which include for each passage of a seed or a clump of seeds a temporary reduction in light intensity which is converted to a reduction in voltage. Prior to start up the steady state voltage is measured and the current to the transmitter varied to provide a predetermined level of signal at the receiver.

Abstract: A game apparatus for playing a game by a plurality of players is defined by a collection of visually identical watches each having a processor for calculating and displaying a time and a date. At least one of the watches is arranged to display to a player holding that watch at a predetermined time and date, such as at the millennium, an indication that that watch is a winner of the game.

Abstract: A two sided feeder for feeding animals while the animals grow from a first smaller size to a second larger size comprises a trough having two opposed outwardly inclined front walls over which the animals can reach for taking feed from the trough and a feed hopper for discharging feed downwardly into the trough. The height of each front wall is adjustable by a hinged or removable supplementary portion to accommodate the different size animals. A shelf is provided above the trough onto which the feed is deposited. The height of the shelf is also adjustable. The hopper includes two vertical side walls defining a lower neck each having a lowermost edge adjacent the shelf for controlling deposit of material onto the shelf so that it remains on the shelf unless moved to the trough by the animal. The neck is supplemented by a clamped insert portion when the shelf is moved to its lower height.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for applying traction to the back and neck of a patient. The traction device is inexpensive, relatively attractive and inconspicuous when mounted on a chair for use by the patient, and can be used with most household chairs.

Abstract: A tubing rotator and hanger is used in a wellhead of an oil well. The rotator has a rotator body including a flange and a sleeve projecting from the bottom end of the flange. The flange engages between the wellhead flange and the upper wellhead components, adding a very short height to the overall height of the wellhead. A mandrel extends through a bore in the rotator body and is supported in the body by a bearing supporting a load shoulder on the mandrel. A ring gear is keyed to the mandrel and is driven by a worm extending into a bore in the rotator body flange. In preferred embodiments, the load shoulder and ring gear can be removed from the mandrel, allowing the rotator body to be lifted off the mandrel and a BOP installed when necessary.

Abstract: The apparatus for longitudinally slitting sheet material comprises a supply assembly for supplying for unrolling a roll of the sheet material, a table surface for receiving the sheet, a re-rolling cradle for receiving a cut portion of the sheet and driven to roll the cut portion into a roll and a slitting assembly for slitting the sheet in a longitudinal direction at least at one position across its width. The slitting assembly comprising an elongate support housing extending across the table transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sheet, at least one slitting knife member mounted on the housing for slitting the sheet, the knife member being movable along the housing for adjustment of the position of the knife member across the sheet so as to vary a width of the portion to be cut. The knife member includes a blade support carried on the housing for sliding movement and an elongate drive shaft extending across the table which is driven at one end.

Abstract: A cover for a pump jack includes a main rear wall with two slots for engaging over a pair of shafts of the pump jack at the drive belt on the pulleys on the drive shafts. The rear cover portion includes a peripheral wall extending around the sides and top of the peripheral edge with the bottom of the cover panel being opened. A front panel portion manufactures a single piece or as multiple pieces fits over the rear cover panel with a lip engaging onto the peripheral wall to which it is connected by latches. A stiffener member extends across the rear wall and closes the slots. A similar stiffener member can be attached across the front panel portion. Both the rear panel and the front panel are manufactured from glass fibre reinforced resin allowing the product to be manufactured in lightweight. The front cover panel can therefore be readily removed to allow replacement of the belt.

Abstract: A storage container for barrels of liquid such as fuel arranged on their sides has a rigid base which is rectangular in plan to define two side edges and two end edges and dimensioned in width between side edges to receive a length of a barrel lying on its side across the width and in length between the end edges to receive a plurality of barrels side by side. The base has a bottom closed wall and four upstanding walls each at a respective edge of the bottom wall so as to define a sump to receive liquid from one or more of the barrels in the event of leakage. Across the top of the base is a pair of straps and end flanges to allow rolling of the barrels across the base. The container has two side walls and two end walls. Both of the end walls being hinged at a bottom edge for movement to an open ramp position to allow the barrels to be rolled into and out of the container.

Abstract: A tailgate for preventing cattle from backing up while in a guide chute is described. The tail gate comprises a tube, angle brackets and a gate section. The angle brackets are arranged to be fitted into the tube such that the angle brackets can be attached to horizontal or vertical surfaces. The gate section is arranged to pivot about the tube from one side of the tube only so that cattle may pass freely from one side of the tail gate but are prevented from passing from the opposite side. As a result of this arrangement, cattle contacting the gate from the opposite side of the tail gate will reflexively remain in place. This in turn prevents the cattle from backing up and speeds up the flow of cattle through the chute. The tail gate is arranged to be fitted into chutes of various widths at any point along the chute fitting and the height of the gate section can be varied for use with animals of different sizes.

Abstract: A tuning device for a stringed musical instrument consisting of stroboscopic light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), positioned to be seen by a musician in or near normal playing position as partially eclipsed by the strings. The LEDs are driven at standard musical frequencies by a microprocessor. To use the device, a musician observes the illusion of a moving shadow around an untuned vibrating string, and adjusts the instrument until the shadow appears to slow down and stop. The LEDs are sufficiently powerful, and their duty cycles are sufficiently large, that no special shielding or means of observation are required by the musician in normal ambient lighting conditions. A plurality of LEDs is grouped behind each string, with each LED in the group having the same frequency but different phase, which creates an illusion of movement along the string in one direction or the other indicating whether the string is sharp or flat.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus for connection between a tractor and a trailing implement such as a mower includes a hitch arm at one end of the apparatus extending forwardly and pivotal so as to extend either inwardly or outwardly thus offsetting the apparatus across the rear of the tractor. The apparatus includes the drawbar hitch at the rear spaced across from the hitch arm for attachment to the mower so that the mower is offset to one side of the tractor. Two gear boxes and a drive shaft provide connection from the PTO of the tractor to the drive input of the mower. The offset hitch apparatus allows the mower to run in a ditch while the tractor remains on level ground.

Abstract: A jacket for use during hair coloring is described. The jacket is composed of two layers of plastic film and the jacket is disposable. The jacket comprises a body portion arranged to be fitted over the torso of an individual, two sleeve portions arranged to be fitted over the arms of the individual and a flared neck portion arranged to be rolled over and under the collar of the individual. It is of note that the jacket is arranged to fit loosely over the clothing of the individual for greater comfort. As a result of this arrangement, the above-described jacket protects the clothing and the neck region of the individual from damage by the chemicals used during the hair coloring process.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing flat rectangular envelopes includes a rectangular cartridge container shaped to receive the envelopes in a stack with an open mouth and a movable rear wall pushed by a spring to present the stack at the open mouth. A first cover plate is mounted on the container for holding the stack within the container leaving one part of the mouth open to expose the front envelope of the stack. A second cover plate is separate from the container with a substantially planar plate portion for mounting in a support wall and presenting forwardly of the support wall and side flanges extending rearwardly from the plate portion to define a receptacle for the container into which the container can be attached for holding the container behind the plate portion and from which the container can be detached for removal and re-filling.

Abstract: A machine for distributing material over crops comprises a vehicle for moving across the ground together with a single boom which projects out from one side of the vehicle over a length which can be of the order of 120 feet. The boom is self-supporting and formed by four rails at the corners of a rectangle together with a plurality of sets of spaced cross struts and longitudinal cables so that each of the rails is under compressive load. The boom is thus self-supporting and is coupled to a center cradle only at the ends of the rails. The boom can be broken down into separate sections. The cradle is a rectangular frame structure which is suspended on a horizontal tubular beam by a sleeve surrounding the beam having a diameter slightly bigger than the beam so that pivotal movement of the cradle tends to roll the sleeve around the beam thus lifting the center of gravity and dampening the pivotal action.

Abstract: A cue rest for attachment to a suitable support such as the table top includes two opposed jaws with jaw surfaces for engaging opposed sides of the support. The jaws are connected for relative pivotal movement and are spring biased to the clamping position. Each jaw has a manually engageable portion on a side of the pivot axis opposite to the jaw surface and arranged such that the jaws can be moved to the release position by manual squeezing of the manually engageable portions. A generally U-shaped receiving surface is provided on at least one and preferably both of the jaw members, the receiving surface defining an open mouth at an edge of the manually engageable portion opposite to the jaw surfaces for receiving and cradling the cue within the receiving surface.

Abstract: A mouse pad for mounting on a desk surface comprises a very thin (of the order of 0.005 inch) sheet of translucent polycarbonate plastics material having a clear re-peelable water based adhesive layer applied directly on the desk side for attachment of the sheet to the desk surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic material spreader for distributing two types of particulate fertilizers at once including an outwardly extending boom having a plurality of pipes, a hopper with plural compartments and conveyor system. The conveyor system comprises two sets of stacked conveyors each set having one conveyor transporting material for one compartment to the pneumatic spray boom and a second conveyor transporting material from a second compartment to the same pneumatic spray boom. Guide ducts receive the material form the conveyors which become mixed as they pass through the separating guide ducts into the pipes and out to an outlet. The hopper is separated into two compartments by a divider wall that is adjustable to permit the relative size of the compartments to be varied.

Abstract: A computer network for allowing individual users to access the internet comprises a central unit and a plurality of individual terminals located at separate spaced locations, at least which are accessible to the public. Each public accessible unit includes a touch screen monitor/keyboard, central processing unit, telephone line communication through a modem and a system for payment of funds by the public for use of the system. Payment can be made by a card reader, bill reader or a coin reader.

Abstract: A system for housing animals in animal husbandry, particularly for raising pigs comprises a separately transportable container (15) manufactured from metal walls (20-24) which is individually supplied with a fan ventilation system (37), a bottom manure container and a feed supply (60). The animals can be transported in the container (15) and maintained in the container (15). The container can be located in rows of the container along a central alleyway (10) through which the animals can be moved and which supplies the necessary facilities. In one use of the system, the animals can be transported to a position adjacent to but spaced from a new location and maintained in quarantine until the possibility of disease is passed. In a further process for the Isowean system of raising pigs, the nursery stage between the farrowing stage and the finisher stage is carried out in the containment vessel thus avoiding additional movement of the animals which is stressful for the animals.