Abstract: A wheel alignment measuring system for measuring front wheel toe including a laser beam light projector mounted on a front wheel of a motor vehicle which projects a beam of light onto a pivotally mounted front mirror on the projector which oscillates back and forth through a ten degree angle about a reference line. The beam of light reflected from the oscillating mirror swings ten degrees on either side of a central reference beam line, and during its swing the beam strikes a fixed roof mirror mounted on the opposite front wheel of the vehicle. The thus reflected beam sweeps back and forth across the light projector and is successively intercepted by each of a pair of closely spaced photocells on the light projector, the cells being equally spaced on opposite sides of the reference beam line. The cells develop signals when they intercept the light beam which signals control and up/down counter through a flip-flop.

Abstract: A light projector mounted on a front wheel of a vehicle uses a single laser to develop a beam which is split into a pair of light beams. The first light beam is projected to a calibrated mirror mounted on an adjacent rear wheel and is reflected to a target mounted near the projector on the front wheel of the vehicle so that the front wheel may be aligned with the rear wheel. The second light beam is projected to a mirror mounted on the other front wheel and is reflected to a target mounted adjacent the projector to check the toe of the front wheels. The target comprises a multichannel encoder which develops a plurality of Gray-coded binary signals in response to the position of the return beam. A rotating prism causes the light beams to sweep repetitively in a vertical plane so that the beams will strike the mirrors and the targets even when the projector is not mounted in a level position.

Abstract: An on-line detector for peach pits and peach pit fragments and the like remaining in peach halves following a pitting operation includes a sealed housing bordered on one side by an inclined view plate disposed between a feeding belt and a take-away belt. A peach half, pit cavity down, is passed by a viewing line above the view plate. Two different wavelengths of light are directed toward the viewing line and are reflected by a passing fruit section toward an array of light sensors. One of the wavelengths of light is controlled in on-off condition by a clock, being turned on during only a portion of each clock cycle. Output from each one in the array of light sensors is sampled during the portion of each clock cycle that the one wavelength is on, and differenced with the light sensor output from that sensor when the other wavelength only is on. Differencing occurs during each clock cycle and a difference output appears only in the presence of a pit or a pit fragment.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for aligning the front wheels of a motor vehicle utilizing a beam projector and detector assembly on each wheel and an electronic computing means for determining the toe angles of the wheels in response to measured toe signals generated by the detectors. The computing means first subtracts one of the toe signals from the other, multiplies the difference by a selected correction factor to produce a correction signal, and then adds the correction signal to the larger of the measured toe signals and subtracts the correction signal from the smaller one to provide the true individual toe angles of the wheels. The signals derived by the computing means are applied to display devices which read out the correct values of the right and left toe angles. Although the correction factor is dependent on the dimensions of the frame of the vehicle, the steering suspension, and the mounting of the projector and detector assembly, it has been found that a correction factor of approximately 0.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve is disclosed as including a valve seat having a flat working surface and a central inlet bore extending perpendicularly from the flat working surface through the seat. A valve disc having a flat circular working surface, the diameter of which is at least three times as large as the diameter of the inlet bore, is positioned against the seat in a coaxial relationship with the inlet bore to provide a large annular area of contact with the flat seat surface. The disc is biased toward the seat by an assembly including a spring within a spring housing, a piston, reciprocally engaged in the innermost end of the spring housing, and a ball bearing received in opposed recesses in the seat and disc. When subjected to high pressure bypass flow through the valve seat inlet bore, the disc is forced from the seat and attains a stable, parallel orientation relative to the seat under the influence of the bypass flow.

Abstract: A heliostat apparatus includes a frame which is rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the aperture plane of an elongate receiver. A plurality of flat flexible mirror elements are mounted to the frame between several parallel, uniformly spaced resilient beams which are pivotally connected at their ends to the frame. Channels are mounted to the sides of the beams for supporting the edges of the mirror elements. Each of the beams has a longitudinally varying configuration designed to bow into predetermined, generally circular curvatures of varying radii when the center of the beam is deflected relative to the pivotally connected ends of the beams. All of the parallel resilient beams are simultaneously deflected by a cam shaft assembly extending through openings in the centers of the beams, whereby the mirror elements together form an upwardly concave, cylindrical reflecting surface.

Abstract: An electro-optical apparatus for determining, during caster angle measurement procedures, when the front wheels of a vehicle have been turned into a first desired steering position oriented in one rotative direction from a "straight-ahead" position and have thereafter been turned to a second desired steering position oriented in the opposite rotative direction from the "straight-ahead" position. A multiple light beam projector and a photosensitive detector are mounted to a front wheel of the vehicle for rotation therewith, and a reflector is mounted to the rear wheel of the vehicle which is on the same side of the vehicle as the projector and detector. The projector rearwardly projects three directional beam patterns with each pattern consisting of sequentially emitted discrete beams which are projected at unique angles with respect to the plane of the front wheel.

Abstract: A self-enclosed tablet dispenser for dispensing tablets into liquid-filled containers, such as swimming pools, including a first tube to hold the tablets, a base connected to the first tube with a horizontal passageway in which a plunger slidably reciprocates to move the tablet from the bottom of the first tube at one end of the passageway to the other end of the passageway, and a second tube connected to the base at the other end of the passageway to guide the tablet into the liquid by gravity means. The second tube may be open-ended on the bottom, or it may be closed so as to hold the tablets while allowing the liquid to enter and thus dissolve the tablets.

Abstract: A citrus slicing machine wherein a whole peeled citrus fruit (e.g., a grapefruit) is placed on an upright spindle with its core oriented in a vertical direction. A plurality of uniformly circumferentially spaced blades, which are mounted on an overlying head, are then reciprocated vertically through the fruit to slice it into a plurality of uniform segments. The blades are flat in the vertical plane and extend outwardly from the bottom upwardly so that they cut the fruit from the interior to the outside thereof. The blades are arranged in non-radial orientations with respect to the axial core of the fruit so that they slice across the radially extending membranes of the fruit to provide pleasing and attractive fruit slices for the ever popular fruit salads or the like.

Abstract: A bag at a filling station is automatically filled with loose fruit, such as apples, while the mouth of the bag is held open by a pair of finger gripping assemblies. Upon the conclusion of the filling operation the finger gripping assemblies, which are mounted upon a pivotable transfer arm, are swung away from the filling station to carry the filled bag into the throat of an automatic bag tying machine with the upper end of the bag being bunched together into a neck within the throat of the machine. When the bag is fully received in the throat of the machine, the machine is pivoted downwardly to bring the lower face thereof into engagement with the fruit in the bag. Thus, when the tie is thereafter applied about the neck of the bag within the throat of the machine a tight package is formed which will facilitate the later handling thereof and which will be more attractive to the ultimate consumer.

Abstract: An electronic speed control system for controlling the drive speed of a cooling fan for a motor vehicle. The system includes a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the motor coolant to be cooled by the fan. The sensor develops a signal which is proportional to the temperature of the coolant which signal is amplified and modified by an electronic control unit to provide a speed control signal. A rotatable drive unit is coupled to the vehicle drive motor and rotates at a speed which is proportional to the vehicle drive motor's speed. A variable coupler is connected between the drive unit and the cooling fan and is controlled by the speed control signal in order to regulate the speed of the fan and thereby control the temperature of the coolant. The electronic control unit includes means for monitoring the speed of the fan and for limiting the maximum speed of the fan.

Abstract: A steam stripping process particularly useful for separating the volatile components of immiscible materials. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention peel oil emulsion, e.g., from a citrus juice extractor, is heated under pressure by the injection of steam while the emulsion is flowing. The major portion of the pressure on the flowing emulsion is then dropped through a back pressure valve, and the resultant vapor-liquid mixture is passed through a long turbulent passage under a slowly decreasing pressure where thorough mixing is provided and d-limonene, the volatile component of the peel oil emulsion, is stripped from the emulsion by the ad-mixed steam. The mixture is discharged at atmospheric pressure into a vapor collecting tank where the spent liquor is separated and drained off. The collected vapors are passed to a condenser, and the condensate therefrom is directed to a decant tank where the d-limonene is decanted off.

Abstract: A rotary brush includes a generally cylindrical, sheet metal core having fittings arranged to be inserted into both ends thereof for the reception of conventional brush drive means, e.g., a rotating drive shaft adapted to extend through the core or stub shafts which are adapted to extend only into the ends of the core. The fittings are comprised of an elastomeric material having a Shore scale A hardness within the range of from about 85-100, and the tubular core is provided with radially inwardly extending circumferentially spaced projections adjacent each end thereof which are adapted to slidably fit within axially extending grooves formed in the outer surface of the fitting and to resiliently engage the fitting to thus lock the fitting against relative rotation. The fittings, which are adapted to be snugly and resiliently secured to the aforementioned brush drive means, may be readily replaced when desired simply by sliding them out of the ends of the core.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting the color of fruit on a plurality of conveyor paths by measuring the light reflected from the surface of the fruit at a viewing station at each path. The circuitry operates to develop a pair of signals at each of the conveyor paths which signals are provided by measurements of the amount of light reflected from the fruit within two distinct bands of wavelengths of light. These signals are routed, one pair at a time, through a pair of amplifiers and a pair of voltage comparators to develop appropriate discharge signals for each of the conveyor paths. A sequencer controls a pair of switching circuits which direct the signals, one at a time, to the amplifiers. The sequencer also directs any signals from the comparators to driver circuits which provide power to divert cull fruit from each conveyor path.

Abstract: A xenon flash lamp mounted on a target flashes at a rate which is determined by the frequency of an oscillator also mounted on the target. A detector assembly which is mounted on a gun receives flashes of light from the lamp only when the gun is aligned with the target. The detector assembly includes a photodetector which produces an electrical signal pulse for each flash of light received. A local oscillator mounted near the gun and tuned to the frequency of the oscillator at the target produces voltage pulses at the same frequency as the frequency of the light flashes from the target. A counter connected to the photodetector counts the number of pulses of light received over a given period of time. Another counter connected to the local oscillator counts the number of voltage pulses received over the same period of time. The readings of the counters are processed by an electronic divider circuit to produce a signal which is proportional to the percent of time that the gun is aligned with the target.

Abstract: A light projector mounted on a front wheel of a vehicle provides a pair of light beams. The first light beam is projected to a roof mirror mounted on an adjacent rear wheel and is reflected to a first target mounted with the projector on the front wheel of the vehicle. The toe angle of the front wheel relative to the axis of rotation of the rear wheel of said vehicle is calculated from signals which are developed by said first target. The second light beam is projected to a mirror mounted on the other front wheel and is reflected to a second target mounted adjacent to the projector to determine the total toe angle between the front wheels. The difference between the total toe angle and the measured individual toe angle of the front wheel upon which the projector is mounted is calculated to provide the individual toe angle of the other front wheel relative to said axis of rotation of the rear wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A paddle mounted on a fruit sorter at the end of a fruit conveyor is connected to the plunger of a solenoid which normally is actuated to bias the paddle into the path of fruit being discharged from the conveyor toward a good-fruit discharge conveyor. A color sorter is positioned to scan the fruit leaving the conveyor, and means are provided to de-energize the solenoid upon the detection of a good fruit to allow the paddle to be moved from the path of the fruit so that the fruit will fall onto the discharge conveyor. Power to operate the solenoid is provided by a circuit which develops a relatively large value of current upon initial energization of the solenoid. This large current acts to quickly move the paddle into the path of any cull fruit or non-fruit leaving the conveyor to deflect such items from the discharge conveyor. The sorter circuitry provides a much smaller amount of current after the initial surge to retain the paddle in its deflecting mode until a good fruit is again scanned.

Abstract: A final gear-reduction unit is mounted at each wheel of a motor vehicle and is pivotally connected to one end of a lower control arm so that the unit may be turned to steer the vehicle. The other end of the lower control arm is pivotally connected to the frame of the motor vehicle on the side of the vehicle opposite the side on which the wheel is mounted. This allows a considerable amount of up and down movement of the wheel relative to the frame of the vehicle. The wheel is rotatably mounted to the gear-reduction unit with the gear-reduction unit positioned above the axle of the wheel to provide greater ground clearance for the drive to the gear-reduction unit. A pair of universal joints and a length of axle shaft connected between motor-driven differential gears of the vehicle and the gear-reduction unit provides the drive to rotate the wheel.

Abstract: A truck which is designed to utilize its design length to the maximum effectiveness. The truck includes a frame upon which are mounted an elongated cargo bed and a cab for the operator at the forward end thereof. The power plant for the truck is located rearwardly of the cab near the center of the vehicle so that space will not be required at the front of the vehicle as in conventional truck constructions. The cab sits between the laterally spaced front wheels, and access thereto is provided by a door which is located in the front face of the cab whereby the cab may be entered and exited without climbing over the front wheels and enclosing fender structures.

Abstract: A wheel balancing apparatus for balancing an out-of-balance wheel that is mounted on a rotatable shaft includes force transducers positioned in a horizontal plane against resiliently supported bearings for the shaft to thereby detect horizontal components of the imbalance forces created by the out-of-balance wheel. Photosensitive switches associated with the shaft produce phase-displaced analog signals, which signals are supplied to a pulse producing circuit for generating a train of count pulses on one of two output lines depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft. A counter, which has a capacity exactly equal to the number of pulses generated by the pulse producing circuit per revolution of the shaft, is set when the horizontal component of the imbalance force for a particular correction plane associated with the counter equals zero.