Abstract: An apparatus for producing biobased carriers for dispersal of biological and chemical molecules includes a premixer having a cavity for receiving a coproduct of a wet biomass process and a binder and being operable to premix the coproduct and binder to produce a substantially homogeneous DDGS mixture; a high shear mixer having a receptacle for receiving the DDGS mixture and being operable to shear mix the mixture and produce very small DDGS particles; and, an agglomerator having an interior chamber sized and configured to receive and transform the DDGS particles into substantially spherical DDGS pellets.

Abstract: An apparatus for accessing the bed of a pickup truck having a frame, a rear bumper and a tailgate having a distal edge and being hingedly mounted to the frame includes a lower linkage assembly having proximal and distal ends and being pivotally mounted at its proximal end to the rear truck bumper at a first axis; an upper linkage assembly having proximal and distal ends and being pivotally mounted at its proximal end to and proximal the distal edge of the truck tailgate at a second axis, and being pivotally mounted at its distal end to the distal end of the lower linkage assembly at a third axis; a step connected to the lower linkage assembly; and, wherein the distance between the first and second axes is an effective length LB, the distance between the second and third axes is an effective length LT, and the distance between the first and third axes is an effective length LS, and wherein the ratio of LS to LT to LB to is approximately 2.9 to 1.8 to 4.5.

Abstract: A mud flap mounting system for connecting a mud flap to a mud flap mounting bracket of a vehicle includes a mud flap group and a mud flap mounting assembly for connecting one mud flap of the mud flap group to a vehicle mud flap mounting bracket. The mud flap group includes at least two mud flaps, each comprising a sheet of flexible material having a top edge and defining at least two mounting openings, each mounting opening including a bolt hole, a first slit and at least a second slit, said first slit being a severed portion of the sheet with virtually no loss of material and extending from the top edge to the corresponding bolt hole, and the at least a second slit extending outwardly from the bolt hole. The mud flap mounting assembly includes a pressure plate, a spring member, a bolt with a head and a shank with a distal end, and a tightening member.

Abstract: An induction system for an internal combustion engine, having a combustion chamber and an intake port in periodic communication with the combustion chamber, includes an intake tube having a lower trumpet (41) and an upper trumpet (42), each having an upper end, a lower end and a length; a transition section (43) extending between the upper end of the lower trumpet and the lower end of the upper trumpet; wherein the lower trumpet is connectable at its lower end to the intake port (22) of an engine and has an inner transition diameter (48) proximal its upper end, and wherein the upper trumpet has an inner expansion diameter (55) that is between about 68 percent and 217 percent greater than the transition diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for shifting the center of gravity of a vehicle includes a master cylinder assembly with motor, gearbox and position sensing encoder; a slave cylinder hydraulically connected with the master cylinder and connected with one or more of the vehicle's shock and spring assemblies to, upon actuation of the motor, vary the distance between the upper shock casing and the lower piston end: a driver control assembly including one or more actuator paddles connected behind the outer grip of the steering wheel: and, a control unit having computer programming to receive and issue data and instructions and being operationally connected between the driver control assembly and the master cylinder to actuate the motor upon movement of one or more of the paddles.