Abstract: A rotary manifold valve mechanism for sequentially connecting a plurality of fluid flow ports with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, in which a stationary valving element has connections respectively with the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, and an operatively associated rotatable manifold is provided with the flow ports. In one form of the invention the valving element is stationary and positioned within the manifold element which is drivingly rotated by a connected shaft, while in a modified form the valving element is positioned outwardly of the manifold element which in this case comprises the shaft and wherein the flow ports are formed on the shaft periphery.

Abstract: A collapsible decoy comprised of two main body halves which are joined together along the upper back portion by a hinge thus allowing one main body half to be folded over the other. The coloration of the body halves is such that when one body half is folded over the other one, a different specie of water fowl becomes visible. A pivotal mount for the decoy is provided with an adjustable friction device to control movement of the decoy under various wind conditions.

Abstract: Method for labeling objects including fruits supplied to a labeling station by an endless conveyor. Labels on a carrier tape are moved from a supply reel by a knurled roller which impresses a surface weakening pattern on each label so it will readily conform to a non-planar surface of the object. The tape is formed into a feed storage loop by an oscillatable tension regulating arm which controls actuation and deactuation of the knurled roller. An indexing tape segment passes through an indexing block in a transfer station, where each entering label is sensed by a detector. Indexing movement of the tape is initiated by an object detector on the conveyor. Indexing moves the tape around a sharp bend to strip the detected label from the tape and position it in a label holding frame.

Abstract: A therapeutic device for treating and exercising the human body by tilting it to different angular positions. The device has a body supporting structure that is pivotally supported on a main frame, the body supporting structure being comprised of an upper body supporting portion and a lower body supporting portion, these portions being interconnected by a central elongate frame. The upper body supporting portion includes an elongate platform.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing an indicium on objects, fruits and the like with an ink which may or may not be water soluble, but which is preferably of a type which may be readily consumed by humans without damaging effect, the fruit being successively pre-oriented and delivered by a conveyor to a printing station where inked printing dies carried by a printing roller are utilized to apply the indicia, after which the fruit is then discharged from the conveyor in a free-fall trajectory path onto a receiver, an air-brush type nozzle being utilized to jet-spray the indicium with a quick drying sealant coating as the fruit is moved through the trajectory path. The spray nozzle is directed towards a collecting opening having a connection with a suction source. Also, a selector valve is provided to permit disconnection of the coating material supply to the nozzle, and connection of the nozzle to a supply of cleaning solvent.

Abstract: A unique variable cable hoisting system utilizing a deadline load indicating apparatus in which the end terminus of the deadline is releasably anchored to a snubbing drum of the load indicating apparatus by quickly releasable hinge members which serve to restrain the end terminus against lateral movements and also to provide an abutment for engaging an abutment on the cable end terminus for opposing its axial movement under load forces and anchoring it to the snubbing drum of the deadline load indicating apparatus, when the cable system is being operatively utilized as a single fastline system. The quickly releasable feature concept, however, permits the terminus end of the deadline to be quickly detached from the snubbing drum and attached to a main hoisting drum as a second fastline to provide a double fastline hoisting system having the capability of doubling the hoisting speed.

Abstract: Similar transfer units are disclosed for launching pig balls into a pipeline and for receiving the pig balls from a downstream portion of the pipeline, each of the transfer units including a hollow housing providing an axially aligned manually or hydraulically operable valve member and valve seat for closing off a magazine which is inclined from horizontal to permit gravity transfer of the pig balls, the hollow housing being otherwise shaped to facilitate transfer of the pig balls. With a pair of the transfer units being connected with a pipeline, the launching unit includes controlled plungers for regulating passage of individual pig balls into the pipeline while the receiving unit at the downstream portion of the pipeline is arranged for directing the pig balls into the receiving unit. A magazine housing for each unit is separable from the hollow housing to facilitate replacement of the valve seat.

Abstract: A push-pull latch mechanism for screen doors, storm doors, and the like, in which a casing pivotally supporting a double-ended handle is mounted within an opening extending between the opposite surfaces of the door adjacent its swinging edge, the handle having a latch dog in offset relation to the pivot, inner and outer escutcheon plates having openings for receiving the handle ends therethrough, the escutcheon plates being securable to the opposite surfaces of the door independently of the casing, one of the escutcheon plates incorporating a manually operable member that is movable into dogging and non-dogging positions with respect to the handle, and in the dogging position being operative to oppose movement of the latch dog from its latching position.

Abstract: A guide bushing mountable in a supporting sleeve in the deck of a blast hole drill for guiding a drill string extending through the sleeve, the bushing having a tubular core providing a cylindrical axial bore adapted to receive and guide the drill string, the core having a flange by which it is supported in the supporting sleeve, and in which a resilient, elastomeric cushion mounted on the exterior of the core serves to cushion transverse movements of the bushing within the supporting sleeve. Preferably, the bushing is formed of two halves fastened together by hinges, so that it can be opened and laterally installed around the drill string.

Abstract: A flow control or flow diverging gate assembly for a conveyor having a sidewall interrupted by an opening along its length, a flow diverting gate or shear being pivotably mounted in the opening and extendable and retractable in length, the unpivoted end of the gate being guided by track means including a first guide portion parallel with the sidewall and second guide portion traversing the conveyor, movement of the gate along the first guide portion providing a variable opening in the side wall to relieve overflow on the belt, movement of the gate along the second guide portion intercepting a portion of the flow path along the conveyor to selectively reduce the flow of articles therealong.

Abstract: Fruit juice extraction apparatus in which a pair of confronting frusto-conical discs are supported on a rotatable main shaft by ball and socket connections and retained in angular tilted relation by guide bearing assemblies to provide a point of minimum peripheral spacing between the discs on one side, a stationary wall being interposed between the discs and cooperating therewith to form separate pressure-applying travel paths for the respective halves of cut fruit sections, each of the paths converging in the direction of disc rotation from a path inlet adjacent the minimum spacing point to an outlet. The whole uncut fruits are supplied in advance of the minimum spacing point and gripped between the discs and carried to a slicing knife for cutting into half-sections which are carried through the converging paths and forced against perforate portions of the stationary wall by progressively applied pressure to extract the juice.

Abstract: A load sensing device for connection in load indicating apparatus between a pair of spaced members arranged to move apart under applied load tension forces, the load sensing device having a hydraulic load cell and an electronic load cell mechanically mounted in stacked series relationship and being respectively connected with a load indicator, wherein the applied tension load forces of the apparatus are mechanically converted into compression load forces for the actuation of the load cells. Manual selectors are also provided to permit the selective use of one or the other of the load cells as the sensing medium to energize its associated load indicator, and which includes a split ring for selectively by-passing the load forces with respect to the hydraulic load cell when utilizing the electronic load cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed application of locking compound to threaded fasteners. A chute guides a continuous flow of fasteners from a feeder bowl to a transporting wheel supported for rotation about a vertical axis. The wheel is provided with a magnet around its periphery which magnetically engages the heads of the fasteners to hold their threaded shanks extending horizontally outwardly from the periphery of the wheel. The fasteners are heated by induction heating and a liquid compound is applied under pressure to a controlled portion of the threads through a continuously vibrated nozzle. Heated air is then applied to drive off solvent from the compound. An air blower then applies ambient temperature air, followed by injecting a cooling air mist containing soluble oil which prevents the fasteners from adhering to each other prior to the hardening of the compound. A pick-off wheel magnetically driven by the transporting wheel separates the fasteners from the transporting wheel.

Abstract: A truck is operable to discharge its load at either of its two opposite ends and is provided with a cab that is movable selectively to positions outwardly beyond the two opposite ends of the truck frame. When the cab is at either end of the truck, controls in the cab are operable to drive the truck in the direction of that end. The cab may be mounted on a boom to swing between the two ends of the truck or the cab may travel between the two ends of the truck along a track that extends longitudinally of the truck.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the counting of objects and in particular fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and the like, which are randomly continuously presented by a conveyor or other means to a counting area in which the objects are illuminated. An image of the counting area and illuminated objects is optically reproduced on a self-scanning photodiode array which generates a series of output analog video signals corresponding to the light intensity on each of the photodiodes. These analog signals are amplified and compared with a voltage that is approximately 60% of the peak voltage value from the array, to provide an output binary signal pulse having a digital logic value of "1", when the video signal is above the 60% value, and a value of "O" when below the 60% value.

Abstract: A lightweight hand operated abrasive blasting apparatus operatively connected with a remote station arranged to provide an air stream with a particulate abrasive material, and an air suction, the apparatus having a housing with an open side facing a work surface that is to be blasted. The abrasive, such as steel grit, is carried to the center of an impeller wheel which centrifugally projects the abrasive in the form of a transversely elongated stream against the work surface, and a vacuum line connected with the housing draws the spent abrasive particles along with particles of material removed from the surface and delivers the material to the remote station for separation and reclaiming of the abrasive particles.

Abstract: A fluid operated engine having a pair of spaced apart disc-like plate members respectively fixedly secured to a pair of drive shaft sections having adjacent ends interconnected by a universal joint, a plurality of pressurized fluid actuated axially expansile and retractile devices extending between and being connected to corresponding circumferentially spaced points of said members, a valve mechanism for sequentially controlling the flow of actuating fluid to and from said devices, said shaft sections being rotatably supported in tiltable bearing supports selectively adjustable to vary the angular relation of the interconnected shaft sections and selectively position the connected plate members respectively in different angular nutating relationships to cause shaft rotations in opposite directions at varied speeds, and in a parallel non-nutating relationship in which the shaft remains stationary.

Abstract: Apparatus for labeling objects including fruits supplied to a labeling station by an endless conveyor. Labels on a carrier tape are moved from a supply reel by a knurled roller which impresses a surface weakening pattern on each label so it will readily conform to a non-planar surface of the object. The tape is formed into a feed storage loop by an oscillatable tension regulating arm which controls actuation and deactuation of the knurled roller. An indexing tape segment passes through an indexing block in a transfer station, where each entering label is sensed by a detector. Indexing movement of the tape is initiated by an object detector on the conveyor. Indexing moves the tape around a sharp bend to strip the detected label from the tape and position it in a label holding frame.

Abstract: A funnel-shaped receptacle is temporarily positioned on the top of a coffee-making machine with its bottom outlet positioned to discharge into the heater tank of the machine. The interior of the receptacle is spanned by a disposable activated carbon filter and below the filter is a container of screen material filled with soluble phosphate granules. Replenishing water poured through the receptacle is first purified by the filter and is then treated with the dissolved phosphate to prevent calcium formation and corrosion in the heater tank.

Abstract: The valve spool of a three-way pilot valve responds to changes in pressure in a pipeline downstream from a shut-off valve that is biased to close by spring pressure and has a control cylinder to admit pressurized control fluid to open in opposition to the spring pressure. When the pipeline pressure is in the normal range the valve spool is at a normal position where it places the pressurized control fluid in communication with the control cylinder of the shut-off valve to keep the shut-off valve open. When the pipeline pressure drops below the normal range the valve spool moves in one direction from its normal position to a first alternate position to cause the shut-off valve to close and when the pipeline pressure rises above the normal range the valve spool moves in the opposite direction to a second alternate position to cause the shut-off valve to close.