Abstract: A process is disclosed for making a relatively stable non-hygroscopic solid juice composition as well as a product of the process. The process comprises the steps of clarifying and concentrating a selected aqueous juice to a minimum concentration of about 85.degree. BRIX, separately mixing together a sugar and a starch hydrolysate having a maximum dextrose equivalent of about 20, heating the mixture to about its boiling point and blending the mixture and the aqueous juice in relative amounts to form a homogeneous melt. The melt is then extruded into a relatively cool liquid solvent, such as isopropanol, to convert the melt into an extruded solid. The extruded solids are then ground into particles, separated from excess solvent, combined with a selected anti-caking agent and dried to form the aqueous juice composition into a relatively stable particulate solid of superior amorphous quality.

Abstract: Improvements in a fruit processing juice extractor in which fruit is fed by a feed wheel to conveyors having elastomer cups for holding the fruits and moving them against a stationary cutting knife to provide severed sections which are transported to rotary reamers that remove the juice and juice-bearing material from the peel sections which are subsequently ejected by ejector wheels into a peel chute for delivery to a bar grid in the chute for diverting the peel sections directly to an outlet, or to a separator for separating the juice, pulp and rag from the peel.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing layers of objects into a box, wherein a pickup head equipped with multiple vacuum cups picks up a layer of the objects and descends into the box. The box is initially positioned in a packing station in an approximately correct position relative to the path of descent of the pickup head and as the pickup head approaches the top of the box, a chute structure is provided in which four guide panels snap into engagement with the four inner walls, respectively, of the box for four purposes: (1) to position the box precisely correctly relative to the path of descent of the pickup head; (2) to crowd the layer of objects on the pickup head together to conform to the dimensions of the box; (3) to guide the pickup head into the box; and (4) to serve as guards to prevent damage to the descending objects by the rim of the box.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing ink indicia on objects such as fruit and the like, which includes a conveyor to successively deliver the objects to a printing station where the indicia are applied to the respective objects by inked printing dies carried by a printing roller, the objects then being preferably discharged by the conveyor onto an appropriate receiver for collection or for moving them to a further processing station. In order to permit a rapid selection and interchange of inks having different characteristics, a plurality of inking rolls respectively charged with the different inks are carried by a turret assembly which is rotatable to engage a selected inking roll with the printing roller. The inking rolls are arranged to be axially reciprocated relative to the die roll, and are also adjustable to vary the engagement pressure between each of the inking rolls and the die roll.

Abstract: A paint roller cover having an outer annular absorbent layer is plugged at one end and inserted through one end of an open-ended cylindrical casing into a snug position within the casing. In one embodiment, said one end of the casing has a closure cap adapted for connection to a supply source of pressurized liquid for forced flow through the absorbent layer and discharge out of the other end of the casing. In another embodiment, said one end of the casing is insertable into piston-cylinder relationship with the open upper end of a container substantially filled with a cleaning liquid. Relative axial movement of the casing and container operates to force the liquid through the absorbent layer. An important feature of the invention is that during endwise movement of the cover into the cleaning position, the material of the absorbent layer will be angularly deflected into a position which is conducive to the uniform distribution of the axial flow of cleaning liquid within the annular layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the in situ field conversion of the components of pivotal couplings, particularly as utilized for connecting hydraulic load sensing devices into deadline cable anchoring apparatus, and which have become stuck and inoperative due to corrosion, into a coupling having a substantially non-corrosive pivot pin and associated bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A bottom hole well pump comprising a pump housing supported by a control cable for raising and lowering the housing within tubing in a well, a linear motor within the housing causing reciprocation of a plunger extending into a pumping chamber formed by the housing with inlet and outlet check valves for controlling flow of oil or other liquid into the pumping chamber and from the pumping chamber into the tubing above the pump housing. In one embodiment, Belleville-type springs are employed for storing energy as the plunger approaches its opposite limits of travel in order to initiate movement of the plunger in the opposite direction. In this embodiment, a single pumping chamber is formed above the linear motor with a single-valve block arranged above the pumping chamber and including inlet check valve means for controlling liquid flow into the pumping chamber and outlet check valve means for controlling liquid flow from the pumping chamber into the tubing interior above the pump housing.

Abstract: A remotely controlled engine starter and protective system, particularly for engine driven vehicles, in which a remotely located radio transmitter is utilized to initiate energization of the starter motor; a first timer opens the starter circuit if the engine does not start in approximately ten seconds, and if the engine starts, a second timer is operative to stop the engine after approximately ten minutes.

Abstract: A feeder mechanism for controlling delivery of fruits to a processing apparatus such as a juice extractor and wherein the delivered fruits must be of a size equal to or less than a predetermined size, and in particular where the fruits from the feeder are to be delivered to a hopper of the rotary type having magazines or other restrictive passages through which the fruits must pass en route to the processing apparatus, the feeder mechanism being arranged to provide a gating roll for limiting the maximum size of fruit admitted from a supply source to a feed path which contains an adjustable discharge opening for limiting the minimum size of fruit to be fed to the processing apparatus and also discharge unwanted foreign objects, the feed path at its delivery end having a feed roll for moving fruits which are within the predetermined maximum and minimum size limitations from the feed path to a delivery path, and in the case of delivery to a hopper having a control for sensing the fruit level in the hopper, and b

Abstract: A free-floating self-contained swimming pool alarm unit in which a hollow housing forms a float structure having an internal chamber within which an audible alarm device is mounted adjacent sound transmitting openings in a top wall of the housing. An upstanding flared chimney surrounds the openings and provides a sound amplifying horn, the outer end of the chimney being provided with a shielding cap. Electronic control is arranged to trigger and activate the alarm device by connecting it to an electric source in the housing in response to the operation of a liquid sensor switch as a result of tilting movements of the housing due to wave disturbances produced by an object or person falling into the pool. Once the alarm is triggered, it will continue to operate until deactivated by an appropriate switch such as a manual switch mounted in an accessible portion of the housing.

Abstract: An improvement is described for beverage dispensers of the type having a housing, a valve spout for dispensing the liquid beverage, a pump for delivering the beverage to the valve spout and a tank replaceably disposed in the housing for containing the liquid beverage, the improvement consisting of a receptacle element being fixedly mounted upon the housing in order to locate a receiver for sliding engagement and disengagement with an outlet on the tank as the tank is disposed in the housing or removed therefrom. The receptacle element also includes an actuator for opening a check valve in the tank outlet and permitting communication of liquid beverage from the tank to the pump when the tank outlet is in engagement with the receiver of the receptacle element.

Abstract: A rotary feeder mechanism capable of attachment to and synchronized operation with a variety of different types of fruit juice extracting apparatus, in which a fruit receiving hopper is rotatable about a generally vertical or tilted axis of rotation, the received fruit being moved under centrifugal force to the hopper periphery area containing entrance openings to depending magazines in which the fruits are stored in stacked relation. The lower ends of the magazines are respectively arranged with a pair of spaced-apart gating fingers which are controlled by separate cam tracks to successively release the lowermost fruit in the magazine, while opposing release of the other fruits in the magazine, at a predetermined point of the hopper rotation.

Abstract: Two sources of water with a temperature differential of say 20.degree. F. flow alternately through heat exchanger tubes to expand and contract a working liquid that has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, the whole working cycle being carried out below the boiling point of the working liquid. With check valves preventing reverse flow, the expansion and contraction of the working liquid provides a high pressure hydraulic output which may be used to drive a hydraulic motor. To provide substantially steady output flow, four banks of heat exchangers may be operated sequentially with hydraulic accumulator means smoothing out the flow pulsations. Each bank has a four-stage operating cycle and electrical circuitry controls the four banks simultaneously to cause the four different stages to occur in certain of the four different banks in staggered relation for producing a substantially constant overall hydraulic output.

Abstract: An electronic lock mechanism in which the odds against picking or unauthorized opening are extremely high, and wherein an electrically operable bolt is connected with the output of an oscillator in the bolt control circuitry that includes a resistance bridge network including regenerative differential electronic switches connected to selectively activate a pair of relays with series connected contacts in accordance with the direction of unbalance of the bridge, and to activate both relays in response to a balanced operative mode of the bridge so that the relay contacts will coact to close a power supply connection to the oscillator. A control key insertable in a mating keyhole is operative to connect the bridge with a voltage source, insert a resistor component into the bridge network of a value to balance the bridge, and also place a resonating capacitor into a tuned circuit of the oscillator and thereby activate the lock bolt to an unlocked position.

Abstract: Load indicating apparatus in which a hydraulic load sensing unit is pivotally connected by coupling pins respectively with opposed members capable of relative movements under applied load forces, one of the coupling pins comprising an electronic load sensing unit in the form of a hollow pivot pin structure with internally mounted electrically interconnected strain gages operative in response to the applied load forces to generate an output signal.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for a float valve of the type including a main valve that controls an inlet port, a control chamber having a bleeder port and a pilot valve member unitary with a float to control the bleeder port and thereby adjust pressure in the control chamber for regulating actuation of the main valve. In order to increase the float cycle of the valve, a water reservoir is formed by the float for receiving water and increasing weight of the float while the valve is actuated during each float cycle, the reservoir including vent means for emptying the reservoir when the valve is deactuated in order to then reduce the weight of the float. Additional improvements are provided to facilitate operation of the valve.